The works included in this book cover varied themes and subjects, but as the title chapter “Valentine Means Love” suggests, the theme of love-love of God, of country, and of people —predominates. Moreover, the title signifies that this work is part of my love offering to my beloved Alma Mater [Central Philippine University] on her 100th anniversary.
Most of the meditations and messages in this book were delivered before the board members, officers, and some employees and clients of Taytay sa Kauswagan, Inc. (TSKI) and Opportunity Kauswagan Bank (OK Bank). TSKI is a non-stock, non-profit Christian development organization. It was founded in 1986 and in twenty-five years, by God’s grace, has become one of the largest microfinance institutions in the Philippines. From a staff of three, TSKI now has 2,700 employees. From a dozen of fish vendors in the La Paz Public Market in Iloilo City in 1986, it has 300,000 active, current clients in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. OK Bank is a microfinance-oriented thrift bank that is majority owned by TSKI.
In 1964, the author's book, Mightier Than the Sword: Biography of Graciano Lopez Jaena, came out. It was printed in Bacolod City with the financial assistance of an ardent admirer of the hero, Vice Mayor Benigno G. Hinolan of Murcia, Negros Occidental. The second edition of the book was published by the Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation in 1988, and the third edition in 2002.
A recent survey in the internet showed that copies of the book are held by twenty-eight (28) major libraries in nine foreign countries. In the Philippines, thirty-five (35) libraries hold the book. The 35 libraries are spread from the Dagupan City Library in the North to Ateneo de Zamboanga University Library in the South.
As seen in the title, this new volume includes a Brief Biography of Lopez Jaena and an Annotated Bibliography. The Bibliography is divided into two parts. Part I comprises the works of Lopez Jaena and Part II consists of writings about him.
The Annotated Bibliography is, by no means, complete. Yet, we are happy to note that Part I includes 87 entries of books, pamphlets, speeches, articles, and letters. Part II lists a total of 206 titles, broken down as follows: 61 books, 134 essays, articles and poems, eight unpublished materials, and three archival materials. We were also pleased to learn that over the years, at least 120 persons have written about Lopez Jaena, the national hero from the Visayas.
