This section contains a brief description of the merits of the authors of our ten(?) top-selling books.  More information of these authors and the authors of our other books is given in the applicable book.

Lauro Torrechilla
He is a co-author of Electronic Navigation 1 and 2.

He is currently the OIC of the Review Enhancement Unit of the Center for Advance Studies and Training at the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies (AIMS) in Pasay City where he has been employed for five years. He is the Chairman of the Philippine Society of PDOS Trainers (PSPT). He is the Quality Management Representative (QMR) and manager of the QMS Compliance (Training) Department of Astra Marine Int’l., Inc. in Manila. Also, he is a member of the Association of Trainers Conducting the Pre-departure Orientation Seminar for overseas Filipino workers.

Angel Marquez, III
The late Capt. Marquez is a co-author of Electronic Navigation 1 and 2.

An honorary captain of the Phil. Coast Guard Auxiliary, he was a training director at the Oriental Ship Management Co., Inc. He also served as an Associate Professor at the Philippine Seafarer’s Training Center.

John Mark Pryde
He is a co-author of Electronic Navigation 2.

He graduated at the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies in 1993 as one of its very first graduates with a B.S. Marine Transportation degree. He received his Deck Officer License in October 1998. He is currently employed by the Pacific Ocean Manning Inc. (agents for V. Ships) as Third Officer. He is an instructor at the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies during breaks from shipboard assignments.

Rodolfo Aspillaga
He is a co-author of Communications Without Radio

He obtained his degree in Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation at Philippine Merchant Marine Academy in 1978.  In 1990, he passed the Master Mariner examination.  He got his first command as a Captain in the worldwide trade in 1991.

He is currently the Operations Manager of the Philippine Hanse Ship Agency, Inc., a licensed manning agency in Makati City.  He is actively involved in the TESDA Advisory panel for Maritime Sector as chairman and in the TESDA Accredited Assessor in Seafarer’s Deck Ratings as member of the board.  Also, he is a member of FAME Technical Assessor, a Technical Specialist for the Commission on Higher Education, a Pre-departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) trainor, and an Accredited Voluntary Arbitrator (AVA) of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB).

Rafael Querikiol

He is a co-author of Collision Regulations, Stability and Trim, Ship and Ship Routines Workbook, and Personnel Management.

A senior instructor at the University of Cebu – Maritime Education and Training Center, he has been teaching at the academy as well as in the training center for the years. He served as officer on board vessels from 1976 to 1981 and 1992 to 1995. For years he was land-based serving as dock master for a multinational shipyard based in Cebu.

Mark Phillip Laurilla
He is the author of Marine Engineering for Deck Officers.

An active seafarer, he graduated from the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy in June 2000. He started his seafaring career in 1997 during his Third Class year in the academy at the age of 18 as part of the cadetship program of NYK-Fil Ship Management Inc.  After completing their pre-embarkation training, he was given the NYK-PMMA Cadetship Training Program’s Engine Cadet of the Year Award, and shortly after, embarked on his first ever vessel assignment as Engine Cadet on board a container carrier.

Immediately after graduation, he took and passed the Licensure Examinations for Fourth Marine Engineer Officer.  During his tenure with NYK-Fil, he has been assigned as 4th Engineer on board various types of oil tankers including VLCC and oil product carriers.

He joined Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc. in 2005 where, at present, he takes assignments on board bulk and chemical carriers as 3rd Engineer. Since his transfer to PTC, he has also been working as a training instructor and course designer for the Philippine Center for Advanced Maritime Simulation and Training (PHILCAMSAT) during vacations from his shipboard duties.

Jose Luis Dizon
He is the author of Shiphandling and Maneuvering.

Graduated from the Philippine Merchant Marine School in 1952 and went to sea as a Deck Cadet Officer with the Madrigal Shipping Company aboard its ocean-going tramp steamers.  He later served onboard foreign-owned ships as Deck Officer then as Master on general cargo, car, and large bulk carriers on worldwide trade.  In between his seagoing employment, he worked at Saudi Ports Authority as Nautical Superintendent for its floating crafts in the Port of Gizan, then with the Marine Services Company, Ltd. as Senior Marine Surveyor for P & I cases in the Port of Jeddah, S.A. Having commanded ships for twelve years, he retired from sea life in 1990 and is presently connected with John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation (Iloilo Maritime Academy) as faculty member.

Anthony Agustin
He is a co-author of Meteorology and Oceanography.

A faculty member of the Maritime Department of Misamis Institute of Technology, he finished General Radio Communication Operator course at Cebu Polytechnic School in 1978 and passed two board examinations conducted by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).  He holds two licenses:  First Class Commercial Radio Telegraphy and First Class Radio Telephony.  He acquired relevant work experiences in land and at sea as licensed radio operator.

Felicito Dalaguete
He is the author of Machine Shop 1.

He started out as an apprentice machinist at Pernito Machine Shop. He became a machine shop lecturer at Technological Institute of the Philippines – Manila (TIP-Manila) and was a former Senior Education Program Specialist – Marine Engineering Bureau of Higher Education (now, Commission on Higher Education-CHED). Presently he is the Vice-President for Academic Affairs of the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies (AIMS).

Edmundo Pragados
He is a co-author of Marine Engineering Drawing.

He finished his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of San Agustin and passed the licensure examination for Civil Engineers given in 1982. He also passed the Civil Service Professional examination in 1986. He is currently completing his Master in Engineering Education degree at the Central Philippine University. Prior to his teaching at John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation-Molo, Inc. where he is now an instructor and at the same time the Unit Quality Assurance Manager, he has been a Project Engineer of the Asphalt and Cement Pavers, Inc.

Jonathan Siglos
He is the author of Engine Watchkeeping and Marine Power Plant 2.

He graduated and finished his Associate in Maritime Engineering at the University of Cebu (formerly Cebu Central Colleges) as a working scholar assigned at the janitorial services and high school library under Miss Rita Go as the librarian. Upon graduation, he joined the Aboitiz Shipping Lines, Inc. as an engine cadet on board M/V Container III and M/V P. Aboitiz for two hard years with no allowances given to him. He left Aboitiz and joined Jones Carrier, Inc. as an oiler for several years and in September 1983, he took and passed the Licensure Board Examination of Fourth Marine Engineer. In September 1985, he took and passed the Licensure Examination for Third Marine Engineer.

In October 1986, he left the sea and joined the University of Cebu as one of the faculty member in the Marine Engineering Department for good. He is now assigned as Academic Coordinator of Marine Engineering scholars of the NIS project at UC-METC. While he enjoys teaching in the College of Marine Engineering, he continues and pursues his studies in the degree of Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering until he finished and graduated in October 1997. He actively participated in seminars about the maritime industry, for him education has no boundaries since the maritime industry is a dynamic industry internationally.

Roberto Neal Sobrejuanite
He is a co-author of Solid Mensuration.

A licensed civil engineer, he graduated from Western Institute of Technology in 1985. He has completed the academic requirements for his Master of Science in Maritime Education major in Teaching Competency at the John B. Lacson Foundation Graduate School. Presently, he is with John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation (Arevalo), Inc. where he teaches Mathematics and Computer Science.

Rowena dela Rosa
She is the author of English for Maritime Students.

She is presently a freelance writer and editor. She previously taught English subjects (including Marine Vocabulary and Terms) at the University of Perpetual Help Rizal, Las Piñas City. She was also formerly connected with the Philippine Nautical Training Institute as Corporate Planning Officer and later as Manager of the PNTI Competency Assessment Center for Deck and Engine Ratings in Dasmariñas, Cavite. She was Registrar of PNTI’s newly established College (Philippine Nautical and Technological College) in concurrent capacity when she decided to leave the Institute for a teaching position at UPHR which is of walking distance from her residence at Manila Times Village, Las Piñas City.

Before she joined PNTI, she was Vice-President for Academic Affairs and concurrent Training Director of the Maritime Technological and Allied Services, Inc. (MARITAS). She also taught Maritime English at the said training institution. Prior to her post at MARITAS, she was a faculty member at the College of Arts and Sciences English Department of the University of Perpetual Help Rizal. She also held various positions in the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). At OWWA, she was Manager of the Seafarers Welfare Department for eleven years. She was the head of OWWA’s Manpower Development Benefits Department when she availed of the government’s optional retirement benefit in 1995. From 1997 to 1999, she was a lead instructor of IMO Model course 6.09 (Instructor’s Training Course) conducted by the Philippine Association of Maritime Training Centers, Inc. as authorized by the Maritime Training Council.

She graduated summa cum laude from the University of San Agustin with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, major in English. She also finished Bachelor of Science in Education (English) at the same university and Master of Arts in Education, major in English at the University of Perpetual Help Rizal.