Letter from Panny Gagajena, California (ca 2012)
After the Vegas Convention I found time to read your book after a few days’ rest. After reading a few pages, I couldn’t put it down. It was so good and engrossing. I’ve been to Cagayan de Oro a few times, and of course I grew up in Davao. You wrote about familiar places and names. I was so intrigued when reading your Davao chapter. I thought you might eventually identify your “first love” in HS. I’m sure I will know her by her last name, if not by the first.
Gagajena: …But getting back to my book critique. There are passages so well written that to me they almost look like poetry in prose. Of course your “spiritual moments and encounters with nature and God are so stirring and moving, I could almost touch the “divine”. I could almost see myself writing like you in certain passages of your book. I will read your book again a second time in between my exercising, baby-sitting, golfing, fishing, classical guitar playing, and my own occasional writing. I’m so inspired by you that now I really have to finish my own autobiography I had started to write in 2004. It has been planned for at least 24 brief chapters. I was stuck in chapter 4 when I was writing about my Growing Up Years in Davao City. Looking back, I only knew you as a handsome, good HS Varsity player. I couldn’t imagine you turning out to be a writer with a Doctorate in Economics, and a Community College President.
Book available at http://www.amazon.com
L-R: Emiliano Bolongaita Sr., me with wife Angelita Canlas, Lourdes Bolongaita and Mr. and Mrs. Rafael and Charisse Fortich in Cagayan de Oro
Photo: Book launch in Cagayan de Oro City, 2013 L-R: Emil Bolongaita, author, Angelita Canlas, Lulu Bolongaita, Charisse and Rafael Fortich.
Book Reviews
Ella Abaya-Palaypay (Edmonton, Canada)
Thank you very much. My Mom read your book the minute she received it. She has been reading it over and over and have shared your story with other family members.She was very happy to hear from you. Thank you again. (Letter from Jean’s daughter, Ella (December 1, 2012)
Susan C. Bolongaita, Dublin, Ohio
Uplifting. Soulful. Inspiring. A true journey of the soul. A fun adventure. Wonderful and empowering for readers to think about their own desire to serve the Lord but who may not have the leisure of time or the blessing of going on a retreat, but still want to experience what you experienced. Could be a guide for souls thirsting for grace. I felt grace reading through it.
Dr. Lourdes R. Quisumbing, former Philippine Secretary of Education
It was a wonderful experience for me to go through your “prayer journal.” It is a wonderful meditation piece and a great mirror of your soul and your journey to find God’s love in your life, your loved ones and in nature. The book reverberated in my soul.
Fr. Rod Damico, St. Paul Parish, Westerville, Ohio
A beautiful reflection. I was deeply moved by your life’s story and your intimate encounter with The Lord at Milford (Ohio). It’s a lovely place. God bless.
Bobby Cabrera, Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals, Cagayan de Oro City
Wow. It is so well written. I did not stop reading till I finished it in one sitting. Congratulations.
Elvira F. Du, Faculty, Ateneo de Davao University
I scanned your manuscript intending to read it for later. However, I got caught up in the material. I am amazed at your level of spirituality as reflected in your writing. Your “Houses” came across to me, however, as sad. I don’t know why.
Cora Quisumbing-King, Wales, UK
Your book, as you very well know, is a very good book. It is a gift. A masterpiece in its own right. I like the way your heart and mind blends.
Brix Marzan, Toronto, Canada
You should read this book. It is beautiful.
Bron Almendrala, New York City
“Houses of my Life” is one of the most intimate, honest and uplifting books I have read. It felt like stepping out from a smoky room and getting some fresh air. Such an amazing perspective on life and tremendous attention to detail. Every time I read descriptions of a particular place or subject, I can almost hear a fondness from the author’s voice. Quite frankly, I think this book is simply about a life well lived.
Ramon Kimpo, Jr., Mission Viejo, California
This work is awe-inspiring.
Judy Carrasco, Durham, North Carolina
Your memoir has special meaning for me. I’ve never been to the Philippines and through your book, you’ve given me a glimpse of its life and culture. I greatly enjoyed how you interspersed prayers with inspirational lyrics, as well as stories from your own life and parables. Your insights are very poignant and philosophical, and I truly got the sense of being privileged to understand your particular view of the world.
Silvino Balaba, Queensland, Australia
Interesting, captivating, highly recommended reading.
Fabiola Gorospe, Gardena, California
It is too inspiring. I am just inspired and overwhelmed. It’s truly inspiring to read your book.
Rita Bouffard Bornsheur, Silver Springs, Maryland
Enjoyed reading your manuscript. Could’nt put it away. I had to read it all, right away. It’s amazing how your memory bank works for you. Warm memories that are just very true to life. Sensefully exciting and funny, lathered with just a touch of a good, God-fearing soul. A special individual who showed me a different facet of his life from one when he was younger. I had a peaceful, nostalgic feeling reading through it.
E.B. “Yoyoy” Serina, MD, Long Beach, California
All too often what escapes us is that things that happen in our lives have been witnessed by the houses we lived in; and getting into them reveals oh so fascinating experiences. Clever. Amazing. Brilliant. The journey was vivid in the places it went through. Equally vivid, if not exceedingly so throughout is the mind set of the writer: peaceful, fair, family values, nature and natural phenomena, unyielding, determined on a goal eventually leading to the ultimate spirituality of man. I am honored to have shared them “houses of your life”.
Corazon C. Munoz, Professor, Capital University, Columbus, Ohio
Impressive. Inspirational. A genius of a work. What details you remembered. God blest you with beautiful memories to recall the life he has given you in all its minutiae to share so you can touch the lives of many with God’s love. What a moving, poignant story of life, relationships, fears, visions, dreams, joys, sadness, anxiety, hope and love of God that permeates all your houses. I was glued to this book with tears in my eyes and full of joy in my heart. You moved the plot from house to house yet took us with you on vivid trips, with heartfelt emotions in between. This book is riveting, with sensitivity, with historicity and with grace as beautiful words and even incomprehensible terms are clarified in the context of the story. It conveyed genuine-ness and a warmth like that of an innocent child fully dependent on God’s grace.
Ben Ferrer, Alhambra, California
Your view of life after 65 is most edifying. If someone were to confide in me that they never expected that someone like you could write such a book, I would reply ( in pidgin Visayan-English): ” you cannot sure (sic) the man “under the mango tree.”
Antonio R. Montalvan II, Valencia, Spain
Your manuscript sounded as though it was written by one who had just gone through one’s fieldwork, describing the life of the people he had just seen and observe)d, but more importantly, participated with and considered from the prism of one’s own perspective for others to know and learn. I think therein lies the strenght of your stories. Congratulations for the feat and the determination.
Augustus Santos, former Dean, Xavier U. Aggie College, Cagayan de Oro City (lives in New York City)
I found myself glued to your book, unable and unwilling to separate myself from it. My heart really went out to your recollections. Your discovery and acceptance and proclamation of life helped me to see clearly our God as a loving Creator. Thanks for helping me to see life clearer through your awesone and beautifully written work.
John Higgins, former cop, New York, lived in Camiguin Island ( now lives in New York City)
I really like this book: let me count the ways. Where else can one find a history of Camiguin and Mindanao except for Dr. Ed’s book? It should be required reading for all high schools and college students in Camiguin and Mindanao.
Dr. Ed gives us and intricate account of the geological forces that formed Camiguin and Northern Mindanao as we know it today.
Also he gives a lively and animated account of the human history of this beautiful island up until the present. Starting from the time of the early Spanish conquistadors through the defining events of World War 2.
He delves deeply into the history. He gives eye witness account of spectacular volcanic eruption and floods, earthquakes, as well as lovely descriptions of Camiguin sunsets, hot spring/cold springs, waterfalls etc. He tells of the tears and hardships of a struggling people with beautiful smiles.
I’ll give an example (see page 56, Hymn to Saint Joseph)
Almost every Saturday for 23 years I’ve kind of sort of sung this hymn but I didn’t understand it completely.
Now thanks to his book with his English translation I know what I’m singing. He writes of the brave, good people that saved the parish priest from the Japanese invaders, etc.
Brothers, Dr. Ed is a brave man who tells it like it is. He writes of a political system that buys votes for a sack of rice.
He goes deeper, much deeper into a culture that sustains corruption, and hypocritical or almost schizophrenically ignores it.
But my dear people: sin and selfishness is the result of our original sin, corruption exist quite well in Chicago and New York every bit as it does in Mambajao.
John Higgins, ex Vietnam vet, former NY cop; resident of Tupsan, Mambajao 25 years.
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