Author Martha
Cecilia gets her
ideas for her
novels from
reading other
books and novels
and from drawing
on other people's
experiences as
well as hers.
Cecilia gets her
ideas for her
novels from
reading other
books and novels
and from drawing
on other people's
experiences as
well as hers.
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CONTINUED ...
“Medyo napuno ang third floor. In-escort ako ng guard papunta sa basement
using the backdoor to greet the readers. Para di daw maabala ang flow ng
ibang business. Ang dami-dami talagang nagpuntang fans. Nagpapasalamat
ako. Madami akong naging kaibigan.”
Pocketbooks are among the favorite pastimes of the bored, homesick Filipina
domestic helpers in Hong Kong, the others being videoke, Pinoy telenovelas
on VCD and internet chatting.
“Medyo napuno ang third floor. In-escort ako ng guard papunta sa basement
using the backdoor to greet the readers. Para di daw maabala ang flow ng
ibang business. Ang dami-dami talagang nagpuntang fans. Nagpapasalamat
ako. Madami akong naging kaibigan.”
Pocketbooks are among the favorite pastimes of the bored, homesick Filipina
domestic helpers in Hong Kong, the others being videoke, Pinoy telenovelas
on VCD and internet chatting.
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I believe
personal
experiences
matter a lot [in
writing]. When
you have
suffered in life,
I believe it is
only then that
you can be
effective in
imparting your
message
personal
experiences
matter a lot [in
writing]. When
you have
suffered in life,
I believe it is
only then that
you can be
effective in
imparting your
message
But not everybody has the voice for singing.
Neither does everyone own a VCD player or
TV, or has access to a computer. And so alone
in their bedrooms at night, or sometimes
during short breaks at work, these OFWs pore
over pages of Tagalog romance pocketbooks
with the zeal of someone reviewing for the bar
exams.
Like their fans, with whom they have
developed a sisterhood that, Eve says,
“believes in the power of love”, Martha Cecilia
and Eve share a passion for reading, which
has helped prepare them for a career in
writing.
“I love to read, mula sa balutan ng tinapa
hanggang sa encyclopedia. I can’t remember
a time in my life when I wasn’t reading,” Martha
Cecilia says.
Neither does everyone own a VCD player or
TV, or has access to a computer. And so alone
in their bedrooms at night, or sometimes
during short breaks at work, these OFWs pore
over pages of Tagalog romance pocketbooks
with the zeal of someone reviewing for the bar
exams.
Like their fans, with whom they have
developed a sisterhood that, Eve says,
“believes in the power of love”, Martha Cecilia
and Eve share a passion for reading, which
has helped prepare them for a career in
writing.
“I love to read, mula sa balutan ng tinapa
hanggang sa encyclopedia. I can’t remember
a time in my life when I wasn’t reading,” Martha
Cecilia says.
Among writers of the romantic genre, Martha Cecilia admires Sandra Brown
and Judith McNaught, but is surprised to find that both are now turning out
romantic suspense thrillers. “OK din siguro mag-try ng ibang genre,” she
says.
Surprisingly for a weaver of romantic tales, Eve’s favorite book is the anti-war
novel “Johnny Got His Gun” by Dalton Trumbo.
“It’s a story about a World War 1 soldier who lost his limbs, his speech and
all his senses save for the sense of touch in war,” she explains. “The story
unfolds behind the soldier’s confused, drugged mind while he lay in a
hospital bed. It’s pretty intense, riveting and unforgettable. Makes my heart
bleed every time I read it. I am strongly against war. I have lived in Mindanao
for so long and I’ve been exposed to this kind of conflict for as long as I can
remember. It’s really sad.”
Eve, originally from Kabacan, North Cotabato, also has read “The Art of War”
by Sun Tzu and “The 48 Laws of Power” by Robert Greene, among others.
She is also an admirer of award-winning Filipino writer Edgar Reyes.
Happy endings are necessary in every Martha Cecilia novel and, like Eve, she
is not averse to mining personal experiences for story themes.
“Kung mayroon man akong hindi gustong isulat, heavy drama iyon,” Martha
Cecilia explains.
“I read and watch movies to be entertained, hindi para umiyak. Life is a drama
already. I need an escape and that is to read something that would make me
dream and laugh and cry a little ...
“I believe personal experiences matter a lot [in writing]. When you have
suffered in life, I believe it is only then that you can be effective in imparting
your message. Back in high school, I was only able to write poems and
articles for school mags when I was sad and in despair.”
In despair? Readers might think these goddesses of romance are immune
to this feeling. But heartbreaks are part of their lives, too.
Eve’s “Lothario” series, now with 10 installments, began when she reached
her late 20s and started having relationship problems.
“All of my novels are based on past experiences, mine or of people close to
me or some that I am not even close to,” she says. “I ask them if I can use
parts of their experiences in my novels and more often than not, they say yes.
"Maybe because they want to inspire other people also, to be strong, to be
survivors. But sometimes, I’m being bad also and use their woes without
permission. One time, a friend of mine called me up in the wee hours of the
morning. She was like: `Girl, is this my shit you wrote on your latest novel?’ I
said, `Yeah, now your shit is quite famous!’ We ended up laughing about it.”
But matters of the heart are no laughing matter.
Martha Cecilia counts herself lucky in love. She has found her gorgeous hero
in her tall husband who, after 25 years of marriage, “doesn’t get out of bed
without kissing me first to wake me up.”
Their union has produced four kids that she is most proud of. One can
imagine Martha Cecilia bonding with them as though she’s just one of them.
“Gusto ko kasama bata, seryoso kasi matatanda,” she says.
In Eve’s case, she continues to pine for that special someone.
“I’m a romance writer but I am the type who doesn’t easily fall in love ... It’s not
that I have unreacheable standards in a man. Believe me, mababaw ng
kaligayahan ko. Basta mabait, mapagmahal, magalang at totoong mahal
ako, at siyempre mahal ko rin, okay na.
“I just want to find love, real love, the one that lasts, with a good man, a
chivalrous modern-day knight who would command my respect, my love, my
desires, carnal and otherwise [ha ha], and above all, who would still tell me I’
m beautiful even when I’m 80.
“That’s my ultimate romantic fantasy.”
and Judith McNaught, but is surprised to find that both are now turning out
romantic suspense thrillers. “OK din siguro mag-try ng ibang genre,” she
says.
Surprisingly for a weaver of romantic tales, Eve’s favorite book is the anti-war
novel “Johnny Got His Gun” by Dalton Trumbo.
“It’s a story about a World War 1 soldier who lost his limbs, his speech and
all his senses save for the sense of touch in war,” she explains. “The story
unfolds behind the soldier’s confused, drugged mind while he lay in a
hospital bed. It’s pretty intense, riveting and unforgettable. Makes my heart
bleed every time I read it. I am strongly against war. I have lived in Mindanao
for so long and I’ve been exposed to this kind of conflict for as long as I can
remember. It’s really sad.”
Eve, originally from Kabacan, North Cotabato, also has read “The Art of War”
by Sun Tzu and “The 48 Laws of Power” by Robert Greene, among others.
She is also an admirer of award-winning Filipino writer Edgar Reyes.
Happy endings are necessary in every Martha Cecilia novel and, like Eve, she
is not averse to mining personal experiences for story themes.
“Kung mayroon man akong hindi gustong isulat, heavy drama iyon,” Martha
Cecilia explains.
“I read and watch movies to be entertained, hindi para umiyak. Life is a drama
already. I need an escape and that is to read something that would make me
dream and laugh and cry a little ...
“I believe personal experiences matter a lot [in writing]. When you have
suffered in life, I believe it is only then that you can be effective in imparting
your message. Back in high school, I was only able to write poems and
articles for school mags when I was sad and in despair.”
In despair? Readers might think these goddesses of romance are immune
to this feeling. But heartbreaks are part of their lives, too.
Eve’s “Lothario” series, now with 10 installments, began when she reached
her late 20s and started having relationship problems.
“All of my novels are based on past experiences, mine or of people close to
me or some that I am not even close to,” she says. “I ask them if I can use
parts of their experiences in my novels and more often than not, they say yes.
"Maybe because they want to inspire other people also, to be strong, to be
survivors. But sometimes, I’m being bad also and use their woes without
permission. One time, a friend of mine called me up in the wee hours of the
morning. She was like: `Girl, is this my shit you wrote on your latest novel?’ I
said, `Yeah, now your shit is quite famous!’ We ended up laughing about it.”
But matters of the heart are no laughing matter.
Martha Cecilia counts herself lucky in love. She has found her gorgeous hero
in her tall husband who, after 25 years of marriage, “doesn’t get out of bed
without kissing me first to wake me up.”
Their union has produced four kids that she is most proud of. One can
imagine Martha Cecilia bonding with them as though she’s just one of them.
“Gusto ko kasama bata, seryoso kasi matatanda,” she says.
In Eve’s case, she continues to pine for that special someone.
“I’m a romance writer but I am the type who doesn’t easily fall in love ... It’s not
that I have unreacheable standards in a man. Believe me, mababaw ng
kaligayahan ko. Basta mabait, mapagmahal, magalang at totoong mahal
ako, at siyempre mahal ko rin, okay na.
“I just want to find love, real love, the one that lasts, with a good man, a
chivalrous modern-day knight who would command my respect, my love, my
desires, carnal and otherwise [ha ha], and above all, who would still tell me I’
m beautiful even when I’m 80.
“That’s my ultimate romantic fantasy.”
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