What Would You Bring If You Were Stranded In An Island?

Excerpt from WORDS WORTH by Mons Romulo-Tantoco
The Philippine Star (Sunday Life) – June 22, 2008

We have all our favorite “beach reads.” Summer sends most of us out looking for a recliner perched near the ocean waves, a good (or at least entertaining) book in our clutches.

But what if you are limited to one book — and only one book — to take along to an otherwise-empty island? Which book would it be? Fiction or nonfiction? Funny or serious? Spiritual or merely material?

We asked our respondents this week to tell us what would be their “chosen read.”

Clementine, vocalist/guitarist, The Camerawalls: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This book has turned me nto an incurable optimist where I consider every problem an opportunity in disguise. The idea of not losing hope and allowing the whole world to conspire to make things happen in the face of adversities is truly a recipe in building dreams.

Ian Sarabia, drummer, The Camerawalls: Aside from the obvious “survival book” answer, if I were suddenly stuck on an island I would like to have the Bible with me. It’s a long book. Many layers. You can read it over and over again and see something new each time. It’s inspirational and it’ll help when I finally do “get off” the island. Its pages are made of hemp — a plant good for making, uh, rope and other useful things. But since I’ll never know if or when I’m gonna stuck on an island, I’d probably hold the book I’m reading now. It’s called The Watchmen, a graphic novel by Alan Moore.  Like the Bible , it, too, has many interesting and thought provoking ideas — although not as long and not as inspirational.

Law Santiago, bassist, The Camerawalls: Bob Ong’s ABNKKBSNPLAKo?! is funny, but also sensible. It talks about Bob’s misadventures when he was a student, which reminded me of my years spent in school. What I like about this book is that at the end of every story, he emphasizes yung point and lesson sa bawat kuwento.