This New Zealander loves Pinoy art and food

New Zealander Anne Young had no second thoughts about moving to the Philippines when she was tasked to head the newly-energized Metrobank Card Corporation (MCC). She was instrumental in completing Metrobank’s joint venture with Australia’s biggest bank, ANZ. As MCC’s president of two years, Young has led the organization to phenomenal growth, making MCC one of the country’s fastest-growing credit card companies today.

A mother of two teenaged boys: Kyle, 18, and James, 16, Young manages to engage in several other passions such as art, photography, distance running (she has completed two marathons), dining – she loves Filipino cuisine, traveling to exotic Filipino destinations, and reading a good page-turner. Her booklist:

1) BLANCO: The family of Artists by Alice G. Guillermo

It’s one of the best coffee-table books ever, which I often flip through.  The talent of this Filipino family of artists is awe-inspiring.  I purchased it at the family gallery in Angono, Rizal.

2) FREAKONOMICS by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

A New York Times best-seller.  Fascinating, makes you realize it’s important to look at situations from many viewpoints.  Everyone in the business world should read it.

3)WHY FIRST BORNS RULE THE WORLD & LAST BORNS WANT TO CHANGE IT by Michael Crouse

Interesting! It’s a well-structured argument as to why children behave according to their birth order. Certainly rang true with my two boys!

4) THE HINGE FACTOR: How Chance & Stupidity Have Changed History  by Erik Durschmied

In military terms, the incident that swings a battle from victory to defeat is a moment known as the Hinge Factor.  This book is an entertaining account of various battles and the "actual" Hinge Factors that dictated the outcome.

5) Anything by Harlan Coben (Darkest Fear, Gone for Good, The Final Detail etc.)

He is a best-selling New York writer of crime mysteries.  Great for reading by the pool!

6) THE SOUTH BEACH DIET by Arthur Agatston

What I should be reading but I’m not.

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The Reading Club recommends BARAKO by Pacita Juan, an interesting book on our native coffee. Available at all National Book Store and Powerbooks outlets. Magazine lovers always find something fascinating in Vanity Fair, available for subscription or individual purchase from Emerald Headway and their authorized outlets.

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Your comments and suggestions are welcome at readclub@aol.com. I reiterate, no political releases, please!