The Nine Lives of a Bookshop Cat is Not an Ordinary Cats and Books Story

I just finished reading this charming book, The Nine Lives of a Bookshop Cat by Kentaro Utsugi.  This title has been popping up in my cat Facebook groups, and some members recommended it as a must-read for people like me who love both cats and books.  However, don't be misled by the title into thinking this is a cozy read, because deep down, it is a story of loneliness, resilience, second chances, survival, and yes, the complicated relationship between man and cats.  Told from a cat's point of view, the novel blends fantasy and history; it pulled me in so much that I finished it in a day.

The story follows Kinnosuke, a grumpy black cat who, at the start of the novel, is already on his ninth life.  He is still a kitten, yet after eight previous lives, he has become so cynical and distrustful of people that he doesn't want anything to do with them.  When his mother and siblings left one day and never returned, he set out for the town by himself, ending up in a busy area where people ignored him as they went about their business.  Wandering off to find a quieter place, he came upon the mysterious Hokuto-do (Big Dipper) Bookshop, run by a woman named Erika Kitahoshi.

Initially apprehensive about going to the shop, he stayed away from the shop and its occupants.  Aside from Kitahoshi, the shop also houses four cats who urge him to stop being stubborn and come inside because it is his destiny.  However, Kinnosuke also regarded them with disdain for being pets, which he considered the lowest a cat could go.  Eventually, his need to survive won, and he ventured into the shop where everyone called him Kuro, or black, because he wouldn't tell them his true name.

Once inside, Kinnosuke realized how weird the bookshop actually was.  Erika, whom the other cats call the witch, could actually talk to cats: not the one-way talk we usually do with our kitty, but she could actually understand what the cats were thinking and saying.  Then there were the books that the shop never seemed to run out of, even when there were no deliveries.  The oldest cat in the group, Lulu, explains everything later while doing the shop inventory on her hind legs and clutching a pen with her paw. 

It is also here in the bookshop that Kinnosuke would open up to us readers about his past lives, which he spent in various crucial moments of Japan's history.  Here he explains why he finds it difficult to attach emotionally to other people, including Erika, except for the writer whom he lived with in his third life.  By the way, he learns that all the other cats in the shop once lived with authors, and the annex of the book shows that these were Japanese literary greats.  

Later, he meets a young girl who aspires to be a writer, and when she falls into unfortunate circumstances, Kuro has to overcome his cynicism to help her. It's also here that he finds out about the real story of the bookshop and Erika and restores his faith in humanity.

AI-generated image

What surprised me about this book is its emotional depth. It's not a simple, feel good, whimsical story of a cat in a bookshop as its title suggests.  Instead, it explores complex emotions of distrust and love, of resilience in adversity, compassion, life, and death.  Kinnosuke is such a complicated main character that his narrative becomes reflective and almost meditative.  Couple that with Utsugi's almost soothing and easy-to-follow writing style, and you find yourself completely drawn to the story.  

A word of warning, though.   The story tackles some aspects of animal life and suffering that pet lovers would find difficult and heartbreaking to read.  

In the end, this is not just a story about books and cats, but also compassion and how important it is to give everyone, animal or human, a second chance.  This may be why I, and the other members of our cat group, found it worth reading. 

The Nine Lives of a Bookshop Cat

Kentaro Utsugi

Sylvia Gallagher  (Translator)

Kindle Edition,  187 pages

A Hazy Start to September: Transboundary Haze Reaches the Philippines

 Many of us in Metro Manila woke up on the first day of September to a thick haze hanging over the city, blurring the skyline and obscuring buildings that we normally see even from afar. At first glance, it looked like the typical pollution that plagues the city or, since we had experienced continuous rains before it happened, lingering rain clouds. But we later learned that it was haze that actually traveled hundreds of kilometers, originating from burning forest and peatland fires in Indonesia and carried to the Philippines by the southwest monsoon, or what we call the habagat.

We in Metro Manila were not alone. Social media was full of posts saying the haze also affected parts of Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and the Visayas.   Authorities warned us to limit outdoor activities and wear face masks when going outside because of the worsening air quality. I put on a face mask when I left the house for the office, and seeing other people in the streets wearing face masks reminded me of the pandemic six years ago. Some local governments across the country also suspended classes to protect the children from Metro Manila's acutely unhealthy air.

AI-generated image

Unsurprisingly, the Philippines was not the only one affected. Our fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries Malaysia and Singapore also experienced haze and poor air quality from the Indonesian fires. They were even the ones that bore the brunt of the current transboundary haze because of their proximity to the fire-affected areas. Their air quality reached hazardous levels, disrupting daily life, schools, work schedules, and transportation. 

Transboundary haze from Indonesian fires is not new to the region. Southeast Asia experienced major haze crises in the last three decades. I even remember when an edition of the Southeast Asian Games in Singapore was plagued by haze, making some officials worry about their athletes' health. But for me, what made this episode remarkable was that the Philippines, which, as far as I can remember, had largely been unaffected by past events, found itself directly impacted.

I know the previous incidents led the ASEAN leaders to adopt the Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, where member states agree to work together to monitor fires, share information, and help prevent future haze episodes. I am now watching how ASEAN responds to this latest incident under the Philippines' chairmanship. It would be interesting, given that ASEAN's principle of non-intervention often leads to inaction.

What I find even more unsettling is that this was not a natural disaster. News reports linked the ongoing forest and peatland fires in Indonesia to land-clearing activities for corporate agriculture. Unlike typhoons or earthquakes, these incidents are often preventable. Some reports also indicated that parts of Indonesia are experiencing a long dry spell, contributing to fires spreading in areas not meant to burn. It is quite frustrating to know that actions taken hundreds of kilometers away could make us here in Metro Manila worry about the air we breathe to the point that we need to wear masks and limit our outdoor time. 

Thankfully, it started to rain again yesterday. The environment office hopes the continuous rain helps wash floating smoke particles out of the atmosphere and improve air quality in Metro Manila and other affected areas. Just this morning, the air quality index in the Metro was considered good, meaning air quality was safe for normal outdoor activities, even for those with respiratory sensitivities. However, people sensitive to air pollution still need to take precautions when going outside.  Unfortunately, air quality in the Southern parts of the country, like Mindanao, remains acutely unhealthy.

The haze reminded me how vulnerable we are to the effects of our neglect of the environment and nature. It also showed how the air we breathe connects us, and how we need to do our part to protect it.

Exploring San Fernando, Pampanga: Arts, Food and Faith (Last of 3 Parts)

 After lunch, we continued our trip with a visit to the Sunken Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Bacolor. The shrine stands as a powerful reminder of the devastation brought by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. Massive lahar flows buried much of the original church, with only the roof visible from street level. Today, the shrine continues to serve as a place of worship, but it also stands as a monument to the community's survival and resilience.

One of the shrine's most remarkable features is its altar, carved from the very lahar that once buried the church and surrounding communities. The altar retains the rugged texture and gray tones of the hardened volcanic deposits, creating a stark yet beautiful contrast with the sacred statues and decorations around it.  I stood before the structure in awe of nature's power and in admiration of the resilience and creativity of the people who rose above their misfortune.

At the center of this altar stands the original image of Our Lady of Lourdes, preserved despite the destruction brought by the eruption. The image appears to triumph over the tragedy as it stands atop the lahar deposits. At the same time,  the altar served as a powerful reminder of how devastating nature can be when it unleashes its fury. Yet it also shows how communities can rebuild, recover, and find meaning even after immense loss.

We climbed a stairway behind the altar, which brought us closer to the Our Lady of Lourdes image. There, I touched the image's veil and quietly offered a short prayer. It was a simple yet meaningful moment that added a personal and spiritual dimension to our visit.

Earlier in August, the shrine was flooded after heavy rains from the southwest monsoon, locally known as "habagat."  The statue of our Lady had to be moved to the parish office for safety.

 Our driver later told us about another church in the area that had been buried by the lahar, with only its bell tower and dome still visible above ground. Curious to see it, we set out to find the site. Unfortunately, despite following directions from people we asked on the street, we couldn't find it.  My brother later found out there was indeed another sunken church, but it was in the opposite direction of the route we took.

 Since we couldn't locate the church, we decided to take a break at Our Cafe, considered the largest cafe in the country. I don't know how many customers it could accommodate, but one thing I am sure of is that you wouldn't have to look hard to find a seat there. 

Before heading home, we made one final stop at L.A. Bakeshop, famous for its cheese bread. I bought a box of 16 pieces while my sisters bought other pastries such as the ube ensaymada.  I've tried the cheese bread before when we visited Pampanga, but we bought it from a branch in another location. I really enjoyed it the first time, that's why I included buying it during this trip in my to-do list. 

We had a great day in Pampanga and experienced more than just sightseeing. Each stop exposed us to the arts, cuisine, and other aspects of Pampanga's heritage and character. It was a day filled with learning, good food, and memories.

Exploring San Fernando, Pampanga: Arts, Food and Faith (2nd of 3 Parts)

After our museum visit, we had lunch at Souq (pronounced "sook") Restaurant along Lazatin Avenue. Souq offers a creative fusion of Kapampangan cuisine, widely regarded as among the best in the Philippines, alongside other Filipino and Asian dishes. Since we wanted to sample a variety of flavors, we ordered several dishes to share.

One item I instantly liked was the restaurant's take on Okoy, a favorite Filipino treat traditionally made with shrimp and vegetables. Souq's version was both familiar and unique, a combination of grated papaya, kamote (sweet potato), and kalabasa (squash), topped with shrimp. The fritters did not have the usual patty-like appearance; they looked like a bird's nest and were crunchy and tasty. 

I ordered the crab rice, which I found very good. The rice was soft and must have included malagkit (glutinous rice), and the crab flavor was rich and creamy. Its savory taste made it satisfying, and it paired well with the other dishes we ordered.

My sisters also tried the kare-kare, which featured tender pork belly instead of the usual ox tail or tripe. My sisters, however, found the peanut sauce much sweeter than what we typically expect from a traditional kare-kare. The sweetness was quite pronounced, and I even suspected that the cook might have used peanut butter instead of actual peanuts to make the sauce. Of course, that was only my personal impression, and some diners may enjoy this variation. However, I prefer a more savory and nuttier kare-kare that lets the flavors of the meat, vegetables, and bagoong stand out.

I also had the opportunity to try the Asado Matua, a Kapampangan take on the Chinese dish asado. The dish featured pork shoulder slow-cooked in tomatoes, soy sauce, and calamansi, resulting in a deep, savory flavor balanced by a nice tanginess. The meat was tender and absorbed the rich flavors of the sauce. In a previous trip to Pampanga, I learned that "matua" is the Kapampangan word for traditional or old-style, which made the dish even more interesting. The Asado Matua is the pride of Kapampangan cooking, often served during celebrations and important occasions.  

We also ordered the Pasta sa Taba ng Alimango, or pasta in crab fat sauce. I did not get the chance to try it because I had already ordered the crab rice and didn't want to double down on crab dishes. My sister sampled it, and judging from how little she ate, I suspect she was not particularly impressed. 

Since I was not the one who paid for lunch, I do not actually know how much the meal cost. However, my sisters were very happy with the bill and felt that we received excellent value for the quality and quantity of food we enjoyed. They even said that we probably would have paid considerably more for a similar lunch in Manila. We appreciated the experience even more because of that observation. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Souq, and I'd gladly go back to try their other dishes. 

Original images taken during our trip. No intended copyright infringement.

Apple Pay Finally Arrives in the Philippines

 

Image from apple.com/ph

Apple Pay has finally arrived in the Philippines. After years of wondering when I would be able to use it, Apple Pay launched in the Philippines today, August 4, 2026. The service allows users to make secure payments in stores, apps, and online using their Apple devices.

As someone who already prefers cashless transactions, I’ve been looking forward to this feature on my iPhone and Apple Watch for a long time.

At its launch, Apple Pay had partnered with four banks: Chinabank, GoTyme Bank, Metrobank, and UnionBank, which became the first institutions to support the service, allowing eligible Visa and Mastercard cardholders to add their cards to Apple Wallet and begin using Apple Pay. I have the GoTyme Bank app on my phone, but hopefully, more banks will join in the months ahead as the service gains traction locally.

So far, according to the Apple website, merchants such as Abenson, Anko, Ayala Malls Cinemas, Ayala Malls, Beyond the Box, Coach, Digimap, Foot Locker, Globe, HOKA, Hollister, Jollibee, Lush, Power Mac Center, Rustan’s, SaladStop!, Shake Shack, Smart, The Loop, The Matcha Tokyo, The Movie Snackbar, The Underbelly, and WalterMart Supermarket, and apps and websites including foodpanda, Jollibee, Rustan’s, and Shopee, will accept Apple Pay on launch date. 

To use the service in a participating store, double-click your iPhone’s side button, authenticate with Face ID, and tap the payment terminal. When shopping online, selecting Apple Pay lets you check out without repeatedly entering card details and billing information.

Security is another major advantage. Apple Pay does not store actual card numbers on the device or share them with merchants. Instead, it uses a Device Account Number. Every transaction also requires authentication through Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode, ensuring that payment information is not compromised. What’s more, if your iPhone gets lost or stolen, you can use the Find My app to quickly locate, lock, or suspend payments from that device.

Like any new service, Apple Pay Philippines still has some limitations. Only four Philippine banks and a limited number of establishments currently support the service. Some merchants may not be familiar with Apple Pay just yet since the rollout is so new. I expect adoption to grow as more banks and businesses come on board.

Even with those early limitations, Apple Pay is, I think, an important step forward for digital payments in the Philippines. It’s a small convenience, but one that makes everyday transactions faster, easier, and more secure. I am already excited to use it for my next in-store or online purchase.