'The art of Living well' - A treasure rediscovered!

When in law school many years ago, I always had pocket books ready. I placed them side by side my volumes of law books. They ranged from the classical works of Jean Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire to the modern spy thrillers of Robert Ludlum and Frederick Forsythe as well as the inspirational or motivational writings of Norman Vincent Peale and Napoleon Hill. Each time I found my comprehension of the legal texts and references getting slow or whenever the principles were difficult to understand, I would wile my attention and rest my mind by poring over those paperbacks.

Indeed, they served me very well. The learning which came wholly unintended, and therefore, with out much effort, added new and more profound dimensions to my studies. For instance, the Social Contract, gave me an insight that would prove useful in my understanding of constitutional law. Or for that matter, the thesis of Paul Kennedy introduced me to the historical origins of acid rain as being the result of uncontrolled industrialization.

The works of Hill and Peale provided instructional guides on how to make life more meaningful while the theory of Stinger, (probably the bible of our city mayor) warned me into the intricacies of winning by intimidation.

When I started to teach Legal Philosophy, I found my earlier readings of Dworkin and Dennis Lloyd (The Idea of Law) very rewarding. As a student, I read them for the first time, for them to function as my mental diversions. But, when I handled the subject, I discovered that many chapters in their books elucidated certain concepts which were otherwise vaguely explained in my text.

Presently, I am reading the work of the late Don Vicente Gullas, thanks to the thoughtfulness of Sir Dodong, the best mayor Cebu City does not have. This book is called "The Art of Living Well" is a treasure rediscovered!

Actually, I heard first about this book when I was an undergraduate student because a quote was put in a carefully crafted frame and made to hang at the then office of the Supreme Student Council. That's how it touched me early in my life. I then searched for a copy to browse that I could imbibe its complete teaching. Really, I would have proudly placed it together with "I'm Ok, You're Ok". Unfortunately, my effort was not rewarded. There was no more copy for sale. It had been exhausted many years earlier and the author did not print it anymore. Sadly, no one could direct me to where I could get hold of the book.

Naturally, when I was handed this copy, I got the surprise of my life. An inexplicable degree of excitement engulfed me. Immediately, I tried to bring my memory back to that framed quotation without opening the revered pages. Ouch! My recollection might have been dimmed already such that I could not say it verbatim, but, certainly, I could not forget its focus on ordinary mortals, who, despite wearing no crowns, "are kings and queens, just the same".

Reading this work is a most wonderful experience. At first glance, it looks like a light material. It is easily readable. The author, Nyor Inting to me then, made sure that it does not require absolute concentration to understand. Its language is simple although its message is profound.

The whole thesis of "The Art of Living Well" is how to be successful in life. But, instantly, it differs from most paperbacks. Success, in the conceptualization of many other works, is how one scales the ladder of material and social progress. Nyor Inting's book is not about possession of wealth, power or fame. Rather, it goes deeper than the outward appearance of opulence. To this elder, success is akin to unswerving service to one's fellowmen.

This paperback is worth more than its equivalent in gold. Reprinting it and distributing it so that many may learn from its teaching is by itself, a successful contribution of the Gullases to the education of the young. Congratulations Sir Dodong and thank you for this treasure.