Events: The Philippine Readers and Writers Festival 2016

National Book Store's annual 3-day literary festival is back as a nice conclusion for this month. The event will be held at Raffles Makati from August 26 - 28, 2016.

No entrance fee is needed for all of the various events that will be conducted. All that needs to be done is to just sign up at the registration table.

Venue capacities are limited. Seats are on a first come, first served basis.

The foreign writers that will be present are Paula McLain, Adam Johnson and Anna Todd.

Paula McLain, the author of The Paris Wife and Circling the Sun, and Adam Johnson, the author of The Orphan Master's Son and Fortune Smiles: Stories, will be present on August 27, 2016 (Saturday) by 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. respectively at Ballroom 2. Anna Todd, the author of After, After We Collided, After We Fell, After Ever Happy, Before, and Imagines, will be present on August 28, 2016 (Sunday) by 2:00 p.m. at Ballroom 2.

The schedule of some activities can be seen below:

Friday

9:00 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

 

10:00 a.m.

10:15 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

1:00 p.m.

 

 

3:00 p.m.

 

3:30 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

 

5:30 p.m.

 

7:00 p.m.

 

 

Saturday

9:30 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

 

1:00 p.m.

 

3:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

 

Sunday

9:30 a.m.

 

10:00 a.m.

10:15 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

1:00 p.m.

 

3:00 p.m.

 

More information about the Philippine Readers and Writers Festival 2016 can be seen at:

http://www.readersandwritersfestival.com

Comics: Callous Comics ~ Take Two Spoonfuls of Sunny Side!

Illustrated and Story by: Carlo Jose San Juan, M.D.

Feathers and Tar Productions

(4/5 ★★★★☆)

"Dr. Rianne Nicah, Cal Duck, and the rest of the "Callous Comics" gang return in their second comic strip compilation, "Take Two Spoonfuls of the Sunny Side!"

The Good:

The illustrations were still great, with all of the comic strips fully colored.

There were a lot of truths behind some of those comic strips such as equating productivity on one's free day to having a movie marathon.

Most of the strips were really entertaining even for a comic reader who is not in the medical field.

The compilation ended neatly with the bonus story line entitled "Movie Mess".

The Bad:

The only thing that didn't work out for this comic strip compilation was the cover. The drawing of Rianne and Cal did not just do well for me. Mostly because of the difference in the style that was done to their surroundings.

The Verdict:

The second compilation of Callous Comics continues to be very entertaining. It continues to let readers have a peak on the lives of young doctors. Such as what could they be possibly be doing when they are not in the hospital, thoughts on kids wanting to also become a doctor someday and how most doctors love and/or need coffee most of the time.

The Movie Mess was a nice story to end this compilation on a sunny side.

More of Callous Comics can be seen at:
http://www.callouscomics.com
Facebook Page: "Callous Comics"
Twitter: @callouscomics

  

Comics: Crime-Fighting Call Center Agents ~ Issue 1: Psycho Killer On A Bike

Story by: Noel Pascual

Illustrated by: AJ Bernardo

Kowtow Komiks

(4/5 ★★★★☆)

The Plot:

A group of friends; Noel, Sandra, Charlie and Koontz, barely escaped from a psycho killer on a bike. They spent a night on an empty house while they figure out a way to escape.

The Good:

The story is about a group of crazy friends who are just trying to survive a night.

The premise of an impending death from a psycho killer was presented somehow similar to a comedy show. The gang throws a lot of jokes, insights and commentaries on our society. Among the many jokes was regarding a girls' automatic response whenever she fails to make a comeback with a witty joke.

The Bad:

The ending was a complete mystery. As dawn approaches, the psycho killer can be seen lying on the floor with the Bow wowee alcoholic drink mascot hidden behind them.

It was a really mysterious drinking session.

The Verdict:

This strange group of friends battle (or drink off) with the criminal is one heck of a puzzling story. It is really a bizarre and hilarious story that would make one curious as to what the group will be up to next.

More of Crime-Fighting Call Center Agents can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Crime-Fighting Call Center Agents"

Tumblr: Crime-Fighting Call Center Agents

Twitter: @kowtowkomiks

Book Update: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne Launch Date

The wizarding world is back! The eighth story to the Harry Potter series takes place 19 years later.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One & Two (Special Rehearsal Edition Script): The Official Script Book of the Original West End Production by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne will be launched a day after the world premier of the play in London's West End on July 30, 2016.

National Book Store even gave a 10% discount for every pre-orders of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child from July 15 - 30, 2016. The book may be claimed starting July 31, 2016 at the Customer Service Counter of the branch where the pre-order was made.

Online purchase are also available at http:bit.ly/2a4opl1

The wizarding world of Harry Potter is back with this eighth story of the series.

"It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn't much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places."

Comics: Pangil

Illustration and Story by: Aaron Felizmenio
Frances Luna III

(5/5 ★★★★★)

"Sa pag-tulog mo gabi,

Hanggang sa pagdilat ng mata,

Tila hayop na walang paki,

At 'di na dadatnan ng umaga.

Sa idlip, maaaninag,

Gagapang, titihaya.

Sigaw ng ilaw ikabubulag,

'di larong buhay' nakataya."

The Good:
Who knew there was still an unknown version of the origin of an aswang. Interweaved with the period of the arrival of Magellan up to Miguel de Legazpi, the sanduguan now holds a different meaning.

Even the very reason of why an aswang feasts on the unborn child was given a new perspective.

The Bad:
Only one page had an illustration that was difficult to figure out. It was the page wherein the leader of the Bruxa was killed with the use of a bamboo.

The Verdict:
This unexpected re-imagining of the origin of an aswang and our history was excellently carried out.

It gives us a tip that sometimes the best stories are the ones in the provinces where an aswang is more likely to occur than in the city. Who knows what other stories each town in the provinces are kept secret regarding our mythological creatures.

"Pero porke hindi dapat,

ay 'di na pwedeng maging totoo." - Michelle

More of the creator's works can be seen at:
http://aaronfelizmenio.com

More of Frances Luna III can be seen at:
Facebook Page: "Frances Luna III"