Neil Gaiman in Manila

This blog post is a story of false expectations.

Expectation #1: The Neil Gaiman book signing would be a subdued and intimate event. Neil gets to sit in a bookstore, where a neat and gradually elongating line is building up in front of him.

Expectation #2: Neil Gaiman isn't THAT popular in the Philippines.

Expectation #3: Having bought 3 books (actually, I bought 5.), I could have them all signed.

Expectation #4:
My friends and I would be able to have our book signed on Saturday (July 9th)

Expectation #5: We would get to be near Neil as he reads a preview of a yet unrealeased book: Anansi Boys.

Expectation #6: I'll get to have Neil sign a dedication on a book that I borrowed from a friend.

It turned out all of these expectations were dead WRONG!. A MOB was waiting to see Neil, which explains why we didn't get a numbered stub for that day, and why we have to strain our eyes to get to see him clearly, or why we have to pan our ears out to hear him tell the Anansi Boys story. And due to the 700 lucky people (out of 3000) waiting to have their books signed, the book signing (sometimes) looked eerily mechanical. The first day of his visit (July 9th, Saturday) was frustrating for me.

Eventually, my frustration caused me to have a different set of expectations for the next day.

New Expectation #1: Maybe around 300 people wouldn't be able to get their books signed today, so tomorrow, they'll all get to fall in line before me.

New Expectation #2:
I'll get my books signed by 7:30 pm, or maybe even not.

No more Expectations #3- #6.
Expectation #1 and #2 are already too much.

As much of a fan that I am of Neil's Murder Mysteries and Coraline, I thought I couldn't go to his signing on the next day. The disappointment was all over me.

Which I overcame, thank God!!!

When I got to the bookstore with my numbered stub, I was immediately ushered right up the front door, with only 3 people in front of me! Neil wasn't there yet, but when he came, I was surprised to find out he'd give a follow-up reading of Anansi Boys that day.


If the pictures posted on the right look like he was this close to me, it's because he was! I'm within arms reach of him as he read. I fancied myself as a boy being read to by a wonderful storyteller.


I also got to have two books signed early, around 4:00 pm. And to think I thought of a good thing to say less than a minute before I spoke with him. Saying "I love Murder Mysteries" might get me an approving grunt only. So I blurted something like, "My friends tell me you have a rockstar personality here in the Philippines."

"You know what, I'm being treated like a rockstar by all these people. And the MTV people were saying, 'You know, a rockstar didn't get to have as much attention as you do.' "

Don't quote me on that. I'm not even sure if my mind was already floating above my head during that time.

I know some people may not understand the excitement, but it's different when you get to read something you believe is so creative, then have its creator right within your reach.

And so you see, this is a story of false expectations. Not that I suggest you start expecting the opposite of what you actually desire. That will be lame. My point is that I've been getting these life-lessons-on-false-expectations lately, and I kinda figured it's best not to be emotionally engaged. I mean, there will always be expectations, but it's best if I come to realize when I get consummated with them.

Note: And if you're not convinced he's like this rockstar, check out this 33.6KB video clip that I got of him. Hehe. :D