In celebration of the Rice Awareness Month, four PhilRice books were launched at Powerbooks in Megamall, November 28.

Close to 200 guests attended the book launch of Appreciating Rice, Gabby Ghas, Rice Recipes in the Philippines, and Kamalig: A Treasure Trove of Rice.

Gabby Ghas is a story book for children, which tells the story of rice from becoming a seed up to the time when it is ready for consumption. Dr. Benito Vergara said the story was written by a student from Calamba Institute. She won in the essay writing contest in 2004 when the whole world celebrated the International Year of Rice. Eisen Bernardo, a development communication graduate from the University of the Philippines Los Baños is the book illustrator. The Asia Rice Foundation, PhilRice, and the International Rice Research Institute are the publishers of Gabby Ghas.

Rice Recipes in the Philippines presents the recipes of some of the most popular rice-based food products in the country. Dr. Marissa Romero, head of the Rice Chemistry and Food Science Division, said it’s a good book for would-be rice-based food products entrepreneur.

Kamalig: A Treasure Trove of Rice is a coffeetable book on Philippine rice production. It is the second coffeetable book of its kind, and the first to capture rice science. The book is a collective effort of the DA-PhilRice Creative Team composed of scientists and researchers. The Creative Team traveled all over the country to document the unique Filipino rice farming practices. Mario Movillon, team leader, presented the book.

Some 20 kids from Children International participated in the book reading of Gabby Ghas.

DA-PhilRice awarded a set of the four books each to Children International (CI) Abot Kamay Inc. and Dynamic Teen Company (DTC). CI was DA-PhilRice’s partner in the “Experience Rice” event at the SM Mall of Asia. Cedrick Zapanta, president of DTC, said they will include the books in their kariton classroom. DTC is the organization of Efren Peñaflorida who is this year’s CNN Hero of the Year awardee.