Press release Philippine Book launching: A book on Filipino diaspora and Philippine-Australia connections Amidst one Filipino Australian baby boomer’s longing to go back to the Philippines, one invariably say, ‘I still call Australia home.’ Such duality of mindset among Filipino migrants is tackled out in a number of articles and status reviews in the new book by Sydney-based author Renato Perdon entitled Connecting Two Cultures: Australia and the Philippines, 360 pp, initially released in Sydney in July this year. Finally the book will be launched in the Philippines at 10 am on 12 December 2014 at the NHCP Multipurpose Hall, National Historical Commission building, T. M. Kalaw, Manila, with Australian Ambassador to the Philippines His Excellency William Tweddell as speacial guest for the event. The book publisher is Manila Prints Australia and will be released in Manila this month (December). The book attempts to define what the Filipino Australian identity is. The time elapse coverage is amazing, from theories on land bridges during the ice age to the street narratives about mixed marriages, the new frontiers for migrant living, and even discrimination, crime and selective frustrations to once upon a time strangers but now assimilated citizen of a young Western society in an Asian geography. More can be reported about it, but the book itself is the loyal and true storyteller better than anybody. To the curious and the converted student of history, the book is an invitation to explore this world of connected culture. This book covers in 15 chapters the historical and contemporary interactions and strong connections between the Philippines and Australia. The new book will travel down from the past. It begins from the time the Philippines was linked to Australia through the historic voyage of Spanish Admiral Luis Vaez de Torres in 1606 and the reports he made in Manila while waiting for his return trip to Spain. That event and the early linkages that followed are discussed in the beginning of the book. Succeeding events that occurred between the two countries, linking them through individual activities from that period onward, provide interesting insight into how the identity of Filipino-Australians evolved and contributed greatly to a strong relationship between the two countries. Sydney based writer and painter Alfredo R. Roces said about the book: ‘Author-historian Renato Perdon paints a portrait of the history and culture of these two nations and how they interacted over centuries. Perdon provides extensive, richly detailed research on the interaction between the two cultures, each culture naturally coloured by its own unique history.’ The present Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, the amiable His Excellency Bill Tweddell commented about the linkages of the two countries and said: ‘Education is a cornerstone of the strong and enduring friendship between Australia and the Philippines. Our education partnership dates back to the 1950s, when future Filipino leaders built their knowledge, enhanced their leadership skills, and forged enduring ties as scholars in Australia, supported under the Colombo Plan Scheme.’ From the chair of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, here is what Dr. Serena I. Diokno said: ‘the history of Philippine-Australian relations is hardly written about, and given the size of the Filipino Australian community today, such a history would be relevant. The author’s work is an important step in understanding this little known aspect about our past.’ UP Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Randolf S. David, commented that ‘it is a richly documented book. Considering how the Filipino nation today populates more than a hundred countries in the world, one can imagine a book like this being written for almost every country in which the Filipino has lived. That would be something to look forward to indeed!’ Another historian, retired UP Professor of History, Dr. Samuel K. Tan said: ‘It is not surprising that this book captures meaningfully the author’s hope of leaving a legacy of scholarly pursuits in the historical and cultural heritage of the two countries he has cherished as ‘homelands.’ He added that ‘a more important contribution of this book is in the framework that the ‘interacting relations’ of the Filipino migrants through the centuries in their ‘’second homeland Down Under’ have resulted in the establishment of ‘connecting’ foundation between two separate countries but mutually sharing the benefits of national interests and relations. I hope the reading public finds this last of the author’s publication, indeed, a legacy to keep.’ Prominent leader in the community, columnist Satur C. Ocampo, of The Philippine Star, congratulated the author for his ‘intense dedication to the writing of such a substantial and enduring contribution to the understanding and appreciation of the two cultures, and their interconnection. Based on the comments I have read about it, surely I wish to have a copy of the book.’ For interested parties who are not attending the official book launching, further information can be obtained from Triadjen Printing, sole distributor of the book in the Philippines, through cell phone number- 0917 962 1025 or landline- 02 5790 377, or by inquiring with any branch of the National Bookstore on when the book will be available to the reading public.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 08:34:35 +0000
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