Why Filipinos Should Read: ‘Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies’ by Jared Diamond

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by Bryan Meniado This August, we celebrate Buwan ng Mga Wika. This is the time when students showcase their talents in Balagtasan and writing competitions for the promotion and appreciation of our national language. It is also the best time for every Filipino to be proud, not only of our language and literature, but also of our culture and history. Now, not everyone is fond of history, especially with some of our experiences in learning it in school. Memorizing a litany of forgettable facts? Most of us have been there. It’s tedious to remember all the names and dates, right? Who…

From the Bookbed Room: Reviewing 52 Children’s Books by Asian Authors

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by Jackie Park I was determined to read to my daughter as early as possible, starting from before she was born. I first began reading to her while she was still in my tummy at five months. Her first book was a collection of Korean folktales. After she was born, I read her baby book after baby book to help grow her love for reading. It wasn’t until our visit to the Philippines almost a year later when I started buying more Filipino books for my daughter. There aren’t many baby books for toddlers back home, and so I ended up…

Bookbed reviews ‘The Gangster and the Socialite’ by Mayumi Cruz

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by Sheree Tagle THE STORY Marie Megan Montecillo’s glamorous, sheltered, peaceful life was shattered and turned upside down by a series of staggering events which took her in a dizzying, whirling, roller coaster ride of unbelievable proportions. Will she survive with her life and wealth… and heart intact? In this romantic comedy story with a crime/suspense twist, get ready to be plunged into a whirlwind of volatile emotions and non-stop action as two people from very different worlds collide, resulting in a spontaneous combustion that neither of them planned nor imagined. A beautiful, delightful love story borne out of a tragic…

Bookbed reviews ‘The Bookshop Back Home’ by Catherine Dellosa

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by KB Meniado I signed up for the blog tour because I’ve read an older work by this author (and beta-read an upcoming one) that I enjoyed. Naturally, I had expectations. Expectations that were only made bigger because of three things: ‘bookstore’, older guy, a dreaded homecoming. These were things familiar to me, and so I was a little anxious to see how the story was going to go down. THE STORY When Anna ran away to the big city, she was happy. Sure, she brewed cheap coffee, scrubbed frat toilets, and stood in the middle of a basketball court with…

Poetry Submission: ‘My Red Cap and Me’

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by Jela Olaso Once upon a time, when I was a little girl, I found a red cap.   And so, I wore it!   I loved my red cap, my first love ever. We stayed together. We walked together. We sang and danced together. Always, forever.   Until one day—   My mom, li’l brother and I rode a tricycle, and all of a sudden, My red cap— it flew away!   So I began to cry. My tears wouldn’t stop, leaving me heartbroken from what I just saw. My pretty red cap, gone and lost forever. My first heartbreak,…

From the Bookbed Room: ‘Call Me by Your Name’ by Andre Aciman

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by Miguel Galang Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman follows Elio as he reminisces the time when he was 17 years old and living in Italy with his parents. Every summer, Elio’s parents would take in an academic guest who would live in their villa for six weeks and help with his father’s academic paperwork. They also get to take Elio’s bedroom, much to his annoyance. The guest, 24-year-old academic Oliver, immediately intrigues Elio with his carefree disposition. Sparks fly and unsure feelings rise up in this sweeping and fleeting summer love affair… For the most part, I had trouble connecting with…

Call For Submissions: Fictory: A Bookbed Fic Fest

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Welcome to Fictory, Bookbed‘s first fic fest! Fictory was first born out of Bookbed‘s Storyteller in Chief’s fanfic-riddled brain and the Head Cheer Reader’s boundless enthusiasm for anything new and exciting. Eventually, Fictory was transformed into a project that encourages the members of our community to challenge themselves and write original short stories based on prompts. And to further motivate you, we will be giving out prizes to the best entries! Click here to sign up.