Although the national language of the Philippines is Tagalog, many families in the Visayas and Mindanao regions primarily speak Bisaya.
Superbook saw this as an opportunity to reach more children in these regions by producing Superbook episodes in Bisaya for the first time in 2023.
During a recent Superbook Bisaya Caravan: Sabay-Sabay Lilipad in Bohol, children and parents alike were surprised and overjoyed to hear their own dialect spoken by the beloved Superbook trio—Joy, Chris, and Gizmo.
The room buzzed with excitement as they watched the episode “A Giant Adventure!” Together, they laughed and marveled at how the show captured the unique Bisaya accent, expressions, and humor, making the experience all the more relatable and memorable.
Ms. Rebecca Omila, a Sunday school teacher from Dauis, Bohol, expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the Superbook team’s visit to their church. She shared how impactful the show is for their students, many of whom come from non-Christian households.
“Superbook plays a vital role in teaching children Bible stories,” she said. “At first, I was surprised to watch an episode in Bisaya, and I’m deeply thankful to the creators of this show. Children today love watching animated programs, but unfortunately, many don’t promote good values. That’s why we are so grateful for Superbook, which is a positive influence on the next generation.”
Ms. Rebecca also highlighted how important the Superbook Bisaya episodes are for children in underprivileged communities who do not have access to television or gadgets. “It’s even better now that it’s translated in Bisaya,” she said. “We have more than a hundred indigent children in our church who don’t understand Tagalog or English. This will truly make a difference.”
Similarly, Ms. Jiecel Lou Sacay, a parent from Victory Temple in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, shared her amazement upon hearing about Superbook in Bisaya. “I was surprised. It sounded funny at first because we’re not used to hearing Bisaya on screen. But this is a wonderful tool to teach my children our mother tongue since schools don’t offer Bisaya as a subject.”
Meanwhile, Maribel Movera, a parent from the Badjao community in Dauis, Bohol, expressed deep gratitude for the availability of Superbook Bisaya.
Although her community speaks a different dialect, she noted that Bisaya is the closest they can understand. “The kids can relate to the show. They grasp the lessons better, especially those who don’t understand English or Tagalog,” she said.
Not only did parents enjoy the newly introduced Superbook episodes, but children expressed their excitement and appreciation, too.
Angela Usaraga, a 9-year-old girl, shared her enthusiasm, saying that Superbook Bisaya is fun to watch with friends. She particularly enjoyed the episode because the characters “speak like us,” making the experience more relatable.
Similarly, Sungel Sacay, also 9 years old, expressed her love for Superbook Bisaya, saying she plans to tell her friends about it. “I really like Superbook because it makes you smart!” she exclaimed.
Mark Dave Movera, a 10-year-old boy from the Badjao community in Dauis, Bohol, reflected on the powerful lesson he learned from the episode. “It taught me to be strong despite the giants you face because you have God on your side,” he shared.
