Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) hits Philippines

Please do pardon me for posting not related to books. 

Can you see a country in the picture? No? That is because that typhoon is so big that you cannot even see the islands of Philippines. Yesterday, Eastern Visayas was hit by Super Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda). 

I am from Philippines and this is scary. I saw a video posted at Facebook, video taken in Tacloban, Leyte where in it was Signal no.4. Highest storm signal warning we got in the Philippines. You can't even see the building in front of the person who took the video, you could hear the wind roaring, see the iron sheets flying in the sky. This is the first time in years we got that kind of warning. News all over the world says that this is one of the biggest typhoon ever hit land in the whole world. 

I feel for the people in Leyte. Bohol and Cebu were affected by it too. And they were still trying to get back on their feet after that Magnitude 7.2 Earthquake that hit both Bohol and Cebu, last October 15th. It was so devastating that whenever I see news about this, I can't help but get teary eyed. I fear for my fellow Filipinos. 

Although I am from Philippines, I am far from the Visayas region. I am from Luzon, near the capital, Manila. I lived in Bulacan, just 1 hours away from Quezon City (where I work) Quezon City is near Manila. The weatherman said that Manila will not be hit directly by Yolanda. Although that is the case, we are still experiencing heavy rain here and slightly windy weather too. 

I hope that this storm will be over soon. We need it to be over soon. Especially the people living in the affected areas. My heart and prayers go to them. :( 

Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms ever recorded, strikes the Philippines with gusts of up to 200mph (320km/h)

- BBC News

Haiyan is reported to have surpassed the Dvorak scale, commonly used to estimate typhoon intensity. According to Dr. Jeff Masters at wunderground.com, Haiyan made landfall at 310 kph, making it the strongest typhoon to reach land in recorded history. 

- TIME WORLD

The strongest typhoon in the world this year and possibly the most powerful ever to hit land smashed into the Philippines on Friday, forcing more than a million people to flee, flooding villages and raising fears of widespread casualties.

Haiyan, a category-5 super typhoon, scoured the northern tip of Cebu province and headed northwest towards Boracay island, both tourist destinations, after lashing the central islands of Leyte and Samar with 275-kph (170 mph) wind gusts and 5-6 meter (15-19 ft) waves.

- REUTERS

Melissa De La Cruz, Alyson Noel and Margaret Stohl Book Signing brought to you by National Bookstore!

YES! You read that banner right!!! New York Bestselling Authors, Melissa de la Cruz, Alyson Noel and Margaret Stohl would be here in the Philippines this coming September 2013!!! I am so excited to meet them, especially Melissa de la Cruz. It's a Filipino pride you know! I MUST go. Alone or not, I need to go there on September 15th! :)

What: TALK & BOOK SIGNING: MELISSA DE LA CRUZ, ALYSON NOEL AND MARGARET STOHL

When: September 13, 6 pm (Registration starts at 10 am)

Where: Activity Center, Ayala Center Cebu

When: September 14, 4 pm (Registration starts at 10 am)

Where: The Podium Atrium

When: September 15, 2 pm to 4 pm (Registration starts at 10 am; 200 slots only)

Where: National Book Store booth, Manila International Book Fair, SMX Convention Center 

See you at the SMX Convention Center on September 15th, fellow Filipino book lovers!!! :) 

P.S. Thank you so much, National Bookstore for bringing lots of International Authors here this year!!! You're the best!

Kiera Cass Book Signing in Manila and Cebu

Yep. You read that one right. Kiera Cass, author of The Selection and The Elite, is coming this August 3 and 4 in Manila and Cebu, respectively. I received an email from National Book Store about it and I knew I just had to post it for the benefit of the fans of Cass. I can fully say and please do NOT kill me... I haven't read the book. I just haven't got the time plus I've been hearing a so-so reviews...

Anyway, here's the details of the said book signing that will happen this Saturday and Sunday. 

EVENT: TALK & BOOK SIGNING: KIERA CASS

WHEN: AUGUST 3 / 4 PM & AUGUST 4 / 3 PM

WHERE: NATIONAL BOOK STORE, GLORIETTA 1 & ACTIVITY CENTER, AYALA CENTER CEBU

Described as “a cross between The Hunger Games… and The Bachelor” by Publishers Weekly, The Selection tells the story of America Singer who is chosen to be one of the 35 girls to compete in the Selection to win the heart of Prince Maxon and be Illea’s next queen. For America, at first, being Selected is a nightmare—she has to leave her secret love Aspen, a caste below her, and to live in a palace that is threatened by violent rebel attacks. But meeting the prince changes everything she believes in.

In The Elite, the sequel which came out in April, only six girls remain to compete for the crown and only one will get to marry Prince Maxon. As the Selection is narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are more determined to win Maxon over, and time is running out for America to decide. She is still torn between her two futures—to be with Maxon or to be with Aspen.

Kiera Cass was born and raised in South Carolina and currently resides in Blacksburg, Virginia with her husband and two kids. Her other works include the self-published novel The Siren and the short story In the Clearing, which is included in the anthology Brave New Love. The One, the final book in The Selection trilogy, will hit shelves in May 2014.

These events are made possible in partnership with Raffles Makati, the official residence of Kiera Cass in Manila, and Ayala Center Cebu.

Registration opens at 10:00 am on August 3 at National Book Store, Glorietta 1 and 12:00 nn on August 4 at the Activity Center of Ayala Center Cebu.

Cass also got an entry in her blog about it... Read here. Don't forget to check out her FAQs. :) I attended events like this hosted by National Bookstore twice already. First time was when Lauren Oliver came in the Philippines. I was with my cousin and bf then. It was so superb seeing your favorite author up close. I even hugged her! :)

Second time was with Tahereh Mafi and Ransom Riggs. I just finished reading the first book. I really tried to finish it before coming. I was reading at work and I got a night shift then so I went home early in the morning, then sleep for awhile then went to the venue ALONE. LOL. I love Tahereh. :) She's fun. And her fashion is so COOL. And I don't actually know Ransom Riggs but he is the author of the book, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. And yes, I did bought his book too and had it signed. ;)

What I'm trying to say was that I know you'll definitely enjoy being with Kiera Cass. I am not going in Saturday, so I hope you all enjoy the signing and get lots of pictures! :) ENJOY, everyone!!!