The Writers' Avenue Issue 3: YOLO

Special Feature: "Mitch Albom Book Signing"

Cebu City, Philippines

Leys x Richard Nikki Yu Cafifge

February 23, Sunday – I first read a Mitch Albom book two years ago but had heard of his name and his books even before that. At the time, though I had read snippets of his works through social media, I had only a vague notion as to what kind of author Albom was and what kind of books to expect from him. The book that I read first was For One More Day. It had less than two hundred pages and the type the publication house used was spacious and fairly large so I knew that I could finish reading it in one day, maybe even in one sitting. I was right on both terms. I distinctly remember reading, and subsequently finishing, it during Physics class, when our sir went AWOL yet again. The room was noisy and restless but I hardly heard anyone or anything at all because I was too lost in Albom’s story. By the time I reached the last few chapters, I was kicking myself for reading such a book in a public place. The hot tears prickled behind my eyes as I finished it, feeling a hundred emotions at once. I became a Mitch Albom fan right then and there.

Two years after my first (though definitely not my last) Albom book, something incredible happened: National Bookstore announced that Mitch Albom was coming to the Philippines. I was ecstatic. For weeks National Bookstore proudly showcased Albom’s books on a special table and readers of all ages raced to buy them. That was not surprising seeing as Albom’s books contain a sweet sincerity in them that can really hook the reader in, regardless of whether or not that person likes reading books in particular. Albom’s novels are short but incredibly powerful and inspiring that even those who say that they don’t “really read books for fun” can’t help but fall in love with Albom’s words. 

On the day of the book signing, I was nervous and excited at the same time. Due to family reasons, I arrived in Ayala at around 12 noon, two hours after registration started. I knew that the venue was going to be packed with people but I wasn’t expecting just how packed it was going to be. I later learned that people had lined up for registration hours before Ayala even opened. When I was finally registered, there wasn’t a seat left unoccupied. I looked around and physically felt the excitement in the air and heard the delicious sound of pages being turned as bookworms in every corner waited for Mitch Albom. There wasn’t a single person in the venue that wasn’t holding Albom’s latest book, The First Phone Call from Heaven. I was surrounded by booklovers on all sides. It was glorious.

Before anyone knew it, the clock struck two in the afternoon and I noticed that people got even more restless than before. Everyone was craning their heads to see the man himself ride down the glass elevator. Groups of people cried out Albom’s name and every so often bursts of applause cut through the cacophonous crowd. When a lady from National Bookstore announced the arrival of Mitch Albom, the audience cheered so loud that the whole mall seemed to shake.

My first thought was that Mitch Albom looked a lot less intimidating than his promotional pictures made him seem. He was funny and insightful, an overall humble man unspoiled by the fame his books has given him. He first talked a bit about his past and how he hadn’t really planned on being a writer. Mitch Albom was a musician first before he dabbled in journalism for a small newspaper. Even he was surprised at how people seemed to like his stories in the newspaper. When he wrote Tuesdays with Morrie, he never expected for it to become such a bestseller. He even joked that he was initially afraid that he’d have to give out free copies of Tuesdays with Morrie whenever he went out because it might have not sold any at all. Mitch Albom stressed that a person can do incredible things when they’re doing it for someone else. That was obviously the case for him with Tuesdays with Morrie which considered as The Most Successful Memoir by a lot of people. Albom also talked about his charity projects to help those affected by Typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda). He told us about the local foundations he was helping in and truly inspired everyone with his philanthropy. He was a busy man with a big heart.

After the short interview, the book signing began. Hundreds of people had registered but Mitch Albom promised that he would stay put until everyone in the crowd had their turn. The audience cheered in happiness. My registration number was 541 so I had to wait for hours. I didn’t mind a bit though. It was incredible seeing such an awe-inspiring man resiliently sign book after book and pose for just as many pictures. His smile never faded and he showed no signs of stopping even after three hours of non-stop signing and posing. Every so often he’d walk to the audience and offer to take a group picture. Nothing seemed to quell his spirits. 

I waited for nearly five hours that day. I watched scores of people approach Albom – some brave enough to exchange a few words, others even hugged him – shake his hand, and then get their picture taken with him. By the time my turn finally came, I was a mess of nerves and shakes. I shook his hand and, before I could even say anything, he thanked me for coming. Before I knew it, I was smiling at the camera. The encounter couldn’t have lasted more than a minute but I treasured every second of it. I walked down the platform with a grin on my face and a pleasant flutter in my chest. 

It was an unforgettable experience that inspired me to write even more. Mitch Albom, I salute you.