Author's Response to Book Launching

TINGKORAW BOOK LAUNCHING
Author’s Response May 24, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning… After hearing so many good words, for a while I thought we were talking about somebody else’s book. I was tremendously overwhelmed.

I am groping for enough and appropriate words to thank you. I just feel totally stunned and speechless. So, from the shy corner of my heart I thank you all.

Mrs. Aida Leyran for the unaltered National Anthem and the nostalgic Alfonso Hymn;
Rev. Fr. Gani Aviñante for the greatly inspiring Prayers;
Mayor Virgilio Varias for a most pleasant welcome address;
Hon. Cesar E.A. Virata for the interesting review of important historical events in Cavite;
Dr. Emmanuel Caliro for his wise and encouraging words.
Prof. Aquino I. Garcia for everything that you said and Ms. Teresita P. Unabia for the amazing review of the book.

If the introduction by Professor Silverio Baltasar exposed the character of the book and the Foreword by Ms. Felice Sta. Maria captured its deeper and real essence, now the review by Ms. Teresita P. Unabia unveiled completely the mystery of TINGKORW.

Possibly as interesting as the book we are launching this morning is the intriguing story behind its creation.

To begin with, I never intended to write a book. The book coming out this morning is only a result of my own brand of Parochial Patriotism.

After finishing Medicine and taking the Board Examinations in 1961, I returned to my hometown to wait for the release of the results. Since I was not yet legally allowed to practice my profession and being a law-abiding citizen, I didn’t know what to do. All the friends that I left seven years ago were gone and busy with their own individual ventures. I temporarily helped in the clinic of Dr. Rodolfo Poblete under his supervision. That way I had a chance to be with different people during house calls. I was curiously encouraged to jot down notes about interesting events that happened in my town as I heard them fresh from the mouths of old folks.

I began compiling my notes at random as I heard them. My interest was stimulated further every time I heard new important story or legend. So I started entering my compilation into a big record book. It turned out to be a valuable and import ant compilation of Alfonso’s Oral History.

With the permission of then Central School Principal Miss Juliana Stuart I incorporated earlier data gathered by the Elementary School Teachers in 1956. I also included a Tagalog Poem about Alfonso that I wrote in 1951 when I was in Second Year High School.

A Journalist friend of mine, Mrs. Evangelina Ortega Dalusag volunteered to correct my grammar, spelling, word agreement and choice of words without changing or altering the original chronology of my compilation. As it was it turned out pretty popular among students, researchers and other town mates and friends.

With the advent of the computer I was forced to take up a basic computer course to update and upgrade my compilation. It took me a lot of hours and bond papers before I was able to save in the floppy disc my treasured compilation just to realize later that files saved in a floppy disc is not a guarantee of permanency.

When the Cavite Hitorical Commission was created, one of its members, Mr. Napoleon Vidallon, borrowed my compilation, presented it to the Chairman, Prime Minister Cesar Virata for possible publication. After scrutinizing it, the Prime Minister returned it to Mr. Vidallon with valuable comments. I still have the hand written comment by Prime Minister Cesar Virata, sent on June 11, 1998 who said: “I believe the materials cannot be published as is. It will require organization, editing and additional gathering of sources and materials”. It awakened me and inspired me to work further for its improvement but as I said I was not really intending to write a book.

Came Professor Silverio Baltasar, also a member of the Cavite Historical Commission who volunteered to help me organize the book then afterwards he submitted it to the original staff of The Cavite Studies Center. I didn’t hear anything about it from them.

It didn’t bother me at all but then a daughter of mine secretly submitted it to the Ayala Foundation for review and possible publication. It was indeed thoroughly reviewed and many suggestions were offered but following all the suggestions would result to a book very far from my original compilation while I also felt that I was old enough to do more research, so, I just kept my compilation on my desk.

It was very perplexing that so many people were more eager to publish my compilation than I was. One U.P. student offered himself to request the University of the Philippines to publish it. At the same time another Ateneo student also made a similar offer. Again as I said I was not really intending to write a book so I just kept it as it was until Rev. Fr. Nestor Isagani Avinante discussed it with the New Staff of The Cavite Studies Center.

The New Staff composed of Professor Garcia, Professor Lubang and others came one day to see my compilation. They offered their help to do everything to make my compilation worth publishing in the form of a book with the final editing by Prof. Neriza Villanueva and the untiring and endless help of Mylene B. Delatado. When they told me that Ms. Felice Sta. Maria agreed to write the Foreword I knew I got the ‘imprimatur’ for the publication of the book.

The book TINKORAW: Alfonso’s History and Legend which is coming out this morning is not actually my book. It is your book…Prime Minister Cesar Virata, De La Salle Brothers, Staff of Cavite Study Center, Rev. Fr. Isagani Avinante, Mayor Ver Varias, Congeressman Roilo Golez, Mr. and Mrs. Ambrocio Makalintal, Mr. and Mrs. Vic Ortega…
And yes, Ladies and Gentlemen… this is your book…

At this point it is interesting to note how ironic it was that because of my original crude compilation I was awarded as the Town’s Historian during the celebration of Alfonso Day 2007. I felt too shy to accept the award.

Now am offering a truckload of gratitude to all the sponsors who jointly supported t he realization of this Launching:
The De La Salle University-Dasmariñas
The Cavite Studies Center
The Cavite Historical Commission
The Local Government of Alfonso
Thank you all so much.

Before I finish I would like to specially acknowledge the encouragement, support, patience and understanding of my wife, the former Teresita Costa of Indang, Cavite. Allow me to offer to her the first copy of the book as I also share with you the secret of our longevity as partners.

Pag nanaig ang pag –ibig,
Ang ibigi’y sakdal tamis.
At matamis lalo ito
Sa dalawang pilas-dibdib.

Ang dinibdib na pagkasing
Magkatugo’t magkabigkis,
Pag binigkis ng damdami’y
Mahirap ng magkawaglit.

Kung mawaglit yaong isa’y
Hinahanap na masugid,
Ng masugid na kasuyong
Dati-rati ay kaniig.

Magkainiig na pagliyag
Pag tunay na magka-pintig,
Ipipintig ay ligayang
Sa suyua’y walang patid.

Ang pagpatid ng panahon
Sa sumpaa’y di matamis,
Ang matamis ay bayaang
Pag-ibig din ang manaig.

In this tiny book that I am now holding is a little bit of history, a little bit of legend and much about Alfonso that anybody will learn to love after reading TINGKORAW.

With it goes a little bit of my mind, a little bit of my heart, a little bit of my strength and a little bit of my soul. Fifty years in the making. In as far as I am concerned this is unique and this is priceless. I want to offer my first copy to my wife becasue in as far as I am concerned she is also unique and she is also priceless. That is why I love her so much.

At this point I like to intruduce my 5 month old youngest grand daughter, Chiara Veronica together with her mother, my youngest daughter, Madora Joliveth and her husband Raffy Kapunan Ortega. At the moment I think Chiara Veronica is the only patriotic projection of my clan. My other children and grand children are scattered to the different parts of the world. But it is interesting to note that all my absentee Children are now represented by their in-laws . My Son Pau-David, based in Australia is supposed to be represented by her Mother-in-law, Mrs. Angie Almeda Policarpio but her father is seriously ill and she was not able to come; My Daughter, Belina-Judith who is now in Bohol with her family and Mother-in-law, is now represented by her Father–in-law, Congressman Roilo Golez who flew all the way from Bacolod early this morning to catch up this event; My Daughter, Brinna-Zita , who is based in Canada with her family is represened by her Parents-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Ambrocio Makalintal; My youngest, Peter-Jonathan is also based in Australia and still single. He is represented by so many who love him. Thank You.

Jett e. Avinante, m.d.