Winds of Sovereignty by Sen. Francis Tolentino

A rousing poetic ode to a steadfast sentinel, Winds of Sovereignty: The Mavulis Poems by Sen. Francis Tolentino examines and celebrates Mavulis, the northernmost island of the Philippines, and a legendary testament to vigilance. Beginning with a broad dive into the historical significance of the Vanguard Islands, followed by a compelling portrait of Mavulis itself, these poems vary widely in form and style, but all are underwritten with admiration for the island’s unique purpose and people. Bringing this isolated locale into a more relatable context, this lyrical collection is rounded out with sincerely passionate poems that highlight the island’s ongoing and unexpected role on the world stage, and its lasting symbolic value. The poems without a strict rhyming cadence are more evocative, but every poem is marked by devout sincerity and reverence that feels both intensely personal and universal in its depth of imagery and emotion.