THE HILLS ARE ALIVE - HAPPY KAAMULAN FESTIVAL

My province of Bukidnon is currently celebrating the highly anticipated festival of the year called Kaamulan Festival, which normally held in the province capital city of Malaybalay.

Kaamulan means gathering and in the older times, it is the time of the year were ethnic people from different Tribal groups will climb down the mountain to gather in festivity and meet with the locals. Of coarse there is an origin there somewhere but let's leave that to the historians and the scholars to talk about the boring stuff.

As a fantasy fiction writer, I'd rather talk about an alternate reality which originate only during my day dreams and I wrote a book about it. The title is "Asician and the Portal of the Tribes Realm"
 
One of the reasons why I wrote the book -  it was my shameless way of promoting the seven tribal groups of my own province in Bukidnon. I know that what I was doing wasn't enough but at least I was doing something. I will always be a son of Mindanao and a son of a farmer to be particular from my humble little town in Valencia City in Bukidnon. I grew up knowing the majestic mountains that my province offers, the beautiful springs that sprout from the foot of these mountains, the fresh streams and amazing lakes. Nature is abundant in Bukidnon and upon entering the vast province, you will see ranches and different plantations of rice, pineapple, corn, sugarcane and vegetables - which is indeed a haven for farmers.

Aside from all of this. Bukidnon is a home for the 7 Tribes who was said to be the first ethnicity inhabited the vast terrain. This is their land and we are just the occupants. Their story of old inspired me when I was a kid and every time I saw one of them o the street, I was always fascinated even now. That's why I felt terrible for not having attended the festival for so many years now. Well, I could blame it on my day job. (Wink)

Also, the coolest part of being a novelist is the amount of research that I need to do to learn more about the subject. I've known stories about tribal people from the elders; meaning, my aunt, grand parents and even my parents. But in order for me to write about them, I feel like it's my responsibility to at least take a deeper learning about the tribal people of my province. But we're in the digital world now and I don't need the confine of a huge Library to get the information that I need. Everything is a click of the mouse and you just need the right URL and wallah!

So I wrote the book. I daydream about these characters like they are my friends and to be able to follow their adventure as if I was there, it was a joy and a fulfillment that only a writer would know.

In this celebration! To the 7 Tribes who grace the South City of Pines and to my beautiful province of Bukidnon - Happy Kaamulan Festival everyone! May the God Magbabaya and Goddess Dagingon will grant all of your prayers. Let the gong of the Salambing reaches the heavens and let the limbag chants reach the ears of the Almighty.

As I have said, I will always be a son of Bukidnon and the winding Sayre Highway of Mindanao will always be my road less traveled. I will always be that kid sitting beside the window of the Bachelor Transit watching the mountainous region and cheered every time I saw a horse running freely in the meadows.

Xoxo

BOOK REVIEWS: The Host

I have this book in my eBook-shelf since for-e-v-e-r. I really don't know what took me so long to pick this book and read it. I knew that the movie adaptation will be coming soon but I normally shrugged this off and pass.

Then the first week of February came and I was in a book-sale killing time which I normally call it my ME time during weekends.   I was randomly picking books when a copy of "The Host", came tumbling down and landed on my hand. At first I was skeptical if I should buy it or not since I already got the eBook version of it on my iBook. But still the idea of having the actual book in my hand was too hard to resist. You know, despite of this electronic revolution that we have in this new age, still, nothing can beat reading with a tangible book in your hand. The smell of the paper, the nostalgia, the feeling of flipping the pages, it's just different.

So I ended up purchasing the book in a lower price and went home.

I started reading it. At first, I found it hard to think that this book is actually written by Stephanie Meyer, the author who started the Twilight Mania. Well, I don't really hate that series, I admit that I literally devoured those four books and even watch the movie. But as many readers said - we should not be judging the book by its movie in which I definitely agree. The movie adaptation can be awful, especially when the actor portraying the lead role murder the character that you grow to love but that doesn't mean that the book is equally distasteful.

Now, I don’t normally read post apocalyptic or post-invasion whatever type of genre. The first dystopian world I encountered is that of the Hunger Games and Oh yeah! How can I forget that wonderful book called Warm Bodies? I love that book!

Though there are others that I braved myself reading but I am not going to talk about it right now.

Okay back to The Host. I am intrigue with the premise of the story. A worm like alien with a size of a thumb called the Soul, inserted in a human body (The Host) for it to have access of that body and gain total control. That’s how this little alien succeeded its invasion and won the planet Earth. Humans are in the brink of extinction because The Souls are targeting them to make a Host of their bodies. But just like the old stories of Alien Invasion, Humans will not easily give up without a fight. They will always fight back. Technically, that’s the entire story goes…

But what makes this book tick for me is how the characters are woven together. A lot of reviews online claimed that they are undeveloped, they maybe are but as I always said, I am not a critical reader and as long as the novel entertains then that book served its purpose.

I like those main characters of the alien Wanda and the host Melanie. Though the two of them are trapped in Mel’s body, still, you can easily see the difference between the two. Then there is Jared and Ian and Mel’s uncle Jeb and many more – humans that are part of the resisting colony. Now, Wanda is a Soul, an alien, but the longer she stays with the human the more she become attached to them and even fall in love to one of them. She also realized that she is becoming more of them than being the Soul that she is. She understood the human ways of existing. Wanda’s struggle is very enthralling for me. Her inherent goodness and self sacrificing won her a spot in the human colony. She is genuine and I think her principle is more human than alien. When I finished reading the book, I am still longing to know more about the characters. I am happy to learn that Stephanie Meyer decided to continue writing this book in a series. I will definitely wait for the next installment.

    

Yeah, I've seen the movie too... I dragged my partner to the movie house just to watch it. Well, apparently I ended up explaining almost every sequence to him while watching. I have to say, I enjoyed it and the lead actor Saoirse Ronan who I think looks like a young version of Cate Blanchett did a great job portraying Wanda/Mel, so is that hot dude called Max Irons as Jared (drools).

Xoxo

  

BOOK READS: SHOOTING KABUL

I am very particular when it comes to genre of the book that I wanted to read. Lots of times I'm drawn to the cover of the book that makes me want to read them.   I don't consider this a good idea but of coarse it's not a bad idea either.

Just that, all through these years of spending hours in a bookstore particularly in a book-sale, I learned to flip at least few pages of the book and read the teaser of the story written normally at the back before purchasing it. I no longer rely on the the book cover itself.

The book cover and the content are totally different thing, created by totally different mind. There are lots of great books out there with stories that will pinch a heart with just a very simple cover. There are also a lot of awesome covers out there that will give you a straight to the trash-can stories.

"Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai is one of those great stories with simple cover. First, this book is not actually my genre because I am more interested with genre that deals around Fantasy Fiction and Supernatural stuff. So to say the least, this book is way out of my comfort zone. But just lately I decided to open myself to other genre to broaden my views. I want to learn more about sub-cultural books, historical fiction and thriller. A good autobiography is a go for me and some books that dwells between chic-lit or satirical prose probably written by female comedian or gay authors. 

Now, this gem of a book is from the sale section of the bookstore and I really got it in a very low price. The cover was just a so-so but the thing that caught me is the thought about a family escaping from the border of Afghanistan in the midst of the Taliban war. The journey that the family took to get to that border so they can hop on the Truck that will take them to America with the Asylum Visa given to people living in a war zone. The entire story is told by a young protagonist as one of the member of the family escaping. His younger sister has been left behind in the midst of the chaos when the truck comes and lots of family who wanted to escape the war are pushing their way to get into the truck. Because the little girl is so young, she loose her grip and lost her way to get into the truck.

The entire story is told in a subtle way and every scene and struggle of the family when they get to America is palpably executed well. The burden of our young protagonist is raw for his age and I really feel for the kid. He is a dreamer like me, but of coarse he shape his dreams to help solve his family's problem but because he is still young, he can only do much. The frustration that he feels is very real for me. A lot of times I choke to fight back tears.

This book also deals about how Afgan. families cope during the time of the 7/11 tragedy. This particular struggle is experience by our young protagonist when one of his schoolmates call him terrorist. 

All in all, I totally love this book. It's a simple read but it fills the heart with knowledge and love for religion, country and for being alive.

BOOK READS: HEAVEN CAN WAIT

It took me a while to finish reading this book for some reason. I didn’t say that I like it but it isn’t that bad either. There’s just something off about this book, probably it lack something…

For once, I didn’t know the purpose of the character. Yes, the character has an emphatic ability and can travel outside of her body and enter the realm of the dead. So she used this ability to help the dead get their closure and all. Other than that, she is also an Angel who decided to live among mortals in a dystopian world where humans considered supernatural beings as outcast and dumped them in a segregated place.

Then there is a half demon girl who’s some kind of hot in a femme fatal sort of way who worked as a bounty hunter for rogue creatures. But then she died in a very morbid way and now trying to reconnect with the Angel to pin those who are responsible with her death from the afterlife. This character for me is more interesting compared to the Angel whom the only dilemma she got is if she would give in from her sexual desires that she’d been suppressing since she clipped her wings and lived among mortals.

This could have been an interesting plot. However, it seems the author dwells mostly on the Angel’s emotional battles about moral values rather than pushing the narrative. The premises itself has so much potential to give action scenes blow by blow but the climax ended flatly for me, garnering a sort of confusion for the readers at the end.

Xoxo

BOOK READS: PENTECOST (ARKANE SERIES #1)

I first discovered this book while researching self-publishing and eBook writing on the internet. I stumbled upon Ms. Joanna Penn’s website, The Creative Penn, which provided me with an abundance of valuable information on those topics.

What initially drew me to the book was its captivating cover. As a reader, I often find myself picking up books based solely on their covers, and this one was no exception. While the premise of the book seemed promising, I was a little disappointed when the narrative didn’t quite match the beauty of its cover. However, there are always those rare gems that exceed our expectations—and Pentecost by Joanna Penn is certainly one of them.

From the title alone, I was hooked! Pentecost made me think of a story deeply rooted in biblical history and ancient myth. As a fan of fantasy fiction, I’m also an avid lover of historical fiction—especially when it weaves in elements of biblical wonders. I won’t give away any spoilers here, as I want you to experience the book for yourself, but I’ll share how I felt as I read it, keeping things vague rather than technical.

Ms. Penn’s writing is fast-paced, making it a thrilling read for those who enjoy high-action scenes filled with fighting, gunfire, and intense moments. The book features a strong female protagonist, which I loved, as I’m always a fan of "girl power" themes in both books and films. The characters’ journey to find the Stone of the Apostles spans a wide range of locations, from the Middle East to Spain, Europe, North America, and even Africa. These diverse settings made for an exciting and immersive reading experience.

The only drawback I found was that, as I became more absorbed in the story, I realized I wasn’t connecting deeply with the characters. They didn’t quite come to life for me, and I didn’t develop a strong emotional attachment to them. That said, the narrative itself and the mysterious myth surrounding the Apostles and their stone were intriguing enough to keep me going—and I ended up ordering the second and third books in the series.

All in all, Pentecost is a hidden gem!

Xoxo

THE BOOK IS DRAGGING ME

I am currently behind with my reading and the book that I am not-so-hook right now is something that I picked randomly online. Well, to say the least, I am literally pushing myself to finish it so I could move on and forget about it.

Though I like the premise of the book, Angels and Demons and all that stuff but there's something about the writing that failed to pull me in. I never had the kind of attachment  that I used to have when I read other supernatural theme books. I am not drawn to these characters, I am not even compelled.

Normally, when I encounter this kind of problem with books it only meant one thing - I'm loosing my interest.

Anyway, I am not going to give up easily since I already finished half of the book. It doesn't hurt if I need to spend more time to get this over with.

I know I need more luck to do it...



Xoxo

BOOK READS: CAUGHT UP IN A BOOK SERIES

I am the type of reader who started a book series and finish it.


The only problem I have is when I realized that I totally dislike the premises of the book and I've already read two or three books in that damn series, its too late to stop. Well, as long as it belongs to the Fantasy Fiction genre then I'll summoned all my power and push myself harder to finish it and move on.

Though lately, I'm trying to distance myself from the YA section because they seem to have that same high school teenage girly type of character.  That teenage girl who always find herself at the center of a catastrophic battle between vampires, werewolves, angel or whatever... I'm kinda tired of it...

But when  I browsed my ibook shelf, I found a few complete book series that I downloaded few months back. So guess what? I put myself in a mission to finish all of it so I can move on to a different genre. I want to try epic fantasy or historical fiction...

Now, I'm in the last book of the Hush Hush series written by Becca Fitzpatrick. I didn't say that I super love this series, though some of the characters I found interesting like the main character's bff "Vee" then there are others... But all in all, there's nothing memorable with this series and I just want to finish it and move on to the next. Well, this is just me, I know a lot of folks out there not to mention a friend of mine that is super crazy about this series.

But I'm done with the Series now, I'm so ready to move on...

BOOK READS: The Son Of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus #2)

I just finished reading the book "The Son of Neptune". It is the second book of the Heroes of Olympus Series by the amazing Rick Riordan. To say that this book delivers in my opinion is an understatement. Just like The Lost Hero, which is the first book in the series and the Percy Jackson Series, this book gives the reader the adventure of a lifetime.


Totally hands down to the author, with his great talent recreating the world of Mythology about gods and goddesses and monsters, heroes and villains alike.

Mixing Greek and Roman mythology is really not just awesome but brilliant idea. With the same rhythm the way the other books were written, readers will be catapulted into the world of Percy Jackson and his new found friends ready to save the world from the wrath of an evil goddess.

I don't want to give out anything from the book for the sake of those who haven't read it yet. All I can say is that, it's hard to despise this book not because I am a Percy Jackson fan but for the mere reason that I am a sucker for fantasy fiction adventure.

This book will never disappoint you in that area... From top 'til the last page, you'll be compelled to keep the pages turning until you finished reading it.

Please do read...

Xoxo

EVERYBODY STARTS SOMEWHERE - FOR ME, IT ALL STARTED WITH ANNE RICE

I was young when I first realized my love for reading, but it wasn’t until 6th grade that I discovered the joy of novels. I remember dragging my mother to National Bookstore to buy me a copy of Sweet Valley High.

Yes, I’m not embarrassed by it! It was the first book series I ever owned, though sadly, my time with it was short-lived. Once the characters went off to college, I found myself no longer interested in their stories.

In high school, I left my province to study in the Metro and stayed with my uncle in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. My new school was located in a subdivision, and while it was a good school—one where I made some of my best friends—it had a library that didn’t quite meet my expectations. Sure, it had encyclopedias, but most of the books on the shelves were for children, and I longed for novels—stories that could take me away from reality, even if just for a while.

When I moved to college, I enrolled at a large university in Mindanao, flying back to my province and settling in a city near my hometown. Every weekend, I took a three-hour bus ride home to Valencia, Bukidnon. The winding highways, the ranches, and the pineapple plantations reminded me of how it felt to immerse myself in a good novel—like being lost in a dream.

College was a time of rebellion, the most crucial years of my life, full of arguments about everything. I remember sitting on one of the benches outside the chapel with friends, debating the existence of God, life, sexuality—nothing was off-limits.

I lived in a boarding house along Capistrano Street, and one of my roommates, after our late-night conversations, introduced me to Anne Rice. She said that Rice’s books covered many of the topics I was passionate about. She was older, so I imagined she’d read more widely than I had. The next day, she left a book on my table with a note on a yellow post-it:

“Prepare to Dream! Enjoy!”

I chuckled at the irony of the note and eagerly picked up the book—The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice. For the first time in years, I felt a tingle of excitement holding this book. I knew I was about to embark on a great adventure, so I grabbed my coin purse, tucked the book under my arm, and headed out to the nearest coffee shop.

The afternoon was quiet, as it often is in towns outside the Metro. Even though Cagayan de Oro had long been a city, it still carried the charm of provincial life. The people’s gentleness, the air that hummed with freshness from the mountains of Bukidnon or the ocean on the other side—it all felt timeless.

I hopped into a tricycle, which took me to the coffee shop. I ordered tea and found a corner table near the window with a comfortable couch. I sank into the couch and let myself settle in while my eyes scanned the room. It was still the pre-social media days, so most of the people were unfamiliar faces.

“I’m really in for a treat,” I thought to myself.

The first few pages of The Queen of the Damned immediately hooked me. Anne Rice’s writing was exactly what I had been searching for. Her words belonged to the era of the story, creating a world that felt as real as the one I was escaping from. It was the kind of writing that made me forget everything else and even the present moment. For the first time in a long while, reading felt like dreaming.

Time flies when you’re lost in a good book, especially one about immortal characters. It was dark by the time I decided to head home. I hadn’t finished the book in one sitting, but I considered that a good thing—it meant I could live in that world a little longer. For weeks, I was obsessed with Anne Rice. I read everything I could about her and visited the local library, dreaming that one day I would own all of her books. I wanted a shelf filled with her works.

Ten years later, I have that shelf, in a small room I rented in the Metro. I follow Anne Rice on Facebook, and every time I see her work, I still feel the same excitement I did when I first read her books. Her magic never fades for me, and I will always be a devoted fan.

Looking back at my Goodreads list, it’s hard to believe how many books I’ve read since then. Now, I’m working on writing my own novel.

I have to say, Anne Rice is the reason I wanted to become a writer. While I may never be able to write as well as she did, she is my inspiration. Before I write, I always revisit a few chapters of her work to fuel my imagination and open my creative mind. I’ve finished my novel, and now I’m on the journey of finding an agent to represent my manuscript. Rejections have come, as they always do, and even though I try to remind myself that every successful author was once rejected, it still stings.

But giving up is not an option. I can’t help but wonder—what would Marius, the ancient vampire, say if I gave up on this dream? I don’t want to disappoint those timeless figures.

Xoxo