Kat and I met up two weeks ago for what was supposedly a movie date except they weren’t showing the Dr… The Imagi… whatever the heck is the title of Heath Ledger’s movie… at Megamall, so we ended up having pizza and pasta, coffee and non-alcoholic cocktails and planning on a spontaneous Baguio weekend.

Me: (whiney) Punta tayo Baguio.
Kat: (chewing on pizza that doen’t seem to get smaller) Sige.
Me: Kelan?
Kat: Sa weekend.
Me: Nyeh… hindi nga.
Kat: Hindi nga.
Me: Ok.

So I sent an SMS to Ching (Carla and Edith has met her, siya si Richel) asked, told, begged her to come with us since it was a day after her birthday, and since it was our anniversary month… She said she had to think about it, and would just text us mid-week. Two days later, she asks me to call her, and she tells me “Okay, sige. Sasama ako.”

I think I did cartwheels and screamed wheeeeee! for two solid hours (in my head, of course).

So Friday, Kat and I met up at Megamall so we can have dinner and go to her place, so we can go to Victory Liner’s Cubao station. And we were there by 1 a.m. Ching caught up with us at 1:30, and we got the 3:30 trip to Baguio, the City of Pines, the Summer Capital of the Philippines, and to the three of us, the home of our hearts.

We arrived at… was it 9? Or 9:30 a.m. and we never actually stopped moving:

9:30a – 11:00p : Ching’s sibs’ boarding house at Eng. Hill. We dropped off our bags, freshened up; I had a really bad tummy-ache because I drank ice-cold Pepsi on a semi-empty stomach at 3 a.m.

12:00p – 3:00p – Lechon Rice at Cathy’s at Diego Silang Street. They serve good food with big servings. I wasn’t able to go back the last time we were in Baguio (since I was asleep), so I bullied everyone and said “doon tayo kakain”. Then we walked to the new Dane’s, which used to be behind the public market but is now in a much accessible area with a bigger store space, for cream puff. They only had two left at dahil hindi siya sasayad sa lalamunan ko, hindi na lang muna ako bumili. Then we walked to UB to watch Kat’s sister’s performance.
3:00p – 5:00p – The Philippine Military Academy. Yes po. Nagpumilit ako umakyat ng Baguio to go to PMA. After that, pwede na ako umuwi ng Manila. I guess, separate entry ang PMA because… well, because. Basta.

Our only group pic at the Lopez Hall of Leaders (Photo by Kat)

5:00p – 7:00p – SM Baguio so Ching, being a good ate, can buy stuff for her sibs. I stopped myself from getting anything although mero akong nakitang magandang tube dress… maganda lang siya, pero wish kung masuot ko ‘yon di ba?

7:30p – 9:00p – Had dinner at Steaks and Toppings, another college hang-out spot because they serve good food at estudyante prices. We were all tired but I didn’t want to go home yet so when Ching started making noises about Market Encounter (the bazaar that they put up at Burnham Park every FlowerFest) I said puntahan na namin para hindi namin ma-miss since I realized I had to come home earlier on Sunday than our agreed upon time of 4p.m.

9:00p – 10:00p – Market Encounter. Nag-semi shopping si Ching while again, I restrained myself, because everything I wanted to get, I could get the next day at the market.

We went home to Osky’s boarding house soon after where Kat and I were supposed to stay that night. I fell asleep as soon as the lights were out but woke up at midnight and stayed awake until 4a.m.

9:00a – 10:00a – Got ready to go out. Tatlo kaming maliligo, and I think I took the longest kasi lamig ng tubig! Wheee! Lovet!

10:00a – 11:30a – Had brunch at McDonald’s Sunshine, then off to market where I did a whirlwind pasalubong shopping spree.

11:30a – 1:00a – Went to Victory to wait for Ching ulit who got us 2:10p tickets, but since napaka-aga pa, we walked back to her sibs’ place to hang. We decided to go back to town so I can finally buy cream puffs.

1:00a – 2:00a – Bought cream puffs, nakapag-ukay pa kami LOL

2:06a – got on the bus back to Manila.

Hay. I so want to go back na. Maybe this year, pwede na ako tumira ulit sa Baguio.

Hindi pwedeng walang special entry ang ka-una-unahang lalaki sa Tagalog romance na na-in love talaga ako Si Lt. Kyle Magdayao. Great, great, GREAT job, sweetness! (uh, si Edith, hindi si Kyle)

Safe In Your Arms
Edith Joaquin
“Gusto ko lang sanang magpakilala sa ’yo nang pormal,” anang lalaking humabol kay Ina.

Tanda pa niya ang kapreskuhan nito noong una silang nagkaengkuwentro kaya nagtaray siya. “At bakit, sa palagay mo, magkakainteres akong makilala ka? Na guwapo….” Natigilan siya nang tumambad sa paningin niya ang nakaburdang pangalan sa uniporme ng lalaki: Lt. Kyle Magdayao.Napatayo siya nang tuwid at masama ang loob na sumaludo rito. “Begging your pardon, Sir.”

He gave her a disarming smile. “I will accept your apology kung papayag kang mag-date tayo.”

Bukod sa bawal tumanggi sa isang senior officer, hindi niya rin iyon magagawa dahil sa mga mata nitong napakalagkit tumingin. “Sir, yes, Sir,” aniya.

Lalong lumawak ang ngiti ng lalaki….

Congratulations to the MSV writers on their January release! Siyempre, double congrats to the Multiply ladies!

Dreams Café (Book 1 of 4): Dreamcatcher
Carla Giopaolo

“May reunion ang buong pamilya next month at doon balak ganapin sa old house,” tukoy ni Jeff sa mismong bahay na gusto nilang upahan ng mga kaibigan para sa business na itatayo nila—ang Dreams Café.

“We’ll wait until after the reunion. Mga three months pa naman bago kami magbukas and—”

“Hindi iyon ang concern ko, Ivy. Kailangan ko ng fiancée…”

“Well, puwede ka sigurong mag-propose sa girlfriend mo. Normally, ganoon ang ginagawa para magka-fiancée, di ba?

Sa unang pagkakataon mula noong magkakilala sila, Jeff smiled. At hindi masyadong maganda ang epekto niyon sa heartbeat ni Ivy. “Pero wala akong girlfriend.”

“Oh,” tanging nasabi ng dalaga. Naalala niya ang sinabi sa binata na gagawin niya ang kahit ano makumbinsi lang ang lalaki na iparenta sa kanila ang bahay….

Dreams Café (Book 2 of 4): Dream Weaver
Carla Giopaolo

“Lance, pareho lang tayong napapagod. Pirmahan mo na lang ang divorce papers natin para matapos na,” pakiusap ni Mylie.

“I can’t,” hirap na sagot ng lalaki. “I still want to be married to you.”

“Ang tagal naman bago mo naisipan na iyan pala ang gusto mo!” asik niya. Limang taon silang hiwalay; limang taon nitong pinaramdam na hindi siya importante sa buhay nito. At ngayon nito sasabihin iyon? “Naipangako ko na ang kinabukasan ko sa iba. I want to move on with my life. So please, Lance, I beg you…”

Matagal siya nitong tinitigan bago nito sinabi, “You’re free.”

Dapat masaya na si Mylie. Nakuha na niya ang gusto niya, pero para siyang namatay. Her heart ached upon seeing the intense hurt on his face….

Dreams Café (Book 3 of 4): Dreamscape
Carla Giopaolo

Nang buksan nilang magkakaibigan ang DreamsCafé, kasabay niyon ang desisyon ni Lexie na tuluyan nang iwan ang modeling career. Pero napilitan siyang gawin pa ang isang soap commercial dahil sa kanyang ambisyosang ina.

Ang ngitngit ay ibinunton niya sa shooting ng commercial. Isang rotten spoiled brat na Alexis Nicholas ang nakasama ng mga tao sa set. Sa isip ay nag-diriwang siya. Dahil sa bratty model image niya, her career would soon be down the drain. Makakaalis na rin siya sa para sa kanya ay superficial na mundong iyon.

Too bad mukhang si David Ortaleza—ang macho alpha male jerk na mismong director ng commercial—ang sisira sa mga plano niya….

Dreams Café (Book 4 of 4): Dream Master
Carla Giopaolo

Sa halip na ang pinaplanong muling pag-alala sa bittersweet memories ng una niyang pag-ibig, pagsusungit sa kasama sa bahay ang ginawa ni Isabel nang makarating sa Angel’s Cove. Hindi niya inasahan na may aabutan siyang isang estranghero sa bahay-bakasyunan ng kanilang pamilya. Granted pinapantasya ito ng buong Pilipinas dahil sa talent nito sa pagkanta at nakakakilig na kaguwapuhan, wala siyang pakialam. Hindi pa rin niya gustong nagugulo ang mga plano niya.

For a control freak like her, sakit sa ulo ang dulot ng mga sorpresa—and yes, kahit pa kasing-guwapo ni Jude Escalante ang surprise na iyon!

Safe In Your Arms
Edith Joaquin

“Gusto ko lang sanang magpakilala sa ’yo nang pormal,” anang lalaking humabol kay Ina.

Tanda pa niya ang kapreskuhan nito noong una silang nagkaengkuwentro kaya nagtaray siya. “At bakit, sa palagay mo, magkakainteres akong makilala ka? Na guwapo….” Natigilan siya nang tumambad sa paningin niya ang nakaburdang pangalan sa uniporme ng lalaki: Lt. Kyle Magdayao.Napatayo siya nang tuwid at masama ang loob na sumaludo rito. “Begging your pardon, Sir.”

He gave her a disarming smile. “I will accept your apology kung papayag kang mag-date tayo.”

Bukod sa bawal tumanggi sa isang senior officer, hindi niya rin iyon magagawa dahil sa mga mata nitong napakalagkit tumingin. “Sir, yes, Sir,” aniya.

Lalong lumawak ang ngiti ng lalaki….

First And Forever
Aira Felicity

Nasaksihan ni Neil ang pagdadalaga ni Jasmine.

Mula noong maulila ito sa mga magulang, siya na ang tumayong magulang, kapatid, best friend, protector nito—he was practically everything she needed.

Ngunit nagbago ang lahat isang gabi. Napansin niya, his little girl had grown into a very beautiful woman and it roused confusing and intense feelings inside him—na hindi tama.

Kaya ginawa niya ang sa tingin niya ay nararapat: nang masigurong kaya na nitong hindi dumepende sa kanya, tinakasan niya ang sitwasyon at iniwan ang dalaga. He had to protect her from himself… and shield himself against the impending heartaches.

Hindi akalain ni Neil na sa pagbalik niya ay matatagpuan niyang naroon pa rin ang damdaming iyon sa puso niya para kay Jasmine—and it was much more potent.

Ayaw Ko Sanang Mahalin Ka
Leira Carlos

“Look, Conner, whatever impression you have of me, it’s wrong. I have a boyfriend and… malapit na kaming ikasal,” tangkang paliwanag ni Lauren, hoping he would just give up on her. Pero sadya yatang determinado ito.

Mataman siyang tiningnan ng binata. “Gusto kita at alam ko, the feeling is mutual. You only need to be honest with yourself and admit how you really feel about me.”

Alam niyang kasalanan niya rin. Kung hindi niya tinugon ang halik nito, wala sana itong makakatuwiran.

“I just want to have a peaceful life with my fiancé.”

Nagdilim ang anyo ni Conner. “You will be mine, Lauren, no matter what it takes.”

His tone frightened her—over and above, the too intense emotions she felt for him this soon….

Take Me To Your Heart
Faith A. Teodoro

Ordinaryo lang ang buhay ni Zoe. May masayasiyang pamilya, maayos na trabaho. Hanggang sa maging kaibigan niya si Drake, ang misteryosong officemate nila. Napakabilis ng lahat, mula sa katrabahong ni hindi siya kinikibo, naging nobyo niya ito.

Simula nang maging sila ay parang inulan siya ng grasya. Bukod sa naging magaan ang mundo niya, na-promote pa siya sa trabaho. Ang akala niya ay perpekto na ang lahat at wala na siyang mahihiling pa.

Hanggang sa matuklasan niya na ang ‘perpekto’ na buhay niya ay isa lamang palang kasinungalingan—ang pamilya niya, ang promotion at… pati si Drake?

Hindi niya halos mapaniwalaan ang huli. Hindi narin alam ni Zoe kung aling bagay tungkol sa kanila ngbinata ang totoo, at alin ang bahagi ng panloloko….

A Recipe For Romance
Mika Edelstann

Ang kanyang vegetable garden, negosyo at ang trabaho niya bilang aikido instructress—iyon lang ang iniikutan ng mundo ni Hero. Walang social life ang dalaga so malamang boring ang tingin ng iba sa buhay niya, yet, she’s happy. Mas mabuti nang doon niya ituon ang panahon; ayaw na niyang maulit iyong naranasan niyang sakit noong indyanin siya ng kanyang nobyo sa altar.

Ngunit tila biglang nagkaroon ng spice ang buhay niya mula nang matagpuan ang isang nilalagnat at dehydrated na estranghero na nakalupasay sa garden niya. Off-limits sa mga lalaki ang bahay niya, pero hindi kaya ng konsyensya ni Hero na ipagkait ang tirahan habang nagpapalakas ang binata na isa palang chef. At malaki ang maitutulong ng mga inimbento nitong luto sa negosyo niya.

She had never guessed fate itself was cooking for them a recipe for disaster… or was it a recipe for love?

Read the rest of this entry »

I’m not a shopaholic but sometimes, I just want to go to the mall and spend money (so thank you, Lord that you never get tired of giving me money for random shopping trips). So earlier today, I went to MY SM Megamall to… shop. I kinda promised that I’d buy myself clothes new clothes or shoes. I’m kuripot when it comes to clothes. Most of my clothes are years old (basic shirts and jeans that never go out of style) so most of them are faded or filled with holes that I find at the most inopportune of times.

So, anyway, earlier, after having lunch all by my lonesome self at Sbarro where I had a green garden salad (with a huge slice of sausage pizza with extra mozarella cheese on the side), I passed by National Bookstore first to see if they already had Bookware’s January release. Unfortunately, wala pa si Kyle, but fortunately, dala ko siya sa bag ko

I went to several stores and bought myself a new top (it’s brown, basic and hides my four tummies), a cute skirt (shin-length, flowy and of a kinda shiny bronze color), a new bracelet made from colorful pukka shells), a new bracelet whatchamacallit, kinda like a cuff with shiny stones, and, of course, a new book. I wanted to look at bags and new shoes but I figured, OA na, so I restrained myself.

Sitting in bed, surrounded by my booty, I’m alternately feeling proud of myself and guilty. Marami kasing naghihirap and here I am, going on shopping sprees. I just tell myself that I don’t do this every day, and I also owe it to myself to provide me with clothes and other… things. Ewan ko ba kung bakit nag-iinarte pa ako, wala namang pakialam ang madla kung mag-shopping ako, ‘di ba? Hmp.

Though I still think I need to promise myself that I will buy new clothes every month so my mom doesn’t feel sorry for me LOL A few months ago, I bought myself a few shirts and she thanked the Lord (very fervently) that I atually bought new clothes instead of books.

I will now head on over to my closet and toss out the clothes I don’t wear anymore since most of them don’t fit, HA! and ask my mom to give them to my cousins in the province.

So there.

Because I listed things I wanted to accomplish in 2009 and I was able to accomplish most of them, I’m going to write my 2010 To-Do List down as well.

1. Finish 12 to 15 manuscripts and have most (if not all) of them approved.

2. Again, go on a minimum of 6 different places. Doesn’t matter if I’ve been there before so long as it’s outside the National Capital Region. Ride a plane again, whee!

3. Live somewhere else for a minimum of one month. I’ve always wanted to live in Baguio again, or maybe in Dumaguete, if Edith Joaquin would adopt me… but then, that’s not exactly living independently since she’s gonna be cooking for me Di ba, sweetness?

4. Lose weight. Ha! This has been on my list for the last five years. Wish I could go back to my college weight of 112 lbs. LOL Wiiiiish ko laaaaaang! I need a miracle.

5. Save at least $500 until Christmas and/or pay off up to half (if not the whole) of my credit card debt.

6. Kinda an addendum to number 5, but I want have to make enough money to help send my sister to college.

7. Buy one of the following: a new 32 or 64GB iPod Touch (probably after September when they’ve released their new, if they have it, model), a new laptop or a netbook.

8. Get my passport once and for all. Ano ba? You have everything you need to get one. Ang dali-dali na lang, nagpo-procrastinate ka pa!

9. Watch at least one movie every month.

10. Buy at least five books a month for Angel Bautista’s Christmas Outreach program.

There. I’m sure the list will grow as I go along but, so far… these are what I can think of.

because I met wonderful new friends and they have given me laughs and tears and joys and dramas. You’ve given me sisters and you’ve given me more people to cherish.

because I was able to surpass my 10 ms goal, finished 12 manuscripts, and 6 of my books were released. You taught me that I’m my greatest adversary, and that I can do anything so long as I believe I can.

because you gave me a wonderful boss and a great opportunity to be semi-internationally published this year, and you made me understand how hard it is to be a real writer, and how much I appreciate the talent I’ve been given.

because I finally got my website up and running which means I’ve learned something new.

because I also overshot my travel quota, and I was able to go to places I’ve never been to before like Dumaguete (which I’ve fallen in love with and plan to visit again in 2010) and Siquijor. I’ve also gone to Subic and Nueva Vizcaya ON MY OWN which is a very big thing because I am such a wuss when it comes to traveling alone.

because you spared us from Ondoy and Pepeng, and gave us the opportunity to be heroes to other people, even through small ways. You also opened our eyes to the importance of environmental issues, and allowed us to rethink our way of life.

because even through all the things that have happened, the tragedies out in the seas, the election-related violence and such, you made us realize that there is hope that tomorrow will be a better day if we make it so.

Have a blessed New Year everyone! And here’s to 2010!

“Naging isang bangungot ang bakasyong inaasahan ni Denise sa Cebu nang muntik na siyang mapagsamantalahan. Hindi nagtagumpay ang lalaki sa binabalak nito, nang piliin niyang tumalon na lang sa dagat.She was saved from drowning by Greg, a recluse who lived on an island.

Isang misteryo sa kanya ang guwapong lalaki. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit ganoon na lang kung ipagtabuyan siya nito. She later learned that it had something to do with his hatred for women.

Masidhi ang atraksiyon niya rito kaya isinumpa niyang gagawin ang lahat upang matuto itong magmahal muli. Kahit pa ibig sabihin niyon ay ipagtabuyan siya nito nang paulit-ulit…”

I am such a proud mama! Or, ate… My bunso’s first book, Denise’s Destiny (walang aagaw dahil akin na akin ang kwentong ito) has been released! When I found out that her ms has been accepted, parang ms ko yung na-approve! LOL

Congratulations, Rhiana Dizon! I’m soooooo so so proud of you. Kita mo na! I hope ngayon naniniwala ka na sa’kin na kaya mo! I’m looking forward to having a copy of this. Compli with autograph ha! Here’s to a successful writing career!

Last night, I went to my grandmother’s wake. We were all taken by surprise because she wasn’t sick. Not sick sick like with cancer or anything serious like that, but she was complaining of a cough and that the weather wasn’t agreeing with her. She also couldn’t sleep for the past few days and asked my tita (her daughter), who is a doctor, for sleeping pills. They were supposed to take her to the hospital for a check-up on the 21st. They took her to Medical City. She got checked up. She slept at the hospital and never woke up again.

The one thing I remember about my grandmother, who was a lawyer, is that Imelda Marcos once accusingly pointed smudged fingers at her and said, “she dirtied my fingers”. My grandma was the one who took the former First Lady’s fingerprints when she was arrested in the mid-1990’s. It was something that kind of intimidated me from her because she was a lawyer and although she barely reached five feet in height, to me, she was larger than life. You should meet my grandfather who used to be a justice at the Sandiganbayan. I was scared of him!

I sat at one of the pews last night and looked at my titas. And I realized, I had their face, their hair and their eyes. My brother and I look alike but he got his face from my dad who got his face from my paternal grandfather’s side of the family. I got mine from my grandmother… face, hair, eyes… and ailments. Most of them (including some of the kids) have big and, very myopic, eyes. My mom also said I got my brain from them, which is a good thing because they’re all smart (HA!).

In a few years, I’m going to look like one (or most) of them. I already do. And when I grow old, I’m sure I’m going to look exactly like my grandmother. I just hope, that when I grow old, I’m going to look half as beautiful as my grandmothers.

Rest in peace, Lola.

Re-reading “Each Day With You”. May part doon sa book na sinabi ni Rob, seemingly out-of-the-blue, “Yun, saka ang mabuntis ka”.

Parang napa-huh? ako. Saan galing yung “buntis” comment. Did I miss anything? So I looked at the original manuscript, at ito pala ang dapat nandoon:

Ngumiti lang si Rob at hinalikan siya sa mga labi. “I know, and that’s enough for me,” bulong nito. “Just promise ma na pagkatapos nito, hindi na tayo mag-aaway. Iiwan na natin ang bangayan sa mga magulang natin.”

“Gusto ko magkasundo na din sila,” amin ni Alex.

“Gusto ko din yun, pero sa ngayon, parang mas may posibilidad na mabuntis kang virgin kesa mapagbati sila. I promise, magagawan natin ng paraan yun.”

“Ang mapagbati sila?” tanong ng dalaga.

Pilyong kumindat si Rob. “Yun, saka ang mabuntis ka.” Kinurot siya ni Alex at tumawa ang lalaki. “Basta tayo, bati na tayo.”

So there. Baka, tulad ko, may mapa-huh? lang

Her novel, To Love Again, is 1st runner up at PHR’s Novel of the Year for 2009!

Angel Bautista (PHR)/Carla Giopaolo (MSV) has become my favorite Tagalog romance writer since I first read Missy’s story. Inalok ako ni Apple, our beloved EA, ng books na pwede ko iuwi ang I saw a copy of  Nagkamali Ba ang Puso?, at hindi ko na pinakawalan. After that, naging fan na niya ako.

Favorite na favorite ko si Judith McNaught. Siya ang writer na nagtransition sa’kin from Sweet Dreams to romance novels, at pareho sila ng talent ni Angel. Hindi ako nagsasawa sa mga novels nila pareho kahit pa ilang beses ko basahin, at kahit ilang beses ko basahin, talagang sasakit at sasakit ang solar plexus ko sa mga parteng masakit sa dibdib ng mga characters. Ang galing niyang mag-develop ng characters at ang galing niyang mag-develop ng plot. At hindi halatang workaholic siyang hanggang leeg ang nakabinbin na trabaho kapag nagpasa siya ng nobela ha! Parang yung nobela lang niya ang tinatrabaho niya!

Hindi ako makapamili ng favorite kong Angel Bautista/Carla Giopaolo book dahil mahal ko silang lahat. Pero special ang To Love Again sa’kin kasi tinulungan ako ng librong ito na mag-iba ang tingin ko sa kapulisan. I swear takot ako sa pulis. Bago ko nabasa ang librong ito, never pa ako tumingin ng diretso sa mukha ng pulis. At kapag may nasasalubong akong isa sa kanila, mabilis ako maglakad palampas, palayo o patawid basta hindi ako lumapit sa kanila. Hindi ko alam pero may “pulis-phobia” ako.

Then, I met Patrick and Jay (ang aking si JC). After ng librong ito naging life’s greatest dream ko na ang makakita ng gwapong pulis kung kaya’t natutuwa na ako sa tuwing dadaan ako sa HQ ng pulis sa Pasig, at kapag may naka-unipormeng pulis akong nakikita, tinitignan ko na sila at ngumingiti na ako imbes na magmukha akong may bagong inisnatch na alahas sa Quiapo dahil sa bilis kong lumayo sa kanila. Hindi na ako takot sa kanila ngayon so dapat magpasalamat kay Angel Bautista ang buong PNP *ahehe*

Ang gusto ko lang naman sabihin ay congratulations, Angel! Here’s to more novels from you Salamat sa pag-she-share ng talents sa’ming mga fans mo. I’m sooooo proud of you.