FORMER PHILOSOPHY Professor Roque J. Ferriols, SJ launched his new book Sulyap sa Aking Pinanggalingan (Glimpses Into My Beginnings) on August 31 at the Leong Hall Auditorium.

Through a message delivered by Leovino Ma. Garcia, PhD, Ferriols said that the book was brought about by a lack of information on the lives of the Jesuit fathers. Ferriols recalled Jojo Magadia, SJ saying, “Matutuwa ako kung may magsusulat ng libro ukol sa kabataan ng mga matatandang Heswita (I would be glad if someone wrote a book about the youth of the old Jesuits).”

Additionally, Catalino Arevalo, SJ encouraged him to have two versions of the book for his friends abroad to understand his story.

Shaping Philosophy in Ateneo

Remmon Barbaza, PhD noted that Ferriols enjoyed a distinguished career throughout his tenure in the Philosophy department of the University.

“Pambihira iyong unang-unang pagdanas ng Pilosopiya kay Fr. Ferriols; tila isang lindol na sumapit sa akicng pagkatao at mula noon ay hindi na nagging dati muli ang aking buhay (The first experience of Philosophy with Fr. Ferriols was extraordinary; it’s like an earthquake reached into my being and from that time onwards, my life has never been the same),” Barbaza said.

“Kami rin sa kagawaran ay nagpapasalamat. Kami ay ang Kagawaran ng Pilosopiya dahil kay Fr. Roque (Here in the department, we are grateful. We are the Department of Philosophy because of Fr. Ferriols),” Barbaza said.

75^th year in the society

Ferriols celebrates his 75^th year with the Jesuits together with Arevalo, who was his high school classmate and batch mate in the Society of Jesus.

Arevalo gave positive remarks about the book, which he said made him emotional, especially in the parts where Ferriols talked about his experiences during World War II.

“Fr. Roque’s Sulyap has been a really engaging read. It became for me a very deeply moving book. Pages written almost matter-of-factly, with some small details here and there seemingly, casually, noted. Our translator, Professor Soledad Reyes, said she found herself shedding tears as she translated those passages,” Arevalo said.

There are three editions of the book available for purchase: two in paperback edition in Filipino and English, and a hardcopy edition. Proceeds of the hardbound edition of the book will go to the infirmary of the Jesuits.