12 Of The Best Filipino Ya Books From The Philippines
In my years participating in the international book scene, particularly in the U.S. publishing industry, I noticed that books from the Philippines or works that feature Filipino characters are quite rare. This is especially true with Filipino YA books. Sure, there are YA books with Filipino representation here and there, but rarely do they capture the authentic experiences of Filipino teenagers from the Philippines. As a Filipino myself, I’m somewhat disappointed as I don’t see myself enough in these books.
If you’re new to Filipino YA literature and do not know where to start, keep reading for my recommended titles.
The Filipino books for teens below feature characters with unique life experiences. Filipinos are all too familiar with how difficult it is growing up in the provinces: the apparent harshness of religious parents, the unbearable messiness of local politics, the dreary routine of high school life, and more. You’ll see variations of these in the books below — whether it’s romance, contemporary, fantasy, horror, or fiction. There are award-winning books, and there are also some that are written by recognized YA authors in the Philippines who do not enjoy global prominence. There are books that feature Philippine mythology characters, and ones that deal with current events that concern the youth. There’s something for every young reader here.
So without further delay, here are 12 Filipino YA books from the Philippines to add to your reading list:
THE BEST FILIPINO YA BOOKS
CATCH A FALLING STAR BY CRISTINA PANTOJA-HIDALGO
Published in 1999, Catch A Falling Star is a coming-of-age short story collection aimed at young adult readers. The collection has 12 interconnected stories that revolve around the life of the protagonist named Patricia Soler or Patriciang Payatot. It offers glimpses of what growing up as a teen looks like in the Philippines.
Before the stories were published here, they appeared first in many local magazines.
WHAT ABOUT TODAY BY DAWN LANUZA
This sweet, “instalove” YA romance book by Dawn Lanuza, a Filipina romance writer in English, follows two young people who find instant connection in an amusement park. Aiden is working for his family’s amusement park for the summer in which Gemma decides to visit. It’s her first time, but luckily, Aiden is there to guide her along. Soon, the two realize that there are sparks in the air.
THE GIRL BETWEEN TWO WORLDS BY K.M. LEVIS
The first from the author’s Engkantasia series, The Girl Between Two Worlds is YA fantasy that features Philippine mythology characters.
It follows Karina, who, after her 16th birthday, starts experiencing the supernatural. Soon, she discovers that her mother is an engkanto (a mythical spirit) princess who escaped from their kingdom of Engkantasia. And now that she’s at the right age, the responsibility befalls Karina to take the throne to prevent a war between the world of Engkantasia and of the humans, and to learn how to take control of her abilities.
O.C.W.: A YOUNG BOY’S SEARCH FOR HIS MOTHER BY CARLA PACIS
In the Philippines, going abroad to find work and a better life has become the norm. Called Overseas Filipinos Workers or OFWs, they go to different countries to work as nurses, domestic helpers, construction workers, etc. In O.C.W., a mother leaves her family behind to work in Hong Kong. It’s a common story for many Filipino migrant workers and their families, but here, the mother’s departure might break the family apart. Her husband is a drunkard, and her children need attention and care. Then the situation takes a turn for the worse: Tonyo, one of her children, goes to Hong Kong to search for her. Read More…
