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BY SONIA D. DAQUILA
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Books
I AM happy whenever I see many people in bookstores. This shows they still read books despite the proliferation of reading materials in the internet. I still do write textbooks and orders for my outputs have always surprised me.
As a kid, I used to read the short stories written by my cousin, Ernesto Palabrica. They were published in Hiligaynon. I dreamed to be like him but because journalism was only available in Silliman University, I settled for AB Political Science.
A few years thereafter, UNO-Recoletos entrusted to me the Department of Social Sciences, and I stayed as its head for more than 10 years. Teachers used to reject the Rizal course and without choice, I handled most number of Rizal classes. We believed though that there are valid reasons why Rizal is the only legislated-mandated course. So, I started working on a syllabus, then the notes which the teachers gladly used.
In the 1990s the University sought accreditation, and thus, research and publications were pushed. To this day, the words of Father President Jose Antonio Rodrigalvarez, OAR have inspired me. He said, “I give you 101 percent trust and confidence that you can write.” Consequently, while a doctorate student or attending seminars in Manila, I hopped from big libraries and universities to gather materials to polish my notes and to put them together as a book.
Book writing exposes one to dangers. First, the peril of being accused of plagiarism with a fine and imprisonment when convicted. Second, the unkind criticisms. Third, the possibility of losing hard-earned investment when no one buys your book or “soft piracy” by schools or by the students through photocopying for “purpose of learning” or straight piracy. Fourth, the likelihood of being labeled as one, “bordering between sanity and insanity.” Fifth, the publishers may enrich themselves at the writers’ expense. As a whole, these risks may kill one’s aspiration to write.
There have been national publishers who have been offering to have my textbooks published. Thanks, but no thanks. My professor who had her books published by reputable publishers had experienced shadowy deals.
As educators, we are protected by our Academic Freedom: the freedom to search, to publish and circularize according to law. When one accuses me of plagiarism, my answer is, “talk to my lawyers and see you in court.”
When I hear criticisms, I will say, “Thank you, I will do better.”
I write when I own the whole world: in the dead of the night or at dawn. I still reap the fruits of my labor and share them to those who believe in the value of my books.
Call me insane or depreciate my books, I would ask you, “Where are yours?”
Many books were declared demonic, banned or burned publicly yet the author kept going. Remember Salman Rushdie and his Satanic Verses, Kahlil Gibran and his The Prophet which was published a hundred years after his death, The Prince of Nicccollo Machiavelli, and our very own Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo which were banned or destroyed and those found reading were imprisoned, tortured or was shot by the firing squad like Rizal.
I realized how time changes everything. In the 1800s the friars condemned Rizal’s works and today the completion of my book “Seeds of Freedom 2017 edition” was made possible by friars: Augustinians, Augustinian-Recoletos, and a Dominican.
I do write because I want to put across my message, a legacy which shall remain in the hearts and minds of readers long after I have been gone. Write because that is demanded of us educators. Persevere and keep that passion for writing and teaching burning! (delsocorrodaquila@gmail.com/PN)
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