A boy’s gift of hope

A superhero celebrated his first anniversary on Dec. 16.

Super Benj is Benjamin Ryan, five, youngest son of Anthony and Maricel-Laxa Pangilinan.

How could a little boy be not declared a champion when he has surpassed open heart surgery (hypoplastic coarctation of the aortic arch, a congenital heart disease) with the strongest will a year ago?

Maricel was so inspired, she brought to the pages her family’s struggle at that time. She mustered all her courage to finally write her first children’s storybook.

Maricel has been writing her thoughts on parenting, family values and mothering in her weekly column Mommy Talk in The Philippine Star, and her book Super Benj.

"This is by far the hardest but most fulfilling piece I have ever written.  I had only a few pages to express our experience and because children are my target audience, I had to make everything sound simple and yet precise, taking in consideration the perspective of each member of our family," she says.

The book Super Benj chronicles the courage of a boy who overcame adversity by mere faith and the love of his family.

It starts with the fun character of Super Benj. In a seemingly roller-coaster plot rendered by fate, the story becomes gloomy in the middle because of a life-changing trial.

In the end, a touching lesson of trust in the Creator and the adamant tie that binds parents and children save the day.

The story is presented in a combination of informal and traditional poetry, without compromising the seriousness of the issue.

Entertaining and heartwarming, it deals with questions on the importance of a strong family.  It is quite a read for kids and adults.

Visual creativity is a very obvious feature of the book. Colors and hues vary according to the mood of the story. And no one would have a difficult time absorbing the feel of the plot.

Regine Abos, a self-professed frustrated superhero, did justice to the lesson imparted by the book through her animated colors.

The Master’s Workhouse Publications has added an effective weapon in its arsenal of materials on faith and Christian virtues. It is a valuable tool for appreciating the bond between parents and offspring and keeping that tie eternally alive.