GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) -- With the intent to touch people's lives, a young Sarangan writer Xaña Apolinar, 21, launched her very first fictional children's book entitled "Gusto Maglupad ni Bangsi" on January 27 at the Municipal Library of Maitum, Sarangani Province.

According to the report of Sarangani Provincial Information Office (SPIO), Xaña's book unfolds with a story on how Bangsi meets a turtle with a bleeding nose due to a stuck object.

As it helped the wounded creature, Bangsi learned from the turtle that it got the object as he dived into the ocean, encouraging Bangsi to journey beyond the sea.

With this prologue, Xaña shared that her biggest inspirations are rooted from her hometown in Maitum and its children. While the book talks about the origin of the bangsi or flying fish's ability to propel themselves out of water, the writer said that it also tells about her similar traits of gliding through life and exploring out of her comfort zone.

She expounded that aside from teaching children the values of hard work and perseverance, the book aims to expose young minds on taking care of the environment.

Xaña, who is also the Sarangani Writers League chairperson and the reigning Miss Maitum, expressed her gratitude to the local government of Maitum headed by Mayor Alexander Bryan Reganit for their help. She also thanked the Tourism Office and the Maitum Public Library for making her book launching a success.

She said the municipal government's all-out support to her reading advocacy only shows how much they place value on children's education.

The event was attended by SOCCSKSARGEN writers, municipal staff, and Maitum locals, including some kids from the town’s coastal barangays. (Harlem Jude Ferolino, PIA SarGen with reports from Sarangani Provincial Information Office)