Lampara Books marked National Heritage Month with a new slate of literary and educational titles aimed at strengthening Filipino cultural appreciation while supporting literacy, creativity and values formation among young readers.
The publishing house said the latest releases are anchored on its mission of providing accessible, culturally relevant and values-based books for Filipino children and families, blending traditional storytelling with modern learning approaches.
Among the featured titles are new editions of Philippine literary classics “Ibong Adarna” and “Florante at Laura,” which were developed with updated learning tools such as annotations, glossaries, and study guides to support both classroom and independent reading.
The revised “Ibong Adarna,” edited by scholar and children’s literature advocate Eugene Evasco, includes chapter summaries, vocabulary guides, and comprehension prompts, along with cover art by Arnaldo Mirasol and illustrations by Randy Valiente.
Meanwhile, “Florante at Laura” retains its historical and linguistic character while introducing modern annotations and discussion guides, accompanied by illustrations by Rowin Agarao to make the classic more accessible to today’s learners.
Also highlighted is a new collection of “Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang,” retold by award-winning writer Christine Bellen-Ang and illustrated by a roster of Filipino artists. The collection reintroduces stories inspired by Severino Reyes, which the publisher said continue to shape Filipino imagination, values and cultural memory.
“These stories have long occupied a cherished place in Filipino childhood,” Segundo Matias Jr., founder of Lampara Books and Precious Pages Corporation, said.
“Through these new editions, we hope to preserve their legacy while allowing a new generation of readers to discover the beauty, wisdom, and humanity found within Filipino storytelling traditions,” he added.
The launch also included a range of educational series designed to address evolving learning needs. These include the “Decodable Comics for Fluency” series in Filipino and English, which integrates Systematics Phonics and the Marungko Approach to strengthen foundational reading skills through storytelling and workbook-style exercises.
Other titles introduced were the “Kids Have Rights!” series by Michellan Sarile-Alagao, illustrated by Kim Santiago, which introduces children to their basic rights and the “Sari-Sari Books” series by Genaro Gojo Cruz, illustrated by Domz Agsaway, which promotes diversity, inclusivity and self-expression.
Also part of the lineup is the “Disaster Ready-Kids Series” by Zarah Gagatiga, illustrated by Juno Abreu, which focuses on disaster preparedness, and “Kaligtasan Para sa mga Bata” by Mark Norman Boquiren, which promotes public safety awareness among children.
With its latest Heritage Month offerings, Lampara Books said reading goes beyond preserving tradition, as it said reading also serves as a foundation for education, imagination and nation-building that shapes future generation.
