WATCH: This YA fantasy character is inspired by Alyssa Valdez

Alyssa Valdez is now also a badass spear-wielding warrior.
Sep 14, 2023
Alyssa Valdez inspired this spear-wielding warrior in Alinam
Alyssa Valdez inspired this spear-wielding warrior in Alinam.
PHOTO: Lio Mangubat ILLUSTRATION: Abo Limos

DEEP INSIDE a forest refuge hidden in another world, a group of badass women warriors police the outskirts. Armed with spears and bows, the Babaylan safeguard the perimeter from anyone who would do this safe space harm.

Alinam and Kapitana Alyssa

Alyssa, of course, is named after Alyssa Valdez, captain of the Creamline Cool Smashers and one of Philippine volleyball’s most recognized aces.

“There’s this inner assurance in [Alyssa] that’s tough to beat,” said Mickey Ingles, the novelist who created the fictional world of Alinam, a planned trilogy of YA novels set in an alternate-universe Manila. In his day job, Ingles is a sports lawyer who counts some of the sports world’s biggest names in his client list. (He also writes a column for SPIN.ph.) But over the past decade—scribbling pages in cafes during his spare time—he’s been hard at work on his fantasy book series. He released the first book, Alinam: Diego Domingo and the Mandato Ruiz, in 2020, and just last month, he came out with its sequel.

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Who is Alyssa in the Alinam novels?

“Alyssa in Alinam 2: Diego Domingo and the Three Thieves is the captain of the mysterious Babaylans, an all-female elite warrior unit sworn to protect the Native community. She’s strong and graceful, and super bad-ass!” said Ingles.

Mickey has known Alyssa for years. Aside from their love of sports, Valdez and Ingles also have one thing in common: they’re both UAAP athletes who led their teams to unprecedented championships.

In 2004, a young Mickey Ingles captained the Ateneo football team to a threepeat.

A decade later, Alyssa Valdez bannered the Blue Eagles in their “heart strong” rivalry against La Salle.

“Aly’s one of the strongest people I know in all aspects of the word, not just physically! So that aspect of her was definitely an inspiration,” explained Ingles about “casting” Valdez in his book. “And it’s really about the grace. You see Aly on the court and you think of her flying in for a spike with such a combo of power and grace.

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“You see that also with Alyssa the warrior in Alinam Dos, especially when you see her fight.”

As a thank you to Valdez, Ingles presented her with a full-sized poster of her...character in the book, illustrated by Rica Diaz, who also did the art for the covers and chapter openers of the fantasy series.

Valdez was appreciative of the gift. “It shows strength. It showed her personality and character right away,” she gushed as she held up the framed poster.

But, she added with a laugh, “I’m not used to wearing green.”

Alinam 2: Diego Domingo and the Three Thieves is out now on Lazada, Shopee, and all major book stores. You can also order the first book on Lazada and Shopee. Both books are also available at the Manila International Book Fair, set to run from September 14 to 17 in the SMX Convention Center in SM Mall of Asia.

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Alyssa Valdez inspired this spear-wielding warrior in Alinam

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Alyssa Valdez inspired this spear-wielding warrior in Alinam.
PHOTO: Lio Mangubat ILLUSTRATION: Abo Limos
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