AFTER A two-decade hiatus from book publishing, veteran journalist Howie Severino is set to return with a new title featuring essays about prominent figures he covered throughout his career.
Severino, best known as the host of long-running documentary series I-Witness, will release “People I Knew: And Some I Didn’t But Wrote About Them Anyway” under UST Publishing House.
According to UST Publishing House Deputy Director Asst. Prof. Paul Castillo, the work belongs to the tradition of creative non-fiction, which blends literary craft with factual journalistic stories.
“It is a collection of profiles and essays about certain famous personalities from the clergy, media, politics, some beloved artists and writers, and a few foreign celebrities,” Castillo told The Flame.
“This new title belongs to the tradition of creative nonfiction books that have artistic value and expression, (re)introducing the people found within its pages to contemporary readers, especially since part of the book manuscript had previously appeared as articles,” he added.
The upcoming book will be Severino’s first in 20 years since his 2006 work “Investigative Reporting for Television in Southeast Asia,” which he co-authored with Sheila Coronel, current chair and one of the founders of Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism .
The book is targeted for release at the start of academic year 2026-2027, Castillo said.
Severino has penned two other books: “Hadlok: Filipino Children Caught in the Crossfire: The Continuing Effort to Help Young Victims of Armed Conflict” and “Patrimony: Six Case Studies on Local Politics and the Environment in the Philippines.”
He serves as the editor-at-large of GMA News Online and has written for the online magazine Positively Filipino.
Beyond print, Severino remains a prominent figure in broadcast journalism through I-Witness, widely regarded as GMA Network’s most awarded documentary program. The show is known for its immersive reports on social issues, culture and real-life narratives
Founded in 1593, UST Publishing House, formerly known ss UST Press, stands as the oldest continuously operating printing press in Asia. F
