Filipino Book Bloggers

32nd Manila International Book Fair, the first of many parts

I’m still trying to catch my breath, but I know you’ve been waiting to hear about the 32nd Manila International Book Fair, and I do want to tell you about it, so here it is, my first book fair post.

It’s been a whirlwind couple of days at the MIBF, and I generally spend each day out there getting work done: accompanying guests, processing requests, and even catching up with office work, and then (when things go according to plan) the actual hunting and gathering takes place in the evening. But Wednesday night was spent having dinner with the Flippers (after raiding the book fair of course) and gabbing until the wee hours), hence no reportage from me; while last night I was with my Geek Fight team (who’d raided the MIBF, and amassed even more books than my book club friends, imagine that). Hence it’s Day 3, and I’m pounding this out on my lunch break.

Continue reading “32nd Manila International Book Fair, the first of many parts”

Filipino Readers Make it Social: The 1st Filipino ReaderCon

… and five weeks’ worth of Filipino Fridays! (*groan!*)

I know, I know, I’m really late in the game on this one, but my schedule has been impossible for the past four weeks, in addition to that throat infection that sent me out of commission (in bed, too sick to do anything) for five days.

But it’s better late than never, and for those attending the Manila International Book Fair, Filipino Readers Make it Social: The 1st Filipino ReaderCon organized by the Filipino Book Bloggers and slated on Wed, is really one of the must-not-miss highlights of this year’s book fair.

Before I start with my Filipino Fridays, let me clue you in on the event details.

Continue reading “Filipino Readers Make it Social: The 1st Filipino ReaderCon”

The Lost Language

Back in December, the Filipino book bloggers met up with Marianne Villanueva, who is one of the most delightful authors I’ve ever had the chance to meet.

I got a signed copy of her book, The Lost Language: Stories (and in nice paper, too!) and I finally got to read it earlier this year.

Continue reading “The Lost Language”

10 interesting things about Marianne Villanueva

Last Saturday, I was holed up at Libreria again with fellow Flippers and book bloggers for a meetup with author Marianne Villanueva, arranged by Rocket Kapre. The Flippers were supposed to have a breakfast meeting, but I went home well past midnight from the previous night’s office party, got an hour’s sleep before dragging myself out of bed for the dawn mass, and then went back to sleep. I was alarmed when Gege’s text woke me up at 10am, when we were designated to meet! I threw on a shirt, shorts and flipflops (and I forgot my camera, too!) and hightailed it to Cubao, just in time for lunch at Ali Mall.

I was still bleary eyed by the time we went back to Libreria, but the discussion was well underway, and I think I was barely coherent while I was nursing a couple cups coffee. Unfortunately I had to hightail it again back home to Makati for a change of clothes for a girls’ night out with my high school friends, but I did get my copy of The Lost Language: Stories signed, and enough interesting factoids about the author to make me want to read the book!

Continue reading “10 interesting things about Marianne Villanueva”

Filipino Book Bloggers’ Meetup!

When the Filipino Book Bloggers first met up back in September, I sorely regretted not being able to attend, so I was looking forward to attending the next one. Thankfully it was scheduled at a date that agreed with my schedule, and I was able to make it this time.

When the group was trying to decide on a venue, I suggested our BookMooch friend Triccie’s newly-opened store, Libreria. It seemed the perfect place for us to meet — it has enough space to hold us all, it serves good coffee but we wouldn’t have to struggle to get heard over the normal din of a busy coffeeshop, it’s relatively accessible to people from different parts of the metro, and best of all, we would be surrounded by books! I was glad the others were willing to give it a try.

Continue reading “Filipino Book Bloggers’ Meetup!”