Event: Trese 4 Book Launch

October 8, 2011–who knew it would be that big? Well, we had an inkling. And I’m sure creators Budjette Tan and KaJO Baldisimo knew that it was going to be swamped. But for people like me, who have been to launches that were either populated by family and friends, or attended launches that had crickets in the audience, we had no idea it could be that big.

I’ve been exposed to Trese since college years since my days as a writer/producer for an entertainment website (why pretend I’m younger than I am? Haha,) but it took last year’s Filipino Horror challenge in this blog to actually turn me into a fan. After reading the first three volumes (especially the third one), I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the next book. And then Cadena de Amor came out online. Then, earlier this year, I got a copy of The Fight of the Year–with a note saying that Trese 4 was coming out very soon. And after a few more months of waiting, a friend tweeted about the a date that writer/creator Budjette Tan was teasing Trese fans with. Sure enough, it was the date of the fourth volume’s launch.

Of course I made sure I’d be there.

As usual, I went to the event venue early. I do this to case the joint, and then grab a bite to eat before settling down for a long wait. But when I got to the venue an hour before the event was supposed to start, people were already occupying seats. Mr. Budjette Tan and Mr. KaJO Baldisimo themselves were already mingling with the early attendees. Or their friends. Who are also fans of their work, and not just there because they’re friends. Obviously, I didn’t bother with my launch-ritual of going somewhere else to eat first. I grabbed the nearest seat to the makeshift stage and I waited.

I didn’t have to wait long. After the lengthy interview by TV5, the program proper started. Host Jiggy Cruz made small talk, revealed the Trese-fied iPad that National Bookstore is raffling off to the luckiest Trese fan, before getting on with the grilling of the creators. A short question-and-answer with the fans followed, some of which gets touched upon in the embedded video below.

An apology to the quality of the video coverage. This is only the second time I’ve done this, and since you haven’t seen the first one–it was obviously a failure. The background music’s a bit louder than intended, and some of the anecdotes/answers were cut out to keep the video short. But hey, it’s something new! Going back to the event…

The place was packed. Packed! But it wasn’t until the autograph-signing session that I actually saw how many people came out to support the launch of Trese 4. There were two lines of people snaking throughout the loft of Bestsellers’, with the people in each line hoping they were the ones in the right line. Both were, actually. The Bestsellers’ people thought to let the lines stay, with the lines merging somewhere in the middle–prior to reaching the creators’ table.

Do I even need to say that the event was very successful?

Event: Popped Too Book Launch

Okay, so I want to apologize for not being a very active blogger for the last couple of weeks. Work things piled up, and since that’s where I get the money to buy the books (and the DVDs, and the movie tickets, etc.) I had to make that my top priority. Well, that and I enjoy my work. But you’re not really here to read about what I do for a living, so let’s skip that and go straight to:

The Popped Too book launch!

It was held last Wednesday, September 21, at the Subspace Coffee House at F. Ortigas Jr. Road (aka Emerald Road)–not an easy place to find for someone like me. Good thing my meeting finished early and I was able to spend (close to) an hour just to look for the place.

Now, to be quite frank, the only reason I attended was because I wanted to support the local book scene. Also, I felt guilty for having to bail out on the The Best of This is a Crazy Planets book launch because of the weather (and work).

I knew nothing about the book being launched–I didn’t even know that it was the launch for the sequel. But things became quite clear as soon as I stepped inside the quaint Korean-inspired coffee shop. Well, that and Charlie (the Summit Media person-in-charge)’s first question: “Do you like K-Pop?”

Yeah, no. Not really. I’m familiar with some Korean pop songs, since I work in the entertainment industry and all, but I can’t say I like it. Well, maybe some songs. But I don’t see myself becoming a fan. Ever. But that shouldn’t stop me from enjoying a good book regardless of the topic, right? I’m not a fan of basketball and I enjoyed reading Pacific Rims.

I have to admit though, that question hung around me the whole time I was there. I’m not a fan of K-Pop and I’m attending a launch for a book inspired by it. And they’re screening Korean music videos (with Thai subtitles) while we waited for the launch to start. I was starting to doubt my decision to come. But I steeled myself. I made a promise to support local literature. So I stayed and braved through the family, the friends–and the fan girls.

Chinggay Labrador, the author, was very nice. Although, I don’t think she has this author-with-fans thing down pat yet. She seemed uneasy about having to stand in front of so many people, reading from the book she had published, and answering questions about her personal life that–well, she must’ve expected, seeing as the book(s) were loosely based around her own love for Korean pop culture.

The event didn’t take long though. After a short Q&A about the books (yes, there are plans for a third, fourth and a fifth Popped books) and raffle, it was all over. Now I have two more books to read, one given (Popped Too) and one I bought (Popped). And I’ll write my reaction to them as soon as I finish reading the books.

Here’s the press release Summit Media made for Popped Too:

“K-Pop fans everywhere loved the highly-popular novel, and National Book Store bestseller, Popped released by Summit Books last year. Now, author Chinggay Labrador returns with the much-awaited sequel entitled Popped Too.

Popped Too follows the story of Andie, as she embarks on an unforgettable journey to Seoul, Korea with her friends. Together, the fangirls fulfill their Seoul wish list, which includes bumping into their favorite K-Pop celebrity crushes, falling head-over-heels with a Korean boy, and more!

Labrador, a self-confessed K-Pop fanatic, says, “I was inspired by how funny and absurd K-Pop gossip can be, by my trip to Korea last February, my friends who continue to love K-Pop no matter what, by the friends I made, and places we visited while traveling together.” Andie’s adventures in the motherland of all things K-Pop are all inspired by Chinggay’s own misadventures with her friends.

Will Andie and her friends fulfill their K-Pop dreams? Get your K-Pop fix and find out by grabbing your copy of Popped Too, available in bookstores, newsstands,  and supermarkets nationwide for only P175.“

And that’s it for me for now.

My next blog post will once again be for Doctor Who, and then I’m going to be writing abuot the three Quantum Prophecy novels, an oldish sort-of graphic novel from Arnold Arre, and I got a review request for an e-book that I’ve yet to read. So that’s what’s coming up. Until then, see ya!

Event: Pacific Rims Book Signing

Back in October of 2010, I wrote about Pacific Rims here on my blog. I gushed about it, to be perfectly straight with you. And I felt disappointed (in myself) that I didn’t attend any of the Pacific Rims-related events that Fully Booked and National Bookstore had held during the book’s release. Then again, when said events happened, I didn’t know if I was going to like the book or not. I hadn’t read it yet.

When I found out about National Bookstore’s Book Signing event for the release of Pacific Rims’ paperback copy, I knew I was going. It wasn’t even a question. I knew I was going to make time for it.

So Saturday, May 21, found me at Booksellers in Ortigas, at the book-signing event where author Rafe Bartholomew shared what his next plans are, and how much has changed in his life since the book came out. Spoiler: not much.

Rafe Bartholomew, contrary to his acting stint in Bakekang, is fun to watch live. He conveys his thoughts well—if a bit lengthily. That’s not a criticism, it’s just an observation—by a few people at the event, including me. One attendee, in line to have her book signed, commented that it was great that Rafe was conversing with everyone in line for an autograph—if only he didn’t take 20 minutes to answer each question.

I had my chance to speak with him too. I was planning on telling him how much I enjoyed the book, even though I wasn’t a fan of basketball—and then segue into a couple of questions about his chapter on Philippine show business. But for some reason, my mind went blank. I managed to ask about his acting stint, with a bit of (what I felt was) an accusatory tone. Rafe was nice about it, but I felt like kicking myself. If, by chance, Rafe is reading this: I’m sorry if I sounded snooty. And I really like your book.

The lesson here is: if you’re having problems putting your thoughts to words, not speaking would be the best option.

What’s done is done though, so instead of wallowing, I’ll give a short summary of what was said in the event instead:

First, Rafe Bartholomew is back in the Philippines for a short series of documentaries that will be aired at National Geographic sometime soon. He’ll be in the Philippines until the end of the month, which is sometime next week.

Second, he’s been offered a job as a researcher, with the option of writing, for a sports-centric website. I forgot the website, but I do have it on video, which I will put up as soon as I can. Rafe also mentioned that he’ll continue with his own blog; and that he has sent a proposal to publishers for another book. From what wasn’t said, I think it has nothing to do with basketball, or the Philippines.

I’d still pick it up when it gets released though. Whatever it is.

Third, Rafe got to play with some of the PBA legends when he went back to the United States. And most of the feedback he’s gotten for the book has been positive. Though, he said, there were a lot of questions from people of why he chose to dog Alaska instead of Ginebra.

Honestly, I found it weird when people started asking Rafe about stuff that gets covered in the book. Like the “Why Alaska?” question. That is, until I found out that around half of the attendees haven’t read the book. Oops on my part.

Before I end this post though, I have something for my readers: a free (and autographed) copy of Pacific Rims!

Since I liked the book so much, I thought I’d buy a paperback copy to giveaway. To win the book, all you have to do is comment on this post saying you want the book. Oh, and promise than when you do win it, you’ll give me your mailing details so I can actually send the book to you. That’s pretty much all I’m asking.

So do you want the book?

I will pick a winning comment using a randomizer (or whatever you call it) on the morning of June 12.

event: darren criss, live in manila

last night, while trying to take good photos of darren criss performing, i wished i had a better camera. in the end though, i didn’t go to the show for good photos–i went to enjoy good music.

good music was definitely there to enjoy.

for those of you who aren’t familiar with darren criss, he is the star (composer, lyricist and writer as well) of one of the many internet sensations–A VERY POTTER MUSICAL. if you’re not into the whole harry potter thing, he also starred in the short-lived EASTWICK, and is currently a recurring guest star on GLEE.

the show, held at ayala’s greenbelt 3 park, was dubbed “a gleeful christmas with darren criss,” but i was happy that he mostly sang songs that he wanted to sing. there was no set list. darren just sang whatever song popped into his head.

of course there were songs from the very potter musicals, and he also sang a couple of disney songs, a christmas song, and his biggest hit from GLEE, “teenage dream.”

darren was feeling a bit under the weather during the event. despite this (and jet lag), darren was still very professional. he exceed the hour he was given to perform, and stuck around for all the meet-and-greet pass holders, as well as those who have stubs for an autograph signing session.

i got him to sign my copy of his ep with “darren doesn’t know.” he’s seen the meme, and he seems to find it funny.

this is only my second ayala mall event, so i don’t know if this is always the case. but i really have a bone to pick with their ticket distribution, and how they disseminate information.

my friend and i lined up early in the morning to get one of the 200 tickets they’re releasing. while in the line, an ayala employee tells everyone to move the line to the other side.

it turns out that the employee had told the ones in front (of the line) that only the a-list card members are supposed to move to the other side of the concierge (aka ticket distribution booth), but since the employee only bothered to say this to the ones in front of the line, there was a mad scramble as people raced to get into the front of the newly formed line.

so it took a bit of a sorting out for people to actually go line up to where they’re supposed to line up.

and then, during the time the security personnel were letting people into the venue, there was another scramble as people tried to elbow their way into the venue. and these were the people with stubs! a security personnel had told us to go line-up near where the make-shift entrance was, but when one of my companions asked the guards that were stationed there, they hadn’t been told that there was supposed to be a line.

all of these didn’t come as a surprise to me yesterday though. after all, my only other ayala event experience (back in 2008) was way worse than yesterday. i did my best to stay unaffected this time around, so i could enjoy the show more.

the only reason why i’m sharing this now is because i sincerely hope the organizers of ayala events make a serious effort to be more, well, organized.

event: book bloggers meet marianne villanueva

yesterday, a few of the filipino book bloggers met miss marianne villanueva.

paolo of rocket kapre organized the get together for the author to meet with a few local readers, and a few local writers as well. and as always, i was late. so i don’t know how the get together began.

it was completely informal though, and it was fun talking with miss villanueva.

topics ranged from how relatives react to an author’s work, reading with a perception of who the author is, reviewing works written by strangers as opposed to works by colleagues or friends, and more.

miss villanueva also shared with us some tidbits on two of the projects she’s working on, one of which is a libretto for an opera. her first time writing one!

miss villanueva also listened, and commented, on a few issues we book bloggers brought up: like how some authors think the book bloggers tend to drive away readers because of their criticisms, or how there’s a shortage of local novels (not novellas) for filipinos to read, or if local readers would read foreign novels translated into filipino/tagalog.

the discussion was fast; i didn’t even realize a couple of hours had passed (since i arrived) until people started leaving for christmas parties.

soon, miss villanueva herself had to leave. but before she left, i took a group photo of those who remained until the end of the meet-up. and as you can see from the photo, we all grabbed a copy of miss villanueva’s latest release, THE LOST LANGUAGE, which she graciously signed for us.

much thanks to triccie and libreria for once again providing the venue for the filipino book bloggers’ meet-up, to paolo for organizing the get together, and of course to miss marianne villanueva herself for spending the afternoon with us.

libreria is located at cubao expo. for more information about the bookstore, check out its facebook page.

and to find out more on miss marianne villanueva, check out her blog at anthropologist.wordpress.com. and buy her book, THE LOST LANGUAGE, out in bookstores.

also, check out what chachic has to say about the event at chachic’s book nook.