1. We have this sort-of library room at home. Our house in Malabon is infested with termites and to our dismay, we find out that they love books as much as we do, which means we had to transfer books from shelves to huge-ass plastic rolling crates. Anyway, about that room: Apparently, the parents of my parents loved reading so much (My grandfather, a soldier, made it through the Bataan March through his knowledge of self-taught Nippongo through books, and his harmonica-playing skills.) that they created this mini-library found at the top of our stairs, before you can reach the bedrooms. It’s filled with old National Geographic and FATE magazines, and a lot of Booksale finds from my father, my mother and from me. My father got OC one time and catalogued it according to Classics, Bestsellers and such, and each time I pass through this room, with all its yellowing, dusty, termite-infested volumes, my stress is significantly lowered and I remind myself that I should be eternally grateful to the Universe.

2. When I was younger, my parents taught me to read and rewarded efforts with books. Before I got a book, I had to read it loud to my mom and answer some comprehension questions before she gave it to me. I think this was what made me love reading, for the family time, and rewards! :)

3. I was a huge Sweet Valley addict. I started loving young adult novels through Judy Blume, but I adored the Sweet Valley Series. I also read Fifth Grade Stars and some other copycat novels which made me have a twin fixation. I was so intrigued with the phenomenon of twins that every term paper I made in school centered on its magic and mysticism. I started to write (start is more like it) crappy young adult novels with twins as the protagonists, illustrating the cover with my ideal vision of how the twins would look like and describing them in detail for the first few pages, before quickly losing steam. This happened for more than 3 would-be novels. I think I still have them at home.

4. I am obsessed with the smell of magazines. I like book smells too, but magazines—ooh la la! It’s aromatherapy for me, in this fast-paced digital age.

5. In the library, when I was in grade school, my bestfriend and I would borrow these bound Liwayway magazines just so we could finish the Agua Bendita comic series.

6. Speaking of comics, aside from getting addicted to Archie when I was younger, I used to borrow almost everyday from our neighbor, who had a comic rental store. For Php2.00, you could borrow Nightmare and Fantasy comics, those grainy, cheaply-made ones, for a day. The neighborhood barber also had stacks of those comics, which made me really excited to get my hair cut and volunteer to accompany anyone who needed a hair cut.

7. Every Friday I would buy Funny comics at school, because I had a Funny comics collection, which I was obsessed with, then. I also collected those religious comics given at school called “Gospel”, even if I’m not really Catholic. I’m a Spiritist, by the way.

8. I was the only girl in our school service. They were all boys, mostly older than me, and I was educated about the world of boys when I was ten and reading a copy of Judy Blume’s “Are you there God? It’s me Margaret.” at our service. I was quietly reading and reached the part about menstruation, which my seatmate caught a glimpse of, and which sent them to hysterics.

9. When Jessica Zafra’s column was still appearing in the newspaper Today, I would cut up each article and put it in a binder. During my snarky, angsty teen phase, I would often re-read each article, dreaming of the day when I could write with such wit and candor. I loved her foodie pieces most of all. She shared how she ate tuna from a can, how she cooked dulce de leche from condensed milk cans, how she grilled cheese sandwiches using a flat iron, etc.

10. I’m seriously considering a career in bookfinding. I’m talking about cheapo finds here, from Booksale. Tell me about books you want, and I just might see them, and then maybe, if it’s cheap, I could buy it for you! :)