On September 13, 2025, Dr. Victor M. Arguelles, a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Batangas, launched his books The Joys of Writing and Why the Night is so Lovely: The Joys of Being a Senior at the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) 2025 at SMX Convention Center Manila.
In an exclusive interview, Dr. Arguelles shared his journey as a fiction writer and his motivation for writing books both for the younger generation and for his fellow seniors.
In his endeavor to inspire young writers, Dr. Arguelles said that The Joys of Writing introduces readers to the different “chapters” of writing a book rather than presenting a step-by-step manual. He emphasized that writing guides should not instruct directly but inspire creativity and passion.
Dr. Arguelles also stressed the importance of authenticity. “You really want to write what you want,” he said. “We can only know what we know.” He emphasized that writing without knowledge or genuine interest disconnects the writer from identifying their language, subject, and audience.
“Poetry, if you look in the dictionary, has a lot of meanings. But it has one meaning – experience. It must be relatable,” he added.
Meanwhile, in Why the Night is so Lovely: The Joys of Being a Senior, Dr. Arguelles reflected on the richness of senior life. In a literary landscape dominated by books for the youth, he dedicated this work to the elderly, finding inspiration in their stories and resilience.
He described “night” as a metaphor for peace, reflection, and the wisdom gained through accumulated life experiences. “You have to love being a senior, specifically the challenges and surprises of being in this age,” he said. He shared his passion for singing with his ukulele in seniors’ circles, writing poems, and turning some into songs for others to enjoy.
Dr. Arguelles’ books are available for purchase through Central Books, Shopee, and Lazada.
The newly launched books mark not just his latest achievement, but also additions to a long list of accomplishments that began decades earlier. At 81, he remains active, creative, and purposeful, finding joy in literature, music, and community life.
Dr. Arguelles is set to release another book around March 2026.