How I found a rare and old book

I just finished reading The Seven Storey Mountain. Definitely, I will reread it again next time. So I need to find another to read. Luckily, I stumbled upon a book that I was looking for a long time already. This is how it happened:

I remember in our retreat last March before our first profession of vows, our novice director gave us an excerpt of a book. We were on a one-week retreat in the Trappistine Monastery in South Cotabato. The excerpt was the first exercise of the book Sadhana, which means spirituality. After reading this, I decided to look after this book and get a copy. It’s not easy since it cannot be found in our bookstores here in the country.

Last Friday, our community decided to clean our library since no one is maintaining it due to the lack of a librarian. We re-shelved the books left by some of our brothers who graduated last October. Because of the re-shelving, I got more familiar where to look the books I might be interested reading on the future. But I did not think of Sadhana.

Last Tuesday before our classes starts, I tried to look for a copy of General Directory for Catechesis (GDC). I saw some copies of it during our re-shelving. Before I went up to the library, our Dean of Studies saw me and called my name. I was running that time. I know it was rude but I said “wait” since our classes are about to start and I need to see a book. So I hurriedly looked for the book. During the search, I ended up seeing the book Sadhana by Anthony de Mello. I grabbed it and decided not to pick the GDC. So I have the book I was looking for a long time as I went back to the Dean.

And that’s how I found a rare old book.

Have you read a book lately?

(Warning: this is a free-writing kind of post)

I finished four books throughout this week. It’s not that I want to brag. It’s because of a special project: to encourage my fellow brothers to read.

My appointment as the library committee chairperson

Two months ago, I was appointed as the head of the library committee. It’s not because I am the most qualified but because there’s only two persons to choose from including myself. We don’t even have a librarian. During our initial meeting, I asserted my desire to acquire books. It’s actually strange that in the previous years, the funds for the library in book acquisition are untouched. I want my confreres to read that I bought books that I don’t prefer to read. Some fellow young brothers are even cynical of my project. But it’s okay; I’ll just feed the readers more motivation to read: purchase what they want to read.

How I developed the habit of reading?

I’m a late bloomer when it comes to reading. I started the habit when I was a senior high school student. And the secret to start the habit is just to start reading. What I did is to just begin with the books that I like: chess. The same goes for my confreres: give them the books they like. Continue reading →

Looking for Philippine Literature?

Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of traffic from users (I assume they are Filipinos) looking for Philippine literature.

I’m sorry to say that I’m not a Philippine Lit buff.

Are you looking for Philippine Literature?

If you’re looking for a credible reference here, you went to the wrong place.

Disregard the fact that I might turn off future readers. That’s okay.

Maybe it’s due to the fact that August is the National Language Month in the Philippines.

I have a friendly advice: go to your local library!