Armchair BEA 2013: Introductions

Designed by Nina Reads

It's 2013 and Armchair BEA is now here!!! A huge thank you to the people behind this awesome virtual convention for those of us who couldn't be at the expo physically.

Welcome, oh exalted ones, to Whatever You Can Still Betray!

Uh huh, there was something odd about that welcome. Come and spill all your secrets to me! Yes, that's probably it although it was really just an accident why I named this little blog of mine, Whatever You Can Still Betray. It did come from John LeCarre's "Love is whatever you can still betray" but I must have been out of sorts that day. It could be that this blog was first made with the intention of spilling all my inner thoughts, dreams, kooky, ideas and angst so that is where the "can still betray" part comes. But before I get ahead of myself I guess it's better if, you know, I introduce myself.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?
Hi, I'm Ayanami Faerudo or Myrtle in real life. My mom liked her college classmate's name so much, she named me after her. I'm an exam away from graduating and earning my master's degree in Asian Studies (area of specialization: Japan). 
I've been blogging for almost three years now. As I said above, I've originally started blogging so I could share my thoughts, opinions, the chocolate I stashed in my closet, pent-up frustrations, dreams, nightmares, cute boys - you know, the reason we keep a secret diary. *laughs* And then it gradually segued into a book blog once I discovered blogs discussing about books other than Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. Most of these books are not available here in my country nor were popular here so I didn't have someone to fangirl with nor discuss YA books with. So blogging about books that I read and loved paved a way for me to learn, virtually meet other book lovers.
Where in the world are you blogging from? Tell a random fact or something special about your current location. Feel free to share pictures.
I'm from the Philippines! *beauty queen wave* No, I am not from Manila although I study there but I come from a little town where it got its name from being shrouded with fog during early mornings when the sun has not penetrated through the horizon yet.

Majestic by ~ayanamifaerudo

Have you previously participated in Armchair BEA? What brought you back for another year? If you have not previously participated, what drew you to the event?
This is the third time participating. Wooooohoooo! I was not as active as I was in the previous conventions. Does it help if I was enjoying myself just going the rounds and learning more of the other participants? *hopeful grin* That's what brought me back for another year. Seriously, you guys were amazing talking about books and things that have been eye-opening, leading me to more books (I can't just get enough) and discussing blogging in general which gave me a lot of insights.
What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2013?
I just finished reading Prep School Confidential yesterday. The synopsis said it was a cross between Gossip Girl and Twin Peaks... I didn't read nor watch Gossip Girl (though I know the gist of things) and I've never heard of Twin Peaks before (sorry) but I just gave it a try and you know what? I just couldn't put down the book once Anne went into Nancy Drew mode.
My favorite so far in 2013 is not a book but a manga. It is called Basara and it's a 27-volume piece of pure awesomeness. I can't help but gush about this manga which I haven't gushed yet here in this blog - I can't even say the words because of my excitement. Why haven't I heard of this before??? Why is it not famous???
What literary location would you most like to visit? Why?

I couldn't really say I want to go to Middle Earth, could I? But I could definitely say that I want to go to New Zealand because the movies did their tourism-promotion job pretty well.

So that's it. That's me. Oh, I'm looking forward to know all of you.