Alamat ng Duhat = The Legend of the Java Plum

Mga Premyadong Kuwentong Pambata

by Segundo D. Matias Jr., Rovi Jesher R. Salegumba (Illustrator)

Once upon a time, in the mountainous region of a certain province, there was a tribe that lived in the center of a vast forest -- the Atas. Into this dark-skinned tribe Duha was born with a fair complexion. In the city Duha met a young man who brought her untold sadness, reason for her to implore the King Sun to make her a dark as her tribe. Since then, she spent her whole life in the service of her tribe. Find out in this modern legend why the Java plum has a black skin with a white flesh as pure as Duha's heart.

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Segundo Matias Jr. is a recipient of numerous literary award giving bodies, which include three Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, the Philippine’s most prestigious—known as the “Pulitzer Prize” of the Philippines—and longest running awards program. Mr. Matias has also written screenplays for major movie outfits, as well as teleplays for various TV shows before entering the world of children’s literature. He is also a publisher and has published over 1,500 books for children and young adults. He is currently taking Masters in Creative Writing at the University of the Philippines—Diliman.

Reviews

[K.D. Absolutely · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am currently reading several local children's books suitable for live storytelling. This is because our book club here on Goodreads called Pinoy Reads Pinoy Books will hold a storytelling session with less-fortunate children as our audience at The Museo Pambata (Children's Museum) on May 25, 2013. We will also serve the children food and leave this book, among many other titles, with them. So I need to know which books are good for storytelling for me to include them in the poll.

This book, Alamat ng Duhat (The Legend of the Java Plum) won the First Prize in Children's Book Category of the 2011 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. That was the primary reason why I bought this book. The other reason was that I already met and talked to the author of this book, Segundo D. Matias, Jr. when I took a creative writing workshop sponsored by his company in 2010.

Entertaining story?

Most likely for children. I was a bit entertained by it.

Moral lesson?

Definitely. Respect to cultural minorities that can even be equated to the evil of racism.

Logic?

Oh yes. Even the characters worshiping sun. That was the pre-Spanish practice here in the Philippines.

Illustrations?

Gorgeous. I like the model-thin and slim figures of black women.

Overall, the book can be considered for storytelling. It speaks well of the book club's preference for local books with local color. Filipinos do not need to have whitening products to look like Americans. We should learn to like our brown complexion because it is what nature gave us.

[Mark Anthony Salvador · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sa lahat ng aklat ng kuwentong pambata na nabasa ko, isa ito sa gustong-gusto ko ang ilustrasyon. Parang nililok sa kahoy ang bawat imahen sa aklat. Lapat na lapat sa kuwento--na nagsasalaysay sa kung papaanong nagkaroon ng duhat--ang estilo ni Salegumba.