Growing up doesn't end at adulthood. It just gets real. What does it really mean to "have it all together" by thirty? This book is a collection of deeply personal vignettes unfolds like snapshots in a scrapbook-raw, funny, heartbreaking, and true. From scraped knees to broken hearts, dorm rooms to delivery rooms, therapy sessions to quiet moments of peace, each chapter captures a real, relatable moment in the journey toward thirty. Told through the voices of different lives, these standalone stories explore growing pains, identity, love, loss, friendship, failure, and quiet triumphs. Each chapter ends with a small revelation-because sometimes, it takes thirty years to learn the simplest truths. This is not a guide. It's not advice. It's a mirror held up to the lives we've all lived or are still living. And maybe, just maybe, it's the reminder that you're not alone-even if you still don't know what you're doing.

[BOOK 1: PINOY PANLASA WARS SERIES] In the kitchen, it's not just the dishes that get heated-hearts do too. Mimi is a quiet girl with a secret-she's a powerhouse chef. Outside the kitchen, she's the reserved introvert, but when it comes to food, she's a force to be reckoned with. Her secret weapon? The sarap of Filipino cuisine passed down from her Lola, whose cooking is as rich in love as it is in flavor. But when a prestigious cooking competition calls, she steps out of her comfort zone and into the fire, where rivalries, unexpected twists, and the heat of the kitchen ignite everything she holds dear. In a battle for culinary supremacy, she faces off against a glamorous school rival with a flair for the dramatic and a tendency to play by the book-while her heart is all about home cooked meals and heartfelt cooking. With her trusty friends by her side, she has to prove that true talent doesn't need a glossy exterior-it just needs a dash of love, care and a whole lot of passion. As she faces down the ultimate challenges-like cooking on a budget, navigating exotic ingredients, and mastering dishes with hidden surprises-she'll need to balance her passion for food, her fierce competitive spirit, and the growing tensions of an unexpected double challenge. Will she rise to the top, or will the heat of the competition burn her dreams to the ground? This book is a heartfelt, mouth-watering adventure full of flavors, friendships, and fierce rivalries. With vivid cooking descriptions that will have you craving a second serving, this is a story that's just as much about discovering who you are as it is about discovering the perfect recipe. A SCRUMPTIOUS CHAPTER IS READY TO SERVE... TIKIM NA!!!

BOOK TWO [OAK TREE SERIES] Bound by love. Torn by blood. Hidden behind lies. They were each other's first love-before their names changed, before the lies, before the blood spilled between their families. Mikaela Luna grew up under the unforgiving eye of a perfectionist father. Her days were filled with ice skating routines, flawless grades, and the burden of being the daughter he could parade-but never love. She and Dion met under the shelter of an old oak tree when they were just kids-her in skates, him with wild stories and gentle eyes. She called him "D," and he called her "Mika." Together, they built a world that was theirs alone. But when a tragedy tore them apart, promises shattered, and they vanished from each other's lives. Now as a teenager, she's Luna-a sharp, guarded junior investigator and a master pianist. And he's Carlo-a reclusive genius with a false identity and a mission to find the truth behind his father's death. Fate brings them together once again, not as friends, but as strangers walking the edge of secrets and vengeance. As Luna digs into the disappearance of her family and Carlo chases the shadows of a conspiracy, they begin to fall for each other-without realizing they are each other's past. But when the truth comes out, love may not be enough.

BOOK ONE [OAK TREE SERIES] He swore to never forget her. But what if forgetting was the only way to protect them? What if the one person who promised to never forget you... did? Lillian Ortega Lawrence and Mykyta Wallenberg Lewis were once inseparable - childhood best friends bound by laughter, pinky promises, and an unspoken love. Beneath the shade of their secret hideout, they swore to always remember each other. But fate had other plans. A tragic accident stole Mykyta's memories, erasing every moment they shared. His family vanished from town, leaving Lillian with nothing but fading sketches of a boy who no longer knew she existed. Years later, Lillian recognizes him instantly - but the boy she loved is gone. In his place stands a stranger: colder, guarded, unaware of the bond they once had. And yet, something in his eyes still stirs the ache of old heartbreak and the flicker of new hope. As fate weaves their paths together once more, fragments of Mykyta's forgotten past begin to resurface. But the accident was never just an accident - it was a warning. And the forces that tore them apart aren't finished. With danger lurking in the shadows and a love fighting to be remembered, Lillian and Mykyta must uncover the truth before history repeats itself. And when the final secret comes to light... they'll have to ask themselves: is love strong enough to defy the past? A sweeping story of lost memories, second chances, and a love that refuses to be forgotten.

Sa taong 4215, halos lahat ng tao ay nabubuhay na lamang sa loob ng kanilang virtual screens-walang pisikal na trabaho, walang totoong galaw, at halos lahat ng bagay ay awtomatikong ginagawa ng mga machines. Pero sa isang glitch ng sistema, isang sanggol ang hindi sinasadyang mahulog sa Virtual Recycle Bin, isang forbidden zone kung saan tinatapon ang mga sirang gadgets, lumang robots, at teknolohiyang itinakwil ng mundo. Dito lumaki si Vernie, o mas kilala bilang V, sa piling ng isang outdated nanny bot at isang 3D printer droid. Sa loob ng tambakan, natuto siyang mabuhay sa gitna ng mga naiwang piraso ng lumang mundo-hanggang sa madiskubre niya ang isang bagay na hindi niya dapat makita: isang bisikleta. Sa mundong kontrolado ng holograms at AI automation, bakit may isang simpleng mechanical bike sa loob ng isang virtual scrap yard? Habang sinusubukan niyang ayusin ang natagpuang bisikleta, natuklasan niya ang isang misteryosong virtual interface na nagbibigay sa kanya ng access sa isang hidden upgrade system. Sa bawat pagkatuto ng bagong bike tricks at pagkolekta ng bike parts mula sa dump site, unti-unting lumalakas si V-at mas lumalapit sa isang katotohanang matagal nang nakatago. Ano ang tinatago ng Novu-Mundu City? Bakit pilit na iniiwasan ng mundo ang tunay na realidad? At paano kung ang sikreto sa labas ng virtual na mundo ay nasa simpleng dalawang gulong lang? Isang futuristic adventure na puno ng action, discovery, at pagsalungat sa nakatakdang kapalaran. Sa mundong puro automation, isang batang itinapon ang muling gagamit ng sariling paa-at pedalan ang kanyang daan palabas.

[BOOK ONE of SHORT STORY SERIES] [To the memory of all my departed loved ones, this book is dedicated with love and remembrance] An ordinary old man, Moacir, embarks on an extraordinary journey that transcends time, memory, and life itself. One night, he discovers an enchanted 11-step staircase in his home, each step leading him through significant moments of his past-each one a unique lesson, a reflection of the man he once was, and the man he became. As he ascends each step, he is transported back to the pivotal chapters of his life. Through his journey, he is reminded of the importance of creating lasting memories with his loved ones, of living with no regrets, and of passing down the values that matter most. In the end, he understands that the staircase was not just a path through time, but a journey to find peace, and to understand the true meaning of a life well-lived. With heartfelt moments, and universal lessons on love, loss, and redemption, this book is a poignant exploration of the power of memory, the wisdom of age, and the timeless bonds that tie us together across generations. It's a story that reminds us all to embrace the beauty of the journey, to live with intention, and to leave behind a legacy that will be felt long after we're gone.

She was ready to break hearts- not the fourth wall. Our heroine, Kira, an indie game dev and self-professed romcom addict, wakes up in the body of Lady Verenia Eltis, a supposed "villainess" in a cliché magical academy setting-but there's just one catch: The game doesn't exist. Like, at all. There is no source material, no dating sim, no anime. It's not an otome game. It's just... a weirdly genre-aware fantasy world that thinks it's a romcom game. Everyone talks like they're in a visual novel. The world has routes. Love interests sparkle. Confession flags trigger sparkly music. But there's no main heroine-and Verenia is the only one who seems to notice that nothing makes sense.

BOOK THREE [OAK TREE SERIES] "Glamour hides the darkest truths. And she's about to expose them all." Liza Sanchez was born behind golden gates, wrapped in diamonds and deception. As the fiery daughter of a powerful businessman, she grew up surrounded by luxury-and lies. While the world saw a pampered child, she was quietly breaking the mold: laughing louder, loving harder, and dreaming of a life on her own terms. But when her first love ends in heartbreak and an accident sends her tumbling from a cliff-literally-everything changes. Saved by a woman from her forgotten past, Liza awakens into a new life and a new purpose: to dismantle the criminal empire her family helped build. And she's not alone. Enter Milo- a disgraced heir of their family. Mysterious, magnetic, and carrying secrets of his own, he offers to help her take the organization down. But is his redemption real... or just another deception? As old wounds bleed into new alliances, Liza must navigate a world of hidden truths, dangerous romance, and a legacy of betrayal. Because some stories don't begin until after the fall-and this time, she's writing her own ending.

What if the joke was the lesson? This book is a punchy, offbeat collection of jokes that will make you cringe but sneak in wisdom when you least expect it. From terrible exes to soul-sucking jobs to late-night existential crises, these aren't just punchlines-they're life lines. Each chapter explores a theme-from identity to money, love to failure-through clean jokes, spicy stories, and absurd moments that land with surprisingly real truths. You'll laugh. You'll learn.