ABOUT THE BOOK

Dasô: fire and light from the native Bikol torch. And the body holding it up to illuminate the dark.  This is the essence of these personal memories about martial law. Bikolnon of all ages and from diverse places and pursuits remember how it was and how it should never be again. We who were there, or not, are taken to that time in history.

So, let us be there! Be enlightened and moved, anguished and inspired, and ever conscious of these stories about living and dying. Marvel at the courage and enduring commitment to justice, truth, and love. Because in the struggle for holding up the light and keeping it burning for country, there is always love.

Dasô: noun. But it has to become more than noun, as it was with those that lit up then. It has to be an action verb. Magdasô, makidasô kita—let us light, let us join in this lighting and relighting. It is the only way to see. It is the only way to restore vision amidst the darkness of misinformation and disinformation. The only way to reignite the true and fiery love for nation and compatriot—ang tunay asin naglalaad-laad na pagpadaba sa banwaan asin kabanwa.

Merlinda Bobis

—Filipino-Australian writer originally from Albay

ABOUT THE EDITORS

Judge Soliman M. Santos Jr. is a retired Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge of Naga City, Camarines Sur, and Municipal Trial Court (MTC) judge of Nabua, Camarines Sur. He has a history degree (cum laude) from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, a law degree from the University of Nueva Caceres in Naga City, and a master’s degree in law from the University of Melbourne. He was awarded Naga City’s Mayoral Citation for Peace Advocacy in 2007, the Philippine Science High School’s Gawad Lagablab for Peace Advocacy and Human Rights in 2008, and the Asian Public Intellectual fellowship at the Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang in 2009. A longtime human rights and humanitarian lawyer and peace advocate covering both the Moro and Communist fronts of war and peace, he is the author of many books, including Heart and Mind in Bikol (1994) and Tigaon 1969 (AdMU Press, 2023).

Dr. Paz Verdades M. Santos is a student of Bikol arts and culture and a volunteer for ecology with Sumaro sa Salog (SULOG) Inc. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, a master’s degree in education major in language and literature from Ateneo de Manila University, and a doctorate degree in arts, major in literature and language (high distinction), from De La Salle University. She studied Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) at Columbia University in New York on a Fulbright Fellowship. Recipient of the Gawad Francisco Balagtas and the Gawad Paz Marquez Benitez in 2011, Naga City’s Special Mayoral Citation in 2012, the National Book Award for Hagong in 2014, and the UP College of Mass Communication’s Glory Award in 2023, she has authored several books—among them, Hagkus: 20th Century Bikol Women Writers (DLSU Press, 2003) and Pagmangno: Woman, Nation, Ecology, Bikol (DLSU Publishing House, 2023). She is also the recipient of the Ateneo de Naga University 2025 Bulawan na Bikolnon (Golden Bikolano) Service to Bikol Award for her “invaluable contribution to Bikol through the cultivation of local literature, serving as writer, editor, teacher, researcher, activist, and critic.” She served as project proponent, coordinator, and co-editor of this book.

Dr. Greg S. Castilla was born in Sipocot, Camarines Sur, graduated from Ateneo de Manila University, Seattle University, and the University of Washington where he learned how to think critically and internalize the importance of actively participating in social justice advocacy. He has taught multicultural education in community colleges and universities in Seattle as adjunct faculty. He writes a column for Bicol Mail and contributes to Dateline Ibalon and Magbikol Kita. He used to work at the Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) and wrote regularly for the Seattle-based Filipino-American Bulletin. He is the author or editor of several books—among them, In His Own Words: The Educational Thoughts of Carlos Bulosan (2003), Understanding Culture, Society and Politics (2017), Ethics: Knowing Right from Wrong (2019), and Magis: Things That Matter Most in Life (2021). His doctorate is on multicultural education, and he is an experienced diversity trainer and multicultural education curriculum writer.