Freelance Writers’ Guild presents NASA scientist in OpenBook on Sept. 21

Fresh from its 2nd General Assembly,  the Freelance Writers' Guild of the Philippines (FWGP) will have for its next salvo an OpenBook featuring Filipino-American Dr. Jojo Sayson at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, at Chef’s Bistro, Scout Gandia near corner Tomas Morato, Quezon City. 

 

A doctor of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy and a very much sought-after motivational speaker,  Dr. Sayson will talk about self-publishing his first book, Springboard to Heaven: The Jojo Sayson Adventure.   

 

The book is a biography/ autobiography co-authored and edited by the four-time New York bestselling author and movie director James Riordan. Riordan’s bestsellers include: Break on Through (a  biography of  The Doors lead singer Jim Morrison), The Platinum Rainbow, The Bishop of Rwanda, and The Coming of the Walrus.

 

Among those who will be part of the program are De La Salle University-Manila Political Science professor Dr. Grace Zamora-Roldan, Ms. Southern Illinois Sherrie Gearheart, and Informatics CEO and President Leo Riingen. All three and Sayson are officers of Project Michelangelo Foundation, which helps children with cancer and debilitating diseases. 

 

There are limited seats. For reservations, please text Teena @0915.3913129 or Susan @0917.5418260.@gmail.com>

 

Of the book, Astronaut Mike Mullane, author of Riding Rockets, The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut,  says”…Everybody has something to learn from Jojo Sayson’s biography. It’s a roller coaster ride through heartache and joy; despair and hope; challenge and success.” Arriving in the USA as a naive immigrant, Jojo stitched himself into the tapestry that is America…and used gold thread to do so! He’s a shining example of self-fulfillment in the face of very long odds. Be inspired!” 

 

“The story of Jojo Sayson is one of the quintessential American dreams. Not of fame, power or financial wealth. It’s a journey of spirit that is inspirational and motivational and shows how anyone can achieve their dreams with dedication,” concludes Don Kramer, DC Comics bestselling artist of Wonder Woman and Batman.

 

With Dr. Alan Hargens as co-author, Mr. Sayson has written "Pathophysiology of Low Back pain During Exposure to Microgravity," a scientific paper for NASA concerning the problem of astronauts developing back pain in space. It was published in Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine, the official journal of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) as the lead article for Vol 79, #4, April 2008 issue.

 

Sayson became established in the scientific community and his work on this aspect of physical therapy is now used for reference by scientists worldwide. Through prolonged perseverance, careful research and consultation with established experts in the various fields involved, Sayson had helped solve a problem that has plagued astronauts since the beginning of space travel.

 

Dr. Sayson recently became part of an elite team of scientists for the NASA Human Research Program at the University of California, San Diego. Their team is doing a study on probable causes of back pain in astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Sayson is a current applicant for the NASA astronaut corps Mission Specialist job opening for 2013.

 

The OpenBook’s partners for this edition include Business World, herword.com, Informatics College, Project Michelangelo Foundation, Air 21, Chef’s Bistro, Ang Tindahan ng Itlog ni Kuya, Balangay Productions, and Agimat.  Press release and photo from Freelance Writers' Guild of the Philippines