ANG BATANG MARAMING BAWAL

A complete range of giftware featuring the paintings in

ANG BATANG MARAMING BAWAL is available at
www.canvasdownstream.com.

We enjoy hearing from our readers.

Please feel free to let us know what you think of this book by emailing us at
info@canvas.ph, or by mail at CANVAS, No.1 Upsilon Drive Ext., Alpha
Village, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines 1119.

First published in hardcover by UST Publishing House, 2007

First paperback edition, 2007
Online version, 2009
Printed in the Republic of the Philippines

Book and Layout Design by Daniel Palma Tayona

Cover Illustration (IHIP SA HIMPAPAWID) by Rodel Tapaya
All illustrations originally rendered in oil on canvas
Photography by Mike Cheung / Northlight Studio
 story written by
FERNANDO ROSAL GONZALEZ
artworks by
RODEL TAPAYA
translated into English by
REBECCA T. AÑONUEVO

edited by
OSCAR V. CAMPOMANES
 Other children might dread hospital visits, but
I, among them, would find it odd if a month passes
without seeing the doctor.
 We are the children born
with certain disabilities.
Some say that children like us
never grow old.

They call me Romeo the Day

Dreamer. And, as an infant, I
was observed to point to and
reach out for things beyond my
grasp.
 From our rooftop, I found it a joy
to watch a balloon here or there fly
off from the occasional birthday
celebrations of our neighbors. I
also delighted in spotting birds
among the clouds, butterflies
hopping from flower to
flower, and even
rainbows.
 In my dreams I am always in
flight.
My father is moved to smile
each time I tell him my dreams.
“That’s the effect of watching
your favorite superheroes
too much on TV,” he would
say. “You always think
of flying like
them, even in
your sleep.”
 But as I would wake up to the real
world, an overpowering sadness
would come over me, as I would feel
so alone – far from other children, far
from fun and games.
“Never leave the house, Romeo.
Don’t run around, or you will trip
on rocks.
Don’t injure yourself.
Don’t get bruised.
Don’t play ball as you could
be hurt by your playmates, or
get hit with the ball...”
 And so, given the many things
that I am forbidden to do, I would
prefer to go back to and dwell in
my dream world. In such a world,
I am free to do what I wish to,
things I am unable to do in the real
world.
One day, a thought came to me.

Is the world only for

the strong,
the talented,
the quick,
the brilliant,
the agile?
 I was lucky that Father was
there to console me.
“Son, remember that even if
you are unable to do some
things, this should not stop
you from doing what you can.
Your mother and I will always
be here to provide support.”
 My teachers in school did find
and felt delighted that I could
compose poems.

Where does the wind move

But in music?
Leaves will fall
But the tree stands marvelous.

“Where did those verses come

from, Romeo?” my Mother once
asked?
“I’m only pretending to be
Balagtas!” I kidded in reply.
 I found frequent company in books
and reading. And I wrote poem after
poem in my notebooks for school.

I wish to keep company with you

That I might not have to remain
alone.

And I wonder, why would the

maya fly all over
And yet still find its way back to
its Mother?
 “You are truly a poet, Son!”
Mother exclaimed when I
showed her my work.
She enveloped me in a tight
embrace, and I had to
wriggle free.
“Mother, don’t hug
me too tightly, or I
might get bruised!”
 One night I wrote a poem for my
parents.

Why You Two are Dear to Me

By Romeo the Daydreamer

You are sugar to bland coffee

Salt for my favorite kare-kare

Ice cubes for juice and jelly

A colorful feast for a bowl
of rice that’s me!
 “What would you like for your
birthday?” my Father asked.
“Objects that fly, Father –
balloons, clouds, birds, rainbows…”
My father is an able artist. He
smiled, then began work on a
painting.
For my birthday, he gave me the
painting alive with and full of
my favorite images: balloons,
clouds, birds, and other
flying objects.
 That night, I was so happy that I
dreamt that I was riding in a
parachute kept aloft by the wind,
and unable to land on the ground.
“What if I could explore the
whole Philippines in one day?” I
wondered to myself.
No playmates to bully me. No
one to laugh at me. And best of all,
no more things that I am forbidden
to do.
 Someone must have heard my
wish to go around the Philippines in
one day.
I made it to so many places that
night.
From the skies I saw the Banaue
Rice Terraces, Mt. Mayon, and also
the gentle Hundred Islands of
Pangasinan.
 My eyes gladly scoured the
ricefields of central Luzon, the
historic churches of Ilocos, and
the whales in Donsol.
 I was awed by the snaking San
Juanico Bridge that connects
Samar and Leyte! Mt. Apo was a
majestic sight, and the Pagsanjan
Falls were lovely!
 I woke up hugging the
painting to myself. I was so
thirsty that I gulped down a
glass of water quickly. It felt as
if I had traveled far and wide!
My father said I looked so
happy, grinning ear to ear, in
my sleep.
 “Father, the Philippines is
such a beautiful country.”
“Really? How can you say
that? We have not been
around much.”
“Oh, but in my dreams, I
saw how beautiful our
country is.
 “Go, get dressed,” my father said.
“we’re going somewhere.”
In a while, I was to be taken to
the doctor for my regular check-up.
I couldn’t wait to see my doctor
and my fellow patients. I couldn’t
wait to tell them about what
happened in my dreams.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This is the winning story of CANVAS’ second annual Romeo Forbes Children’s Storywriting Competition. Inspired
by Rodel Tapaya’s painting (shown below), Fernando Gonzalez’ original piece is a timely tale of innocent hope and
imagination.
Its publication would not have been possible without the support of our institutional partners: The Panta Rhea
Foundation, Northlight Studios, UST Publishing House, and Artery Manila; and the participation of a number of
individuals: Hans Schoepflin, Mike Cheung, Lito Zulueta, Becky Bravo, Oscar Campomanes, Rebecca Añonuevo,
Delan Robillos, Daniel Tayona, Ninoy Leyran and Chrys Fernandez. We therefore recognize and sincerely thank them
all for their continuing belief and confidence in our vision.
The biggest difficulty we had for this project was the title “Ang Batang Maraming Bawal,” for which we could not
find any appropriate translation.
Suggested English titles like “The Boy Who Couldn’t Do Much,” “The RX Kid,” “The Boy Who Couldn’t,” or, what
probably is the closest translation, “The Boy Who Wasn’t Allowed to Do a Lot of Things” – all couldn’t capture the
spirit of the Tagalog title.
In the end, we chose the easiest solution, which was to simply refuse to translate the
title.
We hope that you will enjoy this latest CANVAS production – again, the result of a
collaboration between two young Filipino talents – writer Fernando Gonzalez and
visual artist Rodel Tapaya. And as before, it demonstrates how the interaction elevates
both of their arts, while making their work even more accessible to and appreciable by
more people.

Gigo Alampay
Executive Director, CANVAS
Manila, Philippines
June 2007
About the Author
FERNANDO ROSAL GONZALEZ wrote “Ang Batang Maraming Bawal”
at the hospital while awaiting the birth of his son. A multi-awarded
fictionist, novelist, illustrator and musician, Don is presently the Creative
Director of a Philippine-based multimedia production house, and the
editor-in-chief of a news-magazine catering to the needs of overseas
Filipino workers. He is also a member of Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting
(KUTING), the country’s premiere writer’s group for children.
Don is married to Josephine Añonuevo Gonzalez, with whom he has
two children, Tiara Ysabelle and Ivan Zion.

About the Artist

27-year old Rodel Tapaya-Garcia’s unique style and humorous
interpretation of life has made him a fast rising favorite of collectors. He is
the recipient of numerous Philippine and international awards, including
the grand prize of the 2001 Nokia Art Awards.
He graduated from the College of Fine Arts of the University of the
Philippines, and also did intensive studies at the Parsons School of
Design in New York and the University of Art and Design in
Helsinki,Finland.
Rodel currently resides in Quezon City in the Philippines.