Nelson Canlas and Yasmien Kurdi collaborate on a book about bullying, to be launched at Philippine Book Fair 2026

Nelson Canlas and Yasmien Kurdi have collaborated on a children’s book about bullying called “Si Jose at ang Mahiwagang Taguri.”

At the launch of the Philippine Book Fair 2026 in Quezon City Thursday, the Kapuso personalities spoke more about the collaboration, with Nelson answering GMA News Online's question about the bookwriting process and collaboration, admitting it "was both easy and hard.”

“Easy — nag-te-text lang kami, minsan dis-oras ng gabi. ‘Yas, what do you think of this part? Tatanggalin natin ‘tong part na ‘to?’ ‘Tas magbabato siya sa ‘kin,” Nelson said. “It was hard because you have to dig deep into something that’s really dark.”

According to the Kapuso journalist, "Si Jose at ang Mahiwagang Taguri" was inspired both by his own experiences with bullying as a child and those of Yasmien’s daughter Ayesha Zara, who recently struggled with bullying.

“I’m nervous. This is my third book, and years ago, I didn’t know na makakasali ako sa Philippine Book Festival,” Nelson said. “I told myself, for my third book, I’m going to write about myself, and this is one part of my life.”

“I had to dig deep to 40 years ago, because 40 years ago just like Yasmien’s daughter, I was bullied not just emotionally, but also physically,” the journalist said.

“And na-realize ko na ‘yung bullying, kahit na ilang dekada na ‘yung dumaan, grabe pa din,” he added, citing cyberbullying as one of the main issues today.

“There are a lot of nights where we would ugly-cry because masakit talaga,” Nelson said.

Meanwhile, Yasmien said the project is "very close to my heart."

"It is based on real-life experience," said the Philippine Book Festival first-timer.

Turning emotional, Yasmien said Nelson "got inspired by my daughter with the bullying incident. That’s why I’m here."

For the Kapuso actress, "it's time to introduce these kinds of relevant, timely issues that students nowadays face" through books as they can help teach kids about empathy and remind them they're not alone.

“These issues for students, they have a deep impact, emotional impact in their lives. And with my daughter, she was really affected with it, I was a witness with it. And with these kinds of books, it will help them navigate and how to cope and how to manage these issues if ever these incidents happen to them,” Yasmien said.

“Katulad nung time ko, I felt like I was unseen. ‘Yung mga bata ngayon should know na merong nakakaintindi sa inyo,” Nelson said.

The collaborators hope the message will come across in their book.

“Come on Filipinos, we are the bullying capital of the world. I mean, that is so sad,” Nelson said. “And I don’t think there will be enough books about bullying na pwede nating i-ambag to help create that noise, to help create that awareness na hindi dapat nangyayari ‘to at this day and age.”

Yasmien hopes the book will help teach kids to move on and navigate their feelings.

“Para ma-guide din sila na tama ‘yung na-fi-feel nila, na okay lang. It’s okay, you can move on, you can be strong, you can be yourself. Hindi mo kailangan magbago, you don’t have to change your personality,” she said.

The actress added, “’Yun ‘yung gusto kong iparating ng book na pwede ka pa ring maging malakas despite of what you went through.”

“Si Jose at ang Mahiwagang Taguri" will also feature a poem written by Yasmien's daughter.

“Si Jose at ang Mahiwagang Taguri” officially launches at the Philippine Book Fair, happening on March 12 to 15 at the Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. — LA, GMA Integrated News