Cebu history books out this month

Governor Hilario Davide III (right) shows two of the books of the Province and History of the Capitol. The 1st two out of 53 volume books on the history of the Cities and Municipalities in Cebu that was turn over by Fr. Dionisio Miranda, SVD University of San Carlos (USC), president and Vice governor Agnes Magpale during the “Gabii sa Sugbu”event. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)

Seven years after its inception, a book project consisting of 55 volumes chronicling Cebu’s history will be available in public schools and libraries in the province this month.

The project was delayed due to difficulties in compiling all available materials used for writing the book, said Wilfred Toledo, who was in-charge of monitoring the book’s progress under Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale’s office.

During the project’s duration, changes were made to include each set of newly-elected officials, Toledo said.

The book project began during the term of then governor and now Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia.

Her message was included along with messages of her successor, Gov. Hilario Davide III and Magpale who headed the committee formed to oversee it.

Complete

“It’s not easy to write history considering this is the first with this kind of scope and length. It’s really complete,” Toledo said.

Toledo estimates that before the year ends, 300 sets of the book project will be reproduced.
The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) gave P2 million to cover the printing expenses.

Toledo said they are still in talks with the University of San Carlos (USC) for another P2 million donation for the publication of the books.

He said the province will give copies to its components towns and cities while the other sets will be given for the safekeeping of public schools and libraries around the province.

Celebration

The province will also register the 55 volumes with the National Library and produce electronic copies as well.

“It will be useful for both teachers and students in the academe who wish to access the books,” Toledo said.

The first two volumes of the book project were handed over by USC president, Fr. Dionisio Miranda, to Davide and Magpale during the Gabii sa Sugbo in celebration of the province’s 445th founding anniversary last month.

One of two completed volumes told the story behind the Provincial Capitol building and another volume on the history of Cebu province, Provincial Information Officer Ethel Natera said.

The idea of writing the history of Cebu in a special collection with input from each town and city came from former governor and Deputy House speaker Pablo Garcia.

Ambitious

USC was commissioned for the production of the books in 2007 during the administration of his daughter, Gwen.

An agreement was entered into by Cebu province and USC for the book project in October the same year.

Garcia also issued an executive order creating a history writing committee solely for the “very ambitious and never-been-done-before” project.

An estimated P14 million was spent for the production of the book with P11 million to pay 60 writers and six cluster editors.

Due to delays, the provincial government extended its contract with USC for another year in 2010.

It was only in the first quarter of 2011 when all the writers submitted their manuscripts and were reviewed by committee members.

After completing the manuscripts, these had to be submitted to the local government units (LGUs) for further verification and additional input.

By the end of 2011, the manuscripts were given to the Women In Literary Arts (WILA) which was in-charge of proofreading and book design.

Garcia earlier targeted August 2012 as the launching of the book, but it did not push through.

The committee envisioned the production of at least 200 pages of print-ready manuscripts.

Each manuscript was to be penned by a writer who must preferably reside or come from the town or city whose history he or she is writing about.

In 2007, Dr. Resil B. Mojares and Dr. Erlinda K. Alburo of the Cebuano Studies Center were tapped to lead the project. Four other editors helped in the work of the 53 writers— Emilio Pascual, Jose Eleazar Bersales, Madrileña dela Cerna and Jocelyn Gerra.