MANILA, Philippines - Ed Maranan, a Carlos Palanca Hall of Fame writer and STAR columnist, will have several new children’s books exhibited and sold at the Manila International Book Fair. The event will be held from Sept. 15 to 19 at the SMX Mall of Asia convention center.
Maranan’s 12 books, illustrated by various artists, and endorsed with a message of commendation by National Artist for Literature Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera, are published by C&E Publishing Company. They cover a wide range of topics that would appeal to the intermediate level of young readers (grades five and six), and include a glossary at the end. The author has woven stories touching on issues in Philippine history, politics, indigenous culture and society. The 12 titles and their corresponding topics are:
Si Pepe at si Pilar (a mother leaves for abroad as an OFW, with unexpected consequences); Pangako ng Bayani (a young boy, Edgar. pledges to help poor people when he grows up, and works to make good his vow when he becomes the activist known as ‘Edjop’ Jopson); Ang Apoy sa Sambá (agricultural settlers and a land developer play out an age-old conflict); Halimaw sa Bundok (the Tingguians defend their forests in a time of martial law and militarization); Si Kidlat, si Kulog, at si Kilot (Aeta life before and after the Pinatubo eruption); Hagdan sa Langit (friendship, separation, and dreams of peace and plenty amidst the Ifugao rice terraces); Ang Ambahan ni Ambo (a brother and sister from the city find a friend in the mountains of Mindoro, and learn the ways of the Mangyan); Bahaghari (a cautionary tale about the Dumagat struggle for survival in their own land); Si Molok at ang Bangka ni Asok (a Palawan mountain village welcomes their foreign friends, while a young boy finds love written in the stars); Si Buhawi at si Bantay (two friends — a horse and a dog — become legendary heroes in a mythical town); Ang mga Buwaya ng Silangan (a grandfather recounts to his grandson how life in an idyllic town was disrupted by World War II and post-war unrest, until its inhabitants were dispersed across the land, and in deserts across the seas); and Ang Alamat ni Hári Púti sa Buhay ni Búi Bagani (the people of Gimbalan invoke their mythical gods and heroes when the mountain of Lagimdim comes crashing down, only to realize that real heroes and saviors can only come from the Earthworld and not from the Skyworld). Some of these stories have won the Carlos Palanca award for children’s literature.
These books will be available at the C&E booth at the Book Fair, with a 10 percent discount. Other books by Maranan will be available at the Bookmark booth, including other children’s titles in English and Filipino and his 2007 National Book Award winner for poetry, Passage / poems 1983-2006. A 2008 National Book Award finalist, A Taste of Home: Pinoy Expats and Food Memories, which he co-edited with Len Maranan-Goldstein, will also be available at the Anvil Publishing booth.