Textbook crusader slapped with libel

Stung by the attacks on a history book she principally authored, a 75-year-old academician has filed libel charges against a self-styled quality textbook crusader.

Dr. Teofista Vivar, a professor who teaches in the masteral program of the state-run Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and who has held several posts in the Department of Education (DepEd), filed the charges against Antonio Calipjo-Go before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office.

Go, academic supervisor of the Marian School in Sauyo, Novaliches, Quezon City, welcomed the charges, saying he is ready to face Vivar in court.

He stressed he cannot be accused of having malicious intent against Vivar since he did not know her personally.

"I don’t know her. I even feel guilty because I didn’t know that she was that old," Go told The STAR. "I am basically against the book and not the person."

Go said that while he can file counter-charges against Vivar, he might not take the option, citing humanistic regard for the academician.

He pointed out that the DepEd has confirmed the countless of errors found in the history textbook "Asya: Nuon, Ngayon, at sa Hinaharap" that Vivar authored along with two others.

Go exposed what he called were 431 "inane" and "grave factual and grammatical errors" in the controversial textbook.

"I think the (education) department should step in," Go said.

Amid the scandal involving error-filled textbooks, the DepEd said outside experts will step in to evaluate the textbooks’ content after the DepEd’s pool of 700 evaluators have thoroughly gone through them.

Three DepEd personnel reportedly evaluated in 1997 "Asya," which was co-authored by Evelina Viloria, Ruth Fuentes, and the late Remedios Quiray and published by VibalPublishing through its sister company, SD Publications.

Two of those who made the evaluation are no longer with the DepEd, while the third now reportedly works in a DepEd bureau in a "higher capacity."

Apart from "Asya," the other four error-riddled textbooks Go has identified are:

• "Science and Technology in the Modern World I," authored by Marlene Gutierrez, and published by Diwa Scholastic Press.

• "Science and Technology in the Modern World II," authored by Maria Olivares, Eloisa Bermio and Juanita Cruz, and published by Diwa Scholastic Press.

• "Kasaysayan ng Daigdig III," authored by Vivar, Nieva Discipulo, Priscilla Rillo and Zenaida de Leon, and published by SD Publications.