Si Kalipay: Ug Ang Kinagamyang Tiktik by Christina Newhard

September 26, 2022

Wonderfully told by Christina, poetically translated by Jona, and beautifully illustrated by Happy Garaje, Kalipay takes another look at the Tiktik (Cebuano), Manananggal (Tagalog), or ancient Philippine spirit that can disconnect with its lower body, fly around, and has a long tongue.

Si Kalipay ug ang kinagamyang tiktik by Christina Newhard, illustrated by Happy Garaje inside page. — Inside the cover page of “Si Kalipay ug ang Kinagamyang Tiktik” by Christina Newhard, illustrated by Happy Garaje.

The Tiktik, and even its Tagalog equivalent the Mananaggal, is typically portrayed in a dark way: a creature with fierce teeth that flies around with its bloody exposed torso, searching for pregnant women or other unlucky victims in the middle of the night.

Manananggal with tiyanak babies action figures — A Manananggal action figure (the Tagalog equivalent of the Cebuano Tiktik) surrounded by another Tagalog mythical creature, Tiyanaks or zombie babies. The Mananaggal is typically portrayed in this way, as a creature that flies around with its bloody exposed torso. Photo from ToyConPH 2022.

Abandoning the usual narrative of a scary creature associated with the likes of vampires and all others that stalk at night, the Tiktik in this story (named Gamay or small in Cebuano) is a friendly little companion for Kalipay, a little girl just trying to get through her school days without being bullied.

Highly recommended for everyone, especially for those with roots in Cebuano-speaking areas of the Philippines. There is a simple Cebuano-English glossary, as well as English text that sits alongside the Cebuano story, allowing readers to go back and forth between the languages to learn more words.

After the story is a small activity discussion you can have with your children, “pag-umangkids” (nieces and nephess), or with a friend.

*Special thanks to my friend Princess who got me this book a few years ago. I finally got to read it.

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