About me

A journalist, writer, friend, sister, teacher, student, woman, artist, dreamer, and believer all rolled into one.

My world for the first 15 years of my life was the small town called Cataingan (Masbate, Philippines) with my family, relatives, and friends. I grew up with music, parties, food, and people in our home. I would spend my late afternoons in our rooftop watching the clouds or enjoying the stars at night, imagining what it’s like to be out there and wondering what’s beyond my own world.

I moved to Cebu City to study in a university – which meant living away from my parents when I was 16. I only got to see them every summer and Christmas breaks by taking an 11-hour boat ride.  The city expanded my world. I was thrilled to see the busy streets. Lights. Tall buildings. Air-conditioned malls. Cars. Crowd. The dust made my nose itch. I felt lost, but wonderful. There’s more to life, I always told myself.

I got an associate degree in Computer Science and a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications major in Journalism. My first job was to manage a computer shop. A few years later I became an intern at Sun.Star Cebu newspaper, and finally a full-time staff reporter. I wrote for the business section while writing travel, essays, and other feature stories. After being married and while still on my honeymoon with my highly demanding passion in journalism, I got an opportunity to work in Singapore as a writer-editor for the Communications Department of The Navigators, Singapore.

Though it was difficult to leave the newspaper, I was and still am glad that in 2006 until now, I’ve made Singapore my new home. More windows of learning and experience opened for me. I joined a couple of writers groups. Photography officially became a part of what I do and love.  And yes, I got into digital storytelling in 2007 and from that time on, I have never recovered. With my colleague, I co-teach digital storytelling workshops in Singapore and other countries (Philippines, Colorado Springs (USA), and Indonesia, so far). I serve the National Book Development Council of Singapore as a volunteer and co-director of Digital Storytelling Circle, a new initiative.

I still think back of the days when I lay on our rooftop and see the clouds and the stars that made me dream. They felt like confetti falling from the sky. I think I have crossed over the distance and have answered my wondering of what’s beyond. The lovely thing is – it never ends there. Still I whisper to myself – there’s more to life, darling. :-)

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PRESS

Storytelling Goes Digital

by Jacinta Freeman, Wealth Magazine February 2010

“Traditional storytelling has moved from an oral and written form into the digital format, which has huge potential for public awareness programmes, advertising and brand building… ” (read more)

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The Media Specialist

by Aurelia L. Castro, Sun.Star Cebu, Anniversary Special, 24 November 2007

I got high when I saw people in jeepneys or coffee shops read my articles in Sun.Star Cebu. But I was humbled too when I saw the pages where my stories came out being used to wrap dried fish. They didn’t know I had written those stories.

I had dreamed of becoming a reporter, but not a business news writer! It had its jargon that I could barely understand – until I was assigned to the beat and got to tag along with farmers up in the mountains, interview vendors at Carbon market, and tackle economic issues. I saw human creativity, hope, agony, and survival: vendors making money out of computer paper trash, empty-handed parents squeezing out every peso to supply their children’s needs, young entrepreneurs on their new business ventures, and overseas Filipino workers making sacrifices to give their families a good future.

I fumbled my way through business journalism and fell in love with it.

Fast and Furious

Working with a no-nonsense editor known for her “fast and furious” and relentless pursuit of good stories and quality writing, I didn’t need caffeine to keep me awake through the long hours in the newsroom. Even in my dreams, she appeared – giving me my day’s assignments or posting notes on my computer. But I am grateful for her coaching.

After a year of writing for the business section and occasionally for Travel and Weekend magazine, I was given yet another opportunity – to work as a writer in Singapore. Being married to my work at Sun.Star Cebu, it was with heartache and tears that I packed my bags.

My move has opened up more opportunities for me and financial help for my family. Besides writing, I’m now into photography and digital media. As a member of the Singapore Society of Writers, I find myself in the good company of book authors and creative writers. Where I am now, I owe to Sun.Star Cebu.