“JUN MATIAS' DEFT SKILLS IN CRAFTING SOLID AND MEANINGFUL scenes served him well in Mga Batang Poz 2: Stigma. It's a useful tool to have since stigma is not always out there in big bold letters. 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.”
—Wilfredo Pascual, international award-winning essayist
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“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. In calling attention to the virus, Matias makes courageous writing contagious.”
—Charlie Samuya-Veric, Ateneo poet, scholar, and teacher
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“SADYANG WALANG SAPAT NA SALITANG MAAARING PANUMBAS sa mabuting naratolohiyang nabasa ko...”
—Jimmuel C. Naval, PhD., kuwentista at guro ng Arte at Literatura, UPD
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“It is heavy as it not just explores HIV but self mutilation, suicide, cancer, threesomes, foursomes, social stigma, S&M, discrimination, on top of all the confusion, guilt, shame, and issues young gay people have. But because mahaba siya, disimulado while reading it. But having said all that, I liked it. MALINIS ANG PAGKAKATAHI TILL THE VERY END.”
—Leo Katigbak, head of ABS-CBN Restoration
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“Ang nobelang ito ay isang NAPAKAHALAGANG KONTRIBUSYON AT NAPAPANAHONG ADBOKASIYA kundi man muhon sa panitikang YA na tumatalakay sa HIV/ AIDS, sa pagpapahalaga’t pagbibigay ng atensiyon sa mga biktima ay parehong kritikal na pagsusuri at makataong pananaw.”
—Stefani J Alvarez, OFW at awtor ng Ang Autobiografia ng Ibang Lady Gaga
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“In the episodic stories of the characters of Mga Batang Poz 2, runs the singular commentary on the Filipino family and Philippine society: intolerance. In bringing the stories to light, MATIAS BRINGS THE PLIGHT OF THOUSANDS OF BATANG POZ TO OUR COLLECTIVE ATTENTION, while opening our eyes to our own sick selves.”
—Andrea Pasion-Flores, author and publisher
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“MAPAPAISIP KA. YOU MIGHT GET AROUSED. Baka magalit pa nga, o maloka. Ang sigurado, magbabago ang pananaw mo pagkatapos nito.”
—Dave Fabros, photographer, filmaker, writer, vice president of Project Red Ribbon
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“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, awtor ng Gagambeks at mga Kuwentong Waratpad
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“Ikinukuwento ng Mga Batang Poz 2 hindi lamang ang kasalukuyan, kundi maging ang posibilidad sa hinaharap kaya dapat lamang na ituring ito bilang MAHALAGANG NOBELA NG KANIYANG PANAHON.”
—Noel G. de Leon, Manunulat at Iskolar ng Panitikang Pambata sa Kanlurang Bisayas
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“Mas maraming magagandang pangyayari sa kuwento na KAABANG-ABANG.”
—Rhon Yarte, HIV Counselor, Clinica Batasan, Quezon City