The local government unit here will be releasing a coffee table book early next year, highlighting the town’s rich history, religion, and arts and culture.

Mayor Frances Ann Petilla said in an interview Tuesday the coffee table book will contain trivia facts from past to present, magnificent photos that can be used as a reference by students and teachers, and souvenirs for tourists and guests.

The book is being created by the University of the Philippines-Manila School of Health Sciences professor and Eastern Visayas resident historian Rolando Borrinaga, photographer Rommel Cabrera, Ronald Reyes, Aaron Almadro, Voltaire Oyzon, and Reynaldo Garnace.

Petilla said it is her dream to provide a legacy that will show a sense of pride for the people of her town.

“This book will be my gift to the people of Palo. This is my dream that all of us will discover what we have here in Palo. I say timeless because I want the content of the book to be kept in the heart of each and every resident of Palo,” Petilla added.

The book is also part of the preparation to open Palo’s economy and tourism next year badly affected by movement restrictions due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Contents of the book will not only come from the production team but from other people who have stories about Palo. Details will be subject to approval and editing from their staff.

While the book will feature famous individuals who are prominent in their respective fields such as arts and culture, they will also feature people who made names in politics, according to Almadro, the coffee table book managing editor.

The team is targeting to finish the book before August 6, 2021, in time for the town fiesta. They have not yet decided on the number of pages and number of copies for printing.

Department of Tourism Eastern Visayas regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes lauded Palo local government in its initiative and express support for the project.

“We are strongly supporting this because tourism is actually storytelling. Tourism is all about stories and in this book people from Palo and elsewhere will learn the history of Palo and as a people. This will give pride. Pride of place, the pride of who we are. All of these will happen by the book,” Tiopes said.

The tourism official added that they have funds to finance research as inputs of the coffee table book. (PNA)