No Gimmicks: Free Books For Download

Hi there visitors and followers alike.

How have you been? The COVID-19 has affected all of us tremendously. Thousands have died and many more have been infected. The World Health Organization wasn't prepared at all and our own Department of Health couldn't figure a way to contain and stop this deadly virus. Together with my family, we continue to pray for the safety, protection and enlightenment of everyone from this global pandemic.

And if you have run out of things to do at home and if you have gone to visit all the spots in your house, you're probably searching for distractions. Have you gone on to develop that biceps you have been wishing to do so? Have you, just like much of the FB posters and users have done, gone on to do baking? Or have you started playing chess online again after a long hiatus?

Or are you one of the millions of readers all over the world in search of books? Free books?

Well I'm sharing the following links for you to visit. They are not mine but they will give you tons of books to download for free. No gimmicks.

Go check out Project Gutenberg

"It is a library of over 60,000 free eBooks. Choose among free EPub and Kindle eBooks, download them or read them online. You will find the world's great literature here, with focus on older works for which U.S. copyright has expired. Thousands of volunteers digitized and diligently proofread the eBooks, for enjoyment and education."

You can also visit HathiTrust Digital Library. 

"Founded in 2008, HathiTrust is anot-for-profit collaborative of academic and research libraries preserving 17+million digitized items. HathiTrust offers reading access to the fullest extent allowable by U.S.copyright law, computational access to the entire corpus for scholarly research, and other emerging services based on the combined collection. HathiTrust members steward the collection---the largest set of digitized books managed by academic and research libraries ----under the aims of scholarly, not corporate, interests."

The Internet Archives can also give you books for free. Aside from free books to download or read, they have a Way Back Machine were you can type-in a website name or link and it will show it to you.

The New York Public Library paid to parse the information in the Catalog of Copyright Entries.

But here is my newest favorite discovery, a website that "reformats" an books into newer versions of Ebooks. Ladies and gentlemen here is Standard Books. 

"Free and liberated Ebooks, carefully produced for the true book lover".

And finally, my go to place, PDFDrive.Com. You don't need to create an account to get any available book you may have in mind. As long as it is available out of 80,915,893 eBooks for you to download for free. 

The 2014 National Children's Book Day Fair

Here's an announcement I got through my inbox, thanks to our school librarian, Ms. Agnes M:

July 15, 2014 is the Philippines' 31st National Children's Book Day! The Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) is organizing a children's book fair at Museo Pambata, Roxas Boulevard corner South Drive, Manila. The following publishers and organizations are participating in the fair:

Adarna House * Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang InK) * Anvil Publishing Inc.  The Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development (CANVAS) Dream Big Books * Hiyas * Lampara Books * LG&M Chikiting Books
Save the Children Philippines * Tahanan Books for Young Readers

Publishers will present their latest children's books through performances, games, and even cooking demonstrations! Booths at the fair will sell books, magazines, and art for children. There will be discounts, giveaways, face painting, a drawing/coloring corner, storytelling sessions, and book signings and meet & greets with authors and illustrators.

See you all on July 15 (Tuesday), from 9A.M. to 5P.M., at
Museo Pambata for the 2014 National Children's Book Day Fair!

Warmest wishes,

Frances Ong  

Tahanan Books

Trese Series: Twist and Shout

Yes I read the 5 books in the Trese series created by Budjette Tan and illustrated by Kajo Baldisimo about two months ago. I was introduced into the series by one of my students last year when we were discussing Pinoy Pop Culture, particularly Filipino Komiks.

When she brought the 5 books and showed them to me, I simply nodded to show her that I do approve her reading the series but I never read it nor even touched any of it. I thought this was another thrashy-time-wasting-publication that National Bookstore was propagating by having so many stocks on display all over the Philippines.

Then I chanced upon one of our school librarian and IT guy discussing about Alexandra Trese and how almost everything in the stories are very Filipino. Something ticked and I said I should start reading Trese.

Then one Friday afternoon, the universe opened and before I knew it, I was reading Book 1 and could not even put it down. Thanks to Mr. F for lending me his 5-volume collection of the series, I managed to read it everything in one weekend.

And my daughter did the same thing, she read after me and beside me on the sofa. She would ask me which book I' have read so that she can read too. And we were in awe! Filipino mythology in twisted form that will leave the readers screaming, shouting for more.

Where's Trese Six?

Thanks Budjette and Kajo!

And today I chanced upon Rappler's interview of the creators of Alexandra Trese, Budjette and Kajo:

   

Quo Vadis Pugad Baboy?

After a week of waiting and no news as where Pol Medina Jr. will bring his "baboys" in the Pugad that he created and nourished for a good 25 years, I ask the question now, Quo vadis Pugad Baboy?

The events leading to PM's resignation has been publicized and almost everyone on the Internet has something to say about it, I thought I should refrain from riding the wave of hits for my blog traffic. But here I am, writing about Pugad at almost 12 midnight.

I should.

I should because Philippine Komiks is back and in the mainstream with all the publication coming out every month and the recent turn out of Summer Komikon, Pinoy Komiks is back and I really hope its for good.

PM never wavered in following his passion and perfecting his craft. Pugad Baboy has become part of Pinoy consciousness. During the lean years, PM stayed and worked on his Pugad. He has inspired thousands of Filipino artists and one of them is Arnold Arre,

Arre created the video Pugad Baboy Shuffle as a simple thank you to PM. Let's watch it now:





Pol Medina Jr.'s comic strip that caused a sensation and which led him to resign over at Philippine Daily Inquirer:

And the now-collectible resignation letter from Pol to his boss, Ms. Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc:

I envy the guy holding this copy, seriously!

Chess with Jughead

Chess was featured in the Best of Jughead, Crowning Achievements by Tom Root, Craig Boldman and Rex Lindsey.

In the story The Right Moves, Jughead was playing chess with Archie in the opening frame:

Archie: "I didn't know you were a chess player!"

Jughead: "The grand game of strategy and skirmish? Sure!"

Go out and buy this one, for the comic book freak and lover of chess.

Free Comic Book Day 2013

If you have time, you can still make it to the Free Comic Book Day at Fully Booked and Comic Odyssey:

Free Download: Journey through Chess

Here is a free download for all our readers and visitors. Another book written by UK's Number 1 chess author and teacher, Richard James. Journey through Chess was published this year for free. It is a collection of the most important ideas and concepts from his heavy-traffic, rich-content chess website, ChessKids Academy:

Journey Through Chess by buenaventura_f_a

Free Download: Memoirs of an Anti-Apostle

Here is a copy of the book Memoirs of an Anti-Apostle which according to Amazon,  is said to be:

"A dramatic account about a Communist who purposely enters the Catholic priesthood (along with many, many others) with the intent of subverting and destroying the Church from within. Tells of his commission to enter the priesthood, his various experiences in the seminary, and the means and methods he used and promoted to help effect from within the auto-dissolution of the Catholic Church. Absorbing and compelling reading from beginning to end. The author explains how she found the information on this Communist-priest and why she decided to publish those findings. Helps to explain much of what has happened to undermine the Catholic Church today."

I've heard about this book in 1996 but never really had the money to buy and order online, I had to settle myself to reviews and comments found on the internet. Two weeks ago, when I've decided I'm willing to shell out $25 for the ebook, that's when I found a free download in one of the ebook hosts scattered online.

So here it is:

The Memoirs of an Anti-Apostle by buenaventura_f_a

RP's Academic Journals Online

I found two links that will lead you to a collection of Academic Journals, one is the PhilJOL and the other is Public Knowledge Project:

1. Philippine Journals Online
2. Public Knowledge Project   

Read, read and read some more. There is no excuse for not reading.

Scholastic Book Sale

Here's a note from Scholastic Books:

"Scholastic is holding a book sale! 

We're selling a pack of 10 books for just Php 200 / Php 300!  You would find award-winning andbestselling treasures in the packs.  Some of the featured authors are Rick Riordan, C.S. Lewis, Suzanne Collins, Cornelia Funke, Jerry Spinelli, Roald Dahl and Tamora Pierce."

Scholastic Book Sale

Scholastic Monster Sale 2012

Scholastic Books Philippines will have their Monster Sale:

  

Free Download: Song of the Bird

I found a PDF copy of Anthony de Mello's "Song of the Bird" and I'm sharing it here. The Jesuit priest from India wrote some of the finest books on spirituality and awareness which has influenced scholars and leaders from around the world.

Just like any great thinkers and writers, Anthony de Mello had brushes with the Jesuit authority and was faulted for bordering on a rather radical and liberal teachings.

Download this book and try to read it wherever and whenever you feel like it.

SORRY BUT SCRIBD REMOVED THIS DOCUMENT FROM MY COLLECTION. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A COPY, LEAVE A COMMENT AND EMAIL AD. I GOT IT FOR FREE SO I AM SHARING IT TO ANYONE INTERESTED FOR FREE.

Song of the Bird

Cultural Icons of the Philippines

Treasures found over at the National Commission for Culture and Arts. An alphabet of Cultural Icons of the Philippines or also known as Sagisag ng kultura ng Pilipinas:

Sagisag Kultura Ng Filipinas 001

Visit my Scribd page for the rest of the compilation here.

Manual on Population Development Education

Here is my copy of the PopDevEd Manual, published by the San Carlos University Press in cooperation with Philippine Commission on Population and Development. It was surprising to find out about this manual because it was meant to be used for teaching students Catholic schools in the elementary, high school and college levels in the Philippines.

You can download the manual and use it for teaching purposes.

Maybe the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines can use this to spread their cause. The resources are there, why not use it in enlightening the people instead of waging war in the Senate and Congress?

Win without fighting, fight with all your will!

Here it is:

Population and Development Education

Mother's Day 2012

This year's mother's day is celebrated on May 14, Sunday. All over the world, Mother's day is celebrated every second Saturday of May. Every year, the whole world recognizes and celebrates the important role mothers have.

If you want a historical background of the beginnings of Mother's day celebration, you may want to Google the Anna Jarvis and Grafton, West Virginia. Two years after her mother's death in May 1907, Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother in her church. The service took the form of an appreciation of her mother and those of all the attendees. In 1909, this idea or practice became a common thing statewide. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson Established Mother's Day as a National Holiday.

Ironically, Anna Jarvis and her sister Ellsinore, campaigned against the what the holiday celebration had become. The person who did so much to promote the remembrance of every mother on Earth died of poverty fighting against the commercialization of the holiday.

Every mother would love a visit or phone call from their children on this day so whatever gift you may have for them, make sure you deliver it personally.

Anna Jarvis said:

A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother—and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment.

Read more about it.

Happy Mothers day to all the mothers in the world!

Thanks and happy mothers day to my mom,  Cora Buenaventura and to my mother-in-law, Emy Dandan! Above all, I'd like to say thank you to the Blessed Virgin Mary for her unending maternal love to me and the rest of her followers!

I'd like to share this book about her, The Glories of Mary.

Writings of Blessed Maria Agreda

I have been trying to add to my collection the fourth book of Blessed Maria Agreda Mystical City of God but I just can't and I don't know why. Over at Scribd, Miguel Vas has this tons of documents and I've been collecting most of his documents including the four books of Mystical City of God.

Here is one of Miguel Vas set of collection which you guys might find appealing: The Writings of Blessed Maria of Agreda.

2nd Language Learning Guide

Here is a guide book on language learning and second language acquisition by Stephen D Krashen from the University of Southern California.For those new in language teaching like me, this book will be a big help I hope.


SL Acquisition and Learning

Free Download: Chess Evolution Weekly Newsletter Maiden Issue

Here's the First Edition of the Chess Evolution Weekly Newsletter from the guys who gave us Chess Evolution Series.

The newsletter comes with a PGN File that features the best games of the week.
CEWN - English - Issue 11

Summer Kids Workshop @ The National Library

The National Library of the Philippines- Children Section, in cooperation with Children's Literature of the Philippines, is inviting children from 7-12 years old for a Summer Workshop on Storytelling, Puppet making and Arts and Crafts.

To find out more like registration fees and schedule of activities, please call the Reference Division at 310-5033/528-1972 and look for Melai or Kristin.  

64 Things You Need to Know in Chess

Chess maybe as enigmatic as the concept the Holy Trinity in my religion called Catholicism but it is not what it seems. Chess is something you can study over time and learn the intricacies, in and out. Just like any endeavor here on Earth, one has to put in the necessary amount of effort, practice and study in order to master the game.

There are 64 squares on a chessboard and according to John Walker, one has to remember only 64 concepts and ideas to improve in the game. Here is the book Mr. Walker wrote in 2002:

64 Things