Sweet on You The Movie

I’ve been telling everyone I know that I know nothing about this movie—why it was chosen, when it was chosen. It just wasn’t on my radar at all, and I thought whoever was saying there would be a Sweet on You movie was joking. But when Harlequin validated the story a few days later…I still couldn’t believe it? I didn’t actually think I would find out more about it, let alone get to see the movie, let alone get to hold a screening for my friends and family at a gorgeous location.

I should learn to ask for more from the world, but for now I’m glad when I’m pleasantly surprised.

As a small birthday gathering, I invited all my friends and some of my family to Sine Pop in Cubao for a special screening of the movie! The venue came as a suggestion from Gabbie, and I was absolutely floored by how beautiful it was. It really set the “screening” mood, I think.

We also had food from niche! They served their tomato crostini with the gorgeous marinated, roasted tomatoes and browned butter. They had a an ensalada dish with shrimp, which reminded me of a ceviche. There was also gulab jamun, and a mocktail that everyone kept asking me the recipe for!

the pretty niche setup against Sine Pop’s bamboo trees

It was really fun (and a little stressful, ngl) to know everyone in the room and catch up a little bit. I really appreciate Tara asking everyone to leave a little post it note for me. Please trust that all your hearts are in my personal diary, and I will keep them forever.

There was also a little surprise from Mina and Tita Angel, who played Tita Reyna in the movie! She came up on screen with a lovely little message wearing their Tomas Family Cafe shirts, it was very cute.

Despite this book being published traditionally, and this movie happening with absolutely none of my input (this is fine!), my roots are still in self-publishing, and putting this screening together sort of felt like a culmination of the things I’ve picked up from publishing my own books for ten years (!).

Always have food, have good family that support you (even if they never read the book, please don’t), readers that are part of the invite, friends and fellow authors that do the little things (like take your photo because you always forget!!!) that make the event extra special.

Make it fun, make it good, make it yours. The rest will follow.

Now enjoy this little video I got from the screening—I knew this scene was coming so I got to catch everyone’s kilig ehe.