MIBF: The Aftermath
MIBF – THE AFTERMATH I finally had a moment to sit down and digest everything that happened this past week. I’m currently under medication because I’ve been dealing with a fever and a very angry throat, so my body is basically asking me to please stop moving. But even with all of that, none of it could take away the joy I felt seeing every single soul I met at the Manila International Book Fair. MIBF. Still typing that feels a little unreal. The Manila International Book Fair is HUGE, and as a new author, I honestly never thought I would ever be part of it, especially this soon. I had never attended the fair before, so I didn’t really know what to expect. I didn’t know how many people would come. I didn’t know what it would feel like to have my own books sitting there. But seeing everyone excited, curious, kind, and genuinely happy to talk about books? I was constantly on the verge of tears. I don’t know what happened to me, but this whole experience made me incredibly emotional. If you read my previous Dear Diary entry, you probably know that I wasn’t even sure if I was going to make it to MIBF. I applied for the sponsored booth and waited patiently, knowing that there were so many other authors and creators waiting for the same answer. So I prayed… and God answered. I GOT IT! I remember receiving the email and literally screaming. My husband immediately asked, “What happened?!” And I just shouted, “I GOT IT!” Then we spun around and jumped, and he carried me like a little baby. Haha! As dramatic as that sounds, that’s literally what happened. I’m grateful for every opportunity I receive, big or small. But this one? This was a BIG one. A Lot Happened Before MIBF Leading up to MIBF, we had a lot of opportunities come our way. We also had a few doors close. One of them was my storytelling workshop. The workshop had to be postponed because of unexpected circumstances on the organizer’s side. As the speaker, I was honestly a little taken aback because my face and voice had already been used to invite people, and there were people who had already confirmed that they were coming. I felt bad for them. I felt sad too. But looking back now, I really believe God allows certain things to happen for a reason. Because, well… I’m sick right now. If the workshop had pushed through, I wouldn’t exactly be at my A-game while fighting a fever, flu, and whatever my throat is currently doing. So maybe there really was a reason for it. And for everyone who was still interested in attending, stay tuned. We’re cooking something for you. We’re currently looking into organizing the workshop ourselves instead of doing it as a collaboration with another entity. So this isn’t goodbye to that idea yet. It’s just… not yet. Read Pinoy, TomasinoWeb, and Some Really Cool Features I was also invited by Read Pinoy, a local radio show that focuses on reading, books, and authors like me! I got to talk about my work, Eyes See You, and what it’s like being an independent author. I was so nervous. Thankfully, Sir Lowell and Sir Gab were incredibly kind and understanding. We even got to hang out a little afterward and eat some street food at the cafeteria, which honestly helped me relax. 😂 You can watch the full episode here: LINK I was also featured in an article by TomasinoWeb, which was another little pinch-me moment. See the article here: LINK And throughout all of this, Eyes See You was also being shared and recommended by local book enthusiasts. Every feature means so much to me because I’m still learning how to navigate this world as an independent author. I’m just incredibly grateful that people are willing to give my story a chance. I hope you enjoy it. Two Weeks Before MIBF, I Was PANICKING Now here’s the part nobody really sees behind the booth. Two weeks before MIBF, I was scared. Like, really scared. Why? Because I had just sold out at my previous event. Which sounds like a wonderful problem to have, and it absolutely is, but it also meant that I had NO BOOKS TO SELL. My preorder period had just started and was scheduled to end on September 30, which meant the books were originally supposed to be shipped in October. Production usually happens during the preorder period. But now… MIBF was coming. So I had to rush everything. And it wasn’t just the books. We had merch to produce too. Events are expensive. Printing is expensive. Everything adds up very quickly when you’re an independent creator. And, to be completely honest with you, my liquid funds were already gone. So I had to make an arrangement with my print house. I asked if they could accept a very small downpayment, with the promise that I would pay half on September 15 and the remaining half on October 15. My husband’s stable job pays around those dates, so that became our safety net. I don’t like owing people. I really don’t. But this was one of those moments where I had to take a little leap of faith and say, “Okay, let’s do this.” And thank God, they allowed it. So we went for it. And somehow… I received the books ONE DAY BEFORE MIBF. One day before. I don’t think I have ever been that stressed and relieved at the same time. But we made it. We were ready. And not just that… I was able to pay back the money in full. Five Days of MIBF The entire festival lasted five days. I’ve never done an event that long before. And now that it’s over, I can confidently say… I’m tired. Like, really tired. And apparently my body decided to send me the








