‘The Race Against Extinction’ shows how exciting children’s literature can be
In our world, little Ludwig is fighting for his life on his sickbed. In another fantastical land, Chancellor Lara and General Vasquez defend Planet Maya against Kronogen and his forces. This is the premise of veteran children’s literature writer Bimbo Papasin’s new YA title The Race Against Extinction.
Bimbo hints Young STAR on the key plot: Planet Maya is inside Ludwig’s own body. His inspiration for the story was his own near-death experience battling COVID. “What if last day ko na sa mundo?” he asked himself. “Kailangan meron man lang sana akong maiwan. Hindi legacy, kundi journey (para) sa mga bata.”
The new title from veteran children’s literature writer Bimbo Papasin has themes of loyalty, leadership and empathy resonant to adults and formative to children.
Bimbo is a multiple-time winner of the Catholic Mass Media Award for Best Short Story for Children. A family man, he gravitates towards the field because of the children in his family: Chancellor Lara was inspired by her timid yet fierce niece. But his own children were the ones who inspired him to start in the first place, and he continues doing so with their interests in mind. He even said it was their welfare that was his main concern in overcoming his health crisis.
I finished The Race Against Extinction in one sitting. Most people could, too. Think of your favorite sci-fi fantasy epic, but condensed and made simpler for a light, wholesome story that readers from all demographics could get into. It has themes of loyalty, leadership and empathy resonant to adults and formative to children.
Plus, it is illustrated beautifully. Puppeteer and stop-motion artist Pepot Atienza gives life to Bimbo’s prose through handcrafted sets and character miniatures. His creations in full-page illustrations greet you in every chapter opening. “Binigyan ko siya ng liberty to interpret (the work),” said Bimbo. “World-building ‘yung ginawa niya, eh. Binasa niya (‘yung libro), hinimay niya kung ano ‘yung kwento, tapos binigyan niya ng kulay at buhay ‘yung ini-envision kong mundo. Nag-jive kami.”
Bimbo, with Pepot, plans to pitch The Race Against Extinction to film producers in the hopes of actualizing it as an animated feature film. He fell short in a pitching competition held the same day as this interview, but he remained unwavering. “Siguro hindi pa niya panahon,” he confessed. “Pero the fact na nakapasok siya sa second round, ibig sabihin, mayroong chance si The Race Against Extinction na hindi mag-extinct.”
Hope in crisis
I talked to Bimbo during the Philippine Book Festival held this March in his publisher’s booth. We tried our best to make our schedules mesh. And as anyone who went there knows, the overloaded events and cramped crowds really do not make it an easy task.
But it’s still a happy hurdle to take. The attendance of the festival, reportedly 39,000 throughout four days, is a small glimmer of hope amidst the country’s education crisis. The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) reported earlier this year that only four out of 1,000 Grade 12 students are proficient in core subjects, based on data collected from the 2024 National Achievement Test.
Bimbo—who launched three children’s books, including The Race Against Extinction, that day—maintained a hopeful outlook on this crisis. “Phase lang ‘to. Kumbaga, dumarating talaga sa bawat generation na merong sudden dip (in literacy), pero asahan mong parang rollercoaster ‘yan. Pag merong sudden dip, aangat din ‘yan,” he explained.
A hundred publishers graced this year’s PBF, whose mascots were also modeled by Pepot Atienza. A sizable portion of Megatrade Hall’s floor was dedicated to children’s literature. This is a testament to how important it is to start ‘em young. “Nando’n pa tayo sa era na mababa ang literacy, so kapag ready na ulit ‘yung mga bata, nandiyan lang ‘yung mga librong ‘yan na aagapay sa kanila,” Bimbo said.
Being a writer for children’s literature is not Bimbo’s main job. His day-to-day consists of producing news for mainstream broadcast. Writing books like The Race Against Extinction after shifts allows him to unload the weight he carries after the grueling role of covering heavy issues.
I asked Bimbo the clichèd question about what lesson he wants children to get from this story. It was the very first thing I asked him. He gives an admittedly clichèd, but no less sincere, answer: “Kailangang lumaban sila no matter what,” he insisted. “Kasi ‘yung mundong ginagalawan natin ngayon, sobrang toxic, nakakadrain, nakakastress,” Bimbo added. “Marami tayong nababalitaan na kapwa nating nalulugmok. Kahit ano man ‘yang pinagdadaanan mo, kahit gaano man tayo kalugmok sa buhay, back-to-zero man, okay lang ‘yon, basta lalaban ka.”
Check out The Race Against Extinction and other books on jandhpublications.com. Follow Bimbo on Instagram at @bibimbop27.
