A children’s story by Eileen R. Tabios; Illustrations by Mel Vera Cruz; & Afterword Essay by Dr. Jeannie Estella Celestial

Publisher: PAWA Press

Order Links: To come

Tata Efren’s Forever Laughter is an illustrated children’s story with an Afterword essay that provides resources for caregivers supporting children around death, dying, and grief. 

The Story

The story is set on the island country of Kalapati, a part of the Philippines in indigenous times before it split apart and floated away from the Philippine landmass. Its people, the Itonguks, have a custom of using poetry to celebrate a person’s life during a funeral. Friends and relatives recite the poems during the funeral rites. The poems also are inscribed on bamboo which, later, helps fuel the person’s cremation.

When elder Tata Efren passes away from old age, several children write poems about Tata Efren’s kindness, art skills, sense of humor, generosity, and love for animals. They read their poems to much appreciation from their community. The short—5-line—poems are included in the story.

The story ends with a temporary cloud appearing over the island to gather the smoke from Tata Efren’s funeral pyre for bringing his spirit to the “Great Beyond.” The cloud was unusual in that it made sounds, specifically the sound of Tata Efren’s laughter. From then on, for the rest of their lives, whenever the children spotted a cloud, they would remember their beloved Tata Efren. They would imagine hearing his laughter. Then they would increase the sound with their own laughter as they remembered the joyous times with Tata Efren.

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Psychological / Therapeutic Aspect

The story is reviewed by psychologist and author Jeannie Celestial who has previously reviewed children’s stories for other authors and used children’s literature in child psychotherapy (bibliotherapy). Her afterword also provides resources for caregivers on how to address death, dying, and grief with children. 

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About the Authors

Eileen R. Tabios has released nearly 100 collections of poetry, fiction, and prose from publishers around the world as a writer, artist, and editor. Her recent books include the novel The Balikbayan Artist; poetry collection Engkanto in the Diaspora; and autobiography, The Inventor. Recipient of the Philippines’ National Book Award for Poetry, she has been recognized for her writing and editing works with awards, grants and residencies. More information is at http://eileenrtabios.com

Mel Vera Cruz is a multimedia artist. A graduate of University of Santo Tomas (1985), he has exhibited in solo and group shows throughout the Bay Area as well as Manila; he also has designed neighborhood murals including for a wall at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens through a partnership between Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy and SFMTA as funded by a Caltrans Clean California grant. He works as a graphic designer for the department of transportation in Oakland, and lives with his wife, 2 kids and in laws in Union City, CA.

Jeannie Estella Celestial is a licensed clinical psychologist and psychotherapist at Sweet Mango Therapy Group in Northern California. She earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Palo Alto University with emphases in Clinical Neuropsychology and in Meditation and Psychology. She also holds a Master of Social Work degree from San Francisco State University and a Bachelor of Art degree with High Honors in Sociology from the University of California–Berkeley. Dr. Celestial was awarded the Minority Fellowship by the American Psychological Association in 2013 for her commitment to BIPOC behavioral health. With Drs. Jan Estrellado and Lou Felipe, Dr. Celestial co-edited Clinical Interventions for Internalized Oppression, which was published by Cognella Academic Publishing and co-sponsored by the American Psychological Association Division 45: Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race. Passionate about intergenerational cultural transmission, Dr. Celestial is one of the bestselling authors of The Filipino Instant Pot Cookbook. She can be reached at drcelestial.com.

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Advance Words

“Tata Efren’s Forever Laughter moves with love and reverence. Through beautiful illustrations and gentle storytelling, poetry becomes a healing practice. Rooted in Filipino-inspired ritual, it is a gift to people navigating grief. The afterword’s resources deepen the offering, inviting caregivers into presence and the sacred act of holding space for youth.” 
— Glenda Lee Goce Macatangay, M.S.W. Hilot Binabaylan, Author of Salt in Her Lungs