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Mungan, a girl named after the the first babaylan of Bukidnon, loves to tell stories to her lola. One day, she notices her grandmother seeming sad, a departure from her gleeful self. Mungan is determined to find out what is wrong, so Mama and Mungan cook lola’s favorite food. The tasty linagpang (grilled beef soup) or hilot (healing massage) did nothing to lift her lola’s spirits. Only after Mungan asked and listened deeply to lola’s grief and longing did she understand the depth of the elder’s sorrow and what could bring her back from minghoy (low spirits).
Pictured above is author Justine Villanueva, founder of Sawaga River Press
Author Justine Villanueva delivers a touching and heartwarming story that centers on the gifts of intergenerational connections, ancestral Pilipino knowledge, and traditional Indigenous practices from her native Bukidnon, Philippines. “Mungan and Lola” is set in an unnamed place in the diaspora, where the girl and lola share stories amid “the oak trees and poppies.” The story reveals that Mungan’s family remains closely tied to knowledge and practices from the homeland. Although primarily relayed in English, the story incorporates words in two Philippine languages – Bukidnon and Bisaya – reflecting the hybrid way multilingual people express themselves. English translations help readers follow along, enhancing their vocabulary in the process.
The artwork stands apart to showcase the richness of Filipino culture. In depicting family interactions, artist Ray Nazarene Sunga integrates scenes and motifs familiar to Filipinos – from house decor to fabric patterns. The butterfly figures prominently in the artwork, as it is an old Filipino belief that butterflies manifest the spirits of the departed.
To support grownups in understanding the rich context of the book, Justine introduces Bukidnon as a place and people. I also appreciated the short essays on Filipino American history and honoring ancestors, which helped to further explain the Pilipino Indgenous worldview. Be sure to check out the simple recipe for linagpang na manok!
In full transparency, I have long admired Justine’s work in bringing Filipino Indigenous traditions and beliefs to the page for readers of all ages. I have the honor of serving with Justine as part of the Center for Babaylan Studies’ core group and as an adviser for Sawaga River Press. Justine’s vision for imparting ancestral wisdom from our forebears to the next diasporic generation is genuinely commendable, an offering of deep care and thoughtful intention.
“Mungan and Lola” explores the themes of grief, minding the emotional inner lives of our elders, and healing. In creating the book, Justine’s collaborative style as a creator shone through in her call for friends and followers of Sawaga River Press to submit the names of their lolas and where they are from. Two full-page spreads of names of grandmothers bookmark Mungan’s story. I took part in this exercise because, like many in the diaspora, I witnessed how my lolas endured many trials throughout their lives. Yet, they still managed to show us love in their own ways. I am grateful for the chance to recognize my lolas through the book, my beloveds who I never really got to know fully and deeply. I will never fully understand how they coped with the limitations of their circumstances and how they made it through the most harrowing times.
Maraming salamat, Justine Villanueva, and Sawaga River Press, for the thoughtful and heartfelt ode to all our beloved elders.
Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Halo-Halo Review.
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