“I am reading three books. The first one is a memoir by Toni Maguire, ‘Don’t Tell Mummy.’ It is very dark and brooding. I used to love painful and emotional works like this, but now I could get tired easily.
“I’m also reading Beverly Siy’s ‘It’s a Men’s World’ which I bought for my teenage nephew. It’s very enjoyable, the mood and tone is casual. It feels like the writer is actually in front of you, regaling you with her life’s comic misadventures. I usually pick this up whenever I feel too exhausted at work.
“The third one, and my personal pick, is ‘Luha ng Buyawa’ by Amado Hernandez. I have always wanted to read this one but for some reason, I always failed. First, it was written by a national artist, and second, it was written in Filipino. I was finally able to grab a copy last Christmas as a present for myself. The book is very insightful and entertaining, The text is rich and poetic, with characters that are so familiar and true. —Carlo Obispo, filmmaker, director of the 2013 Cinemalaya finalist, “Purok 7”
“I’m reading ‘Teardrop,’ the first book of Lauren Kate’s latest trilogy. I chose it because I find it intriguing that my classmates are giving it good reviews. I like it because the story is interesting—a mix of suspense, romance and fantasy. It’s about a girl who struggles after the death of her mother and later on finds herself in complicated and mystical situations of life and love. It is filled with surprises, and I love how the author reveals the story’s secrets.” —Teri Malvar, 13, CineFilipino 2013 Best Actress
“I am reading ‘Maita: Remembering Ka Dolor,’ which features a collection of articles and tributes to the late ex-fashion model and political activist Maita Gomez. I love biographies and I have always been interested in the lives of fascinating people. Maita Gomez’s life is inspiring. After this, I’m planning to read various books on our local visual artists like Lee Aguinaldo, H.R. Ocampo, Botong Francisco, among others. —Monchito Nocon, member, National Commission for Culture and the Arts Cinema Committee, and Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (Sofia).
