The Hunt for Spanish Language Books in Metro Manila Bookstores

It's been almost two months since I started self studying the Spanish language. Because I seem to be improving slower than I expected, I decided to start reading books. Yes I know we can all read online and such but it's so much better to read something in hand physically and not on a screen. 😁

No I'm not a bookworm anymore, nor an "accidental" tsundoku practitioner. 😆 I've sold most of all my books when I started decluttering. It's been a decade or so haha. For the first time in seven or so years I have gone out and online just to buy books or even comics!

Admittedly I thought it would be easy to learn this language. Why not when there are many Spanish loaned words in Filipino. If only I knew about the most important thing to learn before I started this... 😂 Just knowing Spanish words is not enough to understand sentences.

The verbs and conjugations are so... perhaps the hardest to learn. Haha. And then there's the more complex sentence construction, omg. But mostly I think my laidback and 'anything goes' approach is what's hampering me. 😅

Okay I won't bore you with my complaints so let me just tell you about how hard it is to find Spanish books in bookstores! Who knew it would be quite non-existent!

Let's go a-hunting in bookstores!

Last week I finally decided to buy any Spanish book I could find. After working on my customer's custom temporary tattoo order, I went to the nearest bookstore I know.

Someone told me they were able to buy Spanish books at a certain second hand store almost a decade ago. Well if they had some then they should still have some now right? Off I went to BookSale in Cubao. Unfortunately I never found any. I even asked the sales people but they said they didn't have any. Awww.

Next I went to a National Bookstore branch in the same mall. I asked the cashier and checked the aisles and nothing. Huh. 🤔 Of course I didn't want to give up so I decided to go to the big branch. I believe it is one of the major branches too. Good thing it was just in another mall connected to the first one I went to.

Guess what I found there? 😂 The branch only had one type of Spanish book: two kinds of trilingual dictionaries and nothing else. (English - Spanish - Tagalog) Man, I almost feel sorry for the lack of Spanish literature anywhere. 😂

Bought this one from the available dictionaries.

Of course I was happy to buy one of them. Actually I'm psyched to find it has Filipino translation too! Makes it so much easier. ♥️ However I felt like just this one is not enough.

Before I went home, I dropped by the last book shop in the area. Sadly the Fully Booked branch also didn't have what I was looking for. Tsk tsk.

I guess it's worth noting, Spanish seems to have been completely erased in our culture. Specifically, all the books in the bookstores are in English and Filipino only. 😆 (Except for the other English-Filipino-foreign language dictionaries.) Even the travel books doesn't have any Spanish speaking countries displayed. I saw France, Italy, etc., but no Spain or Argentina, etc. 😂

Must be because of all the hate our ancestors had for the first colonizers? We mostly weren't treated well for 3 centuries. Ugh, imagine a caste system, that's racism + colonialism. 🙄 Well at least it wasn't slavery but still...

Anyway good thing I was able to find something. My efforts did not go to waste. Haha. It's already the 21st century so I will learn Spanish because I want to. It should be way easier than learning Japanese or Korean. Imma learn this first before the other languages. Or I might give up again, who knows. 😂

On Friday I went to another branch of thrift bookstore in another city. Well hey I was able to find some there! Whoa! Too bad I didn't like any of them... 😅 Also the price wasn't low enough for me to even consider buying. Oh well...

I'm not really looking for premium books since I am buying just to familiarize myself with the language. That's it. Unless I become fluent in Español I will not consider buying something premium.

Because of this, I had to find another way to buy the books I needed. Stay tuned for the second part of this post! 😀

Why Are Spanish Books Not Available In Major Bookstores?

Apparently in the 1987 Philippine Constitution (or even the previous one?), Spanish was not included anymore as a national language. No harm done imho because at the time Filipino and English were already prevalently used.

The main reason is (most probably) because there aren't many Spanish Filipinos left. If there are, maybe they use English more often? I dunno, I think they are a dying breed. Haha.

This is so unlike the Chinese Filipinos (Chinoys). They actually put up several Chinese schools where Filipino Chinese (FilChi) and Chinoy children are also taught Mandarin (and Fookien?) among other things.

Also, Arabic is being taught at an early age to our Filipino Muslim brothers in the far southern islands. So you see, it makes no sense to keep a language that almost nobody uses. Thus is the fate of Spanish in the Philippines...

Vintas of Zamboanga by Jojo Lacerona, CC BY-SA 4.0

All is not lost though. We do have Spanish Creole in the country called Chavacano. This can be found in the province of Zamboanga in the Mindanao group of islands. It is still prevalent there as far as I know.

Not sure yet where or which area exactly but I'll find out soon! Any Spanish speaking person (or Spanish language student) would probably not feel too out of place there.

I also read the Chavacano version in Cavite province is already becoming extinct. Might as well go to Zamboanga instead if ever, hehe. That's where I'm planning to go later this year just to hear them use it. (Lord I hope I will be able to go!!!) Also so I can see actual and colorful vintas that I've read in school books when I was a kid! 😄🙏

Ah I am excited to do that so I need to save some money! Haha. Will be going there by ship if I can. Traveling by sea is more fun because I get to see the ocean a lot. Hehe.

Well wish me luck with that plan. For now I will write some more about how I found the Spanish books I got. 😁 Can you guess what I did? Haha.

When You Don't Believe It Can Help Your Health Problems, It Becomes a "Miracle"!

Recently I've been more active in promoting our superfoods juice and healthy coffee products. Why not when a lot of people should be drinking it during this pandemic. A few people who've decided to take a "risk" in drinking it ended up praising the product. That's what I'm going to share with you all on this post.

👉 Why take plant based supplements?

Perhaps you are also thinking like one of the Westerners who do not believe in traditional and herbal medicines. Well I don't blame you, maybe that’s what you have been taught.

In the Filipino culture, we have what we call Pasma. If you read the Wikipedia entry about it you will see the symptoms include "hand tremors, sweaty palms, numbness and pains." It happens in certain situations like when you're really tired from using your hands all day and night (typing or writing or doing art, etc.) then you suddenly wash your hands without resting it. Boom! Pasma then happens almost immediately or after some time.

Of course Western medicine shakes their head at it and says it is not true. Same as what they say about bangungot or Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome: dying from a nightmare. People don't believe it can happen but it does. So what do we Filipinos do to prevent pasma and bangungot from happening? We follow common knowledge folk medicine and precautionary measures. We avoid doing certain things.

We also have what we call folk healers. They are the ones who use and prescribe certain herbs that are used to treat various diseases. Not all areas of the Philippines have doctors so these important people fill the place of the much needed medicine man in provinces and certain indigenous tribes. For example if you have chicken pox, you take a bath with water boiled with certain seeds (I forget what it is) to help dry up the skin problems. If you have a cough, people boil Lagundi leaves and drink the tea.

The same thing with Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine (India), for them that's what has been commonly used to treat diseases for centuries. They use herbs and various plant parts to heal illnesses so why can't we believe that just by consuming plant food we can be healthy too?

In case you don't believe it then it's not our loss. I am not the one who will spend tons of money on synthetic drugs and medicine. 🤷

Hey I'm not saying medicine is bad. All I'm saying is plant parts can be helpful in healing sicknesses too and those have been used as treatment for centuries.

👉 What is One Opti Juice?

Even before this COVID-19 pandemic came upon us I have already been drinking this product since June 12, 2019. For those who are unaware, June 12 is celebrated as the Independence day of the Philippines from Spain. It also stands in as the date of our independence from the USA afaik. Suffice it to say, it's very apt because it is the day I became “free” from various illnesses. 😁

As you all know, prevention is better than cure. Better late than never, right? This is why I did not hesitate to drink this once I discovered it existed.

Just one bottle is good for 1 day or more than 1 week depending on your health status. Buy 4 bottles and it can be good for 1 month! What have you got to lose when it's just P350/bottle? ($8.50 or GBP 6.80)

What is this small amount when compared to thousands you spend on medicine or future hospitalization expenses that can reach up to 6 or 7 digits? Whew. I would never wish that financial burden on anyone just because they did not take care of their health or do not believe in superfoods.

This is why I am promoting this product everywhere because it can help people have a stronger immune system to fight illnesses. All you need to know about the product is in the images above. Otherwise read more here or just contact me directly. Sun/Viber: +63932 1800 937.

👉 Product Testimonials

Not all people provide testimonials. Would love to hear from the one who bought 24 bottles from me in London, UK last year but there's nothing up to now. Haha.

So far here's some of the testimonials I got from my local personal customers. 2 found it useful for detox and 1 for high blood:

See that? 👆 At first she did not believe the superfoods juice can help her with high blood but she was still brave enough to try and order from me. A few days later she suddenly sent me a message. *ta daaa! 🎉 * She said she could not believe that One Opti Juice is effective for high blood! Wow! Now she is also a distributor of our health products. Hahaha. It really feels good when we help others with any of their health concerns. ♥️

Other testimonials are from those who have worse illnesses like this one.

WARNING: SOME are GRAPHIC AND SENSITIVE PHOTOS

Cystic Hydroma

Diabetes

High blood

How about you? What do you think will be the effect on your body if you order from me and drink this product?

❓ Question: I am allergic to one or some of the ingredients in the juice, what now?

Answer: Well do what my other customer from Washington, USA did. She ordered our healthy coffee instead!

👉 What is One Opti Coffee?

Why did I recommend this healthy coffee to the person who inquired from me? Well because she was not allergic to any ingredients in One Opti Coffee.

(One Opti Coffee already has a new packaging since 2020, please see below.)

Actually the superfoods juice is fine for her as it can also help people with allergies and asthma due to the other superfoods ingredients which can counteract the effect of the 1 thing she is allergic to but I did not want to push it. I know she's not ready for it yet that's why I just offered the healthy coffee instead.

Tried to send the package thru the post office but due to quarantine and COVID-19 procedures I sent four boxes of coffee to her via DHL instead.

Suffice it to say she got it in just 5 days instead of the estimated 8 days.

I'm glad to know that she is happy with the coffee. She said it also helps her sleep well too. Another healthy customer this time thanks to One Opti Coffee!

👉 What other health products are available?

Well actually we have several amazing products you can order from me.

There's the Apple Stemcell Soap, Opti White and even a liniment oil and many more!

(Insert of Opti White, new packaging design)

New packaging!

If you'd like to know more about each and should you wish to be a product distributor in your area too, just contact me for assistance. Especially due to the pandemic, more and more people want to strengthen their immune system at a very affordable price!

As with all dietary supplements, let me just say:

No approved therapeutic claims.

Our products are FDA & HALAL certified too.

❓ Question: How do I start this business?

Answer: You have to attend our business orientation first. It can be done online or at the mega center nearest you. You must be endorsed by me as an invited guest in order to attend business orientations in mega centers so inform me of your interest to join first before going to any office. This is how the people there will know who you are. Otherwise contact me to join our online orientation.

💯 You can never go wrong with legitimate and all natural health products. Don't believe me? Well, locally there are already many mega centers popping up left and right even with the pandemic because of the growing popularity of our products.

Don't be the last one to taste and experience the health and financial benefits too!

No pressure if you'd rather not do this as a business in the beginning then just be a distributor-product-user to get big discounts!

Also, did you know... We already have distributors in other parts of the world as well! It's not too late for you to be one of us. We hold online Zoom trainings, meetings and business presentations almost everyday! Set a schedule with me and find out more about One Opti Marketing, Inc. and it's products.

👉 HOW TO ORDER

1. Fill up the order form here: https://forms.gle/1jDbWaTAmRbzMT689
2. If you have no internet access, contact via Facebook Page or text or pm me your full name, complete address, mobile number, item order, quantity (ilang bote) and preferred payment method (see below).
3. Send the payment after I provide you details of your chosen payment method.
4. Send me the proof of payment (receipt or deposit slip) after payment.
5. Once payment has been confirmed, we will meet, you will pick up or I will ship your order.

*Bogus buyers will be blacklisted and posted online.

Check the order form link above for pricing info. Shipping fee to the Philippines not indicated in the form. USD & GBP pricing already includes handling fees.

Here are some of the products details:

✅ One Opti Juice: bottle of 300 ml.

Good for 1 day or more than 1 week depending on your health status.

✅ One Opti Coffee: pack of 10 sachets.

✅ One Opti CHOCO: pack of 10 sachets.

✅ Opti White, Glutathione + Collagen from Japan: 30 capsules.

❤️ Payment Modes:

• Robinsons Bank
• BDO
• Other banks to BDO online transfer
• GCash to RBank/BDO
• Coins PH.
• Paypal
• BTC, ETH, BCH, STEEM and HIVE for International orders.

Crypto price depends on current exchange value at the time of order. Crypto payments require coordination before any payment is made.

❤️ Delivers from Quezon City, NCR, Philippines. Fee by buyer.

For NCR (a.k.a. Metro Manila) orders:

• Grab
• Lalamove
• Happy Move
• Mr. Speedy

For Nationwide delivery:

• Fastrack
• 2Go
• LBC
• JRS

For International orders, depending on the country.

FDA certificate will be included with the shipment.

• DHL
• EMS

Got more questions?

Contact me on Sun/Viber/WhatsApp: +63932 1800 937
Globe/Telegram: +63917 768 8444 Facebook | Instagram

Your health and wellness is still in your hands!

Preorder from me now and have a strong immune system to naturally help your body prevent and fight illnesses!