Re: JUST RANDOM THOUGHTS

[soniafrancesca]

Gaya-gaya, Puto-maya.


July 20, 2012. 6:33am. Interbyu-interbyuhan. Walang magawa eh.

Q: Is writing romance novels a career for you, or is it just a hobby?

SF: Noong una, hobby lang talaga. Feeling ko kasi sasabog na utak ko kapag hindi ko pa ‘nabawasan’ ang mga kuwentong nag-uumapaw na sa utak ko. At sa maniwala kayo o hindi, wala akong ideya kahit noong college pa ako na may career pala sa pagsusulat. Either that o talaga lang wala sa isip kong bigyan ng pansin ang mundo ng mga manunulat. Sineryoso ko lang ang pagsusulat nang malaman kong dito pala ako kikita ng malaki, hehe! Sa umpisa gusto ko lang talaga magkapera so yeah, I took it as a career. But I’ve grown to love writing as I go through my writing career.


Q: Paano nadiskubre ang talento mo sa pagsusulat?

SF: I had no idea na talent pala ang pagsusulat. Ang alam ko lang dati kasi gusto ko lang magsulat. Period. I think it was my mother who saw my potential as a writer when back in highschool, she went with me when I passed my very first novel at Bookware Publishings. Siya rin nag-comfort sa akin nung ma-reject ang una kong subok sa pagsusulat. Balak ko ng kalimutan ang tungkol sa pagsusulat nang mag-college ako. Pero mukhang doon talaga ang bagsak ko dahil sa Journalism course ako napunta kahit na ang in-apply-an kong college course ay Psychology. When two of my college buddies, Keene Alicante and Sofia, dragged me to PHR’s Writing Workshop in 2008, doon na lang siguro luminaw sa akin ang mundo ng mga manunulat ng Tagalog romance. Ang haba ng sinabi ko. Nasagot ko ba ang maiksing tanong mo?


Q: Your book Crush Kita Noon, Gusto Kahapon, Love Kita Ngayon from Rancho Estate series and Angelo Exel Formosa from Stallion series earned a Novel Of The Month. How does it feel?

SF: Shocked? Haha! Ang alam ko kasi feel-good lang ang mga gawa ko. Mabababaw kumbaga. Walang malalim na conflict at wala masyadong emotional struggles na alam kong nasa kategorya para maging Novel Of The Month. Kaya ‘yung saya na malaman na may novel akong pumasa roon, at dalawa pa, e doble ang saya siyempre. Parang extra gift ni Lord sa akin, hehe!


Q: Sino-sino ang paborito mong romance authors?

SF: Foreign romance authors, no one in particular. Kahit sino kasi ang nagsulat ng novels, basta natuwa ako sa kuwento, cool sa akin iyon. Local romance authors…Rosa Tan.


Q: Are you a romantic person? How romantic can you get?

SF: Romantic? I dunno. Hindi ko pa nata-try maglambing ng bunggang-bungga, eh.


Q: Then how do you get to write romantic scenes on your novels?

SF: Imagination.


Q: What is your definition of romance?

SF: A gentle hug and a sweet kiss.


Q: Ano ang secret fantasy mo?

SF: Too many to mention, haha! Okay, I’ll give one. I love the moonlight so…I want a romantic proposal under the moonlight. Or a kiss under the rain. 

Q: What is the craziest thing you had done for love?

SF: I bought a mini-skirt worth two thousand pesos para lang makapagpa-cute sa isang guy. Teka, love ba iyon? Crush lang yata iyon, eh. Anyway, ayun. The guy got scared and hid away. My gas! Sayang ang dalawang libo, powtek!


Q: Naranasan mo na bang mabigo sa pag-ibig?

SF: Yep.


Q: So that means you have fallen inlove already.

SF: Yep ulet. Huwag ka ng magtaka kung bakit mababaw ang mga sagot ko sa earlier questions mo na may kinalaman sa love dahil laging one-sided lang ang mga love experiences ko. Saklap, ‘no? Pero okay lang. I’ve learned a lot. And I’ve EARNED a lot. Pinagkakitaan ko kasi ang lahat ng mga naranasan sa bawat pagkakataon na nai-inlove ako.


Q: No special guy right now?

SF: I have. Pero wala na siya, eh. Gayunpaman, my love for him remains in my heart. Hindi ko masasabi kung kailan iyon matatapos o kung mapapalitan pa ba siya sa puso ko. Hintayin na lang natin kapag may dumating na bagong pag-ibig sa akin. Chos.


Q: Have you written stories that are about the person you had loved?

SF: Yes. My Sweetheart Cherie is dedicated to my first love. Missent is for my second love, and the funniest and craziest love experience I’ve had. We’re friends now. Love Story is for my third love, the shortest love experience I had. The fourth one is for the current guy in my heart, I still haven’t written it yet. From the looks of it, mukhang hindi ko maisusulat ang kuwento ni Fourth hangga’t hindi humihintong tumibok ang puso ko para sa kanya.


Q: I’m curious of your fourth love.

SF: He’s Doc Danny. Lee Sun Jin in real life and a neurosurgeon. He died in 2009, at a car accident in Korea while on his way to the airport for his flight to Manila.


Q: Oh, sorry to hear that.

SF: Its okay. It’s been a long time na rin naman so tanggap ko na. Although paminsan-minsan hindi pa rin maiwasan na maluha kapag nakakaalala ang puso. 


Q: Is that the reason why you couldn’t write a love story for him? Because he’s not here anymore?

SF: Not really. Bilang isang luka-lukang manunulat, may tendency kasi ako na nababaliw sa isang lalaking nagugustuhan ko habang isinusulat ko siya. At nawawala lang iyon kapag naisulat ko na siya sa kuwento ko at natapos. As for the loves of my life, hindi ko naman maisusulat ang kuwento ko tungkol sa kanila hangga’t may nararamdaman pa ako para sa kanila. When my heart stops loving that man, that’s the only time I will share them to my readers through my works. That said, I could only conclude that I’m still not over Sun Jin yet kaya hindi ko pa naisusulat hanggang ngayon ang kuwento niya kahit na-introduce ko na siya sa mga mambabasa ko.

Q: A, ganon pala. Ang weird mo pala talaga, Miss SF, hehe!

SF: I know, right? So, may tanong ka pa? Nadyi-dyinggel na ako, eh.


Q: Any message to your fans?

SF: Don’t be scared to love. Don’t be afraid of getting hurt. It’s natural. If you don’t experience falling inlove and getting hurt, you’ll be missing the most important part of being human. In short, maiinggit ka habambuhay. Beh!

P.S. I love you, fans! Your words of encouragement and praises always lift up my spirit. Everytime na nag-iisip akong iwan na ang pagsusulat, nakakabasa ako ng mga messages mula sa inyo at muling bumabalik ang kagustuhan kong mabigyan uli kayo ng kasiyahan. I always thank the Lord for giving me this special talent to make people laugh, smile and cry all at the same time. You, my dear readers, are my constant reminders how much God had blessed me through the years. I hope and pray na isa ang mga gawa ko ang makakapagpangiti sa inyo sa mga pagkakataon sa buhay ninyo na hindi ninyo magawang ngumiti. ‘Yun bang tipong tutulo na lang ang luha at uhog ninyo e nabibitin pa kasi bigla ninyong maaalala na hindi ka pala puwedeng magsabit ng inihaw na bangus sa ibabaw ng computer mo. O huwag isisi sa nananahimik na butiki kapag may nabiktima ang paglalabas mo ng air pollution. ‘Yung mga ganon. Well, I would never know. Gayunpaman, I will pray for your happiness everyday and for you to finally find that one person who would replace my novels in giving you reasons to laugh, smile and cry like there’s no tomorrow. Yeboi, break it down~

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

[soniafrancesca]

August 10, 2012. 01:43am.

I must admit, our Korean brothers and sisters have been helping our countrymen kahit sa mga panahong walang calamities sa Pinas. May Korean channel kasi kami dati at lagi sila may feature doon about Koreans helping the poorest of Pinoys from different provinces of the country. Meron pa nga akong napanuod one time na mag-asawang Koreans na ang tyagaaaaaaang magpabalik-balik sa isang liblib na baryo para magbigay ng tulong using alternative medicines. Nasa mga 50s or 60s na yata ang mag-asawang iyon. Buraot pa nga ako nun kasi imbes na matuwa e medyo inis pa ako kasi feeling ko dati giangagawa nilang ‘charity ward’ ang Pinas. ‘Yung feeling na ‘hey, we can survive on our own even with something so little’. Pasensiya na. Masyado kasing mataas ang tingin ko sa lahi natin.

Yeah, I’m such an idiot for thinking Koreans that way. Sorry naman. Although maybe I was thanking them unconsciously kaya siguro kahit asar ako sa pagiging superficial nila pagdating sa isyu ng kagandahan, the fact that it didn’t stop them from helping us even if we didn’t want to, I couldn’t hate them. Kaya din siguro na-feautre ko sila sa mga nobela ko kahti na nga alam ng mga close friends ko na hindi ko sila masyadong feel.

Koreans, thanks for helping us. I’ll try to just appreciate whatever you willingly give us.

At sa mga Pinoy rescuers, I give you my highest respect and admiration. SALUTE!

*monologue habang naghahanda ng mga relief goods*

[soniafrancesca]

August 18, 2012. 10:58am.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love doest not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always hopes, always perseveres.” – 1 Corinthians 13:6-7.

The perfect definition of what love is.

There. May sagot na kayo ngayon kapag may nagtanong sa inyo ng ‘what is love?’. This was also my life’s verse as a romance writer. Hope everyone else would remember this when you finally found the person that was meant for you. Remember, no one is perfect. Not even your own Mr. Right. But when you truly love that person, you will learn all those that were written above.

And when you’ve done all that for that person, you don’t have to wonder anymore if you love him/her or not. You will have the confidence to tell yourself, ‘I love him/her.’ You will also find yourself just giving…without asking anything in return.

A love like that…is truly amazing.

Jesus had loved us, and still loving us, like that. If not more than like that. Do you know that?

Love is patient.

Love is kind.

Love does not envy.

Love does not boast.

Love is not proud.

Love keeps no record of wrongs.

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Check?

[soniafrancesca]

December 15, 2012. 09:15am. Writers are born. Not made. But…most of those writers were also naturally lazy. So having those writers being awoken from their laziness…you could see such wonders of God in him.

So, am I one of those wonderful writers? Let’s see.

Am I lazy? Yes.
Do I want to write? Yes.
Am I writing now? No. Maybe later.

See?

Not a very nice thing to brag. Please don’t copy me. You’ll die in seven days. My preeeeezcioussss….

[soniafrancesca]

December 17, 2012. 01:28am.

Dinalaw ako ni Pret kanina. Hindi dahil sa nami-miss na niya ako kundi dahil gusto niyang makakuha ng kopya ko ng mga kanta ng bago niyang paboritong Japanese rock band na One Ok Rock.

Pag-uwi niya, inihatid ko siya sa sakayan habang nagkukuwentuhan. Nabanggit ko ang isa sa mga napanuod kong episode ng Hidden Cities ng History Channel sa cable tungkol sa adventures at misadventures ng isang city guy sa mga hidden treasures ng isang banda. Sa episode na naabutan ko sa palabas kanina, nasa Taiwan ‘yung host at susubukan daw niyang makita at makisali sandali sa pamumuhay ng mga cultural minorities ng Taiwan.

Gora si Host sa isa sa mga probinsiya ng Taiwan kung saan nakilala niya ang magiging host naman niya sa pag-experience ng mga kaugalian ng mga katutubo roon. Isang school teacher at ‘yung uncle niya. Napatutok ang tingin ko kay School Teacher. Hindi ko maiwasan. Ang pogi eh. Matangkad pa at maganda ang katawan. Lean baga. Sabi ko, artista yata yung imbes na school teacher sa isang liblib na probinsiya ng Taiwan.

Yosh! Nakahanap ako ng bagong hero. Sabi ko gagawin ko siyang isa sa mga characters sa nobela ko na susunod kong isusulat.

Anyway, si Teacher ang dahilan kung bakit sinubaybayan ang palabas na iyon kahit na nga may nauna na akong pinapanuod na anime na hindi ko alam ang pamagat. Guwapo talaga ni Teacher. Sarap tingnan. Ang haba ng mga braso at ang macho niyang tingnan habang hawak ang isang palakol. Ang haba rin ng mga legs na halata kahit nakapantalon siya ng maong. Oo, lumabas ang pagiging natural na manyakis ng mga mata ko dahil…well, lets just say na nag-a-appreciate lang naman ako ng isang guwapong nilalang ni Lord.

So ayun nga, gora sila sa pag-experience ni host ng mga daily activities ng naturang tribo. Kasama na roon ang pagha-hunt ng wild boars, a.k.a. baboy ramo. Gumawa sila ng trap saka nag-proceed sa panghuhuli ng mga putakte para gawing panghalo sa isa sa mga prized wines ng tribo. Pabalik na sila nang may nag-tip sa kanila na may nahuli na ang trap nila. Takbo ang mga lolo sa venue. Nauna pa si Teacher Pogi.

At kitang-kita ng camera kung paanong basta na lang tinarakan ni Teacher Pogi ng sibat ang pobreng baboy ramo. Aaaaaccckk!

Oh that poor poor animal…And that oh-so-handsome-teacher…why…? WHY???!!! Hindi ka na naawa! That’s animal cruelty! Ni hindi mo man lang binigyan ng chance ‘yung baboy na makapagpaliwanag kung paano siyang napunta sa trap na iyon!

Anyway ulet, pareho kami ng sintemyento ni Host. Naawa din siya sa baboy ramo. Pero sabi nga niya, its part of their culture. Part of their culture…part…hay… Hindi na kami bati ni Teacher. Guwapo pa rin siya. At ang tikas niyang tingnan nung tinuhog niya ng sibat ‘yung baboy. Ngunit datapwat subalit, siya pa rin ang tsumugi dun sa baboy and its still animal cruelty in my book. Hello! Twentyfirst century na tayo. Civilize, people?

Ayun, si Pret na pinagkukuwentuhan ko ng adventure ko sa panunuod ng episode na iyon ng pinapanuod ko, hindi na makahinga sa kakatawa. Hindi ako maka-react sa kanya, sa totoo lang. Iniisip ko kasi kung saang parte ng kuwento ko ang nakakatawa.

“Writers are really crazy,” sabi pa ni Pret nang makabawi na siya. Yep, in English niya talaga sinabi iyon. Epekto ng pagtuturo niya ng English sa mga hindi marunong mag-English na Koreans.

…

The end.

[soniafrancesca]

February 5, 2013. 6:19am.


Middle chapter of Chapter 3; Stallion Revisited 6: Jior Cantiller; 2nd mug of coffee; tira-tirang picka-picka snack.

Malamig na naman. Ahlabeeet! Kahit naninigas na ang mga joints ng daliri ko at nahihirapan na akong mag-type dahil sa lamig, ayos lang. Hindi ako magrereklamo. Sabi ko nga sa mga kaibigan ko, magrereklamo na ako sa init pero hinding-hindi sa lamig. Gusto ko nga magka-snow na sa Pilipinas para maiba naman, hehe!

Ayun. Bigla akong tinamad sa isinusulat ko kaya sumegwey muna ako rito sa pagpagsusulat ng kung ano-anong kabalbalang naiisip ko at the moment. This is my so-called ‘coffee break’. Well, again, pauso ko lang iyan. Para sa mga aspiring writers na nagsusulat din sa madaling araw na gaya ko, huwag na huwag ninyong gagayahin ang mga nababasa o nakikita ninyong ginagawa ko kapag o habang nagsusulat ako. Its not for the faint-hearted. Chos.

Hindi. Seryoso. Sa mga aspiring writers, hindi ko talaga recommended na bukod sa pagnguya ng kung ano-anong pagkain at paglaklak ng kape habang nagsusulat, HUWAG NA HUWAG NINYONG TATANGKAIN MAN LANG NA IWAN ANG ISINUSULAT NINYO PARA LANG GUMAWA NG IBANG BAGAY NA WALANG KATUTURAN. Dahil the moment na mawala kayo sa isinusulat ninyo ng hindi nyo pa ‘naisasara’ ang eksenang iyon, mawawala ang momentum ninyo at mahihirapan na kayong bumalik sa eksenang iyon. Pero kung super talented ka talaga para pagsabay-sabayin ang pagsusulat, pagngata ng pagkain, paglaklak ng kape, paggawa ng kung ano-ano in between writing….SIGE, IKAW NA.

*ngata ngata ng tsitsirya* Ah…may singaw na ako. Ouch. Ang laki naman kasi nitong tsitsiryang binabatan ko. At puro na rin mumu ng tsitsirya ang shorts at legs ko. Paano, imbes na dilaan ang mga daliri ko, hayun at ipinupunas ko sa shorts at legs ko ang kamay kong humawak sa tsitsirya. Yep. I’m not a licker.

I’m writing Jior Cantiller’s story for Stallion Revisited. Just a sneak peek, the girl here…she’s such a darling. Pretty, very girly, can kick anyone’s ass any moment, and can pull a gun and shoved it in your face without blinking an eye. What a toughie, huh. I like her. She doesn’t settle the score with just an apology. Her motto? ‘I don’t get lost. I get even.’ And get even she does. Poor Jio. Even with his weird blue hair, he couldn’t get a smile from that woman. Whenever she thinks of him, it was always composed of her beating him to death and sending him to hell while laughing her ass off. Whenever she sees him, all she wanted to do was shoot his head off.

Wow. Ang galing kong mag-English! Perfeeeeek~ *kiskis kamay sa shorts* Aysha! Bad hand! Baaad!

Anyway, hindi naman ganon kalupit ang kuwento nila gaya ng pagkaka-describe ko rito in English. Exaggerated lang talaga ako magkuwento kapag salita ng mga Englisero ang gamit ko. I KNOW, RIGHT? Powtek. Ang lagkit na ng shorts ko! Makaligo nga mamaya bago matulog. Baka pagpiyestahan ako ng mga ipis kapag natulog akong lasang Jack ‘n Jill Pic-A.

Pagkatapos kong isulat ang Stallion Revisited, magpapakalunod na ako sa mundo ng mga bampira at vampire slayers. Kaya kapag nakita ninyo akong naka-trenchcoat at may hood ala BJ ng Cain Heel from Skipbeat, huwag na kayong magtaka. Ganon talaga ako kapag nag-iba ako ng genre na isinusulat. Isinasapuso at isinasabuhay ko. In short, dinidibdib ko ang pagiging praning. *chants* Ahuuuuuuuuuuummmmmm…..

Bampira at vampire slayers. Hindi na raw sila uso ngayon. E ano naman? Mas okay nga iyon dahil kung sakaling lumabas na ang series namin na iyon ni Keene Alicante, kami na lang ang mamamayagpag sa genre na iyon. Bonggels!

What’s the series all about? Ano pa? E di bampira at vampire slayers. Sino ang bida? Hulaan nyo. Ah, wait. Hintayin na lang pala ninyong lumabas. You’ll see another part of Sonia Francesca as a writer. Naks! You’ve seen the witty, sunny, and funny side of me from my previous novels that had gained me a glittering spot in the world of romance writing. You also saw the sensitive and soft-as-a-squishy-little-goldfish side of me in Blue Nights. In Club X, expect a darker, more sinister side of Sonia Francesca.

I just hope I can pull that off with flying colors.

At nag-e-English na naman ako. Wapak! At wala na ring laman ang mug ko ng kape. Kaya…hanggang sa susunod na pagdaldal ko. Ja~

[soniafrancesca]

LOVE QUESTIONS (Adapted from NEWS' Love Questions)

1. The boys/men you like since the first encounter have all something in common.
- They were all nice to ME, hehe!

2. Love can't start from a friendship.
- We can't actually 'say' where and when a love start between two people. It can start from friendship, or it can also start in a snap of a fingher. For me, love can happen anytime and anywhere. So be prepare. Be VERY prepare. Whawr!

3. You fell in love with somebody for unexpected reasons.
- No. I fell inlove for the SAME EXPECTED reasons. As I've said, they were all nice to me.

4. You enjoy the most when your love is not answered.
- No, haha! Of course I wanted to be loved in return. Hello?

5. You love romantic talk, movies and mangas.
- No. I dont like cheesy talks. Movies? Okay lang. Basta napanuod ko na rin ang pag-uusapan naming movies. Mangas? I dont read that much.

6. Among the writers, I'm the most "recommended one" as girlfriend.
- Im tough on the outside, but soft on the inside. Cream puffs lang? haha! Lets see...because I may not be cheesy but I still know how to show my feelings in a different way nga lang. Puwede ring in a weird way. Im not a jealous person. I dont get easily angry. I, ah...I dont know what else to say about me.

7. Lately you think you became adult also in love matters.
- Yes. Maybe because the last man I've fallen inlove with, was just a lie. And it hurts real bad. Oh, well. At least I've learned a valuable lesson from it.

8. You have a particular love event you'd like to experience.
- DOUBLE BUNGEE JUMP! Tama bang term iyan? Yung sabay kayong magba-bungee jump. Mukhang exciting iyon.

9. You have something you want to say to your future lover.
- To my future lover, my heart is a mess right now. Somewhere along the way, I stopped believing in love stories and happy endings. But I'm still waiting for you. Coz I know you're the only one who can fix this messed up heart of mine. Fighting!

10. Something that made your heart beat recently.
- Ah. Nothing moved my heart for quite sometime now.

>> Cherie, why so ssssserious?

[soniafrancesca]

Q: Tell us a secret about your body.

Me: Kapag binibiro ako ng sinoman na hahawakan ang batok ko, at hinawakan nga iyon, humuhulas ang lahat ng lakas ko. Unfortunately, madalas naiipit yung kamay nung humawak sa batok ko dahil na rin sa kagagawan ko. Kaya ang nangyayari, mas napapatagal ang pagdurusa ko. Malaki rin ang posibilidad na isa iyon sa mga maging sanhi ng kamatayan ko balang araw, hehe!

[soniafrancesca]

CHANKAPAANA BODY TALK (Adopted from NEWS Body Talk DUET 07.2013)

Q1. Something you can't keep out of your head recently.
- my royalty.............BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

Q2. Something that made your heart skip a beat.
- Ah. A few days ago, sumakay ako ng LRT2. Nakapila na ako sa ticket booth at naghahalungkat ng wallet sa bag nang mapansi ko ang lalaki sa unahan ko. Matangkad, slim, and i like his porma. He was rolling up the sleeve of his polo. Pero the thing that attracted me to him was his shoulders and arms. And you know naman, na ako'y isang adik sa mga lalaking may magandang shoulders at arms. Hinawakan ko na ang cellphone ko para kuhaan siya ng picture pero naalala kong malakas pala ang shutter sound ng cellphone at malamang e marinig niya iyon kaya di ko na tinuloy. Susunod sana ako sa kanya hanggang sa train carriage kaya lang ang layo ng pinuntahan niya. Sa unahan ba naman. E fave train carriage ko ang last carriage kasi dun magandang spot para mang-hunt ng mga lalaking may magagandang balikat at braso. Kaya ayun, sayonara goodbye na ako sa kanya nang maghiwalay kami ng landas sa LTR2 platform. At iyan po ang walang kalatuy-latuy kong adventure nung araw na iyon. Bow.

Q3. The first thing you notice in guys' bodies.
- Shoulders and arms. Dalawa dapat kasi may mga shoulders na maganda pero di maganda ang arms. Meron ding arms na maganda pero di ko type ang shoulders. So....yun.

Q4. Which place you do like to go to, or the place where you'd like to go again?
- BATANES. Its my dream place ever since i was young.

Q5. The thing you want to have now.
- this Nikon DSLR camera in front of me. My sister brought his from abroad. I dont want her to ask for it coz i know she would not give it to me. So i'll keep on praying until GOD gives it to me, hehe! Photography kasi is my second passion.

Q6. If you could swap a part of the body with someone, who would be and what?
- facial skin ng friend kong si May. Grabe, ang kinis ng face niya. Walang pores!


-end-

[soniafrancesca]

I was doing my usual thing around Facebook, like lurking around other people's business, when I come upon this issue about the new writers of PHR. Okay, alam kong hindi na ito bagong isyu. Matagal-tagal na ito. Sa sobrang tagal ay nakalimutan ko na nga dahil hindi na ako nakakarinig ng mga alingasngas mula sa mga kapwa ko manunulat. Anyway, as ive said, i was lurking around Facebook when I decided to check out this reviewers' page. Frankly, I only read her reviews because I'm quite fascinated with her wit and quirkiness when it comes to giving out her PERSONAL OPINIONS on the books that she read.

I dont care about the reviews. What kept me reading her reviews was the way she descibres it. She was funny. And I like funny people. She's quite crazy too, with the way she use words to display each of her emotions as she brings her readers through her reading process and gave out a review in each dialogue, description, scenes, chapters...and so on. It was a roller coaster ride of emotions, i tell yah. She was very random, which makes her crazy and funnier haha!

Marami rin nga pala akong natuklasan sa mga reviews niya. Mga impormasyong nakapagpangiti, nakapagpatawa, nakapagpaasar, nakapagpagalit...repeat 20x until fade...

[soniafrancesca]

Let me take you down memory lane.....................................................................


1. Grade 6 (elementary days): I wrote my very first 'novel'. It was the longest story, so far, that I've written those days.

2. First year highschool: Ive written my very first 'series'. Yep, even then, mahilig na talaga akong gumamit ng maraming tauhan sa mga isinusulat ko. I think I've written two 'series' during my highschool days.

3. Highschool days: Ive written quite a few novels then. Well, not really novel pero mga mahahabang kuwento na ikinonsider ko lang na novel dahil masyado iyong mahaba para maging isang maikling kuwento.

4. 1997: Ive presented my very first official novel at Bookware Publishings (MSV). I was rejected, but i got the chance to talk to the publisher, telling me I got some potential and would want me to take some writing workshop with them. Di ko na pinatulan. Sama na loob ko eh. Tampo na.

5. May 2001: I attended the PHR Writing Workshop with my then college friends and classmates Sofia and Keene Alicante.

6. August 8, 2001: I passed my very first PHR manuscript, with a suggested penname 'SKYE'. My manuscript was returned to me for a 3-page revision. My suggested penname was also rejected saying it reminded them of that cracker biscuit.

I wonder now why PHR had a 'Skye' pen name approved for another writer...

7. September 2001: My very first novel, Kissing Miss Wrong, was approved.

8. Somewhere around September 2001: After some rough jumbling, from my three suggested names (Paola Kristina, Sonia Blade, Francesca Marie), SONIA FRANCESCA was born.

9. October 30, 2001: My second novel (Matters Of The Heart) and third novel (My Lord Ace) were approved.

10. August 3, 2002: Graduating student kasi ako nung nag-start ako magsulat. Thesis and requirements for graduation took all my time from writing. Then pagka-graduate, naging masigasig din akong fresh graduate applicant. When I didnt get hired, I turn back to writing and finished my fourth novel, Love At Second Sight.

I guess I was really meant to write because from then on, decided to make writing a serious career. It was also just now, while writing this entry, that I realized that my decision to be a full time writer was exactly one year after I wrote my very first novel.

Finally, nalaman ko rin ang eksaktong 'kapanganakan' ni Sonia Francesca. This year, on August 8, 2013, I'll be celebrating my 12 years in the writing industry. Tanda ko na talaga...

11. May 9, 2003. Lani's story, The Way You Love Me, was approved. And the 'Pitong Berdugo' was born.

12. December 9, 2003. Biru-Biruan Ng Puso, the story of Pretzel and Alec Samaniego, parents of the most famous characters that i've created (Jigger and Trigger), was approved.

13. April 3, 2004. Treize de Cordova was approved. And The Billionaire Boys Club, my very first official series, was born.

14. September 29, 2004. Skylander series was born. But it was only after six months before I was able to write the second story for this series.

15. October 12, 2004. Gusto Kita Noon, Crush Kita Kahapon, Love Kita Ngayon, my first Rancho Estate Series book was approved. With my very first Novel Of The Month seal.

16. February 5, 2005. My novel for probably the only other book imprint (aside from PHR imprint) was approved. My Love, My Hero: Heero

17. March 19, 2005. Dito nag-start ang kaguluhan ko bilang manunulat. Inuna ko kasing isulat ang pinakahuling kuwento ng Skylander (Charming Neo), bago ko isinulat ang mga naunang kuwento sa kanya. The normal sequence should be: Jet Lee, Aki, Arwen and Neo. Sonia Francesca's sequence was: Jet Lee, Neo (written after six months), Aki, then Arwen.

18. July 2, 2005. Rancho Estate's last book, Rachel's Sweet Surrender, was approved.

19. July 6, 2005. I finished revising Silva Arellano's story. And The Billionaire Boys Club batch 2 was born.

20. March 28, 2006. Finished the last book for BBC2, Rath Lagdameo. If you would notice, ang lalayo ng agwat bago ako nakakatapos ng mga series. May mga isinisingit kasi akong independent novels diyan in between the series kaya ganyan ang mga laktaw ng mga iyan.

21. May 23, 2006. Basta Para Sa'Yo was approved. Los Caballeros series was born.

22. August 29, 2006. Here's My Heart (Golden Hearts series, my very first mini-series) was approved. Ito rin ang nag-iisang series ko na wala akong isinulat na in-between novels.
Magkakasunod kong isinulat ang mga stories dito, for the first time, hehe!

23. October 17, 2006. Ah, this was one of the most blessed days of my life as a writer. Jubei Bernardo was approved. And the Stallion Series was born.

24. March 12, 2007. Zell Zapanta' story was approved. I decided to stop writing for Stallion Series that time. Sofia continued the story by creating the entire 3rd batch of the series.

25. May 22, 2007. Crazy Little Thing Called Love was approved. The very same book that inspired me to write the remaining Sentinel band members on the coming years.

26. May 29, 2007. Your beloved barangay, Calle Pogi, was born. Buwi's story was approved.

27. July 27, 2007. Four months after I stopped writing for Stallion, I created Pipo De Vera. And I was once again became a part of the fourth batch for Stallion Series.

28. August 21, 2007. My second Novel Of The Month seal with Angelo Exel Formosa's story.

Salitan ko palang isinusulat ang Calle Pogi at SRC 4 nang mga panahong ito. Tatag ko, 'no?

29. September 11, 2007. Rozen Aldeguer, my 100th novel, was approved. Malas din ako sa novel na ito dahil nabiktima ng Salisi Gang sa Jolibee Rotonda Branch ang buong suweldo ko for this novel.

30. July 27, 2008. Trigger Samaniego's story was approved.

31. January 22, 2009. Jigger Samaniego's story was approved. Tagal ng pagitan nila, no? Yep, it took me six months sa pag-iisip lang kung anong kuwento ang babagay para sa isang Jigger Samaniego. Anim na buwan. Until one night, I gave up thinking and prayed for a story. Six months of thinking and it only took a simple prayer for me to be able to write Jigger Samaniego's story in just a matter of TWO DAYS. God is really the best!


So iyan lang naman ang kuwento ng buhay ng mga isinulat kong kuwento. I have specific dates kasi bago nauso sa PHR ang pagpapasa ng novel through email, mano-mano ang pagpapasa sa kanila. Which means, may mga ibinibigay silang resibo kapalit ng ipinasa mong nobela. I still have those receipts with me kaya nailagay ko ang mga dates ng mga novels na nabanggit ko rito.

I even have the receipts for my other novels na ipinasa ko sa ibang publication before I became a contract writer of PHR in April 2006.

August 25, 2005. Love Me Today, Hate Me Tomorrow
August 31, 2005. Runaway Heart

So there. Bow.

[soniafrancesca]

To all the Stallion lovers out there, ngayon ay puwede ko ng mai-share sa inyo ang 'kapanganakan' ng mga paborito ninyong Stallion boys. Hindi ko na kasi makita ang mga dates kung kailan ko nasimulan isulat ang bawat kuwento kaya ang mga dates na lang kung kailan ko sila ipinasa sa PHR ang gagamitin ko as their 'birthdays'. So, here we go...

Jubei Bernardo - October 17
Eneru Villasis - October 24
Reigan Baltazar - November 7
Neiji Villaraza - November 18
Brad Crawford - November 28
Rodjan Sta. Maria - December 12
Kai Montezor - January 2
Yozack Florencio - January 16
Zell Zapanta - March 12
Pipo de Vera - July 27
Daboi Bustamante - August 7
Angelo Exel Formosa - August 21
Icen Villazanta - August 28
Rozen Aldeguer - September 11
Cloud Montañez - September 25
Hans Cervantes - October 9
Ian Jack Salmentar - November 3
Baxter Saavedra - November 13
Lee Shin Yang - November 27
Ricos Caderao - December 29

Masyado bang dikit-dikit ang mga dates? Huwag na kayong magtaka. Nang mga panahong iyan kasi, nakaka-tatlong nobela ako halos sa isang buwan. Lets just say that 2007 was my year. I wrote 36 novel in just one year, earning myself 2nd Runner-up on the Most Prolific Writer in 2007. Yep, ganon ako kasipag noon haha!

I know, I know. You were asking where's the Samaniego twins' birthday. Actually, para sa mga nakasubaybay sa mga nobela ko, you would know na hindi sila sa Stallion Series unang 'nabuhay'. It was in Biru-Biruan Ng Puso, their own parents' story, that they first appeared. Tatanungin ninyo kung saan doon...well, not literally lumabas na sila roon. Pero kung nabasa ninyo ang story nina Alec at Pretzel, there was a scene there kung saan nasa wedding rehearsal si Pretzel at si Alec ang proxy groom dahil na-late ang totoong groom ni Pretzel. At habang naglalakad siya palapit noon kay Alec, she had this vision of a family happily playing at the outside garden of a beautiful house. At sa vision na iyon ay may dalawang batang naglalaro, Alec was taking care of the barbeque (?) while Pretzel was taking care of the baby on the crib (?). Im not sure about this scene. Wala kasi akong kopya ngayon sa harapan ko so paki-check na lang ang mga kopya ninyo ng novel na iyon. Anyway, those 'two' kids playing around were their 'future' twins, and the baby on the crib was their baby girl Diosa. So doon 'unang lumabas' ang kambal.

Actually, when I wrote Biru-Biruan Ng Puso, wala sa isip ko na gagawa ako ng kuwento about Alec and Pretzel's kids. Kahit ako na-shock nang basahin ko one day ang Biru-Biruan ng Puso, years after I finished writing the Samaniego twins on SRC, and found out about that particular scene on that novel. In fact, Diosa wasnt even on my list of characters. Ipinasok ko lang siya dahil ayaw ko ngang gawin ang story ng Samaniego twins for SRC. Balak ko kasing sa Rancho Estate ko sila ilagay. Kaya sabi ko sa editor ko noon, si Diosa ang 'kapalit' ng kambal sa SRC. Well, eventually, I wrote the twins as Stallion boys. And I was really amazed to find out that these three Samaniego siblings were already part of my novels even before I thought about their characters.

Again, isnt God really amazing? I never believed it was just a coincidence. There was no coincidence when it comes to God. And remember the history of Jigger's story? Yeah, I really believed they were meant to be a part of my writing career. Hay...thank you, Lord!

December 9. That's the 'birthday' of your beloved Samaniego twins. KAMPAI!