The Art of Rebellion

Acknowledgement

Thank you,

First of all, thank you for reading this book!

Hindi ko inasahan na matatapos ko 'to kasi parang biglaang story lang 'to nung time nagcomeback ang dreamies. Had fun writing this one, though I had some sad episodes and rough times during the process but everything is so worth it.

I hope you learned even at least a little in this book. I was only 17 when I first wrote this and 19 when I finalized, but I gathered every knowledge I have and researched facts to at least I can help spread awareness of how important to be critical and rational when it comes to making decisions in life. 

There is nothing wrong with speaking up, you are not "bastos". You are speaking up because you noticed that there is something wrong. And when you speak up, make sure you weaponize yourself with facts and good intention.

About the revision,

The main reason why I revised this book is because I wrote this with only a little knowledge about mental health and politics. Ang nasa isip ko lang before ay i-conceptualize ang mga 'yon para makapagbigay ako ng awareness as a writer. Don't get me wrong, hindi ko 'yon ginamit lang for the sake of "feeling intellectual writer" may good intentions naman ako. I know the importance of mental health and politics pero ngayong psychology student at botante na ako, narealize ko na hindi pala sapat na may simpleng kaalaman ka lang. Both are sensitive topics so need ng matinding research. Kaya noong sinulat ko 'to, I failed to give depth. Basta lang may depression yung character at basta lang may corrupt na mayor. Pero hindi ko pinagtuunan masyado ng pansin yung mga ugat. Saan nagmula 'yon? Bakit may gano'n? Oo, nandoon yung idea pero kulang sa background at build up.

About Jahiem's state, ginawa ko na siyang "genuinely happy who knows how to handle life now" sa revised version. Kumbaga tapos na siya sa depressed state niya at nakarecover na. Ang purpose niya na lang sa book ay alamin kung sino ba talaga ang pumatay sa papa niya at anong dahilan. And that's what his death for (i'm sorry), his death opened the debunked case of his father, and other cases. Nabigyan niya ng hustisya ang papa niya at iyon ang huling purpose niya sa mundo. This main character death (mcd) is not "killing characters just for the sake of having angst". It's not just for the sake of shock value, his death made them realize a lot of things and connect broken bridges. It needs to happen for so many reasons. And I wanted the grasp the concept of reaching the space (that turned into sky/heaven), and be with his father at the end. Though masaya nga sana kung kumpleto yung pito pero yung papa niya ang gusto kong kasama ni Jahiem sa huli. Sa papa niya naman kasi nakaugat ang purpose niya una pa lang. And sa simula pa lang talaga nakaplano na talaga lahat ng mangyayari sa story.

About the politics here, it's still the same pero mas may depth lang ngayon. May corrupt na mayor pa rin at may candidate na natalo kahit mas may credentials. Let's not let this happen in real life please!! Vote wisely po, thank you! 

About the plot, wala naman major revision, nagfill in lang ako ng plot holes. Iniba ko lang rin yung reason bakit nadissolve yung club nila. Nagdagdag rin ako ng bagong chapter before epilogue at pinakita ko doon yung experience ni Riley sa law school. Feeling ko kasi kahit may time skip naman sa epilogue, biglaan pa rin na naging lawyer siya.

Iyon lang po! Kulang kasi sa back story lahat kaya I did revision.

Facts & FAQs,

1. The Art of Rebellion, in my terms, means there's a good cause in resisting to bad rules. 

2. Got the concept from NCT Dream's 7 Days (fave song from Reload), not totally from Go. Then narealize ko na about rebellion nga pala yung Go so iyon yung nagpush sa akin na ituloy na talaga 'to.

3. Supposed to be a teenage rebellion concept kaso naalala ko na around 2nd-4th year college na sila nung nagsimula ang story.

4. At first hindi ko alam kung anong genre nito kasi parang hindi siya fit sa kahit saan, but Adventure yung closest so doon na lang.

5. Yung name na Riley Heart sa Mad Hatter siya galing, bida sa dating story ko pa na naka-unpub.

6. Yung names ng dreamies rito random ko lang na inisip basta malapit sa name ng mga port, or atleast same letter ang simula. Tagal kong nag-isip ng surname for Neo pero in the end nabagsak lang ako sa surname mismo ng port. Ang complicated na kasi nung first name niya kaya nahirapan talaga ako isipan. And Lemont's name is inspired by Jisung showing liking for lemons sa NCT life pero akala ng friends ko doon ko kinuha sa lemon dance challenge.

7. No thoughts head empty just 7DREAM comeback with full album pls. (update: omg meron naaaa)

If you have other questions don't hesitate to comment or dm me.

Thank you again!

See you in my future works!