by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 11, 2023 | Book Reviews
We encountered John for the first time in Alpha Logan when Logan calls him to give some instructions. He appears several times after which made me quite curious about this very formal Beta. Beta’s Surprise Mate by Bryant now focuses on him as he finds his mate in the most unlikely of situations. When running an errand for Logan and Aurelia, John inadvertently finds his mate when he visits the florist who will be handling all the floral decorations for their wedding.
First of all, she is human … which is unusual enough as it is. Werewolf-human matings are uncommon but possible. Second, she is a (former) hunter, which makes her a danger to the pack, whether or not she’s retired. Third, she has a fierce guardian cat, an Egyptian Mau called Shu. But John believes in the mate bond and trusts the Moon Goddess but even he had to take a step back and wonder why he was given a human mate. Despite his desire to stay away, his wolf would not let him do so.
Things to note … John is over 30 and a virgin by choice. Unlike many of his peers, he chose to save himself for his mate. Despite this, though, he certainly had the skills to please his mate. Sarael quit being a hunter a long time ago when she realized that her sister was doing things that she just couldn’t stomach.
Beta’s Surprise Mate by Bryant is HOT! Don’t be deceived by John’s inexperience … he has the equipment and knows how to use it. I even found myself jealous of Sarael and wished he was my mate instead, hyuk! Their lives get complicated by rogues and hunters who suddenly show up in their lives, especially when one of the hunters is Sarael’s evil sister.
I don’t want to reveal too much but trust me when I say you will WANT to read this book. You can find Beta’s Surprise Mate with the bonus Valentine chapters at the end on Goodnovel. If you want to read the paperback, you can find it on Amazon. I’m hoping it comes out on Amazon Kindle as well.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 11, 2023 | Awards and Competitions
When schools closed and the pandemic pushed education to remote learning, we knew that students would pay a heavy price. True enough, 2021 research showed that 86% of students believed that they learned less under remote learning. 66% of those who attend classes virtually and 74% under hybrid learning were also no better mainly because of one reason: lack of innovative and technology-driven solutions to support these set-ups.
This troubling reality didn’t cause learners to falter, because Globe believes that it brought out the best of us, and we can see these inspiring stories every day.
As part of its commitment to uplift education through technology, Globe launches the Heroes of Learning Awards, a search to honor modern-day heroes who shined bright or became a light for others amid obstacles. The awards will spotlight their inspiring journeys and support them further by equipping them with the relevant e-learning tools they need.
Let our inspiring students, teachers, and parents shine bright! Nominate them at the Globe Heroes of Learning Awards now.
Students, educators, and parents are eligible to join, to be judged according to the following criteria: students must exemplify academic excellence, courage, and innovation. Parents must epitomize courage and innovation as well, while educators must demonstrate excellence in teaching, courage, and innovation.
More than just a trophy, chosen Heroes of Learning will be hailed as Globe for Education ambassadors and will take home Php 50,000 in GCash credits, Samsung Galaxy AO3 Blue 64GB loaded with P5,000 worth of Globe Prepaid credits, a 12-month subscription to GFiber Unli Plan, Globe MyFi LTE, and on top of that, KodeGo full course scholarship worth Php 80,000, free 8-session tutorials with Edventure, and two e-passes to Ayala Museum.
Nominations and entries will be accepted on or before April 30, 2023. Announcement of winners will be via a private Zoom event on May 18, 2023.
Submit your entries or nominations now. Visit www.glbe.co/heroesoflearning for more details. Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-161107 Series of 2023.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 10, 2023 | Real Estate
Two Filinvest Alabang Inc (FAI) projects were awarded gold recognitions at the recently held Property and Real Estate Excellence Awards organized by the Philippine chapter of the Paris-based International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI). Filinvest City, FAI’s flagship township in Alabang took home the Gold award under the Sustainable Development category while Filigree’s Botanika Nature Residences, its ultraluxury condominium, bagged Gold under the Residential Mid-Rise category.
Filinvest City Gold award acceptance led by (L-R) FIABCI World president-elect Budiarsa Sastrawinata, FIABCI-Philippines president Arch. Nestor Mangio, Filinvest Alabang Inc (FAI) president and COO Catherine Ilagan, FAI first vice president Don Ubaldo, and FIABCI-Philippines chairman Dr. Reghis Romero II.
The awards recognize FAI’s dedication to creating resilient, future-ready, and people-focused communities that can be enjoyed by many generations. “As we mark our 30th anniversary this year, we continue to be committed to our mission of building communities that are sustainable and people-centric,” shares Catherine Ilagan, FAI President and COO. “Our ultimate goal is to make all of our developments really experiential and engaging, supporting healthier and more fulfilled lifestyles, with Filinvest City and Botanika serving as our flagship projects,” she adds.
Botanika Nature Residences Gold award acceptance headed by (L-R) FIABCI World president-elect Budiarsa Sastrawinata, FIABCI-Philippines president Arch. Nestor Mangio, FAI first vice president Daphne Sanchez, FAI president and COO Catherine Ilagan, and FIABCI-Philippines chairman Dr. Reghis Romero II.
With global and local recognition certifying its efforts in building a green central business district in Alabang, Muntinlupa, Filinvest City’s FIABCI gold award further affirms Filinvest City’s commitment to sustainability. Other green recognitions include its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEEDv4 Gold for Neighborhood Development (LEEDv4 ND) certification by the US Green Building Council in 2020 and, more recently, its 3-star Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) Districts Certification by the Philippine Green Building Council–making Filinvest City the first & only Philippine CBD to be accorded with these two certifications.
“We have taken the big leap years ago when Filinvest Development Corporation Founder Mr. Andrew L. Gotianun, Sr. envisioned a sustainable and future-ready CBD and established FAI to transform the Alabang stock farm into what Filinvest City is today. All these awards and certifications prove that we have been doing this right from the start and that there are alternatives to the accustomed way of building cities in the metro,” Don Ubaldo, FAI’s First Vice President for townships, says.
Filigree’s Botanika Nature Residences took home the FIABCI Gold award under the Residential Mid-Rise category.
The way that Botanika Nature Residences combines aesthetics and functionality while embedding energy efficiency into its design sets it different from other upscale residential buildings. A flagship project of Filigree, FAI’s brand of high-end residential developments, Botanika’s promise of authentic green living is seen beyond its interior as it harmoniously co-exists with its environs.
Approximately 70% of its total land area is dedicated to gardens and open breathing spaces, while the building itself, covering 30% of the land, was designed to respect and complement its natural surroundings being located at the most exclusive portion of Filinvest City. On top of the FIABCI gold award, Botanika is also a 4-star BERDE-certified development, and just last year was recognized as the first H+W (Health and Well-being – Pilot Version) 3-stars Certified residential building by the Philippine Green Building Council.
“As the post-pandemic world takes shape, there is a growing need for space that keeps people close to the center of activities while also allowing them to retreat to a sanctuary of greenery and clean air at any time to safeguard and promote their health and well-being. Botanika Nature Residences guarantee a stress-free, healthier suburban lifestyle,” says Filigree deputy head and FAI First Vice President Daphne Sanchez.
The company’s thrust to fostering a culture of innovation and development has also been recognized through the awards received by Filinvest Development Corporation President and CEO, and Filinvest Land Inc. CEO Josephine Gotianun-Yap. She is named FIABCI’s first Property Woman of the Year and is the first woman to receive the Real Estate Personality of the Year award in the Philippines Property Awards by Property Guru last year.
To know more about Filinvest City and Botanika Nature Residences, visit filinvestcity.com and filigree.com.ph.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 7, 2023 | Book Reviews
I am trying really hard to appreciate Bullied By My Alpha Stepbrother by Joy Apens. As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, I hate bullies and bullying in any form but I gave this story a shot because I was curious to see how the author would develop the romance between the lead characters.
Having read so many bully romances I was prepared for the male lead, Hardin, to be Jasmine’s bully. What I didn’t anticipate was how many times he sexually assaulted her. I’m sorry, is this supposed to be okay? We are just supposed to accept that since Hardin and Jasmine are the lead characters no matter what happens it is okay because they may end up together.
Pardon me, but there is nothing right about sexual assault, whether it is something as “minimal” as fondling or all the way to penetration. IT IS NOT OKAY.
As a story arc and trigger, I get it, especially at the beginning when they don’t know each other and Hardin is still horribly bitter. But 25 chapters in and it is still happening? And Jasmine is still not reporting it? How is this right? Like most prolific readers I immerse myself in the story and embed myself in the character. This means that I put myself in Jasmine’s persona and I am not okay with being violated repeatedly.
He called her a slut, whore, etc., took her virginity, and all she can do EVER is cry. SIGH. Victim mentality.
I know at some point in the future we will see a change of heart with Hardin and he will somehow fall for her. At some point, it will probably be revealed that they are mates. Fyi, at the part I’m at there isn’t any sign so I don’t even know if the author will allow for fated mates or if this is a human-like romance in a werewolf romance setting.
At the moment, I don’t ever want them to be together. I want Jasmine to end up with Lorenzo. In her shoes, I would never forgive someone who has done what he has been doing. It doesn’t matter if her body responds. If the girl you are with is saying NO and crying the entire time (even if she is supposedly wet) that means her mind does not agree. It is still rape.
IT IS NOT OKAY. If you are curious and want to weigh in, you can find Bullied By My Alpha Stepbrother by Joy Apens on several reading apps including Goodnovel, where I found it.
I finally caught up to the latest chapter (Chapter 37 as of this update). It is her birthday and, what does Hardin do? He rapes her. SERIOUSLY?!? And this is a romance novel? Even if it categorized as a dark romance I think there has to be a cap on how much abuse a girl can take.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 6, 2023 | Book Reviews
To be honest I have mixed feelings about Tasting All My Mates by Alexis Dee mainly because I’m also reading Sharing Beatrice, which I recently reviewed and it follows the same formula. A young Omega girl is rejected by her first mate and finds several mates soon after who all happen to already live together, then realizes she isn’t like other Omegas … that she has powers other wolves do not possess.
For several chapters onwards none of her mates are willing to accept her and even go out of their way to mock and bully her. One particular mate is kinder than the rest but also does not accept her. All her mates at some point are willing to accept her if she agrees to reject the rest.
Names are different, and the setting is different, but the story flow is more or less the same. What probably makes this story slightly different is that Enya, the female lead character has a stronger backbone than Beatrice at the beginning of the story.
To be fair, Tasting All My Mates was supposedly written first so, if anything, this is the template for Sharing Beatrice. The story has potential and, yes, despite how expensive it is, I have spent money to read more chapters just to see if it gets better. If you are a fan of serialized TV shows, that is more or less the experience you get when reading this book. Each chapter feels like an episode of a TV show.
So far I’m on chapter 94 and she hasn’t tasted a single mate, lol! For the grammar nazis out there (like me!) beware of all the grammatical and spelling errors. Believe me, there are a LOT! That aside, if you can get passed that, the story has a lot of potential … just don’t read it at the same time as Sharing Beatrice like I am doing or you will not be able to help but see. the parallels. 😀
If you would like to check this story out yourself, you can find it on the iReader app.
I am trying really hard to appreciate Bullied By My Alpha Stepbrother by Joy Apens. As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, I hate bullies and bullying in any form but I gave this story a shot because I was curious to see how the author would develop the romance between the lead characters.
To be honest I have mixed feelings about Tasting All My Mates by Alexis Dee mainly because I’m also reading 
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