5th installment in Pinoy fantasy book series released
STORIES about Philippine mythical creatures go beyond their conventional creepy and deadly characteristics as Lampara books Moymoy Lulumboy: Ang Lihim ng Libro, the fifth book of the epic fantasy series for young adults, is launched.
Palanca awardee and best-selling author Segundo Matias, Jr. was inspired to write fiction based on the mythical creatures called aswang since he was exposed to their various stories as a child.
Mr. Matias said that he envisioned the story to be about children, friendly monsters, and have a young boy born of a goddess as its lead character.
“Gusto kong sundan ang isang batang lumalaki na unti-unting namulat [na siya] ay naiba sa nakararami (I wanted to follow a child who grows up to slowly realize that he is different from the rest),” Mr. Mathias told the press at the launch during the 39th Manila International Book Fair on Sept. 14, adding that the monsters in the story are friendly since he wanted “to make it different from the usual flesh-eating creatures.”
In the story, Moymoy Lulumboy who has shape-shifting powers, is confronted with fulfilling his promise to save the creatures in the world of Gabun in exchange for his mother’s life. Moymoy also comes across a magic book with a lock — it is believed that only an offspring of a god or goddess can unlock and discover its secret.
The author said that in the fifth book, Moymoy has grown to be brave and independent compared to how the character was in the previous books.
“Si Moymoy [Lulumboy] ay kumakatawan sa isang kabataan na namulat, nagtanong, nagkamali, nadapa, nagtanong muli, naging matapang, nalaman ang tunay na kinalalagyan, may pananagutan, marunong tumupad sa pangako, at may kapangyarihan (Moymoy Lulumboy embodies a youth who became aware, asked questions, made mistakes, fell, asked more questions, became brave, knew where he stood, became responsible, knew how to keep promises, and has power),” he said.
Despite the conventional approach to stories of mythical creatures, Mr. Matias said that it was not a challenge to write about good-natured monsters, “Bakit natin kinukulong na hanggang doon na lang yung kultura or nakikita natin? Palawakin naman natin (Why do we constrict our culture or what we see? Let us widen it).”
The growing public interest in the book series has led television network ABS-CBN to acquire the rights to Moymoy Lulumboy with plans to adapt the story into either a TV series, film, or digital piece in the future.
Moymoy Lulumboy: Ang Lihim ng Libro is available at Precious Pages retail outlets, National Bookstore, Pandayan book shop, and leading book stores nationwide. For inquiries, contact inquiry@lamparabooks.com.ph. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman
