I RECEIVED the latest book of Dr. Sonia S. Daquila, “Seeds of Revolution,” her 2008 edition.

I also received a copy of the book by former Igbaras (Iloilo) Mayor Fruto Saavedra “The History of Igbaras,” I enjoyed reading the two books.

Dr. Daquila, a prolific author, has written a number of books. This book is her latest. She is also a multi awardee educator, also having held many important positions in different schools.

Among the awards she got were as “Outstanding Teacher of the Philippines” in 2003 given by the Metrobank Foundation Inc. and as “Banwahanon Awardee” by the City of Bacolod in 2005, and many other awards in her work as an educator. She is also active in many other civic works, and is an accredited Mediator of the Supreme Court.

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The book is very significant. I believe, there should be somebody to follow Rizal who planted the seeds of a revolution.

In short, that is what the book is about. It is more of a biography of Rizal and emphasizing his role in planting in the minds of the readers of his books the seeds of a revolution.

Knowing the sad state of this country, there should be a revolution, not necessarily armed, but a revolution of the heart. Because that is what the heart of revolution should be, the revolution must be of the heart.

There should be a revolution in our moral values. There should be a revolution in our work ethic. There should be a revolution against corruption in government, a revolution against people misusing government funds.

The era of Rizal called for a revolution against the oppression and exploitation by foreigners.

Today’s revolution should be against the corruption in government that brought about our present problems. If all the money earned by government from taxes were spent on what they were intended for, we would have been one of the most progressive countries in the world.

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Reading the book of Dr. Daquila I can only lament and recite a poem written by a Filipino poet that called for Rizal not to sleep yet, not to rest yet because there are still battles to be fought, there are still sins of society to be corrected.

I can recall that phrase, “Not yet, Rizal. Not yet.”

I hope our people read “Seeds of Revolution” and in their own way also launch that revolution, first in himself and later on in influencing others.

This is what the country needs today, a revolution of the heart.

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Meanwhile, the book of Fruto Saavedra reveals the many aspects of the history of a town where I was born. I found Fruto a very good writer. He studied in Silliman, then at the University of Iloilo where he was a student editor of the school paper.

Aside from the facts, I like better the many sonnets and poems he wrote about the natural beauties of the town. He wrote about the powerful Tangyan River that just a few years ago killed more than 40 people when the jeep they were riding on was swept away by the flood. He also wrote about the majestic Mt. Napulak.

But I am not surprised. This town of Igbaras has many good writers. The late Eugenio Ealdama, member of the Philippine Assembly in the 1920s has a book “Alameda,” written after World War II that speaks of a Utopia in Iloilo. Ealdama was Governor of RFC, later DBP.

President Manuel Roxas’ Press Secretary, Mariano Ezpeleta, who later became an ambassador to important countries has a book “Sunset Over Shanghai,” written on the takeover of Mao Zedong of China in 1949. Espeleta was the Philippine Ambassador to Beijing under Chiang Kai Sheik. “Sunset Over Shanghai” analyzes the weakness of Chiang’s government.

The late Ariston Echevarria, a well known writer in Bacolod, was from Igbaras and was a good poetic writer too.

And the original name of this town which the Americans changed later was Ygbaras.

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My interview last night over Feedback was with Oscar Esler, former president of the Rotary Club of Bacolod South. He discussed with us, the comparative cost of generating electricity among hydro, geothermal, nuclear, coal, diesel, solar, wind, waves, and others.

Oskie is an expert in power generation. If you failed to see it last night, we will have it replayed on Saturday at 11 p.m., Sunday at 5 p.m., and Monday at 6 p.m.

This is just educational. Only now did I know that the coal being talked about is not charcoal or “oling.”

This weekend Congressman Monico Puentevella will be home.

I expect him to unsheathe his soul before media, answering Councilor Alex Paglumotan.

I like Newks when he is in a fighting mood. That’s where he is at his best.*

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