Books launched/published

“Happiness Is a Decision”

On Nov. 10, George Sison’s book Happiness Is a Decision will be launched at Stratford Residences, Picar Place, Kalayaan Ave., Makati, at 6 p.m. Guests of honor will be V-P Jejomar C. Binay, Ambassador Amable Aguiluz, Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Princess Meriam T. Kiram, Margie Moran-Floirendo, Ramon Tulfo and Becky Garcia.

George, best-selling author of “A Miracle Awaits You” and “I Am a winner”, was a painter-poet, journalist, stage actor, film producer, writer and political detainee. He attended the Ateneo U., and has a philosophy degree from the UP.

He founded the Temple of Prayer, Peace and Prosperity, a transformational and development center, is an ordained minister of the Community Church of New Thought in Mesa, Arizona, and District President-Ambassador-at-large in the Philippines of the International New Thought Alliance.

“Living with Autism”

Arthur and Mariter Macapagal (nee Jalandoni) have come out with “Our Andrei: Living with Autism”. Edited by Llita Logarta, the book is written by Vicente Roman S. Santos and Rey Alejandro.

“Our Andrei” is a deeply moving account of how Arthur and Mariter have coped through the years with their son’s affliction. When Andrei was born, autism was little known here, and the couple went through agonizing hardships and uncertainties as they took care of Andrei, assuming he was a spoiled child!

Andrei has turned out to be an artist — his beautiful paintings are shown in the book — but we realize what autism is when the book reveals that Arthur still gives the grown-up Andrei a shave every Sunday.

“Prowess and Grace”

Sent by regular mail, the invitation from the Ateneo School of Humanities Dean’s Office, the Ateneo Center for English Language Teaching, the Ateneo Library of Women’s Writings and the Ateneo U. Press to the launching of “Prowess and Grace”, a “festschrift” for Edna Zapanta Manlapaz, arrived more than a week late. The book is edited by Maria Vilches, Rica Bolipata-Santos, Ana Fernandez.

“Simple Glories”

Tony Joaquin’s book “Simple Glories” describes in a straight-forward manner his family, many of whose members stand out for their intelligence and talent. The genius in this high-born family is, of course, Nick Joaquin who might not have been admired and idolized by the literati had he continued staying in a seminary in Hongkong where he was studying for the priesthood. The other most distinguished member of the family was Tony’s own mother Sarah Kabigting Joaquin whose autobiography I shall comment on later.

Tony chronicles his life in San Beda and Ateneo, his work in various fields here and abroad, describes his associates with much affection and who, in turn, show their appreciation of him in glowing testimonies.

The chapters on the Japanese Occupation are riveting, particularly to those who had a foretaste of it. “Simple Glories” encapsulates Tony’s life as son, husband, father and as a professional who, in sum, serves as a genuine inspiration to the reader.

“Laughter and Tears”

Sarah K. Joaquin’s autobiography chronicles her life, her astonishingly diverse activities as mother, stage director, actress, professor who taught in English, Tagalog and Spanish. Intimate moments with her husband Ping are described in detail without any self-consciousness.

Sarah was quite a woman. For several decades, she directed plays mostly at the FEU, becoming an institution for her work in theater and academe, and beyond both enclaves. She was largely instrumental in making the FEU “the dominant landmark in the cultural scene” during her time.

She was a founding member of the Barangay Theater Guild, the Manila Theater Guild and Dramatic Philippines in whose presentations she acted.

In the Epilogue by Sarah’s son-in-law Fred de la Rosa, he writes: “Sarah was my second mother.” That proves how solicitous she was of everyone under her wing.

The FEU gave Sarah a Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the many she garnered from various institutions here and in the US where she relentlessly directed plays, as also the zarzuela Ang Kiri in Washington, and kept her usual frenetic schedule.

Literary giant Nick Joaquin sums up Sarah thus: “When I think of Sarah, I see dynamos. Physically, intellectually, spiritually, she is a dynamo. And I speak from a knowledge of her dating back to my childhood.”