Dolphy remembers Mindanao and Gensan

(Note: Dolphy passed away July 10, 2012)



The Philippines' premier comedian, Dolphy, shared his memories of touring the Philippines post-WWII as a budding dancer/comedian in his book Hindi Ko Ito Narating Mag-isa as told to Bibeth Orteza:

Si Paquito Bolero, hindi lang movie director. Siya rin ang impresario ng traveling group of entertainers na umaabot sa Tuguegarao and then later on Visayas, Mindanao, pati 'yung Jolo, Sulu, Basilan; narating namin.


Wala pang mga armalite no'n ang mga sundalo. Ang mga Muslim karamihan pa no'n nakapatadyong, naka-malong. Ang sukbit nila, mga kris, kampilan, parang itak lang. At saka nagkakasundo pa no'n ang mga Muslim at Kristiyano. Very peaceful. Bago pa ito no'ng 'yong Koronadal naging Gensan at ang lahat ay pinalitan ng pangalan.

At that time Dolphy's stage name was Golay for his half-Chinese characterization and jokes.

Finding a treasure of a book

May 7, 2012 -- Booksale here in Gensan opened with a fresh supply of second-hand and remaindered books. And of course, I was there to trawl for new ones to read.

Tucked in the middle of the coffee table books shelves was this poor sight of a book in a box. I stretched to reach for it. And when I finally took the book out of the shabby box and had a good look at it, I did a double take!

It was a book by one of my fave authors, Stephen King! I've read My Pretty Pony in Nightmares & Dreamscapes, King's anthology of short stories, but I was not aware it was published as a separate book with illustrations by Barbara Kruger.

Marked down to $25 from its brand new price of $50, Booksale was selling it for P60! The box would need some restoration, but it was a deal I could not walk away from. And so I brought it home and assessed the damage it sustained from too much handling.

The bottom of the box was about to fall off

The frayed edges of the box looked like it was nibbled on

And so I took out the materials needed to restore it and make it worth its space in the bookcase containing the other books in my Stephen King collection.

Using strips of construction paper to cover the frayed edges

 

 

                       

Although it was not restored to its mint condition, the book now looks presentable :)

But I was in for one last surprise. Since I was not aware that My Pretty Pony was published as a separate book (a large one at that!), I decided to Google it. Imagine my surprise when I found out that it was one of 15,000 copies issued as a trade edition! 

  

 And my copy is a first trade edition! Woooot!

 

Here's an audio version of the book as read by Jery Garcia of the Grateful Dead band: 

Bookworm of Gensan wishes: Harry Potter Pop-up book

Wishlist for 2011: Harry Potter fan that I am, my eyes popped out when I saw these samples from the Harry Potter Pop-up book. This will be a welcome addition to my growing collection of pop-up books:

Book cover with Harry Potter riding Buckwheat, a hippogriff

Bookworm of Gensan thinks: Why I give books as gifts

I consider book stores as my comfort zone in the same way a fisherman finds solace at sea. May be this is why I call my book-finding adventures as trawling for books. Like a fisherman, I cast my net far and wide hoping to get a bounty of a catch in book choices. I set aside those whose titles and/or authors may interest me or my friends and put back in the shelves/bins those that don't. 

Books are neutral gifts for friends because they don't have a loaded meaning like giving a deodorant spray or sexy underwear. I try to remember or surmise what type of books might interest a friend (Is s/he passionate about it,  is it job/project-related, is it something s/he can learn anything from?).

If it were just for the sake of gift-giving (like for a Christmas party where you don't really know who'll get the exchange gift you brought), any book will do.  But I take time to discern how my friends will be delighted/enlightened in reading their gift-books. This friend misses his father so much, I think this book on fathers and sons will soothe his feelings. That doctor-friend may be surprised to know that medicine is not only good for textbooks, but also for short stories and essays. This book on practical foreign language phrases might help this friend communicate better with her fiance.

It doesn't need an occasion for me to give gift-books. When the right book comes out of my trawling expeditions, I feel giddy to buy it for the intended reader. So, my friends should not be surprised when I approach them, smiling with a book in hand. Each gift-book comes with this: I immediately thought of you when I saw this book. I'm happy to be the bridge so this book can cross over to you.

Bookworm of Gensan recommends: Summer Reads

Summertime is the best time to catch up on your reading! Whether you're on the beach trying hard to get a tan or deliberately avoiding the sun, or lounging on a hammock or easy-chair, try any of these books which are not only light on your eyes, but also on your pocket.

100 Kislap by Abdon Jun Balde Jr. - this gem of a book contains 100 bite-size stories (150 words or less). Reading this book is like eating peanuts - one you start, you can't stop. Just open it at any page and read away! Available at National Book Store.

Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan by Bob Ong: 2010's bestselling book and Bob Ong's 8th. This one is sure to raise some goosebumps as it is his first try at writing a horror novel. If a summer breeze is hard to come by wherever you're reading this, the shivers it generates will surely cool you down quick. Available at Bibliarch and National Book Store.

Paper Cuts by Pam Pastor - LOL moments abound in this tiny book that fits right into your kikay beach bag along with the sunscreen lotion. etc. Available at National Book Store.

8 Simple Secrets to Raising Entrepreneurs by Mary Joy Abaquin - for the father or mother who wants to teach their kids about money, business and life and not just rely on being employees after college. From Go Negosyo and available at National Book Store.

Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King - features 4 novellas from Stephen King. Enough said. Available at Bibliarch and National Book Store.