myluckyheartstories

Date posted: May 21, 2020

JSL MANILA CHAPTER MEET-UP

(FEBRUARY 22, 2015)

          I discovered Jonaxx when I checked the top 10 list of wattpad stories under the romance category (around 2014 I think). Nangunguna at that time ‘yung End This War so I thought why not try it? Hindi ‘yon magiging number one kung hindi maganda. Nasanay ako noon sa pagbabasa ng ebook (jeje days, lol). Mga nabasa before ako napadpad sa wattpad ay stories nila Ate Denny (Diary ng Panget), Ate Jess (A Place in Time), Ate Aly (BTCHO, My Prince, etc) just to name a few. Nasanay ako sa medyo informal way of writing nila, jeje days ng mga authors kumbaga. Kaya noong sinimulan ko ‘yung End This War, medyo nanibago ako. Aside sa may pagka formal ang way of writing, mas seryoso ‘yung theme and mas mature ang content. Not that I had complaints but it was just that I knew since I started reading a few chapters of ETW that Jonaxx would be different and that her stories would somehow leave a different kind of impact in my reading life.

          Hindi nga ako nagkamali. On going pa noon ang ETW so kinailangan kong maghintay talaga para sa susunod na mga kabanata. Natutuwa ako noon kay Koby at doon sa “see yah later alligater” niya, haha. Inis ako ng sobra kay Janine at nagcheer ako nang bongga nung sinugod siya ni Chesca sabay sabi sa iconic line niya na “Suluterang may determinasyon!” (myghad I love Chesca’s fighting spirit! Haha). Since then, na-hook na ako ng sobra sa ETW. First time akong kinabahan ng sobra para sa isang character. First time akong kinabahan kung ano ba magiging ending ng story. Aside from that, intense talaga ‘yung mga emosyon na mararamdaman habang nagbabasa. Nung issurprise niya si Clark no’n dahil hindi sinabi ni Chesca ‘yung pag uwi niya galing Alegria, naramdaman ko na talaga na may hindi magandang mangyayari and alas, I was right!

          After reading ETW, nagcheck na ako ng mga works ni Queen. Although I can’t remember exactly what book I’ve read next pero binasa ko na rin ‘yung Baka Sakali (which I realized the plot was somewhat similar to ETW but not as intense, for me), Mapapansin Kaya, Training to Love, and Chase and Hearts. Medyo light para sa akin ang mga stories na ito (but still great ones) compared to ETW but when I started reading Every Beast Needs a Beauty, ‘yung intensity for me ng ETW ay same sa story na ito. Then the rest was history.

          I love books and reading stories and knew this since I was a little kid so hindi na ako nagulat sa sarili ko nung bumili ako ng first 3 published book niya: MK & Heartless part 1 & 2. I considered myself then a fangirl of Queen J. Later ko lang yata nadiscover na may JSL FB group pala and late ko na nalaman na may mga meet-up pala na naganap bago ko siya nakilala (still sad over this, haha).

          Then I learned about this JSL meet-up within Metro Manila. Mas natuwa ako nang nalaman na sa Luneta Park lang gaganapin ‘yon dahil malapit lang ako doon and I know the place. I considered trying to attend. I was skeptical at first because at the time I wasn’t really a social person. I imagined I would be like a super loner once I got there so medyo kinabahan ako sa prospect ng pag attend. But then I realized I wanted to have the experience. I wanted to meet these people who (like me) loved Jonaxx as a writer. I wanted to have memories with these people.

          I searched for people sa fb group and checked if may kakilala ako (kinakabahan pa rin ako so naghanap ako ng paraan para naman may makausap ako agad sa event, haha) then may isa akong nakitang JSL and that she was a classmate and a friend of one of my bestfriend/churchmate. I confirmed this with the latter and then I had a chat with this JSL. Ayun, nag feeling close na ako sa kanya and I was actually surprised how easy it was to befriend a total stranger. Kumbaga wala akong reservations sa pagdaldal ko sa kanya and gano’n din siya sa akin (medyo naisip ko rin na di kaya siya nakukulitan sa akin? Haha)

          In the end, hindi nga ako nagsisi. I was happy I decided to attend this meet-up. It was my first time and I considered this a precious memory. Hindi ako magaling sa pagkabisa ng mga details sa story kaya hindi ako nanalo sa mga pa-games nila Ate Cha at Ate Jobel, haha. Hindi pa ako gano’n kaswerte kaya di ako nanalo sa mga pa-raffle. Although I was super happy for the giveaways of the admins (simpleng stickers, pictures, and the likes sobra na akong natuwa). I met these wonderful people whom I consider as friends until now and actually sila ang madalas kong tanungin kung pupunta ba sila sa ganitong event ni Queen or hindi.

          Dito sa event din in-announce ang details tungkol sa first self-pub book ni Queen: 24 Signs of Summer & Remembering Summer. So syempre ako na walang palalampasin na ganito ay nagpalista na para sa mga oorder. Dahil dito marami rin akong nakilala online since doon kami nag uusap usap tungkol sa book, saan magbabayad, at saan magkikita kita para sa pagkuha ng book.

          This meet-up was only the start of my memories with my co-JSL that I will always, always treasure.