Children's Book Artist Brings Bisaya to Life

In a children’s book market long dominated by English titles and Western characters, a small but powerful movement is quietly taking shape. One that is led by Cebuano women who are writing, illustrating, and publishing stories in their own language. One of the newest additions to this growing body of work is Alpabetong Bisaya, a vibrant alphabet book created by Cebu-based illustrator and author Cheryl Toting Villarino better known as Tambol Bee or Toting to close friends.

To celebrate International Women's Month, we feature Toting's story. More than just an ABC book, Alpabetong Bisaya reflects a deeply personal journey that began with a mother trying to help her child understand the Bisaya language.

A Mother’s Problem-Solving Moment

The idea for Alpabetong Bisaya started with a familiar frustration among many Filipino parents navigating the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) curriculum.

“When my daughter was in Kinder 2, I discovered how challenging the Mother Tongue subject was,” Toting recalls. “When I received her notes, it was just pages and pages of photocopies filled with deep Bisaya words. Everything was black and white, and the words felt alien, even to me.”

As a designer and illustrator, her instinct was to solve the problem visually. She began drawing small illustrations beside the words to help her daughter understand them. What started as a simple learning aid slowly evolved into something bigger.

“In the process, I also discovered that I didn’t know much about my own native tongue,” she says. That realization sparked the idea for a book that would introduce Cebuano words to very young readers through colorful visuals and familiar everyday experiences.

A Childhood Love for Picture Books

Toting’s path to creating children’s books traces back to a childhood memory in Lutopan, Cebu. During recess breaks, she would often hide in the school library’s Early Readers section, surrounded by picture books.

“I loved browsing through them, always fascinated by the illustrations,” she says.

One day, her aunt, who happened to be the librarian, called her out.

“Nganong naa pa man ka diri, day? Imong mga classmates niadto na sa young adult section, ikaw naa pa ka diri?”

Her classmates had moved on to bigger books, but she remained captivated by the world of illustrated stories.

“Looking back now, I think that moment stayed with me,” she says. “My love for children’s books never left. I always dreamed of publishing my own children’s book someday.”

Building an Alphabet for Today’s Children

When developing Alpabetong Bisaya, Toting focused on making the language approachable for young readers.

“The process was about finding the right balance, choosing words that kids could easily understand and recognize, and that I could also illustrate clearly,” she explains.

Instead of relying on obscure or deeply traditional vocabulary, she leaned toward modern, conversational Cebuano words. The common terms that children might hear at home or in everyday life.

Each letter came together through a mix of research, sketching, and trial-and-error until the full alphabet was complete. Illustration and research, she says, became the most enjoyable parts of the process.

“I kept learning new things about Cebuano along the way.”

A Pandemic Project Ten Years in the Making

Although the idea had been in her mind for years, actually starting the book took time.

“It took me ten years to finally begin,” she admits. “I had the vision, but taking the first step was the hardest part.”

During the pandemic, she finally committed to the project—working largely on her own as both writer and illustrator.

One of the biggest challenges was ensuring the accuracy of the words she selected. To address this, publisher Aklat Alamid conducted consultations and focus group discussions with experts to review the content.

The collaborative process helped ensure that the language remained authentic while still accessible for children.

Filling a Gap in Cebuano Children’s Books

While researching for the project, Toting noticed something surprising.

“There are many Cebuano storybooks around,” she says. “But there aren’t enough picture books for very young children.”

That gap is significant. For many language advocates, early exposure is key to keeping local languages alive.

“If we want kids to appreciate Cebuano, we need to introduce it as early as possible,” she explains.

Alphabet books are often among the first books children encounter, making them an ideal entry point for language learning.

A Growing Community of Women Creators

Toting’s work also reflects a broader trend: the rise of Cebuano women in the local children’s publishing scene.

Across independent presses and small creative studios, more women illustrators and writers are producing books that center Visayan culture, language, and storytelling traditions. These creators are not only preserving the language but also shaping how the next generation encounters it—through playful visuals, relatable characters, and everyday stories rooted in local life.

In this landscape, Alpabetong Bisaya stands as both a personal project and part of a larger cultural effort.

Making Bisaya Fun Again

At its heart, the book is about changing how children perceive the Cebuano language.

“My hope is that kids will develop an appreciation for Cebuano after seeing it presented in a colorful and engaging way,” Toting says.

For many Filipino children, the most visually exciting books they encounter come from Western publishers. By creating locally produced picture books with equally vibrant illustrations, she hopes Bisaya will feel just as fun and exciting.

Looking Toward the Future

When asked what she hopes to see five to ten years from now, Toting’s answer is simple.

“That more Cebuano children’s books will be made. And that more children will grow up loving them.”

In the end, Alpabetong Bisaya is more than a book about letters. It's about rediscovering language, celebrating culture, and proving that stories told in our own words and drawn with our own hands can shape how children see the world.

Awesome Updates

Tambol Bee recently had a great reception at the Philippine Book Festival 2026 where she held a book signing.

Alpabetong Bisaya also won the Blue Mango Awards for Cultural Heritage & History.

Where To Find The Book

Alpabetong Bisaya is available in select independent bookstores across the Philippines including National Museum of Cebu, Lost Books Cebu, Siyam Cebu (Atua Midtown), Mt. Cloud Bookshop in Baguio, Roel’s Bookshop in Quezon City, Everything’s Fine in Makati, Libraria in Dumaguete, PalabasaLIBRO in Iloilo, and Alitaptap in South Cotabato, among others. The book is also available online through Pumplepie Books.

Readers can follow Toting’s work on Instagram at @tambolbeedraws and the publisher @aklatalamid.

Photos taken from Tambol Bee & Aklat Alamid Archives