"where did you get this cake?"

Life in a new country means countless details that lead to countless questions—and Silvia’s Book hopes to answer them. From finding a home and discovering shopping haunts to who you can trust with your grandfather’s watch, your kitchen plumbing or your precious family photos; from schools to blood banks to navigating these city streets, Silvia’s Book covers what you need to know during your first few years in the Philippines.

Amidst the chatter of a party, after a bite (or two) of a delightful dessert, a woman asked, “Where did you get this cake?” and Silvia’s Book was born. This guidebook began—and grew—with so many questions, and rightfully so: that’s what being in a new place is all about. For the women behind this book—Silvia Davalos, Soledad Gonzales, Marit Yuchengco and Lizzie Zobel—the Philippines has become home, and it is their hope that this book becomes your friend.

Silvia's Book: An Expat's Guide to Living in Manila is available at all branches of Fully Booked. Proceeds go to the Holy Family Home Foundation in Makati.