Enjoying a Whimsical Humorous Odyssey: Ang Pitong Tanga — by Severino Reyes

The book entitled "Ang Pitong Tanga" or "The Seven Idiots" is written by Severino Reyes and illustrated by Ruben De Jesus, and is published in 2007. It is a funny story about seven silly young men who make foolish choices on their crazy adventure. It starts with the characters: Huwan, Kanuto, Aleho, Heremias, Tiago, Kosme, and Nikolas having a swim in the Rio Grande de Cagayan. When they try to do a headcount, Huwan and Aleho exclude themselves, causing a bit of worry. They give up on the headcount and start praying for the missing person's soul. Tandang Nano, who sees what's happening, invites them to his home, where the real adventure begins. The seven people are also known as the Seven Fools, try to help with household tasks in funny ways. The story is all about their silliness and often misguided adventures, showing how challenging it can be to deal with people who lack common sense and wisdom.

The drawings in the story look like Folk Art because they show how people live in the Philippines, specifically in Cagayan of Luzon. The story tells us about Filipino life, especially when they gather to eat together at one table, and even a country cat tries to join them. It also shows their daily tasks, like getting water from a well, cutting trees for their kitchen, and getting food from the forest. The details about the characters, like the country cat during their bath in the Rio Grande de Cagayan and their big meal at Tandang Nano's house, make the pictures really good and well-done. The illustrator uses regular pencils for the details of the characters and colored pencils for the scenery. Crayons are used for details, especially in the characters' skin tone. The words and pictures in the story go well together, making everything balanced and supportive.

 

         I recommend this book for Seventh-Day Adventist schools because it has important good lessons, it keeps things appropriate and gives readers a good time. The book teaches that being lazy can make your mind stuck, and it says it's important to learn every day, improve yourself, and grow as a person. It's not just for fun; it also teaches important things. The story reminds us that if we keep doing the same things, we'll keep getting the same results. This means we might not grow or change if we stick to old habits. It wants readers to think about the results of doing things without thinking or trying to get better. Like Ellen G. White's ideas about taking care of things, the story talks about the responsibility people have and how to handle things carefully. It also helps build character and teaches good values, telling readers to work on themselves and grow. The book encourages readers of all ages to keep learning and discovering new things, and to actively try to make positive changes by breaking away from old habits that might hold them back.