TYPE & SUBTYPE: Realistic Fiction, Situational Realism

Title: Ang Lumang Aparador ni Lola

Author:

Genaro R. Gojo Cruz

Illustrator: Jose Miguel Jomike Tejido

Publisher: Lampara Publishing House, Inc.
Place and Date of Publication: Quezon City, Philippines, 2004
No. of Pages: 32
Awards Received: Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, Unang
Gantimpala, Maikling Kuwentong Pambata 2002

Summary:
There was a young girl who is afraid of the antique wardrobe in their house which
causes her to think that inside the wardrobe is a sleeping ogre or a monster-dress.
Her mother always opens the said wardrobe every time there is a special occasion
in her daughters life such as her birthday, celebration of Language Week in school,
her first communion and even when she received a medal. Whenever her mother
opens up the wardrobe, she gets a beautiful dress which fits her daughter. One day,
the girl tried to open it but she cant so she just asked her mother about the
wardrobe. Her mother said that it was her grandmothers wardrobe and that her
grandmother was a well-known dressmaker thats why there are many pretty
dresses inside her wardrobe. Because of the conversation they had, the girls fear
already vanished and was changed to love and care.
Remarks:
The book Ang Aparador ni Lola was all about the fear of a young girl in an antique
wardrobe inside her bedroom which happens to be her grandmothers wardrobe
when she was still alive. Children of early ages, and even adults, can relate to the
story because at least once in a lifetime, we experience this stage where we have
fear on something and we seek answers to our questions. The book was written to
inspire children and adults alike in transforming their fears into positive and
constructive attitudes. The author wants to convey that talking to children about
their fears can help them overcome such problems. In this story, you can see the
importance of conversation between a guardian and a child especially in times of
doubts and confusions. This can help parents a lot on how to deal with their
childrens fear for it not to continue and grow no more. Especially at a young age,
children easily believe what they hear, so it is best to be at the forefront in teaching
them the things they are supposed to know.