WOVEN STRANDS OF ROSES

About the Book

“Manong, I got your masterpiece. Will work on it. Give me two weeks, and I will get it done, and send it back to you. First off, let me say: Bellissimo! Beautiful work of personal history, beautiful love story as well. Bless you and Manang Samar more and more, and more and more. Let's see this book come to its own birthing--and soon. And may I say: tender. Yes, the memory here is tender, so tender one can become teary eyed while reading every letter.” – Dr. Aurelio Solver Agcaoili This book is divided into two (2) parts: the Ilokano (original) and the English translation. It consists of three-year love letters of the authors, from 1966-1968, with annotation. It is not a mere love letters but also touches the private lives of party’s families, many Ilokano writers and the Ilokano literature in general. It started with a prologue which is divided into two parts each for the authors where they touched how they started their writing professions, how they met—through the letters to the editor’s section where Sinamar congratulated Lorenzo for his novel—and how they started to weave their ‘fibers of roses’. They are the first members of the GUMIL (Ilokano Writers Association) that were knotted together (four others got married outside the association, and or after them). The letters were divided into three years. Before each letter, there is an annotation to explain how, when, where, and who were mentioned in the letter. There are letters where private lives of friends and relatives of both sides were touched that made the book differed from other books of love letters. It ended with an epilogue, a part is quoted: “The flowers that were spread all around the whole path we traversed were not entirely roses. And while looking back to where we had gone thru, there were occasions that we want to delete so that they won’t appear in the leaves of the story of our lives, but they were written in the past, although some of them were not written in words. In our hearts we are pleading that the things that we do not like to look back were not supposed to be done or happened. But is there anybody who could unfurl back the past times? Unlike the writings that could easily be edited if we want to change a part that we want to revise, to make it better, more sparkling to entice the feeling to read again and again and again! “When time comes that all our children had settled down, and we are left alone in the yard of afternoon to wait the setting down of our sun, we will be left looking back the past, discerning the profundity of life being woven by our offspring. Oh yes, we will look up the stars together, and in spite of our shrivels, we will smile to each other that in our eye reflects the woven fibers of roses.” At the end of the English translation is where the 22 pictures were added. The introduction is written by Dr. Aurelio S. Agcaoili, a prominent figure at the University of Hawaii in Manoa; with comments of Prescillano N. Bermudez and Cristino I. Inay, Sr. prominent writers during the authors’ time; and Lorenzo R. Tabin II who edited the translation. --#

About the Author

Lorenzo Garcia Tabin (b. May 22, 1944, San Juan, Ilocos Sur) and Sinamar A. Robianes Tabin (b. April 20, 1945, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte) are longtime translators and interpreters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Lorenzo authored dozens of novels, short stories, poems, and a lot of feature articles published in magazines like the Bannawag, Rimat, TMI Journal, and Asia Philippines Leader; garnered prestigious writing awards—including Pedro Bucaneg, the highest award given to Ilocano writers—from Palanca, ETTI, GRAAFIL, RFAAFIL, and other award giving bodies. He is a lifetime member of the GUMIL Metro Manila because he was once a president of the organization. He and Sinamar are co-founders with T. Gabriel Tugade, Cristino I. Inay, Sr. and Dr. Ariel Solver Agcaoili of the TMI Global (Guild of the Ilocano Writers Global). His first book is “Pakpakawan, Berde! Ken 21 a sarita.” He graduated AB Journalism from the Manuel L. Quezon University and MA Literature from the University of the Philippines. Sinamar, likewise, authored dozens of short stories, novelettes, poems, and feature articles in the Bannawag magazine, was a writer of the Normalite Bulletin, the school organ of the Northern Luzon Teacher’s College where she graduated BSEEd; was Ilocano editor of the Ilocos courier at Laoag City; won some awards; once a school organ editor of the Bangui Star, of the Bangui Provincial High School. She retired as grade school teacher. They were blessed with five living children: Loumarie Linglingay (banking and finance, and business administration), Lorenzo II (physicist and trainer), Naomi (accountant), Sinamar II (interior designer), and Marlo Bagnos (master of business administration). They live at 3667 South Yorkshire Road, West Valley City, Utah 84119 USA.