Capitol: History book project out this August

CEBU town mayors  were given  a week to submit  photographs of their past mayors and vintage photos of their towns.

These photos will be part of the Capitol’s five-year book project to produce the “definitive history” of  Cebu province in time for a launch in August during the founding celebration of the Province.

A  proposed book cover was presented last Wednesday by Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale in the meeting of the Provincial Development Council.

She said the project was 90 percent to 95 percent complete.

The project will have 55 volumes representing the 44 towns, seven component cities, three highly urbanized cities,  and the histories of the Provincial Capitol and the whole province.

Magpale, chairperson of the history writing committee,  showed a  sample book cover bearing the  official seal of the province and the official seal of the town or city.

As of last Wednesday, 16 towns and two cities, including Cebu City, have submitted their vintage photos.

Prof. Rene Alburo, who manages the project, said that 41 manuscripts were ready for publication. He said the the committee still needs to review 14 other manuscripts.

After the review, these will be given to the cluster editor then to a  copy editor before it is  completed.

The committee has also started the bidding process  to select a printer for the books and professional layout services.

Gov. Gwen Garcia urged the mayors to show the books with pride.

“I hope this  won’t remain in  boxes and left for cobwebs and dust. Please display it in a place of prominence because this is a tremendous work that has taken us a number of years,” she told the mayors.

“This is an obra maestra that entails a place of prominence . . . be proud of this accomplishment.”

All public high schools will be given a complete set of books softbound edition.

The idea of writing the history of Cebu in a special collection with input from each town and city  came from former governor and now Deputy House Speaker Pablo Garcia.

Governor Garcia issued an executive order in 2007 creating the history writing committee.

Last month, the committee  met with Garcia to help remind the 14 remaining towns to submit their manuscripts for review.

The committee envisioned  the production of at least 200 pages of print-ready manuscripts.

Each manuscript was  to be penned by a writer who must preferably reside or come from the town or city whose history he or she is  writing about.

In 2007, Dr. Resil B. Mojares and Dr. Erlinda K. Alburo of the Cebuano Studies Center were tapped to lead the project.

Four other editors helped in the work of the 53 writers— Emilio Pascual, Jose Eleazar  Bersales,  Madrileña dela Cerna and  Jocelyn Gerra.

The committee plans to register the 55 volumes with the National Library and produce electronic copies as well.