Barako Publishing launched the legacy book “Barako 77: The Story of Environmental Activism in San Juan, Batangas” last Earth Day, April 22, at Acuatico Beach Resort in Laiya, San Juan, Batangas.

With the support of the World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines (WWF-PH), the Acuatico Beach Resort team organized a coastal cleanup 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” coeditor and coauthor 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 and Q&A with the editors and writers of the book followed.

In the ’70s, San Juan 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.

“This controversial but almost forgotten piece of our town’s environmental history is finally published. The manuscript is backed by ironclad research. We are honored to give the story of our ancestors the justice it deserves, and deliver the legacy,” Serumgard said.

The book was written by historians Vincent Bernabe, Garilao, Katherine G. Lacson, as well as San Juaneños Felipe Horacio F. Marasigan III, Rodriguez and Serumgard. The book also includes essay inserts from contributing writers Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC, Sr. Mary John Mananzan, O.S.B. and Tan.

Barako Publishing is collaborating with WWF-PH to create an educational module to teach this inspiring story to the youth.

The book (P1,499) is now available at barako.org and soon on Barako Publishing’s Lazada page.