Mungan and Lola (2024)

$22.00

Mungan and Lola is Sawaga River Press’ highly-anticipated fourth project! Read about the publication process on the blog here.

Mungan and Lola tells the story of the child Mungan who loves to make her Lola (grandma) smile. One day, Lola is inconsolably sad. Mungan and her family engage in Filipino rituals of care—cooking sabaw, performing hilot, and playing kulintang—to uncover the source of Lola’s sadness and find a way to bring back her smile.  

This book tackles big emotions and themes, including mental well-being, ancestral roots, and the role of storytelling in our collective healing. The story is inspired by the Bukidnon epic, which tells the story of Mungan, the Babaylan (Healer) of Bukidnon.

Mungan and Lola is Sawaga River Press’ highly-anticipated fourth project! Read about the publication process on the blog here.

Mungan and Lola tells the story of the child Mungan who loves to make her Lola (grandma) smile. One day, Lola is inconsolably sad. Mungan and her family engage in Filipino rituals of care—cooking sabaw, performing hilot, and playing kulintang—to uncover the source of Lola’s sadness and find a way to bring back her smile.  

This book tackles big emotions and themes, including mental well-being, ancestral roots, and the role of storytelling in our collective healing. The story is inspired by the Bukidnon epic, which tells the story of Mungan, the Babaylan (Healer) of Bukidnon.

ARTWORK

Illustrations by Ray Nazarene Sunga
https://www.behance.net/raysunga

REVIEWS

Jeannie Celestial, Ph.D., Psychologist, Mother, Proud Adult Child of Immigrants: How I wish I had a book like this when I was growing up as a child of immigrants to honor my family’s migration, remember the beauty of our Philippine origins, and celebrate healing family connections.

Aileen Suzara, MPH, Food Justice Advocate, Educator, Mama: Like an ancestral recipe, the story spoke to me on a cellular level. I am excited to share it with my daughter, and with the families and young people in my life.

LANGUAGE ACCESS

Mungan and her Lola is written in a mix of three languages: Binukid, Bisaya-Cebuano, and English.  It is also written in hay(na)ku, a distinctly Filipino form of poetry that covers diasporic themes.

BULK ORDERS

If you are ordering more than 10 copies, please contact us at sawagariverpress@gmail.com for shipping options!

BEHIND THE STORY

Our fourth publication and third children’s book! Read about the publication process here. Learn about Mungan and Her Lola’s impact on the community here.

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