Raising a kid is a difficult task for Sandro, especially if the child is not his own. When adoption is the only way for him to have the right for his best friend's only daughter, how far will he go when blood is always thicker than water? • • • • At a young age, Sandro experienced firsthand how difficult it is to grow up without parents. That's why, following the loss of his best friend and the girl he had courted, he took care of his best buddy's only child. With the support of Alyna, his supervisor and open-secret crush, Sandro will try to be a responsible dad for Chamee, despite his poor temper. But his role as a single father to Chamee doesn't end with the adoption papers; he also has to travel to Aklan to meet Chamee's blood relatives. Will he be able to make it through his journey in Aklan as Chamee's adopted father? Is blood be always thicker than water? ************ The Wayward Son in Aklan © July 2021 by Elena Buncaras ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author, excepting brief quotes and lines used in some description, written specifically for inclusion in this book. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, some places, and incidents are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All Rights Reserved

WATTYS 2021 WINNER The 1st Novel from the 'One World Empire' Series "Bakit kung sino pa ang siyang tunay na nagmamahal sa bayan, siya pa ang nililitis sa ilalim ng hindi makatarungang hustiya." Ang mga salitang ito ang tumatak sa isip ni Ino sa panahong bago mapatay ang kanyang itinuturing na ama na si Padre Inocencio taong 1893. Dahil sa pagkakapatay mula sa hindi makataong paglilitis ng mga Espanyol sa kanyang pinakamamahal na ama, bumuo ng sikretong samahan si Inocencia o Ino. Sa hindi inaasahan, napatay si Ino ng mga sundalo ni Aguinaldo matapos harangin ang pag-aresto kay Andres Bonifacio noong April 26, 1897. Pero matapos ang daang taon, muling nabuhay ang pagiging makabayan ni Ino nang magising siya sa isang lugar na minsan na niyang napuntahan - ang Intramuros. Sa muling pagmulat ng kanyang mga mata, nakita ni Ino na nasa ibang panahon siya, 2993, at ang tanging naiwang alaala lang ay ang pagkamatay ng kanyang ama na si Padre Inocencio. Nabuhay muli si Ino para ipaglaban ang tama at kung muli man siyang mamamatay, muli rin siyang bubuhayin ng isang Secret Society na kinabibilangan ng mga scientist at dating mandirigma ng Pilipinas. Sino nga ba sila at ano ang kanilang layunin? (UNEDITED VERSION)

Crisanta Camila Alcazar is the baby girl of Altagracia. Bunsong anak ng may-ari ng isang malaking azucarera, she was pampered and always prim and proper. Walang mag-aakalang may magagawa siyang isang bagay na ikakahiya ng kanyang pamilya. When it happened, she was devastated. The truth was revealed and yet everyone seems to their fingers to someone else, hindi siya. Hindi siya kayang paratangan ng probinsiya ng ganoong bagay. She was guilty and regretful. She carried it within her, and never forgave herself. Nang umuwi si Alonzo Salvaterra, nakita niyang pagkakataon iyon para humingi ng tawad. She was always soft spoken but this time, she hopes that her voice was enough. And that it will get to him. This is the second book of Azucarera Series. The series consist of three books. The two other books are: Against The Heart (Azucarera #1) Hold Me Close (Azucarera #3)

Josefa Hanabella Valiente is the ugly girl of Altagracia. She is often bullied because of her ugly looks. Binansagan siyang ng maraming pangit na pangalan at nasanay na siya roon. Now that her father's dead, everyone bullied her more. The people of Altagracia hated her father's deeds and she can't do anything about it. Tanging ang pusa niya na lang ang kakampi dahil mismong ang kamag-anak ay masama rin ang trato sa kanya. Her heart got broken and she swore to herself that she would never be that helpless bullied girl again. In time, she earned her place and is now popular, the way she wanted it. Pero nang bumalik ang lalaking bumasag sa bata niyang puso, bumabalik ang mga pangarap niya noon. Her daydreams came back, too and she didn't know what to do. Her daydreams that consist of many things. Including holding him close. This is the third and last book of Azucarera Series. The series consist of three books. The two other books are: Against the Heart (Azucarera #1) Getting to You (Azucarera #2)

Charlotta Yvonna del Real is the queen of Altagracia. Anak ng may-ari ng malaking Azucarera, she has it all - friends, popularity, riches, boys. But well, maybe, not all. May madilim na lihim ang kanyang pamilya. Isang bagay na hindi inaasahan para sa kanila. The deal Real's were always the epitome of a perfect family, not until that night. Inukit sa puso niya ang galit at pagkamuhi para sa mga Castanier. She was sure that when the Lenadro Castanier is back, she would throw them out of Altagracia. Even if it was against her heart. This is the First book of Azucarera Series. The series consist of three books. The two other books are: Getting to You (Azucarera #2) Hold Me Close (Azucarera #3)

Lavender is in love with Yuan, the perfect guy--kind, sweet, charming, and a musician like her. The problem? He's not real. He only exists in her dreams. *** Lavender Laxamana can't sing or play the guitar in front of anyone anymore. She hides in her dreams where she can perform and play music to her heart's desire with Yuan. Lavender has already accepted that the man she loves is just a figment of her imagination, but when she crosses paths with Aki, a starting artist who goes by the name of Musikero and looks and sounds like Yuan, Lavender is hopeful they can finally be together in real life. But reality slaps her in the face when she finds out Aki is the exact opposite of Yuan, and he loathes her. While Lavender struggles to find the connection between Yuan and Aki, can she finally find the courage to stop escaping from reality--no matter that Aki may be in love with another woman? And can she finally face the rhythm and beats of her heart and pursue her passion again? How far will she go--or not go--for her dreams? DISCLAIMER: This story is written in Taglish. COVER DESIGN: Regina Dionela

(Game Series # 3) Avery Brienne Eliseo never wanted the 'normal' life. Ever since she was born, she already knew that the life she'd lead would be far from what's normal... until her stupid cousin decided to 'protect' her by giving her a new life. But she wasn't stupid. She knew that one day, she'd have to go back to save his ass. She needed to make friends--powerful friends. She needed people who would be of help when she needs protection. And where would she find powerful friends? In law school. The students there are the future presidents, senators, and congressmen of the country. She needed to be friends with powerful people... And when she met Maven de Marco and learned that he's the most powerful one? She's determined to make him hers.

(Game Series # 2) Aurora Marie Floresca just wanted to escape their house. Ever since her father re-married, palagi na silang nag-aaway dalawa. She wanted her father to be happy, of course, but not with that evil step-mother wannabe. Unang pagkikita pa lang nila, masama na ang kutob niya sa babae. She wanted happiness for her father, but definitely not with that woman... But unfortunately, the witch won. She managed to get her father to throw Rory out. She was forced to stay in Manila for the meantime. She didn't know what to do in Manila! Wala naman doon ang mga kaibigan niya. Wala siyang pamilya. The only consolation she got was the condo unit from her father--well, at least hindi naman yata gusto ng tatay niya na sa kalsada siya matulog. She'd probably get a job or study again, she wasn't sure yet, but she's certain that everything would be fine... until she realized that her next door neighbor would be keeping her up all night with all the banging against the wall.

(Game Series # 1) For as long as Katherine could remember, Juan Alexandro Yuchengco has always been her dream guy. He's smart, kind, and could be funny when he wanted to... but the problem was, he never saw her as more than his sister's friend. And she's determined to change that. She followed him to law school. She made sure that he's aware of her presence... and thankfully, her efforts paid off. Finally, Jax was looking her way. But life is never simple. Life is a game. It's either you win or you lose. It's either you get it all or you lose it all. Kapag akala mong nandyan na, biglang mawawala pala. Kapag akala mong iyon na, may iba pa pala. But how will she play if all the cards are stacked against her?

UNIVERSITY SERIES #5. Ever since they were kids, Avianna Diaz from UST Architecture and Larkin Sanchez from UP Film were inseparable, not until Larkin's fame grew over time, and they suddenly found themselves taking different roads at the same time.