Book Launch Invitation: O Susana: Untold Stories of Martial in Davao

You are most warmly invited to the book launch of

Date: February 19, 2016, from 3-5 pm

Venue:  F213 (2nd floor), Finster Bldg., Ateneo de Davao University.

A Letter of Invitation

Dear friends,

On January 13, a group of us met in a room near the Tambara office of the Ateneo de Davao University to discuss the details of the launching of our book     O SUSANA! THE UNTOLD STORIES OF MARTIAL LAW IN DAVAO.

There are more than 30 of us writers who were part of this network of human rights activists during the Marcos regime’s martial rule who congregated in a building known as Susana Building. The offices in this building included: the Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference Secretariat (where I was Executive Secretary), the Mindanao-Sulu Secretariat of Social Action, the Philippine Business for Social Progress, the Foundation of the Banana Planters, Inc., the Mindanao-Sulu Conference for Justice and Development, the Citizens' Council for Justice and Peace and AFRIM.

The building was constantly under the surveillance of the agents of Marcos' authoritarian rule and in fact there were a few raids that took place in that location.  A few of us eventually got arrested, or spent time in prison. A portion of this building, i.e. the MISSSA-MSPCS offices, was burned or caught fire, a mystery to us until now. However, we continued to sustain our commitment long after martial rule ended.

In the years that followed, reunions among those in this network of friends continued to take place as we continued to interact given our sustained commitment to justice, peace and the integrity of creation.  Most remained actively engaged in various social and ecological advocacies based in Davao City.

Two years ago, during this reunion, the idea arose that we should come up with an ANTHOLOGY recalling those years so that the present and future generations have an idea how oppressive martial rule was, and to share our reflections on how those times have greatly influenced what we have become.  This has taken on a greater importance with the current attempt to deodorize the Marcos dictatorship, as you very well know.

In the last two years, the articles got written and compiled.  And eventually we were able to get Dr. Macario Tiu into this project not only for him to serve as main editor; he even graciously offered to ask AdDU to be the book's publisher.

We are hoping you are free on this date and time as we would like to invite you to attend our book launch.

Your presence would be a source of inspiration for all specially those who share our perspective on human rights and civil liberties.

We are hoping that Fr. Joel Tabora, President of AdDU and Archbishop Romulo Valles DD will also be present to do the Closing Prayer and Final Blessing.

We highly anticipate your presence to help us celebrate the birth of this much-awaited book.

Very sincerely,

Bro. Karl Gaspar, CSsR

The authors

	Titles	Authors
1	A Man with a Big Heart	Remy Arquiza
2	A Middle Way	Gene Stoltzfus
3	A Night  In Jolo	Elvira Ang Sinco
4	A Taste of Faith, A Taste of Fear	Cesar Ledesma
5	Afternoons at Susana	Lillian Abella
6	Bankerohan	Joey Ayala
7	Bibingka	Jackie Schramm
8	Carabaos and Spider Webs	Gene Stoltzfus
9	Davao On My Mind	Leila “Lalay” Rispens-Noel
10	Demolisyon	Rebecca Jolito
11	Dialogue at the Grassroots, My Malabang Experience	Mary Lou Birondo-Caharian
12	Dreams and Desires in Creative Drama	Malou Tiangco
13	Durian	Jackie Schramm
14	Fr. Ben Montecastro	Jeanette Birondo-Goddard
15	His Metallic Specs	Teresa Naraval
16	His Name was Buyog	Jeanette Birondo-Goddard
17	If the Land could Speak	Antonio Ferrer
18	Ikatulo nga nadakpan	Leon Bolcan
19	Journeying with the BCCs	Florante Villas
20	Life at the MDC	Daz Lamparas
21	Love and Laughter	Marilen Abesamis
22	Martial Law	Orlando Carvajal
23	My Radical Journey	Emy Laviña
24	My Travelling Companion	Avelina Engen
25	Of What Use Our Work for Liberation	Jackie Schramm
26	Relief and Rehabilitation Work	Dodong Cadorna
27	Salamat Kaayo	Dorothy Friesen
28	Shepherding a Stalked, Stressed but Struggling Flock	Karl M. Gaspar, CSsR
29	So That Others May Know	Melot Balisalisa
30	Something Special	Remy Arquiza Guillena
31	Tatay Bido	Karl M. Gaspar, CSsR
32	The Beginnings of MISSSA	Fr. Tom Marti
33	The Drama of Our Lives	Jehovenn A. Honculada
34	The Living Waters of Dumoy	Agnes Miclat Cacayan
35	The Tenants of Susana Building	Flora Ninfa Leocadio
36	Theater’s Tragic Tale	Karl M. Gaspar, CSsR
37	Wala Nang Tao sa Santa Filomena	Joey  Ayala
38	When Local is Global	Marilen Abesamis
39	When MSPC Calls	Earl Martin
40	Yanong Katawhan, Sa Kadasig Ug Inspirasyon Tuburan	Nonoy Rodriguez
41	Year 33 of the Cassandra	Illuminada Lucia S. Ramoso