Si Migoy Ang Batang Tausug: Promoting Mindanao’s Cuisine To A New Generation
What started as a gift for chef Miguel Moreno has expanded into a children’s book, co-written by his sister Isabel Moreno-Co and GMA 7 reporter Nelson Canlas
As kids, we studied the different indigenous tribes in the country. Although indigenous tribes such as the Tausugs were part of history class, knowing about them was not in-depth unless you took history or related college courses to study them.
Siblings Isabel Cabel Moreno-Co and chef Miguel Cabel Moreno who grew up in Zamboanga know there more than introducing Tausug through textbooks. The two, together with GMA 7 reporter Nelson Canlas, introduced the children’s book Si Migoy Ang Batang Tausug. Co-written by Isabel and Nelson, the book is named after Miguel’s nickname Migoy.
Bringing back the love of reading
Isabel, Miguel, and Nelson conceptualized the book to encourage kids to read. Isabel, a mom of two girls and part of a book club, shared that she advocates reading and practices it with her kids.
“I always read to them. I talk to them in our dialect. Reading is important, especially for the kids. Especially now na hindi na uso yung mga nagbabasa dahil sa tablets. For me, [reading is] still important,” she told Modern Parenting.
Like his sister, Miguel also believes in the power of reading. “It’s bringing back to children the love for reading. I grew up in a generation where I go to libraries in school, and when I do my research and assignments, I always have to go to the library to look for resources.”
“Just the memory of opening a book, discovering stories, and reading things from books really is something very special growing up.”
Nelson shared that the kids were his reason for writing the book, observing that many seem to have forgotten how to speak Tagalog.
“Tapos hindi nila alam yung pagkain talaga natin. Naisip namin, bakit hindi tayo gumawa ng libro na makakapag-introduce sa mga bata nung sarili natin talaga na dapat tayo maging proud,” he shared.
The showbiz reporter also mentioned that writing the children’s book is his way of giving back and searching for purpose after being in the media for many years.
Promoting Mindanao cuisine
Isabel believes in the importance of telling Filipinos there are other cuisines in the country. Along with Miguel, they brought Cabel’s Restaurant and Palm Grill to Manila, of which Nelson is a co-owner. These restaurants showcase Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi (ZamBaSuTa) cuisine.
“Nung mga bata pa kami pag nagbabakasyon dito sa Manila or ibang lugar, hindi pa nila talaga kilala yung mga nakasanayan naming pagkain,” she recalled.
“Sabi ng kapatid ko, sayang naman ito. We really have to advocate our foods, our heritage. May lugar tayo sa Pilipinas. Hindi lang dapat yung mga kilala tulad ng adobo at sisig.”
Writing the book, the first to tackle Tausug cuisine, was an opportunity to inform and highlight cuisine Filipinos are unaware of, according to Isabel.
Miguel admitted that there are still challenges in explaining Mindanao’s cuisine, even though he’s been promoting it in their restaurants.
“Even after eight years of Palm Grill, there is still a lot to do,” he said. “We still get customers who would frequent the store, and when they find out about what we are offering, they would step out, simply because they don’t know what it is.”
“That only means that our work is not done yet. And for us to continue what we’re doing and spread the word further like this book, for instance. Because we want this to transcend beyond our restaurants.”
More than promoting Mindanao’s cuisine, Miguel explained it’s something he wants the next generation to get to know. “Moving forward, I also hope to expand it further. Mindanao is a very huge island and there’s so much more to discover. And that’s why I would like to be able to incorporate specialties from other regions as well.”
Migoy’s Story is Just The Beginning
Originally a birthday gift by Nelson and Isabel for Miguel, Si Migoy Ang Batang Tausug has evolved thanks to the book’s publisher PaperKat Books. The book is written in three languages – Filipino, English, and Tausug- thanks to its editors Odette de Guzman and Kath Eustaquio-Derta. The siblings’ mom, Melissa Cabel, and Marivic Tan Angga Abubakar provided the Tausug translations.
Artist Danielle Florendo came on board to illustrate the book.
The children’s book is already getting recognition. It has already been curated as part of the collection at La Fiera del Libro per Ragazzi, also known as the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF), from March 31 to April 3 through the help of the National Book Development Board Philippines.
Isabel, Miguel, Nelson are also actively working with the Department of Tourism and other groups in bringing Mindanao’s stories to many parts of the country. Migoy’s story is just the start as the trio are already working on three other books on Mindanao’s rich heritage and Filipino values.
“For the next editions of the book, nasa writing process na siya. Mas makikilala ‘nyo habang lumalaki si Migoy,” Isabel smiled.
Are there chances of other Mindanao cuisines appearing in the book? Isabel nodded. “That’s the goal.”
Si Migoy Ang Batang Tausug is available in Palm Grill Araneta and selected Fully Book outlets. The book will be available in Lazada soon.
More on books and the authors
Nina Daza-Puyat: Promoting Food Through Children’s Stories
Anya Legarda: Writing Safiya Speaks Up!
Moments Like This: Anna Gomez on Weaving Stories About Life Abroad
