06 February 2014- The international launch of Nelson A. Navarro’s memoir, “The Half-Remembered Past” was held at the Philippine Center in New York on January 16.

Journalist, biographer and TV talk show host Nelson Navarro is now based in Manila, but he lived in New York for 17 years as a political exile during the Marcos regime.  He co-founded the anti-martial law Ningas magazine with now business leader Loida Nicolas-Lewis and served as editor-in-chief.  He returned to Manila after the fall of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986 and resumed his life as a journalist.

Philippine Consul General in New York Mario L. De Leon was present during the affair to offer his congratulations to the author.  As a student of history, the Consul General said that he finds it important for those interested in understanding Philippine politics to listen to views and insights of people who were involved and very close to the personalities that helped shape the course of our history.

Ms Loida Nicolas-Lewis also attended to give recognition to her college friend.  She praised Navarro on his steadfast pursuit of journalistic freedom, his principled ideals on democracy and his undying love for the country. 

For his part, Navarro thanked the audience, especially his fraternity brothers from Alpha Phi Beta and his friend Loida Nicolas-Lewis, for welcoming him back to New York and sponsoring his book launch.  He highlighted the irony that his memoir was being launched in the same building that he was banned from entering during the period he was living in the city.  He added that as the title implies, many of his stories have been forgotten, but those that remain in his memory are those worth remembering and have impacted his life, his insights, his decisions and opinions tremendously.  

“The Half-Remembered Past” consists of autobiographical essays on the author’s growing-up years in Mindanao, his tumultuous years as the editor-in-chief of the University of the Philippines’ Philippine Collegian, his high profile role in the First Quarter Storm of 1970 which led to subversion charges and extended US exile, as well as his post-EDSA coverage of the Philippines and international affairs as a Manila columnist and TV commentator.  The book is exclusively distributed by ABS-CBN Publishing and is available internationally through Amazon Kindle and the ABC-CBN Newstand.  END