Philippines Poem

Lylia, who grew up in the province, was orphaned at a young age and left to care for her seriously ill sibling. The hardships of life forced her to mature quickly and become resourceful to support her sister and cover their daily expenses. This led her to open a small eatery near the local cockfighting arena. However, after discovering that Raze, their district captain, was the creditor of her deceased parents, she was forced to accept his deal, to marry him as payment for half of the debt. If she refused, the captain would demolish their house and eatery, their only source of income. Unknown to everyone, Lylia would also serve as a housemaid to pay off the remaining debt to the captain. Raze was known as a stingy and strict captain in the district of Abueña. He was uncompromising when it came to implementing and approving projects, especially regarding the use of district funds. He had been away from the area for a long time but still monitored what was happening in the district. What others didn't know was that he was secretly a billionaire who owned airlines, hotels, and resorts in the Philippines that exclusively catered to royalty. Upon his return, he first saw the woman he had only seen in a picture—Lylia, the woman who owed him money—at the cockfighting arena. That's where his mischievous plan was formed, to force her to marry him. Is it possible that their deal will turn into a genuine relationship, or will one of them end up heartbroken and in tears?

In the coastal quiet of Baler, a studio is born—not of architecture, but of intention.* Founded by Yam, a poet whose words cradle pain gently, and Franc, an artist who paints tenderness into walls, the studio becomes a refuge for those learning to stay—with grief, love, longing, and themselves. As visitors arrive, they leave behind more than footprints: a sigh recorded in bamboo, a poem tucked into the “Found Letters” shelf, a mural painted in crooked lines. Through zines, tea, silence, and sketchbooks, the studio teaches softness as revolution. Ren creates the *Window of Soft Returns*, an installation of anonymous voice recordings—each whisper forming a community of echoes. Drew builds the *Staircase With No Wrong Turns*, inviting people to walk through emotions without shame. Franc offers brushstrokes as brave work, and Yam curates writing circles that map healing in half sentences. Together, they host festivals that feel like hugs, and they begin traveling their archive, letting softness cross oceans. Even those who once left—like Miguel—return, discovering that some doors never truly close. Others, like Tala, capture the studio’s sound and turn it into a podcast of breath and becoming. Over seventy chapters, the studio transforms into something larger than itself: a mural of memory, a sanctuary for second chances, a place where return is sacred and voice is proof of survival. In the final bloom, the studio stands not as a monument—but as a reminder: > *“Staying isn’t easy. > But chosen together, > it becomes home.”*

A paranormal romance novel inspired by the children's poem In a Dark Dark Wood Leslie Sherman is a YouTube famous paranormal investigator who finds herself in the care and company of a captivating, attractive and mysterious man, Walker R. Blackwood, who lives alone in what she thought was an abandoned manor she stumbles on after becoming stranded and injured deep in the woods of Acadia National Park while out on a solo hike. As a single twenty three year old woman who’s still grappling with the turbulent breakup from her high school sweetheart, Randy Turner, nearly two years ago, Leslie struggles with the loss and regret of what they had together. Desperate for affection and love, Leslie becomes intimately drawn to the seductive yet brooding Walker Blackwood, who's formally prestigious reputation is tainted by the mysterious deaths of Mr. Blackwood's three female employees. Torn by her growing feelings towards Walker Blackwood, Leslie grows suspicious of him the more she learns about him and the more he refuses to disclose his past to her.

ROOM 808 It was just a regular night and an ordinary room, but for Rosa, it felt like a bad dream. She didn’t see the man who was with her that night, and she didn’t even know his name. All she could remember was his warm touch and the minty taste of his lips. Her stepsister and sister had set her up, trapping her in that room to ruin her life. Because of that night, she gave birth to a son, and she decided to hide him from everyone. Five years later, when Rosa and her son return to the Philippines, the truth about that night slowly begins to come out. Will Rosa get the justice she deserves? Or will she never learn the truth about her son's father?

Due to the hardships of life, Erina took on various jobs just to sustain her daily needs. She has been supporting herself alone ever since she left her father’s care. Her life was going well, but everything changed when she met a young man named Wayne Louie Anderson—a billionaire, a well-known figure in the business world, and the owner of prestigious resorts and casinos both in the Philippines and abroad. However, Erina had no idea about any of this. An incident pushed Wayne to conceal his true identity and pretend that he was missing. This led him to live under the same roof as Erina, allowing her to get to know him and eventually develop feelings for him. Will her feelings for him change once she discovers his true identity? Will she set aside her anger for the sake of love? Or will resentment and hatred prevail, leading her to give up on the man she loves?

Seven years ago, Althea Marquez was ready to share life-changing news with Mikhael Bryce Henderson—the love of her life—when she discovered he had returned to his ex. Heartbroken, Althea fled abroad to raise their child alone. Now back in the Philippines, Althea is shocked to find her new boss is none other than Mikhael, now a powerful CEO. Furious and confused by her sudden disappearance, Mikhael demands answers, but Althea remains cold and distant. As secrets from their past come to light, including the startling revelation of Althea's father's connection to Mikhael, both are forced to confront painful truths. To make matters worse, Mikhael's ex-fiancée re-enters his life, determined to win him back. Amidst betrayal, hidden enemies, and unresolved feelings, Althea and Mikhael must decide whether to fight for their rekindled love or let the past tear them apart once more.