But not a coup that preoccupies the paranoid minds of Gloria Arroyo and her henchmen.

At the ongoing International Book Fair going on at the World Trade Center on Roxas Boulevard, you will find at the booth of Anvil Publishing, "Pulutan: From the Soldiers’ Kitchen".

The book is written by two of the detained Magdalo officers, Ensigns Elmer Cruz and Emerson Rosales. My friend, Yvonne Chua, and I edited the book.

Please get a copy. You will find the book delightful not only for its recipes but also for the anecdotes behind many of the items there.

Aside from the authors’ personal recipes, the book contains contributions from other detained officers. There’s one from Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

Here’s the introduction I did for the book:

"Pulutan: From the Soldiers’ Kitchen" is one proof that wonderful things can happen in the most unexpected places.

"During a break in the court-martial hearing of the Magdalo officers last January, a young Air Force officer, Lt. Ashley Acedillo, approached me to say that two of his colleagues were looking for a publisher for their cookbook. Could I help them?

"Ashley introduced me to Ensigns Elmer Cruz and Emerson Rosales, who showed me a bookbound copy of their cookbook, originally titled "Drunkards’ Delight."

"It got me excited. A cookbook by detained military officers!

"Elmer and Emerson have been in detention for almost four years for their alleged involvement in what is commonly referred as the Oakwood mutiny.

"On July 27, 2003, some 300 junior military officers and soldiers took over the Oakwood Hotel at the heart of the Makati Commercial Center and declared their withdrawal of support from the government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. No blood was shed in the 19-hour siege.

"Having had Anvil as publisher, I offered to contact Karina Bolasco, Anvil’s assistant general manager and publishing manager, for Elmer and Emerson.

"It was Ashley who suggested to the two to include personal anecdotes about the featured recipes. I seconded the suggestion and offered editorial assistance.

"I also offered to find a good book editor for them. I did not have to exert extra effort to convince Yvonne Chua, who teaches journalism at the University of the Philippines and has an extensive background in book publishing when she was with the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, to join the project.

"As detainees (at Fort San Felipe in Cavite), Elmer and Emerson’s communication with the outside world is restricted. That was a challenge we had to deal with. But as the cliché goes, if there’s a will, there’s a way. Suffice it to say that everything related to this project was done according to military rules and regulations.

"Pulutan: From the Soldiers’ Kitchen" is more than just a cookbook. It’s another inspiring story of how adversity can be turned into opportunity. Yvonne and I are glad to be part of it."

The book fair runs until Sunday. "Pulutan…" will be available in all National Book Store outlets and other major bookstores.