BOOK REVIEWS
“Musalaya's Gift is truly a gift. The text feels more woven than written, revealing a cultural love letter filled with secret word hallways (more access to more hallways if one understands Tagalog), land reverence, colonial intrigue and the simple/potent idea of giving of oneself so that something greater may exist. The story is rich and lean, wondrous and brisk. Mr. Benedicto has crafted a singular tale filled with warmth and heart that can only be described as an instant classic.”
— Lightfoot
“Musalaya’s Gift is a journey through a world of wizards, demons, social injustice. Conrad Benedicto painted a vista of island ecology, the vastness of forests, mountain peaks where two societies struggled through a century’s old struggle. Benedicto, an accomplished musician in the Filipino tradition, used music as a counter point and remedy to the magic of a people that had colonized an island community. For those of you who love history, you can’t help but see in this fairy tale links to the Spanish colonization of the Phillipines, and the Filipino’s resistance. This is not a historical, but it opens doors through its transformational journey of a small boy. My heartfelt thanks to Benedicto for sharing this world to us.”
— Kevin H.
“Musalaya's Gift is a truly wonderful book for all ages. When I was reading it, I found myself trying to slow down to fully savor the writing but would realize I had sped ahead to find out what was going to happen. I sent a copy to my sister and to her granddaughter and though they live in different states, they read and enjoyed it "together." It is a beautiful, meaningful voyage.”
— Anne
