Book Signing: NBS MOA

(thanks to Cherry The Great, Ash Ash Bigash, and Marjorie Ranola for the photos!)

The book signing at National Bookstore at SM Mall of Asia was the final one and it literally ended with a bang (since we stayed on for the fireworks competition after). But it was also bittersweet, to finally end the 5-week book tour, where we met so many of our listeners both near and far, and it was a side to our show that we never got to see before. To be perfectly honest, false modesty aside, we just never thought that people would actually stand in line for hours, some as long as 5 hours, just to have us sign their books and take a photo with us. The very idea really surprises us. We’re not really celebs in the showbiz sense, so we never thought people would line up week after week for the book signings. Each week, we’re always dreading that people might not show up anymore, but week after week we’re shocked to see so many people still joining us.

So again, thank you to everyone who made the book tour possible, starting off with Summit Books, especially the people we see each week like our publisher Koko and Alvin our best friend on the tour, who always made sure we’re fed and caffeinated all throughout. Also the staff of National Bookstore and Powerbooks who always made us feel welcome in their stores, often vacating their desks to give us makeshift holding rooms. Our bodyguards, especially Kuya Maui, who was there from first to last, for making us feel like bonafide celebs, making hawi the crowds whenever applicable. Our co-workers from Monster Radio RX 93.1 for being so supportive of this project, especially our bosses, and the jocks who hosted the different venues like Cerah, Gino, Tom, and Andre. Of course our family and friends (especially Sumi and Baby Whale) who always join us whenever possible, often driving for us, and showing full support.

And of course, how can we even dream of not thanking the ever supportive Rushers, who were there for us from the first to the last day of the book signing! They even came up with a t-shirt for the book tour, and would stay at each stop from beginning to the very end. Most of them had their books signed way before the book tour, but they just go there as listeners, as cheerleaders, as energy boosters, as celebs (many get their books signed by the Rushers as well), as party-goers, as Rushers, and as friends. Many ask if it’s an official club and how to join it. Actually, years ago, someone just thought of coining a term for the people who listened to the Morning Rush, and decided to call them Rushers. So technically, anyone who listens to us is a Rusher. Some though have coined sub-categories like silent rusher, active rusher, maingay rusher, and the like. But at each point though the years, there’s always an active core group, who join the Top 10, or who regularly visit the station and our events, who always serve as the backbone of the show. Without them and their support, we’d literally be handicapped creatively and logistically. So to whatever kind of Rusher you may be, we thank you from the bottom of our swollen-with-gratitude hearts. From the silent Rushers who came from so far just to meet us for the first time, to the active Rushers who see us regularly but still set aside time each week to support the event, THANK YOU.

Actually, it’s so sweet because on the first Saturday in 5 weeks that we didn’t have a signing, some of the Rushers still met up just to have breakfast. And many tweeted that they felt an odd sense of loss after getting used to meeting up every Saturday. It was so odd for me too. Like we said, not having a weekend for 5 weeks was tiring, but infinitely more rewarding. Just experiencing an outpouring of love and support really does wonders for the self-esteem. So it was actually eerily quiet to wake up on a Saturday with no plans for the day. We ended up going out for dinner with the dogs, but it was still oddly uneventful. I’m pretty sure we’ll get used to life without the book signings, but it was just nice that we enjoyed it while it lasted. It’s also nice that we got to spend it with the people who give us such positive vibes. There was actually talk of additional provincial stops, but I don’t think it pushed through. Who knows, we might have additional signings here and there? But it’s Summit who decides that, so we’ll see.

For sure, this book and the book signings will be embedded in our minds as one of the top highlights in our careers. We hope there is a Book 2, and hopefully it will be as well-received as the first one, and hopefully the signings will be as well-attended. But the run of the first book is far from over, and we’re definitely still promoting it however we can, so please tell your friends about it, so hopefully we can still do an event for the book! Again, thank you, and do what is rational and punta na sa National! (Or Bestsellers, or Powerbooks, or Fully Booked, or Mini-Stop, or Watson’s, or any other bookstore or magazine stand that carries Summit Books!)

Team Book 2!!!

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