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?

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! 🙂

You need to rest, really.

This is my third post for this month! Yey! Usually, it takes me months to post a blog. I am grateful with the gift of time.

Life update! I am currently (technically) unemployed because I focused on freelancing. I now have the luxury of time to do the things I really love. This includes writing.

In my other blog post, I wrote about how silence helps people become stronger. Silence and rest go hand in hand. As if they’re a tandem.

For today, I unearthed this 2021 blog in my drafts about rest.

When was the last time that you REALLY rest?

Like, you do not check on your phone, do not read email, do not reply to urgent private messages, or answer calls related to work or a side hustle?

Has it been a long time?

I have a problem resting. It’s my weakness. I work a lot. I make sure that my schedule is filled with activities. I don’t want to be idle. There’s a time when I even work on weekends. However, this should not be a habit. It’s really tiring at the end of the day. (I have two eyebags.)

Time came when I felt really tired. I felt like I was only dragging myself to work. My mind couldn’t come up with creativity and aesthetically pleasing thoughts. With this, I knew that I needed to rest.

Rest is a reminder that we, humans, need a break. We need to pause. This pause does not mean that we are giving up, but we are just taking a break from everything.

After the pause, we move forward and start functioning again.

Rest is a reminder that we need to relax. Think of ourselves. Remember that we have a family who wait for us. For some, maybe they have a puppy who’s waiting for them, too. (In my case, tyni (a shih tzu).)

In Filipino, rest is translated as pahinga. The root word of pahinga is hinga, which means to breathe.

Rest is a must. It doesn’t have to be a luxurious activity. But, it should be as simple as finding time for deep breathe.

When I feel so exhausted after a productive day, I pause and breathe consciously. This has been my calming way of resting since 2019.

When I feel overwhelmed, I read books to escape from my reality. Highlighting text from the book is relaxing for me. Then, I copy these notes in my journal. When I feel uncreative, I watch anime on Netflix.

You need to rest, really. It’s a gift that you should not leave unopened.

When was the last time that you really rest? Feel free to share your thoughts in the chat box. 🙂

I cried after reading Find Your Surrendered Place by Bo Sanchez

Where is your surrendered place? In life, we need a place where we can be at peace with God. We need a little corner in our life where we can spend time praying to the Lord.

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of life, we need to meditate in our surrendered place.

This is Bo Sanchez only printed book in 2021. He has written it after recovering from COVID19. I never hesitated to purchase this book because it is indeed meaningful. It added value to my life.

My Takeaways from Find Your Surrendered Place by Bo Sanchez

1. Surrendering doesn’t mean you are weak. It means that you are courageous enough to trust God wholeheartedly.

2. When we surrender, we believe that God will always be with us in this journey.

3. When we surrender our fear of death, only then we can live life fully.

4. Meditation is important.

5. Let us surrender the lifestyle of hurry. At the end of the day, only the most essential will really matter.

6. Surrender our emotional leftovers. Hatred, guilt, and fear. We should let them go.

7. Our surrendered place is not a Lala Land. It’s a quiet place where we communicate with God.

You should also read this book if you like reading books about healing, meditating, and praying. If you are just barely making it in life, read this book to feel better.

May you have a meaningful 2022 ahead.

What book are you currently reading? Any book recommendations?

Why I love Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

This is a super late book review about Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. This has been in my cart for some months. I’ve decided to buy it as a gift for myself.

“Be led by your curiosity and keep busy doing things that fill you with meaning and happiness.” 🥰

What’s your Ikigai? What is something that gives you meaning and happiness?
This book is a must-read. This book helps its readers to fully understand their reason for living by knowing their ikigai.

Ikigai does not have to be grand. Sometimes, it could be the simplest thing in life, and that is okay. It differs from one person to another.

This book also gives an overview about the Japanese secret to a long and happy life. The authors are so specific in their explanation. They included diet, exercise, and way of living. They share how people in a certain place in Japan live longer than others.

Major takeaways from Ikigai

Each setback is an opportunity to grow.
Worrying about things that are beyond our control accomplishes nothing.
It is not what happens to you, but how you react that matters -Epicletus
Ikigai is the reason why we get up every morning.
Once you discover your ikigai, pursuing and nurturing it everyday will bring meaning to your life.

Have you read this book? Share your favorite quotes, too. Here’s mine.

This is the sign that you should grab a copy of this book. Go read it, friends. 🙂

Si Dru at ang Kuwento ng Limang Kaharian Book Review

Published by Adarna House, Si Dru at ang Kuwento ng Limang Kaharian is a YA novel written by Clara Ng, illustrated by Renata Owen, and translated in Filipino by Nanoy Rafael.

Isang palaaway na batang babae ang napadpad sa mundo ng limang malulungkot na hari. Isang makapangyarihang puno ang magsisilbing daan para siya ay makauwi.

This book is about Dru, a 12-year old girl who likes to fight. She’s quite bad-tempered and she is very outspoken on the things she’d like to have and to keep.

Until something magical happened, her shawl accidentally flew up in the sky and sent her to different world. There she met five lonely kings. In order to find her way home, she had to help these kings.

This translated version in Filipino is a must-read for high school students. It describes a typical teen who learns a lot about kindness, patience, and perseverance. This story tells about how the lonely kings discovered that the answer to their problems is just near them. I love how this story is narrated. It’s whimsical, light, and fun to read. There are clear descriptions about each kingdom. It has some Alice in Wonderland kind of vibes.

Please let your friends read this. There are really gems hidden in Adarna House translated books collection.

This book is still available here: Adarna House.

7 Things I’ve Learned from #Girlboss

I added Girlboss Series in my watch list last year. But, it was only last August 18 that I got to finish it. This series opened my mind, heart, and soul about being a persistent, goal-driven, and hardworking person. I just loved every detail about this series.

Here are seven things I’ve learned from this series.

Know your purpose. If you do not know it yet, you will figure it out soon. Sophia, in this story, was able to figure it out slowly. She applied as sales clerk in a store. Eventually, she just did not feel happy and enthusiastic about it. Eventually, she applied for a job which gave her a good boss and a fitting schedule.
Research, research. While working as a staff in an art school, she slowly built her eBay shop. Here, she does not know the technicalities yet. So what she did was to research about setting up a business online. She succeeded on doing this all by herself.
Know and maximize your connections. As she started expanding her shop, she worked and collaborated with a number of people in her circle. She got a model. Her best friend was in charge of the PR and Marketing.
Failures are normal. All businesses failed once. But, Sophia did not let this failure stop her from striving and building her shop. I think it’s an attitude that we all should have. That no matter how many times we fail, we stand up again.
Delegate tasks. Her best friend, Annie, who just helped her run her shop, felt that Sophia had to pay her service already. At first, Sophia disapproved. She was not welcome to hiring people. She believed that the Nasty Gal, her shop, is her passion only. Later on, Sophia realized that she had to hire people. There goes Annie, the PR department and the IT who created their website when eBay banned her from joining.
Deal with your critics. Every business will have critics, and a business owner must know how to deal with it. There should be proper customer service that would handle problematic buyers.
Dream big. This is my favorite lesson in the story. As an adult, I stopped dreaming big. By watching this series, I realized that I have to dream bigger other than this. I just have to.

My life-long goal is to make a living out of my passion–writing. I have started running my small shop here.

After watching this series, I listed again what are my dreams, what is my ideal life, and what are the things that really matter for me. 🙂

Right now, I appreciate where I am while working on my big dreams. 🙂

This is highly recommended if you feel lost and unsure of your life. Watch it when you have time!

Aishite imasu ni Romulo P. Baquiran Book Review

Isinulat ni Sir Romulo P. Baquiran ang Aishite imasu: Mga Dagling Sanaysay sa Danas-Japan ang mga sanaysay rito noong siya ay nagturo ng Wikang Filipino sa Japan noong 2014-2017. Inilathala naman ito ng UP Press ngayong 2021.

Bakit mo ito kailangang basahin?

Maraming dahilan para basahin mo ang librong ito. Una, basahin mo ito dahil maraming magandang paglalarawan sa Japan ang nilalaman ng akdang ito.

May isang kabanata na kung saan, malinaw na nailarawan sa isip ko ang itsura ng cherry blossoms at ang pakiramdam ng mga naroon sa eksenang iyon. Banayad ang mga naratibo. Parang nasa Japan ka na rin.

Basahin mo ito dahil napaka-natural, at totoo ng pagsusulat ni Sir Joey. Walang paglilimita sa mga danas, nakakatawa man o nakakahiya, na ikinuwento sa akdang ito. Matututo, matatawa, at makakaramdam ka ng lungkot sa mga sanaysay.

Napakaganda ng akdang ito. Parang kaibigan ka ni Sir Joey at personal ka niyang dinala sa iba’t ibang lugar sa Japan. Ipakikita niya sa’yo ang pagkain, teknolohiya, bisikleta, at ang transportasyon sa Japan. Ipakikilala ka rin niya sa mga naging kaibigan at mga nakasalubong niya sa lugar na ito.

Pwede mo pa ring bilhin ang aklat na ito sa Shopee. 🙂

Instructions on How to Disappear by Gabriela Lee

Instructions on How to Disappear by Gabriela Lee is published in 2016 by Visprint, Inc. Some of the stories have been published in some local and international journals. Each story has its own beauty that made me finish reading this book in one sitting.

There are several stories in this book. But here are some of my favorites.

This Side of the Looking Glass

It describes what it feels like to be fat–not the ordinary kind of fat. The author uses imagery that brought the protagonist to her dream. Her ideal family, ideal love life, and body but eventually she has accepted the real her. What I loved about this story is that the main character accepted her body, current situation, and her school belongingness.

Tabularasa

It is about the girl who had a relationship with a man who was having a hard time remembering. This story happened in Quezon City and I somehow relate with some of the places mentioned in this part. I love how this story ended. It is such a major cliffhanger.

Hunger

This story contains a manananggal who, at the end of the story, made me wonder if she has eaten her childhood love and his child. This part is written in second person point of view which makes me think if I am the manananggal in this story. This has the best narration among all the other stories.

I love how the author used different style and writing technique in writing each story. Each is indeed unique and remarkable. It is distinct from her other stories as well. The way she narrates is breathtaking and has the power to convince you that her fiction is true and is happening in real life.

Currently, this book is out of stock but this is recommended for those who are looking for a book that is short, sweet, and strange. 🙂