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FO: The Original Spanish Edition
of Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere

Rizal's Noli Me Tangere (Original Spanish Version)

When I posted "FO: Books in Spanish," I linked to a reprint of Noli Me Tangere in Spanish, but it was not the original edition printed in Berlin. Thanks to John Nery, I am now able to link to the original 1887 Spanish edition of Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal on Scribd, which may also be downloaded as a pdf file.

Incidentally, a new English translation of Noli Me Tangere is now available as part of the Penguin Classics series. Hear Harold Augenbraum, the translator, explain his involvement with Rizal's book in an interview by Elda Rotor in a podcast on "José Rizal and the Novel That Sparked the Philippine Revolution." Unlike the original Spanish edition above, which is freely available, the Noli's new English edition and Augenbraum's forthcoming translation of El Filibusterismo (the sequel to the Noli) are available in print and eBook editions for a fee.

Is Augenbraum's translation of the Noli better than previous ones? See what Nery has to say in "Erasing Ateneo" (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 16 June 2009).

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Why am I doing what I'm doing?

"The Filipino Librarian asked: Why is a the used with Philippines?" This reference by Eric Ambata to one of my very first posts in 2005 led to the discovery that Manuel Quezon III recently posted several links to my blog in relation to a discussion on whether "Philippines" is plural or singular. Then I learned that Gibbs Cadiz referred to a foreword I wrote for a book as a "succinct introduction," and even quoted a lengthy passage.

All these, on top of articles in Philippine Star, Pinoy Herald and the Department of Foreign Affairs website (based on press releases [1 2 3] from the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC) about my lecture at the US Library of Congress, made me think that perhaps the writing I've done in the past has made a bit of a difference. (Never mind that the articles about my lecture seemed to miss my point about the oldest books—not book—printed in 1593.)

And then I found out that Rev. Ed Bentley, a Canadian pastor, cited my experience on "Kapamilya Deal or No Deal" (KDOND) several months ago as "a true illustration of counter-consumerism" in a sermon (pdf), and said that,

We come into this life with nothing and we necessarily leave empty-handed. All that matters about whatever we win, earn, or acquire in the meantime is what we do with it, the good we make of it, the benefit we provide with it.
I never thought of my KDOND experience this way, but what he wrote reminded me of an old post entitled "I'm Just Trying to Matter", where I asked "Why am I doing what I'm doing?" Thanks to Rev. Bentley, I am reminded that I do what I do not so my words can get quoted in blogs or newspaper articles, but so that others can benefit from whatever I have learned.

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Outstanding Librarian 2009:
Candida C. Agcaoili

Candida C. AgcaoiliCandida C. Agcaoili
Discipline Consultant/Professor
University of Sto. Tomas

The Professional Regulation Commission conferred the Outstanding Professional Librarian of the Year Award on Candida C. Agcaoili on 19 June 2009. The citation reads:

For devoting 59 long years of her professional life in the development of the library profession; for her exemplary leadership as the First President of the Integrated Philippines Library Association now Philippine Librarians Association, as the Founding President of the Philippine Foundation for Library Science and Scholarship which gave 27 awards of recognition and distinction; for exemplifying the true meaning of commitment by sharing unselfishly her knowledge and expertise as Professor of UST, as delegate, speaker, lecturer and presenter of 28 papers in librarianship here and abroad and as a writer and publisher of articles in Library and Information Science Bulletin and Journals; and for her active and unrelenting involvement in community services such as medical missions, sports development for the youth, donation of books to the Quezon City Public Library, establishment of reading center for senior citizens, acquisition of hydrants in San Juan City and as Benefactor of Duyan ni Maria in Pampanga supporting programs of unwed mothers.

Thanks to Elvie Lapuz for providing the photo and citation.

The awardee is joined in the photo by, from left: Nora Conti, Cora Nera and Beth Peralejo (Board for Librarians).



Category: Librarians—Awardees

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The Encyclopedia of the Spanish-American
and Philippine-American Wars

The Encyclopedia of the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars is a new 3-volume set published by ABC-CLIO early this month. I haven't examined it thoroughly, and it's possible that it doesn't reflect the Filipino point of view, but I think the fact that its third volume is devoted to reproducing the texts of more than 150 primary-source documents will make it very useful. Some libraries probably have the earlier one-volume edition published in 2001, but it looks like this one is very different, starting with its editor.

Note: I learned about the set only because I'm at SLA 2009, where I've posted more in the last two days on the SLA Blog than I've done on my own blog in the past two weeks =)

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Filipino Identity and the Non-Filipino

Once again, we celebrate the declaration of Philippine independence. It might be good to reflect on the fact that this declaration was written in Spanish, and that the document indicates that independence was obtained "under the protection of the Powerful and Humanitarian Nation, the United States of America." With a little more digging, I’m sure it can be established that some of the signatories were of Chinese descent.

I bring up these details because it is not just where we were born that makes us Filipino. A Filipino is someone who bears traces of the non-Filipinos who occupied or visited—whether welcome or not—the group of islands now known as the Philippines. These traces are embedded in our language, history, food, habits, dreams, prejudices, etc. Whether these "souvenirs" from the Spaniards, Americans, and Chinese were good or bad for Filipinos is debatable. And while there are those who will blame non-Filipinos for everything that is wrong with the Philippines today, I think it's time to accept that this is who we are, that we each have the freedom to make our own decisions, and ultimately we are responsible—and not the non-Filipinos—for who we have become.

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Filipino Librarian Speaks
at Library of Congress

If you happen to be in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, 9 June 2009, I'd appreciate it if you would consider attending my presentation on "The Doctrina Christiana of 1593 and the 'Other' Book" at Library of Congress, 12 nn-1 pm. Here's the exact address:

Asian Division Foyer, Jefferson Building, Library of Congress
10 First Street, SE, Washington DC 20540
Nearest Metro Station: Capitol South (Orange/Blue Lines)
The full press release may be found at the website of the Library of Congress Asian Division Friends Society. The event is also on the calendar of the Philippine Embassy, Washington, DC.

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