What is Filipino Book Bloggers?

The Filipino Book Bloggers is an informal organization of reading enthusiasts who consistently leverage social media in order to reach a worldwide audience. Though some Filipinos had been book blogging as early as 2005, the number of Filipinos starting book blogs has increased in recent years. It started out as just an online directory but has evolved to something more – from just a directory to online discussions to meet-ups.

The first meet-up of the Filipino Book Bloggers was on September 25, 2010. It was a fun and casual meeting, though the seeds of grand plans were already placed on the agenda. And it was one of those seeds that grew into the first ever Filipino Reader Conference.

How to Join?
(Instructions are also found in the sidebar)
Book bloggers are encouraged to join as long as they’re Filipino. It doesn’t matter what genre they blog about or in what part of the world they live in as long as they’re book bloggers.

What is a book blog? A book blog is a niche blog that has posts that revolve around books. Usual blog topics include book reviews, publishing news, discussion posts about reading, author interviews and posts about events and conferences that cater to readers.

Who puts up book blogs? Anyone can put up a book blog! Anyone. Most blogs are hosted by free sites such as WordPress, Blogger, or Tumblr. Any reader or book lover can sign up on these sites and start posting about the books that he or she has read.

To be listed, send an email to filipinobookbloggers(at)gmail(dot)com with the following details: Blog Name, Blog URL, Location, Brief Description, Favorite Authors and tags for what genre your blog caters to. Also send an image if you want it to be included in the post dedicated to you.

Guest Post: World Read Aloud Day

Hello fellow Filipino Book Bloggers, just a quick announcement: there’s a meet-up scheduled on January 21, 3pm at Libreria Bookstore in Cubao X. Everyone is welcome to attend!

We interrupt our regular programming to welcome Ruby to the site. She’s here to talk about something worthwhile. Let’s all give Ruby a warm welcome!

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Hello, my name is Ruby Veridiano, and I am the first LitCorps Ambassador of LitWorld, a global literacy organization based in New York City. As the first official LitCorps Ambassador, I chose my home country of the Philippines as the new grounds in which I would help LitWorld spearhead their Girls and Boys LitClubs, programs that help empower boys and girls through reading and writing.

I am also here to spread the mission of World Read Aloud Day, an international event occurring on March 7th, 2012, that gathers people across the world to advocate for literacy. Presently, over 790 million people across the world cannot read or write. Yet, literacy is a human rights issue. Without literacy, development and progress in economics, health, and education would be hindered.

World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words, especially those words that are shared from one person to another, and creates a community of readers advocating for every child’s right to a safe education and access to books and technology. By raising our voices together on this day we show the world’s children that we support their future: that they have the right to read, to write, and to share their words to change the world.

It is my hope that I can invite the Filipino Book Bloggers to take part in celebrating World Read Aloud Day by helping us spread the word through your blog and social media. We’d also love to invite you in helping us create celebrations/events in honor of this special day!

To participate in World Read Aloud Day, please feel free to email me at rubyverdiano@litworld.org. You can also learn more about LitWorld and World Read Aloud Day here: http://litworld.org/worldreadaloudday/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/litworld
Twitter: @litworldsays

You can also view photos of all the amazing people who joined us around the world for World Read Aloud Day 2011 here.

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The Misanthropologist

Blog Name: The Misanthropologist

Blog url: http://themisanthropologist.wordpress.com/

Location: Quezon City

Brief Description: I write mostly reviews of books I’ve read, and post book lists and book related news on occasion.
Favorite Authors: Orhan Pamuk, Jane Austen, Kurt Vonnegut, Salman Rushdie, Neil Gaiman, etc. I read a lot of different genres, from classics to graphic novels…

Smitten Over Books

Blog Name: Smitten over Books

Blog URL: http://smittenoverbooks.blogspot.com/

Location: Sampaloc, Manila

Brief Description: Smitten over Books is dedicated to YA book reviews and occasional random ramblings of yours truly and interviews of no less than Cupid, himself. I am also branching out in Adult and Classic Literature although my review of them would be very minimal. I mostly read Dystopian, Fantasy, Contemporary and Paranormal Romance to some extent. Please feel free to visit the blog. I won’t bite.

Favorite Authors: J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan, Sarah Dessen, Melina Marchetta, Mira Grant, Neal Shusterman, Gayle Forman, Cecilia Ahern, Ally Carter, Cynthia Hand, Laini Taylor and among many others.

Booksucker Princess

Blog Name: Booksucker Princess

Blog URL: http://berryliciouslysweet.blogspot.com/

Location: Bulacan

Brief Description: I won`t start with “I am blah blah and age`s blah blah” because I consider it lame and a total turn-off to your attention. I maybe a teen, but never underestimate my world. I fangirl easily, and blog so much about book I`ve recently read, sometimes post my own work and some personal entries. Don`t worry, anyone is welcome to read. The given name`s Eriele. But I use Skyegirl in comments. 15 yrs. of kicking monster butts.

Favorite Authors: Suzanne Collins, Lisi Harrison, Rick Riordan, C.S. Lewis, Becca Fitzpatrick, Pittacus Lore, Markus Zusak

Simple Clockwork

Blog Name: Simple Clockwork

Blog URL: http://www.nancycudis.com

Location: Cebu, Philippines

Brief Description: Simple Clockwork aims to sort out complexities in life, love, and books. It used to be just a personal journal but it has evolved into a book blog. Through my blog, I have been receiving requests for reviews and meeting great authors. The scope of genres I cover and review includes Christian Fiction, Children’s Books, Mystery, Regency Romance, General Fiction, and Fantasy. Every now and then, I still put up personal reflections about life in general on my blog. I would love to hear from you. I hope you could drop by.

Favorite Authors: Joan Wolf, Barbara Freethy, Betty Neels, Ruth Ann Nordin, Teresa Carpenter, Ellen O’Connell, Delle Jacobs, Alyson Holman, and many more

The Book Vineyard

Blog Name: The Book Vineyard

Blog URL: thebookvineyard.wordpress.com

Brief Description: Each book is ripe for the picking, ready to be devoured by any curious reader. This blog site is all about books regardless of the genre, author, and other elements that makes the reading experience worth savoring. This book vineyard is open for harvest. Pick and choose. Read and critique. Indulge and relish. Get drunk with the finest literary pieces and satisfy your craving for more.

Favorite Authors: Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Ken Follet, James Rollins, Steve Berry, James Patterson, Tim Lahaye, John Ortberg, C.S. Lewis, George R.R. Martin, Rick Riordan, Kathryn Stockett, Liza Lutz, and many more! I read all genres but I enjoy reading fiction the most.

Books 4 Juliet

Blog Name: Books 4 Juliet

Blog URL: http://books4juliet.blogspot.com

Location: Orani, Bataan

Brief Description: Hi, my name is April. I’m the blogger behind Books4Juliet. I’m a full time wife and mom. Reading books is one of my passions. I enjoy both fiction and non-fiction books, but I am mostly drawn to YA Fiction (Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, Dystopian, Chick Lit, Contemporary and Historical Fiction).

I worked as a system engineer before I quit my job and dedicate myself for my family. I’m 29 (feeling 19), I love any shades of pink, purple and brown. Aside from reading, I also have fetish for bags and shoes. I love to go out with my hubby and son… our favorite hangout spots–coffee shops! At home when I have spare time, I read when I don’t blog, and I blog when I don’t read. Reading is a good escape… from normal life

Favorite Authors: I love Stephanie Perkins, Jeri Smith-Ready, Maggie Stiefvater, Cassandra Clare, Veronica Roth and Stephenie Meyer.

Adarna SF

Blog Name: Adarna SF

Blog URL: http://adarnasf.com

Brief Description: A speculative fiction blog for the ebook revolution.

Adarna SF has several reviewers, and we review ebooks in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Our focus is on ebooks from independent publishers and self-published authors.

Favourite Authors: Ursula K. Le Guin, Philip K. Dick, Haruki Murakami

Some Announcements

Hello Filipino Book Bloggers! Were you able to the attend the first Filipino Reader Conference? If yes, then please drop by the website and fill out the feedback form. The organizers behind the event would love to hear what attendees have to say. If you weren’t able to attend, then please check out the videos uploaded in the ReaderCon site. The videos include the keynote speech, the book club panel and the book blog panel.

Next, the website MangoJuiced is having a contest that all Filipino Book Bloggers can join. Click here to learn more about it but here are the mechanics:

MangoJuiced may just buy you your very own ebook – absolutely FREE! – if you’re willing to share your review with us!

1. Follow twitter.com/MangoJuiced and wait for the announcement of this month’s Ebook Giveaway.

2. Pitch to @MangoJuiced:
- the title of the ebook you want, and the link (you can choose Amazon or Smashwords)
- your blog’s URL
- why you want the book, and why your review will be awesome

3. MangoJuiced will announce the winner and send them their ebook.

4. Wait for your review to show up on Mangojuiced.com.

5. Not this month’s winner? Try again next month!