Sunday Song and Photograph: Wake Me Up When September Ends

Summer has come and past, the innocent can never last.
Wake me up when September ends
Like my father’s come to pass, seven years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends

Here comes the rain again, falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again, becoming who we are
As my memory rests, but never forget what I lost
Wake me up when September ends

Summer has come and past, the innocent can never last.
Wake me up when September ends
Like my father’s come to pass, seven years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends

Ring out the bells again
Like we did when spring began
Wake me up when September ends…



September was not a happy month for me this year.  Not that I expect every month to be happy, it’s just that September of this year is particularly a calendar month where I can mark some of my life’s big disappointments and frustrations.  With friends, career, health and even tragedy in the life of one of my closest friend.  So please don’t blame me if I’m too eager to say, Goodbye September… please send in a happy October!

How’s your September by the way?



"Wake Me Up When September Ends" is a song by American rock band Green Day, released in June 2005 

The Crazy Things We Did at the 33rd MIBF 2012!

As I shared in my previous post that we are annually attending the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF), of course we did it again this year and invaded the 33rd MIBF 2012 which was held at the SMX Convention Center last September 12 to 16, 2012.

As both kids are available during the weekends only, we were there on a Saturday, 15th of September.  Hubby is not with us because of work – weekend football festival.  And this is also the only year that my BFF Mac was not able to join us because she needs to take care of her sister who is confined in a hospital.

There were so much people at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA).  My kids and I were jokingly asking, “are there still people in other parts of Manila?”  Kidding aside, it was a massive number of people roaming in every part of MOA.  Later we found out the reason why.  It was a payday weekend and as usual, SM is holding a 3-day payday sale.  A basketball game is also on going at SM Arena, the current venue of the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) games.  And of course, the very popular MIBF.  So that Saturday = all roads lead to MOA!

Since we are on a book fair, you might expect that everything that we will do there is about books right?  Naah! We actually did a lot of crazy things there aside from reading and book hunting.  Here’s sharing to you some of them.  Now it’s up to you if you will believe everything that I am going to say from here…

To start with, our faces became the official models of the book fair.  As you can see in the first photo is the book mark with our faces on it.  This was used as a giveaway for the fair. 

Then a magician asked if I wanted to try that my head be chopped off and served in a platter.  And I said yes why not?

There goes my smiling head!

My kids noticed that it was so much fun so they tried it also.

They are obviously having fun while their heads are being served in a platter!

When they are able to sew our heads back, they let us try how it feels like to be electrocuted!  My boy tried it but there was no effect (see he’s still smiling while holding the electrocution ball). My little girl’s does not like the idea of  electrocution so I tried it and here’s what happened!

Hair raiser! LOL

Don’t worry, we survived all the ordeals and we’re able to finish eating half of our finds from the book fair.

Oishi = our all time favorite at MIBF. We have already eaten half of these junks before this photo was taken.
Seriously, the second photo contains some of our great finds for this year.

If you want to see some serious and believable photos from our 33rd MIBF adventure, you may find them here. Till next MIBF folks!

Manila International Book Fair (MIBF): Our Annual Book Bonding

Time for our annual “book bonding”!

The Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) is here once again, now on its 33rd year and it's happening on:

September 12 – 16, 2012 / 10AM – 8:00PM
Halls 1 – 4, SMX Convention Center
Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City, Philippines

Through the years, MIBF has been a great bonding time for my whole family and my BFF.  We usually spent a whole day book hunting, watching shows, joining activities, eating, picture taking and a whole lot more.  It is a well-marked event in our home calendar.  My kids really look forward to this event so I make sure that they have an ample time to spend during the fair.  Sometimes, a day is not enough for us and we come back on another day especially if there are events that we want to see.

For me, the annual MIBF is the start of my Christmas shopping.  I love giving away books to kids as Christmas gifts and the annual MIBF is one great shopping place for books.  You can find all the nicest finds in marked down prices, a lot of giveaways are in store for guests.  Here’s sharing you some of our great times with MIBF for the last six years:

2011 (32nd) MIBF at SMX Convention Center.
The photo at the right side are some of our great finds.

2010 (31st) MIBF at SMX
This year has lots of interactive activities and there was a great turn of guests.   E-books has become popular and some exhibitors are selling them.

2009 (30th) MIBF at SMX Convention Center
The school bus here is actually the stall design of Rex Bookstore.  Rex Bookstore is our annual favorite because it has always been one of the best and well-designed stall.

2008 (29th) MIBF with my BFF Mac and a colleague/friend
(still with my kids but not in this photos)

2007 (28th) MIBF
Photo taken at exhibit lounge. I was so tired from book hunting and my BFF took my photo from her cell phone’s camera.  I can’t find the CD of our complete photos with the family.  If I remember right, this is the first time that the fair is held at SMX Convention Center.

2006 (27th) MIBF
Our very first time to attend the MIBF and it was still being held at the World Trade Center.  ‘Noticed how young my two kids were?

I’m so excited to share with you guys another great year of book hunting, educational events and a lot more!  Anybody who has experienced MIBF?  Come share your experience here!

For more details, you may check the 33rd MIBF Website or their Facebook Page.  See you all at the fair!

Info and MIBF poster source: 33rd MIBF Website and Facebook Page