About me

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

I was born on 21 June 1977 – the year astronomers discovered  rings around Uranus, and the month Elvis Presley had his last concert.

My world for the first 15 years of my life was the small town called Cataingan (Masbate, Philippines) with my family, relatives, and friends who were also my schoolmates. 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. I felt lost, but wonderful.

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, then a few years later 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 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.

From Cataingan to Cebu and all the way to Singapore, my world has grown bigger. Dreams and possibilities abound. Wherever I go, be it in a small town or a busy city or a first world country – I live in wonder, love, adventure, and beauty. Do I have a choice? It’s all over me.