Charles Teves
Adarna Publishing House briefly went viral on social media after National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Director-General Alex Paul Monteagudo red-tagged it over its controversial sale of books on the martial law era.
On May 11, the Adarna announced that it was offering a 20% discount on Martial Law books which include “Ito ang Diktadura,” “EDSA,” “Isang Harding Papel,” and “Si Jhun-Jhun, Noong Bago Ideklara ang Batas Militar.”
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Monteagudo said Adarna is influencing children to be anti-government.
“This is how the CPP/NPA/NDF radicalize not just our youths, but our children. The Adarna Publishing House published these books and they are now on sale to subtly radicalize the Filipino children against our Government, now!” he wrote on Facebook.
Usec. Lorraine Badoy agreed, saying that the publishing house is “planting hate and lies in the tender hearts of our children.”
“The target audience of Adarna is from toddler to elementary level children. That early, they are planting hate and lies in the tender hearts of our children. Mga demonyo talaga.” she commented.
Augie Rivera, who wrote “Si Jhun-Jhun, Noong Bago Ideklara ang Batas Militar,” denied the accusations.
“Mariin kong kinokondena at itinatanggi ang mga paratang at alegasyon na isinasaad sa Facebook post sa ibaba. Wala akong kahit anong koneksyon sa mga grupong nabanggit,” he said.
The book was written in 2001 and is under the category of “historical fiction.”
“At isinulat ko ang librong “Si Jhun-Jhun, Noong Bago Ideklara ang Batas Militar” noon pang 2001, bilang bahagi ng 5-book series na “Batang Historyador” na pinublish ng Unicef Philippines at Adarna House. Bilang “historical fiction,” tampok dito ang mga kuwento ng pakikipagsapalaran at pagkamulat ng mga kabataan at mahahalagang pangyayari at aral ng ating kasaysayan,” dagdag pa niya. May kalakip din itong #NoToRedTagging.
Reputed fantasy writer Neil Gaiman reacted to the red-tagging as well, and fair to say, he doesn’t like what he’s seeing.
Not good. https://t.co/1fQJhwCyMg
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) May 12, 2022
