AN ASSISTANT professor from the University of Santo Tomas bagged the Best Book of Nonfiction in Filipino in the 2022 Gintong Aklat Awards.

Dr. Joselito Delos Reyes was recognized for his book “#Pasahero: mga nakikisakay na sanaysay.”

The book wheels through an avenue where readers are invited to ponder upon shared experiences embodied in his essays.
It was published by the UST Publishing House in 2021.

“Paglalahad lang naman ng pakikisakay, paglalakbay, at pagiging pasahero ang naisulat ko doon sa aklat. Pero dahil pasahero tayong lahat, one way or another, baka may shared experiences tayo na pwede pag-isipan, pagnilayan, at kung may matutuhan, kahit hindi sadya, makakabuti,” Delos Reyes said.

“Sa mga nagsisikap makapagsulat, may award man o wala, maging popular man o hindi, pagsikapan sanang sumulat o mag-articulate ng ideya na makapagpapabuti sa kalagayan ng tao at lipunan, to make people a tad more intelligent, discerning, and reflective sa mga nangyayari sa kanilang paligid, at makatulong sa ikabubuti ng lipunan,” he added.

“Maging magaling na manunulat, yes. Pero higit sa pagiging magaling, maging mabuti. Maging makatao. May validation man ng awards o kadalasan, wala,” he stressed.

Delos Reyes is a resident fellow of the UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies. He is also an academic researcher of the UST Research Center for Culture, Arts, and Humanities.

Currently, he is the Creative Writing program coordinator of the UST Department of Literature.

Established in 1981, the Gintong Aklat Awards are given out regularly by the Book Development Association of the Philippines to outstanding book publishers.

The awards are meant to recognize excellence in bookmaking. The event is held every two years.