Acrylic, colored pencil, and digital
10 x 5 inches
Published by Adarna House, 2021
Published by Adarna House, 2021
Adarna produced a set of board books based on Philippine folk tales, and I got to work on Magtanim ay Di Biro (the title roughly translates to Planting is No Joke!), which is a song about farming and working in the fields.
They wanted to have a nostalgic feel, so I kept the story in a rice field. I added a narrative of a little boy going with his dad to work -- I was thinking of a "bring your kid to work" type of thing. He tries his best to help, but farming is hard! He goes home pooped from a long day out.
Magtanim ay Di Biro
Magtanim ay di biro,
Maghapong nakayuko
Di man lang makaupo,
Di man lang makatayo
Bisig ko'y namamanhid,
Baywang ko'y nangangawit
Binti ko'y namimintig,
Sa pagkababad sa tubig
Halina, halina, mga kaliyag,
Tayo'y magsipag-unat-unat
Magpanibago tayo ng lakas,
Para sa araw ng bukas!