Vice Mayor Jimmy T. Lazatin and some members of the city council said they have been getting a lot of flak after the book came out recently.
In yesterday’s media briefing at the Heroes Hall here, Lazatin said they will file a motion to recall the book for a possible academic review as soon as a formal complaint is lodged before the city council.
Veteran journalist Bong Z. Lacson raised the issue on the said book during the media forum adding that it may do “more harm than good” on students who will use the book for their academic research.
“What history of San Fernando can we speak of without the life and sacrifices of the Abad Santos brothers, Jose and Don Perico, in it?” asked Lacson who noted that all the book said about the two were in an anecdote on the visit of President Quezon to the place.
In a column in this paper last February, Lacson lambasted what he called the bastardization of the account on the martial law years, noting the absence of the historical milestones like the assassination of Mayor Levi Panlilio, the birth of the Barrio Self Defense Units, the “rape of San Fernando” in the 1980 elections, the first rallies in the aftermath of the Ninoy Aquino assassination, among others.
Lacson, a Fernandino, said he called the attention of the city council because of his concerned that problems might arise if the book will eventually be distributed to schools and academic institutions.
He also lamented that the book was poorly edited and conceptualized and is far from scholarly.
But he added that he has nothing against the authors of the book. It can be recalled that the Kasalesayang Ning San Fernando was launched as one of the highlights of the 15th Cityhood Charter Anniversary of San Fernando. The book includes 11 chapters.
Aside from the city’s history and culture, the book also commemorated the life, faith and resiliency of Fernandinos after the reign of Martial Law and eruption of Mt. Pinatubo.
It also chronicles the media of San Fernando, Parul Sampernandu and the city’s standing challenge for the future.
