Fascinated with books

In the most recent nursing board exams, the Ray Gapuz Review Center (RAGRC) produced 12 top notchers in the Top 10 ranking. This is an amazing feat for a review center whose name has now been institutionalized so that when one thinks about review for nurses, the RAGRC easily comes to mind. RAG Review Center has at least produced 200 top notchers in its 15 years of existence. All these successes are attributed to the review center’s main man Ray Gapuz. The secret he says is edutainment, a combination of education and entertainment, a technique he continues to utilize in his classes. Often his lessons are accompanied by presentations — song and dance, magic, clowning — all for easy learning review. Ray has written a number of nursing review books one of which is Mosby’s Essential Concepts for the Philippine Nurse Licensure Exam which won the International Book Awards.

1. What is the book that you are reading right now?

I am currently reading a very small book — 3x5 inches, the title: The Value of Integrity. It was given to me by my sister, Mia in one of our weekend home gatherings. It is written by Helen Exley.

2. What is the one book that you read over and over again?

It’s In the Meantime by Iyanla Vanzant. I love her framework and unpretentious discussion of getting to know one’s self and appreciating life in general. Her presentation of stories to highlight her points is very appealing to Filipinos. I love her style.

3. The worst book that you have read?

A friend asked my opinion about a nursing reviewer, so to be objective, I read it. The reviewer had a lot of errors. The sources of information were not cited. It’s the worst book I’ve read. I NEVER continued reading it.

4. The best book that you have read?

In the Meantime by Iyanla Vanzant.

5. The first book that you bought?

Believe it or not it’s ABAKADA, I got it for P1.50 when I was in Grade 1.

6. The first book that was given to you as a gift?

A dictionary. It was given to me by my sister when I was in Grade 4. We used to borrow a dictionary from our neighbors, so I was so happy to be given one.

7. What were the books that you read in high school?

The normal stuff — I mean, pocket books like Perry Mason, high school textbooks especially in Algebra. I’m weak in math so I tried reading it over and over.

8. The books your mother/grandmother gave you?

All my school textbooks were financed by my mother. She’s not the type who would give books as gifts but she makes it a point that you all have what you need.

9. What was the best book you received from a friend?

It’s Sander and Jonathon (it’s really with the “o”), Flaum’s The 100-Mile Walk.

10. The most recent book that you gave a friend?

Oh, it’s a clinical book on triage.

11. The book that you always carry with you?

It’s the inspirational book: The Monk That Sold His Ferrari.

12. Do not judge a book by its cover...to me means?

It’s like drinking Coke in can, you will never know what it tastes until you take your first sip.

13. Who is your favorite book author, local and foreign?

Local: Tomas Andres, Joey Concepcion, Josiah Go; Foreign: John Maxwell, Stephen Covey, Hans Finzel.

14.What do you consider when buying a book — author, theme, price, illustration?

Filipinos in general love to “buy into the person first before the product” so I look at the author muna.

15. What to you should be the best-selling book of all time?

If there’s gonna be a book about the teenage life of Christ, I think it would be a bestseller. If you notice in the Bible, there’s no book that dealt with it. Until now I’m curious about how Jesus was as a teenager.

16. Which do you prefer — epic, love stories, biographies, self-improvement books, bestsellers or classics?

Biographies and self-improvement. I am now reading Oprah: A Biography by Kitty Kelly. It’s very interesting.

17. Which section do you visit first when you go to a bookstore?

I usually go to the “Nursing/Medicine” section, I need to know what is new in there.

18. What is the book that you would bring with you when you are stranded in an island?

The Top 10 Mistakes Leaders Make by Hans Finzel, so that I’m sure I would not commit those mistakes when I am alone in an island because if that happens, I will have no choice but to lead my self.

19. You are in a plane ride, what book are you reading?

Healing Through Humor by Charles Frances Hunter. It’s a great book to balance the anxiety — provoking turbulence that one gets to experience when in a plane.

20. What is a good book?

A good book should have a clear framework and a sense of purpose. It should take into consideration a readers’ worldview.

21. If given the time and the opportunity to write another book, what would its title be?

I am now writing T.O.P. Stories.  It’s about simple day-to-day happenings which to me are forms of miracles. The letter T in the title means TRIUMPHS, the O, OBSTACLES and the P, PRAYERS. I am also doing a clinical-cum-inspirational book titled The Search... this one is light and very Filipino.

22. What is the book you read before going to sleep?

I always read clinical books, but sometimes I browse through John Maxwell’s book on leadership.

23. Who is your favorite and least favorite book author?

Just favorite: if it’s only one — Stephen Covey.

24. If you are going to write a book about yourself, how would you title it?

I would title it: The Journey and it’s gonna be a book on getting to know more about one’s self through my experiences with the people who were responsible for being who I am now — the “white angels” and the “black angels” in my life. Angels who show their love as they guide me are the white angels, those who hurt are the dark angels. I am a very positive person. The people who gave me pains are angels, too, sent by God to irritate me so I can move on to next higher level of my life. That’s how I see them.

25. If you were to write the life story of a world famous celebrity who would it be and why?

I would like to write about Adolf Hitler. It’s challenging to write about a person whom others see as not-so-positive influence. But that’s where the challenge is. I’d like to present to the world the reasons why he did what he did. And I would love to try finding the root cause of his decisions. I am more specifically inclined about how he was conceived and his experiences as a child.

26. What type of books can be found in your library?

All sorts of books — self-help, inspirational, leadership, clinical, research, biography. In fact, I can put up a public library with my books. It’s my wealth.

27. If you were to have a collection of books whose, books would you collect?

I would like to have the books of Michael Jackson. I would like to know what his interests were and what occupied his book shelf.

28. Which book would you recommend buying now?

I would like people to be inspired to go into business at this point because the economy is flat. It’s the best time to start a business. I would endorse any of the GO NEGOSYO books done by Joey Concepcion. These are good start-up books for would be entrepreneurs.

29. The book that had the biggest impact on your life? Why?

It’s Chicken Soup for the Soul. It once again reminded me that one has to work on his/her soul. In this era of ephemeral joys and snap-quick rat race to become successful, people tend to forget that there are more important things other than material wealth, and to me that is, a healthy soul.

30. The first thing that came to mind when you won the International Book Award?

Honestly, I said: Wow, nabola sila ng libro ko!, heheheh, kidding aside: I said to myself, it took me 17 years to turn this dream to reality but I know it’s worth the wait because finally, a Filipino has proven to the world that we have THE HEAD, THE HANDS AND THE HEART to be the worlds’ source of  KNOWLEDGE! We can indeed mentor the world.