What to Look out for at the Last Day of the MIBF

First of all, me! I'll be hanging out at the Adarna booth from about 12-1, to make up for my absence yesterday. Don't worry about me or offer to buy me lunch, since my family has a late lunch together every Sunday.

I thought I'd pay a bit of tribute to the books that helped me most in writing my own works. You can probably find them in the book fair along with other offerings from their authors and publishers.

And the Geek Shall Inherit the Earth by Carljoe Javier (Milflores)

Gave me perspective on the male geek's point of view.

The Governor-General’s Kitchen: Philippine Culinary Vignettes and Period Recipes, 1521–1935

Used this for historical details of food and dining practices in Woman in a Frame and my Alternative Alamat story.

The Tinge Of Red: Prehistory Of Art In The Philippines by Jesus T. Peralta (Anvil)

This inspired me to make my geek heroine an archaeologist. If you followed my book's development on Wattpad you'll know she was originally an anthropologist.

Ambeth R. Ocampo's books, including Aguinaldo's Breakfast,
Looking back, and
Bonifacio's Bolo (Anvil again)


These helped me with the historical details in Woman in a Frame .


(UP Press)

It's funny, because while acknowledged as a source by all the authors of Alternative Alamat, we were divided into those who loved the book and those who found it boring! Certainly the manner in which the tales were written varies greatly but for Philippine culture geeks like me the collection as a whole is fascinating. I'm amazed at the frequency of incestuous relationships miraculously made legit--a trope rarely found in other countries' mythology (we're talking humans and not gods here).

Of course I'd love to have you buy my books, but there are many other great ones out there too!