Fifty percent mythology, fifty percent adventure, a hundred percent Filipino: the adventures of Moymoy Lulumboy: Ang Batang Aswang will surely be loved by readers everywhere.
This September 18, 2014 at 11am at the Function Room 5 of the SMX Convention Center, Lampara Publishing House Inc. will launch its latest young adult fiction series Moymoy Lulumboy: An Batang Aswang.
The series follows the adventures of Moymoy who, though raised by humans, finds out that he is actually the child of a goddess and a “tibaro”, or magical being. Bullied as a child, Moymoy discovers his talent for shape-shifting in order to escape danger. His adventures begin when he returns to the world of Gabun, and discovers his role in the world of aswangs, duwendes and the like. Moymoy discovers that the markings on his chest form the image of half the map towards the land of Panalturan, a sacred land for the “tibaro.”The other half of the map is imprinted on the chest of Moymoy’s long-lost twin, Alangkaw. Alangkaw however was raised by Buhawan, a corrupted “tibaro” who aims to reunite the twins in order to use the map for his own greedy purposes.
The series is written by Segundo Matias, Jr., a champion of original Filipino literature for the youth. Matias has published over 1,500 books for children and young adults including the following series titles: Makabagong Alamat, Mga Kuwentong Nanay, and Mga Kuwentong Dapat Mong Malaman. His Alamat ng Duhat won first prize at the 2011 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. In 2012, his Ang Papag ni Tatang merited an honorable mention citation from the PBBY-Salanga Prize. His other awards include receiving a first honorable mention citation for the teleplay, Loida: Taxi Driver during the 1991 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards. Matias has also written screenplays for Viva Films, Seiko Films, and Regal Films, as well as teleplays for various TV shows, including Lino Brocka Presents. Also known by his persona, “Kuya Jun,” he is the storyteller in the widely circulated DVD series Ang Mga Kuwento ni Kuya Jun.
Award-winning artist-illustrator Jomike Tejido imparts his iconic illustrations to the book. With more than 70 books to his credit as author and illustrator, including illustrations for Oxford University Press and Scholastic, Tejido is a member and one-time president of Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK), an organization of children’s books illustrators. He has received awards and recognition from NomaConcours, Japan; PBBY-Alcala Illustrator’s Prize, International Board on Books for Young People, and Golden Book Award.
Matias, a long-time advocate of children’s literacy, was especially invested in the making of this series. A native of Pampanga, he recalls his childhood spent playing among ricefields and riversides, his playtime enriched with stories of aswang, duwende and other Filipino mythologies. With the advent of foreign book series for young adults such as Harry Potter, Twilight and the like, Matias set out to make a series with the Filipino audience in mind.
Inspired by local folklore, written and illustrated by Filipino talents and published locally, Moymoy Lulumboy: Ang Batang Aswang is a literary gem made by Filipinos for Filipinos. Moymoy Lulumboy: Ang Batang Aswang is available at all leading bookstores nationwide. For inquiries, visit www.lamparabooks.com.ph, or call Lampara Book Publishing at Tel. No. (02) 414-6188; Fax No. (02) 367-6222 or send email: inquiry@lamparabooks.com.ph
