Paglayag Poetry Book by Kim Derla

Hello, friends! 🌊✨

I’m excited to share my latest book, “Paglayag,” which is the third installment of my Pagpag Series. This book is filled with poems and essays that highlight the value of every journey and destination in our lives.

The Beauty of Ordinary Travels

In Paglayag, I’ve fallen even more in love with poetry. Each poem expresses feelings we often experience—hopes, dreams, and challenges. The essays reflect contemplations that opened my eyes to new perspectives on traveling. From the places I’ve visited to moments spent traveling alone or with friends, all of these have added color and meaning to my experiences.

You’ll also find essays about getting lost—those moments that led me to unexpectedly beautiful sights. This really happened to me when I travelled solo. I must say that these stories mirror my journeys in life, which are not always straightforward. There are lots of detours. But still, these detours allowed me to see things I often overlook.

This book is dedicated to those who feel their journeys are ordinary. I want to show through this book that, despite simple days, there is beauty and something special hidden within. Hihi! Life is full of stories, and within each story lies a unique lesson we can carry in our hearts.

A big thank you to Kuya @darmurilloart for the meaningful book cover! Thanks also to Rizzamaruja for the illustrations that brought the pages to life. And, of course, to Ate Elizabeth Galit for her thorough proofreading. I also can’t forget Sir Edsel of Lifebooks, who has supported my work since 2014. ❤

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your copies now! This is available for 100php each here. Haha! If you’d like signed copies, just send me a DM on this page.

Yay! I’m just so happy! I hope you continue to support my books. Thank you all! :))

Until next time,
Kim

Pagsibol ranked 3rd in National Book Store’s bestsellers list

Several months after traditionally publishing Pagsibol, I was in awed when it reached the bestsellers list in National Book Store for the month of September 2024. Who would have thought (again) that my humble work is now another bestseller. Thank you, Lord. So much to be grateful for talaga.

Pagsibol is a collection of poems and essays about growth, and self-appreciation. The contents of this book is indeed close to me. My poems here are somehow inspired by my experiences as I navigate the world with a better and lighter perspective.

From the word itself, Pagsibol, this book sprouted and bloomed because of my experiences lately about life. I hope people who will read this book will realize the value of patience and growth–that everything has its own time, really.

If you’re interested, you can still purchase this book in Shopee, Lazada, National Book Store, or even in Tiktok Shop. My publisher has made this book accessible for all. Hehe. Please support! 🙂

Source: National Book Store Facebook Page

As of this writing, I am working on my third poetry book. The third book is about exploring, navigating, and journeying in life with a positive outlook. 🙂 Can you guess the title? 😀

My Pending Book Reviews

I have read a lot of books for the month of April. I just don’t have the time to post it here. (Or am I just making excuses?)

Here are some of the Filipino books I’ve read. Most of these books are purchased during the Philippine Book Festival 2024. Some books are given for free.

Ang Bangin sa Ilalim ng Ating mga Paa ni Ronaldo S. Vivo Jr.

It’s my first time reading Filipino Crime Fiction, and I must say, the narration and choice of words are superb and unrestrained. 😅 The description of the theme is also striking. The book is just so timely. It’s just so sad that some scenes in the book are the realities in our country. This book is good for series adaptation.

Maliit na Bagay lang ang Nakapupuwing ni Rommel Rodriguez

This book includes short stories about origins and legends. Sir Rommel’s storytelling is so effective. Truly fitting for short stories and narratives. Fleeting, yet profound. I didn’t finish this book in one sitting because reading more than five short stories without a break is just overwhelming for me.

Mula sa Kilometer Zero of Josue Mapagdalita

The author of this book gave free ebook version of his book. I like the overarching theme of the book. All short stories here are remarkable and unique in their own ways. The first story started at Kilometer Zero –which is in Roxas, Ermita Manila.

Then, as each story unfold, the next titles of the chapter are all names of places. I like how the short stories here are written. Short yet striking. However, for me, reading short stories straight could be really tiring. I didn’t finish this book in one sitting as well. But I do love the theme and the ‘atake’ of this book. The author is so kind too! I think that makes the overall reading experience fun.

Alagwa (Poetry Anthology of Teddy, Lean, Allan, and Beth)

The imagery and metaphors in the poems are subtle but carry weighty themes. All poems here paint vivid pictures about a writer’s life, and a poet’s perspective about the world. You’ll find yourself staring blankly at some poems while reading it. The collaboration between the authors in this anthology is just so remarkable. From light to heavy poetry, all of their poems are truly a joy to read.

I’ve also read the poetry books Sansaglit and Pasakalye written by Lean. These poetry books are light and fun to read despite some of the heavy themes and scenarios it tackle.

Takeaways:

In order for me to finish reading a book, I need to write all the books I’m planning to read on a checklist. I wrote these books on a small piece of paper and posted it at my work station. This post-it reminded me not to procrastinate and scroll different apps mindlessly.

I hope to read more Filipino books again and write reviews.

Ikaw? What’s the last Filipino book you’ve read?

Philippine Book Festival 2024

My friends and I attended the Philippine Book Festival last April 28, 2024, Sunday. It was the last day and the only day that we are available. Our travel time going there was less than an hour. Thanks to the efficient Grab driver, and the highway which made our trip convenient. (Or maybe because it was Sunday.) We arrived around 9am, just in time for the events that we were looking forward.

At the Philippine Book Festival 2024, one of the highlights for me was supporting the works of Filipino authors. A remarkable memory for me was visiting the booth of a lolo distributing flyers for his wife’s book. We saw this lolo twice, and we couldn’t be more in awe, seeing a guy promoting his wife’s book. We saw his wife’s book and it was about history.

It was also delightful to interview and converse with some authors. We met Sir Ron Camino who wrote the popular poetry book, Mga Tala at Tula. We also crossed paths with Doc Ron Baticulon who we met last MIBF 2023. We also spotted the queue for Sir Ronaldo S. Vivo. I also saw Sir Edgar Samar, the author of the Janus Silang series and one of my mentors when I was writing my thesis. We also took some photos with Sir Joselito Delos Reyes at the UST Publishing booth.

Another enjoyable moment was encountering Sir Ricky Lee, who was incredibly down-to-earth and willing to take photos. His kindness is really admirable. He never stopped smiling during that time. I also saw my favorite booktoker and he’s so approachable.

We also noticed some authors launching their zines. Among them were four friends who decided to publish their zine, titled “Alagwa”. Their work was truly captivating and affordable at 200php. I also bought three more poetry books from one of the authors.

My book haul includes two comic books, and a self-help book from Summit Media, and 3 poetry books. The rest of our stay there was just eating lots of tasty Filipino food.

Overall, it was just a joyous experience! Looking forward to attend PBF next year.

Pagsibol Book by Kim Derla

With the success of “Paghilom,” I’m now back to the literary scene with my latest work, “Pagsibol.”

Before talking about my new book, I want to express my gratitude to my friends and readers who have supported Paghilom. It all began in 2021, and within a year, “Paghilom” found its way onto the shelves of many readers nationwide. It has become a bestseller both in National Book Store and Lifebooks’ Shopee Store online. The overwhelming support, with over 5,000 copies sold, has truly been humbling and inspiring.

So, what is “Pagsibol”?

“Pagsibol” is a collection of poetry and prose that has themes of self-growth and the process of embracing one’s season. At its core lies the metaphor of blossoming flowers. In Filipino, “Pagsibol” draws the imagery of a seed evolving into a flourishing plant, symbolizing growth and transformation.

My inspiration for “Pagsibol” came from a period of feeling lost and disconnected post-pandemic. That time, I wasn’t quite sure of my next steps in life. There were moments of self-doubt and uncertainty. I feel like everything around me seemed so unfamiliar.

Yet, through some reflections and lots of alone time, I came to realize that every phase of life serves a purpose—that even in darkness, there exists the promise of light and growth. This realization forms the essence of “Pagsibol.”

The Process

Looking into the creation process of “Pagsibol,” I aimed to craft a collection that not only motivates but also instills hope and resilience in its readers. It is a reminder to embrace the ever-changing seasons of life with courage and grace.

Regarding the cover design, I entrusted the talented Kuya Dar (@darmurilloart) to capture the essence of the book. He came up with vibrant illustrations of indigenous Philippine flowers such as sampaguita, waling-waling, and rafflesia. Fun fact: not all rafflesia variants are stinky!

Realizations After Self-Publishing Again

Reflecting on my experience of self-publishing for the third time, I believe that I’ve focused on essential aspects of the process. I focused on selling the book instead of other merch. While I still offer freebies like bookmarks and postcards, I opted for more cost-effective solutions for items like stickers. Additionally, I’ve embraced a better approach to marketing, adapting to changes in social media algorithms to reach a more audience.

I have so many challenges in choosing what platform to use to sell my books. Despite these challenges, I remain committed to delivering my work to readers through other channels instead of the orange app. Now, I am using my Facebook page to sell Pagsibol. I collect orders via private messages and collect some orders via Google Forms. Though this takes more time, this approach is the best option for me.

I hope Pagsibol will be a source of inspiration to my readers just like Paghilom. 🙂 Thank you for your continued support in my craft. I hope you pre-order my book, too!

Manila International Book Fair 2023

Manila International Book Fair has been one of the most important events for me as a bookworm. We always look forward for September because of this event. It is a celebration of books, and everyone’s love for reading.

There is always something to look forward during MIBF season. Last year, we did not have much activities because only few publishers and bookstores were there. So this year, we taught of the same. We did not expect that much. But still, Ate Beth and I was still so excited about it.

Tim Hortons First

We left at 7:30am in the morning. Since we would be going there via Grab, we knew that it’s just gonna be a quick ride.

When we got around SM MOA, we headed to Tim Hortons first as part of our MIBF ritual. We had our breakfast and coffee there. We did some shoot for Ate Beth’s work.

Book Signings and Everything in Between

We entered the hall at 10:00am. For some reasons, the first booth that we visited was a publisher from China. We enjoyed the calligraphy session there given by the Chinese teacher.

Then, after that, we headed to the University of the Philippines Press for my professor’s book signing (or shall I say professors’).

They recently published a book dedicated for Ma’am Tet Maceda. It is a compilation of poems, fiction, and essays for her. Professors Vlad Gonzales, Will Ortiz, and Rowena Festin were there to sign books.

After that book signing, we roam around the place. We visited different publishers and scanned their collection of books.

I also got a chance to meet Sir Charles Ong who wrote the book White Lady, Black Christ. He was so kind to sign our books. Then, went to Sir Ricky Lee’s booth and bought shirt because we already have copies of all his books.

While we were roaming around, we also got a chance to meet the author of Mga Tala at Tula, Ron Camino. I had a picture with him and asked him some writing-related questions. He was so down to earth and isn’t snobbish (unlike some). He willingly answered all our questions. Super bait!

We decided to go there on a Saturday to have our book, Some Days You Can’t Save Them All, signed by its author, Dr. Ron Baticulon. We lined up so early, so we got the third spot for his book signing. We was also so bait and humble. He asked us some questions before signing our books. (Mahilig ata talaga magtanong ang mga doktor no?)

Some of the Booths We Visited

We passed by most of the booths, we believe. We saw the creative booth of Vibal and sat on their sofas. We passed by the long booth of Lampara and Precious Herts. We saw the long lines of readers lining up for Sir Egay at Ateneo De Manila University Press.

There was also a long queue at JSD Publishing, PSICOM, Pop Fiction, and at KaJo Baldisimo’s booth.

Walking for straight three hours will surely make us visit most of the publishers. But, here are some of the publishers we visited and we looked at willingly. MIBF 2023 is filled with publishers. Hence, going there for a day isn’t enough I guess.

Adarna Books
8Letters Bookstore and Publishing
Ricky Lee’s Booth
Balangay Books (Indie Publisher)
St. Paul’s, of course!
UP Press
Feast Books
Milflores Books
Tahanan Books
Jerico Silver’s Publishingy
Reading China

Takeaways!

I hope I could write another book next year so I have something to sell next MIBF. Hehe. Yep. That’s the only takeaway.

Some Days You Can’t Save Them All Book Review

I have been in a reading slump for the previous months. What kept me busy was the Korean drama series that I have been watching. But after purchasing books during Manila International Book Fair 2023, I decided to pick up a book and dedicated time to reading it.

The first book that I have decided to read is the non-fiction book written by Dr. Ronnie Baticulon, Some Days You Can’t Save Them All. Doc Ron is a pediatric neurosurgeon, teacher, and writer. He became a fellow of the 58th UP National Writers Workshop. He currently works as an associate professor at the UP College of Medicine. When we met him during his book signing, he is so kind and humble. He asked questions to us before signing our books. Hehe.

The book cover says a lot to what the collection of essays is all about. Its refreshing shade of blue looks calming, and pleasant. The illustrations on the cover are so meaningful. Each icon truly represents something about the essays in the book. In short, maganda.

Some Days You Can’t Save Them All contains personal anecdotes, and stories about his patients. He has written each essay as if he weaves the emotional rollercoaster of life in a hospital. His medical tales will surely make you cry or laugh. His collection contains his stories about his journey from medical school to becoming a full-fledged doctor. He has deliberately described his humble beginnings.

What I love most about this book is his skill in humanizing the medical profession. He has written essays about loss, pain, and the saddest stories in the corner of a ward. But at the same time, he manages to balance those kinds of stories with stories of success, good news, and happy endings.

His remarkable essay for me is Where I Got Extra Money When I Was A Medical Student. He said:

As hard as it may seem to believe during the most difficult of times, there is never a shortness of kindness in this world.
Dr. Ronnie Baticulon, Some Days You Can’t Save Them All

Despite the sad reality that the medical scene in the Philippines portrays, some people are still willing to help. In this essay, he mentioned the people who generously lend him a hand when he was a student. After reading this line, I paused from reading a book and tried to absorb this line. Nakakatulala lang talaga.

Yes, there will still be people who are willing to help. Someone out there will help. It may be difficult to believe, but this is possible, I guess. 🙂

My Favorite Lines from the Book

I survived by taking things one day at a time.
Dr. Ronnie Baticulon, Some Days You Can’t Save Them All

I took this line by heart. I totally agree that we could still succeed by taking things one day at a time. I am used to rushing things. I always wanted to finish the tasks on my list. But this line reminded me to slow down, and be more relaxed.

Everybody is in such a hurry to achieve something or become someone, that we forget to be thankful for what we have in the now. We are always where we are meant to be.
Dr. Ronnie Baticulon, Some Days You Can’t Save Them All

Hehe. The message is somehow the same with the first line. This line is found at the last pages of the book. I believe it is also a gentle reminder for us to be grateful for what is happening at the moment.

I only have this advice to give: First, never settle for anything less. … And second, stay honest.
Dr. Ronnie Baticulon, Some Days You Can’t Save Them All

It is a good reminder for me–that despite what’s happening around me, I should continue producing quality outputs and never be satisfied with the mediocre. It inspires me to keep going and to keep creating something meaningful.

My Final Verdict

5/5! This book is beautifully written, heartwarming, and truly engaging collection of essays that will leave a mark in your heart. The essays here contain reminders that will make you reflect on the incredible human connection. Doc Ron is so kind and humble in person, too. Plus 5 stars!

Read this, please! 🙂

Xiu Yang: Self-Cultivation for a Happier, Healthier and Balanced Life

This book is simple yet it is filled with wisdom that allows its reader to reflect about their lives. Xiu Yang is an interesting self-help book that is calm to read. It sounds like a friend who sits with you at the park, looking at the people who pass by.

I got this book in Lazada during the Big Bad Wolf sale. This is my second Chinese self-help book. I’ve also read Yang Sheng: The Art of Chinese Self-Healing, and I must say I love these ideas and beliefs.

This book contains practical tips on how to cultivate oneself to be happy, healthy, and obtain a balance life. I love how these tips are simple. These tips are attainable.

According to the author, Xiu Yang’s central aim is to help remind not our faults, but our potential to experience a true sense of balance and well-being.

Xiu means to cultivate. Yang means to nurture. And Xin means heat.

Xiu Yang values the quality rather than the process.

In the first chapters of the book, she shared the long-term support for our happiness. There has to be knowledge, compassion, wisdom, and insight. These words seem to be simple but the book elaborated how these concepts are crucial to happiness.

What I loved the most is her idea about compassion. She said,

“When you cultivate compassion, you begin to see the things that poison your mind or heart are just visitors, rather than permanent residents.”
Mimi Kuo-Deemer, Xiu Yang

I strongly agree to this concept. I love how the author reminds us that the trials we see are only temporary, not permanent. I will write this quote on my board for sure.

When it comes to health, she clearly stated that nutrition, body clock, and exercise are important. We should align certain rhythms with the patterns found in the natural world.

She stated how our body replenishes for a specific time in a day. She has this whole cycle about our body clock. She also described what are the activities that should be done by that time. Example, wake up between 5:00am-7:00am, and do some meditation, and walking.

Moreover, she also cited the things that we should eat. She gave suggestions related to exercising as well. She included poses, and basic movements that help in breathing, and qi flowing.

Lastly, to have a balanced mind, one has to handle emotions, too. She cited Mindfulness of Emotion by Michelle McDonald.

R – Recognize your emotion (label or name it)

A – Allow (Accept it, not fix)

I – Investigate (Be curious how this emotions feels in your body.)

N – Not Personal/ Non-Identification (This emotion does not define you.)

This acronym is a helpful mindset to those who are struggling in handling their emotions. This could be of help, of course, with proper guidance.

“The ancient Chinese believed that the heart’s natural capacity was like the midday sun: radiant, warming, spacious, and expansive. They believe that the heart supports our life and infuses it with qualities that make us complete as human beings.”
Mimi Kuo-Deemer, Xiu Yang

In conclusion, I love how everything is described in this book. It is calming, and relaxing. It reminds people to maintain balance, and see the extraordinary in every little thing.

I hope you give this book a try. 🙂

Paghilom Book Signing in Patsy’s

Paghilom is my first solo self-published book. It was launched last year in June. Now, it’s published by Lifebooks, and (hopefully) it’s reached the right audience because it’s only 100php (cheaper than the original price. To be honest, finishing a manuscript is very challenging. But, I know my reasons. Whenever I feel tired, I always go back to my WHY.

Last July 16, 2022, I had my first ever book signing for Paghilom. It was on May 31, 2022 when the owner of Patsy’s Coffee and Pastries shop first sent me a message. I wasn’t able to read that because my page does not have notifications. She sent a message again last June 15, 2022. There, I was able to read her invitation.

I was hesitant to confirm at first. Sino ba naman ako para mag-book signing. Baka walang pumunta. But, eventually, with Ate Patsy’s convincing powers and assurance, I was convinced to say yes to her invitation. Here’s Ate Patsy! She’s so kind-hearted, warm, and very supportive. Thank you for believing in me ate.

Patsy’s in Pandi, Bulacan. It’s a coffee shop filled with books. Upon entering, you’ll immediately smell the aroma of the coffee inside their shop. You’ll be welcomed with their friendly baristas, too. If you’d like to read the books displayed, you have the liberty to do so. They do not judge. You won’t feel bad if you stayed inside their shop, reading.

We arrived early in Patsy’s. While waiting for the buyers of the books, we organized my books on the table where I’ll have my book signing. The book signing started at 10:00AM. I was welcomed by their regular customers. They happily greeted me and bought my books. Teenagers, college students, and even adults were there, asking me to sign there books.

I feel blessed. I know I do not deserve this kind of treatment. Again, I’ll always ask myself, deserve ko ba ‘to because I don’t feel worthy enough to sign books. After the book signing, I gave a mini-workshop about creative writing from 12:30-1:30PM. Six participants were present. Our output is a six-word story. Three winners received a tote bag, and a book from the owner of the coffee shop, Ate Patsy.

I’d never forget this moment. I feel so blessed and honored to have a book signing. I am so grateful to Ate Patsy for supporting local authors like me. She’s mentioned that it’s her passion and advocate to promote the love of books to others. I hope she continues doing that because lots of people will surely benefit from it.

Claiming for more books, booksignings, and readers in the future. May I bless more people through writing.

When the time is right, the Lord will make it happen.

The theme for this week is “When the time is right, the Lord will make it happen.”

Despite the ups and downs of unemployment, I was able to manage several writing gigs and to work on some personal projects. I was able to speak to a group of youth ministers. I was able to talk to Basic Bible Seminar 2 attendees. I was able to submit my deliverables. Wow. This week was one of a kind. A lot of things happened which I am grateful for.

When I went to National Book Store, I saw my book Paghilom on the Most Popular Books shelf. Who would have thought that this cutie cutie book would reach this shelf?

Aside from this shelf in NBS Megamall, I also saw the announcement of my first ever book signing and writing workshop! Patsy’s Coffee and Pastries Shop sent an invite last May 31 about this book signing but I was able to read it recently. The coffee shop owner invited me to have a simple meet and greet! Please help me by liking their page, too ha.

Any readers from Bulacan? I’ll be in this coffee shop on July 16! I will be signing books and giving a short writing workshop for those who will attend the event. It’s a dream come true for me because the last time I had a book signing was in 2016. Praying for more opportunities like this so I could be of help to others. Yes? Yes!

The most exciting news for this week is this!!! Paghilom is one of the bestsellers in National Book Store!!! Such a big thing for me. Among the many books in NBS, Paghilom is in the list. My heart is so happy. Noong bata ako, pangarap ko lang magkaroon ng libro. Pero yung mapasa pa sa bestseller? Sobrang thankful ako kasi hindi ko naman in-expect ito. Thank You, Lord, sa kilig feels po talaga! Kahit hindi siya bestseller, masaya ako as is for this book. People tell me that they feel blessed after reading it. Kaya, Lord, please, pa-claim na po ako ng points slash rewards from you po?

My heart is full. After reading Chapter 1 of the book The Gratitude Diaries, I’ve changed my perspective about life. I’ve realized that I have a lot of things to be grateful for.

How about you? What are you grateful for? Happy week ahead!