Panawagan - A Literary Folio

I would like to congratulate my best friend and colleague, Prof. Arnold Tinaco Dacuno for his newly published literary folio entitled “Panawagan” which will soon be available at your favorite bookstores. I give two thumbs up for his literary achievement. In fact, this is his second book. The first one is a Textbook now being used in classrooms. I will be writing more about this friend of mine whose dreams were like unreachable stars but now are within his reach. I would like to encourage everyone to grab a copy now. you will never regret reading this folio as it is like giving you a full glimpse of everything that is happening around us.

For now, I would like to give the same comment I have written for his literary folio (as one of his critics) and in this sense, will give you a bird’s eye view on what the book is all about.

“Raise your unruffled brow
on this day, Filipino youth!
Resplendent shines
Your courage rich,
Handsome hope of my motherland”


This literary folio, PANAWAGAN, is an ardent call for change addressed to the youth of today. This could remind you of Dr. Jose Rizal’s address to the Filipino youth more than a hundred years ago. Rizal’s and the author’s voice are calling out “to the youth of today” who is said to be the hope of our nation”. This axiom rings true to what Filipinos believe and hope to happen, to let the Filipino youth spark the fire of change and be aware of his responsibility in nation building.

“Panawagan” is basically a reflection of the author’s life, how he responds to the challenges in life, and how he sees himself as an active participant, and important entity in the attainment of progress in our society. It also mirrors various life experiences which depict an exciting, challenging but beautiful journey of a young mind exposed to the complexities and adversities in life and how these obstacles should be overcome through his aspirations, determination and strength in achieving his dreams. It is a creative and reflective metamorphosis among young individuals who have the potentials to make a difference in the society they are in touched with. Panawagan can do a lot to an individual. It can unleash the doubts working inside his heart, shade light to his unfaltering questions of uncertainty and inferiority and finally let go of the emotional seepage that keeps him less productive. It is a call to every individual to be consciously aware of the stark reality around him and make a difference in his thoughts, aspirations, courage, character and perspective as well as effect change first of all to his own self, to his family and friends and generally to his community.

The author, young as he is, has exuded most of these quality characteristics of a young person, worthy of emulation, whose dreams were unruffled amidst adversities in life. His greatest weapons to achieve his dreams and face the challenges and obstacles in life were his willingness to work even harder than hardest and the wisdom that God has given him.

We are human, with intellect and emotion that understand, feel, reason and hopefully, respond to this call for change…



Dorcas Menoc – Bandiala
Literature Professor
College of Arts and Sciences
Capitol University