PHILADELPHIA, PA — The debut children’s book, ‘Once Upon the Sun & Sea: Indigenous Stories and Folk Tales from the Philippines’, by co-authors Jo Tiongson-Perez and Denise Orosa, offers an enchanting introduction to pre-colonial and popular stories from the Philippines. It is a heartfelt dedication to the children of the Filipino diaspora, aiming to connect them to their cultural heritage through beautifully narrated stories.
This 100-page book, suitable for children aged 6-12, is divided into two sections featuring seven Indigenous stories and three folk tales. Two of these stories were translated from oral storytelling recordings of the Tagbanua community elders, one of the oldest Indigenous tribes in the Philippines. The remaining stories are adaptations from various regions of the Philippines, immersing readers in a magical world filled with gods, goddesses, brave heroes, and curious creatures.
The vibrant illustrations in the book are the work of Tin Javier, a Philippine-based collage and mixed media artist. Using a pattern-rich punched paper technique inspired by Filipino culture, Javier has brought these stories to life in a visually captivating way.
Tiongson-Perez and Orosa, both mothers and writers, were inspired to create this book when they noticed their own children’s eagerness to connect with their cultural heritage. They recognized a need for more accessible Indigenous Filipino literature for children and embarked on this journey to fill that gap.
Reflecting on her experiences growing up in Manila, Tiongson-Perez said, “I was raised on books filled with Western, Eurocentric narratives and representation. When my daughter began asking for Filipino stories, I realized I only knew a handful compared to the dozens of Hans Christian Anderson and Brothers Grimm fairy tales I love.”
Adding to this, Orosa expressed her belief in the richness of the Indigenous stories of the Philippines, saying, “These wonderful stories from the Philippines deserve to be cherished and embedded in young imaginations.”
‘Once Upon the Sun & Sea’, which was awarded the AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Grant by the Sachs Program for Arts Innovation at the University of Pennsylvania, is now available for purchase from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Baby, and other online retailers worldwide.
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