Barako Publishing proudly launched the legacy book entitled Barako 77: The Story of Environmental Activism in San Juan, Batangas, last Earth Day, April 22-23, 2024, at Acuatico Beach Resort in Laiya, San Juan, Batangas.
With the support of the World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines, the event took place in Acuatico Beach Resort, the launch venue partner, last Earth Day, April 22, 2024. The Acuatico Beach Resort team organized a coastal clean-up in the early morning. Speakers were Barako Publishing’s Ciara Marasigan Serumgard, Farrah Rodriguez, Horacio “Zaldy” Marasigan Jr., Felipe Horacio F. Marasigan III, Barako 77 co-editor and co-author Maria Karina Garilao, Batangas Culture and Arts Council President Sylvia Marasigan, Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation’s Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, WWF-PH’s Dino Calderon, and Acuatico Beach Resort’s Patricia Gusi. A special sit-down session + Q&A with the editors and writers of the book culminated the program.
The following day, April 23, Barako Publishing also organized a heritage tour of four San Juan ancestral houses: Casa Leon (with owners, The Mayo Family), The Apolonio Marasigan House (with owners Sylvia Marasigan, Annick Bunuan and Silvana Peters), Casa Soledad (with owners Anna and Brando Tioseco), and The White House (with owner Neil Marundan). An exhibition by the San Juan Artists Group was held at the White House. Finally, the 2-day press launch culminated with a luncheon at El Jardin de Zaida. Cocktails were also served at Casa Molave of El Jardin de Zaida. Barako Publishing Executive Director Farrah Rodriguez shared that “with the 2-day launch, we hope to have showcased the best of San Juan: from our seas to our heritage & culture, what was saved from the events in our book, Barako 77.”
About the Book
In the seventies, San Juan, Batangas was set to be the location for the first copper smelter in Southeast Asia until a grassroots movement fought it to preserve the health of the citizenry and the natural resources of San Juan, Batangas. The book was written by historians Vincent Bernabe, Maria Karina Garilao, Katherine G. Lacson, as well as San Juaneños Felipe Horacio F. Marasigan III, Farrah Jem L. Rodriguez, and Ciara Marasigan Serumgard. The book also includes essay inserts from a powerhouse of contributing writers Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC, Sr. Mary John Mananzan, O.S.B., and Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan. Contributing photographers include Juan Miguel Marasigan, Mark Anthony Carranza, Penn De Los Santos, Marivic Verdadero Maramot, and Neon Rosell II. Additional illustrations by Bladimer Usi+ and Rory Morales-Gutierrez complete the book. The conceptualization of the book’s visual theme is by Studio 5 Designs’ Creative Director BG Hernandez.
The book is now available on Barako Publishing’s website: www.barako.org, and will soon be available on Barako Publishing’s Lazada page. It retails for P1,499.00.
