Books on Laurel, D. Franco to be launched by NCCA / St. Paul U. centenary concert

Tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the NCCA building in Intramuros, the books “Gintong Kaisipan ni Jose P. Laurel” and “My Lolo, Domingo Franco” will be launched by its author Celia Diaz Laurel, daughter-in-law of towering nationalist Laurel, and grand-daughter of Domingo Franco, one of the 13 martyrs executed at Bagumbayan Field.

Laurel, Secretary of the Interior during the American colonial regime and President during the Japanese Occupation, served as senator, and Supreme Court Justice between those two periods. To quote an editorial of La Vanguardia in 1943, he was “a man of integrity and probity and of strong convictions”.

During the Japanese Occupation, Laurel was relentlessly pressured by the authorities to declare war on America. He did. But he resolutely refused to conscript the Filipino youth. Consequently, the declaration of war, rendered meaningless, spared thousands of youthful lives from certain death.

Laurel played a major role as head of the Phil-American Trade Mission to Washington, engaging in fierce debates between the Laurel-Langley panels. Before heading for Washington, Laurel read no less than 32 of the best books on economics. With his solid background thus further fortified, he blatantly told an American official during one session, “You are a moral coward!”

When the hearing of the Noli and Fili was being conducted in Congress, an eminent professor of a religious institution declared that students should not be allowed to read the two novels. “Have you read them?” Laurel asked the professor who replied “No” to the question. How can an intelligent man like this academician possibly object to the reading of something he knows nothing about? Laurel wondered.

To the end, Laurel served his country with unwavering devotion and nationalism, often at great personal sacrifice.

Herewith are some quotable quotes from the patriot: “No one can love the Filipinos better than the Filipinos themselves.”/“Love of country is not an occasional virtue to be exhibited now and then. Rather, it is a flame that should be kept constantly aglow in our hearts.”/“The moment you trample on justice you arouse man’s vilest instincts; you provoke the spirit of revolt and of vengeance; you sow the seeds of dissatisfaction.”/“Justice is the rectitude of mind which enables one to estimate correctly what is due every man, and give this to him conscientiously, regardless of any other consideration.”

In the book “My Lolo, Domingo Franco”, Celia writes about her grandfather, martyr and hero who, along with 12 others, was executed at Bagumbayan Field 12 days after Rizal’s own execution. Franco, president of the Liga Filipina, was a friend and ardent admirer of Rizal whose two novels and other writings he avidly distributed.

Falsely accused by the friars of being a traitor and of inciting rebellion against Spain, Franco was thrown into Fort Santiago and mercilessly tortured. Yet, he never betrayed his peers!

Doña Concepcion, second child of Franco, presumably passed on her nationalism to her niece Celia as did Celia’s husband, Sen. Salvador “Doy” and father-in-law Jose P. Laurel who produced, besides, a Speaker of the House, Jose, Jr.; another senator, Sotero, an ambassador to Japan, Jose III, and an amazing grandson Victor “Cocoy” — singer, actor, composer and painter.

On her own right, Celia is a distinguished painter, actress, set-and-costume designer who recently turned to historical research and writing for posterity.

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St. Paul U. Manila will mark its 100th anniversary with a concert under the auspices of its College of Music and the Performing Arts headed by Sr. Anunciata Sta. Ana. The event will be held tomorrow, 6 p.m., at the Fleur-de-lis Theater.

“Mga Gintong Awit Pilipino” will feature singers Elisanta Cortes, a highly esteemed faculty member, Nenen Espina, Ronan Ferrer and Thea Perez-Prosia, with assisting pianist Melissa Taqueban, guitarist Ruben Reyes and flutist Gary Silangcruz.

The concert will be the first of a series celebrating St. Paul U. Manila’s centennial.