[Group Events] F2F41 | Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz | May 23 2015, Saturday, 11am-2pm | Venue: Milky Way Cafe 928 Pasay Road (A. Arnaiz Ave.), Makati City

[Louize]

Top Ten Tuesdays

April 21: Top Ten ALL TIME Favorite Authors

I did not include author accomplishments, I merely write what I ♥ about them instead. :)

(view spoiler)[
1. Kathleen E. Woodiwiss – She’s the one who made me fall in love again, and again. Her words are a like butter on my tongue. I never get tired rereading her.

2. James Patterson – He doesn’t merely write about crime, he writes about people. His writing will sometimes left you cold and goose bumped, but will keep you turning the pages. His short-chapter trademark always leaves the reader on tenterhooks.

3. Neil Gaiman – I love the emotions he puts into writing. And for his diligence in keeping fairy tale in its true form.

4. Carlos Ruiz Zafon – For me, nobody knows Goth the way this writer does. His book are not merely dreamy, they are heavily laden.

5. Robert Fulghum – This guy knows life, and he has some really good sense on how we should live and value it.

6. C.S. Harris – History is never boring with her. Her knowledge of European history and eloquent writing is just too sumptuous to behold. That is why I am so addicted with the Sebastian St. Cyr series.

7. Susan Cooper – She will always be my Queen of Fantasy. She who first wrote about an 11-yr old boy who was born to fight off evil. She who wrote that being the greatest means having/choosing best friends to fight along you, no matter what.

8. J. K. Rowling – I will forever be grateful to her for making Harry Potter “the boy who lived.”

9. Paul Auster – The psych he demands from every reading of his works is like a slow sex. It is utterly consuming.

10. China Mieville – He’s a genius, unbelievably and frightfully so. He can write a whole new world seamlessly according to his purpose.
(hide spoiler)]

[Honeypie]

Joining the activity! :)

Top Ten ALL TIME Favorite Authors
(no particular order, but nevertheless they're at the top ten!)

(view spoiler)[
1. Karen Swan - her contemporary stories are shocking realities, written in a chick lit kind of way to compensate. An English author who, of course, writes about the English, and would make you love and hate her characters at the same time.

2. Dean Alfar - Filipino writer who came out as a surprise, because (shamelessly) I thought only foreigners can write really, really good stories! Make you proud that we have writers like him!

3. Karen Kingsbury - a Christian author who writes love stories, but of course they don't have that "gooey" romantic scenes. Reminds you that there is more to romance that kissing and sex and all that, and Who really is the "main protagonist" :)

4. Kristan Higgins - writes about the side of love that is about kissing and sex and all that, but what really draws me back are her stories' main characters's family members and friends! They're so quirky and fun to read. It makes you want to have them as your own family; or if you already have a quirky family, it would probably dull in comparison.

5. C.S. Lewis - love his Narnia series, and its related depiction of Christianity. And I also love reading his other works. It seems difficult to read at first, because of the not-so simple way of writing; but as you go through it and eventually understands it, it makes you feel like you've unlocked a valuable secret.

6. Bob Ong - who cares if we don't know who he/she really is? I like the social relevance in his/her stories. I'm not too fond much of those themes, but the way his/her stories are written, are so simple (and thought-provoking, but not in a criticizing kind of way) that you can't help to care about the country.

7. Cecelia Ahern - her stories are a mix of reality and fantasy. Makes you want to believe that magic really does (and must!) exist. Plus, I like her "hidden" depictions of life in her stories.

8. Jeanne DuPrau - The City Of Ember is one of my favorites. It's similar to Lewis' Narnia series. Seemingly a children or YA story, but with social relevance. One of the best! I've also just read another book that is not part of the series, and I really enjoyed it. Hers are reflections of life written in a story that is easy to read/follow/apply.

9. Judith McNaught - writes historical romances, but with twists and conflicts that make you want to think, "Is this a mystery book?" Plus, her stories are not really that predictable, because no matter how many times I've read romances, I find myself wondering how JM will reconcile her characters.

10. Marilyn Grey - writes romance but with substance. It's like reading a thoughts-only blog/diary. Not really an emo-read, because her thoughts have "sense", and not just "ramblings". Galing niya!

(view spoiler)[Medyo nagpiga ako ng onti because I haven't really read a lot, but sure ako na babalik-balikan at hahanap-hanapin ko ang works ng mga authors na to. :D (hide spoiler)]
(hide spoiler)]

[Meliza]

Top Ten ALL TIME Favorite Authors
1 China Miéville - (view spoiler)[His works are called weird fiction but in different genres. He has young adult, sci-fi, crime, and fantasy books. (We’re waiting for a weird chick-lit. Hehe!) His works have epic world-buildings, innovative language, powerful themes and intellectual depth. (hide spoiler)]
2 Kazuo Ishiguro - (view spoiler)[I love how I feel sympathetic towards the main protagonists in his novels despite their flaws. Those books from him that I read are both melancholic but still serene and meaningful. (hide spoiler)]
3 Ian McEwan - (view spoiler)[I have only read one book from him, Atonement. But this made me want to read more of his works. Atonement is one my favorite books, written with beautiful prose that transmits a lot of feels. (hide spoiler)]
4 J.K. Rowling - (view spoiler)[Because Harry Potter. One of the authors that kindled my love for reading. I know a lot of readers would say this too, especially those within my age bracket. (hide spoiler)]
5 Rainbow Rowell - (view spoiler)[Writes both young adult and adult fiction. I like her style in storytelling. They’re funny, witty and compassionate with doses of pop culture references. (hide spoiler)]
6 David Mitchell - (view spoiler)[David Mitchell has written unconventional but intelligent works. I love the themes of his books. Recurrences, connectedness, fate, destiny. Others may call his works gimmicky but it amazes me how he carried them out brilliantly. (hide spoiler)]
7 Gerry Alanguilan - (view spoiler)[ A Filipino comic book artist and writer. His works introduced me to Filipino graphic novels which made me realize and appreciate our own. He is adept in showing rage and heartache in his panels. (hide spoiler)]
8 K.A. Applegate - (view spoiler)[Author of the Animorphs, a young adult (middle-grade?)sci-fi series. Each character she wrote has its distinct voice and she even conveyed the characteristics and feelings of animals in her books. She wrote great sci-fi stories with cool worlds and alien creatures but are still easy to read and understand by middle-graders. (hide spoiler)]
9 George Saunders - (view spoiler)[His short stories that I read are set in a slightly futuristic America. Dark and weird, sometimes funny. But despite all the brutal and heartbreaking stuff that happened to the protagonists, it’s remarkable how much they make me feel, as if I could understand humanity more, that there’s still hope and comfort in the endings. (hide spoiler)]
10 George R.R. Martin - (view spoiler)[I love his A Song of Ice and Fire series because of the complex but detailed plots, the witty dialogue and lines that are worth quoting and the fascinating characters that people love and hate and root for. (hide spoiler)]

[Tin]

TOP TEN ALL TIME FAVORITE AUTHORS

1. Neil Gaiman (view spoiler)[– The master weaver and teller of tall tales. He can spin engaging narratives about anything, a toaster, your taxes, anything. (hide spoiler)]
2. George Saunders (view spoiler)[– He takes your heart and breaks it and puts it back together. He writes stories about contemporary life but with fantastical/sci-fi elements, integrated seamlessly that they never feel out of place. (hide spoiler)]
3. David Mitchell (view spoiler)[– He humbles you with the grandness and complexity of his stories but with a sense of intimacy. (hide spoiler)]
4. J.K. Rowling (view spoiler)[– This lady changed the world. It is likely that juvenille delinquency decreased or maybe even the general crime rate because we'd rather spend out time reading HP, or camping out for the releases. (hide spoiler)]
5. Suzanne Collins (view spoiler)[– She writes straighforward prose, that's exciting, engaging, focusing less on the romance aspect and more on the political and moral and societal themes. (hide spoiler)]
6. China Mieville (view spoiler)[– Dark, gritty, strange, engaging and amazing world building. (hide spoiler)]
7. Orson Scott Card (view spoiler)[– Exciting sci-fi stories with powerful philosophical ideas and moral dilemmas. (hide spoiler)]
8. Tim Kreider (view spoiler)[– He writes essays with both compassion and also brutality but never in a mean way. (hide spoiler)]
9. Jessica Zafra (view spoiler)[– She writes sharp and witty and hilarious essays on both light and hard hitting topics like pop culture and politics etc. (hide spoiler)]
10. Nick Hornby (view spoiler)[– I think he writes great unlikable, neurotic characters, at least, based on High Fidelity. And I assume his other works are the same way. And I believe he writes with so much passion on pop culture, particularly music, that I find endearing. (hide spoiler)]

[Maria]

^List of candidates is updated to include you, Honeypie. :)

[Tin]

ALso: maria, signing Up for the Mister/Miss Uni festivities!

[Maria]

^Go for it, Tin!!!

[Ingrid]

Top Ten All Time Favorite Authors
(in no particular order)
(view spoiler)[settled for 5 foreign and 5 local authors (hide spoiler)]

1. Mitch Albom (view spoiler)[- I like how his works never fail to tug at your heartstrings. If you want to read something inspiring and heart-warming at the same time, then you should try his works.
Tuesdays with Morrie, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, For One More Day, The Time Keeper, (hide spoiler)]
2. Gabrielle Zevin (view spoiler)[- Probably one of the "unknown" authors in this list. She writes beautiful characters and stories, both YA and adult, which are easily relatable and endearing. For some light reading, you might want to try her works.
Margarettown, Elsewhere, The Storied Life of AJ Fikry (hide spoiler)]
3. Stephanie Perkins (view spoiler)[- A young adult writer who writes about teens who are eccentric and lovable (probably annoying for some) in stories than will make you swoon and make you feel young and naive all over again, haha!
Anna and The French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, Isla and The Happily Ever After (hide spoiler)]
4. Suzanne Collins (view spoiler)[- For some young adult action and adventure, refer to Collin's works. I wouldn't be surprised if you don't want to volunteer as tribute!
The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay (hide spoiler)]
5. Cecilia Ahern (view spoiler)[-A Chicklit/Women's lit author, her works (some with a touch of magic) can make you fall head over heels in love and/or bawl your eyes out.
P.S. I Love You, Love, Rosie, A Place Called Here (hide spoiler)]

6. Manix Abrera (view spoiler)[- His works never fail to make me laugh, and perhaps he can tickle your funny bones in one way or another. Asteeeg!
Kikomachine Komix (hide spoiler)]
7. Budjette Tan (view spoiler)[- A Filipino Graphic Novel writer, you might want to give him a try if you're interested in Philippine Mythology with kick-ass characters interwoven into his stories.
Trese comics (hide spoiler)]
8. Mina Esguerra (view spoiler)[- Probably one of the leading Filipina authors in romance, her short but sweet stories are kilig-inducing and her male leads are to die for. Her more recent works are moving into steamy reads, so if you want to read something hot, grab her works.
Fairy Tale Fail, My Imaginary Ex, Welcome to Envy Park (hide spoiler)]
9. Eliza Victoria (view spoiler)[- Her stories are easy to read but are not as easily forgotten. Haunting, gripping, Eliza Victoria's stories will bring chills to your bones and maybe (just maybe) keep you up at night, if you dare read them before bedtime.
Unseen Moon, Dwellers (hide spoiler)]
10. Dean Alfar (view spoiler)[- His works are of the genre Speculative Fiction (he's probably one of the pioneers), stories that combine elements of fantasy, mystery, and sci-fi. For quick reads that will take your mind off reality, read his works.
The Kite of Stars and Other Stories, How to Traverse Terra Incognita (hide spoiler)]

[Mawi]

Top Ten ALL TIME Favorite Authors

(view spoiler)[
In NO particular order

1. Jane Austen – Her works were my introduction into the world of classic literature. The irony, social classes, realism, romance; her’s was always a perfect mixture for me. Pride & Prejudice is an all-time favorite.

2. JK Rowling – Harry Potter. Enough said. OK, I’ll say a little bit more; the HP series reinforced my love for reading. The first book that made me pull an all-nighter, as in zero sleep, was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

3. Ian McEwan – Atonement. I must admit that Atonement was the only work of his that I’ve read but it was enough to have him on this list. The fusion of love and war, of class, of the consequences when we give in to our deluded minds; they were all presented impeccably.

4. Emily Bronte – She may only have written one novel, Wuthering Heights, but to me it was influential enough. The characters are intriguing, the scenes can be shocking and tragic (what with all the inhumanity and cruelty and hate) and it perfectly depicts the kind of passion that is self-consuming.

5. Jojo Moyes – A writer whose works are tailored for women. Her first work I’ve read was The Last Letter from Your Lover and since then I’ve been on the lookout for more.

6. David Nicholls – One Day. This is a book of feels, a book I’ve read twice in a row. It’s a very convincing and charming narrative of a friendship that is always just one step closer to more (view spoiler)[ Oo na, I can relate. Lol (hide spoiler)]

7. Kazuo Ishiguro – Never Let Me Go is an all-time favorite. It’s intense yet sincere; provocative and profound, a story that will stay with you.

8. Cecelia Ahern – Her stories are my guilty pleasures. Yes, sometimes they can be too saccharine but there’s always some redemption in the end. I also enjoy that she mixes fantasy with romance.

9. Neil Gaiman – Based on all his works I’ve read, I can say that he can write about the most mundane thing in the world and the audience would still enjoy it very much.

10. Stieg Larsson – The Millenium series. First, the protagonist, Lisbeth Salander kicks some serious ass. And, the style is spot-on, one minute it’s fast-paced and the next it’s dragging, which just keeps the thrill blazing. (hide spoiler)]

[Tina]

(view spoiler)[Really writing this as a blog post, kasi sabi eh. :D (hide spoiler)]

Top Ten Tuesdays (view spoiler)[(on a Wednesday! :D) (hide spoiler)]

April 21: Top Ten ALL TIME Favorite Authors

Well this is a hard question! Almost like asking us to list our top 10 favorite books of all time! :P But when I sat down and thought about it, it's really not too hard because the way for me to determine if the author is a favorite is if I have read all (or almost all) of the books they came out with, and I still liked them. I don't have to love all of them, but because I trust the author, one not-so-good book will not change the fact that I will still read the rest of what they come out with. These are my auto-buy authors, the ones whose books I will buy and read, no matter what. :)

So here are my Top 10 favorite authors of all time, across the genres I usually read:

1. Melina Marchetta
Recommended books: On the Jellicoe Road, Saving Francesca

The best thing about Melina Marchetta, IMHO, is not her main character or her lead interest, but her secondary characters. It's a given that main characters have to be fleshed out, but I think it takes a special skill for secondary, supporting characters to be as fleshed out, too. I love Marchetta friendships - they bring so much life in her books, and they remind us readers that life is not bad when you have friends with you. On top of all that, her contemporary YA novels have a kind of depth that deals with issues in a realistic manner that it's hard not to fall in love (or get your heart broken!) with the stories that she weaves.

2. Sarah Dessen
Recommended books: The Truth About Forever, This Lullaby, The Moon and More

Sarah Dessen is a comfort read. Some may say she's formulaic (and yes, she is, when you've read all of her works), but her stories bring about a comfort that keeps people returning to her fictional towns. Reading her makes you want to curl up with a book by the beach, or visit a diner and be friends with the characters. (New book coming out by May! :D)

3. Jasper Fforde
Recommended books: The Eyre Affair, The Last Dragonslayer, Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron

It's hard to describe Jasper Fforde's books because his books are outrageous in so many ways. He writes about a woman who can get in books and polices fiction, a detective that solves nursery crimes (who killed Humpy Dumpty?), a young teen prophesied to be a dragon slayer except there are no known dragons around, and a world where color heirarchy rules. Sometimes crazy, but always crazy fun, Jasper Fforde provides readers a romp into alternate history and comic fantasy that leaves you wanting for more. :)

4. Mira Grant
Recommended books: Feed trilogy

I'm not super knowledgable with science fiction, but if there's a sci-fi author I would automatically read, it's Mira Grant. Her Newsflesh trilogy is one of the best zombie/post-apocalyptic series out there, and she packs her books with a whole lot of research that makes everything so chillingly true.

5. Frank E. Peretti
Recommended books: This Present Darkness, Piercing the Darkness, The Oath

Frank E. Peretti is the father of Christian fiction, IMHO. :D His Darkness duology has some of the best angels + demons spiritual warfare fictionalization, and he has this way of writing stories that seep into your consciousness, and leaves you thinking about the spiritual world.

6. Shauna Niequist
Recommended books: Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life, Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way
Falling Together

Shauna Niequist talks about life and family and friends and love and food. She also talks about brokenness, sadness, and the struggles of being a person living in this broken world. I love how her books feel like a balm to the weary soul, and how she reinforces the truths that we all know in the same way a friend lovingly reminds you of the important things that we miss in the midst of the madness of life.

7. Marisa De Los Santos
Recommended books: Love Walked In, Belong to Me, Falling Together

Marisa De Los Santos has a way with writing that makes you sigh (view spoiler)[even if some characters or stories seem a bit Hallmark-y :P (hide spoiler)]. She writes about love and friendship and love that comes from friendship, and all the ties that bind. She has a way with words that makes even the most mundane moments so poetic, and I would willingly read all the books that she comes out with. Bonus points: she always has Filipino characters in her books. :)

8. Tosca Lee
Recommended books: Demon: A Memoir, Havah: The Story of Eve, Iscariot

If you think that Bible stories are boring, Tosca takes them, explores their history and writes a book about it that makes you think more than twice about what really happened in the Bible. She doesn't write them to make you doubt, but really just to make you think - about the grandness of the grace of God, and the humanity that we have.

9. Sara Zarr
Recommended books: Once Was Lost, How to Save a Life

At first glance, Sara Zarr writes Issue Books. And in a way, she does, but the way she handles it is very graceful and realistic - sometimes too realistic that it actually hurts. Zarr is an expert at creating families and friendships with complications, and untying those complications one by one to show that there's always, always hope. :)

10. Mina V. Esguerra
Recommended books: Fairy Tale Fail, Interim Goddess of Love

The Queen of Filipino Romance, yes? :D Mina champions the local romance industry (which I am also technically a part of now), and she does it by producing more and more books that cater to the Filipino taste...and then some. From sweet and fluffy to steamy and sexy, Mina has it all. Take your pick. :)

[Maria Ella]

Mawi wrote: "David Nicholls – One Day. This is a book of feels, a book I’ve read twice in a row. It’s a very convincing and charming narrative of a friendship that is always just one step closer to more. Oo na, I can relate. Lol"

MAWI LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LIFE MANUAL!!! ahahahaha

Tapos yung Jojo Moyes rin, hahaha. I believe lukewarm feels lang ito ke Monique pero feels fever rin ahahahahha

[Marie]

I'm glad it's top ten favorite authors and not top ten best authors because it's easier to just rely on my biased opinions (from which the latter is based on), rather than try to be an objective reviewer (from which the former is based on). Also because I made a top 15 favorite books six years ago, and posted it on a note in facebook, so it's easy to just check the authors of those book and write it here (well, give or take an author or two). :-)

So anyway, here's my top ten favorite authors (in alphabetical order):

Jane Austen(view spoiler)[
I like how polarizing Jane Austen can be. After all, most of her characters are very much preoccupied with parties, social chit chat, and other trivial matters. In a time when social standing and connection is a matter of life and death (sometimes literally), marriage is an essential undertaking, most especially for women. In a time when people are judged by their superficial looks and manners, how you bear yourself is very important, most especially for women. Austen wrote her books much like how women must present themselves in her time: seemingly modest, seemingly simple, seemingly light, seemingly trivial. To appreciate Austen, one must read deeper. Modesty belies the intensity of her drama (which, rather than explode outwards in Bronte-like bursts of passion, her characters prefer to implode inwards, with minimalist but accurate language). Modesty also veils the wit and the satirical tone of her texts, the ironies and (surprisingly for some people) the realism.

New readers should start with: Persuasion (then follow with Northanger Abbey)
(hide spoiler)]

Ray Bradbury(view spoiler)[
I find it unfair when people describe Ray Bradbury merely as a science fiction writer. This is because while most of his story has some science fiction or fantastical aspects in them, it is the "heart" - the warmth, the optimism for the future, the down-to-earth human-ness - in his stories which makes them very good, and what defines them. There is a lyrical simplicity and honesty to his language. It is a language of sadness but also of hope, of kindness but also of cruelty brought simply because we are all merely human.

New readers should start with: The Martian Chronicles (then follow with his short stories, particularly The Will Come Soft Rains)
(hide spoiler)]

Anton Chekhov(view spoiler)[
Anton Chekhov knew people. He knew how they think, and how they react. He knew that lives can be funny, melancholic, exciting, and mundane all the same time. His stories are a reflection of these. He wrote stories of characters who are both ordinary and strange. Of small dramas that have good and bad endings. He wrote of stories that are heartrendingly familiar, even to modern readers (for example, the very short story, "The Head of the Family" suddenly took me back to my childhood). He even wrote stories of oppression and cruelty, not just of the rich, but also by the poor. Rationality is seldom the focus, and his characters are primarily swayed by their emotions. No solution comes in endings, but mostly a complete presentation of the issue at hand. Life is such a complicated mess, and Anton Chekhov knew that.

New readers should start with: The Lady with the Dog and Other Stories (particularly the titular story, and Ionitch)
(hide spoiler)]

Arthur Conan Doyle(view spoiler)[
Yes, I know that Arthur Conan Doyle wrote other stories besides the Sherlock Holmes canon. Unfortunately for Professor Challenger (I swear I'll try to put his stories in my TBR), it is Sherlock Holmes that I love the most. Arthur Conan Doyle had the ability to write characters that are so well fleshed out they seem to be real people (heck, some people really do believe that Sherlock Holmes and John Watson were real as you and me). His stories are a nice blend of comfortable tropes and brilliant storytelling. They are not meant to be deep (remember that these stories were first serialized in magazines), but there is a timeless quality to them and the characters, such at more that 120 years later, people still loves everything Sherlock Holmes.

New readers should start with: A Study in Scarlet (then follow with The Sign of the Four)
(hide spoiler)]

Franz Kafka(view spoiler)[
Unsettling is the word that comes into my mind when I think of Franz Kafka. His stories are like dreams - bizarre things happen in it, and you recognize its bizarre-ness, but you accept it anyway. Most of his story are familiar frustrations and anxieties: futile struggles against the bureaucracy, striving fruitlessly for one's goals, and of loneliness and alienation. I had found reading Kafka to be a personal experience - because it is useless to comprehend his stories rationally, your interpretation is as valid as anyone else's.

New readers should start with: The Metamorphosis (then follow with Amerika)
(hide spoiler)]

Gabriel Garcia Marquez(view spoiler)[
The same way with Ray Bradbury, I find it unfair to call Gabriel Garcia Marquez as solely a magical realist author, simply because he is so much more. The way he described scenes, places, and people are just so vivid. When he described the plantations of Macondo (for example), you can almost see the bananas swaying with the hot wind, while you shield your eyes from the unyielding tropical sun. And my God, the stories. The words are almost like you feel them rather than read. You feel the slowness of time and the frustrations of the Colonel while waiting for his letter. You feel like the dread of the inevitable fate of Santiago Nasar. And One Hundred Years of Solitude is not a read, it is an experience.

New readers should start with: No two ways about it. Begin with the awesome One Hundred Years of Solitude.
(hide spoiler)]

Vladimir Nabokov(view spoiler)[
I was angry with Vladimir Nabokov in college. He manipulated my emotions. He made me like Humbert Humbert. Only on the second read (and with the help of my book club) did I saw Humbert as the monster that he really is. It's not that there were no clues. It's just that Nabokov wrote Humbert Humbert with such charm that I had unconsciously ignored the alarms. Only in later years did I appreciate the preciseness of Nabokov's prose, the careful arrangement of words that had made me fall under Humbert's charm. My takeaway lesson from Nabokov is that readers should not judge books as good or bad merely from their empathetic reaction with the story or characters ("the story made me sad/the main character is a terrible person, and that is why I rate this as 0 stars"). One should also think of the way the story is made, the style, the prose, the character development, and many, many more.

New readers should start with: Lolita (then follow with the wonderful Pnin)
(hide spoiler)]

Ambeth Ocampo(view spoiler)[
One day in college, despite having a report deadline in PI 100, I finished the Ambeth Ocampo book collection in the UP Main Library. That's six books in two hours. That just show how accessible and easy to read Professor Ocampo's books are. He had made history so approachable and alive, especially for the young folks (I'm not sure I'm still included in this lot, hahaha!). Personally, I like reading Ambeth Ocampo's books in between heavy fictions. They are the perfect palate cleansers, not because they are pieces of fluff (for example, Meaning and History and Bones of Contention are meaty reads), but because of the welcome change of topic, and easier pace and tone.

New readers should start with: Rizal Without the Overcoat (then follow with Aguinaldo's Breakfast)
(hide spoiler)]

Tony Perez(view spoiler)[
Tony Perez dwells in the unusual. Not just the supernatural, mind you, (although he does head the Spirit Questors) but those that are beyond the normal. I hesitate to call it bizarre, after all bizarre is in the eyes of the beholder. Take Cubao, for example. The day gives it a matter-of-fact, business-as-usual look. But at night, Cubao takes a mysterious, seductive, and dangerous sheen. Tony Perez's stories are rife with characters with subversive thoughts and intentions. His language is gritty, grimy, and disturbing, and his story are full of twists and turns, sometimes for good, but most of the times, for the worse.

New readers should start with: Cubao Midnight Express (then follow with Cubao Pagkagat ng Dilim)
(hide spoiler)]

J.R.R. Tolkien(view spoiler)[
Finally, J.R.R. Tolkien. Many of the fantasy tropes in fiction began with him. Because of the familiarity, people had gotten bored with him. Not me. I had re-read Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion so many times that I lost count. Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, and the rest of the Fellowship had become dear friends that every read's end brings a tear in my eye (yes, literally). I'm not really sure why I love Tolkien's stories to bits. Maybe it is the comfort that chaos and evil does not last, and that order will sometimes be restored, not exactly the way it was, but at least to some satisfaction of most people. That journeys does not really end, and people return from these journeys quite changed. And that stories goes on and on, even after you had read the last page, even after you had closed the book.

New readers should start with: The Lord of the Rings, (then follow with The Hobbit)
(hide spoiler)]

[Elaine]

Top Ten All-Time Favorite Authors
(view spoiler)[ Disclaimer:I picked these authors based on the impact of their book to me as a reader.
In no particular order:

1. J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter. I spent most of my high school breaks reading Harry Potter. It was the first book I cannot put down and thus, finished a book in a day - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (I stayed inside my room the whole day!). I'd have to say it was the book that fanned my love for reading a notch higher because I just seem to get lost in wonder and awe in the world she crafted with magic. I'd have to thank my seatmate for introducing me to the HP series - thanks Marian!!

2. Paulo Coelho - Veronika Decides To Die. I read this in a time I felt depressed on some shitty things going on in my life. It was perfect timing. And every time I read his works, he just pulls strings inside me. Lagi may hugot!! Damn you Paulo Coelho but I love you anyway!!! Hahaha

3. Adeline Yen Mah - Chinese Cinderella. First memoir I have read and it made me cry! Finished it in more than an hour because it was very short. I lent this book to my Tita who also loved and cried over the book and then lent it to her friends and so on. I didn't get the book back but I guess it was for a good cause - hugot feels for all the tita's out there who read it (buti nalang mura yung book!!!). Her work in Chinese Cinderella was very relatable and you can actually feel how it was like being in her shoes.

4. C.S. Lewis - Chronicles of Narnia. And the newver ending, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (because it was the most famous book in the series) Who doesn't grow up knowing/reading this?! This is like the basic YA fantasy book. Ever. Plus, C.S. Lewis is a very flexible author. He can do fantasy, sci-fi, satire and religious written works. A jack of all trades, yes?

5. Carolyn Keene - Nancy Drew. I know this is a pen name used as a pseudonym for different authors but I generally liked the Nancy Drew series. Even with different authors penning the series, there is uniformity in all written works so that's a thumbs up. I also realize that my favorite authors are from books I read during grade school/ high school? Haha. But the I was more of a Nancy Drew fan than Sweet Valley back then - I was anti-sweet girly girl and more of a let's solve this shit type.

6. Craig Thompson - Blankets. He's a graphic novelist and I am all for the love of visual art. Period. Anyway, I love his work on Habibi too because I noticed how each page has different border designs. For a graphic novel, his works are very deep and meaningful and just shows that graphic novels can also be taken seriously. :)

7. J.R.R. Tolkien - The Silmarillon. The Hobbit. The Lord of The Rings. Author with a big fan base because of his works. The precursor of fantasy works and geekdom. I know big words but Middle Earth is the basis of a lot of fantasy works. Aminin.

8. Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice. Mansfield Park. She was the original feminist before the world raved about Emma Watson.

9. Haruki Murakami - Norwegian Wood. 1Q84. Sputnik Sweetheart. I like how his works are simple yet complicated. There are always odd twists on seemingly plain situations and I just like the humor in it.

10. John Knowles - A Separate Peace - the only book I read written by the author. This is one of our required reading during high school and I surprisingly liked it. I felt really nerdy back then because I finished this book way ahead of the reading schedule and I was being all bibo with our book discussion. Hahaha. His work is very sincere and I like how his characters are well developed. Most of his books are Coming of Age novels and really worth a shot.
(hide spoiler)]

[Alexa]

Top Ten Tuesdays

(view spoiler)[
1. JK Rowling - The worlds she spins will always keep on growing, even years after she has written them. This afternoon I spent five hours just discussing the world of Harry Potter with my best friend, and it was, as always, fun. Also, the fandom is great!! She made me appreciate the magic in everything, but most especially books. Furthermore, she has made a name for herself beyond the Potter books, publishing books of other genres that make you marvel at human attitudes and relationships. Read her stuff!!
2. Ray Bradbury - He's a classic sci-fi author, and really a genius at making you believe in worlds out there that could possibly exist. He'll make you entertain notions of parallel universes, life on Mars, and other things, and he really does a great job of grounding these extra-terrestrial plots in a way that's really thought-provoking and somehow applicable even in our current condition. He's written a lot of books, but you may want to check out The Martian Chronicles and Something Wicked This Way Comes first :D
3. Brandon Sanderson - aka the author who made me forget to eat because I had to finish the Mistborn trilogy pronto. Like the previous authors, he is great at world-building, and the magic systems he cooks up are so believable they somehow made me wonder if they are somehow true, haha! He made fantasy more exciting, and when you read something of his, don't be surprised if you somehow find yourself wanting to dive into one of his worlds, no matter how dangerous they are :D
4. Jane Austen - ok ok, probably cliche, but she's so good at observing human behavior that the core plot of her books can be retold again and again, and it doesn't matter because they are somehow still applicable even to relationships today! It's amazing. Love guru ata peg niya.
5.CS Lewis - When I first started reading his books, I didn't even know about the Christian aspect. All I know is that the world of Narnia he created was great. You can learn a lot of valuable life lessons even though his Narnia books seem geared toward children.
6. Roald Dahl - Even if you're no longer a child, his books can bring back memories of childhood and innocence, and how our imaginations used to run so wild that we believed his stories were true (or was that just me?) Also, the illustrations by Quentin Blake are the best.
7. Morgan Matson - She's a YA author who writes novels that reminds me of road trips, summer, and how great friendships can be. Bonus: she always has a ton of playlists in each book, which is perfect when you need something in the background while reading, or for travelling, or for running, or even if you just need some good ol' music recommendations for your library. She has great taste, too, so you'll surely enjoy her playlists!!
8. Neil Gaiman - If you are in the mood for the dark, the fantastical, and the weird, he's the author to keep an eye on. He will make your imagination run wild with his graphic novels and stories, and he's active on social media to boot! He has something for people of all ages to read.
9. Rainbow Rowell - even though her books are mainly geared towards the young adult audience, she somehow manages to write relatable, real, and flawed characters that you somehow can't help but sympathize with. The situations she throws them in aren't all pretty either, but the way her characters handle them and their journey towards better versions of themselves are really inspiring.
10. Antoine de Saint-Exupery - I don't know if he has written anything other than The Little Prince, actually, but that book is so timeless that even that one work is enough to make an impact for generations. You can read it at any stage of your life and still find something deep and beautiful about it :) PS Have you seen the new The Little Prince trailer?

(hide spoiler)]

[L]

My Favorite Authors
(view spoiler)[ Most of you might have a hard time pinning down your favorites but it was fairly easy to me. I devoured books when I was young and then I just stopped (and picked it up again just recently). So obviously my list consists of my childhood favorites.

Dr. Seuss – I learned to read because of Green Eggs and Ham (Sam I am). I also loved that his books always featured a lot of colorful pictures.

Carolyn Keene – The main reason why I was the top borrower at our school library. Granted that there were a handful of ghost writers who wrote the Nancy Drew series. Who could resist sleuthing with her and then vicariously enjoy Hannah Gruen’s famous lemon meringue pie. My favorite – Nancy’s Mysterious Letter

Judith McNaught and Julie Garwood – After graduating from teen romances, I discovered historical romances and fell in love (pun intended) with their works. I love that they have strong and stubborn heroines who have a mind of their own. My favorite – A Kingdom of Dreams

JK Rowling – Let’s face it, we all wanted to be part of Hogwarts. We cried when Dumbledore died. We memorized all the spells. We either liked Severus Snape to pieces or hated him with a vengeance. My favorite – Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Jessica Zafra – Just because a part of me wishes I could write like her. Because she used to love Sting. Because she’s dark, witty, and funny without trying too hard. Because she gave me good book recommendations. My favorite – Twisted (the first one of course)

Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie – I’m a sucker for all mystery books but Sherlock Holmes is my favorite fictional character of all time because he’s smart and a smartass at the same time. I do have a love/hate relationship with Hercule Poirot. My favorite – A Study in Scarlet

I’d like to include Kazuo Ishiguro, Jane Austen just because I truly loved Remains of the Day as well as Pride and Prejudice and have become 2 of my favorite books of all time. (hide spoiler)]

[Ranee]

Top 10 Tuesdays on a Thursday ( it is a throwback then)
(view spoiler)[ because I love Douglas and quoting him, " I love Deadlines. I love the whooshing sound they make as they go by" (hide spoiler)]

1. Douglas Adams : the one thing the scientists are certain is that space is very vast. Just imagine traveling in its vastness. It would be boring, no wonder there are too many horror films about this. This is not the case in Adams' version of space. The next frontier is hip and funny in a British kind of way. There are aliens, talking doors, a pessimistic robot even poetry. One guarantee, reading his most famous trilogy (5 books really) would actually change your perception of your towel. If you must know, there is such a thing as a World Towel Day.

2. Haruki Murakami : I found him while I was making sense of my dream and living my reality. Let me change that, I think he found me following footsteps of ordinary people who thought they had ordinary lives until a cat talked. But that is just in one book. After reading him, I have learned to appreciate Jazz, loved cats and craved for pasta, these are recurring things in his novels but what really got me is the thought that even loneliness loves a company.

3. Orson Scott Card : there comes a time when you read a character that you will root for, that one person whose feats you praise and blemishes you forgive and for once, it was not about the looks. You could not afford to hate him, especially if this character is but a child.

4. Ursula K. LeGuin : i have heard of her reputation before I picked up her book. I have but one regret, why only now did I start to read her works? Lending my friend, Emir's review (because he captured my thoughts exactly) "An orphan goes to a school of Wizards. He is inextricably linked to his enemy, a shadowy 'non-being', who, at their first meeting, scarred his face. He's fond of his best friend's sister. He battles things, and himself, mainly.
He is not named Harry."

5. Agatha Christie : I am a fan of Cluedo. If this were the board game, my bets would be on Agatha to make the most interesting twist on who the killer would be
and which is his/her weapon of choice. Chances are, I might not get the right suspect until I am on the last part. But then again, I have read her almost 2 decades ago, I wonder if my detective abilities are now better.

6. John Green : there are great stories and there are greater storytellers. He is that storyteller that I find comfortable to read. It brings that all too familiar vibe of talking with your best friend, like his story happened with you in it.

7. Italo Calvino : he begins a movement that involves you to think whether to be with him or just hate him, but often when you least thought about it, you go back, almost curious what would happen next. I find his short stories more forgiving though.

8. Ryunosoke Akutagawa : it does not need to be in the same century to be able to understand his writings. His wit is enough for you to read him, his intrigues will make you want more. And right then and there, I was hooked but at the same time sad, knowing I am centuries too late to ask for his autograph.

9. Edgar Samar : I confess, I do not read as much Filipino writing as I should be. But when I do find a writer I love to read, I share him, celebrate him and push him(book push that is). When I first read him, I dare not put the book down because I do not want the conversation to be over but dread that it had to end because it did not come as a sequel because I do not like the word "end".

10. Eliza Victoria : i am new to speculative fiction. Although I have read Dean Alfar first before her, It was her stories that got to me. I started reading her short stories but have not finished it for one reason, because I came from the province and have a swing in front of our house things just seemed to hit so close to home. She makes your imagination run wild, in my case wilder than it should be.

[Maria]

Time to chill, don't you think? (view spoiler)[To quiet the noise from that other thread. lol (hide spoiler)]

Throwback Thursdays

(view spoiler)[Aristotle and Dante met during summertime.

Please post a photo of one of your favorite summer adventures here. Elaborate on why this photo is unforgettable to you.

Deadline: Saturday, 12nn

*Points system:
5 points - best entry
3 points - second best entry
1 point - all other entries

Best Entry will be posted on Monday. I will also post it in my Instagram account (view spoiler)[@smarialm (hide spoiler)].

Questions? :)

(hide spoiler)]

[Tina]

Question! Pwede bang recent (as in a summer 2015) photo? Or dahil throwback sya, it has to be from say, last year or earlier? :)

[Maria]

Tina wrote: "Question! Pwede bang recent (as in a summer 2015) photo? Or dahil throwback sya, it has to be from say, last year or earlier? :)"

Pwedeng recent :) Throwback pa din un, IMO.

[Tina]

Okiedokie! Baka kasi magka technicality with the throwback thing, haha. *goes off to look at summer photos*

[Angus]

Throwback Thursdays
(view spoiler)[


Summer Outing in Boracay, 2013
-First out of town trip with my high school best friend (protecting her privacy kaya solo picture na lang).
-First time na sumakay ng eroplano.
-I discovered that I do enjoy traveling (kahit once a year lang).
-Because of this trip, nasundan na ng other local and out of the country trips.
-I think I look happy here. :)

But wait! Parang mas masaya itong picture na ito:
(view spoiler)[
WARNING!
(view spoiler)[
Not safe for your sanity.
(view spoiler)[
Open at your own risk.
(view spoiler)[
Here we go! ;)
(view spoiler)[

(hide spoiler)]
(hide spoiler)]
(hide spoiler)]
(hide spoiler)]
(hide spoiler)]
(hide spoiler)]

[Marie]

Question? Required ba na nasa picture ako? I mostly travel by myself so I seldom have a picture with myself in it. :-)

[Maria Ella]

Does it have to be exactly summer (Like American/UK summer on July - August; Manila Summer on April - May; Australia summer on Dec - Jan)?

Because I have summer photos but actually, not really on the specified "Summer months". After all, our country is summer all year round~~

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE PLITH!

[Louize]

Angus wrote: "Throwback Thursdays"

*that last photo... parang inanod lang! LOL

[Louize]

Throwback Thursday:

(view spoiler)[


-April, 2010. Back when Nagsasa Cove was not that too popular then. As you can see, we literally have the place to ourselves with some resident natives pa lang.

- Hubby loves coming back to the place. We almost always do if there is a long weekend available.

-This post made me miss him more! :(

(hide spoiler)]

[Elaine]

Throwback Thursday
(view spoiler)[

It was kind of hard for me to pick one among many summer memories but I chose this one precisely because of the many firsts I experienced during this trip.

Taken April 2008 at Dambana ng Kagitingan on Mt. Samat
- First out of town trip with friends (that is not a field trip). We went to a friend's hometown in Bataan. I was so happy because my parents let me go. Went to 3 towns - Balanga (my friend's hometown), Bagac (beach), and Pilar (for Mt. Samat). We stayed for 4 days (without adult supervision - when you're 19 and vacationing with friends, it's a big deal hahaha)
- First time to climb a mountain. Mount Samat's summit is estimated 9.2km. I'm not a sporty person so going up was a struggle! (Hingal kabayo ako jan! Feel ko pumayat ako konti sa pag-akyat hahaha).
- I loved the beach in Bagac because it was not crowded back then. We had the whole beach to ourselves. Ayoko lang talaga yung mga akyat akyat ng hills and stuff.
- This trip made us closer and we tried our best to do out of town trips yearly. Unfortunately, we do not have as much free time as we did back then.
- I went home broke (and thankfully sober) but very happy. :)

(hide spoiler)]

[Monique]

Throwback Thursdays

(view spoiler)[

(The pink hat is Allie's, not mine.)

> Summer of 2012.

> Very memorable for me because a lot of firsts happened on this trip for Allie: first time to ride a plane, a boat, and a tricycle; first time to use any kind of floating device; first time to try Jonah's shakes; and, of course, it was her first time in Boracay.

> It is also our very first out of town trip as a family.

> She totally loved the sand, and the water (even if the algae blooms really bad in summer in White Beach), and she had fun in our entire four-day stay.

> The week before we were there, it was raining in Manila. There were also occasional showers while we were there, mostly in the evening. But all the time we were there, we were blessed with lovely morning sunshine we just had to soak in. Lovely trip indeed. :)
(hide spoiler)]

[Honeypie]

Can we submit only one entry? :D
(view spoiler)[Ang hirap pumili kahit one of favorites lang, haha! (hide spoiler)]

Throwback Thursdays
(view spoiler)[

This was my last/most recent (but not really) "YOLO" trip with friends. I can't remember if that was in Siquijor or Dumaguete though. Haha! Baka Siquijor kasi walang mga pawikan sa photo. :D

Anyway, this is one of the most fun because I've always wanted to go to Siquijor! We did a lot of things there.
- We went to the falls (ang ganda!! May swinging pa from the baging) (view spoiler)[Here's one of my profile pics, haha (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]
- Fish spa by the balete tree (one of the best!!!)
- Cliff diving (YOLO talaga dahil takot ako heights!)
- Diving with pawikans (one of the best sites especially for beginner divers or snorkellers)
- Boat ride home in the afternoon (intense ang waves, pero masaya naman, hahaha!)
- Staying with family of friends (tipid sa accommodation!! and sa ibang meals haha!).

Another favorite was when we were eating out, and we put all our gadgets (cellphones, cameras) in the middle of the table, and we talked, like with each other, face-to-face. Haha! Kung sinong unang mag-give in na magcheck ng phone or camera, manlilibre ng dessert! I guess mga dukha pa rin kami at heart, because we preferred not using our phones/cameras instead of paying for the dessert of the whole group. Haha!

Anyway, this was my most recent beach/yuppie/diving/explore philippines trip, July 2013. (view spoiler)[Gahd, I miss travelling and diving!! Grabe tong activity na to hahaha! Kakamiss! Mag-upload din ako sa Facebook/Instagram ko, hehe! (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Alexa]

Throwback Thursdays
(view spoiler)[
I didn't have a summer vacation until this year, since we had summer classes all throughout college and were more of indoors people before that, so I'll show you guys a photo that was as summery as summer class can get :))


This was taken around May last year, I think, on the 9th day, the day before we had to leave. We were in Leyte, where a third of my batch (~20) spent our immersion. We visited hospitals and clinics in Palo and worked to find out how they coped and recovered from the devastation brought on by Yolanda. It was very fulfilling because I was able to talk to a lot of people about their experiences, being lucky enough to be one of the few in our group who could speak the dialect, because the people I talked to found it much easier to open up.

This photo shows us taking advantage of the good weather and how beautiful nature was (view spoiler)[because even if all the remaining trees were facing a certain way and were kind of wonky, and crumbly buildings were the new normal, it's not that difficult to see how beautiful Leyte was, with its clear blue skies, clear water, tall hills and mountains, and trees and farms everywhere (hide spoiler)] after presenting with the LGU officials, which was our last requirement (view spoiler)[another story, but needless to say it could get pretty frustrating convincing people who didn't want to be convinced (hide spoiler)]. We spent ~8 hours in the water, and even though I don't consider myself a sun worshipper (view spoiler)[I don't like summer (hide spoiler)], I found myself really having fun. The locals made us taste tuba, or coconut wine, and we had a nice picnic with great local food. Having fun the old-school way - before gadgets and movies and other things our parents didn't enjoy in their youth - never gets old. It was a learning-filled adventure, and I was able to experience a lot of things - (view spoiler)[seeing a ship on land, seeing the largest mass grave in the area, going to my first fiesta, getting spooked out at the Marcos house, getting a token from a stranger, getting really sick (view spoiler)[with food poisoning or hyperacidity, I couldn't really tell - it's just lucky the faculty we traveled with were mostly doctors (hide spoiler)], getting lost, getting found, hearing mass at a cathedral with no roof, walking kms to and from the hospital, etc (hide spoiler)] - enough to keep me inspired for a long time.

PS When we got back to Manila the next day, a lot of us were burnt to a crisp (view spoiler)[case in point:
<-- this bad (hide spoiler)]. I had my very first sunburn (I didn't even realize people with our complexion could get sunburn) that I couldn't even sit still for long. Made it harder to let go, that's for sure.

(hide spoiler)]

[Maria Ella]

This is too hard. So I am picking the most recent photo. (view spoiler)[And because she is busy with life and stuff, Dibs with this entry mwehehehehe (hide spoiler)]

Throwback Thursday / Flashback Friday

TA-DAH!!!
(view spoiler)[


Taken last March 2015, one of the most recent backpacking escapade. Himala land, Paoay Sand Dunes, Ilocos Norte

This photo just showed the Legit happiness of embarking on an adventure with a life-long friend. It is also a living proof that we have had our test of friendship - our crankiness, our similarities and differences, and how travel enhanced our friendship level.

(view spoiler)[We both know that naming each other as "best friends"/"bestie"/"beshie" is a sign of ownership and lack of freedom, and we both know that it is not where true friendship is measured, really. We both attest that life-long friendship is established if we were/are/will be able to share the "curse of vulnerability" with each other.

PS: PAREHO PO KAMING STRAIGHT. kahit napagkakamalan ng mga jejemon na siya po ay lipstick lesbian ahahaha labyu no homo Tricia ahahahhaha (hide spoiler)] Te, dahil sa throwback picture na ito nakakaloka namiss kita. You are busy with life and stuff, anyayare na sa iyo huhubells. ENG ERTE ERTE (hide spoiler)]

[Tina]

Honeypie: SIQUIJOR! I really, really want to go there! Some people I met from Travel Factor said it's a beautiful place, and your post just confirmed it. I wonder if I can squeeze that in this year. Hm.

[Maria]

Marie wrote: "Question? Required ba na nasa picture ako? I mostly travel by myself so I seldom have a picture with myself in it. :-)"

Hindi required. I will work on the assumption that the pictures you guys will post, kasama kayo dun sa summer adventure na un.

:)

[Maria]

Maria Ella wrote: "Does it have to be exactly summer (Like American/UK summer on July - August; Manila Summer on April - May; Australia summer on Dec - Jan)?

Because I have summer photos but actually, not really on ..."

Summertime natin, baklush. Aarte ka pa. Hahahaha! ;)

[Ingrid]

Throwback Thursday
(view spoiler)[

1, 2, 3, JUMP!


Solo pic for the birthday girl :)


A Trip to the North, April 2015
♫You should see my favorite people♫

- First out of town trip with OFriends (that's how we call our group; not complete though) for a birthday weekend celebration aka the beginning of more adventures (and birthdays, of course) to come.

- Got to relax at a resort (that's where we took this shot) then in the next hours we went to places which felt like a weekend at Santorini (second picture) and Dubai, hahaha!

- Jump shot FTW! :D (view spoiler)[Actually, we practiced jumping n times before our photographer finally decided to click. We wouldn't want to waste a piece of instax film! (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Maria]

Honeypie wrote: "Can we submit only one entry? :D
[spoilers removed]Throwback Thursdays

This was my last/most recent (but not really) "YOLO" trip with friends. I can't remember if that was in Siquijor or Dumaguete..."

You can post more than 1 photo, but the first photo would have to be your official entry for this activity. =)

[Honeypie]

Tina: Go na!!! Naenjoy ko every bit of Siquijor. Favorite ko yung fish spa. Wahaha! I guess it's my first time to try it (and ang dami ko rin talaga kalyo haha), pero sulit lahat ng activities! Tapos isama niyo na Apo Island sa Dumaguete. Have you heard of that turtle photobomber? My friend was the one who submitted the photo. Sooobrang daming pawikan dun, so hindi surprising na may mga turtles na bigla na lang susulpot. :) snorkeller-friendly din sya :)

[Maria Ella]

I suddenly wanna bagpack Siquijor. Totoo ba mga urban legend dun? Ahehehe siguro sasama na lang ako sa group tour or whatnot para hindi ako napaparanoid. I've been to Dumaguete and Apo Island, but not Siquijor. Kelangan ata sa islang yun ay weekend getaway~

[Tina]

Honeypie: nakita ko lang yung kahapon, ang cute! Nag-overnight ba kayo sa Siquijor? Sabi nung kausap ko dati sa Travel Factor, medyo iffy daw sila sa pagovernight dahil sa mga witchcraft thing, so nag daytrip lang sila. May iba naman nagsabi okay lang daw :)

[Gwaxa]

Throwback Thursday (view spoiler)[though it's technically Friday already, oh well... (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[


May 2013, CDO White Water Rafting

- This was my first out-of-town trip with my college friends. We treated ourselves to some old-school adventure in the river of Cagayan.
- I'm not a sporty person, as obviously seen from the picture, rowing was a struggle. Our raft guide kept on telling all of us that we had to row harder if we want to enjoy the rapids and we were like, "Dude, it's hard!" Hahaha. And we had to do this for 3 hours!
- So unforgettable because all of us drowned in the part where we had to get off the raft to float all the way to the end of that particular rapid. It was scary and exhilarating at the same time. Until now, we laugh whenever we remember what happened.
- Aside from the drowning, one of us got thrown off the raft and meanie that I am, I laughed (along with everyone else naman) -----> (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]
- Despite all of this, believe me when I say that it was a very fun and adrenaline-filled experience. Once we got the hang of rowing harder together, we were able to ride out the rapids, especially the big ones. Every rapid we rode was like a mini roller coaster. And we've all wanted to go back for a second time.
- Aside from CDO, we also went to Dahilayan Park in Bukidnon for the longest zipline in the Philippines and a day tour in the whole island of Camiguin.

(hide spoiler)]

[Rollie]

Alexa: (view spoiler)[ you can speak our dialect? (hide spoiler)]

[Meliza]

Throwback Thursday (view spoiler)[Flashback Friday? (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[

This is one of our family outing photos last April 2012. This was taken at Bato Springs in San Pablo City, Laguna. We looked so happy there in the photo but in reality, we are enduring the icy cold water (parang galing sa ref) from the waterfalls. (The waterfalls are man-made but the water came from the springs somewhere. Hehe!) This is unforgettable because this is the last summer outing that we, 26 cousins from my mother's side, were still complete.
(hide spoiler)]

[Mawi]

Maria Ella wrote: "Mawi wrote: "David Nicholls – One Day. This is a book of feels, a book I’ve read twice in a row. It’s a very convincing and charming narrative of a friendship that is always just one step closer to..."

Ella!!! Life Manual!! (view spoiler)[ huwag lang sana tayong masagasaan ng rumaragasang sasakyan while biking. Lol (hide spoiler)]

[Alexa]

Rollie wrote: "Alexa: [spoilers removed]"

I can speak Bisaya, which they can understand, but some of them responded in Waray XD

[Rollie]

Blue wrote: "Rollie wrote: "Alexa: [spoilers removed]"

I can speak Bisaya, which they can understand, but some of them responded in Waray XD"

Haha. I see.

[Maria Ella]

Mawi wrote: "First time in Bohol, yes, a first of many haha"

I am actually into solo trippin on the first weekend of July and I cannot wait. Baka makitulog / makihitch / kung anuman ahahahaha

Blue wrote: "I can speak Bisaya, which they can understand, but some of them responded in Waray XD"

I AM ENVIOUS THAT YOU GUYS SPEAK YOUR DIALECT WHILE ALL THE TIME IN MY SOLO-BACKPACKING EXPERIENCE I JUST UNDERSTAND THEM THRU CONTEXT CLUES. #icapslockparaintense ahahaha

I remember solo-backpackin Visayas (Panay and Negros specifically) and all the sights are awesomesause aheheh

[Alexa]

@Ella: Were you able to taste the silvanas and the sans rival in Dumaguete?? And were you able to visit Silliman? It's so beautiful there! Ugh I wanna go back. Road trip to Bacolod after? Hehe.

[Lynai]

Blue wrote: "@Ella: Were you able to taste the silvanas and the sans rival in Dumaguete?? And were you able to visit Silliman? It's so beautiful there! Ugh I wanna go back. Road trip to Bacolod after? Hehe."

And ferry to Iloilo, after? :D

[Alexa]

@Lynai: WHY NOT I've always wanted to go! Island-hopping na <33

[Maria Ella]

Blue wrote: "@Lynai: WHY NOT I've always wanted to go! Island-hopping na <33"

Leggo TFG-Visayas edition!!! :D

[Honeypie]

Ella & Tina (sorry late reply): we stayed overnight, kasi may house rin yung lola ng friend namin. Tapos nagpunta rin kasi kami sa beach sa likod to catch (and eat!) sea urchins :D yung mga witches daw, nasa mga bundok naman daw. Wala sa town sa baba. Pero may mga nagbebenta ng mga gayuma sa baba! Hahaha!

Come to think of it, pweden balikan ang Siquijor. :)