Summary
Two worlds. One wild (and kinda epic) Philippine mythology adventure.
Michelle Macabebe dreams of adventure outside their island, Luna Asul. For that, she must survive the boredom in high school until she leaves for the university. However, the adventure she seeks comes early against her will, when a talking fat cat chooses her for an out-of-this world (literally) and suspicious competition.
Bickering deities, (not-so) gentle giants, a moon-eating dragon, and overworked gods—a…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9789815323610 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 981532361X |
| Author: | E. Manawari |
| Publisher: | Penguin Random House SEA |
| Imprint: | Penguin Random House SEA |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 288 |
| Release Date: | 3 February 2026 |
| Weight: | 308g |
| Dimensions: | 28mm x 137mm x 215mm |
| Audience Age: | 12-99 |
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Critics Review
‘Let me get this straight: shedding tears over a playful PH myth/fantasy adventure? Not on my bucket list. Nope. But alas, I cried. Was it from traumatic, dreadful pain? No. Not at all. Far from it, actually. It was because The Bathala Games lured me in … caught me, pushed me to the edge for some thrill, then taught me, let me grow, hugged me, snuggled me—and now my heart is full, I’m all soft inside, and I think I have caught sepanx or something. Maybe even healed an inner child wound or two?! Wrapped in cultural homage and witty sentences laced with quiet humour, E. Manawari gifts us a mythical adventure introducing familiar Filipino folklores, and some sweet, milky pastillas. It’s her full-on Pinoy-coded love letter to identity and storytelling. I’m strapped and seated! So, prepare the turon and biko, please. With the Anitos filing paperwork, a fluffy cat talking like an internet mutual, and a game with zero proper rules that gets rebooted whenever Bathala feels quirky, things can get a little bit out of hand sometimes, yes, but The Bathala Games is an all-vibes, no-warnings novel that dives into the divine chaos of gods in Kabila—sprinkled with the complicated reality of teenage crush life on the island of Luna Asul—tales that will be living rent-free in our mortal hearts.’
– Rayne Mariano aka pilosopotasya, author of AFGITMOLFME. Manawari
E. Manawari is a multi-genre author from the island of Siargao, Philippines. Her novella, I Highly Nominate, was awarded a place on the Honor List for the Severino Reyes Medal’s Young Adult Book category for 2025.
Her current obsessions include grass cultivation, planting dwarf varieties of fruit-bearing trees, and growing winged beans. On better days, she also draws digitally and in watercolour. She’s a fur mom to one sassy cat—her company during long writing nights.
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