Moymoy Lulumboy sheds new light on the aswang

By Dexter R. Matilla |Philippine Daily Inquirer

FEU Theater Guild PHOTOS BY DEXTER R. MATILLA

An exciting title that explores these characters is Moymoy Lulumboy: Ang Batang Aswang, by Segundo Matias Jr.

Launched during the 35th Manila International Book Fair recently by Lampara Publishing House Inc., Moymoy Lulumboy has the potential to be a popular series with the possibility of crossing over to film and on stage as proven by the Far Eastern University Theater Guild whose short performance of the storys prologue had guests clamoring for more.

Moymoy is from the world of the enchanted or Gabun but circumstances force the tibaro Montar to leave him as an infant in the care of a human named Tracy, who works as a bookstore staffer in a Makati mall. Montar says that the future of Gabun rests in the safety of the child and that he will be back to retrieve him when the time is right.

There will understandably be comparisons with a certain boy wizard from the West and Matias Jr. recognizes this. He says that it is one of his biggest obstacles when he was writing the storywhich was how to make it not similar to any preexisting text.

Its difficult he admits but any such similarities end there as Moymoy has much to learn about his past and future while embracing his role in Gabun, a once-peaceful place that has been cursed by the gods due to the actions of one greedy tibaro.

Illustrating the book is Jomike Tejido, an architect who finished his studies at University of Santo Tomas and who has done work as both writer and artist in almost 70 childrens books, including Tagu-Taguan (Best Reads 2010); Pundido (Golden Book 2002)l Ma-Me-Mi-Mumu!; Foldabots Toy Books; and the Jepoy Dyip series.

Jomike Tejido

Tejido is also a painter; his paintings on banig have been exhibited in solo shows in Manila and in group shows in Tokyo, Paris and US. Through his works, he aims to showcase the richness of Filipino culture. His banig paintings were featured in the Lampara book, Mabuting Pilipino, written by singer-songwriter Noel Cabangon.

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Moymoy Lulumboy sheds new light on the aswang