PRECIOUS PAGES CORPORATION’S GRAND FANS’ DAY: A LOOK INSIDE THE HEART OF A COMPANY AND ITS ROMANTIC-TO-THE-MAX FANBASE

 

VIEW FROM THE ENTRANCE

I went to SM North Edsa last May 17 to do some window-shopping.  I parked my car on the fifth floor of the Main building and was on my way to Book Sale when I heard all this loud, wild screaming .  When I say loud, I mean LOUD!  Loud enough for the screams to be heard from the fourth floor.  I was curious as to what was going on, so I went to the source of all the screaming.  It turns out the screaming was coming from the third floor.  Hundreds of fans --- most of them female --- had come to celebrate this event called the Grand Fans’ Day, which was organized in their honor by the local publishing house, Precious Pages Corporation.

A number of SM’s security guards milled around to make the area was a safe place for the fans to enjoy their special day.  When I arrived, the fans were cheering for some of their peers, who were trying to out-act and out-emote each other, quoting lines from books made by their favorite romance authors.  I couldn’t help but laugh, yell and clap along with the fans, who really seemed to be having so much fun.  Their enthusiasm and enjoyment were really infectious, and I observed that even the people who were just passing by couldn’t help but also smile at what was going on.

I think the winner(s) of that game were given Precious Pages gift certificates.  I also saw raffle prizes being given out, while the fans enjoyed the snacks Precious Pages handed out. 

There were a number of audio-visual presentations during the program, which included a presentation/contest called “Who’s the Biggest PHR Fan?”  Wow.  I’ve always known that Pinoys were romantics at heart, but I didn’t know just how romantic they  were.  Turns out there are actually Pinoys out there who collect Precious Pages' romance books.  And when I say collect, I mean, COLLECT by the hundreds and thousands!  

FANS IN "BEST ACTRESS" MODE AS THEY "ACT OUT" QUOTABLE QUOTES FROM POPULAR PRECIOUS HEARTS ROMANCES

If I’m not mistaken, this lady who won the “Biggest PHR Fan” contest was this lady who had more than a thousand Precious Hearts romances in her collection.  Wow.  That’s a lot of money to be spent on romance!  I think she was gifted by an I-Pad2 by the company president, Segundo Matias, Jr. 

There were people who volunteered to display their musical talent during the event, such as the Eugenio Lopez, Sr. Foundation Rondalla (I hope I got the group’s name right), and two ladies/fans (one sang while one played the guitar).  These numbers were given a polite, grateful reception by the fans … but if you want to know what the word “WILD” means, you should have seen the fans’ reaction when this video flashed on screen.  It was a teaser of sorts to announce this line of fragrances (called Stallion), which I understand is based on the names of popular Precious Pages characters/heroines.  The screams were definitely louder this time, and you should have seen how these fans scrambled for a vial sample of these fragrances.  You’d think they were scrambling for gold!  I was almost afraid a stampede would occur, the fans were that enthusiastic.  

THE EUGENIO LOPEZ, SR. FOUNDATION RONDALLA

YES, PRECIOUS HEARTS FANS CAN SING, TOO!

But if you really want to know what “WILD!” sounds and looks like, then you should have seen what happened when a number of the Precious Hearts romance writers came onstage.  The fans were screaming so loudly for their favorite authors, you’d think they were screaming for artistas!  I didn’t know these writers were so popular.

The Precious Hearts romance writers that I saw was a bunch of very young women (probably in their twenties to thirties), who all looked very average, except that the people screamed upon seeing them.  If the fans took the time to see them, it was obvious these writers took their time to look their best for their fans.  They were well-dressed, well-mannered, somewhat overwhelmed but very, very delighted at the show of support for their work.

When it was time for the “Meet and Greet,” you’d swear it was Election Day all over again, given the number of people that scrambled in line so they could meet their favorite authors and have their books autographed by them (come to think of it, there was no line, just a sea of people!).  Meanwhile, the other younger/less senior writers milled around and chatted with the other fans, signed the books the fans had brought and had their pictures taken with them.  

ONE OF PRECIOUS PAGES CORPORATION'S NEWEST ROMANCE AUTHORS

 

THE LAST DAY OF FILING INCOME TAX RETURNS?  NO.  ELECTION DAY?  NO.  FANS LINING UP TO MEET THEIR FAVORITE PRECIOUS HEARTS ROMANCES AUTHORS?  YES!

I also noticed that their host, a young, attractive, charming guy was also receiving his fair share of attention.  He apparently had a fan base of his own, given the way the people reacted to him --- asking for his Facebook account details so they could connect to his network, asking for his autograph, having their pictures taken with him, kissing him … well, if he’s not an artista, I won’t be surprised if he becomes one pretty soon, given the way the people responded to him!  

 

THE HOST, WHO CAPTURED THE FANS' HEARTS THAT DAY --- WHAT A NICE GUY!

It was at this point that I went on my way to do what I had planned on doing.  Well, guess what?  I made my way to the parking lot and passed the same area an hour or two later and the lines had actually grown LONGER!  (I wonder what time they finished).

I was really impressed by Precious Pages’ grand gesture of love to its fans.  You don’t see many companies doing that, thanking their readers for their support.  I also noticed the show of unity among its employees.  Each one of them wore a black Precious Pages Corporation shirt;  even its president, who was so low-key and unassuming, you wouldn’t think he was the president until he was called to the stage.  You don’t get to see many presidents like that!  And he and the employees all looked like they thoroughly enjoyed seeing the happiness on their readers’ faces. How cool is that?

Perhaps, the company could consider having more than one designated area for the Meet and Greet the next time it holds such an event, so the fans won’t be converging in one tiny area (and looking like a bunch of voters in a tiny precinct at the peak hour of elections).  I think it was great that the other writers milled around and chatted with their fans.  Maybe the senior writers could also do that for their fans.  And if the company wants to give out samples of their products, maybe they can do that as the fans enter the venue, right before the program starts.  That way, there wouldn’t be a near-stampede, and everyone would focus more on the program. 

While I’ll never totally understand why people would go gaga at the sight of fragrance samples, or scream at writers as if they were celebrities, I know passion and enthusiasm when I see it.  And passion and enthusiasm were in abundance that day, in each of those fans, in those writers, and the people of Precious Pages Corporation. 

Just like love and romance, the books Precious Pages Corporation is known for, that event brought a smile to my face and made me laugh, and I know many passersby had the same experience.  All in all, the Precious Pages’ Grand Fans’ Day was an afternoon of fun, of romance, and gratitude.  Now if only every day were just like that …

MARICAR DIZON’S “THE INFAMOUS BIKER’S CLUB” SERIES: PROOF THAT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT (WELL, ALMOST) …

RATING GUIDE:

 

5 – A keeper!   

4 – Very good

3 –  Passable

2 –  I’d rather read a telephone book

1 – An absolute bomb.  Read at your own risk!

“The Infamous Biker’s Club” series consists of five books, whose stories range from your everyday, garden variety romance, to that which deal with slightly more serious matter, such as death and moving on.  

The book “Love Coach” is the story of Angelique, a sheltered, manang-ish girl who meets bad boy kuno Aio after she is dumped by James, the user-friendly object of her affection.  Aio who can handle makeup brushes as well as a bike (no, he’s not a parlorista, and yes, he’s straight!) not only gives Angelique a makeover that turns her into a drool-worthy babe, but also volunteers to be her pretend boyfriend so she can exact her revenge upon James.  Angelique eventually falls in love with Aio, but can Aio truly fall in love with someone like her?

 

The second book, “The Rugged Knight,” is the story of Ria, a sheltered, lonely girl, who begins to stand up for herself after she meets Greg, another biker boy.  But Greg is nothing at all like what her upper crust family wants for her.  Worse, they want to marry her off to someone else!

 “The Troublemaker” is the story of Sissy, a working student, whose thoughts of love (and lust) are awakened for the first time when she meets Jet, a rich kid and rebellious biker boy.  Jet has a huge chip in his shoulder in the form of his brother, Jordan.  Jet can’t stand being compared to Jordan and so rebels at every opportunity.  He continues evading his responsibilities as a grown-up and as a member of his family until … surprise, surprise!  He learns that Jordan is actually engaged to be married to Sissy!

“The Lone Wolf” is the story of Carrie, a beautiful lady who can actually get any boy she wants.  But then, Carrie only has eyes for Martin, who has shut himself off from love after the death of his first girlfriend and only love, Camille.  Can Carrie make Martin fall in love again?

 

The last book, “The Untamed Cupid,” is the story of Janis, a rich, beautiful bitch of a travel blogger who also happens to be the black sheep in her family.  But there’s a hidden, more real side to Janis, and it’s a side that she displays to no one, until she meets Yuuji, the kind, gentle and sensitive biker boy (who’s as good with a pastry brush as well as his bike).  Janis wants him, but how can she win him over?  Yuuji refuses to have anything to do with her, not after the way she broke his heart years ago.

In “The Untamed Cupid,” Maricar writes, “As a writer, I know na baguhan pa lang talaga ako. As in, there are times when I don’t feel confident about my work. I know it’s so newbie. Pero ang pakonsuwelo ko sa sarili ko at ipapalusot ko na rin sa mga nakabasa na ng gawa ko: I believe I can do so much better next time. Kailangan lang ng practice at lakas ng loob na sumubok ng bago. Tunog palusot talaga, `no? Pero seryoso, susubukan ko talaga. ^^ “

This book series does reflect Maricar Dizon’s “newbie-ness”.  The first three books in the series are pretty ordinary and not really that well-written.  If these books were cake, they’d what I would call a little “hilaw,” for other than the “kilig” factor, there’s nothing much in the areas of story and character development. 

I am also slightly disturbed by a couple of the heroines’ willingness to sleep with their hunky heroes that quickly, despite the fact that they really don’t know much about them.  Call me conservative (which I am, in a way), but I just think authors need to be more conscious of their power to influence their readers.  While I do understand that the times are different now, and that pre-marital sex seems to be more of the norm rather than the exception, I still believe that pre-marital sex needs to be discussed in a more mature and responsible way.  Sure, the “first time” can be a romantic experience, but there are consequences to unprotected sex and having sex with someone you barely know and just idealize in your head.  Just look at the ballooning figure of teenage pregnancies out there, or the spread of HIV-AIDS.  Even though romances are escapist fare, I just think authors can be a little more aware of their power to influence their readers.  If they’re going to have their characters engage in pre-marital sex, then maybe, they could at least make it safe sex?  And show the consequences.  Because there ARE consequences to unprotected sex and sex with someone you barely know. 

But Maricar’s effort at improving her craft does show in the last two books, “The Lone Wolf” and especially “The Untamed Cupid”.  In these books, Maricar is at last able to create characters with some form of depth to them. 

“The Untamed Cupid” is actually quite an entertaining read.  The heroine, Janis, is actually quite complex, and it’s only due to Maricar’s efforts that she succeeds in becoming a sympathetic character, even though she’s a bitch in heels.  There’s also lots of “kilig” in this book, and the hero, Yuuji, is someone any girl can fall in love with.  Kudos to Maricar Dizon for not giving up on her craft!  I’d be interested in seeing how her writing improves in the future.

Overall, the series’ quality is pretty uneven (like I said, only the last two books are good), but it’s a good showcase of what happens if an author keeps on writing.  As they say, practice makes perfect.  Maybe Maricar is on her way to “perfect,” if she just continues to be humble, writes books the best way she can, and tries new things.  As I said about Luna King’s books in a separate blog entry, “safe” and “generic” are not the ways to go if you want to be remembered as an author.  I think that Maricar knows that, and it shows in her work.

RATING:  3 (series) / 5 (“The Untamed Cupid”)