For those who are unfamiliar with MIBF, it stands for Manila International Book Fair and is an annual event that many Filipino readers and writers eagerly anticipate. As a reader and writer, I have always been excited to participate in this event, especially if I have the budget (haha).

And this year has been, so far, my best experience of MIBF. And good news for those who know me: I stepped out of my comfort zone, or at least I tried, even if only for an hour, and I want to praise God for that!



With the help of PaperKat Books and Ms. Kath, I was able to book an hour of meet-the-writer and a book signing event during the MIBF 2025.

Initially, I only planned to consign my latest book, The Restless Mind, and hope for the best of its sales. I am scared to be on the frontline of the meet-the-writer and a book-signing event. But then, there was this desire to try the book signing activity. I took the risk. I thought I had nothing to lose, and it was not like I was going to do something bad or illegal.

"I am just gonna put myself out there, and be a little vulnerable in the eyes of spectators." I thought to myself.

So, yes, I did! I had the book signing and meet-the-writer activity with PaperKat Books. I am really grateful for the opportunity and the experience, and I am so glad I got to experience MIBF 2025 as a writer and a reader.



Special shout-out to the readers who took a chance on my book, The Restless Mind, during my book signing: Ram, Grace, Zu, LJ, and Thine!💙 If you bought my book at MIBF 2025, and I was not able to sign it for you, I hope I get to see you at other events. SLMT 💙

I am looking forward to experiencing more of this event.

I am joyful that I did this. It was beyond my comfort zone, but God did it again! He helped me get through 🙏🙌

The Restless Mind, my latest book, is participating this year. The book event will run from September 10-14, 2025, from Wednesday to Sunday. 

Ms. Kath Eustaquio-Derla and PaperKat Books helped me to make this opportunity possible. 

I also have a Meet the author schedule at Booth #2-122, 2nd Floor Function Hall, SMX Convention Center Manila. So if you want to meet me or get your copies signed, please feel free to drop by. Other freebies are waiting for you. I hope I get to see you guys and gals! 

The day of my flight to Taiwan was rainy. There was a typhoon or an incoming storm, so the weather wasn't good. It wasn't the best weather for any kind of trip. 

Going to NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport), I am thankful to have a point-to-point bus transport from my town to Terminal 3. The bus fare cost was 300 Philippine pesos. It took me more or less two (2) hours to reach the airport from my hometown. It was a long ride, always, and the bus air conditioning was too much for me in the rainy season. It was a good thing I had jacket jeans, and I felt so cool wearing them.

It was still raining hard when I finally arrived at the airport. There seemed to be a lot of people, especially inside the airport. I printed my boarding pass from the AirAsia kiosk, which was really convenient for me, and I got to keep it for pasting it on my journal notebook. After that, I went straight to the security check-up and I passed. But unfortunately, some of my journaling materials, like glue and small scissors, got confiscated, which made me a little sad. I was still glad I passed the inspection. Thank you, ma'am and sirs at NAIA, for keeping us safe!

Before getting something to eat, I went straight to my boarding gate to make sure it really did exist. It was not a long walk, but not short either. It was walkable, and I got to do some sightseeing inside the airport. There were a lot of stranded passengers due to bad weather, and I could tell they were not happy about the situation. But it is better to be safe than sorry, right? Right.

I walked back to the Fruitas stand I saw when I was sightseeing. I had a mango and watermelon smoothie, and it was good, but it had a lot of ice. The ladies at Fruitas were so kind to give me some of their fries from Potato Corner. I was embarrassed, but they were persistent, so I accepted the free fries.

I had my dinner snacks on a chair near my boarding gate, and I arrived so early at the airport that I had a lot of waiting time, probably around two (2) hours. I patiently waited and tried to get busy. I tried to get some sleep and massaged my face with a guasha. I was thinking of reading, but my book was inside my suitcase, so next time I'm gonna put it inside my carry-on bag.

When it was boarding time, I discovered that I had to pay the Philippine travel tax. I had no idea about it. One of the flight attendants helped me; she instructed me to do it online. I think I paid 1600 plus Philippine pesos. 

My flight from Manila to Taiwan was scheduled at 11PM, and it got delayed too for twenty (20) minutes due to bad weather, which was not an ideal time for me, but the cheapest. I regret booking that flight schedule. Next time, I have to make sure the flight won't inconvenience or take a toll on my health.

It was also boarding time when I started crying for no reason. I want to say for no reason, but I was aware of the real reason. Boarding the plane reminded me of the time I was leaving Austin, Texas, at Austin–Bergstrom International Airport. It was so heartbreaking watching my boyfriend see me leave. It was a sad day. 

I started packing for my Taiwan Trip with all my toiletries, first aid kit, shoes, and clothes. My suitcase was pretty much packed and ready, except for some of the last-minute additions. It was really, really hot when I was packing the suitcase. Sweaty and hot, I survived the heat and was able to write this blog entry. 

Here is the list of things I put in my luggage.

shampoo

conditioner

feminine wash

sunscreen

lotion

perfume/cologne

body wash

toner

cotton balls

cotton buds

facial routine kit

band aids

burn cream

antibiotic ointment
Tylenol 

Eye moisturizer 

Tennis shoes

leather shoes

dresses

underwears

leggings

shorts

socks

sleepwear

That's quite a list, but I always try to be prepared and ready for any trip. It is better to be ready than sorry. I know this is not a comprehensive list, but you can modify, add, or remove some things that you might need or not need. It all depends on your comfort, tolerance, and what you need. 

Join me as I travel the world. Tara!