One of the most meaningful milestones in Mona Liza Santos' journey as a children's author took place in July 11, 2026, when she became the first Filipino children's author to launch Seafood City's inaugural , Kwento at Kulay (Story and Color) family literacy program at the company's Chula Vista location.

 

As the first interactive storytelling partnership of its kind at Seafood City, Kwento at Kulay transformed a traditional book signing into an engaging family literacy experience. Centered around Mona's award-winning children's book, The Filipino in Me, the program featured live read alouds, interactive activities, creativity, cultural pride, and meaningful family connection.

 

Families registered through Seafood City's official SFC+ mobile app, while shoppers, neighboring businesses, and members of the community paused to enjoy the story as it unfolded. The event demonstrated that children's books can create meaningful moments wherever families naturally gather, including places many people would never expect, such as a neighborhood grocery store.

 

Following the event, Seafood City's Events and Marketing Associate, Jean Eloise Claudio, shared:

 

"Thank you once again for a wonderful event! It's the first ever Kwento at Kulay, so you pioneered the start of Filipino authors at Seafood City! Seafood City Chula Vista's staff emphasized how wonderful you were to work with, and that it was a very smooth and well-crafted event. We look forward to continuing this partnership."

 

The partnership reflected a shared commitment to making literacy more accessible while celebrating Filipino culture, family connection, and community engagement. For Mona, the experience reinforced a belief that has guided her work from the very beginning.

 

Children's books belong everywhere.  They belong in libraries and classrooms, but they also belong in grocery stores, museums, bookstores, shopping centers, community festivals, and every place where families naturally gather.

 

Every event Mona creates is designed to be more than a book signing. Her goal is to provide an engaging experience where children discover the joy of reading, families create lasting memories, and communities come together through storytelling, kindness, emotional literacy, and cultural pride.