GET ME IN PRINT
Words are my first and foremost passion. The following are samples of my work that have been featured in niche magazines and national newspapers. You can also follow my musings on Medium.
Measured Hope, Calculated Optimism
Liisbeth Media, November 2020
What does the Biden-Harris election win mean for Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Colour in Canada?
The Filipino Diaspora and Care in the Time of COVID
Pinay Collection, July 2020
Filipinos are and will continue to be disproportionately affected by this pandemic. We are at the frontline of this crisis as nurses, as personal support and healthcare workers, as caregivers, and other professions now deemed “essential”.
Filipinx for Black Lives Matter: Fighting Anti-Blackness in Our Own Community
Philippine Reporter, June 2020
June marks Filipino Heritage Month in Canada and I want to honour our community by combatting the anti-Blackness that is so pervasive in it, that is hurting Black people and each and every single one of us.
In Conversation with the Women of Canadian Stage
Intermission Magazine, November 2019
The women creators of Canadian Stage’s 2019 – 2020 discuss the new season, and what unique story each production tells in terms of Indigenous communities, the #metoo movement, and gender dynamics.
5 Actions for Content Creators to Make the Influencer Industry More Inclusive
Mediavine, October 2019
By now you’ve probably heard numerous rallying cries advocating the need for diversity, representation and inclusion. These aren’t just buzzwords. It’s simply a reflection of a very real flaw in our society that demands to be addressed.
Reclaiming Pinay Identities
Pinay Collection, October 2019
Colonizers and other oppressive forces have rendered Filipinas quiet, submissive, subservient. All the things that I – and many of the Filipina/xs in my life – are not.
The Spirit of Mandela: Continuing the Fight for Freedom
Intermission Magazine, October 2019
The Mandela exhibition presented by TO Live at the Meridian Arts Centre is a richly immersive and sensory experience of multimedia storytelling that follows in the footsteps of the revolutionary hero who fought against apartheid.
In Conversation with the Cast and Crew of HILOT MEANS HEALER
Intermission Magazine, October 2019
The cast and crew of HILOT MEANS HEALER discuss the show, and the creative community bonds between Filipinx and Turtle Island Indigenous communities.
In Conversation with Esther Jun
Intermission Magazine, July 2019
Esther Jun shares her work with The Promised Land, a concert reimagining the music of America’s master songwriters to explore the concept of the American dream.
Why Traveling to Manila May Surprise You
Cambio & Co., May 2019
The Philippines is known for being an island nation, for its dazzling white sand beaches, its majestic and idyllic islands – but for me, the beating heart of the Philippines is Manila. It is where my beating heart lies.
Spotlight on Walter Borden
Intermission Magazine, May 2019
Renowned Canadian actor, poet, and playwright Walter Borden speaks on colonialism and white supremacy, and how it affects the psyches of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, as well as how it manifests in the arts and theatre industry.
A Love Letter to Tagalog, My Native Tongue
Cambio & Co., April 2019
It’s taken almost thirty years of my life and nearly a decade away from my homeland to fully appreciate just how beautiful, lyrical, and precious my mother tongue is. It’s like I had stumbled upon this magic power that lay inside me all this time.
Decolonizing One Stage at A Time
Intermission Magazine, April 2019
Hot Brown Honey’s co-creator Lisa Fa'alafi speaks on the lack of diversity in Australia’s theatre industry, the differences in Australia vs. Canada’s journey towards reconciliation, and how making noise can be a powerful act of resistance.
What Is a Homeland Without A “Home”?
Cambio & Co., March 2019
Like many Filipinos, our family’s dream has always been to move for better opportunities. But what do we lose in making our dreams come true? What parts of us do we chip away when we migrate to new lands?
Living In Between: Traveling while Filipina-Canadian
HNTTLABB.com, September 2018
What is it like to travel in my body - that is, an Asian woman’s body? In this personal essay, I discuss the tug of war I’ve felt in my hyphenated identity as a Filipina-Canadian and how this plays out in when I’m on the road traveling.
When You’re Assaulted in the “Safest” Place You Travel To
Wanderful, June 2016
As women travelers, we know all too well the refrains we hear when we’re about to embark on our next adventure. How often have we heard our family and friends cite the endless headlines they’ve seen in the media?
Girls Create STEM-Based Innovations to Impact Their Communities
Ryerson, Centre for Urban Energy, September 2015
The iCreate Project brings young girls from Toronto’s priority neighbourhoods for a day full of experiential learning and mentorship.
kLab: Leading the Digital Renaissance in the Land of a Thousand Hills
African Business Journal, July 2013.
Take the elevator up to the 6th floor of the Telecom House in Kigali, Rwanda and you'll not only find a stunning panoramic view of the city's endless hills, but you'll also walk right into a vibrant, open space of modernity and innovation known as kLab. This tech hub and incubator is leading the way in supporting start-up initiatives that are using ICTs to develop local solutions to local problems.
Trade School
Makeshift Magazine, Issue 6, July 2013.
Trade School Toronto is part of a global network of learning spaces run exclusively on barter. This new school is not your conventional academic institution.
A Little Yelp Goes A Long Way: A Silicon Success Story
Metro News Canada, March 6 2013.
An interview with Product Manager at Yelp and University of Toronto graduate, Brad Menezes, about developing hard skills, learning outside of the classroom, and the importance of failure.
Dropped and Made in Laos
Makeshift Magazine, Issue 3, July 2012.
The Secret War in Laos saw more than 250 million bombs dropped on the country from 1964 to 1973, making it the most heavily bombed country per capita in history. Thirty percent of these bombs did not detonate and continue to threaten the lives of many Laotians today. But among the refuse of unexploded bombs, Laotian artisans put the metal to good use, creating bracelets to sell in the international markets.
Networked Creators and Networked Information (Chapters 8 & 9)
Networked: The New Operating System with Barry Wellman & Lee Rainie, May 2012.
An in-depth analysis of the changing media landscape in the age of digitalization. In Networked Information, we uncover how information takes on new life when it is computerized as it is much more easily produced, reproduced, remixed and disseminated. Networked Creators examines the blurring boundaries between producers and consumers in the networked world.
The Business of Better: Working for the World
Metro News Canada, May 23 2012.
Full version featured on TalentEgg.ca
There has been a shift in recent years away from the single bottom line of profit towards a triple bottom line. Think of it as the Three Ps: people, planet, and profit. This is the realm of social innovation where innovators and entrepreneurs use novel ideas to solve pressing social issues like health care, poverty, homelessness, crime, and food security.
Travel Meets Travail
Metro News Canada, April 11 2012.
Full version featured on TalentEgg.ca.
After traveling to 30 cities, nine countries and three continents in one year, I write of the deep connection between travel and work. Traveling, for all its splendor, also entails hardship. And these hardships bring out skills, qualities and lessons that’ll prove to be invaluable in the workforce.
Media that Matters: Translating Rights into Reality
Peace Magazine, October 2011.
Awareness is the first and most necessary step in ending human rights abuses. I discuss the role of the media, with a special focus on the work of international NGO Journalists for Human Rights, in a vibrant democracy that does not tolerate arbitrary abuse. With their ability to reach millions of people, whether through print, radio, television, or now in our increasingly digital world, the Internet, the media can highlight the gap between every individual’s guaranteed human rights and what they experience in reality.
Egypt: The First Internet Revolt?
Peace Magazine with Jolin Zhuo and Barry Wellman, July 2011.
An analysis of the way in which information and communication technologies facilitated the January 2011 Egyptian revolt that saw the overthrow of former President Mubarak. We argue that mobile pones, Facebook, et al. provided a means of modernity, reduced alienation, and helped both internal and external connectivity. We also discuss the role of informal networks, formal groups, and elite acquiescence in the success of the revolts.