After almost eighteen months of waiting, ‘The Desert Roses’ (Mga Rosas ng Disyerto) is finally published, registered and attested by the National Commission for Culture & The Arts and the National Library of the Philippines earlier this year.  The book carrying an International Serial Book Number (ISBN) 978-971-011-249-4 is the second published book of Jamie Nava Cruz, an Overseas Filipino Worker and freelance writer/documentarist based in the Middle East. 

 
According to Nava Cruz, “I can say that my writing, sometimes, is kind of pushed aside and the focus is more about the human emotions — their lives and experiences.”  He added, “Reading ‘The Desert Roses’ (Mga Rosas ng Disyerto) is a leisure thing to do, let alone, will give the readers a very meaningful act of compassion and understanding about the characters involved in each short story.  The book will offer readers a rich experience since it will give them the ability to feel and see a different kind of world from the point of view of each ‘story character’; a totally different experience on how to see the emotions and experiences of others.”

“The Desert Roses” contains numerous short stories, 35% in English and 65% in Filipino. And although the book has already been published, albeit, has not hit the market (bookstores) as yet.  The author, in collaboration with a group of Filipino artists and arts enthusiasts, has so far decided to capture a number of short stories into independent films to be produced and filmed in the Philippines, hopefully next year.  Stories like:  ‘Jam W. K.’ (an undying love of a young overseas Filipina towards her beloved Philippines); ‘One World of Nescafe on Top of the Sky City’, “Brand of Memories” (issue of family inheritance and souvenirs); “Missed Samonte” (a different kind of loving and living), ‘DH: Destination Unknown’ to cite a few.

Nava Cruz noted that, “I always believe that stories should be written for us by us.  This is my personal mantra in writing the contents of ‘Mga Rosas’. But frankly, I am a writer who cherishes those universal principles and values (integrity, honesty and fairness) we all hold dear irrespective of our faith, race and background.”

 
The proceeds of the book, in the event that it’s out and sold in the market will be given to the family of Mrs. Laila Tolosa AlAmin, who died of cancer recently, the construction of San Isidro Church in Hagonoy, Bulacan, the various noble projects Pinoy Sining intends to do in the Philippines and to any non-profit organizations and individuals who are in dire need of help thru and in coordination with Pinoy Sining (The Filipinos for Arts & Culture) headed by its President Rodel J. Menda.  




 


 
The book cover of ‘Mga Rosas’ was designed by Leonard Domanico Herrera and Prudencio ‘Reden’ Caquista while Hera Marghate Gonzaga provided the author with her set of photography collections. - J. Nava Cruz, an OFW, is a freelance writer/author/documentarist.  E-mail at bashamel007@yahoo.com) 
 
 
 

 

 

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