HEIGHTS Ateneo’s flagship project Kuwentong Pambata (KP) culminated in a book launch last April 4. This year’s iteration was in partnership with TUGON Ateneo and Tahanan Sta. Luisa (TSL), a crisis intervention center for young girls “who have lived and suffered in the streets of Manila” as victims of sexual and domestic abuse. Members of HEIGHTS and TUGON paid a visit to the Antipolo-based center on February 23, with a program that sought to help the girls from the shelter find their inner child through the concept of play, with friendship bracelets, handprint-making, games, and a storybook prepared by the organization.

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“Ang Mahiwagang Magkakaibigan sa Bayan ng Ligaya” is a children’s storybook that revolves around five female characters, each with special powers to help the town of Ligaya through music, food, speed, art, and nature. When disaster strikes, however, this quintet realizes the importance of collective action, mandating them to use their powers together for the greater good of their community.

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The story is highly fitting and relevant for the girls of TSL, according to TUGON representative Angel Sarmiento, who serves as TSL’s area head. In spite of their hardships, the girls from the center have developed talents in various fields such as singing, dancing, cooking, gardening, arts, and more.

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“My work with TUGON as the TSL head has been one of my most fulfilling roles because it has allowed me to know the girls and discover their growth as they journey through their healing process,” Sarmiento shared through a heartfelt reflection with the HEIGHTS community.

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Throughout the process of developing the storybook, both HEIGHTS and TUGON kept the girls in mind. TUGON Ateneo’s “no doubt, all out, for the girls” approach was also adopted by HEIGHTS for the engagement. In particular, this mindset shone through most for illustrators Aisha Pandapatan and Euha Cinco, who shared their experience in designing the storybook.

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“I wanted to do whatever I can,” shared Pandapatan upon learning more about the community she was going to serve through the engagement. Initially, she was set to be the only artist on board as the lone design staffer registrant, until she was joined by Cinco after being tapped by the HEIGHTS KP team. The latter talked about how both she and Pandapatan were in between travels and road trips during the design process, having to bounce off each other’s progress. For Cinco, this reflected the need for collaboration and the ways both artists were able to fulfill it.

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Despite the time crunch, the artists attributed the storybook’s design success to their steadfast commitment and motivation. “We really just poured our hearts into it. Each page, we were thinking of the girls,” said Cinco.

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An open forum then underscored the project’s value and meaning, emphasizing how important it was to hear the stories of TSL in order to bring joy to marginalized communities through their narratives. The forum also gave space for HEIGHTSers and the audience to reflect more deeply on their feelings about the flagship project while writing letters addressed to the girls and the community of TSL. Additionally, while the interviewees reiterated how fast-paced the entire project was, they reinforced their motivation to honor not only the area but also the Atenean community.

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“This book is a testament to how collective action works. It takes a village,” said KP Director and HEIGHTS’ 72nd Managing Editor for External Affairs Brylle Principe. Truer words could not have been spoken—in terms of both the project and TSL at large. Principe expressed his utmost gratitude to the core team of HEIGHTS’ flagship project, ending the book launch event aligned with the mission echoed throughout the entire project: that teamwork makes the dream work.

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“Ang Mahiwagang Magkakaibigan sa Bayan ng Ligaya” was developed exclusively for the Tahanan ni Sta. Luisa community. This publication is not for sale or external distribution.

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Ally studies Communications Technology Management at the Ateneo de Manila University – a flowery way of saying marketing, where marketing is the accountant parent-approved way of saying she wants to make a living out of telling stories. To avoid completely falling into corporate slavery, she writes essays and articles published on Rappler, Young STAR, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, and The GUIDON. She has concretized her interest in Korean pop culture with a minor in Korean Studies because to her, ambition ceases to exist without some form of obsession.