Jhael Hazel Marie L. Abucejo Sir Ricky G.

Agbay
Grade 11-HUMSS A March 2,2018

Book Review: Paano Ba ‘To?!

How to Survive Growing Up
“Paano ba ‘to?!” (“How do I do this?!”) seems to be the most essential question we have tried—
and are still trying to answer since we became acutely aware that we have grown old. We are preparing
to face adulthood. As we take uncertain steps forward, we desperately search for validation that we are
doing just fine. Good thing there are reading related literature that can lead me to useful tools in
formulating my framework for life—Bianca Gonzalez’ Paano Ba ‘To?!, for one.

Bianca Gonzalez, TV host/Editor-in-Chief of Meg magazine/columnist/Young Global

Shaper/blogger aka all-around superhuman, shares her life lessons and secrets to being SUPER through
her first book, Paano Ba ‘To?! How to Survive Growing Up.

This book is a compilation of advice for teen Filipinas or even titas on: 1) Family, 2) Friendship, 3)
Love, 4) Career & Money, 5) Failure, 6) Fashion & Beauty, 7) Purpose and 8) Self. In each chapter, there
are the Q&A's, real stories, list of 10, from the expert and life lessons from different personalities like
Toni Gonzaga, Anne Curtis, Luis Manzano, Ramon Bautista and Atom Araullo

Bianca would start a chapter with a little introduction and proceed with Question & Answer
part. There are questions for Bianca and she would answer and give her advice like a well-
meaning Ate (older sister). And after every topic, there is an activity for us to do and jot down our
thoughts.

Given all those, could this book be more awesome?? Yes! ‘Cause aside from hope, inspiration and
answers delivered with wit, honesty and humor, it contains an eye-catching quote illustrations and
calligraphy at the end. The book looks very much like a book for teens with its fun doodles in the pages of
the book. Every page is different from the next.

Reading this book can allow you to take a glimpse of Bianca’s life without her over- revealing too
much and not making it like an all-out autobiography. Rather what it does, it gives the readers some
guidance in their life’s crossroads and answers some burning questions they wanted to ask someone ” who
knows better” and has been through it.

She’s genuine, honest and vocal with her thoughts and causes. With her book, people now know
that even people in the limelight experience struggles just like everyone else.
WHAT I LIKED:
On professing your love to your crush
“ TA N DA A N , DA L AG A N G PI L IP I NA K A , WA G K A NG A AM I N ! ” — R A M O N B AU T I S TA

On handling office blunders

“ I F YO U CA N C O R R E C T I T, D O S O, A N D L E A R N YO U R L E S S O N A N D N E V E R D O I T
A G A I N . YO U W I L L E A R N YO U R W O R K M AT E S ’ R E S P E C T E V E N M O R E I F YO U CA N M O V E
O N F R O M B L U N D E R S G R AC E F U L LY , I N S T E A D O F T R Y I N G T O AV O I D E V E R YO N E O R
R A N T I N G B Y P OS T I N G A C O N T R O V E R S I A L O R C R Y P T I C S TAT U S O N FA C E B O O K . ”

On managing your money

“ N E V E R B U Y A N Y T H I N G W I T H M O N E Y YO U D O N ’ T H AV E . ”

On being an awesome workmate

“ N E V E R U N D E R E S T I M AT E P E O P L E . YO U ’ L L N E V E R K N O W H O W T H E Y CA N H EL P YO U
IN THE FUTURE.”

On failure
“ I N E V E R Y S E T B A C K , TH E R E I S A C H A N C E F O R A C O M E B A C K . ”

On choosing your career

“WE H AV E TO MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNIT Y, BUT THE CR U C I A L
I N G R E D I E N T I S H AV I N G A C L E A R I D E A O F W H O YO U A R E A N D W H AT YO U S TA N D F O R
S O YO U D O N ’ T G E T L O S T I N T R A N S I T I O N . ” — AT O M A RAU L L O

On being comfortable with yourself

“MAGBO-BLOOM KA RIN.”

There is no ultimate guide to growing up tailored for every one of us. As Bianca herself wrote:
“Ikaw lang ang makakasagot niyan… ” The truth is, growing up is a personal experience – we can only
learn by going through it ourselves. It involves intricate and individual discoveries. However, it is
comforting to know that there are people out there who are not only going through the same but are
also willing to share how they survived growing up. I would really recommend this masterpiece to others
to let them become the best version of themselves!