ROXAS City – Bryan Mari Argos’ “Ang Hangaway kag ang Higante” (Kasingkasing Press: 2023) is a short novel retelling the Western Visayan regional folklore in the Hiligaynon language.
Written in 11 chapters and aimed at young adult readers, the book comes home to Roxas City after a successful launch at the Iloilo Mega Book Fair on April 30.
In Roxas, from where hails multi-awarded writer Argos (winner of Palanca Awards, Gawad Lumbera, among other literary honors), and who is also the tireless city tourism officer, the book launch is part of Roxas City’s 72nd Charter Day programming.
Scheduled alongside the book signing event at Ang Panublion Museum on May 13 are talks to be delivered by Christian George Acevedo, Capizeño writer and Capiz State University librarian; publisher Noel de Leon of Kasingkasing Press; and most awarded Ilonggo writer Peter Solis Nery, who is visiting Roxas City to talk on “Adaptation: Local Lore in Contemporary Literature.”
An accomplished poet and short story writer, Argos said he only endeavored “to try his hand on the longer fiction form with ‘Hangaway.’” That the novella retelling turned out to be “a wonderful way to color our imagination while using the familiar tales of our lolos and lolas” was rather unexpected even for him./PN
