Love Blooms Where April Lilies Grow
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About this ebook
An unusual love story amidst an impending nuclear threat in East Asia.
Norbert Mercado
"In this age of revolution, the contemporary writer should utilize the pen for the preservation of peace," Norbert Mercado, a Filipino author, stressed. The books he has written and published, including his anthologies, unapologetically assert the indispensability of peace in a nation’s progress. The author has written more novels than any Asian writer had in just a brief period of time. In fact, he has surpassed the number of novels written by world-renowned novelists like Russian author Alexander Solzhenitsyn (winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, 1970) and American authors Ernest Hemingway (winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, 1954). Solzhenitsyn has four novels to his credit, while Hemingway has eight. His style of writing is simple and succinct, but poignant and colorful like Hemingway’s THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA, and Solzhenitsyn’s ONE DAY IN THE LIFE OF IVAN DESONOVICH. "The simpler the novel, the better," he said. In line with Japanese Yasunari Kabawata’s writings about the Japanese way of life, most of Norbert’s novels focus mostly on the current situation in his country. Kabawata is the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968. His books present hope to the Filipino, especially to the "economic exiles" in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan whom he has spent most of his time with, in their daily struggles. But most of all, his novels lucidly show the futility of war and violence in the resolution of political-economic-class conflicts in the Philippines. "War should not be used as an instrument in resolving political conflicts. Writers who abet wars and revolutions must think of the widows and the fatherless, the chaos, destruction, and suffering of the people whom they claim to be concerned about," he said. What if, like Solzhenitsyn, Hemingway, and Kabawata, he eventually wins the Nobel Prize? What will he do with the US$1,000,000 award? "I will use the prize for establishing a Peace Foundation that will assist in the formulation of policies which will resolve the current shooting conflicts in the country and help alleviate the continuing poverty of our countrymen." He will take charge of the foundation and personally campaign for a peaceful settlement of the conflicts in the Philippines. "The insurgency and the secessionist rebellion have foreign support. A Nobel title will give me the personality to approach the leaders involved in the conflicts," he explained. Born on March 25, 1955, he is the youngest among the children of Mr. and Mrs. Aurelio Mercado, Sr. of San Manuel, Tarlac. He graduated from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, with two degrees, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Communication. Voted Outstanding Campus Journalist in 1974, he was a columnist and associate editor of the Philippine Collegian, the campus publication of the University of the Philippines. He has also written articles for various newspapers and magazines in the Philippines, as well as abroad. He also won the 1981 National Essay Writing Contest sponsored by SIDESTREETS Magazine. Norbert is a graduate of the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP), the topmost armed forces school in the country, where he was conferred a Master’s degree in National Security Administration (MNSA) and the rank of Lt. Colonel in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). He graduated from the NDCP at the age of 32, the youngest in Class 21 which had already produced several generals in the Armed Forces, and the youngest graduate in the history of the National Defense College of the Philippines. He was elected one of the fifteen directors of Class 21. He was conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity (Applied Servanthood), Honoris Causa, for his almost 30 years work in Christian literature. His batch mates include Senator Robert Barbers, Undersecretary of Trade and Industry and Bulletin Columnist Nelly Villafuerte, Actor and Producer Fred Galang, Rev. Peter Vasaya, and the His Royal Highness Sultan of Sulu and Sabah Ishmael Kiram. A sports lover, he was a rifle marksman in his UP ROTC days, and a winner of the 1988 and 1989 5,000 meter-run sponsored by the National Defense College Alumni Association. His sports include swimming, basketball, volleyball, boxing, karate, cycling, and marathon among others. A traveler, he has attended various international conferences and trainings in Asia and Europe. His travels have widened his insight not only of places, but also of people he has constantly observed and empathized with. He is the youngest graduate of the Singapore Haggai Institute for Third World Leaders in 1980 at the age of 24. "Let us work for peace in our country, in any way we can," Norbert stressed. Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." Ria M. Mercado
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Love Blooms Where April Lilies Grow - Norbert Mercado
LOVE BLOOMS WHERE APRIL LILIES GROW
A Novel
by
NORBERT L. MERCADO
Also by Norbert L. Mercado
NOVELS
72 Hours in Moscow
After the Summer Rain
Beyond Revolution
The Children of Mars
Chrysanthemum
The Days of an Empire
Even the Grass Bleeds
I Don't Need A Throne
The Last Romanov
One Love, Three Summers
The Protracted War and the Quest for Peace
Some Winds Blow Forever
Three Cornered Sun
Unchained Melody
Windflowers
The Winter is Young
The Korean War
In The Shadow Of The Roman Empire
Farewell Darkness!
The Roman Governor of Judaea
OTHER BOOKS
Asia Health Book 1
Asia Health Book 2
Cambodia's Children of Sorrow
The Future and Your Family
Jerusalem: The City of Destiny
Ronald Reagan: Profile of a President
For more information on Norbert L. Mercado, visit
http://norbertomercado.blogspot.com
LOVE BLOOMS WHERE APRIL LILIES GROW
Norbert L. Mercado
Copyright © 2013 Norbert L. Mercado
Norbert L. Mercado has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work.
This book is a work of fiction, and except in case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
This book is sold, subject to the condition that is shall not, by way of trade or otherwise be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form or binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
ISBN: 9781301996711
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
VERSION: 201304151400
This historical novel is dedicated to
Engr. Raul Ray Pelaez
Dr. Eileen Morales Pelaez
Sylvia Reyes, Missionary to Cambodia
Atty. Melanio Batas
Mauricio
Atty. George Briones (Grand Archon)
Atty. Demaree Raval
Atty. Leo Beligan
Atty. Pat Libo-on (Grand Archon)
Atty. Freddie Angara
Atty. Ronnie Cosalan
Atty. Odi Sta. Romana
Atty.-to-be Bubuy Mendoza
Atty. Migz Lopez
Atty. Jim Lopez
Jojo and Tess Garlitos
Miss Eloisa Hatfield
Miss Gemma Chan
Mrs. Beng Morales Lucido
Miss Grace Erin Chan
Mrs. Lourraine Morales Uy-Sison
Sylvia Reyes
Edith G. Capule
Janette G. Lagarejos
Lerie Lepuebla Canlas
Engr. & Mrs. Benny and Arlene Gonzales
Engr. Noni Catabui and Dr. Jesusa Catabui
Dr. & Mrs. Alex and Lulu Brillantes
Dr. Aida Mercado Magalong
Dr. Mary Anne M. Pascua
Miss Monette Mercado Magalong
Kent and Dianne Hutcheson
Tim and Nancy Lovestrand
All members of the University of the Philippines System Christian Alumni Association International (UPSCAAI)
and
June, John Mark, Jerusalem and Joanne
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Last Chapter
A Historical Novelist For Peace
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Back to Table of Contents
THE THREAT OF ANOTHER KOREAN WAR
"What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members. You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask, and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures." (James 4:1-3)
The current level of tension is very dangerous, a small incident caused by miscalculation or misjudgement may create an uncontrollable situation.
April 10, 2013 Statement in Rome
by the United Nations Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon
"North Korea has wielded the thermonuclear threat several times in recent months despite an expert opinion that it is nowhere near developing such an advanced nuclear device. The crisis on the Korean peninsula has been intensifying almost daily since the North’s nuclear test in February (2013) which toughened U.N. sanctions."
South Korea, U.S. troops raise alert level to vital threat
AFP Report
Philippine Star
April 11, 2013, pp. 1-2
Back to Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1
"The combined South Korean Armed Forces and the United States’ troops stationed in South Korea raised their alert status from Watchcon 3 to Watchcon 2 due to the threat of