I missed an event that I would have loved to go to! Had I known about it before the night of the event, nothing would have stopped me from going... but, as they say, things don't always turn out the way we want it to! Nothing could stop me from advertising it, though!
Yesterday one of my favorite author, Dr Jose "Ting" Tiongco, launched his second book (I don't really know if it's only the second but it is the second one that I know of). YES, he is a relative, but, NO, he isn't my favorite author only because he IS family!!! And boy, I sure am glad I am family, otherwise, I wouldn't have the chance to read his first published book! If I remember right, there were just a few copies printed of it and he GAVE them all away to friends and family! I became a big fan after reading the first book -- Child of the Sun Returning, but long before that, I had been an admirer of his ideals!
To date, I don't know anyone OPENLY emotional, loving to the family and loyal to the country as him... not to mention he is a Top notch, quick witted, very handsome (and single! but NOT available!) Neuro-Surgeon! And did I mention CRAZY?!? oh well, he is!
It makes me proud and irritated at the same time whenever I introduce myself and the next thing that comes to the person's mouth is : "how are you related to Dr. Ting?!" Though admittedly, I feel more pride than irritation, especially if the one asking doesn't agree with his principles, hehehe!
Anyways, the book he Launched yesterday in UP Mindanao is entitled SURGEONS DO NOT CRY published by the University of the Philippines Press.
If you want to know what the book is about, please read the Preface below by the Author himself. But before that, the book is available in any UP Bookstore in the country for P400. It is also available in Amazon... here's the link:
Now, here's the...
PREFACE
This series of stories that follows was written for a column called CHILD OF THE SUN in mindanews.com, as a fulfillment of a promise. Not surprisingly, the articles coalesced into a small book. Perhaps it is better so. A book, no matter how small and slim, compared to a computer or a newspaper, has a shelf life of forever.
The stories of an institution like the University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) are timeless. But as it is often said, nothing ever happened unless it is written down. There are so many stories to tell of the agonies and triumphs of both doctors and patients, who have peopled this venerable institution through the ages. I wrote the stories because I firmly believe that healing is a mutual process; that the healer is very often himself healed as he goes about caring for the ailing person. So the stories bite both ways.
This book is one man’s simple recount of his ten year development as a doctor and a surgeon in the UPPGH; it is by no means unique and carries no world shaking message. It is just an old doctor’s story.
These stories are based on events that actually happened even as the details are recalled through the haze of 40 long years (15 of them in retirement) and gilded by a loving memory that has not ceased to care for an institution that molded its owner to be what he is today. They are all told in the deepest gratitude even if up to this day, memory has not lapsed uncritical.
The names of most of the characters in the stories have been changed to make it more fun.
So let me take you down, ‘cause I’m going through golden memory fields forever.
Ting Tiongco
October 28, 2006
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