The Bayani Series with Autism Pamilya and Tita & Kuya
Digital, picture book illustrations & layout
A project by Autism Pamilya and Tita & Kuya, The Bayani Series is a picture book series featuring an autistic Filipino boy who is learning more about himself, the people around him, and the world he lives in. The first book is Bayani and the ABCs of Me (2025), while the second book is Bayani and the Big School Adventure (2026), both written by Redner Salonga and Irene Batario. Bayani and the ABCs of Me has editions published by Pinagpala Publishing and self-published by the writers.
Front cover of the first book
After reading and understanding the resources they shared with me on autism, I made three character designs for them to choose from, and we combined two studies to form the final design of Bayani!
Once that stage is done, we moved on to the rough sketches, line art, and coloring of the illustrations! I made sure that the choice of colors and the layout are subtle, warm, clean, and neat, so that each page and spread wouldn’t be too overwhelming.
The first book also comes with a coloring and drawing activity book.
Front cover of the second book
Working on this series made me recall the son of a former officemate who’s on the autism spectrum, and he loved to dance and move around and talk excitedly and happily about the things he loved. And a friend whose nephew is a book lover like her, and how she loves him lots and sees how wonderful he views the world. And my teacher friends in Benguet who help kids learn to speak, listen, write, and read. And other Filipino children’s books that celebrate inclusion, accessibility, and acceptance, and the comic book called Doobiedoo Asks where there is much love among Doobiedoo (who asks funny and pun-ny questions!) and his caring parents who are also the writer and illustrator of the book, Ms Bambi Eloriaga-Amago and Sir Roland Amago, respectively. And an article I read years ago about a child who communicated with his parents through the movie Hunchback of Notre-Dame and other Disney animated films. And the siblings of dearest friends.
Through illustration and picture books, I want to hold space and make time on how we must continue to learn, to understand, and to make this world (or the immediate spaces we’re in) more tender, patient, soft, safe, and kind for every child.
A percentage from every book sold goes to Autism Pamilya’s projects and activities which provide resources, education and support to autistic Filipinos and families around the globe.