Printed matter

Two books of love poems by the husband-and-wife team of Abelardo Subido and Trinidad Tarrosa Subido, referred to as "the Brownings of the Philippines" – that is, as the Filipino counterparts of the Victorian poets Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett – have been published by Milestone publications.

Trining’s book, titled Private Edition, Sonnets and Other Poems, consists of over 100 poems written between 1931 and 1980. Her craft has been described as "the most limpid note in women’s poetry" by Jose M. Hernandez (1950). Abelardo’s book is a new collection introduced by Edilberto N. Alegre, which collection is based on a 1935 compilation by the author himself, with his own preface. Wrote S. P. Lopez of Abelardo: "…in the duetto of love he provides the antiphonic refrain" (1945).

The Subidos began their writing careers in the 1930s, the period literary historians describe as "the golden age of Philippine literature in English". In 1965, the Subidos were named "Outstanding Literary Couple" by United Poets Laureate International, an organization founded by Pampango poet Amado Yuson.

El arbol de la esperanza (The Tree of Hope) is a Spanish translation by Carlos Milla Soler of one of the five novels comprising F. Sionil Jose’s Rosales saga. A candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature, Jose has written five novels besides the other five of the Rosales saga. The novels have been translated into 24 languages, including French and Russian.

Of El arbol, the LA Times comments: "Sionil Jose writes eloquently of his town, its losses and anxieties; he describes with tenderness the trees, the plants, the topography of the land that inundates this book with natural lyricism".

Meritocracy by Sultan Elly Velez Pamatong subscribes to the "art and science of warriorism against any form of evil in human society, and to a spiritual warrior; it is a genuine moral and political weapon of mass salvation, not mass destruction.

"Meritocracy is the very essence – indeed the quintessence of a genuine democracy. The heart of our present system of government is MONEY or materialism. That is why it may be appropriately described as ‘Money-talk-cracy’. This manifesto seeks to change that heart with MERIT. In short, our current ‘money-talk-cratic’ democracy needs a ‘heart transplant.’ That NEW HEART is Meritocracy."

In his foreword, Rolando A. Carbonell, Ph.D., initially describes meritocracy: "Quite simply, it is the principle of fulfilling one’s goals, desires or vision through merit. Meaning, the people should be rewarded for what they know based on honest service. This is also based on the ancient law of karma. We reap what we sow. It is based on truth, justice and compassion. With this all-encompassing philosophy as the basis for our thoughts, actions, motivations and noble aspirations – we will experience a major shift in every field of human endeavor."