Celebrate Our Individuality: Ang Mahiyaing Manok by Rebecca T. Añonuevo

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Ang Mahiyaing Manok or also known as The Shy Rooster by Rebecca T. Añonuevo and illustrated by Ruben de Jesus is about a shy rooster named Onyok  who struggles to crow like the others. His friend offered encouragement, but he reciprocated it with self-doubt and the belief that he was useless and could never be like them. Finally, with his mother's support, he found a sense of self-discovery, attempted to crow, and succeeded.  Motivated by his personal growth, he made a commitment to assist fellow shy roosters in learning how to crow and becoming more confident versions of themselves. The story is a lesson in embracing our individuality and understanding that we all have our own pace to shine. It reminds us that progress might be gradual, but we'll eventually reach our goals. Moreover, it encourages self-belief and the pursuit of self-improvement for the benefit of future generations.


The story's art style is Folk Art, as it precisely reflects the cultural settings of the Philippines. This is evident through various elements in the story, including the characters' names, their way of life, the depiction of urban living, the practice of hanging clothes on a clothesline outside the house, and the significant role of the rooster which is to wake people up in the morning. About the tools-used, the illustrator employs paper cut-outs and colored pencils for the darker outlines and uses a pencil for the lighter ones. Furthermore, paint is used to create a bold and vibrant color palette that enhances the Folk Art style. Thus, the relationship between the text and the illustration is symmetrical and complementary, manifested in ways that the story is easily to grasp and facilitates reader analysis. It's notable that human characters are included in the story, despite the main character being a rooster. This emphasizes that the story is not in a fantasy world but is grounded in the point of view of a single rooster.


I will definitely recommend this book in the SDA(Seventh-Day Adventist) schools by taking into consideration that the story is promoting values in life includes believing in yourself and enriching your minds with good things. Moreover, it is aligned with appropriate language and actions, and it refrains from promoting profanity in any form. The book portrays genuine life experiences and is relatable to individuals of all ages. The book imparts a valuable lesson to its readers that we may encounter failures in life but life itself will not fail us. All it takes is one person's encouragement, and we can move forward. This lesson aligns with the principles of the Holy Scriptures, emphasizing that through the support of someone which is Jesus Christ, we can develop and become improved versions of ourselves. Therefore, this book is a valuable material for any school, regardless of the cultural and religious beliefs they uphold.


 

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