NEW OLD WARRIOR BOOK LAUNCHED

NEW OLD WARRIOR BOOK LAUNCHED

The book “Old Warrior’s Poems and the Bohol Quake Assistance Story” was launched in Lucena City, Quezon province, and Baclayon, Bohol on June 26 and July 1, respectively

Nestor Pestelos, a long-time resident of Bohol, said Milwida Sevilla-Reyes, his co-author and former classmate at the Quezon National High School in Lucena, flew in from Sydney, Australia where she and her family had lived for decades, to be present for the book launch in both places.

The 227-page book, twice the size of the previous “Old Warrior and Other Poems,” has added a Part 2 which documents the experiences of Bohol Local Development Foundation, the non-government organization headed by Pestelos. Publication of the new book was made possible through a cash donation by Corazon Maxino Verzosa, a realtor in Metro Manila and an alumna from the same school.

Proceeds from the sale of the book will help enable BLDF implement its new initiative, the Youth Livelihood and Drug Rehabilitation Project. In both book launch venues, the new section drew positive responses from critics, “competing with positive comments about the 33 poems contained in both editions,” according to BLDF President and Principal Author Pestelos.

Part 2 includes the following articles: the Bohol Quake Assistance (BQA) Story in brief complete with text and photos; documentation in text and photos of the Bohol Quake Assistance Story; the birth of the BQA Fund Drive, an initiative of BLDF in partnership with Miriam College and the Peacock Garden Spa and Resort in Baclayon, Bohol; and a feature article on the community-based approach to providing shelter.

The Boholano writers who contributed translated poems or Salin Tulas include: Prof. Marianito Luspo; Paul Joseph Vistal; and Rey Anthony Chiu. Chito Fuentes, now based in Davao City,  wrote an article on the pro-poor targeting tool designed by BLDF.

Other contributors include: former priest Edicio Dela Torre now with the Philippine Coconut Authority and Education for Life Foundation, among others; and Evelyn O’Connor, award-winning educational blogger and teacher in Western Ireland who prepared A Guide to Reading and Appreciating Poetry included in the book; Estrella Torres, reporter of Business Mirror; and Marit Meijer, BLDF project officer from the Netherlands, who designed and pilot-test the cultural bikes tour project for out-of-school youth. Copies of the book are available at Baclayon Food Station and Darunday Manor.

Copies of the book are available at: Crescenia Café, Baclayon Food Station, Poblacion, Baclayon and Darunda Manor, Tagbilaran City.

Florencia Gilay-Pestelos: Landline – 038 540 9327; Mobile - 09173041484; Email:  fgpestelos@yahoo.com

Lorena Sensen Balala:  Mobile – 09353635241

Romulo Pasco: Mobile: 09173066158; Email –glennmoli@yahoo.com.ph

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