TY  - BOOK
AU  - Guevara, Jose L.,
TI  - Point of order
SN  - 9718563016
AV  - PN 6222.P5 
PY  - 1987///
CY  - Manila
PB  - Magna Ventures International Inc.
KW  - Philippines -- Anecdotes
KW  - Philippines -- Politics and government -- 1986 -- Humor
N1  - Includes foreword by Claudio Teehankee, Chief Justice of the Philippines
N2  - Most of the books which have been published about the Philippines since February '86 are indeed good or very good (at least, the pictures are). However, most, if not all, lack two "dimensions".
The first would be "objectivity". Most of these books contend that the "revolt had been made in heaven". Most definitely sound "pro-Cory". If one was to assess the political stand of Jose L. Guevara before the February events, one would most probably come up with a label like "pro-administration". This, per se, is obviously no guarantee of objectivity. What brings some degree of objectivity in his columns is the fact that Guevara could, and did, take liberties in criticizing the then powers that be.
The second would be "sense of humor". This is certainly the most "missing dimension" of all these books, especially when reporting on the Philippines. The Filipino people have been equally praised and loathed for their resiliency, whose best manifestation is eventually their sense of humor. And Joe Guevara's columns definitely bring this dimension.
Another dimension is obviously that, like political cartoons, the columns of Joe are telling a lot about the political evolution of the country. This certainly gives a good "feeling" of how events unfolded, feelings changed in the Philippines during this period, as seen by a political columnist.
We hope, of course, that you will enjoy Joe's columns (beware, more may be published in the future), as there is more to them than plain wit. Some you might not find so funny (but some were not intended to be, anyway), some you might even find corny (but, remember, they were all shot from the hip - 4 to 5 columns a week), but most of them certainly do hit where it hurts, and at least where it tickles
ER  -