Fantasy novel highlights pre-colonial artifacts

#tdi_1 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 { background: url(https://bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Book-Cover-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; } #tdi_1 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 { background: url(https://bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Laguna-Copperplate-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; } #tdi_1 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item3 { background: url(https://bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Mariano-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; } 1 of 3 Atty. Mariano with his book next to the Laguna Copperplate at the National Museum. THE FIRST NOVEL by Darwin De Jesus Mariano, titled Namwaran and the Golden Tara, offers a glimpse into centuries of Southeast Asian history through an epic narrative anchored on ancient artifacts. As a historical research-based novel, it draws its foundation and inspiration from two culturally significant pre-colonial items discovered in the Philippines — the Laguna Copperplate and the Golden Tara of Agusan. The book’s release also comes during the Philippines’ landmark UNESCO Memory of the World Registry bid for the historic copperplate, which Mr. Mariano, a lawyer, first saw during a visit to the National Museum of Anthropology over a decade ago. The Laguna Copperplate is the earliest known written document in the Philippines, dating back to 900 CE. It was first found in 1989 near the mouth of the Lumbang River in Laguna. “When I saw it, my mind was blown. There are so many interesting bits of history collected in museums. If you take enough of a step back, you can actually connect the dots,” Mr. Mariano said at the book launch on Sept. 13 at the National Museum of Anthropology at the National Museum complex in Manila. The idea for a fictional narrative formed when he found out that the weight of the Golden Tara of Agusan is 865 grams. This is the same as the amount of gold inscribed in the copperplate, referring to the debt from which a man named Namwaran is acquitted. “Historically, there’s no evidence these two items were connected, but I realized it could be a nice journey through Southeast Asia and the Philippines,” Mr. Mariano said. Philippine Memory of the World Committee secretary-general Ivan Anthony Henares underscored the importance of preserving the country’s pre-colonial heritage, particularly as the Laguna Copperplate undergoes evaluation for possible inclusion in the Asia and the Pacific Regional Register, with results expected in November. The Golden Tara of Agusan is a 21-karat gold statue from the 9th-10th century discovered in 1917 along the banks of the Wawa River in Agusan del Sur. It is currently housed at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, USA. “This is really for fans of the genre, of historical fiction. It will inspire curiosity because there’s just so much more to investigate and discover,” said Mr. Mariano. “We were not taught as much of this in school. Most of our history started when Spain arrived, and discovering that there’s so much more is mind-blowing.” THE FICTIONAL WORLD The two pieces of heritage come to life through the story of three siblings — Namwaran, Angkatan, and Bukah — all named in the Laguna Copperplate. Their lives change after their mother, Pandi, disappears and the priceless golden statue is stolen. Given three black stone amulets that grant long life, the siblings embark on a centuries-long journey across the Srivijaya and Majapahit Empires and onto the Spanish arrival in Luzon, following the trail of the Golden Tara and searching for their mother. Through its centuries-spanning story, the novel explores family, grief, identity, survival, and the cost of living far beyond one’s own time. Mr. Mariano said that, aside from building a Filipino historical fantasy rooted in the region’s past, he aims to “tell a deeply personal story of family and loss.” He explained that he initially wrote the book for himself, so it takes after his own taste in literature — he named authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and Gabriel Garcia Marquez — that tends to be more descriptive and reflective. “It’s really a journey through maritime Southeast Asia as the empires sort of crumble. It’s meant to show that the things that happen today have already happened before,” he said. “That’s why we need to do a better job of keeping record, so that we do not make the same mistakes that were committed in the past.” The novel also brings together creative voices from across the region, with art and illustrations by Filipino comic book artist Miko Pica, cover art coloring by Indonesian colorist Fauzi Nugraha, and a custom typeface by Singaporean artist John Poh. It’s also proof that artificial intelligence (AI) really cannot replace creative talent, according to Mr. Mariano. “I don’t think AI would be able to connect the things that I’ve connected because it really requires creativity,” he said. “I can’t speak for how intelligent it is, but I hope that the book survives and that museums and artifacts continue to be cherished.” He explained that there was actually more to learn in the writing process than in the research. “It’s because of the patterns that we see as we write or create something,” he said. “That’s how insight is generated.” Namwaran and the Golden Tara is now available at CentralBooks nationwide. To order and for more information, visit the CentralBooks website (tinyurl.com/bddph2jn). — Brontë H. Lacsamana