Jason Tanamor, Cert. '24

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A new young adult Filipino superhero novel, "The Legend of Sensei Tsinelas" by Filipino-American author Jason Tanamor, will be released on May 13, 2025, during Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

A synopsis of the book:

Between a tsinelas-wielding superhero, a major social studies project, and take-out boxes of adobo and lumpia, seventeen-year-old Filipino American Victor Dela Cruz isn’t sure how to get through high school without the help of a radioactive spider. Despite his attempts to assimilate into his mostly white Portland high school, Victor has always felt like an outsider. He likes to think high school is his superhero origin story, and all he needs now are some superpowers.

His very own supervillain, Clint Robertson, Cleveland High’s golden boy, and a major project about his ancestry make Victor wish he had the power of invisibility. But when he witnesses his boss at the food truck slinging his trusty tsinelas to stop a thief in his tracks, Victor sees his chance to find the acceptance he’s always craved. He believes he’s found a hometown superhero, and he plans to convince his peers that the owner of Filipino Feast is secretly an undercover vigilante.

From the author of "Love, Dance & Egg Rolls," Jason Tanamor’s poignant narrative is a testament to resilience, reminding us that true strength and pride are found in embracing the rich tapestry of our own identities.

Tanamor said that the Filipino angle of the story is what makes this book somewhat unique in the genre.

“Filipinos get lumped into ‘Asian’ categories, but when you look at Asian projects, they’re mostly resigned to Japanese, Chinese, and Korean projects. This book is different because it has a Filipino protagonist at the forefront of the story, and not just a supplemental or stereotypical character in the background. The cover has a Filipino food cart and tsinelas. How many YA books can you tell me that has a Filipino food cart on the cover? I’d argue none.”

Tanamor has advice to help young teenagers learn to reconnect with their heritage:

“Lean into the discomfort. When you learn to be uncomfortable, you’ll begin the journey of knowing yourself on an intimate level. And once you’ve learned to be uncomfortable and developed this intimate relationship with yourself, you’ll find that it’s easier to engage with your heritage than shy away from it.”

Using superheroes as protagonist Victor’s coping mechanism was natural for the author.

“Superheroes have always been a big part of my life. They still are. I have a Superman tattoo. Who doesn’t want to be a superhero with powers and are revered by everyone? But what they represented to me, and Victor in this case, is the ability to overcome your own weaknesses. For me, they were insecurity and unpopularity, so imagining the possibility to overcome these feelings oftentimes take something magical, or super.

“I wanted to write a fun book that includes two of my favorite things: superheroes and Filipino food, but with an underlying message. The country is so divided, so it's important to show young kids, especially those of color, that they belong equally in a society that should be made up of many different races and cultures. This book reinforces that idea that people of color can be the main character in their own life. Most importantly, it reinforces that true power comes from within.”

Named as one of the "5 Best Modern Filipino Writers" by Pinas Global Newspaper and listed as one of Positively Filipino's "Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous," Tanamor is the acclaimed author of the Filipino themed novels “Vampires of Portlandia,” “Love, Dance & Egg Rolls,” and “The Legend of Sensei Tsinelas.”

He was nominated for the 2024 UCLA Allegra Johnson Literary Prize and the 2024 UCLA James Kirkwood Prize, and he has been featured in several Filipino publications like Esquire Philippines, CNN Philippines, Filipino Daily Inquirer and Asian Journal.

Tanamor currently lives and works in Illinois.