Mga Dasô: Stories of Martial Law in Bikol (PRE-ORDER)

SYNOPSIS:

Dasô: fire and light from the native Bikol torch. And the body holding it up to illuminate the dark. This is the essence of these personal memories about martial law. Bikolnon of all ages and from diverse places and pursuits remember how it was and how it should never be again. We who were there, or not, are taken to that time in history.

So, let us be there! Be enlightened and moved, anguished and inspired, and ever conscious of these stories about living and dying. Marvel at the courage and enduring commitment to justice, truth, and love. Because in the struggle for holding up the light and keeping it burning for country, there is always love.

Dasô: noun. But it has to become more than noun, as it was with those that lit up then. It has to be an action verb. Magdasô, makidasô kita—let us light, let us join in this lighting and relighting. It is the only way to see. It is the only way to restore vision amidst the darkness of misinformation and disinformation. The only way to reignite the true and fiery love for nation and compatriot—ang tunay asin naglalaad-laad na pagpadaba sa banwaan asin kabanwa.

Merlinda Bobis

—Filipino-Australian writer originally from Albay

Editors: Soliman M. Santos Jr., Paz Verdades M. Santos, Greg S. Castilla
Published: 2025
Pages: 344
Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9 in.

❗️NOTE❗️:

THIS IS A ❗️PRE-ORDER ITEM❗️PRODUCT WILL BE SHIPPED IN THE END OF AUGUST-SEPTEMBER.

 If you are ordering an item that is currently in stock in the same order, the order will be held until the pre-ordered book or item arrives from the Philippines. Shipping of pre-ordered items from our partners in the Philippines to New York are scheduled to take place in May, August and November 2026 ONLY.

Once pre-ordered items ship and arrive from the Philippines to New York, items will be dispatched from New York to their final destination.

Due to the gas situation worldwide and especially in the Philippines, shipping of pre-ordered items are delayed and shipping from the Philippines has been set to ease our partner's in the Philippines.

Shipping during these 3 months for 2026 also allow our partnered local artisans from the Philippines such as our weavers, anitu sculptors, and brass pre-colonial gold replica jewelry pieces, the time needed they need to work on your one of a kind, handmade pieces. 

These pieces are all handmade by our local partners and traditional artisans, not mass produced. If you want a ready made and in stock clothing piece, figure, ceramic, or jewelry piece, if we have any available in stock and on hand, you purchase those. Every shipment from the Philippines we do order extra's to put up on the shop for those who want to keep an eye out for in stock items. 

❗️CURRENT SHIPPING❗️

If you are going to be pre-ordering an item and ordering an in stock item, two separate orders must be placed to guarantee arrival of in stock products within 2-3 weeks.

Our shipping days for in-stock items from New York are currently only being shipped at the beginning and end of each month. This allows time for packing and shipping items. Also due to the rising gas prices, we have decided to cut back on shipping days to make it easier on ourselves (two person team) to pack and deliver items to the Post Office 2x a month.