My De San Gabriel Bros on Wattpad

I just edited and published the first book to an old series on Wattpad -- The De San Gabriel Brothers. It was a spin off from the series The Eagle and the Dove, inspired by Elite Agent Hawk with the long, black straight hair, the eyebrows of a pirate and the cow's lick to his hairline -- in short ay delicioso. I couldn't remember exactly why he got separated from Black Bureau Elites series. It could be that I had written De San Gabriel first before I committed to writing a separate series for TEATD's elite specialists.

This is the link to the story:

De San Gabriel Bros 1 - Starry, Starry Night

And here's the teaser to the story:

Nagsimula ang pagkakaibigan nina Sean at Aslinn sa bahay ampunan.  Kahit unang umalis si Sean dahil sa pag-ampon dito nang isang maykayang pamilya, hindi natapos doon ang kanilang pagkakaibigan. Kahit natupad ang pangarap nitong maging artista at si Ais ay isa nang  pediatrician, sila pa rin ang pinakamatalik na magkaibigan.

Pero may mga lihim na hindi mananatiling lihim habambuhay. Matapos malagay sa peligro ang buhay ni Sean, natakot ito at nagkumpisal na matagal na itong in love sa kanya. Nataranta nang sobra si Aislinn. Buong panahon na magkakilala sila, ito ang pinakaimportanteng tao sa kanya, ang nag-iisa niyang bestfried, pamilya -- her very own person. Tapos mabibisto niyang iba na pala ang nararamdaman nito? Ang magkaibigang totoo, habambuhay magkasama. Pero kahit ang pinaka-passionate na nag-iibigan, nagbi-break din sa huli. Walang forever sa pag-ibig!

Pero sa kabila ng kanyang takot, sinubukan niya. Kasi mas takot siyang mawala ito. Sinubukan niyang umaktong in love kahit hindi niya alam kung paano. Ito ang aktor na marami nang naging lovers, habang isa siyang pediatrician na hindi pa ever nagka-boyfriend. In fact, ito ang nag-iisang lalaki sa buhay niya. Paano ba talaga? 

Paano magtatagumpay ang isang misyon kung ang gustong mang-akit ay hindi marunong mang-akit at ang inaakit naman ay masyadong ma-pride, at hindi pahahalik kung wala iyong pag-ibig?

Will update this post when I had uploaded the other two, specially Hawk's story!

I Didn't Go To EDSA for People Power 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte's supporters gather at Luneta Park on Saturday during a vigil backing the administration and its programs. Romeo Ranoco, Reuters

I have never attended a People Power celebration. The first time it happened, I was too young and lived in the province. As I grew older, the fire had died in me. I remember a time when I felt overwhelmed by all the adults united fighting for this ideal something that even I, during that time, could understand. Who would not know and want freedom? But the years have dampened that, seeing that nothing really changed. They may have switched people in the government, but essentially, the standard of freedom here in the Philippines didn't change.

I still feel we're being treated as low rate citizens.

There were still too many tyrants -- everywhere. School, church, at work. So much Too much. So why would I go? I was proud of the very first People Power Revolution, for its bloodless resolution. But let's face it. We've always been naive. It's our absolution and our curse. We're treated like trash. And we joke about it, hiding the anger inside. That's the Pinoy style.

For the first time in years, somebody suddenly appears in the crowd and started shouting all that anger out. And for the first time in such a long time, I found authenticity in him. For the first time in my life, I want to go celebrate People Power. But not in EDSA. In Luneta. I want to support that authenticity. I want to back Duterte.

As if that could make a dent to those who have been swept as I am to that ferocity of his fight for freedom from corruption, criminality, drug trade, and yes -- low self-esteem. People flocked to Luneta instead of to EDSA. Not that no one went to EDSA. It's just that more went to Luneta. Organized meet ups also went on to other parts of the world so OFWs can show their support by attending. The world may not understand why majority of Filipinos can manage to support a narcissistic, serial killing president. You've always thought us stupid. Who cares if that doesn't change?

I wasn't able to come. I have to go to work. I can't mess up my stats. I can't get a leave. But I wore red. It was frustrating. But I wore red. And I'll probably buy a blue jacket, and if I get lucky the next time I can get to show my support for my president, I'll wear the jacket over my red shirt.

Meantime, I have to work, to get my kids to school. I have to finish that story. Tomorrow is another day to watch the news and laugh as the international media make my country seem like the dumbest country on Earth. At least, I feel relief that not one of my kids will go home with a black eye after moron drug addicts took a spot on him while he was walking home on a black out. And no friend of mine will have to fight for their lives over cellphones and laptops (with their thesis due for the next day on the hard disk while graduations is just a week or two away) when drug addicts needed a fix and they have to get the money for it. No one-year-old, six-year old, nine-year-old will get raped on cemeteries and abandoned buildings and dark alleys. You have your Trump and what have you's. So let's all get busy, won't we?

#defend duterte
#produterte
#welabtataydigong