SANDMAN CONFESSIONS/

Read this entry with a lovely British accent if you can.

Neil Gaiman’s notable notes on the Philippines:
(from his blog http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/journal.asp)

“In the Philippines, the people are enthusiastic on a level that makes the Brazilians look reserved and polite. They shout very loudly when they're happy, too. There's a noise that a few thousand of the locals make when they all shout at once to let you know they're happy to see you that made me finally understand the idea of a wall of sound...”

“I don't think I've ever been more exhausted at any point in a signing tour than I am right now. (Having said that, I don't remember ever having felt so loved by so many people.) But I get to sleep until I wake up and that's so good...
PS. I think I'm now addicted to calamansi juice.”

“And I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who made my trip to the Philippines the most memorable trip ever. I'd thank you all personally but there are several thousand of you, and my fingers would start to hurt again.”

Bloody hell, what a thoroughly enjoyable man. I must remember to insist to have him for tea (or calamansi juice if he prefers) the next time he is in Manila.

In Neil’s trip to Manila, he drew in an unprecedented number of 3,000 people on his first day alone. This is amazing considering that this renowned author’s largest crowd before was 2,000. Out of that 3,000, I think only half were lucky enough to get his coveted signature.

So here begins my shameful confessions of how I managed to be part of the lucky half. First, I must admit that I bought a copy of the last Sandman graphic novel just to get it signed. There you have it! I’m a fair-weathered fan. An incredible poser. One of the 2823 people who mobbed Neil Gaiman for no good reason other then to join in the fun. In other words, isa akong ususero!

(Toodles to you if you managed to say that lost word in Brit speak)

I dragged my brother to Greenhills that fateful Saturday with the sole intent of getting my bloody book signed. But to my dismay, they had already given out priority passes by the time I got there. Since it was the second day, the crowd included the spillover from Rockwell the night before. The situation had gotten so out of hand that the owner of Fully Booked announced that you could actually refund books that were bought just for the signing. I was going to wage war with the buffed up bouncers, when a wave of guilt hit me. I haven’t even read the book in my hand, what gave me the right to be so adamant about getting it signed? I was going to walk away disappointed, but with my dignity intact… when the crowds parted and gave way to the man himself.

So there I was… in the frontlines as Neil Gaiman stepped out of his car. I was awestruck. People around me were screaming and yelling out their love for this man and there I was merely 3 feet away from the curly haired Brit. I had to stay even if just to bathe in his loveliness for a little while longer. Through his reading, I ran into a friend who generously offered to get my book signed since he had a pass. For no explainable reason, I started jumping up and down. (Man, I’m a real a sucker for the stars. I would’ve been a groupie had I been born a different time.)

I know Gaiman fans out there will be looking to do a hit on me, but I’m not totally despicable. I had tried to read Sandman maybe 5 years back, but I couldn’t find a copy anywhere. So I settled for his novel, “Neverwhere”. And just the fact that I actually finished that awful novel should entitle me to a little bit of sympathy. Besides, I’m doing well on my promise to finish the Sandman series having already borrowed the first book. So there, confession complete.

Thanks to Tim for giving up having two books signed instead of one, so he could give me his slot. I am now the proud owner of autographed copy of “Endless Nights”. Neil Gaiman even drew little eyes on the mask. Bloody hell, what a lovely man. Btw, I sure hope Tim never reads this. I have a good feeling this hardcore fan would not take lightly to a wannabee like me =)