Cities by Carla De Guzman

image

Tis’ the season of #FebWhoGoat,  One of my reading list this month is “Cities” by Carla De Guzman, finally
had the time to finish it. I wanted to personally read the entire thing before
I blog it. Usually I try to highlight, What I read. Its nice to point out some
words of wisdom and humor too, that you could quote on your daily life.

image
image

Cities is Carla de Guzman’s
first original novella. The story is based on the theory of multiple universes,
the idea that somewhere out there are worlds where the choices you make are
different from the ones made here. Carla writes about the cities that have
inspired her and changed the way she sees the world, in the hope that her
readers will want to travel there too.

Cities is available in print and
via Smashwords, CreateSpace, and Amazon. Please contact the author for more information.

THE BOOK

image

Celia has dreams.

She dreams of going to Seoul for a scholarship she never took, of
leaving everything behind and moving to New York.

In all those dreams, she finds herself attached to Benedict, the boy she has
always loved, but who doesn’t love her back.

Ben believes in parallel worlds.

Worlds where things you didn’t do come true—worlds in which he goes to London
and falls in love with Celia, where he shows up on the day she needs him the
most. He believes that dreams are glimpses into that parallel world, and it’s
not a coincidence that Celia’s been having them too.

But here, now, they’re in Manila. It’s the day of Ben’s wedding, and a typhoon
is raging through the city. How will these dreams and unmade decisions change
their lives? Will they bring them closer together or drive them farther apart?

My Review

 First I love the cover of the book and what makes this book special, It is truly an exhibit of Pinoy Talent

I don’t want to entirely spoil you the entire book, but I just
have to share my points on the book.

 First, I would like to say thank you to Carla for the
opportunity to read her novel, this is her baby, I understand how this means to
you . And  I admire your writing, I do
wish, I  have the skill to write a novel.

 I enjoyed reading the book actually the “kiligs”, you just have
to pay attention to read in between the lines and understand the description in
every scenario.

 The plot consists of different places, there is Seoul, Manila,
London and New York. This is where your imagination have to work, in order for
you to feel the vibe of the setup. I thank television, for me to work on trying
to be in Seoul and New York (Hoping to go to theses places, one day). Manila
and London are close to my heart, ofcourse I’ve been living in Manila for 4
years and visited London during the summer 2009.

 Going back, this book involve romance, in it. Pinoys, dig love
stories. One of our forms entertainment, USAPANG PAG-IBIG nga naman. This
involves Celia and Ben (Main characters) and there is Vivian and Henry. In each
place there is a story of who ends ups with who and who hooks up with who.
Every story is direct to the point, it explains how different kinds exist
nowadays. There involves, unrequited love, forbidden love,” friends with
benefits”, young love,  falling for your
bestfriend, “You started out as friends and ended up having feelings towards
each other”,  love for family  and true love (may forever pa ba?) You better read the book, para maka relate
ka
.

I’ve highlighted some sections and phrases I like to emphasize in the book,

image
image

Ben has this theory, called the“ theory of multiverse”, what do you think?

 For me, love involves a lot of patience. Who am I to give advice
about love, for me the point is “If you guys are meant for each other, fate or
whatever you call destiny, You two will end up together”. I guess I can correlate that with Ben’s theory. In the name of love, there is always a
perfect timing. As a person, you need time to  grow and gain wisdom. Its not a thing to rush
for. Other people will try to get inside or get involve in your life, that’s why
we are given our options then we decide to settle. #FebWhoGoat 

 At the end of every chapter, try to put yourself in the
characters’s shoes. Then you try to analyze was everything worth in for the
sake of love.

READ THE BOOK GUYS.

 “Love love love” –  quote
from Kris Aquino

 Congratulations Carla De Guzman, more power and more works to
come J

You can follow her on instagram  @somemidnights 

THE AUTHOR

image

Carla de Guzman (ck.deguzman@gmail.com) had horrible handwriting as a kid. That
didn’t stop her from writing, though. Riddled with too much energy and a vivid
imagination, she started writing every midnight. She grew up with her toes in
the sand and her bags packed and ready to go on adventures. Her books are chronicles of her journeys, with a little romance
mixed in.

When she’s not sitting in a plane or working, Carla writes for her blog, Some Midnights (www.somemidnight.wordpress.com)
and for When in Manila.

Cities by Carla De Guzman was originally published on KrishGeek

Cities by Carla De Guzman

image

Tis’ the season of #FebWhoGoat,  One of my reading list this month is “Cities” by Carla De Guzman, finally
had the time to finish it. I wanted to personally read the entire thing before
I blog it. Usually I try to highlight, What I read. Its nice to point out some
words of wisdom and humor too, that you could quote on your daily life.

image
image

Cities is Carla de Guzman’s
first original novella. The story is based on the theory of multiple universes,
the idea that somewhere out there are worlds where the choices you make are
different from the ones made here. Carla writes about the cities that have
inspired her and changed the way she sees the world, in the hope that her
readers will want to travel there too.

Cities is available in print and
via Smashwords, CreateSpace, and Amazon. Please contact the author for more information.

THE BOOK

image

Celia has dreams.

She dreams of going to Seoul for a scholarship she never took, of
leaving everything behind and moving to New York.

In all those dreams, she finds herself attached to Benedict, the boy she has
always loved, but who doesn’t love her back.

Ben believes in parallel worlds.

Worlds where things you didn’t do come true—worlds in which he goes to London
and falls in love with Celia, where he shows up on the day she needs him the
most. He believes that dreams are glimpses into that parallel world, and it’s
not a coincidence that Celia’s been having them too.

But here, now, they’re in Manila. It’s the day of Ben’s wedding, and a typhoon
is raging through the city. How will these dreams and unmade decisions change
their lives? Will they bring them closer together or drive them farther apart?

My Review

 First I love the cover of the book and what makes this book special, It is truly an exhibit of Pinoy Talent

I don’t want to entirely spoil you the entire book, but I just
have to share my points on the book.

 First, I would like to say thank you to Carla for the
opportunity to read her novel, this is her baby, I understand how this means to
you . And  I admire your writing, I do
wish, I  have the skill to write a novel.

 I enjoyed reading the book actually the “kiligs”, you just have
to pay attention to read in between the lines and understand the description in
every scenario.

 The plot consists of different places, there is Seoul, Manila,
London and New York. This is where your imagination have to work, in order for
you to feel the vibe of the setup. I thank television, for me to work on trying
to be in Seoul and New York (Hoping to go to theses places, one day). Manila
and London are close to my heart, ofcourse I’ve been living in Manila for 4
years and visited London during the summer 2009.

 Going back, this book involve romance, in it. Pinoys, dig love
stories. One of our forms entertainment, USAPANG PAG-IBIG nga naman. This
involves Celia and Ben (Main characters) and there is Vivian and Henry. In each
place there is a story of who ends ups with who and who hooks up with who.
Every story is direct to the point, it explains how different kinds exist
nowadays. There involves, unrequited love, forbidden love,” friends with
benefits”, young love,  falling for your
bestfriend, “You started out as friends and ended up having feelings towards
each other”,  love for family  and true love (may forever pa ba?) You better read the book, para maka relate
ka
.

I’ve highlighted some sections and phrases I like to emphasize in the book,

image
image

Ben has this theory, called the“ theory of multiverse”, what do you think?

 For me, love involves a lot of patience. Who am I to give advice
about love, for me the point is “If you guys are meant for each other, fate or
whatever you call destiny, You two will end up together”. I guess I can correlate that with Ben’s theory. In the name of love, there is always a
perfect timing. As a person, you need time to  grow and gain wisdom. Its not a thing to rush
for. Other people will try to get inside or get involve in your life, that’s why
we are given our options then we decide to settle. #FebWhoGoat 

 At the end of every chapter, try to put yourself in the
characters’s shoes. Then you try to analyze was everything worth in for the
sake of love.

READ THE BOOK GUYS.

 “Love love love” –  quote
from Kris Aquino

 Congratulations Carla De Guzman, more power and more works to
come J

You can follow her on instagram  @somemidnights 

THE AUTHOR

image

Carla de Guzman (ck.deguzman@gmail.com) had horrible handwriting as a kid. That
didn’t stop her from writing, though. Riddled with too much energy and a vivid
imagination, she started writing every midnight. She grew up with her toes in
the sand and her bags packed and ready to go on adventures. Her books are chronicles of her journeys, with a little romance
mixed in.

When she’s not sitting in a plane or working, Carla writes for her blog, Some Midnights (www.somemidnight.wordpress.com)
and for When in Manila.

Cities by Carla De Guzman was originally published on KrishGeek

Cities by Carla De Guzman

image

Tis’ the season of #FebWhoGoat,  One of my reading list this month is “Cities” by Carla De Guzman, finally
had the time to finish it. I wanted to personally read the entire thing before
I blog it. Usually I try to highlight, What I read. Its nice to point out some
words of wisdom and humor too, that you could quote on your daily life.

image
image

Cities is Carla de Guzman’s
first original novella. The story is based on the theory of multiple universes,
the idea that somewhere out there are worlds where the choices you make are
different from the ones made here. Carla writes about the cities that have
inspired her and changed the way she sees the world, in the hope that her
readers will want to travel there too.

Cities is available in print and
via Smashwords, CreateSpace, and Amazon. Please contact the author for more information.

THE BOOK

image

Celia has dreams.

She dreams of going to Seoul for a scholarship she never took, of
leaving everything behind and moving to New York.

In all those dreams, she finds herself attached to Benedict, the boy she has
always loved, but who doesn’t love her back.

Ben believes in parallel worlds.

Worlds where things you didn’t do come true—worlds in which he goes to London
and falls in love with Celia, where he shows up on the day she needs him the
most. He believes that dreams are glimpses into that parallel world, and it’s
not a coincidence that Celia’s been having them too.

But here, now, they’re in Manila. It’s the day of Ben’s wedding, and a typhoon
is raging through the city. How will these dreams and unmade decisions change
their lives? Will they bring them closer together or drive them farther apart?

My Review

 First I love the cover of the book and what makes this book special, It is truly an exhibit of Pinoy Talent

I don’t want to entirely spoil you the entire book, but I just
have to share my points on the book.

 First, I would like to say thank you to Carla for the
opportunity to read her novel, this is her baby, I understand how this means to
you . And  I admire your writing, I do
wish, I  have the skill to write a novel.

 I enjoyed reading the book actually the “kiligs”, you just have
to pay attention to read in between the lines and understand the description in
every scenario.

 The plot consists of different places, there is Seoul, Manila,
London and New York. This is where your imagination have to work, in order for
you to feel the vibe of the setup. I thank television, for me to work on trying
to be in Seoul and New York (Hoping to go to theses places, one day). Manila
and London are close to my heart, ofcourse I’ve been living in Manila for 4
years and visited London during the summer 2009.

 Going back, this book involve romance, in it. Pinoys, dig love
stories. One of our forms entertainment, USAPANG PAG-IBIG nga naman. This
involves Celia and Ben (Main characters) and there is Vivian and Henry. In each
place there is a story of who ends ups with who and who hooks up with who.
Every story is direct to the point, it explains how different kinds exist
nowadays. There involves, unrequited love, forbidden love,” friends with
benefits”, young love,  falling for your
bestfriend, “You started out as friends and ended up having feelings towards
each other”,  love for family  and true love (may forever pa ba?) You better read the book, para maka relate
ka
.

I’ve highlighted some sections and phrases I like to emphasize in the book,

image
image

Ben has this theory, called the“ theory of multiverse”, what do you think?

 For me, love involves a lot of patience. Who am I to give advice
about love, for me the point is “If you guys are meant for each other, fate or
whatever you call destiny, You two will end up together”. I guess I can correlate that with Ben’s theory. In the name of love, there is always a
perfect timing. As a person, you need time to  grow and gain wisdom. Its not a thing to rush
for. Other people will try to get inside or get involve in your life, that’s why
we are given our options then we decide to settle. #FebWhoGoat 

 At the end of every chapter, try to put yourself in the
characters’s shoes. Then you try to analyze was everything worth in for the
sake of love.

READ THE BOOK GUYS.

 “Love love love” –  quote
from Kris Aquino

 Congratulations Carla De Guzman, more power and more works to
come J

You can follow her on instagram  @somemidnights 

THE AUTHOR

image

Carla de Guzman (ck.deguzman@gmail.com) had horrible handwriting as a kid. That
didn’t stop her from writing, though. Riddled with too much energy and a vivid
imagination, she started writing every midnight. She grew up with her toes in
the sand and her bags packed and ready to go on adventures. Her books are chronicles of her journeys, with a little romance
mixed in.

When she’s not sitting in a plane or working, Carla writes for her blog, Some Midnights (www.somemidnight.wordpress.com)
and for When in Manila.

Lampara Books Launches Moymoy Lulumboy: Ang Batang Aswang

Lampara books have been a pioneer publishing house known for publishing works of Filipino writers, who create original stories full of values and lessons for children. They specifically incorporate the richness of the Filipino culture and tradition into their stories. After years in the industry, they still know how to captivate their readers, and their readers have stayed loyal all throughout.

In addition, of their roster of original works comes a story of fifty percent mythology, fifty percent adventure, and definitely hundred percent originally Filipino made. It is a coming-of-age story entitled, “Moymoy Lulumboy: Ang Batang Aswang.” Subtly reminiscent of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter chronology, the story comes in a compilation of series that is fit for readers of all ages. People would definitely enjoy this series written by Segundo Matias Jr., simply called, “Kuya Jun.” 

 (Segundo Matias Jr.”Kuya Jun”– Author and Jomike Tejido-Illustrator)

On September 18, 2014 at the Mall of Asia SMX Convention Center was a press launch of Lampara’s latest young adult fiction series, “Moymoy Lulumboy: Ang batang aswang” coincides with 2014 Manila Book Fair. Hosted by Ms. Gay Castro and Sir Toots Tolentino, the event was well-attended by people from the press, media and young fanatics of the series. A breathtaking musical performance by the FEU Theatre Guild entertained the crowd.

(Jolly hosts, Sir Toots Tolentino and Ms. Gay Castro)

(the FEU Theatre Guild’s breathtaking performance)

  I was able to grab a copy of the book on the day of the launch itself. The cover illustration is very distinctively Filipino. The creative genius behind the art, no other than Mr. Jomike Tejido, is an award-winning illustrator with works recognized in Scholastic Publishing and Oxford University Press.

The story focuses on Moymoy Lulumboy’s life, adventures, and discovery of his real identity as he sets foot in the world of Gabun—a world of mythical creatures created by Sir Jun. Moymoy was brought to the human world as a baby by Montar—an elf or duwende—who served as the right hand of his mother, a Tibaro or earth goddess. Moymoy was then placed under the care of a human, Tracy, who raised him. Growing up, Moymoy had the ability to shape shift into various creatures. His adventures start as he enters world of Gabun, where he meets beings of the kingdom. Modeled after Philippine mythology, these creatures were comprised of the aswang, tikbalang, manananggal, kapre, and many more. Moymoy was born with markings on his chest—a map of the land of Panalturan, sacred land of the Tibaro species. The other half of the map, could be found on his twin brother named Alangkaw, who was raised by Buhawan, a corrupt Tibaro. His motive is to reunite the twins and use the map for his own greedy purposes.

       Growing up, Kuya Jun was fascinated by mythical beings. A native of Pampanga, he spent his childhood playing along rivers, streams and fields. Living in the province greatly influenced his works as a writer, especially in the creation of Moymoy Lulumboy (fun fact: the main character’s name was actually taken from Lulumboy, a town in Bulacan).

When asked if he sees himself as Moymoy, Sir Jun answered, “Partly, yes.” I had to ask him who he’d pick to play the lead role, should there be a film adaptation of the series; however there is no one just yet. Mr. Matias has published almost 1500 books for children and young adults, following known series titles, and winning prestigious awards for his works as a writer. He has also written screenplays for Viva Films, Seiko Films and Regal Films. 

Selfie with Sir Enrico Santos, ABS-CBN Writer & Producer

I am not an avid reader of books in Filipino, but as I read Moymoy Lulumboy, the illustrations captivated me and brought the story to life. I could visualize every chapter in my mind because the images are vibrant and the words are easy to understand. The book is a great read for anyone into Filipino mythology, folklore, or creative fiction. A rumored sequel is in the works, though not much has been said about it yet.

 I had a glimpse of the workshops and events at the Manila Book Fair, where Lampara, Precious Hearts Romances, Black Ink, Life Is Beautiful Creatives (publishers of Wattpad and Booklat stories), and other Precious Pages subsidiaries participated. I saw that Filipino writers have been given much recognition for their works, both locally and abroad, which makes me proud of our Filipino literature and rich cultural background. With the recurring trend of novel-to-film adaptations, supported by passionate fans, this series by Kuya Jun is sure to make waves among the young Filipino readers. This makes me proud of traditional and modern Filipino literature and excited to see what’s in store for its revival. It was an awesome experience, I can’t wait to attend next year’s Manila Book Fair.

 Booklat members get together party


Children’s story writing workshop

2014 Precious Hearts Romances Cocktail party

Acknowledgements:

Thank you to the following:

Sir Toots Tolentino 

Ms. Agnes R. Serafin, Editor-in-chief of Precious Hearts Romances

Aimee Garcia @adelostra

Representing, Wazzup Pilipinas (Sir Ross Del Rosario) same article can be found at

http://www.wazzuppilipinas.com/2014/09/lampara-books-launches-moymoy-lulumboy.html