Sometime, ago, I got an e-mail about publishing my autobiography and other Blogs Postings into a Book. I answered back, asking for the cost. When I read that an advanced payment is required, I smell a scam. The second E-mail, I ignored. This is the true story.
Filipino CEO Michael Cris Traya Sordilla, better known as Mike Sordilla, has pleaded guilty in the United States to his role in a massive publishing scam that targeted more than 800 authors, many of them senior citizens who dreamed of seeing their books published.
U.S. prosecutors said Sordilla, the founder and CEO of Innocentrix Philippines and former chairman of Hiyas ng Pilipinas, admitted helping run a fraudulent operation from 2017 to 2024. According to the case, sales agents posed as literary representatives and falsely claimed victims' manuscripts had attracted interest from publishers or movie studios. Authors were then persuaded to pay upfront fees for supposed taxes, publishing costs, and other services that never led to the promised opportunities.
Authorities said the group also created fake U.S. companies, including PageTurner, Metro Films, and WP Lighthouse, to make the scheme appear legitimate. Investigators estimate that at least $42 million, or roughly P2.6 billion, was laundered through the operation. Court records say Sordilla personally received nearly $2.73 million, around P168 million, which he has agreed to forfeit. He also faces a restitution order of at least $48.7 million, or about P3 billion, to compensate victims.
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said the scheme didn't just take people's savings, it preyed on their lifelong ambitions. It's a reminder that when someone asks writers to pay upfront for fame or publication, the biggest promise may be the biggest warning sign.
Meanwhile, Did you Know the word Sopranist?
Men who sing in the soprano range are usually called sopranists. This is the most accurate modern term for an adult male who can sing in the soprano vocal range, either naturally or using a highly developed falsetto or head voice.
There are a few related terms that are often confused:
- Sopranist – An adult male who sings in the soprano range. This is the preferred modern term.
- Countertenor – An adult male who typically sings in the alto or mezzo-soprano range, though some exceptional countertenors can also sing soprano roles.
- Boy soprano (or treble) – A prepubescent boy whose unchanged voice naturally sings the soprano range.
- Castrato – A historical term for male singers who were castrated before puberty to preserve their high voices. They were famous in 17th- and 18th-century opera but no longer exist as a recognized practice, which is now illegal and universally condemned.
Some famous modern sopranists include:
- Michael Maniaci – One of the few men who sings soprano without relying on falsetto due to a rare physiological condition.
- Samuel Mariño – An internationally acclaimed opera singer known for his remarkable soprano voice.
The Counter Tenor/Sopranist:
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