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'Bisikleta ni Pepe' is a creative storytelling attempt for young children is a synergy and a merge of timelines between the lives of an ordinary Filipino student, Jose de Jesus, and the young Pepe Rizal. Through the help of a magic bicycle he inherited from his grandfather, Jose de Jesus was able to traverse through time and understand the life of Pepe Rizal.
This book is written by Dexter P. Baño Jr. who is currently finishing his Master's Degree in Business Administration as a full scholar at Quantic School of Business and Technology in Washington DC. He is also the founder of the first commercial spaceflight company in the country, Orbital Exploration Technologies, Inc. As a community-minded individual, he dedicates every Saturday afternoon to teaching math, arts (painting and sculpting), linguistics, music, good manners, and business to students from low-income households. He is also active in waste management projects at both commercial and government levels. He is a prolific poet, essayist, painter, and sculptor.
His mentor, Pedrito "Bobot" Navarro is an active member and a Knight Commander of the Order of the Knights of Rizal, our country's only official knighthood chartered under Republic Act 646. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus and many other organizations.
Sharing with you our exclusive interview with Author Dexter Baño Jr.
1. Can you share with us something about the book that isn't in the blurb?
The main character came from a really poor family.
2. What inspired the idea for your book?
I am fascinated by Dr. Rizal since I was a kid. Having an aunt living near Dapitan became an advantage to me. Every time we go to the province, I always request that I shall visit Talisay to rekindle my admiration for our hero.
For me, Dr. Rizal is an image of a real Filipino. He has a concept of how the Philippines should function and behave. Most of his teachings still remain relevant today. Now, I found it challenging and I still find it challenging to make Rizal relatable to the younger generation. So I decided to make the story child appropriate by making it a bit creative without distorting history.
3. How long did it take you to complete the book?
Took me 2 years to finish, but 9 years before printing.
4. What part of the book was most challenging to write and why?
Oh, the research process. You need to make sure that all the historical accounts are accurate while ensuring that it is being told in a creative way.
5. What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
We need to learn and embrace the ideals of Dr. Rizal. We just know Rizal as one of our National Heroes and maybe the man on one peso coin. In reality, Rizal became a human. He encountered a unique reality during his childhood. Even though he was brought up in a relatively wealthy household, he experienced pain and sorrow like all of us.
6. If you’re planning a sequel or writing the next book, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
I started talking to many experts for the second volume of this series. I acknowledged the fact that the next part will be more serious and mature. I visited one of my hometowns, Talisay in Dapitan where Rizal also stayed during the last years of his life. This will be more thrilling considering that Rizal was so adventurous during his time. Maybe, the two characters could finally meet. I am still unsure.
7. Where can they buy your books or find out more about you?
National Book Store, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Google Play Books, Apple Books
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Thank you, Author Dexter for agreeing to this interview. We are happy to learn more about you and your book and we are looking forward to the second volume of the series.
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