Stigma: Batang Poz 2 builds on the success of its first novel and iWant adaptation, delivering a gripping look into the lives of poz teens in ultra-conservative Philippines
Best-selling novelist and Palanca Award winner Segundo Matias Jr. has published Stigma: Batang Poz 2, the much awaited follow-up to his ground-breaking 2018 book Mga Batang Poz. The discussion concerning HIV awareness and the stigma that young Filipinos living with the infection still experience is deepened by his most recent release.
Melody, 15, joins the “Pete’s Corner” group chat in Stigma: Batang Poz 2, which serves as a virtual haven for young people with HIV like her. She must deal with the stigma as her pregnancy becomes more apparent while drawing support from the experiences of other young people who identify as Poz, including the well-known characters from the first novel. In the middle of the HIV-AIDS crisis in the Philippines, the follow-up examines survival, connection, solidarity, and the pursuit of hope.
Stigma: Batang Poz 2 left a strong impression on me because it shows the real struggles young Filipinos with HIV continue to face. Melody’s story, along with the voices in “Pete’s Corner,” reminds me how powerful safe spaces and shared experiences can be. The book highlights not just the stigma surrounding HIV, but also the resilience, hope, and support system that help these teens push forward. It’s a meaningful reminder that understanding and compassion can change someone’s life.
Matias adds, “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.”
A sequel that challenges as it confronts
As the first young adult novel about HIV-AIDS in the Philippines, Stigma: Batang Poz 2 has been hailed as a landmark contribution to both literature and public health, one that challenges prejudice and calls for compassion in the age of social media and digital connection. The first Batang Poz novel received critical acclaim for its courageous and truthful portrayal of living with HIV, later inspiring a powerful 2019 iWant miniseries starring Paolo Gumabao, Mark Neumann, and Awra Briguela. The sequel seeks not only to shed light on the lived experiences of People Living with HIV-AIDS (PLHIV) but also to remind us of the importance of empathy, understanding, and solidarity in combating discrimination.
Stigma: Batang Poz 2 also delivers engaging and practical information on sexual health and empowerment. “The discussions in this book are deeper and more technical,” shares Matias.
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?”
Multi-awarded poet, scholar, and teacher Charlie Samuya-Veric, celebrates Matias’ commitment to making “courageous writing contagious.” He explains, “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.”
Award-winning Gagambeks author Mark Angeles also commends the book for expanding discussions on topics that are frequently considered taboo and controversial. “Binuksan ng Mga Batang Poz ang makulay na mundo ng mga alter—isang produkto ng immersion ng awtor na internet subculture na ito.”
“Health hubs have told me that more people are getting tested because they read Mga Batang Poz,” says Matias. “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.” Matias hopes the sequel will enable readers, especially young adults, to face the world’s challenges with courage and clarity.
Stigma: Batang Poz by Segundo Matias, Jr. will soon be accessible.
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