Kat Gomez-Limchoc
“In behalf of the Panay Bukidnon people, and as a Cultural Master, I am so very happy there is an appreciation for Nagmalitong Yawa.”
Rodolfo Caballero
Cultural Master, Epic Chanter
“Wonderful! A refreshing multimedia presentation of a beautiful tale about the inner warrior that is within us all. Truly a must-read!”
Charo Santos-Concio
Storyteller, Former CEO of ABS-CBN, Director of the Depth Institute of Asia
Humadapnon is a hero from the Sugidanon epics, pre-colonial Philippine epics that have been passed on by master chanters for hundreds of years. And yet, in a significant portion of the tale, the one who does the hero’s work is the woman Humadapnon wanted to court. Her name is Nagmalitong Yawa. She is a beautiful woman who showed herself to be both a brave warrior and a compassionate healer.
This book, Nagmalitong Yawa, A modern retelling of an ancient story of a fierce Filipina heroine, from the Sugidanon Epics, was created so that young Filipinos would get to know this great adventure through her eyes… and realize that the Filipino people have long told stories of women who are equal to men, who have powerful minds, hearts, and bodies, who are capable of being the rescuer and the hero of the story.
Rooted in Tradition,
Blessed by the Masters
This story is from one of the epics of the Panay Bukidnon. They are the indigenous people who live in the mountainous areas of the island of Panay, in the Philippines.
On September 21, 2024, the Kat Gomez-Limchoc, and publisher, Gayle Certeza, went to present the storybook to the remaining epic master chanters of the Panay Bukidnon people in Barangay Garangan, a mountainous area 68 kilometers from Iloilo city.
The elders and the community blessed the effort to get their validation for this retelling.
On October 12, 2024, the revised manuscript was signed by epic master chanter, Rodolfo Caballero, validating that the story remained faithful to the epic.
A Journey to
Honor Tradition
See the trip of the author and publisher to get the validation and blessing from the Panay Bukidnon epic master chanters
Once Upon a Tune
Read Nagmalitong Yawa accompanying music
This book was written to be read out loud.
It was also imagined as a multimedia experience using modern technology to capture the age-old experience of the oral tradition of storytelling.
Read Nagmalitong Yawa with narration by the author
This story was passed down for hundreds of years by epic chanters, listen to the music and the author narrating the story.
Music by Erwin Romulo and Malek Lopez with vocals by Carol Bello
Audio Production by Steve Vesagas
Audio Production House: Loudbox Studios
Music by Erwin Romulo and Malek Lopez with vocals by Carol Bello
Audio Production by Steve Vesagas
Audio Production House: Loudbox Studios
Voiceover: Kat Gomez-Limchoc
Nagmalitong Yawa
Book Launch Highlights
Here’s a look back at the launch of Nagmalitong Yawa! From Kat Limchoc’s thoughts on the book, to behind-the-scenes stories about how it all came together, and a special live reading from the author—it was an afternoon to remember.
Watch the highlights and relive the moments with us!
Order Nagmalitong Yawa
Order directly: P1,200 (plus delivery fee)
A portion of every sale will go to the School of Living Traditions of the Panay Bukidnon people
About Kat
Nagmalitong Yawa, A modern retelling of an ancient story of a fierce Filipina heroine, from the Sugidanon Epics, is the fourth book Kat Gomez-Limchoc has created. The first was Book of 40, a book of 40 ideas inspired by 40 years of life in 40 creative collaborations. Together with her family, Kat wrote Princess Liv and the Strange Creatures. It is a children’s book she and her husband Joel designed by putting together more than 300 artworks that her daughter Liv drew when she was 2 to 7 years old. Kat was also the Creative Director of Legacy, a cookbook of family recipes.
Kat is the creative lead of a multinational advertising agency. She is also the culture lead of a network of advertising and media agencies. She and her teams have won numerous local and international awards for all kinds of creative output and solutions, as well as regional awards for having the best workplace culture.
She loves the creativity and human-centeredness of her job. It allows her to work on all sorts of interesting projects that keep inspiring her to create new things like this book.
She is a lifelong lover of learning. This book was inspired by the depth psychology and storytelling course she took from the Depth Institute of Asia where she read the Humadapnon epic and fell in love with Nagmalitong Yawa.
Her family lives in Manila and on a small estate farm in Lipa, growing Robusta and Barako beans, an endangered coffee variety.
She is proud wife to Joel, a director, a lover of art, and a good man. She is the proud mom of Snow and Liv, creative and funny humans, very different in personality, but the same in their kind hearts.
Legacy, an Assumption Cookbook
Book of 40
Princess Liv and the Strange Creatures
Other books by Kat Gomez-Limchoc
