Mungan and Lola (2024 Edition) by Justine Villanueva

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.

Hardcover
Publisher: Sawaga River Press
Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-9968297-2-4