Diwa of Mount Luntian and the Sirena's Gift - Hardcover

by Cleodia Martinez (Author), Paola Santos (Illustrator)

Inspired by Philippine landscapes and mythological creatures, Diwa of Mount Luntian and the Sirena's Gift is a sensory-rich Filipino children's story about rupture and repair, where guidance from the natural world helps children move through big feelings and return to connection.

Little Diwa is a diwata, a nature spirit of Mount Luntian whose glow changes with every feeling. When a mistake leaves her feeling unsettled and distant from her best friend, her light shifts in ways she doesn't quite understand. Drawn to the water, she meets Sinaya, a sirena who listens deeply and moves with the rhythm of the sea.

Through breath, motion, and the steady presence of water, Sinaya invites Diwa to pause and feel what is moving within her. Together, they wade, float, and listen beneath the waves, discovering that emotions can shift and pass. As Diwa softens and finds her way back to herself, she begins to see how repair can take shape-through sincere apology, the courage to reach back toward another, and the openness of forgiveness.

As Diwa's glow shifts from stormy and tangled to clear and steady, children are invited to recognize their own emotional rhythms, learning that it is safe to feel, pause, and begin again.

Through presence, co-regulation, and connection to the natural world, this story offers support for emotional resilience, helping children understand that relationships can be mended, forgiveness can grow, and light can return after a storm.

Readers can extend the experience with a downloadable Activity Kit featuring reflection prompts and creative activities inspired by Diwa's journey.