Lang Leav in Manila: Artist's Talk and Book Signing at the Ateneo

Lang Leav in Manila: 
Artist's Talk and Book Signing at the Ateneo

It was by accident that I attended Lang Leav's book signing. The real fan of Love and Misadventure and Lang Leav is my daughter, Marge. She was so excited to get a slot at the online pre-registration for the artist's talk at Ateneo. Then, her school scheduled a retreat so dismissal time went beyond the usual time. 

Hoping she will able to catch up after the retreat, I volunteered to hold her slot at the talk and book signing. But the retreat went overtime. So she missed it.

For the multitudes of fans who wanted to attend this talk and book signing but couldn't for some reason or another, I'm making this post to share with you the wonderful experience I had during this event.

At the entrance of the venue
At the 5th floor of the Rizal Library of the Ateneo de Manila University, Q,C.

Registration for the talk and the book signing
Fully booked personnel checks if your book has a Fully Booked sticker or receipt.
Then you are given a numbered stub for the book signing.

In case you don't have a Fully Booked sticker or receipt, 
or if you bought Love and Misadventures at a different bookstore, 
you can buy books at the venue.

HIGHLIGHT OF EVENTS DURING THE ARTIST'S TALK

FIRST PART: Lang Leav talks about her life and how she stumbled upon her talent writing poetry. Below is a partial video of her talking about her life.

SECOND PART: Question and Answer portion. The audience were allowed to request Lang Leav to read their favorite poems from Love and Misadventures. 

Below are videos of some of the poems she read:

Listen to Lang Leav read "The Wanderer", "Souls" and "All or Nothing"

Listen to Lang Leav read "Angels"

Listen to Lang Leav read her favorite poem "Sea of Strangers"

THIRD PART: Book Signing and Photo Opportunity

People are requested to line up  for the book signing based on their numbered stubs.

After book signing, you can have your photo taken with Lang Leav.
Fully Booked assigned someone to stand at the front of the line to take your photo using your camera or smartphone.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FULLY BOOKED STAFF FOR ALL THE CONSIDERATION THEY EXTENDED TO ME. THEY TRIED TO WAIT FOR MY DAUGHTER TO CATCH UP FROM THE RETREAT SO SHE CAN MEET HER FAVORITE AUTHOR, WHICH CAN BE A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EVENT. THEY WERE SO CONSIDERATE AS TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS TO BE A FAN OF AN AUTHOR WHOSE BOOK YOU LOVE SO MUCH.

I NOW UNDERSTAND WHY FULLY BOOKED IS NOT JUST YOUR ORDINARY BOOKSTORE. IT IS MANAGED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE BOOK LOVERS THEMSELVES AND COULD UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION THEIR CLIENTS CAN HAVE WITH THE AUTHORS OF THE BOOKS THEY READ.

Lang Leav gave this special message to my daughter, Marge, who would've been truly disappointed at not meeting her. 

This video definitely compensated for it.

Thank you, Ms. Lang Leav, for being so generous with your time!

Then she signed Marge's copy of the book "Love and Misadventure"

Lang Leav and I

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE FULL COVERAGE OF THE ARTIST'S TALK,

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO BELOW COURTESY OF FULLYBOOKEDVIDEO:

HONG KONG: ONE DIM SUM Restaurant: A Budget-friendly Michelin-Starred Dim sum Restaurant

HONG KONG: ONE DIM SUM Restaurant: 
A Budget-friendly Michelin-Starred Dim sum Restaurant

When visiting Hong Kong, it's a must to eat dim sum. Our favorite dim sum place is Maxim's Restaurant at Hong Kong City Hall. But if you're in a big group, it will turn out to be a bit expensive to dine at this restaurant, especially since food is chosen from carts that go around the tables and allow guests to pick from them. Seeing the food from these carts can tempt anyone to try them and lead to overestimating the amount of food they can actually consume. 

In my last visit to Hong Kong in October 2013, I wanted to eat dim sum again. But I wanted something as delicious as the dim sum at Maxim's restaurant but not as expensive. I found several blogs recommending One Dim Sum Restaurant so I visited this restaurant just to see for myself what the fuss is all about. 

WHY I LOVE ONE DIM SUM Restaurant:

1. The food is really good.

Here is the menu: 

Here are photos of the dishes we ate:

No. 028: Glutinous Rice Dumpling (HK$24)

No. 37: Steamed Rice Noodle in Barbecued Pork (HK$17)

No.11 (left): Steam Shrimp Dumplings (HK$ 22)

No. 9 (right): Steam Dumpling in Chiu Chow Style (HK$ 15)

No. 45: Steam Shrimp Dumpling with Vegetable Seedling (HK$ 18)

No 23: Steam Chicken Paws with Chili (HK$ 15)

No. 4: Barbecued Pork Bun (HK$ 13)

No. 17: Fried Egg Stick with Honey (HK$ 14)

2. The food is not expensive.

We spent a total of HK$138 for a meal good for 2-3 persons.

3. The restaurant is easy to find.

HOW TO FIND ONE DIM SUM RESTAURANT

1. It's located near Prince Edward Station.

View Hong Kong in a larger map

2. When you get out of Prince Edward Station. Below is what you will see. The restaurant is at the corner of Playing Field Road and Tung Choi Street. The red canopy is One Dim Sum Restaurant.

3. One Dim Sum Restaurant is located at Kenwood Mansion.

HOW TO ORDER AT ONE DIM SUM RESTAURANT:

Approach this lady receptionist at the entrance of the restaurant.
Get a stub to determine your order in line to enter the restaurant.

This is the stub I got.
The restaurant opened 11:00 AM. I was there 11:15 AM.
Yet I'm No. 85 in line.
The girl said it will be 30 minutes before I can be seated.

This is how you order from their menu.

MY TIPS: 

FIRST TIP: Arrive off-hours, to avoid the lunchtime and dinnertime crowd, so you don't have to wait in line. For tourists who only wish to taste the food in this restaurant, the other blogs recommend arriving at 3:00 PM. 

The line in front of the restaurant at 11:00 AM.

The place is small that's why there's a line outside the restaurant for people wanting to dine at this place. I am estimating this place can accommodate only 25 people.

SECOND TIP: If you arrive during lunchtime the way I did, it will take 30 minutes to be seated and 15 minutes to cook what you order, for a total of 45 minutes wait before eating. I suggest you order the food for take-out because wait time for take-out is only 15 minutes. 

MORE PHOTOS OF ONE DIMSUM PLACE

Manila International Airport Lounge: The MIASCOR Lounge (NAIA Terminal 1)

Manila International Airport Lounge: 

The MIASCOR Lounge (NAIA Terminal 1)

In October 2013, when I took an international flight from NAIA Terminal 1, I was able to use the MIASCOR Lounge courtesy of my American Express Platinum card. The American Express Platinum card allows the cardholder (whether main or supplementary) plus 1 companion FREE entry to the MIASCOR lounge. For more details on this American Express card benefit, check it out here. It doesn't matter what airlines you use or what passenger class you're in, you can use this lounge as long as you're an American Express platinum cardholder, or a companion of a cardholder.

Select Citibank credit cards and accounts also offer this benefit for a limited time. For more details, check it out here.

Where it is located 

NAIA Terminal 1, beside the entrance of Gate 9

The arrow shows the entrance of MIASCOR lounge

Hours of Operation:

24 hours, 7 days a week

The counter where you present your credit card.

There are two lines in the counter: 

1. for credit card holders

2. for business class passengers

Procedure for Entry:

1. Present your American Express platinum card and your boarding pass to the counter in front.

2. Sign the logbook.

3. You are given the Wifi password.

4. Then you are allowed to enter the lounge.

Layout of the MIASCOR Lounge

AMENITIES at the MIASCOR Lounge

FREE FOOD AND DRINKS

Soft bread, pan de sal, chicken and rice, pad thai

Pastries, chicken congee and drinks section

Sandwiches, pastries, cereal, butter and jam

Drinks: juice, softdrinks, beer.
At the left (not shown) brewed and instant coffee and water

Wine and liquor
Chicken congee with assorted condiments

SPACIOUS LOUNGE

FREE WIFI 

FREE NEWSPAPERS

CABLE TV

MALE AND FEMALE RESTROOMS WITH SHOWER

FLIGHT INFORMATION AND PAGING SYSTEM

The receptionists at the counter inform you when it's time to board the aircraft. 

BUSINESS CENTER

There are computers with internet available for use.

MY TIP:
Make sure to arrive at the airport AT LEAST THREE (3) hours before your flight to be able to use this lounge. One (1) hour is spent checking-in and going through immigration, an hour and a half (1 1/2) to eat at the lounge and the remaining 30 minutes is for boarding.

If your airline departs from NAIA Terminal 1, you can use this lounge even if you're an economy class passenger if you are a cardholder of the American Express Platinum credit card.

Related news:

MIASCOR LOUNGE opens a pay VIP lounge at Davao airport: Read more here