By Jasmine Agnes T. Cruz
HARRY POTTER captured the hearts and minds of young readers around the world. Inspired by this series but wanting to create stories that have that distinct Filipino flavor, writer and publisher Segundo Jun Matias, Jr. dreamed up the character Moymoy Lulumboy, a boy who realizes that he has powers of the aswang, a shape-shifting monster from Philippine myth. Readers have already been treated to the series’ first book Moymoy Lulumboy Ang Batang Aswang, and now the second book, Moymoy Lulumboy at Ang Nawawalang Bertud, has been released.
WRITING ON AIRPLANES
Mr. Matias said that he had been asking different writers to create a story about the aswang, but he wanted to subvert the usual depiction of the creature. Instead of being the villain of the story, it should be the hero. Though he kept making this suggestion to everyone he knew, no one seemed interested. So around 2012, while on a flight to Germany, he began scribbling down his thoughts. The first book was almost entirely written on airplanes, as otherwise he is often too busy to write.
The reason for his packed schedule is he is at the helm of not just one but two publishing companies — Precious Pages Corp. (publisher of Tagalog romance pocketbooks ) and Lampara Publishing Co. (publisher of children’s literature). Mr. Matias is a prolific writer — he has published over 1,500 books (some with collaborators) for children and young adults and won the first prize at the 2011 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.
The first Moymoy book was character-oriented while the second one is more plot-driven, Mr. Matias told BusinessWorld. Moymoy will be looking for the birtud ni Buhawan (the Virtue of Buhawan) in order to defeat the terrible monster. Along the way, he will meet challenges and have interesting adventures. New characters will also be introduced and this will affect the course of Moymoy’s story.
GULLIBLE CHILD
Moymoy showcases Mr. Matias’s interest in mythical creatures which he traces back to his having been a gullible child — he said his classmate told him that if he gave him some money, he would get some gold from a kapre (tree demon). The young Mr. Matias believed his classmate, but he soon realized he had been tricked. Instances such as these would be repeated, and Mr. Matias never seemed to learn. A part of him believes in these creatures of legend, and up to now, he said that, against all logic, he still believes somewhat. “Ikaw, di ka ba naniniwala? (How about you, don’t you believe?),” he said with a sheepish grin.
Though his childhood is a great source of inspiration, he also stays connected with his young spirit by talking with children. Browsing through social media and meeting his young fans during book signings, he gets to interact with the younger generation and he begins to understand their thoughts and feelings.
He finds it satisfying to open the minds of children, to let their imagination fly, and besides, he said, “Ayokong tumanda (I don’t want to grow old).”
