We are all attracted to a good story. You'll feel it in the music, in the lyrics of the song, in the movement of the sky, and the focus of the camera, or while binging on Netflix. It's a human thing.
I've had my literary work showcased in a school publication that reached national acclaim, in an online archive that won the Hugo Awards, and random blogs here and there.
In 2023, I accomplished the significant milestone of publishing a book—a journey that spanned an entire year. It was a challenging endeavor, yet it stands as one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, transcending any immediate financial gain. I took classes, I read several books, I hired an editor, I learned how to market it, and I launched it on the day I intended it to launch. While the book diverges from my professional work, I’m diligently cultivating my identity as an independent author under a pen name. I look forward to sharing that name once my writing achieves a measure of success I’m proud of.
I've had my literary work showcased in a school publication that reached national acclaim, in an online archive that won the Hugo Awards, and random blogs here and there.
In 2023, I accomplished the significant milestone of publishing a book—a journey that spanned an entire year. It was a challenging endeavor, yet it stands as one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, transcending any immediate financial gain. I took classes, I read several books, I hired an editor, I learned how to market it, and I launched it on the day I intended it to launch. While the book diverges from my professional work, I’m diligently cultivating my identity as an independent author under a pen name. I look forward to sharing that name once my writing achieves a measure of success I’m proud of.
Poetry
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Sa Pag-ulan
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English Translation
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"Sa Pag-ulan" - When it Rains
If the raindrop which comes from the soil
that reached the sky finds itself a chance to water the land again as a blessing
towards our hands, watering the plants which in turn becomes mud
that mixes with color...
and I tell you that this is merely a symbol of your life,
of your heart, the purity of your soul and psyche...
Will you laugh?
Will you agree with me that we are mere droplets,
of the fate that the gods have seemed to shape us with...
and that we will continue to fall, again and again,
without a sense of how it happens?
Not knowing that we are only headed in one direction,
even if it is in chaos and confusion,
and we will come together despite that,
and we will destroy ourselves despite that,
and in the end, we will find ourselves in "heaven"?
Or perhaps in hell?
We are like the rain if our conscience is stained
then the stain will not be removed from our bodies and our souls,
unless something unfortunate happens,
or in a stranger's eyes, it might be luck,
that we forget the memory of it,
until the color fades,
from the droplets of the rain...
If the raindrop which comes from the soil
that reached the sky finds itself a chance to water the land again as a blessing
towards our hands, watering the plants which in turn becomes mud
that mixes with color...
and I tell you that this is merely a symbol of your life,
of your heart, the purity of your soul and psyche...
Will you laugh?
Will you agree with me that we are mere droplets,
of the fate that the gods have seemed to shape us with...
and that we will continue to fall, again and again,
without a sense of how it happens?
Not knowing that we are only headed in one direction,
even if it is in chaos and confusion,
and we will come together despite that,
and we will destroy ourselves despite that,
and in the end, we will find ourselves in "heaven"?
Or perhaps in hell?
We are like the rain if our conscience is stained
then the stain will not be removed from our bodies and our souls,
unless something unfortunate happens,
or in a stranger's eyes, it might be luck,
that we forget the memory of it,
until the color fades,
from the droplets of the rain...
Magazine, Tabloid, News, Literary Folios
During college and high school, I worked with publications. All the photos below are memories from LAVOXA - Lasallian Voices in Action, a recipient of the Catholic Mass Media Awards among other prestigious awards. I've worked with photographers, writers, editors, and done my share of research and writing. One thing that echoes with me during that time was for anything that is published, there should at least be "responsible journalism".