RESPONSE OF ATTY. D. BUHAIN DURING THE TESTIMONIAL DINNER
HOSTED FOR HIM BY THE NBDB
(March 31, 2001, Celebrity Sports Plaza, 7:00PM)
In response, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the past governors namely Dr. Erlinda Pefianco, Dr. Kate Botengan, Ms. Mimi de Jesus, Director Jose Escartin, Mr. Virgilio Almario, Dr. Resil Mojares, Ms. Doreen Fernandez, Dean Rosa Vallejo, Ms. Carolina Javier, Atty. Faulin Peñasales, Ms. Leila Sy, Dr. Jose Guerrero, Dr. Edgardo Paras, Dr. Leonardo de Castro and Dr. Angel Alcala and present members of the Governing Board: Vice Chairman Fe Hidaldo, Gov. Juan P. Dayang, Gov. John Ochoa, Gov. Esther Ogena, Gov. Thomas Aquino, Gov. Karina Bolasco, Gov. Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, Gov. Isabelo Crisostomo, and Chairman Jaime C. Laya, the past and incumbent Board Secretaries in the persons of Dean Rufus Rodriguez, the best Commissioner BID had ever had and Faulin Peñasales, the Executive Officer Nellie Apolonio and the Deputy Executive Officer Romeo De Guzman, and the Secretariat for reposing to me their trust and confidence and bearing with me during the preceding six years except for an intervening period.
My stay at the NBDB was not without color. After the prolonged struggle to finally cause the passage of RA 8047 or the Book Publishing Industry Development Act, little did I know that I would be featured in the pages of newspapers of general circulation, magazines, televisions, not because of good deeds done but on grounds of conflict of interest and cornering the market and other negative allegations. I could even remember vividly that I was even portrayed in a caricature in the Editorial of the Philippine Star as one wearing a crown and that somebody below was to throw a stone at me.
The grand inquisition did not stop at the media as it was brought also to the halls of Senate and Congress. There was mental anguish after a sleepless night anticipating on what would appear in the next morning’s papers or what would be heard and/or seen in radio or on tv.
I was in earnest during the past to seek fame but with this experience I have resolved that I would rather remain obscure with a peace of mind.
During the assumption into office of President Estrada, I had once more a prolonged negative exposure in media which led to my dethronement as a Chairman. As time passed by, I was able to gain the confidence of the members of the Governing Board and I was privileged to regain the chairmanship.
I though normalcy would have prevailed after surviving the critical attacks but while attending the Frankfurt Bookfair ’99, we have received a communication that I, together with three Governors landed on the front page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer as respondents to a case. It was after all only a tip of the iceberg as more cases followed either with the Philippine Commission Against Graft and Corruption, Ombudsman or the Office of the President .
I, together with the three governors were the mainstays of these prosecuting bodies.
Notwithstanding the turbulent era during my leadership, the Governing Board remained tenacious in complying with its mandate, to wit:
- After various consultative meetings in the regions and provinces, the National Book Policy was finally accepted by the Office of the President through the intercession of Bobby Dacer and our very own Governor Dayang;
- The National Book Development Board was able to come up with guidelines that would exempt duly-registered stakeholders from payment of tax for the importation of raw materials to be used in book publishing;
- Taxes on royalty of authors had been reduced from 20% to 10%;
- Various private organizations had been organized which include the Literacy and Book Readership Organization (AKLAT); Reprographic Rights Organization (RRO), and the Book Exporters Association of the Philippines (BEAP) to respond to the varying objectives of RA 8047;
- International recognitions may have been achieved by reason of the active participations to international bookfairs which include appointment of your humble representation to prestigious positions like the vice-presidency to the Asian Pacific Publishers Association (APPA) and honorable representations at the International Publishers Association (IPA);
- Recognition by the government of the month of June as the Book Development Month and the regular observance of the Unesco-approved World Book Day;
- I would like to point out also that from the time the NBDB has become operational, there appears to be a correlative increase in the number of titles and stakeholders.
One important development as of this point in time is the unification of the various sectoral representations of the book publishing industry.
I’m leaving the NBDB with a heavy heart as there are threats to the very existence of the Agency like HB 1450 wherein I may not be able to authoritatively participate to guard against the implementation of these destructive measures.
I am however, confident that the leadership of the present Board and the active players of the industry would not allow this eventuality. I bid goodbye to pursue higher goals and aim for higher service to further uplift the present state of the book publishing industry and in case I would not be able to make it, I will therefore be compelled to live a life of simplicity – away from the struggles that I used to live with. I am thankful, however, with all those struggles, experiences and various tests as through them I have known to realize that great achievements are accomplished with extreme difficulty.
Thank you very much. Incidentally, all the negative allegations have either been dismissed or not substantiated.