#FilipinoFriday [9]
Promdi Heart
- #romanceclass authors
- #romanceclass authors
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Back at it again with the anthologies! When I first heard about Promdi Heart and the fact that a tour is opening up, I excitedly registered. That witty title hooked me (Promdi Heart = From the heart? Gettit? LOL!) and that pretty cover reeled me in more - because, why not? Just look at all those cutesy postcards and typography and that pastel-y color palette! *hearts*
But what really made me stick is the line up of authors contributing! So excited to read new content from my favorite authors and to meet new ones too! I was pretty sure I'd love them - and I did!
So excited to share my reading experience AND to encourage you to get your own copy! Details below :)
Take a quick tour of the Philippines with six hometown love stories.
Visit Jimenez, Misamis Occidental where a priest might just set you up with a man whose dimples are to die for.
Visit Silay, Negros Occidental and get on a horse alongside hunky, hazel-eyed Negrense royalty.
Visit Kalibo, Aklan and find yourself in the arms of a cute drummer boy who just happens to be your kuya’s BFF.
Visit Hagonoy, Bulacan and spend All Saint’s Day next to a distracting boy who promises to write you a song.
Visit Vigan, Ilocos Sur and meet the hot man you used to bully when he was a shy, scrawny boy.
Visit Pundaquit, Zambales and find love in a bronzed fisherman whose eyes hold depths you’ll want to explore.
Below are my bullet-points of feels. Enjoy!
"Only the Beginning" x C.P. Santi [4.5 hearts]
*So far, so good! Great way to start this anthology hihi
*Andi (AKA Hugot girl) IS ME LOL! Sorry but I think her lines will take over the quotes section haha so much relate (???)
*Cuuuuute Martin huhuhu
*Yas for projects like these!
*Can Andi and Martin's texting get more adorable??? Awwww :3
"Letters to a Boy" x Ines Bautista-Yao [4.5 hearts]
*Nicolas OMG about time! (Quick note: We first see this Negrense Royalty in When Sparks Fly and since then, I've been wanting his own story haha!)
*Always a fan of childhood, happy crushes. Cute!
*LOVE the format! Reminds me a bit of What's In Your Heart?
*I felt a bit of what Tin-Tin may have felt. How can he pursue her as soon as Regina was out of the picture???
*... but then THAT LAST LETTER. Okay, Nicolas, you already made yourself clear hahaha!
*Speaking of that letter, ugh. That's how you should do it, guys!
*Now I really want to go horseback riding lol + the story reminded me of haciendas haha
*As I always say, Miss Ines never really fails. Hearts!
"Drummer Boy" x Chris Mariano [4 hearts]
*I've always wanted to see Ati-atihan! Now, even more huhuhu
*I love the conflicts! I actually enjoy reading about little girls crushing on their older brother's best friends hahaha cutie!
*... probably because I like the idea of "Kuya"s in general. Especially those with younger sisters hihi
*I don't know why Make a Man Out of You played in my head during Reina's ~grand gesture~ hahaha GO GIRL!
"One Certain Day" x Jay E. Tria [4 hearts]
*First of all, HEAR MY HEART BREAKING. I did not see that one coming!
*This reminded me of a friend's story mmmmm
*Idk if it's just me but I kinda visualized them as high schoolers hahaha!
*It perfectly captured Filipino families especially with all the titas (aunts) and cousins! I can see my family here lol
*I love the fact that at first, <spoiler> Son wasn't the one singing but when the song was finished, it was already him huhuhu can I cry now? </spoiler>
*That liquid courage tho LOL! But yay for forward girls (respect!)
*But seriously, SON Y U NO TELL ALICE??? Paasa ka huhu
*That last line. Okay bye heart :(
"Once Upon A Bully" x Georgette Gonzalez [4 hearts]
*That introduction was surprising! And I definitely did not see the tide turning!
*From the title, I knew there's going to be a bully <spoiler> I just didn't expect it to be our female MC! Okay, my bad - but I thought it would actually be the male LI lol </spoiler> But it worked for me! Something refreshing :)
*This story made me really, really want to visit Vigan already :( Riding a calesa there is definitely on my busketlist huhu
*Would've appreciated a direct translation but it's nice how the author subtly explains what the native dialogue says.
*I think we could make do without the last chapter (though it's cute!)
"Back to the Stars" x Agay Llanera [5 hearts]
*My most favorite one here!
*I thought at first Ian and Leah would end up together lol Actually I thought the story would be Ian and Leah planning to get Corrine and Jed to like them but end up falling for each other
*Buuuuuuuut cue in Wency. I really enjoyed reading especially about his character. He’s unique..and hardworking and some kind of a Raket king. He felt like the anchor that Leah needed. I liked the fact that he calls his parents Inay and Itay. It got me kilig idk why lol
*Of course I also enjoyed reading about Botbot. She wasn’t perfect, but it made her realer.
*I LOVE the history between the two huhuhu and the inclusion of stars! I love stories with astronomy and the night sky!
*But I also liked the scene where he pointed out that she was changing. Plus points for people who aren't afraid to call out the mistakes of someone they love. Don't let your feelings blind your morals!
*The not-so-grand grand gesture also worked perfectly for me! Idk but the story seems to focus on the fact that the little things are what matters the most. There wasn’t any big I’ll-do-this-hard-thing-for-you acts or swoon worthy letters or sweet love songs. But Leah simply took the time to <spoiler> visit Wency’s humble home and gifted his mother something and that simple gesture made him so happy. </spoiler>
*Overall, I think it’s just really simply sweet in its own way. It didn’t show much grandness but you’ll swoon at the littlest of things. Everything's basic but it actually works so well! Why go with a guy who’d give you colorful and expensive pastries when you can go with a guy who’d show you millions of shining stars? *swoon*
"But happiness... happiness is a choice. Happiness is something that just doesn't happen. It's something that you grab on to with both hands." -Andi (Only the Beginning)
“I don't want to assume or be told I'm imagining things. If there's something you want to tell me, just say it." - Andi (Only the Beginning)
"... a whole lot of talking, but the questions that mattered were left unasked and unanswered (...) Because if there was one thing that irked me about this style of ligaw, it was that it often left one party hanging... wondering if there was something going on or if it was all in their head." - Andi (Only the Beginning)
“I don't want to assume or be told I'm imagining things. If there's something you want to tell me, just say it." - Andi (Only the Beginning)
"... a whole lot of talking, but the questions that mattered were left unasked and unanswered (...) Because if there was one thing that irked me about this style of ligaw, it was that it often left one party hanging... wondering if there was something going on or if it was all in their head." - Andi (Only the Beginning)
"I mean, if you like someone, the least you could do is be brave enough to say it out loud." -Andi (Only the Beginning)
"...But I remembered that I was the only one in love here." -Tin-Tin (Letters to a Boy)
"Sometimes you have to stop thinking and just take the leap." - Son (One Certain Day)
"But not all wishes came true, did they? I was already too old for fairy godmothers, and maybe a bit too young for happy ever-afters." -Alice (One Certain Day)
"Yes... wanting something so bad, it feels like dying to let it go." -Wency (Back to the Stars)
"Because it hurt to hold on to things. It hurt more to hold on to people." - Botbot (Back to the Stars)
"Some things are worth holding on to. Worth coming back to." -Wency (Back to the Stars)
If I don’t want to travel around the country before (which I already do) then I do now! These sweet six stories made me see that there are lots of beautiful places that can be found in the Philippines and that there are more treasures that can be discovered here than what meets the eye.
From childhood crushes to second chances, from going back home to heartbreaks, Promdi Heart gave my emotions a rollercoaster ride while touring me around the country! Now I have to add a few more places on the bucketlist. Plus a whole new load of food to try haha!
Promdi (bottom of my) heart, I really recommend reading this one! You won’t be disappointed :)
Four-point-five out of five rating for Promdi Heart!
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| 4.5/5 Rating! :) |
Thank you! <3
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!!! Thank you for ~bringing~ me to Vigan (hopefully, I can go there IRL next time!)
DeleteThanks for dropping by! :)