The Tales of Stereotypes and Politics in Segundo Matias Jr.’s Moymoy Lulumboy

Growing up, Filipino kids are usually told scary tales about the aswang, manananggal, tikbalang, and many more to keep us at home during the night. These folk stories made us believe for decades, or even centuries, that these Filipino mythological creatures are dark, evil forces.

But a new light says otherwise through the creature-filled books starring Moymoy Lulumboy.

The Moymoy Lulumboy book series, written by Lampara Publishing House, Inc. founder and president Segundo Matias Jr., also known as Jun Matias, is a coming-of-age story about the titular character's journey of self-discovery about his identity as a “batang aswang.”

Breaking stereotypes

From writing children’s picture books such as alamat or legends, the idea of Moymoy Lulumboy first sprouted in Matias’ mind to break the traditional menacing perception of Philippine mythological creatures. He aims to instill in the minds of his readers that there is always goodness and wickedness in every character, whatever creature they are.

Matias had always wanted authors under his publishing company to write about these mythological creatures in an uncustomary fashion.

“Actually, noon ko pa sinasabi sa mga writers, noong hindi pa ako nagsusulat; magsulat sila tungkol sa aswang, mga manananggal pero ‘yung hindi tipikal — ‘yung mga kumakain ng tao, ‘yung mga kumakain ng laman-loob, masamang nilalang,” Matias shared in an exclusive interview with Malikmata Magazine.

When none of the Lampara Books writers did, Matias took the opportunity to realize his “what ifs” about the mythological creatures in Moymoy Lulumboy's story.

The book was supposedly a picture book just like his first projects. However, he also challenged the perception that children’s books are primarily picture books.

“Ang mga bata hindi lang puro picture book ang kailangan niyan. Kailangan niya ng teksto. Kailangan niya mag-imagine talaga sa paraang gusto niya,” Matias added, explaining what factors were considered into making Moymoy Lulumboy a novel.

PHOTO | JAMES ANDREI ARROJO

Incorporating politics

From the world-building universes of famous books such as Dune, Star Wars, and Harry Potter, politics is one of the biggest driving forces of their narratives. It is no different with the journey of Moymoy Lulumboy where power play takes a huge part throughout the six-book series.

Without naming any, he admitted that some characters from the fantasy book series were inspired by real-life people he got from reading the news.

“Naging inspiration ko ‘yung gobyerno natin. Nakita iyon [sa nobela]. ‘Yung mga nararamdaman ko bilang isang mamamayan, may makikita ka dun. So, hindi lang siya [Moymoy Lulumboy] fantasy,” Matias further explained.

The three-time Palanca Awards-winning author doesn’t just want to write a simple fantasy novel. He wants to write political fantasy to emphasize morality, integrity, and love. For him, incorporating politics in the fictional world of Moymoy Lulumboy gives readers more depth, meaning, and understanding.

Despite writing Moymoy Lulumboy's journey for a younger audience, Matias values the ability of his readers to make decisions for themselves in any given circumstance. He hopes that children or anyone who reads his book will learn to take their space in society based on their goodness.

With Moymoy Lulumboy taking its position in the Philippine literary scene, aswang, manananggal, tikbalang, and other mythical creatures are no longer menacing figures but complex characters in Filipino culture. These symbols of Philippine mythology are also capable of making good and bad decisions and are not just the pure evil force that has made us believe for centuries.

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