The company’s stated vision is “Inspire generations through the joy of reading,” while its mission is to create and publish books that “uplift and empower the Filipino.”

Origins

Lampara’s origins can be traced to Precious Pages Corporation (PPC), a publishing company established in 1992 by Segundo “Jun” Matias, Jr. and Richard Reynante. PPC initially became known for popular Filipino literature, particularly Tagalog romance pocketbooks.

By 1997, Matias and Reynante decided to diversify into children’s publishing. At the time, children’s books in the Philippine market were relatively limited, with many titles being imported rather than produced locally. The founders saw an opportunity to develop affordable books specifically suited to Filipino children.

The first project was an activity book titled Connect the Dots and Color. Its favorable sales and reception encouraged PPC to establish a dedicated editorial operation for children’s books under the Easy to Learn Books name. Lampara Publishing House, Inc. was subsequently established as PPC’s sister company.

Establishment of Lampara Books

Under LPHI, the Lampara Books imprint was created. Its objective was broader than simply producing preschool workbooks: the imprint sought to make children’s literature available to children, parents, teachers, and caregivers.

Lampara emphasized books by Filipino and other award-winning writers, frequently published in Filipino and English, with full-color illustrations. This bilingual approach allowed the company to target both readers in the Philippines and Filipino-oriented or international markets.

Lampara gradually expanded beyond basic children’s activity books.

According to the company’s history, it began participating in international book fairs and developing relationships with publishers and distributors outside the Philippines. Its participation in international publishing events eventually helped several Lampara and Easy to Learn titles reach foreign markets.

In 2005, Lampara established Easy to Learn Sydney (ETL Sydney) in Australia, described by the company as its first planned overseas business branch.

The Philippine Educational Publishers Association likewise describes LPHI as having expanded internationally, with some of its publications translated and distributed in markets including Europe, Southeast Asia, and Brazil.

Although strongly associated with children’s literature, Lampara’s catalog has developed into a fairly broad range of educational and literary products.

Its present catalog includes categories such as:

• Picture books
• Storybooks
• Big books
• Classics
• Bible and Bible-story books
• Flashcards and charts
• Workbooks
• Learning packages
• Middle-grade books
• Young-adult books
• Novels
• Graphic novels
• Health and science books
• Reference materials
• Gender and development titles

This reflects the company’s evolution from an activity-book publisher into a broader children’s and educational publishing house.

One of Lampara’s important publishing lines is Easy to Learn Books.

The line originated in 1997 and focused on fully illustrated children’s story and work-activity books. Its early purpose was to combine learning with activities such as:

• Coloring
• Reading
• Drawing
• Writing
• Reasoning
• Storytelling
• Crafts

The idea was to make early childhood development and values formation enjoyable rather than treating educational materials simply as conventional textbooks.

Over time, Easy to Learn expanded into licensed and character-based educational materials.

A notable part of Lampara’s history has been its work with internationally recognized children’s and entertainment properties.

Beginning in 2003, the company acquired rights to conceptualize, write, produce, and distribute books involving popular characters and franchises. The company’s historical account lists properties including:

• Dora the Explorer
• Blue’s Clues
• Winnie the Pooh
• Barney
• Disney Princess
• Barbie
• Marvel Super Heroes
• The Lion King
• Toy Story

More recently, the related Precious Pages history identifies Lampara/Easy to Learn as a local licensee for properties including Disney, Marvel, Mattel, Peppa Pig, and Cocomelon, although licensing arrangements can change over time.

Perhaps Lampara’s most distinctive contribution is its emphasis on locally produced children’s literature.

Rather than relying exclusively on imported children’s books, the company has published Filipino authors, illustrators, stories, and culturally relevant subject matter. Its stated mission explicitly frames publishing as a way of uplifting and empowering Filipino readers.

This includes books drawing on:

• Philippine culture and traditions
• Filipino family life
• Local folklore
• Values education
• Childhood experiences
• Social issues
• Filipino languages and bilingual reading

The company has also published works by award-winning writers and illustrators and has received recognition through several literary and children’s-literature organizations.

One of the better-known Lampara properties is Moymoy Lulumboy, created by Segundo D. Matias, Jr. The first book, Moymoy Lulumboy: Ang Batang Aswang, was published in 2014. The series incorporates Filipino mythology and folklore into middle-grade fantasy.

The imprint has also published a wide variety of children’s storybooks, educational titles, novels, and activity materials. Its current catalog demonstrates that Lampara is no longer confined to preschool publishing but covers readers from early childhood through young adulthood.

Lampara Books says its authors and books have received recognition from several major Philippine and international literary and media organizations, including:

• Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature
• Filipino Reader’s Choice Awards
• Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA)
• International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)

The company also promotes the Lampara Prize, reflecting its efforts to encourage children’s literature and new literary talent.

Lampara occupies an interesting position in the Philippine publishing industry because it combines commercial publishing, educational publishing, children’s literature, licensing, and local literary development.

Its significance can be understood in several areas:

Making children’s books locally

Lampara emerged at a time when imported children’s books occupied a substantial portion of the Philippine market. Its early strategy was explicitly intended to develop books suited to Filipino children and make them more accessible.

Promoting Filipino authors and illustrators

The company maintains a network of writers and illustrators and has published works by award-winning Filipino creatives. Its editorial operation has also involved people from education and child-development fields.

Combining entertainment and education

Its Easy to Learn line illustrates Lampara’s approach of combining stories, illustrations, games, and activities with educational objectives.

Bringing Filipino children’s literature abroad

Through international book fairs, rights sales, translations, and distribution arrangements, Lampara has sought markets beyond the Philippines.

Supporting reading development

The company continues to position reading development as part of its mission. Its current website, for example, highlights locally produced decodable books in connection with concerns over children’s reading ability in the Philippines.

Lampara states that it has been associated with several Philippine book-industry organizations, including the:

• Book Exporters of the Philippines
• Book Development Association of the Philippines
• National Book Development Board
• Manila International Book Fair

It is also listed by the Philippine Educational Publishers Association (PEPA) among its publishing-industry members.

The legal corporate name is Lampara Publishing House, Inc., while Lampara Books is the consumer-facing publishing imprint/brand most commonly associated with the company.

This distinction is useful: LPHI is the publishing company; Lampara Books is its principal publishing brand.

The company currently lists its office at 16 Jrich Building, Santo Domingo Avenue, Quezon City, 1114, Philippines.

A 2024 Philippine Intellectual Property Office publication also lists Lampara Publishing House, Inc. as the applicant for the “LAMPARA READS!” mark, covering goods such as children’s books, storybooks, coloring and activity books, flashcards, stationery, and puzzles.

Lampara’s brand can essentially be summarized around three ideas:

Reading + learning + Filipino identity

The company presents reading not merely as an academic skill but as a source of imagination, creativity, values formation, and empowerment. Its official vision—”Inspire generations through the joy of reading”—captures this positioning.

Its catalog consequently spans both fun and educational materials: picture books and stories sit alongside workbooks, flashcards, learning packages, reference materials, and other educational resources.

As of 2026, Lampara Publishing House remains an established Philippine children’s and educational publisher operating under the Lampara Books brand. Its contemporary catalog is considerably broader than the preschool activity books with which the company began in the 1990s.

The company’s trajectory can therefore be summarized as:

Precious Pages Corporation → children’s publishing initiative → Easy to Learn Books → Lampara Publishing House, Inc. → Lampara Books → diversified children’s, educational, literary, and licensed publishing.

From its beginnings in 1997, Lampara has developed from a small children’s-book operation into a publisher with a recognizable role in Philippine children’s literature and educational publishing, while maintaining an emphasis on Filipino readers, authors, illustrators, and culturally relevant stories.