Delacruzes donate books to San Juan City library

San Juan City -- Surviving children of the late couple Prof.  Leopoldo A. Delacruz, Sr., and Elisa Meñez Mijares donated yesterday more or less fifty books to San Juan City Library, which is  housed in the newly-completed municipal building, along Pinaglabanan Street, some few hundred meters from Pinaglabanan Shrine.  

Dr. Leopoldo M. Delacruz, Jr., author of Leben Antrieb (1988) , and of Paradise in Wrath (2007), a play in English, representing the Delacruz-Mijares clan, through the help of Barangay Batis tanod Mr. Francis Yadao, delivered some reference reading materials to the City Library of the Municipality of San Juan City. Administrative aides Ms. Elenita Eulloran and Mrs.  Veronica E. Eupena-Mallari received the said donations. City library officer-in-charge  Mr. Carlito Q. Gavino was not around during the simple turn-over ceremony. But, earlier, the library executive and Leopoldo, Jr., had a brief telephone conversation regarding the said event.

Lizette Irma, one of the two daughters of the Delacruz couple said, the modest donation represents her father’s “commitment to provide literary and intellectual legacy” to the Filipino young generation.  This is going to be an initial donation of our family, the former St. John’s Academy high school faculty said. “Papa would be happy that we turned over some of his books he loved to read,” her daughter added.  

November 15 marks the ninety-eighth birth anniversary of the late Prof. Delacruz, Sr., who co-authored with his wife, some books intended for children, the former Ms. Elisa Mijares of Kalibo, Aklan.  The Delacruzes originally came from this Western Visayas town, then settled here in San Juan, the same place where National Artist Nick Joaquin had stayed for a long time.  

After having served FEATI as one of its faculty, Leopoldo, Sr., taught English and literature at Jose Rizal College, now Jose Rizal University, in the late sixties and towards the early part of the 1980s.  His other children are Prof. Rai Philomathes, Lif Dovelion, Marc Evangel, Dr. Leo deux fils and Dr. El Mithra. 

Photo shows (l-r): Dr. Leopoldo M. Delacruz, Jr.,   Mr.  Francis Yadao, barangay tanodof Barangay Batis;  San Juan City Library administrative aides Ms. Elenita Eulloran and Mrs. Veronica E. Eupena-Mallari pose for the camera during the simple turn-over ceremony of the Delacruz book donation.  Opposite the photo is a line drawing of Prof. Delacruz executed by Pol, Jr., in 1970, an art work published in the JRC Journal.