tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54987567294693078302024-03-06T05:12:40.728+08:00Brewed ThoughtsMusings about books and life one cup of coffee at a timeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-37616786281057036832015-10-27T15:07:00.002+08:002015-10-27T15:07:40.322+08:00I've Moved!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64Ui6e4we1CMKwGs9skcFyjeIeB3DfgdSt8JhJgjMzGrkdwOwa_Z6rZij5f1Xhyw2NAjHUSPrAjJWxLTV3AyIzgJZTDNHBRiLDAALukpwEBnJpvRO_WUIRMXfKXzuuXF7uRat2VlwSno/s1600/movingaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64Ui6e4we1CMKwGs9skcFyjeIeB3DfgdSt8JhJgjMzGrkdwOwa_Z6rZij5f1Xhyw2NAjHUSPrAjJWxLTV3AyIzgJZTDNHBRiLDAALukpwEBnJpvRO_WUIRMXfKXzuuXF7uRat2VlwSno/s400/movingaway.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Hey, guys! I've moved to a new site! I've decided to take this new step so I can seriously pursue my writing and publishing thing. Brewed Thoughts would still be around, although I will not be updating it anymore. Please do visit my <a href="http://www.anneplaza.com/">new website</a> for the latest news and updates from me. Thank you!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-19100923043736784462015-10-05T08:00:00.000+08:002015-10-05T08:00:17.688+08:00On (Finally) Writing and Releasing That WIP in the Wild<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Three years ago, a story idea popped in my head and it's been there ever since It all started with my fascination for Philippine mythology and folklore, perhaps due to all the feels from reading Arnold Arre's graphic novels <i>Mythology Class</i> and <i>After Eden</i>. I've always been curious about the occult and the paranormal, though the only real "dabbling" I ever did with it was to write a story. I'm sure writers have been plagued with the same experience of plot bunnies disturbing their every day thoughts that they just needed to get them written or they'd go stark raving mad. The only way to get the bunnies to at least take a rest was for me to do something about it. So I did some research on lower myths and pantheons, read up on pre-Hispanic life and culture, and watched shows and documentaries until I was able to get the material I needed to start drafting characters and establishing the plot. The result: <b>Bloodline Maharlika</b>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2qGqOEu0mky7YlLuuE3Nq6LHeUEHIJH8p0fAmCkLlJhE-YJD-v4OmjfLcHLYHR4FdIp1I6tmN38-fT1tFL_-0oGhAg_SHVcluInnscB3LN2wnjrh3_5VBcKF21TFZc5PzlpCewbETJ4/s1600/Bloodline+Maharlika_Cover-op.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2qGqOEu0mky7YlLuuE3Nq6LHeUEHIJH8p0fAmCkLlJhE-YJD-v4OmjfLcHLYHR4FdIp1I6tmN38-fT1tFL_-0oGhAg_SHVcluInnscB3LN2wnjrh3_5VBcKF21TFZc5PzlpCewbETJ4/s320/Bloodline+Maharlika_Cover-op.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i>There's nothing ordinary about Owenn Magpantay the moment awareness seeped through her consciousness. A demi-goddess born from the line of maharlika and Bathala himself, Owenn is the hope for peace between mortal and the divine. But when the god Apolaki decried Bathala's love for humans, Owenn became his ultimate target. Together with her half-sister, the bathaluman Mayari, they travel to present day Manila where Owenn must eventually face the evil of Apolaki with the help of Companions descended from the warrior nobility.</i></blockquote>
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Aside from what was mentioned, this story is an amalgamation of my fandom for certain anime shows, a historical <i>epicserye</i>, a <i>fantaserye</i>, and one or two graphic novels. It's my first stab at writing a multi-character urban fantasy, and to be honest, it's quite exhilarating to be able to finally write and release a WIP that's been in my head for far too long. I'm already itching to write the next installment and introduce more characters in this crazy-scary mashup of time-traveling gods and modern heroes!</div>
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<i>Bloodline Maharlika</i> is part of the #StrangeLit ebook bundle, <i><a href="http://bit.ly/IncredibleTruths">Incredible Truths</a></i>, now available on <a href="http://www.buqo.ph/">Buqo</a> for only PHP 90 / $1.99 (that's 10 stories in 1 ebook!). Please do support us Filipino indie authors and we hope you like our stories!<br />
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I'll be talking more about the characters and sharing my inspiration board for this story in the next blog post, so watch this space!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-16400849119881867102015-10-02T17:52:00.000+08:002015-10-02T18:01:32.533+08:00#StrangeLit Story Bundles Are LIVE!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So last July, I signed up for a writing workshop called <i>#StrangeLit</i> facilitated by <a href="http://www.minavesguerra.com/">Mina V. Esguerra</a> and <a href="http://www.bronzeage.ph/">Bronze Age Media</a>, as well as sponsored by <a href="http://www.buqo.ph/">Buqo</a>. This was different from the previous workshops of Mina that I've attended, mainly because it's about paranormal and urban fantasy. I have a soft spot for fantasy because it saved my sanity once when I was going through emo stuff back in college. Ever since then, I've been reading one fantasy book after another, and I thought it would be a good challenge to try my hand in writing a story in the said genre. </div>
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History has a way of repeating itself, but I won't bore you with the details. This workshop came at the right time, and I couldn't be more thankful I was part of it. The story that's been in my head for so long has finally seen the light of day.</div>
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So, long story short, by September 5 I had a finished novelette and managed to make it through the deadline. My story, <i>Bloodline Maharlika</i>, has been bundled with 9 other stories under a common theme: <b>Incredible Truths</b>. There are 41 finished stories in total, also grouped into themes: <b>Killer Seasons</b>, <b>Fateful Turns</b>, and <b>Darkest Dreams</b>. And the best part is they're <a href="http://bit.ly/buqostrangelit">now available on Buqo</a>! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from Buqo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaD0bF-VdXFIaNshyphenhyphen67syrSEdHBPtBeC4uFLBEnnI_SPUDNZ9QXOZYupV9oIlI4Qv-zFfcSwL9dh_JvUlrf5BfI5q-zdWzuWJA4EgskBaN6qYnjFqE20ykzLLKEcOrHFxF9LSFGXli_-k/s1600/bundle4-fb-post1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaD0bF-VdXFIaNshyphenhyphen67syrSEdHBPtBeC4uFLBEnnI_SPUDNZ9QXOZYupV9oIlI4Qv-zFfcSwL9dh_JvUlrf5BfI5q-zdWzuWJA4EgskBaN6qYnjFqE20ykzLLKEcOrHFxF9LSFGXli_-k/s400/bundle4-fb-post1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bit.ly/incredibletruths">Incredible Truths</a> ebook bundle where my story is included</td></tr>
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I hope you can support us indie authors in getting more people to read and appreciate our work. You can purchase each book bundle at the introductory price of Php 90. Regular price will be Php 250. I'll be announcing more stuff as we go along (like a giveaway, the launch, etc.), but in the meantime I hope you can grab the chance to avail of the ebook bundles. And if you already have, thank you! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-50941522152198769952015-10-01T14:03:00.000+08:002015-10-01T14:03:14.464+08:00MIND = BLOWN (Or When We Had a #RomanceClass Read-Along With Theater Pros)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, I was supposed to do a post for #StrangeLit, but I just need to get this out, now. Haha. I seriously don't know how to begin this blog post. Perhaps this image would better describe things:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_KyGFgXgrDSc83-82D68tBP9w6PDdfaYZXgHQOYwShGSNDmvvB4oMCJXRRnCOiHMJ0sKM5Stc4yLBD98xuaJQdXA1ZECBHqe01MRFPMG5PwUdzyk_5YSTWORIq4vgVNEr6crec08-Es/s1600/tumblr_mbji98VD401r7zjhx.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_KyGFgXgrDSc83-82D68tBP9w6PDdfaYZXgHQOYwShGSNDmvvB4oMCJXRRnCOiHMJ0sKM5Stc4yLBD98xuaJQdXA1ZECBHqe01MRFPMG5PwUdzyk_5YSTWORIq4vgVNEr6crec08-Es/s1600/tumblr_mbji98VD401r7zjhx.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GIF via <a href="http://ineedthisforreactions.tumblr.com/post/34064367278">Tumblr</a></td></tr>
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Let me backtrack a bit to tell you about what happened last night. Last month, author <a href="http://www.minavesguerra.com/">Mina V. Esguerra</a> asked the #romanceclass group for a meetup at the end of September for "something special". Sounds cryptic, but exciting! I was adamant to attend at first, because it was right smack in the middle of the work week, not to mention that Manila experienced its first <i>carmageddon</i> a few weeks before September 30th. But by some sheer stroke of luck, my schedule cleared and I was able to leave early and have time to chat with another fellow author.<br />
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When everyone else arrived at The Study at the Podium Mall, it felt like a high school reunion of sorts. Beso here, chika there...it was fun reconnecting with fellow authors even if we've been tweeting/chatting with each other online on an almost daily basis. But while waiting for Mina, we were already so stoked for the surprise thing. Then someone mentioned seeing <a href="https://instagram.com/p/8QEE7pkO7T/?taken-by=minavesguerra">Mina's Instagram post</a>. </div>
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We were having a read-aloud session of a few #romanceclass novella excerpts by theater performers. After being ushered to a lovely conference room, we met theater artists Gio Gahol and Rachel Coates. Hearing them talk about doing rehearsals a few hours before meeting all of us was exciting. Mina also briefed us about her idea of wanting to hear a live reading session of what we wrote and how she wanted to try different things to stay creative aside from the usual writing rituals. Then shortly, the readings began.</div>
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<i>Sweet baby Jesus.</i></div>
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Rachel and Gio read excerpts from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tempting-Victoria-Breathe-Rockstar-Romance-ebook/dp/B015T99EGM">Tempting Victoria</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Over-Her-Head-Anne-Plaza-ebook/dp/B00G63DGYC">In Over Her Head</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cover-Story-Girl-Chris-Mariano-ebook/dp/B00E8KBU9S">Cover (Story) Girl</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Finding-X-Miles-Tan-ebook/dp/B00H4FJQFO">Finding X</a> by Mina, myself (le gasp!), Chris Mariano, and Miles Tan respectively. Here's my take on each piece:</div>
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<b>Tempting Victoria</b><br />
<i>Narrated by Gio</i><br />
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<li style="text-align: justify;">It's so different when you're reading everything in your head versus listening to narration. It felt like I was in Nathan's head, hearing his thoughts, and swooning over his feels for Victoria. I've read and reviewed this book and I liked Nathan's easy going charm. But I wasn't prepared for the Nathan audio version. I have no words.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Rachel's narration of Victoria was absolutely spot-on. Bossy, take-charge attitude, followed by the slow chipping of the wall around her. It's like watching an ice cube melt under Nathan's gaze.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">I recall hearing a certain moment in their narration when I had to stop to catch my breath and fan myself. We were in an air-conditioned room and it felt like someone turned on the heat. They weren't even reading the steamy scenes, goshdarnit!</li>
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<b>In Over Her Head</b><br />
<i>Narrated by Rachel</i><br />
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<li style="text-align: justify;">When they announced they were reading an excerpt of my book, I wanted to bolt. No joke. I've never been so scared until that moment. I'm fine with people reading my book, but with people reading my book aloud? *flees* But when Rachel started narrating, I wanted to scrape my jaw off the floor. I was feeling shy/embarrassed/scared/excited/I-wanna-pee-right-now/happy/high. She was living and breathing the moment. I wanted to weep—she was taking Erika's character to a whole different level and I was scrambling for something solid to hold on to. The tempo, intonation, breaths, pacing, and emotions were built up sooo good that I almost wondered if I really wrote those words. It was INTENSE.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Richard's character in that scene didn't have as much dialogue, but man, Gio slayed it. "You look great", he said. And well...*ovaries*. There was a timbre to his voice that sounded different from the first piece he read. He made that confession scene more heartfelt than I could ever write it. It was so surreal, I kinda wanted to change my name to Erika. HAHAHA.</li>
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<b>Cover (Story) Girl </b>(Audio clip <a href="https://soundcloud.com/miles-tan-986240683/cover-story-girl-reading">here</a>)<br />
<i>Narrated by Gio</i><br />
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<li style="text-align: justify;">This piece had a quirky dynamic. The first two readings only had two characters talking, and this one had an additional one. Again, Gio was a chameleon, his voice taking on another persona in the character of...Gio (Twilight Zone much? XD). The distinct cadence to his voice was perfect for Mr. Museum, complete with the head scratching gesture.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Gio and the "mamser" accent. I want to hug it. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Rachel's take was fun and upbeat, perfect for Min Hee's character. I've got to give props to the woman because she was everything. She made gestures while reading as well, and it was so much fun seeing Min Hee come alive in both voice and in character. I wanted to hear more!</li>
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<b>Finding X </b>(Audio clip <a href="https://soundcloud.com/miles-tan-986240683/finding-x-excerpt">here</a>)<br />
<i>Narrated by Rachel</i><br />
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<li style="text-align: justify;">This is a special book for me because nerds/beta males/geek feels. Again, both Rachel and Gio donned new personalities as they breathed life to Carlisle and Matteo. My favorite moment was Rachel/Carlisle laughing while narrating. It was part of the narrative, but the laughter didn't sound canned at all. I could see she was really having fun reading it. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">THAT RAIN SCENE + MATTEO CHANGING HIS SHIRT. *fans self* That wasn't supposed to sound like a steamy scene but DAYUUUUUUM!!!! *closes jaw, wipes mouth*</li>
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<b>Summary/Takeaways</b><br />
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<li style="text-align: justify;">We could totally make a killing out of audio books. 'Nuff said.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">The difference between a theater performer and someone who makes a living by doing audio book readings is <i>world's apart</i>. I've had my fair share of listening to audio books and while there have been attempts to include a certain vibrancy in the narrative quality, most of the time the output feels a bit flat and almost unemotional. This is one of the reason why I usually drone out while listening to audio books. But the vocal quality of Rachel and Gio was so rich, my mind could not help but stay rooted in one spot. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">I could hear the fun and enjoyment in Rachel and Gio's voice. These guys were professionals, but you know they just went over and beyond the expectation. Romance may not be for everyone, but man, these guys killed it!</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">I think it's safe to say that we were all bombarded by inspiration, kilig, and all-around feels. I am going through a lot of personal things right now, but this was just the boost I needed. I could never be grateful enough to have been given a chance to be part of this. More than the shenanigans, this experience saved me from another rut waiting to happen. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">I had a lot of self-doubt after writing IOHH. And while the plot may not be to everyone's taste, I was so surprised it could be taken to another awesome level. It was totally unexpected. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">While those who attended were writers, the experience spoke to our side as readers. In the end, it's always about that, right? Why write if you don't want to be read? Is there still sound if a tree falls to the ground and no one's around to hear it? Existentialist questions, true, but the experience gave me that realization, and that epiphany made me want to act on it. I think this is what Mina wanted all of us to understand at some point. </li>
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<li>Mina, if you have more experiments, sign us up! :)</li>
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I only have a few pictures of the event, but here's a couple more from people who posted last night:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcRrVVSLqjogS1xSNvPoBlFtmdTpdAljaIkdb2OexhaDirkKir5L-P9Y0j77iS0Wy9la7xOWjLlCVmln3mdCqfJXlXaQLngS4ITAWfurE8DxrNfTqd-Jz78i8zeGBbxMATQ501FWxKJs/s1600/IMG_1335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcRrVVSLqjogS1xSNvPoBlFtmdTpdAljaIkdb2OexhaDirkKir5L-P9Y0j77iS0Wy9la7xOWjLlCVmln3mdCqfJXlXaQLngS4ITAWfurE8DxrNfTqd-Jz78i8zeGBbxMATQ501FWxKJs/s400/IMG_1335.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Class pic!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzwyhxsY1SWK3sPIsCOaApQPEzHX4XOqCaGQ_FXykNHQKN_vKed8OIvXCKXTxT_HwfQ5d_z2qhdGPAjPdr1OhsO3cOFA6e81-xD5a1lrvy8tGcAZK4BZrqy-g4c4QmQzbmWFXIgbWvJY/s1600/IMG_1338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzwyhxsY1SWK3sPIsCOaApQPEzHX4XOqCaGQ_FXykNHQKN_vKed8OIvXCKXTxT_HwfQ5d_z2qhdGPAjPdr1OhsO3cOFA6e81-xD5a1lrvy8tGcAZK4BZrqy-g4c4QmQzbmWFXIgbWvJY/s320/IMG_1338.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Gio and Rachel. HEEEEHEEEE.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnl-blf3n-7uax_YLF4VGfeaDKu9YOJ28D53hdpAR7drlCgznGx4ve7q4sStlxpxofI6HiqyJJJO5Tja04LYiyK-L55zZZy6MxScieFQt1dtEhh1-mQwZBNkmHHUKfMO91M-gfAt5CNes/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnl-blf3n-7uax_YLF4VGfeaDKu9YOJ28D53hdpAR7drlCgznGx4ve7q4sStlxpxofI6HiqyJJJO5Tja04LYiyK-L55zZZy6MxScieFQt1dtEhh1-mQwZBNkmHHUKfMO91M-gfAt5CNes/s320/image.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry, but I HAD TO.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBckfAY94YdRRlgRm8C_hd3e1Nd0HXZNOl24Ew0lVJkPGJNGFyMYssyhrFz1pe1YAZAYA7dcVdrD5B_6UnKdQhAt0Ox8zXilPU8DQuBZ2BBd_CP5MZoPU3B3S_VHWpGZkPm8ZOVUcVp0/s1600/IMG_1334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBckfAY94YdRRlgRm8C_hd3e1Nd0HXZNOl24Ew0lVJkPGJNGFyMYssyhrFz1pe1YAZAYA7dcVdrD5B_6UnKdQhAt0Ox8zXilPU8DQuBZ2BBd_CP5MZoPU3B3S_VHWpGZkPm8ZOVUcVp0/s320/IMG_1334.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Edith Joaquin and Mina</td></tr>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="5" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/8R-2b7kO4t/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Yesterday's #romanceclass meetup featured live readings from #TemptingVictoria #InOverHerHead #CoverStoryGirl #FindingX. They're available in ebook and print (well soonish for #TemptingVictoria). Go to @romanceclassbooks for more awesome.</a></div>
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A photo posted by Mina V. Esguerra (@minavesguerra) on <time datetime="2015-10-01T04:06:57+00:00">Sep 30, 2015 at 9:06pm PDT</time></div>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="5" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/8RbLwlEOzf/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Gio and Rachel at "work." They also shared awesome insights on theater, how they work, what they do. This photo can't do justice to the FEELS they conveyed (an audio recording is good, a video slightly better). I loved the little facial expressions, their little reactions, and yes like Gio pointed out, how there was this chemistry with each reading even when there was no eye contact, no "physicality" (Rachel's word). Each excerpt they read was a little different in mood, but they knocked it out of the park every time. #romanceclass</a></div>
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A photo posted by Mina V. Esguerra (@minavesguerra) on <time datetime="2015-09-30T22:55:18+00:00">Sep 30, 2015 at 3:55pm PDT</time></div>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="5" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; height: 44px; margin: 0px auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/8QmK7VNa3b/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">💕💕💕 #Repost @desanggria with @repostapp. ・・・ I was only able to get to record a few seconds because THE FEELS. It's almost like listening to an audio book, but soooo much better. Never in my craziest dreams have I imagined an excerpt reading of #InOverHerHead. Gio and Rachel were brilliant! Thank you, @minavesguerra for this unbelievable experience. It's a dream come true. Brilliant!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 #romanceclass</a></div>
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A video posted by #romanceclassbooks (@romanceclassbooks) on <time datetime="2015-09-30T15:12:03+00:00">Sep 30, 2015 at 8:12am PDT</time></div>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="5" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/8Ql105Na27/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">#Repost @hunnydew0205 with @repostapp. ・・・ Much feels. Inspiration revived! Thanks for facilitating this Miss @minavesguerra 😍😍😍#livereading #oralinterpretation #romanceclass</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by #romanceclassbooks (@romanceclassbooks) on <time datetime="2015-09-30T15:09:11+00:00">Sep 30, 2015 at 8:09am PDT</time></div>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="5" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/8Ql105Na27/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">#Repost @hunnydew0205 with @repostapp. ・・・ Much feels. Inspiration revived! Thanks for facilitating this Miss @minavesguerra 😍😍😍#livereading #oralinterpretation #romanceclass</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by #romanceclassbooks (@romanceclassbooks) on <time datetime="2015-09-30T15:09:11+00:00">Sep 30, 2015 at 8:09am PDT</time></div>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="5" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/8Qb3vTLT9F/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Post-workshop photo op 📷 #romanceclass #oralinterpretation #livereading #spazzing</a></div>
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A photo posted by Honey Mabalot (@hunnydew0205) on <time datetime="2015-09-30T13:42:03+00:00">Sep 30, 2015 at 6:42am PDT</time></div>
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And if you're one of my Twitter followers, I apologize for the spam on your feed! I will *try to* relent. Heehee.<br />
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Audio clips c/o Miles Tan. Thankies!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-91774139018759045342015-09-22T13:32:00.000+08:002015-09-22T13:33:53.524+08:00Fun Times at the MIBF 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Where did the weekend go?</div>
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But seriously, I had an awesome weekend attending the <i>36th Manila International Book Fair</i>. Most of my friends were there on the first day, and I had to sit through endless tweets about how awesome the place was with few attendees and spacious hallways. But when the weekend came, I was raring to go. I arrived early at the venue and was surprised to find a long line as early as 8am. Good thing it was the queue for the international authors' book signings, so I was able to get inside without having to wait that long. </div>
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Saturday was the busiest day for me at the book fair as I took it upon myself to be quick and shop for the books I already planned to get. It was good thinking because when Sunday came, it was hard to navigate around the hall with so many people jostling for space as they browsed and lined up at the cashier. Sunday was more laid back, and thankfully I was able to curb my impulse to buy more books. </div>
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Here are a few photos documenting my awesome MIBF experience:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwLIW1y4Hk96GmdhhxkEctAm9QK5boZprlrR5xVEsB62mUIAjaeFxGJTXtRpagiTmv8jjcQDo7LEX03FEPnMAIZ_MhViMqbCAS98FKYvtg3AwLLLEuyXgmvzQvPEbf-T0DZgXT24_Wbc/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwLIW1y4Hk96GmdhhxkEctAm9QK5boZprlrR5xVEsB62mUIAjaeFxGJTXtRpagiTmv8jjcQDo7LEX03FEPnMAIZ_MhViMqbCAS98FKYvtg3AwLLLEuyXgmvzQvPEbf-T0DZgXT24_Wbc/s320/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stacks of Soul Books at the Bookmark booth. <br />
It looks like they had a lot of copies as they replenished as soon as the pile was depleted.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyroOVE8ZfkCJY5Qaa8e2ZdC6GyBfwbjykh3oIYHhYkr4LptGO34Ik64qvEi7SbKA-IjZpcynWRErwDSh2ggJMomlBxE-ng2EXXovv6ForH2M4bIWoIaaPzcLku4EhiaUxXdy31-LxH9k/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyroOVE8ZfkCJY5Qaa8e2ZdC6GyBfwbjykh3oIYHhYkr4LptGO34Ik64qvEi7SbKA-IjZpcynWRErwDSh2ggJMomlBxE-ng2EXXovv6ForH2M4bIWoIaaPzcLku4EhiaUxXdy31-LxH9k/s320/FullSizeRender+%25282%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buqo's booth<br />
I donated over 10 books that will go to local libraries, thanks to Buqo's <i>A Book for an eBook</i> project.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYSt-p8jKYvQwqr-A2gsdZPHWDklkvN8VhSkYaDVfOYuouu2qKUmD-wTpswaWlLrVB6TqXJV9PLU7CbhnnUMEn2dHLWFjJhC0wb90YwUCb2IRKICh8z5ipdfFiWok9TEZOiwfKL4cuyc/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYSt-p8jKYvQwqr-A2gsdZPHWDklkvN8VhSkYaDVfOYuouu2qKUmD-wTpswaWlLrVB6TqXJV9PLU7CbhnnUMEn2dHLWFjJhC0wb90YwUCb2IRKICh8z5ipdfFiWok9TEZOiwfKL4cuyc/s320/FullSizeRender+%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've been looking for you since forever! Come to mama!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibX2aLOCBNZpRdpoxtiMHWVtuThFAcHO4euMKqof8iF2E8sAbjmei6s9vrisdFRVcDqppBN3S-Ocr68TJmf8SKBoXWzDiEh53d5uHo4TMQrUx76jreG-3Puvg4s5m8KZPjRZeiLldSqJ8/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibX2aLOCBNZpRdpoxtiMHWVtuThFAcHO4euMKqof8iF2E8sAbjmei6s9vrisdFRVcDqppBN3S-Ocr68TJmf8SKBoXWzDiEh53d5uHo4TMQrUx76jreG-3Puvg4s5m8KZPjRZeiLldSqJ8/s320/FullSizeRender+%25284%2529.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OMG this book is HUGE, both in size and price. Haha! But yes, I caved. This is a rare sighting so I just closed my eyes and paid for it, along with the Pacific Rim coffee table book. It still hasn't sunk in that I spent too much money. But my fangirl heart is happy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2d0B2er-r_f6-6YBtd45_Q7HQ_B_QqjAfJrEQo9EgkuqkJ6pvM03-1NwRK-szqwRfr7HTUjtBuiczSCfl77yNhYPjn0EA_5uxD5V0ilTnfZaoqWVAmxp5pYBxtmC9cf_gHBPzA5SOwMc/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2d0B2er-r_f6-6YBtd45_Q7HQ_B_QqjAfJrEQo9EgkuqkJ6pvM03-1NwRK-szqwRfr7HTUjtBuiczSCfl77yNhYPjn0EA_5uxD5V0ilTnfZaoqWVAmxp5pYBxtmC9cf_gHBPzA5SOwMc/s320/FullSizeRender+%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Had a pictorial with fellow #buqoYA and #StrangeLit authors, along with the Buqo staff.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-BTTGMIbS6hiGNmaZEovevJSz3wSPMX3Lg1fQKNE6z_8vSQqaWJj_Ag5qqQO7YQBcTDIlZ_ZByCjg1GUq03w9chff3Ic4FcypwhRmIqRJ-BxgtubR1f1Dg3SDt6vneVxIxXxRclDFgw/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-BTTGMIbS6hiGNmaZEovevJSz3wSPMX3Lg1fQKNE6z_8vSQqaWJj_Ag5qqQO7YQBcTDIlZ_ZByCjg1GUq03w9chff3Ic4FcypwhRmIqRJ-BxgtubR1f1Dg3SDt6vneVxIxXxRclDFgw/s320/FullSizeRender+%25286%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't catch Edgar Samar when he was at the MIBF on Wednesday and Saturday, so I went back on Sunday just for the Janus Silang book signing. THE LINE WAS INSANE. The man is a rockstar. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSO9xMGHNUyrXfBwdHRYIAY8zjex1eGgFqwjWGALq7-sIVdgET3OywBzioMnXM75ZXZQZ39RcnKYyvG7hfP_tYH8zynRgkjxOG5vbUhZW4SP9Ermg1NDCkA4GR1GLGUjyDfIyR5rv6z8/s1600/12046963_10153600320892970_723384028169298548_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSO9xMGHNUyrXfBwdHRYIAY8zjex1eGgFqwjWGALq7-sIVdgET3OywBzioMnXM75ZXZQZ39RcnKYyvG7hfP_tYH8zynRgkjxOG5vbUhZW4SP9Ermg1NDCkA4GR1GLGUjyDfIyR5rv6z8/s320/12046963_10153600320892970_723384028169298548_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from Hazel Caasi<br />
My reaction after finally making it to the finish line to get my book signed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTh-MtwSOr2V4mTtOe1znLf0bgxIU9cQs2WNsup-y1H6_B5fNeBr2EuVgZll7DK95P5uorXOEz68W1D0VnrKYnTBEw8Vbc6iLOrYtZNLBRuOVV-P8Q6ggOjOKTmXoN7DnhhyphenhyphenpqT3EdzcI/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTh-MtwSOr2V4mTtOe1znLf0bgxIU9cQs2WNsup-y1H6_B5fNeBr2EuVgZll7DK95P5uorXOEz68W1D0VnrKYnTBEw8Vbc6iLOrYtZNLBRuOVV-P8Q6ggOjOKTmXoN7DnhhyphenhyphenpqT3EdzcI/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to take an obligatory photo of my #romanceclass classmates' masterpieces. So proud of these guys!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaHiVrY03bHiOrAaq8pnSTMnILw2uOgK0HOs9yc4RW80max0aRhT215hZp_ji3S_fo_SgxhgoVOXcb1tXQcAVw6-5letbodjqEDCIAnAExbcUUbFn7qGejODXlWZKdVaimgutUNcYD-A/s1600/11181875_10206458498953665_2099892627759238057_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaHiVrY03bHiOrAaq8pnSTMnILw2uOgK0HOs9yc4RW80max0aRhT215hZp_ji3S_fo_SgxhgoVOXcb1tXQcAVw6-5letbodjqEDCIAnAExbcUUbFn7qGejODXlWZKdVaimgutUNcYD-A/s320/11181875_10206458498953665_2099892627759238057_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Met Ida from OMF Lit who graciously gave me the opportunity to <a href="http://thoughtsbrewed.blogspot.com/2015/07/5-reasons-why-you-should-read-secret.html">review</a> one of their titles, <i>The Secret Story of Shy Shelly</i>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUbO1tbfFK8K_ssycaLSzsyEkf0yTHnE9KPOvAMzUEP4xRUaJkjdX4WOF57jMGoYL8xL-hwhYKM4BGcgvrq4Qm3Dg_CgcCTbNCabBg_WRJTFMYxz4wpvS4SdchwWB2YgRA8Fx0PDHkIs/s1600/12049295_10206458727119369_7155100541783386880_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUbO1tbfFK8K_ssycaLSzsyEkf0yTHnE9KPOvAMzUEP4xRUaJkjdX4WOF57jMGoYL8xL-hwhYKM4BGcgvrq4Qm3Dg_CgcCTbNCabBg_WRJTFMYxz4wpvS4SdchwWB2YgRA8Fx0PDHkIs/s320/12049295_10206458727119369_7155100541783386880_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damage report! These books were heavy to lug around.</td></tr>
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This was probably the most fun MIBF year, the most tiring, and most damaging to my wallet. Haha! But the experience of hanging out with fellow writers, book hunting, and lining up for signings still gave me the major feels. Hopefully next year would be just as fun!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-80669659575725626442015-09-14T13:06:00.000+08:002015-09-14T13:50:57.189+08:00August Bookish Events<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I realize this blog hasn't been updated much, but lately I've been going to a lot of fun bookish events that I absolutely have to talk about. Having started off a fledgling, part-time career in being an author (because priorities), bookish events have been a staple in what little free time I have. </div>
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<b>Tessa Bailey Romance Discussion</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2GEWQPfssbGahZ0b7VwX-1d5Satl2KGLZTOpYQL7wvThx_G9OJyObkmpgb2wkzAwWB-j9_wkmaLjrFs8WztVUSd8WJ6ceU5_JwwxywnJtbt1PWkXnvGL88Hl4_DfVA-y-3vQdj8xuTY/s1600/IMG_1725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2GEWQPfssbGahZ0b7VwX-1d5Satl2KGLZTOpYQL7wvThx_G9OJyObkmpgb2wkzAwWB-j9_wkmaLjrFs8WztVUSd8WJ6ceU5_JwwxywnJtbt1PWkXnvGL88Hl4_DfVA-y-3vQdj8xuTY/s320/IMG_1725.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bailey's Babes PH represent!</td></tr>
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Author <a href="http://www.minavesguerra.com/">Mina V. Esguerra</a> organized this meet-up with fellow Tessa Bailey fans last August and I was thankful to have been part of this awesome gathering. It was an apt occurrence since it was Mina who introduced me to Tessa's work, and I couldn't be any happier. I love reading romances and it's my most-read genre. Tessa's books are a guilty pleasure and I was more than thrilled to have been in the company of like-minded people. </div>
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Yes, we did talk about the alpha heroes, and was stoked to know there were fellow Bowen fans! Beck came in second place in terms of favorites. What made it even more awesome was the feedback from Tessa herself. I'm really hoping she gets to swing by the Philippines and have a book signing event.<br />
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<b>Philippine Literary Festival</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6wpN3_hQ2ovMo60Sw8UL0x8SdRxuGnsIJRd-_6583A6o4s3CPp-3N3vGHS-B3nMEkPANjmgQFceO8SSMucPCdEHNbkBcnNNIxfgYFyW-LDRFnG6P5oimpjl6oMfVuVmmwaYkLnzlekg/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6wpN3_hQ2ovMo60Sw8UL0x8SdRxuGnsIJRd-_6583A6o4s3CPp-3N3vGHS-B3nMEkPANjmgQFceO8SSMucPCdEHNbkBcnNNIxfgYFyW-LDRFnG6P5oimpjl6oMfVuVmmwaYkLnzlekg/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm SO glad this happened on a weekend versus last year where I never got the chance to attend because (1) it's in Makati, a.k.a. the far reaches of the galaxy, and (2) it's a weekday shindig. Unfortunately, most of the panels I would've loved to attend either happened on a Friday or overlapped with another one. Good thing I was able to attend Mina's panel on romance as well as Edgar Samar's talk on Philippine lower myths. I also had my books signed by local authors. I'm already looking forward to next year's Lit Fest with more interesting panels.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbWO8Mx57GXRLtJSzP4PSErnDMYZ5fXSDYg6HA1KYBlHdLuNUypchA8ofses7Kcxf9CKMVdR0jIz6Mu1uj0yJ5d3HnN9ohubsg_ExRJA7Iil2VmXrRJ5JLyL_cqmbiPiMEzsZijJ386U/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbWO8Mx57GXRLtJSzP4PSErnDMYZ5fXSDYg6HA1KYBlHdLuNUypchA8ofses7Kcxf9CKMVdR0jIz6Mu1uj0yJ5d3HnN9ohubsg_ExRJA7Iil2VmXrRJ5JLyL_cqmbiPiMEzsZijJ386U/s320/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Edgar Samar's panel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYl9Bb_mXkbFSaIt_H_Got_09VCyjoSraPHFWlqPBioYLCcIACmySfNx9tqE4VVCzjmHvuXr_jg5RbtR2P9L3jlyl8zgBaCkKmX_VCpiMUuD4-yMUba2Q7Y4pLlqA0t-27_l2wT6Cl6F0/s1600/IMG_1736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYl9Bb_mXkbFSaIt_H_Got_09VCyjoSraPHFWlqPBioYLCcIACmySfNx9tqE4VVCzjmHvuXr_jg5RbtR2P9L3jlyl8zgBaCkKmX_VCpiMUuD4-yMUba2Q7Y4pLlqA0t-27_l2wT6Cl6F0/s320/IMG_1736.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fangirl moment with Eliza Victoria</td></tr>
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And since I'm on the subject of bookish events, I'm already gearing up for these upcoming happenings:</div>
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<b>36th Manila International Book Fair (16-20 September)</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6s1J22m7kfFoPVJOpqS1L7VrbvOKVvbxGZc_SrG1XO9y8sG_2lSGBqlObWJEolTpneVvaqGXngH35e83DM_MsXXPDh2HxhRLk9DU1oEVGESeeZcpd7AYxCkfDI3sGBZ5GhHaeYSrIXY/s1600/mibf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6s1J22m7kfFoPVJOpqS1L7VrbvOKVvbxGZc_SrG1XO9y8sG_2lSGBqlObWJEolTpneVvaqGXngH35e83DM_MsXXPDh2HxhRLk9DU1oEVGESeeZcpd7AYxCkfDI3sGBZ5GhHaeYSrIXY/s320/mibf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's pretty much THE most anticipated book-centric event every year and I don't plan on missing it. Sure, it's at the other side of the world and the traffic has just been horrible, but still! There are a lot of exciting activities happening, not to mention that I'm also launching my urban fantasy novelette together with other up-and-coming authors from a writing workshop I recently attended (more on this in another blog post). What's more, some of my author friends are launching the print edition of their books here. Time to rally the troops!</div>
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<b>Filipino ReaderCon (November)</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAqignvtjgI_UCp_3x5lVULMOt_3bcqRz3O54jDcuW4ODHSAi9diTbbE2LJzbVfhB4VCjNdhTOxLyHcRhohSk29SQAS-sVhdXDPIvojgFIYQEkB-lM9dM0HUAoz6gr-cDzJNut_0Ztuw/s1600/Readercon+2014+logo+-+profile+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAqignvtjgI_UCp_3x5lVULMOt_3bcqRz3O54jDcuW4ODHSAi9diTbbE2LJzbVfhB4VCjNdhTOxLyHcRhohSk29SQAS-sVhdXDPIvojgFIYQEkB-lM9dM0HUAoz6gr-cDzJNut_0Ztuw/s320/Readercon+2014+logo+-+profile+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As the name suggests, this event is tailored for the Filipino reader. I feel like I'm in the company of great people who have the same love for books as much as I do. Our writing group will have some activities in store for this event, so watch this space for more info. And if you haven't yet, do vote for your favorite books by Filipino authors for the <a href="https://filipinoreadercon.wordpress.com/2015/09/01/voting-is-now-open-2/">Filipino Reader's Choice Awards</a>!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-6502653374351562112015-07-08T09:00:00.000+08:002015-07-08T09:00:01.377+08:005 Reasons Why You Should Read The Secret Story of Shy Shelly<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4xt2BPJ4hK0zhthjbI_rEu9JWPPk0QcYfjUROF8v-fW_pH0Rsq9YPfVW9k40OwSC5ftOttKLLfdHHuUABfMZp_zk6T2TNhrtbpFL-CpAUqzz739Pv2mZ_M_RzeJ4xL3uLeDlYKEaqYk/s1600/shellycover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4xt2BPJ4hK0zhthjbI_rEu9JWPPk0QcYfjUROF8v-fW_pH0Rsq9YPfVW9k40OwSC5ftOttKLLfdHHuUABfMZp_zk6T2TNhrtbpFL-CpAUqzz739Pv2mZ_M_RzeJ4xL3uLeDlYKEaqYk/s320/shellycover.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<b>The Secret Story of Shy Shelly</b> by Justine Hail<br /><b>Published by</b> OMF Literature<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-Story-Shy-Shelly-ebook/dp/B00YDJWCL4">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-secret-story-of-shy-shelly-justine-hail/1122046051?ean=9789710094400">Barnes and Noble</a> | <a href="http://www.buqo.ph/Shop/Book/dc592d5c-c59e-4b59-a15b-cf5541f5e58c/the-secret-story-of-shy-shelly-1">Buqo</a> | <a href="http://flipreads.com/shy-shelly">Flipreads</a> | <a href="https://books.google.com.ph/books/about/The_Secret_story_of_Shy_Shelly.html?id=HZHUCQAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y">Google Books</a> | <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-secret-story-of-shy-shelly">Kobo</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-secret-story-of-shy-shelly/id1000532060?mt=11">iBooks</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25668511-the-secret-story-of-shy-shelly">Add to Goodreads</a></blockquote>
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<i>There were not a lot of stories about Shelly. No one talked about her. No one knew her. She had no friend exept Huey Louie, her pet turtle of five years. One night, Shelly wrote on a paper star: I WISH TO HAVE A REAL FRIEND. Her wish comes true when she easily becomes a part of the group called Butterfly Club. For the first time, Shelly sat in the cafeteria with lunch buddies. But when she becomes the seatmate of the mysterious class outcast Vanna, Shelly also discovers a sweet and patient friend in her. But Vanna could never be part of the Butterfly Club. With friends on opposing sides, Shelly must learn what it means to be a true friend.</i></div>
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The last time I read a middle grade book was when I was in my elementary year and back then, <i>Sweet Valley</i>, <i>Nancy Drew</i>, and <i>Choose Your Own Adventure </i>books were the norm. Fast forward to these current times, I still find a certain joy when I read young adult books, or basically just books for the younger audience. Maybe it makes me live vicariously through the characters, not to mention relive the good 'ol yesteryears.<br />
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Anyway, this is just one of the many reasons why I got excited to get my hands on a local middle grade book: <i>The Secret Story of Shy Shelly</i>. But to be more detailed, here are 5 reasons why you (and your middle grade reader) should pick up this fun read:<br />
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<b>1. It's more than just a story of a shy girl and bullies.</b> Sure, the book's synopsis hints this kind of plot, but after finishing the book in one sitting, there's just so much more to the story. I love how the author was able to include plot points that are a good balance of not being too fluffy with the right amount of realistic situations. This is what separates Shy Shelly from other books in the same genre and category: it's unabashedly honest, pragmatic, and FRESH.<br />
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<b>2. You'll be able to identify yourself in the cast of characters. </b>There's a Shelly, Vanna, Patricia, and Sophia in each of us, or at some point, snippets of each of the characters' personalities.<br />
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<b>3. The Butterfly Club.</b> How awesome is it to be part of a group with a common interest? Truth be told, I wasn't in any part of a clique with the cool kids, although I was friends with a few kids from class who were kick-ass in their own way. In the story, Shelly gets her wish to have friends, although there's a catch to it. Camaraderie is one of the main themes of this book, and the author was brilliant in putting a different spin to this concept right at the end.<br />
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<b>4. The art of Elbert Or.</b> Let me just say for the record that <a href="http://www.elbertor.com/">Elbert Or</a>'s illustrations continue to amaze me since <i>Bakemono High</i> and <i>Manosaur</i>. His style of art is perfect for Shy Shelly, capturing the innocence, awkwardness, and triumphs of the book's protagonist. I love how each chapter of the book is meticulously illustrated to emphasize snippets of the story. Middle graders will have a kick appreciating the detailed illustration in every page.<br />
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<b>5. DIY Projects. </b>From making your own paper stars to baking strawberry cupcakes, Shy Shelly is so much fun to read. I like that these small projects make the story interactive and readers can also get to experience Shelly's world.<br />
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Shy Shelly was such an enjoyable read that I'm excited to learn that book 2 is up in the works! I'm so stoked to know what else Justine Hail and Elbert Or will cook up for the second installment (hopefully the deets to what Shelly hinted at the end of book 1...and more!).<br />
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<i><b>Disclaimer: </b>I received this book for free from OMF Literature in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-21119965549852807482015-05-25T10:31:00.000+08:002015-05-25T10:31:54.024+08:00#buqoYA Perfect Moments Blog Tour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Welcome to the final week of the #buqoYA blog tours and this time I'm featuring the last (but not the least) bundle, <i>Perfect Moments</i>! It's been such an awesome month and the feedback we've been getting about the book bundles have been astounding. Thank you for your continued support! I hope you enjoy the stories included in this bundle and find great reads!</div>
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<a href="http://www.oopsireadabookagain.com/2015/05/blog-tour-invite-buqo-ya-bundle-5.html"><b>#buqoYA 5: Perfect Moments</b></a></div>
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Sometimes you’ll meet your match: at detention, on the badminton court, in a resort hotel in Davao, at a lab, in a foster home, at an epic party. You’ll never know. But always keep your heart ready for that perfect moment. Read these stories and experience the bliss of first love.</div>
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<a href="http://www.buqo.ph/Shop/Book/c57981ec-211a-4381-b97f-09706ec85ab2/buqoya-5-perfect-moments"><b>Buy it on Buqo!</b></a></div>
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<b><u>A Moment Like This</u> </b></div>
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<b>by Sue Donymko</b></div>
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Kris Mercado and Noel Abad are trapped in a posh resort hotel in Davao City during a particularly bad flood. After spending almost everyday together, they realize that they are undeniably attracted to each other. But reality bites as usual, and they now have to decide whether to chalk their romance up to forced circumstances or to explore what could be the sweetest love they've been looking for...</div>
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A few minutes later, Noel came out wearing shorts and a snug shirt. His legs were quite hairy, and she caught a glimpse of his trim stomach when his t-shirt lifted as he dried his hair. Kris told herself to quit staring or he might think she’s the maniac.</div>
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He laid down on the bed, made himself comfortable, and closed his eyes before acknowledging her statement. “Okay, what do you want?” he said tiredly.</div>
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“That’s it, what do I want?” she asked incredulously.</div>
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He looked at her and raised both eyebrows. “It’s not as if I don’t know what to not do such as not stare at your legs if you wear shorts,” he said innocently, but his eyes held a teasing gleam.</div>
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Kris flushed. “Touché. Okay, no staring. No going to each other's beds. No undressing in front of each other, no leaving dirty clothes on the floor. I don’t want to see your underwear!”</div>
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“What makes you think I wear any?” he said, closing his eyes again.</div>
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She gaped at him until he started smiling.</div>
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He forced himself to sit up and look at her seriously. “I’m really not going to take advantage of you. I know we’re still in our hormonal years, but I do act like a human being ninety percent of the time,” he said.</div>
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This time, she was prepared for his teasing. “And ten percent of the time?” she asked lightly.</div>
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“That’s when I start scratching my head with my feet, start licking my balls, and howl at the moon,” he said with mock seriousness before laying down on his bed again.</div>
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Kris couldn’t help but laugh at that imagery. She caught him smiling just before he fell asleep.</div>
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<b>About Sue Donymko</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDGt-85hh40pMSftD2OtuDiJDI5msShbr8hG7ybYjmM-kvfJSdGwY45LhoiA2t_A54YdB9LCaoD0NoxUZHx0jl7BZRY7F3HIe-H7L5u9iKNN3f1lfz64_mbCqK4bFOMcdnVjTVFN0MEQ/s1600/sue.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDGt-85hh40pMSftD2OtuDiJDI5msShbr8hG7ybYjmM-kvfJSdGwY45LhoiA2t_A54YdB9LCaoD0NoxUZHx0jl7BZRY7F3HIe-H7L5u9iKNN3f1lfz64_mbCqK4bFOMcdnVjTVFN0MEQ/s1600/sue.png" /></a></div>
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Sue Donymko lives and works in Manila, Philippines. When not writing or working, or working some more, she eats, watches a lot of television, sings -- much to the neighbors' dismay -- and reads until she falls asleep.</div>
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<a href="http://suedonymko.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/suedonymko">Twitter</a></div>
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<b><u>Anything You Want Me To</u> </b></div>
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<b>by Audrine Pascal</b></div>
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Oh, Via. Such in a hurry to have a boyfriend. Now look who got dumped on social media, just before the epic party happening tonight.</div>
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So why is she hanging out with Franco Castañer? It’s all good – Via’s always been immune to all that yummy goodness, him being her best friend’s brother and all.</div>
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But is Franco actually being flirty? Or is she just reading too much into this? How exactly do you decode the species they call boy?</div>
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Vodka shot, anyone?</div>
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"So where's Via's boyfriend?" I catch someone blurt out.</div>
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I'm supposed to debut Kyle Olvera tonight. I’m supposed to introduce him to all my friends. I’m supposed to make them all drool in envy, because he’s gorgeous and rich and totally hot for me. I’m supposed to drink and dance with him by my side. I’m supposed to take a million make out selfies when we’re good and properly smashed.</div>
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Where’s Kyle? The photo saved in my phone flashes before my eyes. Didn’t you see the picture online? It must’ve been shared a million times by now. He's busy. Busy kissing someone else!</div>
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I was already home yesterday when my phone chirped to notify me that Kyle had just created a post. I opened the app to find the picture that would make me stumble backward and stifle an outraged scream. </div>
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It's a close up. There’s Kyle’s unmistakably angular profile and it’s pressed against a face that isn’t mine.</div>
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Pink lips, delicate cheekbones and unbelievably thick lashes that can only be fake or unfair. The caption: #todaywasafairytale.</div>
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Fairytale? What kind of a banal hashtag is that?</div>
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The girl is tagged in it. Who the expletives-that-would-make-my-dad-faint is Nicole Valencia? Who does she think she is? Doesn't she know anything about Kyle and me?</div>
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He posted it. He wants me to see it. He wants everyone to know.</div>
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A boy breaking up with a girl is already bad. A boy breaking up with a girl, then getting it on with another one, is a jerk. A boy breaking up with a girl via text is listed in the dictionary under the word ‘asshole’.</div>
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But a boy breaking up with a girl, using a picture of him sticking his tongue down someone else’s throat, uploaded on social media?</div>
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OMFG, I want to die.</div>
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<b>About Audrine Pascal</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRyeunCLcazUGckuVO7c2Mx51w6xjubwQrlCbpwxymGH9fhnPIkFdvHDTqlCsg7Nlt5edpC3koiTcBzEVLwl2GLG1LTH4uIt2wLNaHVzDWa3gwtoGAkBtJ_yyDFYDEUDuJ0llVXb34qM/s1600/audrine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRyeunCLcazUGckuVO7c2Mx51w6xjubwQrlCbpwxymGH9fhnPIkFdvHDTqlCsg7Nlt5edpC3koiTcBzEVLwl2GLG1LTH4uIt2wLNaHVzDWa3gwtoGAkBtJ_yyDFYDEUDuJ0llVXb34qM/s1600/audrine.jpg" /></a></div>
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My heels are sky high. Always.</div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/ReeechBeeetch">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/user/ReeechBeeetch">Wattpad</a></div>
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<b><u>Something Real</u> </b></div>
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<b>by Charm Jacinto</b></div>
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Hailey's principle is heart over mind. It's Rick or nothing at all. Brett's scholarship comes first. His, was mind over matters of the heart. A laboratory experiment in Physics brought them together making their lives entangled with each other. From lab partners to having a crossfire of misread signals to friendship. Will they ever find the perfect formula when it comes to the principle of love?</div>
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I went to the shoreline barefoot and let the small waves tickle my feet. Biela already made friends and was enjoying the day as much as I did. Ben didn't lie when he said that I will enjoy the beach. The scenery is just so breathtaking. The coast is clear, the skies are blue, powdery sand, and coconut trees are all over the island.</div>
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I can hear a reggae song - B.M.D by Insolence playing in the background, one of my favorite beach songs. I let the gentle sea breeze mess my hair and the cool water splash on my aqua sleeveless dress then I closed my eyes and seized the moment. </div>
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When I opened my eyes, I saw Brett standing in front me with his gorgeous eyes looking into mine. </div>
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"I was gonna tell you that they are all eating at the table" he said in a husky voice.</div>
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I snapped out of my reverie. Looking at Brett right now makes me feel safe and calm. Maybe I was staring too long because Brett started to become worried. </div>
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"Are you okay?"</div>
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"I'm fine. I just remembered I forgot to put the suntan lotion in my bag"</div>
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"Suntan lotion huh?"</div>
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“Yes” I lied. "But seriously, I wanted to thank you for all your effort."</div>
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"Effort for what?”</div>
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"Brett, you have my happy list in your head. The sunflowers, photos, beach, Biela…"</div>
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"And the quiet moment that I interrupted. So, you’ve noticed huh?” He said scratching his head. “Let's just say, I'm saving a lab partner in distress."</div>
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“Well, I’m happy to report that I’m getting back on my feet Sir! But what’s in it for you?” I asked curiously.</div>
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“I’m practicing my skills on how to save a life. I’m a future doctor, remember?”</div>
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“Really Brett? Do you want me to pack up and leave?"</div>
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"No no no you just got here. I was just kidding!” He touched my shoulders lightly. </div>
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“When you became my lab partner, all I ever do is save you from trouble, not that I’m complaining. You’re one happy chaos in my very organized life."</div>
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“Is that a bad thing?”</div>
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“Not really. I still consider you as my friend.”</div>
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<b>About Charm Jacinto</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlikZV4AqR1Xsz69XKkc87WXn_B8A9JFsLjGs1M0O8uoo5pOtyWDCuXPNDpjkA5NxFBSYBi999FdadKSAKKhApaJwl0zjpY0arFL9FF15y2xfVBANEiDlxaFMXQF-EcyDVPEVM2IrQUg/s1600/charm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlikZV4AqR1Xsz69XKkc87WXn_B8A9JFsLjGs1M0O8uoo5pOtyWDCuXPNDpjkA5NxFBSYBi999FdadKSAKKhApaJwl0zjpY0arFL9FF15y2xfVBANEiDlxaFMXQF-EcyDVPEVM2IrQUg/s1600/charm.jpg" /></a></div>
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Charm Jacinto's first choice of books are historical romances written by Barbara Cartland, Julie Garwood and Jude Deveraux way back in college. She graduated as BSBA major in Human Resources Development but had an epiphany that her path leads to still helping people but more on the medical side. Her life became more meaningful because of her husband and daughter who encourages her to be the best that she can be.</div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/CharmJacinto">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/user/autumn202">Wattpad</a></div>
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<b><u>Match Point Mishap</u> </b></div>
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<b>by Madelyn Tuviera</b></div>
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"Shit happens to the best of us," goes a saying, and Lester Torres, a now-starving student-artist, cannot agree more. The family business has reached a steady decline. His parents are distraught. His education is at the risk of being put on hold because tuition's too expensive, impractical. Something they are no longer able to afford. Unwilling to give up, he tries to apply for an athletic scholarship in the hope of keeping the dream alive. He was in the high school badminton varsity team, after all. Might as well put his dormant skill to good use, right? He aces the first few matches, winning them in a breeze, and thinks that he's got this scholarship in the bag already. Easy as pie.</div>
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Enter a talented player by the name of Wency David, and Lester lands the first missed service of his game.</div>
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Wency gave him a long look, sucking in his bottom lip as he did so. He tilted his head, squinted his eyes. It was almost as if he was studying Lester, and maybe he was. Maybe this was what Wency did during down time, between matches – watch people move from one side of the court to another, trying to see if there was anything in their normal actions, gestures, reactions that could allude to the next shot they were going to make, or the block they planned to deflect his shots with.</div>
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"You look familiar," Wency whispered. Slowly, he bent his knees before getting down on all fours, looking up at Lester through the narrow gaps of his bangs. "Very familiar."</div>
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Lester took a deep breath. He was really bad at names, but he was dead sure he hadn't seen Wency prior to the try-outs at the start of the week. His memory of faces and anything visual was impeccable, after all. So it only made sense that if they'd at least bumped into each other in a tournament or in school, Lester would've recognized him, picked him out from the crowd of aspirants hoping to make the badminton team. He didn't have the biggest social circle, but having Jude and Jessica as close friends made him friends with everyone by extension.</div>
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And when he mentioned a certain 'Wency David' to both of them, they'd only said, "Oh wow, you remembered his name. Must've been really good, huh?"</div>
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<b>About Madelyn Tuviera</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihWbWxIL2uQfnDt02qISxa16uhAKFNLMYauRvdpTrBrPdvWpU8mHcS_T9Vpk1dKYqMsIYboahY71t4pMflcxRtQ5eMJyiFQgBH-S2aCcprGPJvHJdrEOKbUzDj4eiHBiG5ss4GGPoqms/s1600/maddie.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihWbWxIL2uQfnDt02qISxa16uhAKFNLMYauRvdpTrBrPdvWpU8mHcS_T9Vpk1dKYqMsIYboahY71t4pMflcxRtQ5eMJyiFQgBH-S2aCcprGPJvHJdrEOKbUzDj4eiHBiG5ss4GGPoqms/s1600/maddie.jpeg" /></a></div>
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Madelyn Tuviera is a twenty-something woman whose ideal way of spending a day is sipping coffee while writing (and trying not to spill coffee on said output). She started writing when she was in fifth grade and hasn’t looked back since. She’s grossly fascinated with drama, romance, and tiny creatures that can be tamed and kept in capsules. She does not grammar on weekends. But she does think of writing 99.9% of the time.</div>
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<a href="https://maddietuv.wordpress.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/maddietuv">Twitter</a></div>
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<b><u>Someone to Care</u> </b></div>
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<b>by Jessica Larsen</b></div>
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After her parents die in an accident, Jennelle is passed around by her relatives. Hindi siya tumatagal ng isang taon sa piling ng mga kamag-anak bago siya itulak ng mga ito patungo sa iba. At fifteen, nalibot na yata niya lahat ng isla sa Pilipinas. Not that she cares, because she has learned from the moment she loses her parents that not getting too involved with anyone will keep her from getting hurt. Subalit nagbago ang lahat ng iyon nang makilala niya si Valentine, ang adopted son ng distant relative niya kung saan siya sunod na titira. Like her, Valentine has been orphaned at a young age, but unlike her, Valentine loves to keep everyone close—except her. And as if sharing a home wasn’t enough of a torture, they would also be attending the same school.</div>
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Humigpit ang hawak ko sa dala-dala kong traveling bag nang tumambad sa paningin ko ang malaking yellow two-story house with red roof mula sa kabila ng kinatatayuan kong mataas na metal bar gate. </div>
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Hinila ko pababa sa knee level skirt ko ang sleeveless tee kong suot at humugot nang malalim na hininga. Tension filled my heart as my fingers hovered over the doorbell, but before I could press it, a teenage boy not far from my age, with tousled black hair and gray eyes, opened the gate. Nanigas ako sa posisyon ko nang magtama ang aming paningin. I saw recognition in his eyes, but before I could speak, a woman’s voice called out.</div>
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“Val, bumalik ka rito!”</div>
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“Sorry mom! Babalik din ako mamaya!” sagot ng binatilyong sa palagay ko ay may taas na 5 feet, 8 inches, given that I stood about four inches below him. He furrowed his brows at me, and without saying anything more, he dashed down the road before the woman got to us.</div>
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<b>About Jessica Larsen</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4u8uvZZRx3V7CeH19T8GYV2webaPPn62tEVhCjU1zj6AsANd4N-W9UIFfFiuGy1sgu6ml8KOJxF9hhCkSyPBVuCeTWIPqELaKwInLXs4T1V7j31a9jErhtlXI9eaOn4rZbpl2TTKsf04/s1600/jess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4u8uvZZRx3V7CeH19T8GYV2webaPPn62tEVhCjU1zj6AsANd4N-W9UIFfFiuGy1sgu6ml8KOJxF9hhCkSyPBVuCeTWIPqELaKwInLXs4T1V7j31a9jErhtlXI9eaOn4rZbpl2TTKsf04/s1600/jess.jpg" /></a></div>
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Jessica E. Larsen is a hopeless romantic, who will forever be young at heart. She enjoys traveling a lot, drawing inspiration from places she visits and interesting people she encounters. She loves to read, and writes in different genres and spends hours arguing with her characters. At times she likes playing the villain and gives them a taste of hell when they refused to listen to her demands.</div>
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Jessica was born in the Philippines and lived in Spain since she was eighteen.</div>
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<a href="http://www.jessicaelarsen.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/jessicaelarsen">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorJessicaELarsen">Facebook</a></div>
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<b><u>The Offside</u> </b></div>
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<b>by KZ Riman</b></div>
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All I wanted was to move on to sophomore year. And, of course, to have Soccer God Mattheus Estevez back into my life, despite my brother’s incessant demands that I stopped dating jocks. What I didn’t count on, though, was to go through detention work with Geovanne Estevez, Mattheus’ identical twin brother, just so I’d realize both. And what I found baffling about it all was how Geovanne seemed to be putting a lot more effort into it than we had all bargained for, making this detention the best one yet.</div>
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I turned away the moment Geo tried to kiss me. It just didn’t feel right. None of these, however real they felt to me, was right. Everything was so wrong. Everything that led to this night had been lies – that photo wall, that chance to be with Matt again. If it was me who had been blindsided, I didn’t know. What I did know was that he was putting an end to it all.</div>
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“What are you doing?” I asked, my heart thudding against my chest. I’d push him out if I had the strength to do so, but having him that close to me drained me of my will.</div>
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He didn’t move nor did he say a thing after that, but I could feel tension slowly rising between us, the distance too close no matter how much I tried to get away from him. I couldn’t breathe. I felt my knees wobble, and I sat on my bed, calming myself.</div>
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“Zoey, I really like you,” he said.</div>
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“Please don’t.” It was a whisper.</div>
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“But I do. I do like you…”</div>
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“How could you do this to me?” I yelled at him. What kind of a sadistic asshole pushes a girl to the boy of her dreams, does sweet things for her and then tells her that he likes her, too?</div>
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<b>About KZ Riman</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDb9vCch9HKVxgwXcso8ob7sqC7nYzCqBxuOi8QBg8J1d6sAjxPoobOEN8ZxpmGUSdIY6q4IgZkJcV2z7NdUFiDzMo6syoAwjesKAtNlS-c7zT9HK6cHP-QKpLdcJJK3OZH6yovfxNr0/s1600/kz.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDb9vCch9HKVxgwXcso8ob7sqC7nYzCqBxuOi8QBg8J1d6sAjxPoobOEN8ZxpmGUSdIY6q4IgZkJcV2z7NdUFiDzMo6syoAwjesKAtNlS-c7zT9HK6cHP-QKpLdcJJK3OZH6yovfxNr0/s1600/kz.jpeg" /></a></div>
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This romance, erotica and fantasy author spends each moment of her days writing. She spends her free time -- if she ever gets any pf that -- inside her room, where she reads steamy novels and watches romantic comedies.</div>
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KZ is a pure-bred Filipina who lives with her family in Tarlac City, Philippines. Growing up, she has dreamed of becoming a novelist and screenplay writer, and has written countless stories, which she shares with her friends. Now, she dreams further by sharing her imagination to the world.</div>
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<a href="https://kzriman.wordpress.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/kzriman">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://facebook.com/AuthorKZRiman">Facebook</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-15042605671372260892015-05-18T08:30:00.000+08:002015-05-18T08:30:00.509+08:00#buqoYA Heart Choices Blog Tour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5kdVky_3hWpPS4PYe_2-SrRja2Sa1MqOHR-c7vAopzzIRpS87wEZu1zl7OutHStflJiwAHa4-VOCBujov6bDSPbF_4YQY6EZR0cowQPCcoTtSEbCcErlJYpA5wBZFAd1eJrtbY9UB5c/s1600/buqo+YA+4+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5kdVky_3hWpPS4PYe_2-SrRja2Sa1MqOHR-c7vAopzzIRpS87wEZu1zl7OutHStflJiwAHa4-VOCBujov6bDSPbF_4YQY6EZR0cowQPCcoTtSEbCcErlJYpA5wBZFAd1eJrtbY9UB5c/s400/buqo+YA+4+banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's the 4th week of the #buqoYA blog tours! Have you been checking out the stories of the previous bundles? I hope you're having a wonderful reading experience so far. We have another week-long tour and this time for the Heart Choices bundle. Get to know more about the six stories in this collection and the authors behind it.</div>
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<u><a href="http://www.oopsireadabookagain.com/2015/05/blog-tour-invite-buqo-ya-bundle-4-heart.html"><b>#buqoYA 4: Heart Choices</b></a></u></div>
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Sometimes it’s hard to choose. Do you stay or do you let go? Should you become friends, more than friends, or stay strangers? Would you risk love for popularity? You’re invited to explore these stories and find out each character’s choice from the heart.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.buqo.ph/Shop/Book/7aa462d5-2509-4511-86ef-bbcd59076357/buqoya-4-heart-choices">Buy it on Buqo!</a></b></div>
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<b><u>Until the Race is Over </u></b><br />
<b>by Lyka Caparos</b><br />
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Rico wishes Lianne back in his life, but because of that viral article that Traecy posted on their school paper's website, it appears to be impossible for them to be together again. Traecy on the other hand, had only one wish for her birthday, to spend it with the one she admires since high school – Rico Avila. How can fate brings the two together in a race that would definitely reveal small discoveries that can lead to two choices: either to tear them apart or hope for a more unexpected relationship?</div>
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“When I see her, I always feel na gusto ko siyang kausapin. I want to keep her nearer and nearer to my world. It breaks my heart whenever I saw her talking to someone else. Na parang naka move on na siya in just two damn months.” He said laughing though I know he’s deeply hurt, then continued, “She doesn’t realize how hurt I was. She doesn’t even care about me anymore. Ang daling kalimutan para sa kanya ang mga pinagdaanan namin. But for me, it hurts like hell.” Napayuko ako ng hindi niya makita ang reaksyon ko sa sinabi niya. Tama nga Traecy, gumising ka sa katotohanan.</div>
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Gusto ko siyang samahan kahit ngayong araw lang. Gusto kong pasayahin siya kahit para sa kanya corny. Gusto kong kahit ngayong araw lang, makalimutan niya ang sakit na nararamdamn niya sa babaeng ‘yon. Sa maswerteng babaeng si Lianne na hindi man lang na appreciate ang lalakeng tunay na nagmamahal sa kanya.</div>
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“Mahirap ang makamove on. Mahirap ang makalimot. Mahirap ang magbigay ng payo lalo na kung wala ka naman sa lugar. Pero gusto ko lang sanang sabihin sayo na… libre ang maging masaya Rico. It really takes a lot of time para makalimot, and it takes a lot of courage to stand up for yourself and to love yourself this time. Alam kong…hindi ako ang tamang taong magbigay sayo ng advice para sa ganyang bagay pero sana makatulong ako. Sana kahit hindi mo ako ganoon ka kilala, sana maalala mo man lang ang mga sinabi ko…”</div>
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“Looks like you’re good at advising ha. Sige nga, can you give me your final blow?” I smiled and cleared my throat before saying anything. “If you’ve given a great love to someone before and that person never gave it back to you… someone will.”</div>
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<b>About Lyka Caparos</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekzqwxKPZV-S9EDT3XgLB21vOMqMauZ3lPSXxlvQn5qQNWDuVo5Ju3MChzxOtR1WKyoIIpHUWuG0SSjBLe70oQsqTwpezMG1KQMgwvMBZWLBhVDflMaU9OfDkh1M9hijdV3fB35vqwZg/s1600/lyka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekzqwxKPZV-S9EDT3XgLB21vOMqMauZ3lPSXxlvQn5qQNWDuVo5Ju3MChzxOtR1WKyoIIpHUWuG0SSjBLe70oQsqTwpezMG1KQMgwvMBZWLBhVDflMaU9OfDkh1M9hijdV3fB35vqwZg/s1600/lyka.jpg" /></a></div>
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Because I want something in my life that I think is better than pursuing a degree that is far beyond the expectations of my heart.</div>
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<a href="https://lykasbucketlist.wordpress.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ilovelyka17">Twitter </a><br />
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<b><u>In That Summer </u></b><br />
<b>by Jayen San Diego</b><br />
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Senior high school student Jane Enriquez is the ‘dream-girl’ of all male students at Southridge Montessori. Well, except the geeky student leader Sean Villamayor. Opposing from the start, Sean never expected Jane would become his partner for this year’s Summer Camp Immersion. Will this be their worst summer? Or will it turn out to be different?</div>
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“Ordinary? Are you really that blind, Sean?” Red asked.</div>
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Sean self-consciously adjusted his eyeglasses and added, “Well, she’s not that stunningly pretty. I even doubt if she still looks cute without her makeup on. She’s only here because she’s the chairman’s daughter.”</div>
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Red did not say anything, and Sean already knew that it was the end of their conversation. </div>
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“Are you done with the supplies?”</div>
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Sean was startled when he heard Jaine’s voice come from behind Red. He glanced at Red, who looked equally surprised by her presence.</div>
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Did Jaine hear what I said? Sean wanted to ask.</div>
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When neither of the guys answered her, Jaine added, “There are still a few boxes in the stock room. And Miss Darson said you should hurry up.”</div>
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“Yes, ma’am,” Red responded.</div>
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He gave Jaine a playful salute and his infamous smile. Other girls would have swooned at this. Sean noted that Jaine wasn’t even slightly affected. Maybe Sean was wrong. Maybe Jaine wasn’t like every other girl.</div>
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Red left, enthusiastically roping other basketball team members into helping him on his way to the stock room. Sean turned his attention back to his task. He expected Jaine to leave, having accomplished her task. But she stayed and stared at him.</div>
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He wanted to ignore her, but he was surprised to find he felt self-conscious. He then reasoned to himself that it was just because he wasn’t use to working with someone watching him.</div>
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“Do you need anything else?” he asked without looking up from his checklist of supplies.</div>
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He waited, but Jaine just continued to stare. Irritated, he finally stopped working and gave her the attention she wanted.</div>
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“Do you need anything else, Miss Jaine Enriquez?” he asked again, giving emphasis to his formal way of addressing her.</div>
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To his bemusement, Jaine smiled. Her whole face brightened up when she did. And Sean was reminded of this season, of summer. He knew she wasn’t ordinary. But Sean would never admit he’d been wrong.</div>
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<b>About Jayen San Diego</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MlnO1YE1TL0EnB-elHO1p7eu6VJ_iPl-1GjQFz9Jy1qw283u7y6Nz7qWpUcg9XmZNV_JWE9cMO4GiW7Q9ZzkUnRqW2msXvzGZzYlX9aHZeu3Xm6ntUOqOpzjy4fnmyj1DUka0yJYms8/s1600/jayen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MlnO1YE1TL0EnB-elHO1p7eu6VJ_iPl-1GjQFz9Jy1qw283u7y6Nz7qWpUcg9XmZNV_JWE9cMO4GiW7Q9ZzkUnRqW2msXvzGZzYlX9aHZeu3Xm6ntUOqOpzjy4fnmyj1DUka0yJYms8/s1600/jayen.jpg" /></a></div>
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Who am I?</div>
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I'm Jayen San Diego, a twenty-something who write stories mostly about love. I'm a news archivist by day, fiction writer by night and a self-confessed Fangirl in between.</div>
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Why I write?</div>
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“In order to write about life first you must live it.”</div>
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― Ernest Hemingway</div>
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They say when we want a moment to last, we close our eyes. Well, for me, I prefer to write it down. Reliving the moments through writing is what I do.</div>
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What I write?</div>
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Sharing my thoughts about life and love and writing.</div>
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From personal anecdotes to life opinions, you can read it here. When my melancholic side is on, you can read poetic post but generally it is a mirror of what’s happening in my daily life.</div>
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<a href="http://jayensandiego.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/jayensandiego">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/user/JayenSanDiego">Wattpad</a></div>
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<b><u>On the Outside Looking In </u></b></div>
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<b>by Claire Du</b></div>
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Seventeen-year-old Freya Mahilum has always been in love with football hotshot Ezra Montelibano. Ezra, who’s too caught up with family pressures and his so-called girlfriend to pay attention to a geek obsessed with him. Freya knows she'd never stand a chance with him, but then fate conspires to bring them together. Will getting to know each other prove that love knows no boundaries or will they find that they're better off existing in two separate worlds?</div>
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“Come on! We need those points! Run for it!” someone shouted from the benches. I knew that was Ezra’s ever-supportive dad who cheered for him at every game. I’ve been to all of them, too.</div>
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“Duck!” another spectator shouted.</div>
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My eyes followed Ezra, and I saw that he was running toward me. He was looking right at me! I wondered why.</div>
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*BAM!*</div>
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A football hit me in the face, blocking me from seeing the love of my life.</div>
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“Oww! That hurts!” So that was how people in Tube’s Funniest Videos felt. It wasn’t funny at all.</div>
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I held my face in my hands. It hurt so much that I thought my head cracked and I’d feel blood trickling on my arms. The football was there, lying innocently next to my feet.</div>
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“Hey, can you throw the ball back?”</div>
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Oh my freakin’ ball of fire. That was HIS voice. I composed myself and slowly raised my eyes. Unconsciously, I batted my eyelashes, so he could see how long they were. His hair was ruffled, his forehead glistened with sweat, and he had these lines between his eyebrows as a result of him frowning. But that face, with the thick brows, piercing brown eyes, and those lips that looked better when he smiled—that was the face I couldn’t seem to get tired of staring at.</div>
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“Here you go. And don’t worry, it’s totally okay. These things happen to people,” I mumbled.</div>
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I couldn’t stop from smiling widely even though I knew I had a big, red splotch on my forehead. Add to that my uncombed hair and the tears that were about to fall due to pain, and you have a good idea how pretty I felt right at that moment. Not.</div>
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<b>About Claire Du</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIrW8E5M7OGGS-YfC6pFxTzJZuTi0QueCWbcn-Mv4T8qUeQwtMef2H1lefmpkdOyhiszgregaHsqybfZJGapAOMo80MdED3mxQAVbye2CHGxvgKp9blS_xITIc-q1lxt7ZMQKbHz1L14/s1600/claire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIrW8E5M7OGGS-YfC6pFxTzJZuTi0QueCWbcn-Mv4T8qUeQwtMef2H1lefmpkdOyhiszgregaHsqybfZJGapAOMo80MdED3mxQAVbye2CHGxvgKp9blS_xITIc-q1lxt7ZMQKbHz1L14/s1600/claire.jpg" /></a></div>
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Claire has been a bookworm ever since she can remember. Her passion for reading started when she met Archie Andrews at the Airport Bookshop. Aside from writing short stories, she also enjoys reading and reviews at http://thebookjunkie.weebly.com, playing the keyboard, and just cuddling with her dog Frou. She's the author of He Loves Me... Not?, one of the short stories in an anthology called <i>Luna East Vol.1 : Kids These Days</i>.</div>
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<a href="http://thebookjunkie.weebly.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/_clairevoyant">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://wattpad.com/Claire_Du">Wattpad</a></div>
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<b><u>What About Today </u></b></div>
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<b>by Dawn Lanuza</b></div>
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Aiden's stuck working for his family's amusement park, Funtastic World, for the whole summer. Nothing amuses him, until he met this terrified girl.</div>
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Gemma's stuck in Funtastic World thinking she could handle the park's rides. She couldn't. Good thing she met someone to guide her.</div>
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As the day comes to a close, Aiden and Gemma ask themselves if one day is ever enough to decide if they were better off as friends or strangers.</div>
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Gemma glanced at her watch and remembered that she was supposed to catch the bus heading back home at 7 in the evening. It’s already 5. Did she really spend a lot of time staring at The Big Red Dragon earlier? Or did she take too much time at the gift shop to buy nothing?</div>
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She started feeling like two hours wouldn’t be enough to complete everything. Could she maybe extend? Then again, how would leaving play out exactly?</div>
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“Alright, I need to go” isn’t going to cut it. She and Aiden already had moments. Now they’re in this limbo between being strangers and friends. They weren’t exactly strangers, but they weren’t friends just yet.</div>
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Plus they’re in an amusement park. They just met. Did it count for something?</div>
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She wished this could be more of a train incident where people smiled at each other when one offered a seat and that’s the end of that. They all get off their stops.</div>
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And if she and Aiden were ever going to be friends, in the real sense of the word after today, how’s that going to work? They’re going to stay in touch by texting? Chatting online? It all seemed superficial. It was not like meeting someone in school; she’s required to see that person almost everyday, which made being friends with someone almost compulsory. But meetings like these...what did one do with them?File them to chance encounters.</div>
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Gemma betted that if they lived in a different time, this is the kind of thing that would produce a pile of letters, mailed back and forth within long intervals. It could take days, weeks, and months even. But people were cool back then. Now, relationships could completely end over a person forgetting to text or call overnight.</div>
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She didn’t want that.</div>
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<b>About Dawn Lanuza</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebozZoY_6ZfNJolW7_p1ibbyy-03L2oCNcJuuiip74-rLwZAYRdhrwyzkL2z7aubqb8JkKXZ57S04mIkTKKTyKHxoH8tcOR_jWJmKv48VxXlaHFwk1Wv3dow0jJLoFCyCZqdhukfnars/s1600/dawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebozZoY_6ZfNJolW7_p1ibbyy-03L2oCNcJuuiip74-rLwZAYRdhrwyzkL2z7aubqb8JkKXZ57S04mIkTKKTyKHxoH8tcOR_jWJmKv48VxXlaHFwk1Wv3dow0jJLoFCyCZqdhukfnars/s1600/dawn.jpg" /></a></div>
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Dawn Lanuza started writing stories when she was just a kid (the drafts weren't good or even finished). She works for the music industry by day and writes meet cutes and snappy comebacks by night. She currently lives with her family and an adopted dog.</div>
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<a href="https://indiesisiw.wordpress.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/dawnlanuza">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDawnLanuza">Facebook</a></div>
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<b><u>Waiting for Whatever </u></b></div>
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<b>by Fay Sebastian</b></div>
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Denise knew pain at an early age. She has been waiting for her true love since she was 11, but she never gave up, knowing she'd meet him someday.</div>
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What she didn't know was that she already met the man she's been waiting for, and that he's sitting beside her at the airport. The thought never crossed her mind because she's seated between two guys who broke her heart before.</div>
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I’m not a big fan of waiting. Ayoko sa mga taong laging late, sa mga mahahabang pila, sa kahit anong delayed—flights, release dates, pag-ibig...</div>
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Well...</div>
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Ayoko sa delayed na pag-ibig, pero naghihintay pa rin ako. At maghihintay pa rin ako. Kahit gaano pa katagal, hihintayin ko siya. Si TL, si The One, si soulmate, si ano, whatever you’d like to call him. Basta kung sino man siya, kung sino man ang inilaan para sa’kin, hihintayin ko siya.</div>
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At dahil nga ayokong naghihintay sa kahit anong bagay, ayoko ring nagpapahintay. Nasa airport ako, naghihintay sa pagbubukas ng check-in counters. Maaga kasi akong nakarating, maaga pa sa maaga. I came here early because I’m extremely excited for my flight and because if there’s one flight I can’t miss, it’s this one.</div>
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I don’t want to be late for Paris.</div>
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Tita Mel gave me a roundtrip ticket to Paris as a gift for my 18th birthday. I’ll stay in the city of love for two weeks. Part of me wants to believe I’ll meet him there. Maybe while staring at the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower, someone would say hi and poof. Let the magic begin.</div>
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Nagdala ako ng babasahin kung sakaling matagal-tagal pa ang hihintayin ko. Dinala ko yung novels sa reading list ko, pero nasa maleta lahat yun. Isa lang ang iniwan ko sa shoulder bag ko. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen—may nagsabi sa’kin na ‘di raw ‘to nakakasawang basahin nang paulit-ulit. We’ll see if that’s true. Let’s put this book to the test.</div>
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There’s a vacant seat between two boys near the check-in area. I wanted to take a seat and start reading the book, but when I saw who the two boys were, something inside me made me think twice.</div>
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<b>About Fay Sebastian</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOB_lFJWsUumwuAHGE8aWQw6ntCo0CaYbVJO1DkQ8Z33KpX_M9_nhjZh-E1pvZKUiCe448DJkhiRtQkX1Zg2n8_p_au53TZ39EwH0BUEBYjSv1jRYPAUcB1_Rnv9xOTTa4sHPJMVKu5lA/s1600/faye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOB_lFJWsUumwuAHGE8aWQw6ntCo0CaYbVJO1DkQ8Z33KpX_M9_nhjZh-E1pvZKUiCe448DJkhiRtQkX1Zg2n8_p_au53TZ39EwH0BUEBYjSv1jRYPAUcB1_Rnv9xOTTa4sHPJMVKu5lA/s1600/faye.jpg" /></a></div>
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Fay started writing stories since she learned how to write with a pencil, but she only rediscovered her love for writing when she was a high school freshman. Since then, writing has become her life.</div>
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Now a Speech Communication student at the University of the Philippines, she writes even during the busiest of days because writing prevents her from being a college zombie.</div>
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Why she holds writing instruments in an odd way will always be a mystery to the world.</div>
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<a href="https://faysebastian.wordpress.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/mileventwelve">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mileventwelve">Facebook</a></div>
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<b><u>Barely Even Friends </u></b></div>
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<b>by Kristel S. Villar</b></div>
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For pretty and athletic Emily Fonseca, nothing’s better than getting invited to join Luna East Arts Academy’s most popular crowd, the Elites. She only has to fulfill a list of dares to prove that she’s got what it takes. But will it cost Emily her rekindled friendship with language tutor and childhood friend Noah Calderon?</div>
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“Someone’s coming!” he announced, walking towards me in panic.</div>
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I quickly stuffed the paper inside my pocket and closed the drawer in haste. I watched Noah scan the room to look for a place to hide, and tugged me on my elbow when he saw a door at the corner of the room. He pushed me roughly inside just in time the front door opened.</div>
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We were in a dark and tiny broom closet. The air stank of floor wax, dust, and wood, making my nose itch. I reached up to rub my nose, but my elbow caught one of the shelves and it made a soft clatter. Noah seized my arm and cupped my mouth with his other hand, hushing me to keep me still.</div>
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“Hello?” the female voice asked. I recognized it as one of our substitute teachers, but I couldn’t remember her name.</div>
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We stood there for God knows how long as we listened to the shuffling of papers. I felt Noah’s chest rise and fall, and his hot breath on my forehead. I felt the way my small frame measured to his lean build, and the warmth of his hand holding my arm. I closed my eyes, feeling the skin of his palm on my lips and inhaling the scent of his cologne amidst the stench of the closet.</div>
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Stop it, Emily, I scolded myself.</div>
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The room fell silent a few minutes later. I pulled his hand away from my mouth and leaned over the door to get a better hearing but Noah pulled me back in his arms, perhaps afraid that I would make another noise.</div>
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“Do you think she’s gone?” I hissed at him.</div>
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“I dunno. I haven’t heard the door open yet. Keep still,” he whispered back.</div>
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<b>About Kristel S. Villar</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71dM3Lx6AYKxv98jZCXJ7hwGKRkUbsMlYL2qeYqPgyJawxXqz4MUxGForODXlfiYf9M6fFGCGibutS9FRss2oL0oQYxK4Nm3AeMwH4xmBq4xmAeykE6o87kLRJ6Y0ffbxiNyk41x9tqI/s1600/kristel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71dM3Lx6AYKxv98jZCXJ7hwGKRkUbsMlYL2qeYqPgyJawxXqz4MUxGForODXlfiYf9M6fFGCGibutS9FRss2oL0oQYxK4Nm3AeMwH4xmBq4xmAeykE6o87kLRJ6Y0ffbxiNyk41x9tqI/s1600/kristel.jpg" /></a></div>
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Kristel covers sporting events for a national broadsheet by day and tries to write fiction by night. In between, she takes care of her husband and son. She has penned<i> Blast from Two Pasts</i>. a contemporary romance novella, and<i> The Rumor About Me</i>, her first short story for the Luna East anthology. Her second Luna East short story, <i>One on One </i>is featured in the quarterly online romance journal <a href="http://www.clararomance.com/">Clara</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/tellytabachoy">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kristelsvillar">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/user/KristelSVillar">Wattpad</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-86007076599708279532015-05-12T08:30:00.000+08:002015-05-12T08:30:01.155+08:00#buqoYA Finding Fairytales Blog Tour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AgLrmw_VdYziMaPB2ZTresfSOm3mBZDN-Zcuo6AZPkzPMA-RnCXoiWWoi2xPB2RTYLjsr9RA9iZ719eAK4CjcY4zM9KTup3_cEJpugutm1k7dGYhUwQz3tJYIlv4ZNtPUZaFJSY0vl4/s1600/buqoYA-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AgLrmw_VdYziMaPB2ZTresfSOm3mBZDN-Zcuo6AZPkzPMA-RnCXoiWWoi2xPB2RTYLjsr9RA9iZ719eAK4CjcY4zM9KTup3_cEJpugutm1k7dGYhUwQz3tJYIlv4ZNtPUZaFJSY0vl4/s400/buqoYA-3.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
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Welcome to week 3 and my stop for the #buqoYA Finding Fairytales bundle! My story, Fall for Grace, is included in this bundle! But before that, I'd also like to shine the spotlight on my fellow #buqoYA authors who also have stories that will hopefully tickle your fancy. Whether you're rooting for headstrong characters or prefer stories with characters that have a lot of spunk, this is the YA romance bundle for you! </div>
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Don't forget to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anneplaza2013/photos/a.249794168502449.1073741828.233847793430420/460628564085674/?type=1&permPage=1">join my Facebook giveaway</a> (aside from the one at the end of this post) for a chance to win a kawaii swag pack!</div>
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<a href="http://www.oopsireadabookagain.com/2015/04/blog-tour-invite-buqo-ya-bundle-3.html"><b>#buqoYA 3: Finding Fairytales</b></a></div>
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We all want the happy ending, the dream come true. But what if it doesn’t happen? How far would you go to get that “ever after?” Would you change who you are? Would you swallow your pride? Is the story really going to be as perfect as you think? Follow the path of these characters and see where they lead.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.buqo.ph/Shop/Book/204c03a3-6e1b-40c5-a77a-dfa71335fa37/buqoya-3-finding-fairytales">Buy it on Buqo!</a></b></div>
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<b><u>Fall for Grace</u></b></div>
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<b>by Anne Plaza</b></div>
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Aso’t pusa, away-bati…</div>
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Sino sa inyo ang unang aamin?</div>
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Meet Grace Almeda—the darling of Luna East Arts Academy—maikukumpara sa isang artista sa hitsura, reputasyon, at katarayan. At heto si Jason Jacinto—the resident school genius—kilala rin sa pagiging go-to person ng mga estudyanteng problemado sa pag-aaral. Nang magkabanggaan ang kanilang maliit at magkaibang mundo, napilitan si Grace na hingin ang tulong ni Jason sa isang mala-life or death na sitwasyon. Mukha ngang pumuti na ang uwak dahil dumating ang araw na kinailangan ni Little Miss Spoiled Brat si Boy Genius. Pero ang hindi alam ni Grace ay may dahilan ang lahat sa likod ng pang-aasar at pambubwisit ni Jason. At sa ‘di inaasahang pangyayari, may isang mahuhulog ang loob para sa isang naghihintay lang ng tamang pagkakataon.</div>
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Mabuti na lang at hindi nila kailangang mag-usap habang naglalakad. Mas kailangan nilang pagtuunan ng pansin na hindi masyadong mabasa ng ulan habang sinisigurong hindi liliparin ng hangin ang payong. Sa kahabaan ng kanilang paglalakad ay walang ibang nasa isip si Grace kundi ang pagkakalapit nilang dalawa. Hindi siya gaanong nilamig dahil na rin dito. Kung ganoon lang sana kadali patahanin ang dagundong ng kaniyang dibdib. </div>
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Ni minsan ay hindi pa siya pinakitaan ng kagandahang-loob ni Jason. Hindi rin naman niya sinasabi na hindi ito mabait; hindi lang ito naging mabait sa kaniya. Kaya nga medyo hirap siyang intindihin ang mga pangyayari, lalo na ang mga bagong nararamdaman niya sa mga sandaling iyon. </div>
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Gaya nga ng sabi nito, hindi malayo ang lakarin. Pag-angat niya ng tingin ay napansin niyang ilang dipa na lang sila mula sa waiting shed. Mabilis nilang tinungo iyon. Nang naroon na ay pinakawalan na siya ni Jason at nanumbalik na siya sa kaniyang katinuan. </div>
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“May Bus 5 na dumadaan dito. ‘Di ba malapit na yun sa inyo?” Pinapagpag ni Jason ang payong. </div>
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“Oo, pero lalakad pa ako nang kaunti.” </div>
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Tamang-tama, naaninag na nila ang ilaw ng paparating na sasakyan. Walang jeep o tricycle sa lugar at serviced vans lang ang nakakaraan doon dahil isang exclusive property ang buong compound ng Luna East pati ang dating subdivision na tinirhan ng pamilya Almeda. </div>
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“Heto.” Iniabot ni Jason ang payong sa kaniya. Napatitig lang siya dito na para bang nagsalita ito ng ibang lengguwahe. “Sabi mo maglalakad ka pa papunta sa inyo. Kakailanganin mo ‘yan.” </div>
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“Paano ka?” </div>
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Nagkibit-balikat ito. “Hindi naman ako mamamatay kung maulanan ako. ‘Tsaka dadaanan ng bus ‘yung bahay ko.” </div>
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“Sigurado ka?” </div>
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Hindi na ito nagpatumpik-tumpik at inilagay ang payong sa mga kamay niya. “Ayan na ang bus. Sige na, nang makauwi ka na. Baka hinahanap ka na sa inyo.” </div>
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Tumigil ang coaster sa tapat ng shed at sumakay na siya. </div>
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Tiyempong may bakante sa tabi ng bintana kaya doon siya naupo. Kinawayan niya si Jason nang umarangkada ang sasakyan. </div>
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Kumaway din ito sa kaniya, sabay kindat.</div>
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<b>About Anne Plaza</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCj8jGvPtqnMaJu8JGl7H8nEkwbybwBe07JygxL_yw_S9vcnBp-UC9fwQUJWSxnzv9jIwx-bLHiPHH11Drv5MFNU4WF4YFsWSb73_8fwO6AdlFibYZ9rZeeZy_N4hi_GV73hhT0fOsys/s1600/annep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCj8jGvPtqnMaJu8JGl7H8nEkwbybwBe07JygxL_yw_S9vcnBp-UC9fwQUJWSxnzv9jIwx-bLHiPHH11Drv5MFNU4WF4YFsWSb73_8fwO6AdlFibYZ9rZeeZy_N4hi_GV73hhT0fOsys/s1600/annep.jpg" /></a></div>
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Si Anne Plaza ay mula sa Lungsod Quezon at nakapagsulat ng isang chick lit novella, ang <i>In Over Her Head</i> (2013). Ang <i>Fall for Grace</i> ay ang una niyang kathang YA romance. Nagtatrabaho siya bilang isang marketing associate para sa isang ad agency at malimit siyang nagsusulat kahit hindi pa tapos ang kanyang shift. Nakahiligan na niyang magbasa ng Tagalog romance novels (noong kapanahunan pa nina Helen Meriz, Jo-An Solis, Gilda Olvidado, atbp.) at nakapag-publish na rin ng apat na akda sa ilalim ng My Special Valentine.</div>
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<a href="http://thoughtsbrewed.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/anneplaza">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anneplaza2013">Facebook</a></div>
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<b><u>Just the Way You Are </u></b><br />
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<b>by Kat Sales</b></div>
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Rica Valdez has always been one of the guys, so it was hard for her to find a prom date. When her new friend and crush Joshua Fernandez volunteered to take her to the prom, she wondered if he liked her back too, or was he just being nice?</div>
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Homeroom was Erica Valdez’s favorite time of the day. It allowed her to review the assignments she had due for the day, and if there were none, she could read a little of whatever book she had going on at the moment. </div>
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Her friends teased her a lot about it, but they knew her well so she didn’t mind. They benefited from it anyway, as Rica would look over their homework too. </div>
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The class adviser, Mr. Suarez, was early today. He was sitting at his desk when the students started coming in. It meant something, that was for sure. He never came early. He was always just on time. </div>
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When the clock hit 8:00, Mr. Suarez stood up and looked over the students, as if quietly doing a headcount. Once he was done, he started on the roll call. No one was late, for once, and no absent students either. The young teacher grinned, and half of the girls in the class sighed. </div>
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“Great to see you all. I hope you had a good weekend. We’ve got a couple of announcements that you might like.” He reached back on the desk and picked up a sheaf of papers. “Ok, first, your quarterly exams will be on February 3 to 7. Your teachers will hand out pointers for review within the week.” </div>
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The class groaned, and Rica couldn’t help but grin at that. No one liked quarterly exams, even she who was a pretty ok student. </div>
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Mr. Suarez looked over the paper he held in his hands again and read out the other announcements. He answered the questions the students had. Around thirty minutes later, he checked the clock. “That’s it.” He looked at the paper again. “Oh, I almost forgot. The junior-senior prom will be on Friday, February 14.”</div>
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<b>About Kat Sales</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiof3UCVc-SM6IcYS6cq18f0o2aXMS1wXHPGRjCb6CRqiIUPqemBy1CCTJyh60lYgYKW2gYuecneL0fS22DlrNZsCfkXOqGF_2oKgEuWjkMTZUsQf0FVvngV2E5bUO7TGStNNyzKj6_Uuk/s1600/katsales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiof3UCVc-SM6IcYS6cq18f0o2aXMS1wXHPGRjCb6CRqiIUPqemBy1CCTJyh60lYgYKW2gYuecneL0fS22DlrNZsCfkXOqGF_2oKgEuWjkMTZUsQf0FVvngV2E5bUO7TGStNNyzKj6_Uuk/s1600/katsales.jpg" /></a></div>
Writer :: Thinker :: Problem Solver<br />
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<a href="http://www.saberkite.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/saberkite">Twitter</a> </div>
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<b><u>Love in the Time of Viral Videos</u> </b><br />
<b>by R. Linea</b><br />
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Like. Retweet. Follow. Fall in Love?</div>
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They say that that the things we own tend to own us in the long run. Today, at a time when we’re connected 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, social media has helped shaped who we are, how we want to be seen and how we deal with other people. And if that’s the case, then who knows us better than our own social media accounts? This is the story of Patch and Sebastian who met in real life, as told by their digital selves. This is their story in the time of #hashtags, inspiration boards, and viral videos.</div>
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I – Hurley. Chen. Karim. </div>
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Are YOU ready to be famous? This is 15 Seconds of Fame! The show where we give everyone a chance for worldwide popularity and then be forgotten to obscurity. Like all you viewers know, we’re always on the lookout for either the next Ellen DeGeneres discovery or the next evening news exposé. Because here in Fame, fifteen seconds you’re in and the next fifteen, you’re out! </div>
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Grab your popcorn my lovely viewers and get your bandwidth ready for a slew of videos that’s worth your miniscule attention. Right off the bat, we’re serving you the nth version of Let It Go sung by an unknown Filipino! And he not only sings it perfectly, he does it without his shirt on, right in the middle of EDSA traffic! Talk about grit! Oh yes, two things Filipinos are infamous for, traffic inefficiency and hitting the high notes, together in just one video! Could he be the next Oprah protégé? Will his face launch the next thousand memes? Only time could tell! </div>
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And by time, I mean your fifteen seconds is up, Mr. Half-naked Elsa. We now move on to the sequel of one of the forefathers of viral videos. I present to you, Charlie Bit My Finger Part Toe! Awww…look guys. </div>
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Charlie’s biting his brother’s toes this time. He’s so cute with his googley eyes…as he tears the entire toe off! Oh my freakin’ G! Oh, I can’t watch this. Too much blood! I’m blacking out! I’m blacking out! Oh this isn’t good. Why does their mom just keep on taking the video? Can somebody please hand over my barf bag? Somebody please report this video immediately! Take it down!</div>
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<b>About R. Linea</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BGQsfZcT_dOUzWZ0wOVfTv7lDZO0a8bv3Mh5gzZnTxut7ryR2oxjpajgze6kQS7F3OZp0rrP39FhAvN_PdDP1ZkDJTqsu_woeSvkTwMCQA23aKSSjVjx_VWR6v9CMJBOovPbwakiXb0/s1600/rlinea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BGQsfZcT_dOUzWZ0wOVfTv7lDZO0a8bv3Mh5gzZnTxut7ryR2oxjpajgze6kQS7F3OZp0rrP39FhAvN_PdDP1ZkDJTqsu_woeSvkTwMCQA23aKSSjVjx_VWR6v9CMJBOovPbwakiXb0/s1600/rlinea.jpg" /></a></div>
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Type 4, Type 7, Virgo, Year of the Horse. He's the guy peering over your shoulder to read your SMS.</div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/linearaniel">Twitter</a> </div>
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<b><u>The First Time They Met </u></b></div>
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<b>by Ana Valenzuela</b></div>
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What’s making Mayumi anxious on her best friend’s birthday party?</div>
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Is it her long time best friend Marie? Marie is now in college, and Mayumi starts to doubt their friendship as Marie meets new people and gets closer to them.</div>
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Or is it this basketball player named Micah? A guy she recently met and who has turned into an overnight confidant.</div>
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“Can I ask you for something?” </div>
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“Sure, anything,” Micah was standing now, on her left, his back on the tree. </div>
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“Could we wait for the sunrise?” </div>
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He looked down on her as he nodded. </div>
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“It’s a photographic cliché, sunrise and sunset,” she said. “For me, the sun rising actually isn’t. It’s a different experience when you see the sun wake up instead of it seeing you get out of bed like everybody else. It’s the start of a new day, and that’s what makes it beautiful.” </div>
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“The first day,” he sounded like he just laughed. He folded his knees as he sat next to her. “I’ll wait with you.” </div>
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Butterflies flew inside Mayumi’s stomach as she stammered, “great play, by the way.”</div>
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<b>About Ana Valenzuela</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjeCutTfb_hFnhPhH1jpT3mNZyBTPeX8O73wDme6bVIpxTmPo9lKfk43aIXrdJicHw4yBtblPjwMRfTKvqJidCGRZ75_1YrwZxp4_6qbqsq5MQCPuUdopiE84zigbAEUBmtVh8mTAAphA/s1600/anavalenzuela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjeCutTfb_hFnhPhH1jpT3mNZyBTPeX8O73wDme6bVIpxTmPo9lKfk43aIXrdJicHw4yBtblPjwMRfTKvqJidCGRZ75_1YrwZxp4_6qbqsq5MQCPuUdopiE84zigbAEUBmtVh8mTAAphA/s1600/anavalenzuela.jpg" /></a></div>
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Ana Valenzuela is a graduate of AB Literature from UST. She has written for several magazines and online news blogs.</div>
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<a href="http://alicekamatis.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/anavalenz">Twitter</a></div>
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<b><u>The Path of Us </u></b><br />
<b>by Cassandra Javier</b><br />
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Are our paths already laid out for us, or can we make them ourselves?</div>
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Can fairytales actually come true?</div>
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Clara has always been fond of fairytales and grand gestures. She always had a plan of how she’d like her life to turn out, and that’s why she worked hard to be on top of the class, and make sure that she has her real life Prince Charming to boot.</div>
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And then there’s Andrew.</div>
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Andrew’s always been the easy go lucky guy, but that doesn’t mean that he’s not smart and appealing; it’s just that he chooses to go through life in a fuss-free, no nonsense way.</div>
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When Andrew and Clara’s paths meet, things don’t exactly go easy. They hated each other with a passion, but then they got to share unexpected moments, and end high school with a memory that they’ll never forget. In college, they lose each other, and Clara has to go through the hardest things on her own--until a trip back home sends them to each other’s paths again.</div>
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Will they ever be able to understand their role in each other’s lives?</div>
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Or will they just get out of each other’s lives for good?</div>
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"I'm sorry, okay? But Clara, you’ll do great. You’ll do amazing things because that’s who you are. You’ll manage out there because this is what you’ve always wanted, right?" </div>
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He went on, “And you know what’s even better?” </div>
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She looked at him and waited for what he had to say next. </div>
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“You’ll finally be able to get away with Pink or Purple streaks on your hair or whatever.” </div>
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She found herself laughing despite of herself. “Without you ratting me out?” </div>
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It depends.” He quipped, smiling. “I might see you in college.” </div>
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“Oh god no.” </div>
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They laughed. “See? You look so much better when you smile.” </div>
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“I still hate you.” </div>
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He laughed. “If you say so.”</div>
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She didn’t know what came to her mind right at that moment but she found herself inching towards him. In a span of seconds, she was planting a kiss on his lips. It didn’t last long—just a few seconds or so, and she wanted to bask in that moment, feel the butterflies in her stomach, the warmth of the air, the romance that the light of the fireflies gave, but she remembered that a) she had a boyfriend, and b) she hated Andrew—this shouldn’t be happening. </div>
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"Clara—" </div>
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“I’m sorry.” She said. "I shouldn’t have—" </div>
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“No.” </div>
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Please.” She said with finality. “I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.” </div>
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She then ran away, leaving him and High School behind.</div>
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<b>About Cassandra Javier</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittfXv31Jg-ASkng2hBqIIfvV8bHRtWwYzrLxlFLMJhB03B5-DhUO_GbifJuJ6e5iohRS89ZMKjG4A6o-_jXVUMZL1RXg-PrizaHQQCOfrLdXFYBHBJLr-gssfTDS5QihtaeR7m2FJPUg/s1600/cassjavier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittfXv31Jg-ASkng2hBqIIfvV8bHRtWwYzrLxlFLMJhB03B5-DhUO_GbifJuJ6e5iohRS89ZMKjG4A6o-_jXVUMZL1RXg-PrizaHQQCOfrLdXFYBHBJLr-gssfTDS5QihtaeR7m2FJPUg/s1600/cassjavier.jpg" /></a></div>
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Cass is a cat lady who graduated with a degree in Broadcasting and has worked as a copywriter, a researcher in an IT company, a call center agent and was even a trainee for a time in a television network. She writes articles for a living. When not writing articles, she writes novels, fanfiction, short stories and whatever she may think of. She loves TV series, movies, music, and is a very big bookworm. She's also addicted to butterflies, faeries and Ice Cream.</div>
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<a href="http://sheflieswithfaeries.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/LunaAlyeska">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cassandra-Javier/728342600611671">Facebook</a></div>
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<b><u>When Cocoy Became Kikay</u> </b><br />
<b>by C. P. Santi</b><br />
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Cocoy’s not-so-secret dream is to one day become a gun-toting, ass-kicking secret agent. But she has another dream—and this time, even her best friends don’t have a clue—she dreams of being with someone.</div>
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Problem is, she finds out that Jaime Arguelles—a.k.a. the guy she’d been secretly crushing on for years—likes girls who . . . well . . . like pink.</div>
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To Cocoy’s logical mind, there’s only one solution: it’s time to go girly. After all, how hard can it be?</div>
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“Since when did you start having a <i>lablab</i>, Coy?” Dags lifted a brow. </div>
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<i>So much for keeping secrets.</i> “So I like someone. Big deal.” </div>
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“Is . . . is it a guy or a girl?” Paulo asked tentatively. </div>
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I turned incredulous eyes toward him. “What’s that supposed to mean?” </div>
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“Dude, whichever way you roll . . .” Dags shrugged. </div>
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<i>Oh, c’mon</i>. True, I was a T-shirt-and-jeans kind of girl and I hung out with guys, but that didn’t automatically translate to such gender assumptions. Sure, I loathed boy bands. And I loved basketball, camping, and shooting more than the average girl should. Living with my dad hadn’t exactly encouraged girly pursuits. <i>But still</i>. </div>
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I sighed. “Dude, if I were gay, I’d tell you. But I’m not.” </div>
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“So, who is it? You have to tell us,” Paulo protested. He stood to tower over me, arms crossed over his chest. </div>
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“Aw, Coy, aren’t we friends?” Dags cajoled as he strummed the first notes of <i>Maalaala Mo Kaya</i>.</div>
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I sighed. Paulo, Dags, Joel, and I had been friends for years. The four of us were the only ones crazy enough to take up a dare issued by our neighborhood playmates—to see if a <i>manananggal</i> indeed left the lower part of its body at the abandoned Siangco house on Lilac Street. </div>
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Over the years, our friendship had been further cemented by bruises and scraped knees, basketball games, camping trips, fish balls, <i>turon</i>, and <i>buko pandan royale</i>, day-long village-hopping bicycle trips, and innumerable fries and Coke floats. </div>
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I never kept secrets from them. <i>Usually. </i></div>
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“So who is it?” Paulo asked again. </div>
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<i>Fine</i>. I cleared my throat. “It’s . . . it’s Jaime.” </div>
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I counted five seconds of absolute silence. </div>
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Dags frowned. “Jaime?” </div>
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“Jaime Arguelles?” Paulo bent over, laughing. “Cocoy, you are so predictable!”</div>
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<b>About C.P. Santi</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGcrm4tDy1HG8vCjWrKTvA97tshTOP9pge3I41Dvp3HtVfURmyxvQzQwEYfY4f9hm6Qg-JkFKox59LwgpOJm4vFEM_D6IOOvs-WYx8A01O8G4id01i7HQQEV7pPVbXm61LRbJN_UjvNo/s1600/cpsanti.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGcrm4tDy1HG8vCjWrKTvA97tshTOP9pge3I41Dvp3HtVfURmyxvQzQwEYfY4f9hm6Qg-JkFKox59LwgpOJm4vFEM_D6IOOvs-WYx8A01O8G4id01i7HQQEV7pPVbXm61LRbJN_UjvNo/s1600/cpsanti.jpeg" /></a></div>
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C.P. Santi is a Filipina author based in Tokyo, Japan. She is a wife to an engineer/musician/jokester and a full-time mom to two energetic boys. She loves cooking and baking, and enjoys feeding people, gorging on chocolate, watching J-doramas, belting it out in the karaoke box, and running around the house playing tickle tag. She also loves dreaming up stories about the people she meets.</div>
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In another life, she is also an architect and academic.</div>
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Her first book, <i>Be Careful What You Wish For</i>, is a contemporary romance based in Tokyo.</div>
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<a href="http://thejapayukichronicles.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/oopsireadagain">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/CPsantiauthor">Facebook </a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-43523567967386983122015-05-04T09:01:00.000+08:002015-05-04T09:01:32.879+08:00#buqoYA Sweet Complications Blog Tour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The start of May is already busy as it is, but in a good way. It's my stop for today's blog tour for the #buqoYA Sweet Complications bundle! In this collection you'll find six more Young Adult romance stories to tickle your fancy.</div>
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<b><u><a href="http://www.oopsireadabookagain.com/2015/04/blog-tour-invite-buqo-ya-bundle-2-sweet.html">#buqoYA 2: Sweet Complications</a></u></b></div>
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Would you do a set of dares to prove someone wrong? Would you risk your friendship so you can find love? Would you admit your real feelings? There are a lot of complications when it comes to finding love. Get the feels when you read these sweet stories.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.buqo.ph/Shop/Book/13540ce7-bcd4-4554-b15a-2a831c0a10a9/buqoya-2-sweet-complications">Buy it on Buqo!</a></b></div>
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<b><u>D'01 </u></b><br />
<b>by Sassy Fova</b><br />
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Kat Arcanghel has just turned 18 and she feels that it is the right time to fall in love. She finds herself falling for Alech Crisologo, but she has always thought of herself as adeviant/rebel and there’s nothing more mainstream than crushing on the guy that everybody loves, thus she fights her feelings and tries to search for the right one—just not him.</div>
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Will Kat continue rebelling against her own heart, or will she let her heart conquer the battle and let it lead the way? She’ll find the answer when she meets D’01.</div>
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For once, I didn’t hit the snooze button.</blockquote>
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At 6 o’clock, I got up as soon as my alarm clock went off. Today is the day that I have to start acting mature: whether they be small matters like the alarm or other things that are more important, I have to be responsible for anything that I set. Because today, I’m officially of legal age.</blockquote>
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I’ve made a list of stuff I just HAVE to do when I turn eighteen – get a driver’s license, go to a bar and drink beer, French kiss somebody, lose my virginity (maybe), and so many other things that someone can decide to do without their parents’ consent – but the most important thing on my list is this: I HAVE TO FALL IN LOVE.</blockquote>
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I guess I’m what they call NBSB, or No Boyfriend Since Birth. I’ve had crushes before – nothing too serious, and all of it short-lived. I used to not care. But now… I think I’m ready to be in a relationship. So I tried to conjure a mental picture of the boys at school who might be boyfriend-material… but only one comes to mind.</blockquote>
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Alech Crisologo.</blockquote>
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As soon as is smiling face popped into my head, I shake it off immediately – that will never ever happen, not even in my wildest dreams. Anyone but him. I open my Facebook page and post a status: I’m so ready to fall in love.</blockquote>
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I slide my windows open and take in deep breaths of air. Is this how freedom smells like? Like longganisa and fried eggs? Nah, that’s just breakfast that our stay-in housemaid, Helen, is cooking. I resist the urge to shout, “Good morning world!” and make a total fool of myself. I sit on the windowsill instead and admire the view.</blockquote>
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<b>About Sassy Fova</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBSlw7g2YnB6_AK7dFKUtZptsveW_R23cvsmHjork8EkHcCJY7GSRUbNfs1meGLuWoL7zKCm_IYsvqxjBVWAnauTxajtasjNO63vq9Hxvrp8t5D3G-xyY4d3f7iQVT7myH5i4i2z4xDg/s1600/Sassy+Fova.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBSlw7g2YnB6_AK7dFKUtZptsveW_R23cvsmHjork8EkHcCJY7GSRUbNfs1meGLuWoL7zKCm_IYsvqxjBVWAnauTxajtasjNO63vq9Hxvrp8t5D3G-xyY4d3f7iQVT7myH5i4i2z4xDg/s1600/Sassy+Fova.jpg" /></a></div>
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Sassy Fova is just your average girl from Ilocos Norte, PH. Sassy is a hopeless romantic who’s got her head in the clouds, and comes back down just long enough to write about it. Being an Ilocana, she is thrifty, but she spares none when it comes to sharing all the love.</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SassyFovawrites">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/SassyFova">Twitter</a></div>
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<b><u>One Lovely Summer Day </u></b></div>
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<b>by Amae Dechavez</b></div>
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Kwento ng Pag-Ibig, Pangarap, at Pag-asa... Sa Pila, Laguna, bakasyon at abala ang lahat sa bahay nila Tiya Isidra—“general cleaning” ika ng matanda. Bukod pa roon ay darating si Maylie, ang paboritong pamangkin niyang galing ng Maynila. Gaya ng inaasahan, naroon si Ethan para tumulong sa paglilinis at paghahanda. Bagamat mukhang tahimik ang dalaga, unang sulyap pa lang ay agad na nagandahan at nabaitan si Ethan sa kaniya. Naging matalik na magkaibigan ang dalawa. Sa isang di inaasahang pangyayari at proyektong kailangang lutasin nilang dalawa, lalong napalapit si Ethan at Maylie sa isa-isa. Gayun pa man, alam ni Ethan na isang araw ay aalis din si Maylie at maiiwan siya. Sasabihin ba niya kay Maylie ang nararamdaman niya?</div>
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Habang naglalakad sila ay naalala ni Ethan ang sinabi ng nagtitindang ale kanina. ‘Mabuti at may girlfriend ka na.’ Bakit nga ba hindi ko tanungin si Maylie ngayon kung pwede ko ba siyang maging nobya?</blockquote>
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“Silong muna tayo sa may loob ng simbahan, Maylie. Ang init eh,” wika ni Ethan. </blockquote>
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Halos walang tao sa loob ng simbahan. Lahat ay nasa labas, nanonood sa mga palabas. </blockquote>
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Pagka-upo ay agad na nagsalita si Ethan.</blockquote>
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“Ahm... Maylie.”</blockquote>
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“Ano ‘yon, Ethan?”</blockquote>
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“Ahm, naisipan mo na bang sabihin sa mga magulang mo na ayaw mo na ng palipat-lipat ng tirahan?”</blockquote>
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“Ah... hindi pa. Kailangan ko bang sabihin sa kanila?”</blockquote>
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“Bakit hindi?”</blockquote>
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“Umm...”</blockquote>
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“Maylie.”</div>
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“Ano ‘yon?”</div>
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“Gusto ko kasing sabihin na...”</blockquote>
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“Na...?”</blockquote>
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“Ma...ha... Mahabang usapan pero gusto ko lang sanang magpasalamat.”</blockquote>
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“Magpasalamat?”</blockquote>
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“Oo, magpapasalamat lang ako. ‘Yon lang ang gusto kong sabihin sa’yo.” </blockquote>
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“Salamat saan?”</blockquote>
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“Sa mga sinabi mong advice sa akin kahapon.”</blockquote>
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“Ah, ‘sus. Wala ‘yon. May sasabihin ka pa?”</blockquote>
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“Ahm... wala na. Umuwi na tayo. Gutom na ‘ko, gusto ko nang mananghalian.”</blockquote>
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Umuwi na sina Maylie at Ethan at kapagka-pananghalian ay pumasok si Ethan agad sa kuwarto niya.</blockquote>
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‘Ang torpe mo, Ethan,’ sambit ni Ethan sa sarili niya.</blockquote>
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Kinuha niya sa drawer ang maliit na salamin at tinignan niya ang sarili niya.</blockquote>
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“Sabihin mo, MA-HAL. MAAA-HAAAL... Mahal kita!”</blockquote>
<b>About Amae Dechavez</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHK4Dyhu-PLJUNAzBCfAyjUW72ArHZFWcgFWq0kp7ZcWH3aAi-6jp2Ffp-43glfQ0byJ7qL_KHscatteExrHHRYB4oL7L5bihbmLR1wayu-cqlWDGbdkdXRbZSHlENcbavcP1OMgQ_8yQ/s1600/amae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHK4Dyhu-PLJUNAzBCfAyjUW72ArHZFWcgFWq0kp7ZcWH3aAi-6jp2Ffp-43glfQ0byJ7qL_KHscatteExrHHRYB4oL7L5bihbmLR1wayu-cqlWDGbdkdXRbZSHlENcbavcP1OMgQ_8yQ/s1600/amae.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Amae Dechavez (amaeauthor) is a blogger, fiction author, YA novelist, and children's book writer. She was born in Quezon City, Manila in 1983 and has a Penn Foster diploma in Child Daycare Management. She has been authoring for several digital distributor hubs in (the Philippines) and has been writing for many free online/ social media platforms. When not hugging or arguing with her dog, you can find her at Writerscafe.org.</span><br />
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<a href="http://amaeauthor.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://facebook.com/amaeauthor">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/amaeauthor">Twitter</a></div>
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<b><u>Once Upon A Sticky Note </u></b></div>
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<b>by Kristel Ann Cruz</b></div>
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Nate and Tanya have been “talk all day, every day” best friends for years but on the eve of Nate’s birthday, Tanya realized she has started developing more-than-platonic feelings him. They’re going off to college soon so confessing anything that might make things complicated between them doesn’t sound like a good plan, especially now that Campus Sweetie Armi has entered the picture. What would Tanya do? Could she? Should she? Grab a sticky note and place your bets.</div>
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Of course it also doesn’t hurt that he is nice to look at. I have always pegged Nate as a pretty boy, but his unassuming ways make him look more attractive. I like his thick eyebrows, his smiling eyes, and the dimple on his left cheek that mirrors mine. I can’t even tell you how many jealous stares I have fielded when we walk through the school together, or how my heart secretly swells seeing these.</blockquote>
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It’s quite melodramatic to say that our lives have never been the same since we became closer because we are still very young, but that fact doesn’t make it any less true. I will feel so lost when the time comes he or I would have to go our separate ways. Graduation is coming soon and to be honest, I’m dreading college. I wonder if we will be as close as we are now or whether I will be left behind, a mere footnote to carefree high school days.</blockquote>
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It was almost morning when I realized I am in love with my best friend.</blockquote>
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<b>About Kristel Ann Cruz</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSg9Xlh9ELlkMJynjAjO9f-naC3n_fywMkpoeorN0-HtH2DtPxV0cbtDYJsZYJJePd7F2KTz5fWc3a3ayhrHTt-1irfdza1UoD00Hv32t2jHcH8nu7Lnu7jrQBV1jH3i_L7vwniDT8Ho/s1600/kristel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSg9Xlh9ELlkMJynjAjO9f-naC3n_fywMkpoeorN0-HtH2DtPxV0cbtDYJsZYJJePd7F2KTz5fWc3a3ayhrHTt-1irfdza1UoD00Hv32t2jHcH8nu7Lnu7jrQBV1jH3i_L7vwniDT8Ho/s1600/kristel.jpg" /></a></div>
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It boggles the mind how someone so shy and awkward found herself in Public Relations, but somehow Krissy makes it work. If she were a fictional character, she’d be a female Ted Mosby. Whether it be prose, poetry, a watercolor painting, or a craft project, she is happiest when she makes. Talk about books, movies, and lipsticks with her on www.krissyfied.com.</div>
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<a href="http://www.twitter.com/krissyfied">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/krissyfied">Instagram</a> </div>
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<b><u>Plain Vanilla </u></b><br />
<b>by Ines Bautista-Yao</b><br />
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Despite her quirky name and equally quirky family, 16-year-old Tempest Juan knows she's ordinary. After reading a comment on Facebook which likened her to vanilla ice cream, Tempest decides she has to do something about it or be forever branded as plain, lukewarm, and well, vanilla. It doesn't help that the comment was made by Paco Lorenzo, her cousin’s cute friend (no longer cute in her book!). When she happens upon a book of dares, she decides to attempt each one, no matter how hard. This is her personality at stake, after all. But somehow, Paco, the cause of all this, finds a way to be at every dare Tempest attempts, confusing her and forcing her to question what’s really going on inside her heart.</div>
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“But what about Margarita?” </blockquote>
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“She sped off in another direction.” He shrugged, still pulling her along. But this time, he wasn’t holding her arm anymore. His hand found its way into hers. And she told herself she didn’t let go because it was dark and she didn’t want to trip on anything. </blockquote>
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When they got to the covered courts, they didn’t bother to find a place to hide. It was so dark, it wouldn’t have mattered anyway. Paco sat on one of the benches and pulled Tempest down next to him. She was tempted to pull her hand away, but he still hadn’t let go. What was the protocol when it came to something like this? Do you let go when you’re about to do something like look at your watch or scratch an itch? Or do you just keep holding on till both your hands get too sweaty? And why did it have to be so complicated? <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></blockquote>
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“I think this is awesome, what you’re doing.” He smiled at her. Or at least she assumed he was. It was too dark to tell. </div>
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“Sitting in the dark, holding your hand?” Tempest couldn’t pretend it wasn’t happening, so might as well call attention to it.</blockquote>
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Paco surprised her by squeezing her hand and still not letting go. “Well, yeah, this too.” He laughed easily. “But I was talking about the dares. I mean, daring other people is something Marga and I do all the time, but daring yourself is cool. Why didn’t you tell me about it last night? I could have helped you do some of them while we were just hanging out. What’s on your list anyway?”</blockquote>
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Tempest didn’t tell him that the dares had only materialized today because of him. “Well, nighttime hide and seek, sleeping under the stars, and glow-in-the-dark bowling are part of it. That pathetic excuse for chalk art this afternoon was too.” </blockquote>
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“That wasn’t pathetic.” </blockquote>
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“Whatever.” Tempest snorted. “There’s also doing a color run which I am seriously thinking of swapping with something else, running through sprinklers, flying a kite, making a slushie—”</blockquote>
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“You’ve never made a slushie?” Astonishment. </blockquote>
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“I lead a very dull life, okay?” </blockquote>
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“Or flown a kite?” More astonishment. </blockquote>
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“Fine, Mr. I’ve Done Everything Fun in the World, what haven’t you done? If you were to give yourself a list of dares, what would you put on your list?” </blockquote>
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“Well, I wouldn’t mind breaking into an all-girls high school after dark and playing hide and seek.” She could hear the smile in his voice. </blockquote>
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“Boring. I’ve done that already.” </blockquote>
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Paco burst out laughing. Tempest’s insides began to feel all warm and gooey. It felt good to make him laugh. And to have his complete attention. And to still be holding his hand. </blockquote>
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<b>About Ines Bautista-Yao</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrBjioZYXeo437FrKu0d8dpM54VEXOkuo8nso57fF9tYeAlzJbdAv5kp_YQSiEmhlNLfKFPGfTEwkodZrkk3V7k7zurVIBh8pt5ttPJxvNVtA9HDwmL9ZkqSB7oqpATU6RHZp7mZoRoQ/s1600/ines.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrBjioZYXeo437FrKu0d8dpM54VEXOkuo8nso57fF9tYeAlzJbdAv5kp_YQSiEmhlNLfKFPGfTEwkodZrkk3V7k7zurVIBh8pt5ttPJxvNVtA9HDwmL9ZkqSB7oqpATU6RHZp7mZoRoQ/s1600/ines.jpeg" /></a></div>
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Ines Bautista-Yao is the author of One Crazy Summer, What’s in your Heart, and Only a Kiss. She has also written two short stories, “Flashbacks and Echoes,” which is part of a compilation called All This Wanting and “A Captured Dream,” one of the four short stories in Sola Musica: Love Notes from a Festival.</div>
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She is the former editor-in-chief of Candy and K-Zone magazines and a former high school and college English and Literature teacher. She is also a wife and mom and blogs about the many challenges and joys of motherhood at <a href="http://theeverydayprojectblog.com/">The Everyday Project</a>. She has recently launched <a href="http://theeverydayprojectblog.com/inesbyao-author-project/">The Author Project</a>, a section in her current blog devoted to the stories in her head.</div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/inesbyao">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://facebook.com/inesbautistayao">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/inesbyao">Instagram</a></div>
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<b><u>Same </u></b></div>
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<b>by Charm Lee</b></div>
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March 2.</div>
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Of all places, Atasha never thought that she would end up in a hospital on this specific day. Rush was looking forward to just enjoying the day.</div>
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But with the white walls and medical noises around them, two young and very different souls cross paths. Rush and Atasha discover that even if they are as alike as night and day, they aren’t as different as they thought after all.</div>
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I woke up today thinking that everything will be normal. I got out of bed at around 10am, and caught my reflection on my vanity mirror. Ugh, my long hair is all frizzy. I tried to comb my hair through it to kind of manage it but it didn’t work. Oh well.</blockquote>
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I’m excited. I can’t wait to watch the new movie that everyone has been talking about. I wonder if it lives up to all the buzz that I have been hearing. I think I still have time after the movie to check out Robert’s. It’s Saturday so there is a new shipment of books that I can check out.</blockquote>
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I can hear songs now blasting off from my mom’s room. It’s her favorite band. I ignore it. I’m looking for clothes to wear when my mom enters my room and asks me if I want to go with her and my dad to my aunt’s house. They just need to get something for my grandparents, then we can go to the department store after to buy some stuff that we need since we are renovating.</blockquote>
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“Pass. I’m going to Robert’s.” I feel awkward whenever I hang out with my parents. I just feel like we have nothing in common and we won’t have anything to talk about. I hate social situations like that so I avoid it as much as possible.</blockquote>
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I see the disappointment in my mom’s face, says okay and left me alone. I feel the guilt creeping in but I shrug it off.</blockquote>
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She asked and I chose. She gave me an out so it’s okay.</blockquote>
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I proceeded in getting ready for my alone day. After I’m all ready, I went downstairs to check on what I can eat on the go as I don’t really want to sit down and eat breakfast with them. I spy the peanut butter and bread. Perfect.</blockquote>
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<b>About Charm Lee</b></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Aspiring hero wanting to save the world. TV show addict. All around shy girl.</span></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/sharmonster">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/sharmonster">Instagram</a></div>
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<b><u>Travel of Two </u></b></div>
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<b>by Irish Fleur</b></div>
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Biyahe mag-isa? Check! Isa na namang item sa bucket list ni Isobel ang matutupad. Sino bang hindi magiging masaya kapag nagawa mo na ang gusto mo? Pero hindi lang pala si Isobel ang nagso-solo travel--si Arty rin. Si Arty na suplado, na-friendzone, makulit, at nakilala ni Isobel sa paglalakbay niya. At kahit ganito si Arty, mas naging exciting ang pagbiyahe ni Isobel.</div>
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So, magka-boyfriend... mache-check din nga ba ito ni Isobel sa sa bucket list niya?</div>
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Tamang-tama at binaba nga kosa lugar na sinabi ko. Nagpaalam ako kay Arty. Nakatalikod na ako at nakailang hakbang na nang marinig kong ang pangalan ko. Paglingon ko ay nakita ko si Arty patakbo papunta sa akin. Napanganga ako.</blockquote>
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"O bakit? Nagulat ka, ‘no? ‘Lika na sa inyo, nauuhaw na ako," hinihingal niyang sabi sabay akbay sa akin.</blockquote>
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"Baliw ka ano?!" at inialis ko ang akbay niya sa akin.</blockquote>
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“Huwag kang mag-alala, alam ko kung paano pumunta ng Tibiao galing dito sa inyo. I just want to spend more time with you,” sabi niya. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi nya, siya naman ngingiti-ngiti lang. Pero infairness ha, kinilig ako sa sinabi niya.</blockquote>
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“Ang drama mo din eh. Bakit, type mo ba ako?”</blockquote>
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Tinignan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa at nilagay pa ang kanyang kamay sa ilalim ng baba na tila nag-iisip.</blockquote>
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“Well… Aaminin ko na: maganda ka. I mean, maganda ka in a simple way.”</blockquote>
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“Binigay ko na sayo yung number ko, pwede mo naman ako kontakin anytime. Tsaka may mga plano ka rin, right?”</blockquote>
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“Ayaw mo bang ma-extend ang pagsasama natin? Pwede kitang ipasyal sa Tibiao para sulit naman ang bakasyon mo.”</blockquote>
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Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako at hinayaan kong sumabay sa akin si Arty. Afterall, wala naman sigurong mangyayaring masama; gusto lang naman ni Arty makipagkaibigan.</blockquote>
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<b>About Irish Fleur</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjjgdgPaGKP53m-t92HrrIGaMM6Xs-iYGCpBtwdyzVWxGSJewPIDbiFiivrOsW1i7EFP0d5kOiRdfeIeufG3z8CKJ2oM2gHq592p0LqypY9aCoSok_TGTpaUFiS3dLwg2gnWxTHxG4lE/s1600/irish.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjjgdgPaGKP53m-t92HrrIGaMM6Xs-iYGCpBtwdyzVWxGSJewPIDbiFiivrOsW1i7EFP0d5kOiRdfeIeufG3z8CKJ2oM2gHq592p0LqypY9aCoSok_TGTpaUFiS3dLwg2gnWxTHxG4lE/s1600/irish.jpeg" /></a></div>
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Irish Fleur is a Licensed Pharmacist, cat lover and travel junkie who loves writing since she was seven years old.</div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/irishhandprints">Twitter</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-6045952577876844262015-04-29T09:00:00.000+08:002015-04-29T09:00:02.557+08:00#buqoYA Taking Chances Blog Tour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As part of the month-long blog tour for the #buqoYA, I'd like to introduce you to the stories behind each bundle (thanks to Dianne of <a href="http://www.oopsireadabookagain.com/">Oops! I Read A Book Again for organizing the blog tour</a>). As mentioned, #buqoYA was a product of a writing class with <a href="http://minavesguerra.com/">Mina V. Esguerra</a> and sponsored by <a href="http://www.buqo.ph/">Buqo</a>. I'm pretty sure there's something in the bundle that would pique your interest, so read on:<br />
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<b><u><a href="http://www.oopsireadabookagain.com/2015/04/blog-tour-invite-buqo-ya-bundle-1.html">#buqoYA 1: Taking Chances</a></u></b><br />
<i>Whether looking for closure, proving their worth, or wondering what happens after a moonlit night, the characters from these stories will invite you to take a chance for love. Will they find what they’re looking for? Or will their hearts get broken? Step into their shoes and find out.</i><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.buqo.ph/Shop/Book/ccce389f-c1a2-4450-ba6c-ea39c7b4cca7/buqoya-1-taking-chances">Buy it on Buqo!</a></b></div>
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<b><u>A Portrait of Jade</u></b><br />
<b>by Justine Camacho-Tajonera</b><br />
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Jade Alverio is dying to get to summer art camp in Baguio, far away from her demanding parents and her ultra-perfect sister, Ruby. She thinks it will be a haven of like-minded spirits until she gets her first critique from Alexander Santamaria III, who seems to have converted all female camp members into his groupies.</div>
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Things get worse when she's paired up with him on a major project. Will she survive dream-turned-nightmare art camp, or will she go running back home, the very place she wanted to escape in the first place?</div>
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“I’m the semiprecious stone in the family,” Jade thought as he climbed up into the bus. She was still affected by the car ride conversation she’d had with her dad, who had interrogated her on the courses she planned to take when she went to college.</blockquote>
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“Dad, I don’t know, okay?” She looked straight ahead.</blockquote>
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“Jade, why didn’t you start thinking about this earlier? Ruby was gunning for business management as early as her junior year of high school.”</blockquote>
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“I’m not Ruby.”</blockquote>
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“I know. We’ve been over that. But it wouldn’t hurt you to prepare for college early, right?”</blockquote>
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By that point, Jade had already zoned out. Any mention of Ruby tended to make her hear white noise.</blockquote>
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She adjusted her black-rimmed glasses as she looked for a good seat. It looked like she was the first one on the bus. That was because her dad liked to over prepare. It was a good thing, really. She decided to move to the back of the bus. That way, she could observe everyone coming in without being conspicuous. Or she could just ignore them. She was good at that. She chose a spot by the window. She was looking forward to enjoying the view. She settled into her seat and took out her headphones and portable neck pillow. She had a whole playlist picked out. She was ready to chill out and get some snooze time, especially because she’d woken up so early.</blockquote>
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<b>About Justine Camacho-Tajonera</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXd1DDVmhOp0KKckN6guHRry-d5weX91johFEdcXikwzotgclfd3Y5xnyWP0qYU57MBDLl2KNPl3YXUFhra_YvPRgY1vEPiO2uvxcNQlVlj1Tg69xN6qDSL0jRAKIKlc-QbO-R_U7YKE/s1600/justine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXd1DDVmhOp0KKckN6guHRry-d5weX91johFEdcXikwzotgclfd3Y5xnyWP0qYU57MBDLl2KNPl3YXUFhra_YvPRgY1vEPiO2uvxcNQlVlj1Tg69xN6qDSL0jRAKIKlc-QbO-R_U7YKE/s1600/justine.jpg" /></a><br />
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Justine Camacho-Tajonera was born and grew up in Cebu City, Philippines. Despite starting a corporate career in telecommunications, she pursued an M.A. in Literary and Cultural Studies to keep her close to her first loves: reading and writing.</div>
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Her poetry has been published in several anthologies and local publications and she has published two books: Artemis Lets Go, a novella, and Gift, her first collection of poetry. She maintains a poetry blog, <a href="http://claimingalexandria.blogspot.com/">Claiming Alexandria</a>.</div>
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She works full time at a corporate job promoting e-reading in the Philippines, is married, and has two children.</div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Justine-Camacho-Tajonera-Author-Page/144071125674206">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/justine_tajo">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/justinetajo">Instagram</a></div>
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<b><u>Second Sight to Forever </u></b></div>
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<b>by Racquel Sarah A. Castro</b></div>
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Sasha Salazar, a passionate A-Girls dancer, met her ‘crush-at-first-sight’ in the stairway of Escuela de Rojo. She ignored him because she was still into Norman Gil. The second sight at the EDR’s rooftop began the daily rooftop moments (RTMs) of Sasha with the famous basketball varsity player, Joshua Bonifacio. Take a glimpse on how their relationship bloomed as they both found out the spy.</div>
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At the first week of January, the Salazar family went back from Hong Kong. While unpacking, Daniel took a deep breath before uttering a word to Martha. He admitted who the spy was.</div>
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“What?” Martha displayed dismay on her husband. “What are you thinking? Is that why you are so generous to Sasha? You have done something so bad, honey. She will feel betrayed.”</div>
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“I know, I know . . .” Daniel sighed while Martha walked out on him.</div>
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***</div>
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<i>RTM – First Day of School after the Christmas vacation</i></div>
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“I heard that mom already know who Dad’s spy is.” Sasha talked to Joshua.</div>
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“I have something to tell you . . .” Joshua got so neurotic that she assumed he was the spy.</div>
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“You are the spy!” She slapped him and walked away.</div>
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Joshua whispered, “I just want to say I love you.” He wept and thought he wouldn't have a chance to say what he felt for her.</div>
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From that day, he spent RTM alone. Being without the other half of the SJ Duo was the hardest thing for him. He tried to focus on his studies so that he could have a chance to be the class valedictorian.</div>
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Joshua tried to reach out to Sasha but she ignored his text messages. Week 2, Ryan invited Joshua to join them for the quarterly study group session but he refused.</div>
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Sasha talked to him to return the toy ring and the bracelet. She focused her time studying at the rooftop away from Joshua. Joshua was on the other side and just loved in a distance.</div>
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<b>About Racquel Sarah A. Castro</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_cc90lwDbZ4khipeWR4NHwGm6-HoK2_v59k4RFt7sgZJ5vC-ZiQeN9-YY_j_jzMFAlSgY3imwQEY5QMvaUazhR49XkJIByffQpeb2YwPqDnmk_4K5jULxbG2DhWbutDm38uHplrG8-s/s1600/racquel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_cc90lwDbZ4khipeWR4NHwGm6-HoK2_v59k4RFt7sgZJ5vC-ZiQeN9-YY_j_jzMFAlSgY3imwQEY5QMvaUazhR49XkJIByffQpeb2YwPqDnmk_4K5jULxbG2DhWbutDm38uHplrG8-s/s1600/racquel.jpg" /></a><br />
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Racquel Sarah A. Castro is living with Cerebral Palsy. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology in AMA Computer College-Binan Campus. She always wanted to inspire people in all ways. She also desires to prove the goodness of God through her life.</div>
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Racquel is living with her parents in Binan City, Laguna, Philippines. She is a geek, a math tutor, a food addict, a web designer, and a freelance programmer.</div>
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Her family is currently a ground volunteer of Basics Global, a non-profit organization based in Dubai, UAE. She also leads a music ministry branch in Jesus Christ Rules Bible Christian Church. She aspires to be an emissary of People with Disabilities. She started the campaign on Novel Cerebral Palsy Awareness Drive by featuring her disability on her works.</div>
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<a href="https://racquelsarah.wordpress.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/racquelsarahcastro">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/rsacastro017">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://instagram.com/rsacie/">Instagram</a></div>
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<b><u>After the Moment </u></b></div>
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<b>by Six de los Reyes</b></div>
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Under the most normal of circumstances, Aria de Luna could never imagine herself kissing the boy she has always considered to be miles and miles out of her league. She’s known as their year’s resident emo-girl and she plays the part flawlessly with her violet hair, scuffed boots, and her alleged angst from living under the shadow of her over-achieving, perfect, older sister. Meanwhile, Kristoffer Li is living the perfect life. He’s popular, next year’s captain of the basketball team, attractive, if maybe a little too frowny for people’s liking, but he looks very pretty on a chocolate-milk drink carton.</div>
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So it is only under the most unusual circumstance that Kris shows up at the Arts and Culture Festival Aria has been looking forward to all year. But does a morning of awkward conversations, an afternoon of provoking discussions, and a moment under the moonlight really change three years of oblivious coexistence? Or will everything go back to the way it was after the moment?</div>
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This just in: the world is about to end, and aliens have colonized human hosts.</blockquote>
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Or maybe not, but it seems like a plausible explanation for the recent turn of events. Otherwise, how else am I supposed to justify kissing Kristoffer Li under the moonlight?</blockquote>
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To fully appreciate the insanity of this, you must first understand that Kris Li is miles and miles totally out of my league. He’s the school’s basketball star and I’m the local class freak. Everyone knows his name from fame, and my name is thrown around in infamy. He’s shiny white jerseys and I’m black hoodies. You get the picture. For three years we've peacefully coexisted without ever once having to interact, and yet, here we are.</blockquote>
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Maybe there are some moments in life that simply defy logic and explanation, and no matter how you try to put things into perspective, they refuse to fit like the way pieces of a jigsaw puzzle should. That moment, that entire day, is one of them. A moment that simply does not exist unless in some alternate universe beyond our realm of logic and understanding. A moment that could only ever exist in books, and in songs, something very nearly alive and with a sentience of its own.</blockquote>
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I still can’t believe it now, hence the matter of the world falling apart and aliens invading the Earth. But it happened anyway, despite my attempts to rationalize the situation and find something to blame for it. Everything happened the way it shouldn't, and no, I’m not okay thank you very much.</blockquote>
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Sometimes, I just really don’t understand the way the universe works.</blockquote>
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<b>About Six de los Reyes</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSbCHz3T0WGCQiS3UTJ-Xj3kyLCPPeirGURq6VWLIdczDML0UCKIMgRHezjfG4Df7KG2qDQE4iOm4fHy4vMGeGcngiveE3e6-7S1fKqard7mdo5E2lyeqB6hkHCImVV71JcPXoZr6vDs/s1600/six.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSbCHz3T0WGCQiS3UTJ-Xj3kyLCPPeirGURq6VWLIdczDML0UCKIMgRHezjfG4Df7KG2qDQE4iOm4fHy4vMGeGcngiveE3e6-7S1fKqard7mdo5E2lyeqB6hkHCImVV71JcPXoZr6vDs/s1600/six.jpg" /></a></div>
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Six de los Reyes has been reading and making up stories for as far as she can remember. In fifth grade, she learned to wield dragons and phoenixes through written word. Her day job has absolutely nothing to do with creative writing, and she wishes it did.</div>
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<a href="http://twitter.com/sixdlr">Twitter</a></div>
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<b><u>When a KISS Falls</u> </b></div>
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<b>by Kaye Dee</b></div>
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Do you know someone tagged as a KISS?</div>
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Nastasha and Stefano are both aware of the uncanny relationship they have as best friends. Nash has always been the KISS or knight-in-shining skirt - always so protective of Stef. In her, Stef found a personal on-call heroine. Stef, on the other hand, is often seen as vain, weak and feminine, making him the perfect bully target. Until one day, Stef realizes it should be the other way around. It is time to switch their roles and be his best friend’s protector and defender. But being the strong-willed girl that she is, Nash just cannot deal away with her tough nature.</div>
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Will Stef prove his worth and fulfill the new role in their friendship? Will this be the bridge that can take their friendship into something more?</div>
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I looked at myself in front of the mirror, trying to fix my plaid skirt that sat just below my knees. My white blouse was neatly ironed. I had my long unruly hair pulled up in a ponytail like I always do every morning. After I double checked if I have everything I needed in my backpack, I went on my way to kick off my last year in high school.</blockquote>
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I almost hopped my way, looking a little too ecstatic. Maybe it was the amount of caffeine I had this morning or it could be the eternal vibe of today.</blockquote>
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The Athenaeum Integrated School, known as AIS to many, had to be the best school in our small town of Cordova. Maybe even one of the most prestigious schools in the island province of Mactan. There was no denying that for suburban teenagers like me, AIS is more than what we can possibly hope for in an educational institution.</blockquote>
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AIS had always been a pride of Cordova because of its top notched facilities and faculties. We always rank high on both regional and national achievement tests. Not only does our school cater to producing intelligent students, we also have a great curriculum that brings into being talented artists and athletes.</blockquote>
<blockquote style="text-align: justify;">
Though my years in AIS have been nothing short of amazing, God knows how much I wanted to leave its four walls; wear a toga, march up to the stage, get that diploma, and begin my college journey. I even started to do a countdown for our high school graduation, and would eagerly cross out every passing day off my calendar.</blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<b>About Kaye Dee</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnN71mHaeEc9It2iohV1fEH1BBCHm8eX1cZUFhj4Xmwqd2R6mTgGtHCsDx0KgQ7uFhEKXEwpBPiSVlOo_Jk2sko2dkC_YFRVoTv1-a6IKz_jztQjiUivBcfncaYZsw1W7Jds5UaVQBEk/s1600/kayedee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnN71mHaeEc9It2iohV1fEH1BBCHm8eX1cZUFhj4Xmwqd2R6mTgGtHCsDx0KgQ7uFhEKXEwpBPiSVlOo_Jk2sko2dkC_YFRVoTv1-a6IKz_jztQjiUivBcfncaYZsw1W7Jds5UaVQBEk/s1600/kayedee.jpg" /></a></div>
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Some people say actions speak louder than words. But actions are temporary. Words are forever.</div>
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<a href="http://twitter.com/kayescribbles">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/ventrilokris">Instagram</a></div>
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<b><u>Loving You All My Life </u></b></div>
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<b>by Rafael P. Pascual</b></div>
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Isang ulirang estudyante, kaibigan at anak si Danielle Natasha Lastimosa. Ang kanyang pagsisikap, talino at kabutihan ang nagdala sa kanya sa Philippine Institute of Arts, Entertainment & Culture (PHINAREC), ang pinaka-una at natatanging paaralan para sa mga nagnanais makapasok sa larangan ng sining, kultura at libangan. Maayos na sana ang kanyang buhay-estudyante nang isang Jairus Roman Vera-Perez ang biglang nagpagulo rito. Ang lalaking iyon ang anak ng may-ari ng PHINAREC, pero ito rin ang pinakalider pagdating sa katamaran, kayabangan at kakulangan ng disiplina. Pagtatagpuin sila ng isang kakaibang proyekto para sa kursong kanilang pinag-aaralan. Maging mitsa kaya ito ng lalong paglala ng kanilang bangayan, o ito na kaya ang magsilbing daan para sila ay maging magkaibigan – at magkatuluyan? Masabi kaya nila sa isa’t isa ang katagang “I’LL KEEP ON LOVING YOU ALL MY LIFE”?</div>
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<blockquote>
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DANA’S POV</div>
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Philippine Institute of the Arts, Entertainment & Culture</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
February 16, 2000</div>
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<blockquote style="text-align: justify;">
Hay, salamat! Natapos din ang isang linggon pagsusunog ng kilay. Kakatapos lang ng examination week at kaming lahat ay nabunutan ng tinik sa dibdib.</blockquote>
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Pa’no ba naman: ang hirap na nga ng pagre-review, masyado pang mahigpit ang mga propesor – na pati ang pakikinig ng radio sa cellphone ay ipinagbawal din nila! Para naming walang tiwala ang mga propesor sa aming mga estudyante sa PHINAREC. Sabagay, prestihiyosong paaralan iyan para sa mga nagnanais pumasok sa media at showbiz, kaya gayan sila kahigpit.</blockquote>
<blockquote style="text-align: justify;">
Anyway, my name is Dana – Danielle Natasha Lastimosa. Anak ako ng isang retiradong inhinyero at ng isang dating government employee na napunta sa pagtitinda ng sigarilyo at kendi sa NAIA. At kung ang iniisip n’yo ay mahirap ang pamilya naming, tama po kayo.</blockquote>
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Mahirap ang pamilya naming, kaya dumating ang panahong kailangan ko nang magtrabaho para matulungan ang aking mga magulang.</blockquote>
<blockquote style="text-align: justify;">
Kaya lang naman ako nakapag-aral sa PHINAREC ay dahil may nakapansin sa talent ko. Siya lang naman si Mr. Art Paglinawan, ang pinakasikat na newscaster sa kasalukuyang panahon. Simula kasi nang Manalo ako sa News Reading Competition ng FBN, at nang Makita niya ang sitwasyon ng pamilya naming, tinulungan niya ako sa pag-aaral ko dito – sponsored niya ang mass communication scholarship program ng PHINAREC.</blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<b>About Rafael P. Pascual</b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQR3sKx-GEBwK_N_Tww4zzsJ5p-hjj2oxf_j1hzlhEDRv47RwZO78BseuSKllDo8-5twRh9-E3dX_RLI8EOWWCJpKbFIPvQJZTurxTBUXIkT1qwKhVcYtk9U99dsP8qGOrIL_N3z2QHE/s1600/raffy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQR3sKx-GEBwK_N_Tww4zzsJ5p-hjj2oxf_j1hzlhEDRv47RwZO78BseuSKllDo8-5twRh9-E3dX_RLI8EOWWCJpKbFIPvQJZTurxTBUXIkT1qwKhVcYtk9U99dsP8qGOrIL_N3z2QHE/s1600/raffy.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Rafael P. Pascual is a 20-year old Mass Communication student at Universidad de Manila. He is a reader of romance, teen fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery and history. He is currently writing under the username raffythequizzard on Wattpad.com.</div>
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He also loves to read Wattpad books, particularly those published by Summit Media's Pop Fiction imprint. He has attended the Wattpad seminar at the 35th Manila International Book Fair, the Pop Fiction Academy at the 1st Philippine Literary Festival, and the 3rd Pop Fiction Festival.</div>
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He currently lives in Navotas City with his mother and six other siblings.</div>
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<a href="http://twitter.com/theraffypascual">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/theraffypascual">Instagram</a></div>
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<b><u>Never Too Late </u></b></div>
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<b>by Jen Suguitan</b></div>
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When Cass goes to a trip to Corregidor, she thinks that it’s the key to finding closure over her sister's death. But things change when she gets mixed up with the wrong tour group where she meets Noah, a budding filmmaker and photographer who wants to relive his grandfather’s war stories through the tour.</div>
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As they explore the historic island together, will Cass and Noah find what they are looking for? Or will they find something more, like a chance to fall in love, too?</div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
8:03 AM, Manila to Corregidor</blockquote>
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[4:30 AM:] Wake up!!! 7am sharp @Soleil Tours terminal! DON’T BE LATE THIS TIME!!!</div>
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[6:45 AM:] I am almost there. Where are you? Why aren’t you answering my calls?!?!</div>
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[7:01 AM:] YOU ARE LATE!! Where are you, Cass?</div>
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[7:15 AM:] Called Daisy, she isn’t picking up. Where are you, Cass?!</div>
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[7:16 AM:] I’m calling mom. You are soooo screwed.</div>
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[7:18 AM:] Ferry’s leaving at 8. Where the hell ARE YOUUUU?!</div>
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[7:21 AM:] This isn’t funny. You can’t make the ferry WAIT for YOU.</div>
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[7:36 AM:] Okay, talked to the tour staff, we’re leaving EXACTLY at 8. Where are you?</div>
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[7:48 AM:] Acknowledging that you got my messages would be NICE, Cass.</div>
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[7:53 AM:] This is why mom and dad never should’ve trusted you.</div>
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[7:57 AM:] Three minutes. Corregidor will still be fun without you. #sorrynotsorry</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
I scrolled past my sister’s other pesky messages as I handed my ticket stub to the woman behind the check-in counter. I only replied to Anj, my sister, once and that was to tell her that I was five minutes away from the terminal. Knowing Anj, I’d probably get a lecture for not checking my phone’s battery level before leaving. But it was Anj’s constant nagging that distracted me before from my preparations for the trip. Besides, my phone wouldn’t die on me if she hadn’t called me twelve times in a span of twenty minutes.</blockquote>
<b>About Jen Suguitan</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tQaxxYonbSNp5lfSMODz9tEzMfYhqUtMKzRSsQY3fnsU4TnZQFLWBM0yuQbnSqMtR3X_4rBoz05IUV_IDLHmXYGGhG5-YILo9T2Jwxl57sG9HaDfito6kkdlJEgtXS6fY-gyKtbttfE/s1600/jen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tQaxxYonbSNp5lfSMODz9tEzMfYhqUtMKzRSsQY3fnsU4TnZQFLWBM0yuQbnSqMtR3X_4rBoz05IUV_IDLHmXYGGhG5-YILo9T2Jwxl57sG9HaDfito6kkdlJEgtXS6fY-gyKtbttfE/s1600/jen.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Jen C. Suguitan is a PR practitioner by day and a storyteller by night. Her love affair with words and letters led to a Journalism degree and stories cramped in her hard drive that the world has yet to see. She started writing professionally for a local broadsheet when she was seventeen, and she doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon. When she's not writing, she's probably thinking of what to write about next.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://twitter.com/JenSuguitan">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/jenjensuguitan">Instagram </a></div>
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<b><u>Join the Giveaway!</u></b><br />
<br />
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="dc42906e266" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/dc42906e266/" id="rcwidget_2thk6h7c" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-50973079387563526802015-04-25T09:09:00.001+08:002015-04-25T09:20:26.936+08:00#buqoYA is LIVE!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjFVw0qzLIO4F4WJ-ZGnhLynihxAvX8JArDVBnc2Ld23-yzHSRV1rr4CKNeOXU9h2unyjDjXNwP4ISX8m8NgNXrNHi4jIfjssMt-GW_Gaq1ipnU_s3l__sqiC1bENO0AJzj65ROC8Cq8/s1600/Get_ready_to_crush_on_these_short_love_stories.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjFVw0qzLIO4F4WJ-ZGnhLynihxAvX8JArDVBnc2Ld23-yzHSRV1rr4CKNeOXU9h2unyjDjXNwP4ISX8m8NgNXrNHi4jIfjssMt-GW_Gaq1ipnU_s3l__sqiC1bENO0AJzj65ROC8Cq8/s1600/Get_ready_to_crush_on_these_short_love_stories.png" height="208" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the <a href="http://blog.buqo.ph/buqoya-2015-short-love-stories-for-teens">Buqo.ph blog</a></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's LIVE, folks! The #buqoYA bundles are now available at the <a href="http://www.buqo.ph/">Buqo</a> digital store and you can already purchase them from the app. For the uninitiated, Buqo is a digital book store where you can buy ebooks (here's a guide on how to <a href="http://blog.buqo.ph/blog/install-buqo-android-device-phones-tablets">install</a> the app, <a href="http://blog.buqo.ph/how-to-create-a-buqo-account">create an account</a>, and <a href="http://blog.buqo.ph/how-to-purchase-books">purchase books</a>). </div>
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In case you might ask, the bundles will be exclusively available in the digital store for a certain period. Let's support our local authors by purchasing the books in Buqo (since it's also a book store for the Filipino reader)!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFUNQWtDyb1wr_tZLpr0i3AWTgKz5VwUJ2QpX_5p64SMb_S2Y_Uqg30G33B9iryk-cSae6n6G5h2Cq60lb_-wzYoyph5mhNr3ubum1OLsMzLom_yU8KJzGSh-Yw5W2s_mF8Hfb-PrEv8/s1600/buqoya-app.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFUNQWtDyb1wr_tZLpr0i3AWTgKz5VwUJ2QpX_5p64SMb_S2Y_Uqg30G33B9iryk-cSae6n6G5h2Cq60lb_-wzYoyph5mhNr3ubum1OLsMzLom_yU8KJzGSh-Yw5W2s_mF8Hfb-PrEv8/s1600/buqoya-app.jpg" height="320" width="272" /></a></div>
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<br />
The bundles are the end product of our writing class with <a href="http://minavesguerra.com/">Mina V. Esguerra</a> and as I've <a href="http://thoughtsbrewed.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-buqoya-experience.html">mentioned in a previous post</a>, the experience opened my eyes to a lot of things, particularly with the way I write. People say that writing is a solitary experience, but this class made the process fun and worthwhile. Some of my classmates even <a href="http://blog.buqo.ph/buqoya-2015-a-blog-round-up-about-writing-short-love-stories">blogged about their writing journey</a> for this class. </div>
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But hey, the fun doesn't stop there! The fabulous Dianne of <a href="http://www.oopsireadabookagain.com/">Oops! I Read A Book Again</a> is organizing a blog tour this April and May for all the bundles. I've signed up for this promotion to give our readers more info about the stories and get them excited to read! Hope you can tune in this blog as the tour starts next week. </div>
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To celebrate this exciting occasion, we're having a launch party/event alongside the <a href="http://nbdb.gov.ph/index.php">National Book Development Board</a>'s book fair today, April 25, at the Greenfield District in Mandaluyong. We will be reading excerpts of select stories per bundle. We hope you can swing by and jam with us! </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.giphy.com/1AE8YTq9kXFW8.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.giphy.com/1AE8YTq9kXFW8.gif" height="184" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From giphy.com</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-67502893934995949022015-04-16T08:55:00.000+08:002015-04-16T08:55:38.164+08:00#buqoYA Blog Tour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_G3KstEo0Co0qbuHGIIWDMgwHZLQfLvRwSB4rXpd19Ys4jvEnOJEFBrcpk_bObEJMhSJe6IOEs92IYzbVEOONeRmkkncwRXkgKtZ28E6XSvY_eljoTx8dAdSasFVwP6AffUVetPn1puM/s1600/buqoya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_G3KstEo0Co0qbuHGIIWDMgwHZLQfLvRwSB4rXpd19Ys4jvEnOJEFBrcpk_bObEJMhSJe6IOEs92IYzbVEOONeRmkkncwRXkgKtZ28E6XSvY_eljoTx8dAdSasFVwP6AffUVetPn1puM/s1600/buqoya.jpg" height="191" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from Pixabay.com</td></tr>
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It's been so busy this first quarter of the year, but I'm really excited to get my writing mojo back after last year's drought. And since I did mention joining a <a href="http://thoughtsbrewed.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-buqoya-experience.html">YA writing class</a> in January, I'm equally stoked to be promoting our #buqoYA blog tour! My story, <i>Fall from Grace</i>, is in the bundle <i>Finding Fairytales</i>.</div>
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If you have a blog, please do <a href="http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=3329e067f8bc5342661cb3fd8&id=f5a7461979&utm_campaign=%23buqoYA&utm_content=13945321&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter">join the blog tour</a>! Our goal is to bring more young adult romance stories and we hope to be diverse and interesting as what's already available in the market.</div>
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I'll be featuring excerpts of my #buqoYA co-authors and I hope this will get everyone excited to check them out (and buy them) on <a href="http://www.buqo.ph/">Buqo</a>. Let's all support our local authors! :)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-43838517509594818032015-03-01T13:31:00.001+08:002015-03-01T13:31:45.603+08:00The #buqoYA Experience<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRbjo17dnQ06RaWnnbEWA5VAcdSCoNTR6L3fl2wYQDH53dcuVzSpioOYShnzFUa9K5PLtilaWYyn1BIbRXFkKhBS_g1KpuZUAA3_YBCrRp9iMEXLyl1_U2UxWr5ZMTIseIaPPxUAYjbQ/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRbjo17dnQ06RaWnnbEWA5VAcdSCoNTR6L3fl2wYQDH53dcuVzSpioOYShnzFUa9K5PLtilaWYyn1BIbRXFkKhBS_g1KpuZUAA3_YBCrRp9iMEXLyl1_U2UxWr5ZMTIseIaPPxUAYjbQ/s1600/4.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from #buqoYA classmate Justine Tajonera</td></tr>
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To say that the start of 2015 has been busy is the biggest understatement. I know I still have to detail what I've been doing for the past 2 months, but I just want to get this down into writing while I'm still on a high. In December of last year, I signed up to join one of <a href="http://minavesguerra.blogspot.com/">Mina V. Esguerra</a>'s classes yet again, this time for a Young Adult writing session sponsored by <a href="http://www.buqo.ph/">Buqo</a>, the premier Filipino digital book store. Two things got me so excited to join:</div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Writing for YA. I've never done YA before and to be honest, it's such an exciting thing. I still remember my favorite YA books during my teen years, and though I still read YA to this day, I want to read more <i>well-written</i> Pinoy YA. Not to sound condescending, but how else could I read more of this if I don't write about it, right? Right.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">We had the option to write in English, Filipino, or Taglish. I missed writing in Filipino and I wanted to try it out just for kicks. I had an almost-finished manuscript that I wrote during the 2013 Camp NaNoWriMo event—it was YA and in Filipino. I seriously thought I wouldn't be able to use this story any time soon since I had other WIPs as priority. The timing was perfect and it was time for me to flex my Filipino writing skills yet again. </li>
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For the more-than-a-month writing class, we worked on the tropes assigned to us (I got Out of My League), wreaked havoc on Twitter, and enjoyed both first and last face-to-face class meetings. Yesterday we celebrated the conclusion of a successful workshop and it was like a graduation of sorts. There was an endless supply of discussions, jokes, and insight sharing that left everyone smiling at the end of the day.</div>
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There were a lot of things I discovered and enjoyed in this class:</div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Writing with a group with a specific deadline in mind works best for me. The kind of support and encouragement I get from a group of writers is still the best way for me to produce a decent output. Being the professional procrastinator that I am, it helps that I get both pressure and inspiration to up my game. I could never accomplish that on my own.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">I write best in Filipino. I mentioned in class to write in the language that's most comfortable to you, and for me it was writing in my native language. It was relatively easy for me to communicate my thoughts that way, and my characters' dialogues sound more genuine and real to me. Granted that I'll be limiting my audience to Filipinos or to those who know and appreciate the language, the writing journey was more pleasant. I admit that I still have a lot of things to improve on in terms of writing in English, but that's a challenge I plan on working on (as I have a couple more WIPs that need to see the light of day). I'm glad Buqo presented this opportunity as well.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">We have so many amazing Filipino authors. Seriously. These writers have yet to be read by more people, but I am already excited for my fellow classmates to release their stories into the wild. With classes like these, more people are being inspired to realize their dream of <i>becoming</i> <i>writers</i>, and not just to be famous. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">New friends! Because I was so into the support group thing, I was mostly trading tweets with my classmates. It was fun to get to chat with them in person during the last meeting session. Beta reading each other's stories also gave me insights to their writing style and helped me review my own work in a different perspective. </li>
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But the class isn't over <i>over</i>. We still have three weeks to polish our work to its best possible form for publishing. I've got my own work cut out for me, now that the feedback is in (thanks, beta readers). I'm so excited to get my story out soon! I'd like to thank Mina once again for having fun and inspiring classes like these, and to Buqo for being such a gracious sponsor. I'm still thinking of signing up for the April #SparkNA one, but we'll see how things go. :)</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">All .gif images are from giphy.com</span></i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-62625742149726314002014-12-31T20:54:00.002+08:002014-12-31T20:54:29.978+08:00My 2014 Happy List<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://katienormalgirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Gratitude-Jar-from-katienormalgirl.com_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://katienormalgirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Gratitude-Jar-from-katienormalgirl.com_1.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from <a href="http://katienormalgirl.com/2013/11/11/giving-thanks-keeping-it-simple/">Katie: Normal Girl</a></td></tr>
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There was this post that appeared in my FB (couldn't find the link) where you write down the stuff you're happy/thankful for in pieces of paper and put them in a jar. At the end of the year, you take them out, re-read them, and review all the good things that have happened to you for the entire year. I did something similar but instead of a jar, I wrote down those happy things in my planner. </div>
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While "looking back", I realized that majority of my happy and memorable moments had something to do with my friends and family. Even something as simple as meeting up with friends was a something-to-look-forward-to day, and hopefully this 2015, I'll be able to note more of these things that make me truly happy. It's a good exercise that I'm definitely going to continue.</div>
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I know it's not much, but here's my list of happy things this 2014.</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Spent New Year with family</li>
<li>Had a shopping spree with sis</li>
<li>Meet up with college friends</li>
<li>Shopped for books at the NBS Warehouse Sale</li>
<li>1st #buqosteamyreads meet-up class</li>
<li>Book launch of Luna East vol. 1 / #romanceclass anniversary</li>
<li>Sis was home</li>
<li>Guested at the 5x5 Podcast</li>
<li>2 years!</li>
<li>Til Death book signing</li>
<li>#buqosteamyreads release</li>
<li>Janus Silang book signing</li>
<li>Attended Toycon</li>
<li>Met up with Jannie</li>
<li>First NetGalley ARC approval</li>
<li>Family trip to Baguio</li>
<li>Attended MIBF with bookish friends</li>
<li>2014 NaNoWriMo Kick-off Party</li>
<li>Joined 2014 NaNoWriMo</li>
<li>Attended Komikon</li>
<li>Was invited to write a Pep Talk for PinoyWriMos</li>
<li>PinoyWriMo TGIO Party</li>
<li>#romanceclass Christmas Party</li>
<li>Christmas Party with the besties</li>
<li>Christmas with the family</li>
</ul>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Here's to an even more grateful and amazing year ahead! Happy 2015, everyone!</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://holidayswishes.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Simple-Happy-New-Year-Message-2015.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://holidayswishes.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Simple-Happy-New-Year-Message-2015.gif" height="250" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://holidaywishes.net/">HolidayWishes.net</a></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-57009271694942802202014-12-24T21:22:00.003+08:002014-12-24T21:22:51.780+08:002014 Christmas Greetings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWG5nDXlBevOUYXJmAlFdc0timhlA1H2CYovLMxiv-ugJoQytITvefaByBX8iiNUgwOIN4gcaJxgMjaYSNhpPBf63yqy6AZxzlW7Pm5ba8ncRSbMtxMxjpFeCD1QU7wOyMGhaIoSpAUE/s1600/Merry_Christmas_2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWG5nDXlBevOUYXJmAlFdc0timhlA1H2CYovLMxiv-ugJoQytITvefaByBX8iiNUgwOIN4gcaJxgMjaYSNhpPBf63yqy6AZxzlW7Pm5ba8ncRSbMtxMxjpFeCD1QU7wOyMGhaIoSpAUE/s1600/Merry_Christmas_2009.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from Google</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">I took my time off seriously after NaNoWriMo, but I wouldn't want to pass up the opportunity to greet everyone a very Merry Christmas! Have an awesome and meaningful celebration with the people you love. Have fun, folks! :)</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-32580250157618658432014-11-29T21:07:00.001+08:002014-11-29T21:07:42.102+08:00TGIO (Thank God It's OVER)!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Popping back in the blog after hitting 50k words in my NaNo novel.</div>
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YES! 50K!</div>
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But I haven't validated yet because of the discrepancy in my word processesor. I'll validate sometime later this week, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop after reaching the finish line. I still haven't written "The End" to my story, so the writing doesn't stop just yet. But I'm just over the moon to have crossed the line because it has been worse than hell going through this month. </div>
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<b>Edit:</b> I've finally written the ending, and I've clocked in a total of 55,078 words per NaNo word count verifier.</div>
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Just to give you an idea, I've listed down a couple of things that happened so far.</div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Reverse NaNo became too daunting for me. Up until I crossed 50k, I was still writing 2k words per day, mainly because I began to lose steam early in November. I never got to write below 1k words and to me it felt like a chore day in and day out. But I pushed myself, even to the point where I was hating what I was writing.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">My characters weren't speaking to me AT ALL. Maybe my hectic work schedule was part of it, and I was usually fried by the time it was 6pm (or my end-of-work shift). But even during weekends or idle time, there was no word from any of my characters and I think that's why it became so difficult for me to churn out the word count quota. Maybe it was also because I didn't get to plan scene-by-scene. When the time came for me to write, I got stumped, and that was the last thing I wanted to happen.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Using the Dana was a mistake. At some point by the end of the third week, I went to write at a nearby cafe so I could be in a different environment. I brought my Alphasmart Dana with me, and it was a good thing to bring a writing device that wasn't too bulky. I wrote around 3k+ words that night. Then when I got home and went to transfer/transcribe what I wrote, the word program just got corrupted, meaning my 3k words went down the drain. It was a very stressful experience. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">I was clearly writing for the word count alone, and that would mean triple work when I get down to editing this monster. Rewrites are going to be a bitch, that's for sure. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">I kinda didn't like how my story developed along the way. Yes, the inner editor just wouldn't shut up even if I went deaf listening to music on full volume while writing. </li>
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But I'm still thankful I managed to cross the finish line despite the odds. I was worrying about my word count for the entire month that at some point I was really hating the writing experience. </div>
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I'm gonna put this behind me for the meantime because I'm so relieved to say that I've finished writing. I'm so looking forward to getting my reward for a good job this year. </div>
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And here are a couple of pics during my month-long journey to literary insanity:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rWqQHWRq1DlS7D7Ccu2xW3Eq6pDU2iAU20l-DVUR2ZDOYiyAytyEWDh2KS4Ys7VETtU7CB9Ek5MpC_VpxbzWTc8TwTxlilICwPqI_mkKf5LTIkv3TgN2WkVvZsnIssfMcryaoPraILM/s1600/nano1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rWqQHWRq1DlS7D7Ccu2xW3Eq6pDU2iAU20l-DVUR2ZDOYiyAytyEWDh2KS4Ys7VETtU7CB9Ek5MpC_VpxbzWTc8TwTxlilICwPqI_mkKf5LTIkv3TgN2WkVvZsnIssfMcryaoPraILM/s1600/nano1.jpg" height="315" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pre-NaNo plotting session was brought to you by Starbucks.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyz5-AFUOUnqylYRcXjaK8qCODbNbtJOqNBozHN1RGEC0jJeqdgdqVuhVmlwgSk4YegR7BGE3X9nhVK2t9sl66XU6mzhOY64BnWww9-LKnGXSvMn_elnzPNr7hqNVchWIUtY_I_0nyjo/s1600/nano2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyz5-AFUOUnqylYRcXjaK8qCODbNbtJOqNBozHN1RGEC0jJeqdgdqVuhVmlwgSk4YegR7BGE3X9nhVK2t9sl66XU6mzhOY64BnWww9-LKnGXSvMn_elnzPNr7hqNVchWIUtY_I_0nyjo/s1600/nano2.jpg" height="314" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Channeling the fandom</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7zkg-wr138kk9JIA4ttWDD_p63gCbFGPy_z5Sumuy2R_AB161EgrUhKjn0bhvoETXQGEytrjGZNAXPKReizhM28AYNiHR9uwNxyFTuS1bYKtpjNRGLHPWnFsPjKAbsPlSCT7Ifi-i9I/s1600/nano3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7zkg-wr138kk9JIA4ttWDD_p63gCbFGPy_z5Sumuy2R_AB161EgrUhKjn0bhvoETXQGEytrjGZNAXPKReizhM28AYNiHR9uwNxyFTuS1bYKtpjNRGLHPWnFsPjKAbsPlSCT7Ifi-i9I/s1600/nano3.jpg" height="315" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the PinoyWriMo kick-off chat, waiting for the clock to strike midnight</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJ5XRKkOU8-aSe42XCGmzdvIVSTm1vOrTJLsLtYJGs6gvmRijb241wWK4_C8FRzr5qdsCfSpIkuYnDwBVV4IdhuOoeTjd2QWHI6WKAxQSPaJXPSW9QO6VvliWxm6kCkfOQtBrlp1mwU0/s1600/nano4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJ5XRKkOU8-aSe42XCGmzdvIVSTm1vOrTJLsLtYJGs6gvmRijb241wWK4_C8FRzr5qdsCfSpIkuYnDwBVV4IdhuOoeTjd2QWHI6WKAxQSPaJXPSW9QO6VvliWxm6kCkfOQtBrlp1mwU0/s1600/nano4.jpg" height="314" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My trusty writing companion</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1qka5l4GT-7srKwiezaV4TKXlWAGrK045K9UOwk6XnRX1sJ4zdiaiOO581b2Q76sER3XuDnLp2QBR52tjpIileNF_mBmUK2G656rRWpcseJZ6bi2ICUP1ELNvdb0JOjtbiyN-D0dUpo/s1600/nano5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1qka5l4GT-7srKwiezaV4TKXlWAGrK045K9UOwk6XnRX1sJ4zdiaiOO581b2Q76sER3XuDnLp2QBR52tjpIileNF_mBmUK2G656rRWpcseJZ6bi2ICUP1ELNvdb0JOjtbiyN-D0dUpo/s1600/nano5.jpg" height="316" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Alphasmart Dana that wasn't so "smart" after going bonkers and losing my 3k word count progress</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cgN1rBwwQNEiDG2Q6pvBGjlRD6ZZUAXpqUABDhyphenhyphenY5NxKFALLSrOGtkgR8zz9xJ9YWWLFAL_dV5gSEf_4voNKSv9L8lsaFAdsdTRJBZJvXmBmNC-GfQZtqwXwHGvxlJrnB4z_gaUPQhk/s1600/nano6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cgN1rBwwQNEiDG2Q6pvBGjlRD6ZZUAXpqUABDhyphenhyphenY5NxKFALLSrOGtkgR8zz9xJ9YWWLFAL_dV5gSEf_4voNKSv9L8lsaFAdsdTRJBZJvXmBmNC-GfQZtqwXwHGvxlJrnB4z_gaUPQhk/s1600/nano6.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just reached this today! Woot!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7B9gXvk2q7-dauY__a4SPP83pLhJnDT6KW6LBetbk-9KuL0rBR_isDi7682NG8e8-OGIy27jQZbjtcjl-1uFQy4G4gMfUc1tmJqDaOKNlpEXo8fOF5zg1qioGquYlespJvH6h9foljc/s1600/nano7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7B9gXvk2q7-dauY__a4SPP83pLhJnDT6KW6LBetbk-9KuL0rBR_isDi7682NG8e8-OGIy27jQZbjtcjl-1uFQy4G4gMfUc1tmJqDaOKNlpEXo8fOF5zg1qioGquYlespJvH6h9foljc/s1600/nano7.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I DESERVE THIS REWARD! (caps lock for eternal rage-relief)</td></tr>
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Whew! What a month! And because I'm such a glutton for punishment, I'm thinking of joining Camp NaNo this April. Haha. Somebody shoot me.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-87338832298473664782014-10-27T20:55:00.002+08:002014-10-27T21:04:43.101+08:00It's THAT time of the year again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMcepKEdbQrXS4KY75IoCfCZxR6i6iwtyVHik7QGINIvCHuGbD4sCnVJVZzRT1plVvJ2d_LUc79r8DcXZT155q8YY2efhm2KF12W8Ur2_mD3Q5141Jbr2FGTYCGkNELFY3zNv-p-lT2M/s1600/novcollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMcepKEdbQrXS4KY75IoCfCZxR6i6iwtyVHik7QGINIvCHuGbD4sCnVJVZzRT1plVvJ2d_LUc79r8DcXZT155q8YY2efhm2KF12W8Ur2_mD3Q5141Jbr2FGTYCGkNELFY3zNv-p-lT2M/s1600/novcollage.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
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...and I don't mean Christmas.<br />
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I look forward to November of each year with a mixture of excitement and trepidation as it usually means I'll have to go through 30 days and nights of anxiety, frustration, and euphoria, thanks to this yearly event called <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/">NaNoWriMo</a>. </div>
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And like every week before NaNo commences, I'm always left doing something else (like writing this blog post) instead of finishing my story's plot. </div>
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/CkKi44L.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/CkKi44L.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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There's a lot going for me this year as I take on this yearly writing challenge, most of which is work-related schedule conflict. Hopefully once I establish a routine after work, I can stick to it and accomplish my daily writing quota. <a href="http://thoughtsbrewed.blogspot.com/2013/11/book-blog-tour-updates.html">I'll be doing Reverse NaNoWriMo</a> again to get me ahead of my game. </div>
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I'll be writing contemporary romance again, and I have good vibes with this story. I'm really hoping this euphoria lasts even beyond November, as I plan to hopefully get it published as well. Last year's NaNo novel is still in the process of being edited, but I'm also crossing my fingers I could get it all cleaned up and ready to be sent out to the world next year. </div>
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Despite my not-yet-finished plot, I'm very excited to do NaNo again because of the local support group, <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/regions/asia-philippines">PinoyWrimos</a>, and the much-larger, global group of WriMos who'll go through the same roller coaster ride this month. </div>
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And speaking of PinoyWrimos, the Kick-Off event was so much fun! It was one of the biggest turnout in terms of attendance, and it was great to see both new and familiar faces. That round-robin writing exercise was such a nifty game that I got to bond with fellow writers (we collectively call ourselves the Dino WriMos because of our strange affinity for prehistoric reptiles and a certain British supermodel). And I got to talk about Reverse NaNo too and shared my experience on how it helped me reach the finish line way ahead of the deadline. </div>
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I'm definitely looking forward to the write-ins and participating in word wars. I'm going to make 2014 my (NaNo) year! </div>
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And here's to hoping we all get our purple bars!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-28399149788521747512014-10-24T22:19:00.003+08:002014-10-24T22:19:45.276+08:00Filipino Friday: Have you ever wanted to write a book?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwveDXu4IWp__d6hmtjeNxAtDogqiJL2rUBgUOyrem4_ETKuR1XKll98_gopnOK_-bQpKTCs-NTmH2cYNvQuDoaqt7XaldEt4EZF2kSC779qzSjMeSxPy_WuPA3u4WpzFrtPe-i0TLPyA/s1600/filipinofriday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwveDXu4IWp__d6hmtjeNxAtDogqiJL2rUBgUOyrem4_ETKuR1XKll98_gopnOK_-bQpKTCs-NTmH2cYNvQuDoaqt7XaldEt4EZF2kSC779qzSjMeSxPy_WuPA3u4WpzFrtPe-i0TLPyA/s1600/filipinofriday.jpg" /></a></div>
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Hey, guys, it's Friday again! And that means another Filipino Friday meme! Here's my take on week 2.</div>
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<i>As a reader, have you ever thought about writing a book? What kind of books/stories do you want to write? Or are you now a published author, and what compelled you to go fulfill this dream? How was your journey from reader to writer? How did you go about getting your book out there?</i></blockquote>
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Ever since I finished reading my first book (a Nancy Drew mystery), I've always been fascinated by the magical powers of books and how they make me feel like I'm right then and there where the action happens. I only explored writing when I was in my sophomore year in high school and my English teacher noticed how much I was into it. My grammar was probably deplorable that time, but my teacher nevertheless encouraged me to continue doing it. She even asked me to write (in behalf of our class) a card for our retreat master which I read in front of everyone at the end of our retreat. When people ask me how I knew I wanted to write and become a writer, I always go back to that moment. And now that I've <a href="http://thoughtsbrewed.blogspot.com/2013/10/in-over-her-head-how-to-download.html">self-published my first novella</a> (thanks to <a href="http://minavesguerra.com/">Mina Esguerra</a>'s <a href="http://thoughtsbrewed.blogspot.com/search/label/%23romanceclass">#romanceclass</a>), I feel like this is just the beginning. </div>
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This is why I have so much respect for teachers, particularly for literature and English instructors. Writing back then was something I just considered a hobby, something that I could do to pass time or chose to abandon when I didn't feel like doing it. But that one, simple encouragement had a significant impact in my life that changed me in a profound way. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGC4W6ZQl-5YFCTqv7mqAN4K9au-JVWjiG7fa9m6PrMYSMdt0potABouUjoagBjPUweiv8Pj_JYFLHvKIiWlJucH5juHC0dMbkEoKRxsi2guRw1Msbs7XD9DNmQ3wRLm8xHJbinR5U4s/s1600/iohhbday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGC4W6ZQl-5YFCTqv7mqAN4K9au-JVWjiG7fa9m6PrMYSMdt0potABouUjoagBjPUweiv8Pj_JYFLHvKIiWlJucH5juHC0dMbkEoKRxsi2guRw1Msbs7XD9DNmQ3wRLm8xHJbinR5U4s/s1600/iohhbday.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
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I believe a good writer has to be an avid reader. You can't have one without the other. That's why I think writing is a profession worth pursuing if you've got the passion and determination. I can't stress enough that it's hard work, not to mention a risky thing because you give a piece of yourself whenever you commit your words into paper. It takes guts, an open mind, and a hunger to learn in order to become a writer, and even more hard work to be better in your craft. </div>
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I know everyone's got a story in them waiting to be written, so I always encourage people, whether friends or acquaintances, to pursue it because it's always a worthwhile endeavor.</div>
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Having said that, I just realized that yesterday was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G63DGYC">In Over Her Head</a>'s book birthday! Thank you, day job, for making me miss it. Haha.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-39495057417669589132014-10-17T15:11:00.002+08:002014-10-17T15:12:36.595+08:00Filipino Friday: Intro Post & New Discoveries<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPvUIKnkoIQk8idap1a4a4iVpDLt2fL7cBapMnGcLdkZmezQheNvd_EjuDXsnC58bqcNYcNJgK7nTGMlSyA3b08GgFPUDCuvkQMtfGIOj_AvF8DLr-AFgre3FtxJFjASMwja10JG8SY8/s1600/filipinofriday_zps2b07fdd5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPvUIKnkoIQk8idap1a4a4iVpDLt2fL7cBapMnGcLdkZmezQheNvd_EjuDXsnC58bqcNYcNJgK7nTGMlSyA3b08GgFPUDCuvkQMtfGIOj_AvF8DLr-AFgre3FtxJFjASMwja10JG8SY8/s1600/filipinofriday_zps2b07fdd5.jpg" /></a></div>
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It's that time of the year again, folks! The <a href="http://filipinoreadercon.wordpress.com/">Filipino Reader Con</a> is happening again this November and I just know it's going to be even more awesome than last year's. And as per tradition, the weeks leading to the big day would include a weekly meme every Friday. Here's the first Filipino Friday meme for the week:</div>
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<i>Surprise, Reader! Hello, it’s the first week of Filipino Fridays 2014! Whether it’s your first time to participate or not, tell us a bit about yourself. More specifically, tell us about your favorite book discoveries for this year. Any author you started reading this year that you can’t get enough of? A book you didn’t think you’d like, but you ended up liking/loving? Any book series that you just have to get your hands on? Have you discovered anything new from Filipino authors this year?</i></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUauzAgQknkCBmUxpHnDMQg2KnR42sqzYQEbfuifjEpskKWLA6I8PfTEau79VoXerLzgfGxmcADbQYgrzkUpfSQBzFL5YTWfNBpb2p0mRd_mBvWwnIt87qTdH29O2icYIoBsFZH36QtY/s1600/si-janus-silang-tiyanak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUauzAgQknkCBmUxpHnDMQg2KnR42sqzYQEbfuifjEpskKWLA6I8PfTEau79VoXerLzgfGxmcADbQYgrzkUpfSQBzFL5YTWfNBpb2p0mRd_mBvWwnIt87qTdH29O2icYIoBsFZH36QtY/s1600/si-janus-silang-tiyanak.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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My favorite book discovery this year—and I can't stress this enough—is Edgar Samar's <a href="http://adarna.com.ph/products-page/new-titles/si-janus-silang-ang-tiyanak-ng-tabon/">Si Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tabon</a>. I first learned about this new book from a friend's Instagram post (I missed the blog tour) and I got really curious so I bought a copy the following day. After reading it in one sitting, I was an instant fan. <a href="http://thoughtsbrewed.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-si-janus-silang-at-ang-tiyanak.html">I even wrote a review about it</a> just so I could get the feels out of my system. The feels haven't really gone away, to be honest.</div>
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And I didn't stop there. I gifted two of my closest friends with a signed book copy just so I would have someone to talk to and I wouldn't go stark raving mad while waiting for the next installment. I also bought the official shirt, wore it on MIBF 2014, and would've made a fanart if I wasn't such a n00b in doing any creative artwork. </div>
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Book 1 is already out and the author said so himself that it's going to be more than three books. Yay! I hope more and more people get to read this exciting Filipino YA book so we can all share in the feels with the awesomeness that is Janus Silang. </div>
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Do you have any Pinoy book discoveries this year? Join the meme! If you don't have a blog, you can <a href="http://twitter.com/PinoyReaderCon">tweet</a> or post a <a href="http://facebook.com/filipinoreadercon">Facebook</a> status and tag the amazing people behind Filipino ReaderCon.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-31780757439832276172014-10-04T11:22:00.000+08:002014-10-04T11:24:17.479+08:00My Wallet Post-MIBF<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uX9_BNFOkAMiZ9AjnSyx82St2MpNURHNpA-oGla9qtytgckevg-T-SXk0MuKV6oIU1dDzwhyphenhyphen8KFOO7BMkh9-6nyWA35lN96JxbS3abySQGwwLsxIUtnNF0zj8r5peWsfiRTc6c74YFA/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uX9_BNFOkAMiZ9AjnSyx82St2MpNURHNpA-oGla9qtytgckevg-T-SXk0MuKV6oIU1dDzwhyphenhyphen8KFOO7BMkh9-6nyWA35lN96JxbS3abySQGwwLsxIUtnNF0zj8r5peWsfiRTc6c74YFA/s1600/2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool graffiti art at the convention lobby</td></tr>
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Thank you again, life (and work), for making me such a delinquent when it comes to updating my blog. But even so, allow me to say that the MIBF this year was such a great experience. I had my friends come along, not to mention there were just so many books I wanted to buy. In terms of books and stuff I wanted to get my hands on, I could've easily burned all the money I had in my wallet. But of course, I still managed to reel myself from doing that. </div>
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And because I am a lazy bum, I'm going to enumerate the highlights of my MIBF experience. Luckily, I took pics as well.<br />
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Thank you, God, things didn't turn out to be apocalyptic. The previous day brought winds and torrential rain that school and work were suspended. I prayed really hard for the storm to stop and for everyone else to be safe and okay. Thank goodness the skies cleared up the following day.</li>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVNg5lghtt-bewoUmhJPD_GDL5mfWGLanGDfIYuJttj9SIuC4w5Bq5r2ZFQi9CIAI6ZdvYdx-fIqVwgIkLWgHxNAHGPvs2lMYorvK3zMLdl7YRsd5xURnjCjt30qlNMNa1gJRrwEhDIg/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVNg5lghtt-bewoUmhJPD_GDL5mfWGLanGDfIYuJttj9SIuC4w5Bq5r2ZFQi9CIAI6ZdvYdx-fIqVwgIkLWgHxNAHGPvs2lMYorvK3zMLdl7YRsd5xURnjCjt30qlNMNa1gJRrwEhDIg/s1600/3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avisala, mga pashnea.</td></tr>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">I got to meet THE Pen Medina, a.k.a. the actor who played Hagorn in Encantadia. I'm still mentally kicking myself for not bringing my Enca DVD and have him sign it, but I guess a photo-op would suffice. He must've been taken aback with the people asking to take a photo with him because he didn't flinch when I said <i>Avisala</i>.</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuh05nhthzAIKwGN3gFLUeJNSiAp0EmD7ZyorAjtvKxexGlHJ_0KujAI0ScqcS4xftaYH_QgeClVzCpmSCmsgz4W2UFypIRWDs9GWo0cWCFCU_Vc-ev_dNp33S8VpC3gl5jiPdUxvJ52U/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuh05nhthzAIKwGN3gFLUeJNSiAp0EmD7ZyorAjtvKxexGlHJ_0KujAI0ScqcS4xftaYH_QgeClVzCpmSCmsgz4W2UFypIRWDs9GWo0cWCFCU_Vc-ev_dNp33S8VpC3gl5jiPdUxvJ52U/s1600/1.jpg" height="189" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(l-r) Mina V. Esguerra, Kate Evangelista, and Alyssa Urbano (I don't know what Mina and Alyssa are thinking about in this pic, tbh.)</td></tr>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li style="text-align: justify;">I got to attend at least one forum, Readers Who Write, organized by <a href="http://filipinoreadercon.wordpress.com/">ReaderCon</a> and the <a href="http://nbdb.gov.ph/">NBDB</a>. Two of the forum panelists were my fave local authors. I've never had so much fun in the discussions. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">I got (some of) my books signed! Fangirl moment.</li>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrl9HRKIOqY4YNug0wwLETmnghve83U8N8Hdrr7qKJDD9zF-UpMyBfjBd3Q2RupurUfEGSTOuaA792q-z5oLu9_fw9oc0PakpTl29nyapUkOIioXBaAWqKZpqs4Q1V7q2p0Um4czxQUE/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrl9HRKIOqY4YNug0wwLETmnghve83U8N8Hdrr7qKJDD9zF-UpMyBfjBd3Q2RupurUfEGSTOuaA792q-z5oLu9_fw9oc0PakpTl29nyapUkOIioXBaAWqKZpqs4Q1V7q2p0Um4czxQUE/s1600/4.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My MIBF stash. I bought postcards, too!</td></tr>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Did I say I almost burned a hole in my wallet on MIBF purchases alone? Yep. No regrets, though. </li>
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I had so much fun, I wish this thing happened on a quarterly basis. Or maybe not. I'd be dead broke if that happened. Hehe. Let's do this again next year!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-73426553457046434442014-09-25T09:00:00.000+08:002014-09-25T09:00:01.801+08:00Once Upon A Player Blog Tour (Interview with Agay Llanera)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEz_60WFa88PijDJi3Drk48IYVwpMAViVPlPDF_IVqdq2nBS3APaVcGv5Op8uPKoJPw7qlbZoAcXhh_WQz1Da5tiHxh3VWA2Qwn49NAUlfRCmvTtzBYZu6tUB6KKCmvuSSswsA8EA25Ew/s1600/tourbanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEz_60WFa88PijDJi3Drk48IYVwpMAViVPlPDF_IVqdq2nBS3APaVcGv5Op8uPKoJPw7qlbZoAcXhh_WQz1Da5tiHxh3VWA2Qwn49NAUlfRCmvTtzBYZu6tUB6KKCmvuSSswsA8EA25Ew/s1600/tourbanner.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Once-upon-Player-Agay-Llanera-ebook/dp/B00ML03O1Y/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"> | </span><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/465991" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22892370-once-upon-a-player">Goodreads</a></td></tr>
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In today's book tour stop, I get to ask Agay a few questions about sports, anti-heroines, and her thoughts about love teams. Read her answers after the jump!<br />
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<b>What can you say about volleyball rising to the same (or perhaps even more) exposure/recognition in media due to collegiate sports leagues? How has this shaped your story and characters?</b></div>
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I've been following collegiate volleyball even before it became this huge hit among the mainstream audience. My husband actually got me into it and ever since, I've always looked forward to watching theUAAP volleyball season each year. Watching the athletes live inspired me to create the story, especially when I would see them off-camera, giggling like teenagers and slapping each other playfully. But when they got back on court, they would have their game faces on, looking every bit like warriors. I wanted to write about that--what their real life was like. I even followed some players on Twitter so I'd know what they did when they weren't playing.</div>
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<b>There were so many facets to Val that were truly relatable. What particular characteristic of hers do you identify with the most? Was Val derived from a single real-life person you know or is it a collective makeup of various individuals?</b></div>
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I just have to tell you: I am so unlike Val. But I do enjoy reading or watching anti-heroines (Cher in Clueless) that I wanted to create one. She's a combo of people I've encountered both in real life and in thebook/movie world.</div>
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<b>What's your take on Team (insert LI name here)? How does it shape the romance narrative in terms of the main character arriving at an epiphany in her life?</b></div>
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I think it was essential that she fell in love with Jake because that's when we see Val in her most vulnerable (and desperate) moments. Jake was her Kryptonite, and she needed to go through that so would discover the depths of her weaknesses.</div>
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<b><u>Author Profile:</u></b><br />
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<b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwo5XWUmdAEEH0EQBIl9jwkQSf07UMcc-XgT3dmKvRt4yFe8XKUgvW1uLgtgVKjrHjtVIGHDppZZ1auclAyk6oDi2hCTb595rcXQv0K0SVdWWg8v1Ym_j2ZlcJIeJSu36oneS7yoMJEKY/s1600/Agay+Llanera+-+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwo5XWUmdAEEH0EQBIl9jwkQSf07UMcc-XgT3dmKvRt4yFe8XKUgvW1uLgtgVKjrHjtVIGHDppZZ1auclAyk6oDi2hCTb595rcXQv0K0SVdWWg8v1Ym_j2ZlcJIeJSu36oneS7yoMJEKY/s1600/Agay+Llanera+-+Photo.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></u></b></div>
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Agay Llanera is a freelance writer for television and a published writer of children’s books. She is a member of KUTING, a private, non-stock, non-profit organization, which aims to be the Philippines’ foremost writers’ organization for children.</div>
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Her first romance novella, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Love-Agay-Llanera-ebook/dp/B00DWO33UA">Vintage Love</a></i> is available on e-bookstores (Amazon, Kobo, Buqo, Smashwords).</div>
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<a href="http://agayisagirl.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/agayskee">Twitter </a>| <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AgayLlanera">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/user/AgayLlanera">Wattpad</a></div>
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Don't forget to join the giveaway!</div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/dc42906e247/" id="rc-dc42906e247" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-32203049558921230232014-09-22T09:00:00.000+08:002014-09-24T19:33:36.830+08:00Once Upon a Player Blog Tour (Review)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIa3jmuXffB0Fe7U13eHpzOxB4Cn1_D7hkHIRcE4HyV-daIEGeD671kvF9mVROGy_9TX9BdWEPIqLhhBSVrlHVeK4DP1F2JmkxiTGWVWrr3QhytXnM5Pl3Z_OrCZ1I049lNLDePbyu-8/s1600/tourbanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIa3jmuXffB0Fe7U13eHpzOxB4Cn1_D7hkHIRcE4HyV-daIEGeD671kvF9mVROGy_9TX9BdWEPIqLhhBSVrlHVeK4DP1F2JmkxiTGWVWrr3QhytXnM5Pl3Z_OrCZ1I049lNLDePbyu-8/s1600/tourbanner.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Welcome to my stop at the blog tour of <b>Once Upon a Player</b> by Agay Llanera. I'm really excited about this book as this is not only Agay's sophomore romance novella, but it's really such an amazing and enjoyable read. Many thanks to <a href="http://oopsireadabookagain.blogspot.com/">Dianne of Oops I Read a Book Again</a> for letting me be part of this exciting (virtual) event.</div>
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Don't forget to read through the end of this post because there's a giveaway! :)</div>
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So anyway, let's get crackin'!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkYZiTuqw2-Ib14BemWrpytDpX3nT48ilbXbnanlvEU94RS8UgWZmXnngCcVId0GHB8pGX0kSzVcegBKHkEthpZY13rJhW4LfyhoNBJcYpPxVoDW-PaEb6F6aTa_iMfqV0dj52ScAij8/s1600/Once+Upon+A+Player+-+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkYZiTuqw2-Ib14BemWrpytDpX3nT48ilbXbnanlvEU94RS8UgWZmXnngCcVId0GHB8pGX0kSzVcegBKHkEthpZY13rJhW4LfyhoNBJcYpPxVoDW-PaEb6F6aTa_iMfqV0dj52ScAij8/s1600/Once+Upon+A+Player+-+Cover.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Once-upon-Player-Agay-Llanera-ebook/dp/B00ML03O1Y/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"> | </span><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/465991" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;" target="_blank">Smashwords</a></td></tr>
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<b><u>About Once Upon a Player:</u></b><br />
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Gorgeous college senior Val Fabian is a player in every sense of the word. She's the star spiker of her university's volleyball team, and she never runs out of dates. But it seems that this year, she has finally been bitten by the commitment bug. She sets her sights on an unexpected target--the unassuming yet ultra-cute Jake Clementia. Val is used to getting what she wants, and is sure she'll snag him before graduation. But in the process of winning his heart, she is sideswiped by a surprise move that sends her tumbling from her pedestal.</div>
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<b><u>Author Profile:</u></b><br />
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<b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwo5XWUmdAEEH0EQBIl9jwkQSf07UMcc-XgT3dmKvRt4yFe8XKUgvW1uLgtgVKjrHjtVIGHDppZZ1auclAyk6oDi2hCTb595rcXQv0K0SVdWWg8v1Ym_j2ZlcJIeJSu36oneS7yoMJEKY/s1600/Agay+Llanera+-+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwo5XWUmdAEEH0EQBIl9jwkQSf07UMcc-XgT3dmKvRt4yFe8XKUgvW1uLgtgVKjrHjtVIGHDppZZ1auclAyk6oDi2hCTb595rcXQv0K0SVdWWg8v1Ym_j2ZlcJIeJSu36oneS7yoMJEKY/s1600/Agay+Llanera+-+Photo.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></u></b></div>
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Agay Llanera is a freelance writer for television and a published writer of children’s books. She is a member of KUTING, a private, non-stock, non-profit organization, which aims to be the Philippines’ foremost writers’ organization for children.</div>
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Her first romance novella, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Love-Agay-Llanera-ebook/dp/B00DWO33UA">Vintage Love</a></i> is available on e-bookstores (Amazon, Kobo, Buqo, Smashwords).</div>
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<a href="http://agayisagirl.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/agayskee">Twitter </a>| <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AgayLlanera">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/user/AgayLlanera">Wattpad</a></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Read the book excerpt and my review after the jump!</span></b></div>
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<b><u>My review:</u></b><br />
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I first read Agay's debut #romanceclass novella and I liked the authenticity of her characters in terms of voice, motivations, and decisions. That's why when a blog tour of her latest work was announced, I jumped at the chance to join. <b>Once Upon a Player</b> did not disappoint. If anything else, Agay's writing chops have "leveled up" even more as evidenced in the fluid narrative and loveable characters.</div>
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Speaking of characters, I loved Val Fabian, the story's protagonist. The title of the book alone was a dead giveaway on what kind of heroine Val was, but instead of hating her guts, I became a fan! I haven't read a lot of anti-heroines in other stories and Val may seem to be on the "tame" side of being a bitch. Nonetheless, her background and personal motivations made me understand the reason behind her reputation and why she did that nasty stuff to a loved one. A lot of us have experienced that moment where we want to keep the good things to ourselves because we need that breather from this so called thing called life. What I loved about Agay's writing was how she expertly depicted Val's eureka moment that turned things around for her. That scene was the golden moment for me (so much feels for her mom, too!).</div>
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Jake Clementia was mentioned in the book's synopsis but he didn't figure into the story until Val's character exposition started rolling. I wish there was more to Jake other than what was mentioned by Val's best friend, Dessa. It would have been interesting to see the interaction between him and Val at the beginning.</div>
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Nonetheless, I enjoyed the chemistry between Val and EJ, although the romance aspect between the two of them could have been played up a bit more for the <i>kilig</i> factor. EJ initially seemed like a very minor character that only started to play a significant part in the middle of the story. However, the ending was pretty satisfying and well told. I liked the story's "universe" that I hope Agay would think of writing the stories of the other girls in the volleyball team. It would definitely make for another interesting read.</div>
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And as promised, <a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/dc42906e247/">join the giveaway for this tour</a>!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498756729469307830.post-61146639556624262822014-09-18T20:17:00.001+08:002014-09-18T20:17:15.838+08:00September is MIBF season!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="text-align: justify;">It is officially the start of the Christmas season here in the good 'ol Philippine Islands. But before Christmas (and my birthday..hehe) comes around, one huge event I'm looking forward to is the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF). As usual, it's going to be at the other end of the world, a.k.a. Pasay City, but this is one event I'm prepared to storm the ends of the earth (I just hope it doesn't rain).</span><br />
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While I'm looking forward to score a few bargain books, I'm also excited to participate in a few workshops/discussions on reading and writing. Now that I've ventured into self-publishing, I want to learn more when it comes to marketing my works and knowing about trends in traditional and digital publishing. As one of my writer-friends said it is indeed a great time to be a writer, more so with technology giving us more ways to release our works to the world and at the same time discover more amazing reads.</div>
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And because I'm raring to go this weekend, my MIBF arsenal is also packed and ready to go:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoEbOKKg4iaI8hyphenhyphennGAtEPVUtJw3F-WJ9LUWDhUsA1kKppHougRKeXkqMl6lxnof1U6AbunufMijexz8VQ26ZtTAND8TuUsUL4D_-uOChonTRMJNjT_4zh2HldkpWg9kiY4Cbb8UxrhYo/s1600/mibf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoEbOKKg4iaI8hyphenhyphennGAtEPVUtJw3F-WJ9LUWDhUsA1kKppHougRKeXkqMl6lxnof1U6AbunufMijexz8VQ26ZtTAND8TuUsUL4D_-uOChonTRMJNjT_4zh2HldkpWg9kiY4Cbb8UxrhYo/s1600/mibf.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Bag - A sturdy backpack would be great to carry my personal effects + other important stuff.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Water - In case I get too busy scouring booths for bargain books and I need to rehydrate.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Wallet (with money) - Those are just twenty peso bills (I wish I had more, but let's see what the <i>alkansya </i>will provide.).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">MIBF passes - Can't leave without 'em.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Eco bag - For book shopping purposes</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Fan - In case it gets too hot inside the convention center (that's not really an LV fan haha)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Books I'm going to get signed - Because it's a legit way to stalk my favorite authors</li>
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Are you guys ready for MIBF? Lezzgow! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469019624485896831noreply@blogger.com1