KAHULUI - A writers group - the Guild of Ilocano Writers Global, or TMI Global - will launch on Easter Sunday the Rev. Walter T. Baloaloa's "Nailangitan a Gameng: Koleksion Dagiti Mennamenna iti Makabiag a Sao ti Dios" (Heavenly Gem: A Collection of Meditations on the Life-Giving Word of God).
The event will follow the 6 a.m. Easter sunrise service at Maui Evangelical Church at 256 Hina Ave. in Kahului.
The launching of the book coincides with Rev. Baloaloa's 37th anniversary as church pastor. The service will be followed by a fellowship breakfast being prepared by the members of the church.
Published by TMI Global, "Gameng" is the first Ilocano book of spiritual essays and meditations on the richness of the Bible and its power to give inspiration to people.
First written by Baloaloa as his regular column for the Fil-Am Observer, a Maui-based newspaper distributed statewide, the meditations urge people to look to the portions of the Bible for some light, particularly on some of the issues that concern them every day.
The book is introduced by the Rev. Charles Buck, conference minister of the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ, and prefaced by Fil-Am Observer publisher Cornelio Ancheta. The book was edited by Aurelio Solver Agcaoili, editor in chief of Fil-Am Observer and a faculty member of the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Ilocano Language and Literature Program.
For information on how and where to order the book, send e-mail to Baloaloa at wbaloaloa@aol.com or call 877-3163 or 244-4745.
