Chasing bookstores

"I was put on this earth to accomplish a lot of things.

Right now I'm so far behind I will never die."

- source

As much as I wanted to stress myself over preparations for my 30th birthday (I kid, I kid), I couldn't really do it because I was tied up with work. I love planning parties, but couldn't really muster the energy to plan something for what is considered a milestone birthday. When I learned about the Pinoy Bookstore Tour organized by the National Book Development Board though, I decided THIS WAS IT! My birthday plans served to me on a silver platter!

There was only one problem: slots are limited and I didn't make it.

Still, people were encouraged to go so I thought, why not go to Baguio for the weekend and make a trip out of it?

I had another problem: no one could go with me.

All hopes to have a memorable 30th appeared to have been lost. Up until a week prior I didn't have definite plans; all I know is that I didn't want anything grand and that I wanted to make it all about moi. And so on the day itself I had a Combination Swedish and Shiatsu massage and a delizioso Italian dinner with my boyfriend. ♥

And then, when you really need them, people pull through.

My handsome boyfriend ended up going with me!

It was a beautiful weekend visiting different shops, eating, and being a tourist in a city he lived in for about two years before. I've only been to Baguio twice before, and it's interesting to see how things have changed since.

We passed by the Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral and marveled at the beautiful stained glass windows

Do you get kilig also when your special someone takes sneaky photos of you? I do. (ღ˘⌣˘ღ) 

Ginumis with panutsa ice cream from Pamana Restaurant

Minted Hot Chocolate from Cafe by the Ruins

Mongolian Vegetables from Ocha Asian Cuisine

Our main reason for going to Baguio was, of course, to follow the Pinoy Bookstore Tour that had its last stop in Mt. Cloud Bookshop scheduled for April 10, Sunday. We dropped by on Saturday night and it's a good thing we did because we got to meet Edgar Calabia Samar before the bookstore tour participants even did!

Modeling my copy of Samar's 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang, photobombed by Sir Kidlat Tahimik

Edgar Calabia Samar signing my copy

He also wrote the Janus Silang books that I got the next day: Books 1 and 2 and the graphic novel version of Book 1 - three books bundled at a special price of P560 only.

The next day...

Manix Abrera showing samples of his work and talking about where he gets inspiration for his comics from. Answer: from snippets of everyday conversations he has with people or overhears from others.

Falling in line to get my book signed: Kikomachine Komix #11: Mga Kirot ng Kapalaran with a different cover

Small talk with Manix while he signs my copy

Group photo!
Miah is now a fan ^_^ He also went with me to Manix's exhibit in UP Diliman before.

For the birthday girl ^_^

We also got to take a group photo with Edgar Calabia Samar this time.

LOL remember when I lined up for Manix's autograph for six hours?? I AM NOW WILLING TO GO OUT OF TOWN FOR MY IDOLS. THE EXTENT OF MY FAN-GIRLING HAS COME TO THIS.

New books for the birthday girl!

My fan-girling satisfied, we bought pasalubong and left Baguio at around 2PM.

It's a relatively short trip when you think about all the other places we could've visited, but I couldn't have been more satisfied. It was my and Miah's first time to travel out of town together and I'm happy that we got to know each other even more and how each one behaves in unfamiliar territories. He knows how important this trip was to me and he pulled all the stops to make sure my milestone birthday was one of my most memorable birthdays ever. #blessed

Saka mas masarap mamasyal sa Baguio kapag may ka-holding hands.

♥