“Melody, the new character, is especially important to me. If her story reaches video, there is so much within her journey that viewers can learn from. Through Melody’s experiences, the novel discusses both teenage pregnancy and living with HIV. The discussions in this book are deeper and more technical. In Stigma, I made it a point to provide clear guidance on staying safe. I want to highlight the importance of PrEP and consistently advocating condom use for protection. While the first book conveyed the horrors surrounding HIV, the second installment focuses on empowerment and dismantling stigma. That alone makes me happy. For a writer like me, being able to convey a meaningful message through one’s work is already a victory.” ~Segundo Matias Jr., Palanca Award-winning and best-selling author
Melody, 15, joins Stigma: Batang Poz 2's "Pete's Corner" group chat, which acts as a virtual safe haven for young HIV-positive individuals like her. As her pregnancy becomes more obvious, she must deal with the stigma while finding solace in the stories of other young people who identify as Poz, including the well-known characters from the first book. The follow-up looks at survival, connection, solidarity, and the search for optimism amid the HIV-AIDS catastrophe in the Philippines.
A sequel that challenges as it confronts
Stigma: In the age of social media and digital connectedness, Batang Poz 2, the first young adult book about HIV/AIDS in the Philippines, has been hailed as a landmark piece of literature and public health that challenges prejudice and calls for compassion. The original Batang Poz novel, which was praised by critics for its courageous and honest portrayal of living with HIV, served as the inspiration for a powerful 2019 iWant miniseries starring Paolo Gumabao, Mark Neumann, and Awra Briguela. The sequel seeks to remind us of the importance of empathy, understanding, and solidarity in the struggle against prejudice while also shedding light on the actual experiences of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV).
Stigma: Batang Poz 2 also delivers engaging and practical information on sexual health and empowerment.
Early praise for Stigma: Batang Poz 2
The novel has garnered advanced praise from notable critics, writers, and advocates in the Philippines.
Internationally acclaimed essayist and winner of the Curt Johnson Prose Award for Nonfiction, Wifredo Pascual commends Matias’ masterful craftmanship, noting his skill in crafting “solid and meaningful” scenes.
“His sharp eye in choosing the most telling detail is critical in bringing this to light. It’s urgent. And it’s a question worth asking ourselves as readers. How far are we willing to go to get to the source of our discomfort and denial? With Stigma: Batang Poz 2, Segundo Matias, Jr. departs completely from the fantastical concerns of Moymoy Lulumboy and takes his readers close to what they would otherwise deny: their deepest fears and most unacknowledged prejudices. Matias’s courage is enabling. He provides his audience with a different experience and creates a new horizon for YA writers who may not yet have the will, or wherewithal, to explode social taboos.” ~Wifredo Pascual, Internationally acclaimed essayist and winner of the Curt Johnson Prose Award for Nonfiction
Multi-awarded poet, scholar, and teacher Charlie Samuya-Veric, celebrates Matias’ commitment to making “courageous writing contagious.”
Mark Angeles, award-winning author of Gagambeks, also praises the book for widening the conversations around subjects often deemed controversial and taboo.
"Binuksan sa atin ng Mga Batang Poz ang makulay na mundo ng mga alter—isang produkto ng immersion ng awtor sa internet subculture na ito.” ~Mark Angeles, award-winning author of Gagambeks
Matias hopes the sequel will empower readers, especially young adults, to face the world’s challenges with courage and clarity.
Health hubs have told me that more people are getting tested because they read Mga Batang Poz.
Segundo Matias, Jr.’s Stigma: Batang Poz will be available soon.
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