“Keep doing what we all love: writing and having fun”

I’m an engineer by profession, a single mom to a daughter who is going to be medical doctor soon. I worked for 23 years in a Japanese company and it’s only when I took up my masters degree that the passion to teach and write was ignited.

I had a short literary stint as a poem writer way back in high school that I had to park it for a while to pursue my career. I had some informal editing job for the company paper but the writing job came after the corporate job. I availed of the early retirement offered by the company in 2013 and became part of Uvocorp in 2014.

I always wanted to live overseas. Living in another place was an option before because my parents were both US immigrants. Afterwards, they became US citizens but eventually they decided to retire here, in the Philippines. I was even coaxing my daughter to have her doctor’s training there but she said: “Mom, the USA has a very good health system already, it’s here where doctors are needed”.

If I were to pick up any place to live, that would be Japan. People are so disciplined and polite, something that we don’t really have here; and it makes me sad.

My #1 piece of advice for people who want to start working in academic writing….Well, for them not to make the same mistakes I made during the first few papers I wrote, it would help a lot to read as much references related to the topic as possible, then do some mind framing about how the paper will be designed. In my case, I visualize how the paper would be like then start writing the first few paragraphs. Then read the paper over and over because there will always be something that needs to be changed.

I tried baking once, but, unfortunately, baking doesn’t like me.

We have a lot of nice places in Philippines, especially in the suburbs and provinces. If you are here, go to the famous beaches in Boracay. They were recently rehabilitated by the government (one of the good things they did), and turned back to its natural view. We also have Palawa with its famous beaches and up north we have lots of beaches and even safari.

The three things that make me nervous are when I’m overspending, when my daughter is about to take major exams and when my family members get sick.

I was born and raised in the city of Manila. I have two brothers and I’m the only girl. While we were young, we were trained to be independent – learned how to cook rice, iron clothes and keep the house at the age of six since both our parents are working. Coming from a family of strong women, I grew up strong willed like them.
What I like the most about writing is the research work since I learn new things. It’s basically being able to explore knowledge more and we, people, are very lucky because we have the Internet now.

Success is when you were able to achieve milestones you have set for yourself, either big or small ones.

The time in my life I was the most proud of was when I was able to defend and present an important project in the Japanese company I used to work before, which until now they are utilizing. It was a production factory re-layout with a total cost of 2 million pesos. I had a team who worked on it and I was more on the concept planning, leadership, and approval-seeking task. I was given 6 months to do everything. I feel it was a legacy I left and every time I see my former staffs, they would always mention it.

I like being a freelancer more, now that I have experienced it. Even I was already in a management position, it was tiring me physically and emotionally. I don’t think I ever want to go back to that kind of corporate life.

The negative sides being a freelancer could be inconsistent paychecks, especially during low season, and late night work. But than you can get to sleep any time of the day, do other things, and lots of “me” time. Like now, I’m hooked in Netflix and Korean movies. Oh, and playing with my dog Chewie.

My favourite Filipino food is Chicken Adobo. Very easy to make. Put together chicken cut into bite sizes, marinate it with crushed garlic, fine black pepper, a cup of vinegar, half a cup of soy sauce and salt. Mix together by hand (it has to be by hand). Let it stay for at least an hour. After that, bring the mixture to a boil and once it does, put it in low fire and allow to simmer until chicken is tender. Taste it every now and then, it should be spicy, salty, and a little tangy.

I would like to buy the book about Michelle Obama, the title is “Becoming Michelle Obama”. I’m fascinated by her. She seems to be well-mannered and interesting. She is my role model.

I think women now are stronger and more independent than they were 10 years ago. We have a lot of women leaders now. But still the glass ceiling is there. Even in our modern times, gender inequality is still rampant.

I think a really important issue right now that is not being talked about as much as it should be is the environment and the greenhouse gases situation. We are still generally dependent on the oil producing economies, which mine out natural crude that literally takes million of years to reproduce. Even if so much has already been said about the benefits of solar energy and other environment friendly alternatives, governments are not too keen about it.

If I had to redo anything last year, that would be…being more organized with things I have to do. And perhaps be more expressive about my advocacy on the environment and adopting dogs.

The simplest things that bring me pleasure? Oh that is easy. Chocolates would really make me smile easily.