Bookworm of Gensan goes sleuthing: Is Trese 4: Last Seen at Midnight featuring a chapter on a Pacquiao look-a-like boxer set in Gensan?!?

Yesterday (October 5) while browsing at National Book Store, Robinsons Place Gensan branch, I was alerted by a saleslady that copies of  Trese 4: Last Seen at Midnight (written by Budjette Tan and art by Kajo Baldisimo) have arrived. She showed me a copy of it fresh from the unpacked carton. However she told me that it will be sold nationwide simultaneously starting October 8 yet. So I asked to have a snapshot of it after reserving a copy. (Trese is a graphic novel - on its fourth volume - about the exploits of Alexandra Trese who takes on cases that take a turn for the weird and supernatural).

Upon coming home, I immediately uploaded the photo on Facebook and posted a message in Budjette Tan's wall:

Budjette reposted my message on his FB wall:

His message "TRESE 4 is now in GenSan! (How... appropriate :-)" was intriguing and tickled my Sherlockian instinct. I sensed a mystery afoot.


And today I saw this video "Trese4 Trailer" on Youtube: 

If you watch the above video, at 0:58-0:58, you will see a chapter page "The Fight of the Year" with Kajo's drawing of a boxer who looks like Manny Pacquiao with black eyes.


Then in the description below the video is a synopsis of the said chapter:

As I read the description, a litany of OMG's spewed from my mouth to join the cascading drool! Gensan and Pacman in Trese 4! How cool is that!

Locator map for Case 17: The Fight of the Year (photo courtesy of Budjette Tan)

But wait! Is Budjette pulling my leg? Or is a tiyanak doing that? 

I took out my copies of the first three volumes of Trese and examined the settings of each case/chapter:


Volume 1: 
Case 1 - At the intersection of Balete and 13th street (Balete Drive)
Case 2 - Rules of the Race (Carlos Garcia Avenue - C5)
Case 3 - The Tragic Case of Dr. Burgos (Paco)
Case 4 - Our Secret Constellation (Malate)


Volume 2:
Case 5 - A Little Known Murder in Studio 4 (Mother Ignacia Avenue)
Case 6 - The Outpost on Kalayaan Street (Kalayaan Avenue)
Case 7 - Embrace of the Unwanted (Ortigas Avenue)
Case 8 - The Association Dues of Livewell Village (J. P. Rizal, Makati)


Volume 3:
Case 9 - A Private Retaliation (Cubao)
Case 10 - Patient 414 in Mandaluyong (Mandaluyong)
Case 11 - The Fort Bonifacio Massacre (Fort Bonifacio)
Case 12 - The Baptism of Alexandra Trese (Malate)
Case 13 - An Act of War (New Bilibid Prison)


Volume 4: (info taken from the Youtube video description for Trese4 trailer)
Case 14 - Cadena de Amor (Luneta Park)
Case 15 - A Private Collection (Manila)
Case 16 - Wanted: Bedspacer (Katipunan Avenue)
Case 17 - The Fight of the Year (General Santos City)

Cases 1-16 are all set in Metro Manila while the last case is set in Gensan! Is this an indication that Budjette and Kajo are finally going against the "restrictions" of Metro Manila and will feature more locales in Visayas and Mindanao (or even abroad where OFWs abound) in Trese's further adventures?

At any rate, this is a welcome deviation and with a nationwide simultaneous release of Trese 4 in National Book Store branches on October 8, Alexandra Trese will finally have a national following of graphic novel readers from Aparri to Jolo!

As I said in Facebook, I'll be first in line to buy a copy of Trese 4 on October 8. Congratulations to Budjette and Kajo for keeping Pinoy graphic novels in our collective consciousness!

Bookworm of Gensan bargain finds

I always make it a point to save up for the annual National Book Store's price-cut sale on books in August.

All books on the shelves are practically on sale at 5-10% off. But I go straight to the bargain book bins for books discounted up to 75%. For less than ₱100, one can buy children's books, cookbooks, fashion and craft books, and hardbound books. In the ₱200 range, one can have graphic novels, photography books, business books. As early as August, I have already bought several gift-books for friends and family to be given on their birthdays and for Christmas. It is also the chance to add to my collection of books by authors I love reading.

The best bargain finds for me this year are three coffee table books  published by National Book Store previously sold at ₱1000++ and sold at ₱150 each:

Bookworm of Gensan reads The Anvil Jose Rizal Reader

The Anvil Jose Rizal Reader

Ani Habulan - General Editor

Anvil Publishing Inc. 

2011

Newsprint, 158 pages

₱250, available at National Book Store and Powerbooks

Quick browse: An interesting anthology about Rizal. Contains plays,  short stories, essays, photos and drawings about our national hero.

Bookworm of Gensan DIY: How to remove those pesky sticky price tags

Those pesky sticky price tags only bother me when a) they're placed on the book front covers b) they're placed on the book back covers AND cover the back cover blurbs.


Early on, I tried removing these stickers with my fingernails, but after a few removals, they started to hurt! So I turned to Google for some tips.

The Expensive Method:

One tip suggested that I use WD-40 aka No-Mess Pen. I found one in Handyman, but it's so pricey. Nevertheless, I bought one and gave it a try.

Here's how the peel-off test went:

Take off the cap and press the felt tip firmly over the price tag until the WD-40 liquid seeps on it.

 WARNING: WD-40 may be harmful when swallowed, inhaled or when it comes in contact with eyes.

Make sure the liquid is evenly distributed over the price tag.

After 2-3 hours: Using your fingernail, peel off the price tag.

Voila! No more price tag!

The Cheapest Method:

Instead of using WD-40, use tap water instead. It's the cheapest way and what's more is that there's no waiting time. Here's how:

1. Use drops of tap water to wet the price tag.
2. Using your thumb or index finger, rub on the price tag until the paper material peels off.
3. After the paper material is peeled off, what remains is the glue material.
4. Use your fingernails to scrape the glue material off the cover.
Warning: This method may cause patches of the bookcover to be peeled off together with the glue material being scraped off.

The Cheaper Method:

1. Buy the cheapest mineral oil in the supermarket/pharmacy.

2. Use a drop or two of mineral oil and spread it evenly over the price tag until it becomes translucent. Then let it stand for 3-6 hours for maximum effect. Warning: The mineral oil may cause stains on thinner book covers, especially the non-glossy ones.

 3. After 3-6 hours, the price tag can be easily peeled off.

 4. Use cloth to wipe off remaining oil and glue residue on the cover.

 There you go!

 In case of multiple price tags (one tag placed over the other), make sure the top one is translucent after applying the mineral oil.

 After 3-6 hours, peel off the top price tag.

 Apply more mineral oil on the second price tag. Wait for 30 minutes to 1 hour before peeling it off.

 Use cloth to wipe off remaining oil and glue residue.