On 6 February 2023, Amando Doronila, a well-known Filipino journalist and writer, will celebrate his 95th birthday by launching his second volume of memoirs, “DORO Behind the Byline.” This sequel to his first book, “Afro-Asia in Upheaval: A Memoir of Front-line Reporting,” gives a historical and personal insight into his upbringing and the impact of World War II on his life.
The event will be held at the Hedley Bull Building Lecture Theatre at the Australian National University (ANU). It will be facilitated by Maria Doronila, OAM, and Dr Emy Liwag-Gasendo, PhD of ANU. In-person attendees can send their registration requests to adoro@unimelb.edu.au.
Those who cannot attend in person can register online for the event using the Zoom link http://bit.ly/3GXZ3UH (6 February 2023, 02:30 PM AEDT).
The event will feature a lineup of renowned speakers, including Professor Paul Hutchcroft of ANU, Professor Nicole Curato of UC, Dr Deborah Ruiz-Wall, OAM, a writer, Emeritus Professor Mark Turner of UC, and Ed Lingao of TV5. A video presentation of “DORO Behind the Byline: A Life in Pictures” will also be presented to celebrate the book and the author on his special day.
Amando Doronila’s journalistic career spans several decades. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Journalist of the Year award from the Manila Rotary Club in 1968 and 1988 and the Best Opinion Writer Catholic Mass Media Award from 1987 to 1989. He has also been listed as a noteworthy journalist by Marquis Who’s Who and is a member of several societies, including the Asia Society, the New York Society, and the National Press Club of the Philippines.
In “DORO Behind the Byline,” Amando Doronila shifts the focus back to the examination of domestic events that determined the course of Philippine political and social history over the decades. The book aims to help Filipinos understand the impact of historical upheavals on people’s lives. The author provides historical and personal insight into his upbringing and the tragic impact of World War II.
The book launch event is jointly sponsored by the Doronila family and the ANU Department of Political and Social Change. During the event, Doronila will be joined by his son, Dr. Augustine Doronila, and his daughter, Maria Lourdes, OAM, who will give an acknowledgment of the country in Filipino, and opening and closing remarks. The program will start at 2:30 PM and last until 5:30 PM, with an hour of reception and book signing in the atrium.
For more information about the event, please refer to the PDF or contact Dr Augustine Doronila via email at adoro@unimelb.edu.au. The launch of “DORO Behind the Byline” promises to be an insightful and memorable event that celebrates the life and work of Amando Doronila, one of the Philippines’ most celebrated journalists.
