The first manga adaptation of the Sugidanon epic of Panay is now available in English and Japanese
Once upon a time, in the land of Pan-ay, almost everything was golden. Legendary warriors soared through the skies on kalasag shields, kept maidens transformed into warriors, and the wind whispered where your next adventure would be. This is the cosmos of the Sugidanun, the oral literature of Panay that has been passed on for generations, through voices and ears, evolving along the way. Read about the adventures of Humadapnon, Matan-Ayon, Labaw Dunggon, and the colorful cast of characters that have enchanted Filipinos for centuries.
The Japan Foundation, Manila is proud to announce the launch of the manga, Golden Realms: Inheriting the Panay Sugidanun, co-produced by ThriveArt Projects, Iloilo. This initiative is under the Japan Foundation Asia Center’s Asian Literature Project “YOMU”, which is the Japanese word for “read”. We want to explore how literature is being read in different countries in Asia, and how these express the stories of our daily lives: our joys, hardships, and resilience of storytellers in different countries. Through literature, we can demonstrate the colorful and rich narratives of the Philippines, which can reflect the state of our society and culture.
The Golden Realms manga is created by ThriveArt Projects, an artist initiative based in Iloilo, Panay, Philippines. The manga was made in cooperation with the indigenous Panay Bukidnun community in Calinog, Panay, who generously shared their stories and imagination visualized as manga, for the first time. This presents a golden opportunity for English and Japanese readers to dive into this world of wonder, all from the comfort of your own home.
Read the manga today in English or Japanese on https://goldenrealms.thriveart.org/
For press inquiries, please contact:
The Japan Foundation, Manila
Kanami Namiki, Ph.D.: knamiki@jfmo.org.ph | Mariah Reodica: mreodica@jfmo.org.ph
