It began in June 2024, when a group of fourth-year medical students rotated through the Anesthesia Department. Many of them I had once taught Biochemistry and Physiology. One morning, they asked me:
“Sir, what book should we use?”
I pointed them to Barash’s Clinical Anesthesia and Miller’s Basic Anesthesia. Excellent references—but heavy, sprawling, and hardly student-friendly. What they really needed was one clear, simple book. Half-joking, I said, “Give me time, I’ll write one for you.”
And I meant it.
Over the next months, outlines grew into chapters. My vision was simple: a handbook students could rely on for their PLE review, and at the same time a bridge into perioperative medicine. Not to make anesthesiologists out of them, but to give them a glimpse into the nuances of the specialty.
.
At first I called it Basic Anesthesia: A Handbook for Philippine Medical Schools. But halfway through, I realized I had misnamed my audience. This book wasn’t for schools. It was for students. That shift changed everything—including the title: Basic Anesthesia: A Handbook for Philippine Medical Students.
By December 2024, the manuscript was almost finished. I had drawn many of the figures myself, added objectives and quizzes, and asked colleagues to beta-read. My children, both medical students, gave feedback I desperately needed. When a trusted batchmate sent me the foreword, it felt like a seal of completion.
A resident then mentioned CentralBooks. I thought it was a small local press, until I discovered it was a giant in law publishing and a pioneer in print-on-demand. No warehouses, no unsold stacks—just 50 copies per run. I chose quality over cost: full-color figures, even if it meant higher expense. This wasn’t just another book. This was my first.
February 25, 2025. Publication day. Basic Anesthesia was now real—available through CentralBooks and Lazada. My resident Miggy was the first buyer.
The Road to MIBF
In July, CentralBooks emailed again. Would I like to join the Manila International Book Fair? My slot: Saturday, September 13, 11 a.m. One full hour.
Suddenly, I had to learn marketing. I revived my dormant Facebook, created Dr. Arago MedStories, accepted pending requests, posted countdowns to #MIBF, hired a social media specialist, registered my imprint, and even taught myself WordPress. The Rapha Medical Missions team promised to be there with me.
As the day drew closer, people asked if I was excited. My answer was honest: “mixed emotions.”
Day 4, SMX Convention Center
September 13, 2025. The SMX Convention Center was buzzing. Long queues wound across the ground and second levels, visitors eager for the gates to open. The air smelled faintly of ink, paper, and brewed coffee drifting from kiosks. My anxiety was high after a sleepless night—I felt close to fainting. Quietly, I prayed, put on my suit, and went.
At 8:30, we arrived. Bibian slipped away and came back smiling, holding up a 1.0 personalized sign pen. “For your signatures,” she said. A small thing—but it steadied me.
Booth 360 was alive. My books gleamed under the lights, stacked neatly on the table. The Rapha team filled the space with energy. At 11 a.m., it began.
The first hour flew. Twenty-five copies sold out immediately—the exact number I had advised them to bring. They had to restock. I couldn’t have been happier. Yet what moved me more were the faces—Dr. Roman, my mentor; residents and alumni; colleagues from the Oriental Mindoro Medical Society; my cousin, niece, and classmates from UERM ’94. Each handshake and hug mattered more than the numbers.
Even as I sat signing, texts buzzed in. Colleagues—non-anesthesiologists this time—were asking where to order. Some had already paid through e-wallets. The reach of the book was growing beyond the booth, carried by friendship and word of mouth.
By 12:30, the signing wrapped up. I walked away hoarse, hand tired, but heart full.
Looking Back
That day wasn’t just about sales. It was about relationships rekindled, encouragement received, and the humbling joy of seeing my work in other people’s hands.
Back at the condo by late afternoon, I was exhausted but still wired. As I set the pen down after my first signing, I knew the journey was just beginning.
Join me during an exclusive Book Signing session
September 26, 2025, Friday
During the Batangas Medical Society
Physicians Night
Venue and time: TBA
☕ For a limited offer, every signed copy comes with a free mug, my small way of saying thank you.
📅 Next stop: Physicians’ Night, Batangas, September 26, 2025. Hope to see you there!
👉Follow my page Dr. Arago MedStories for updates on events, new books, and reflections from the journey.
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