I laid out my sketchbooks recently and was quite surprised to find I’ve gathered up quite a bunch already. I’ve always had sketchbooks even as a kid but I drew in them sporadically. I only started to fill up an entire sketchbook in 2010. I wasn’t an illustrator yet then; I was working as a fulltime graphic designer and drawing was merely a hobby– a mindless and inconsistent pastime for idle moments at work while I was waiting for client feedback on my design projects. In 2016/2017 when I already a professional illustrator, upon God’s leading, I let go of my illustration agent (more on that in a blog post…
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10 books I’ve read that have stayed with me
Note: I’ve had this post (originally from a Facebook meme) saved in my blog drafts since 2015, and I’ve decided to publish it on my blog just now, four years later. Sayang kasi đ I love books. Before the Internet exploded and competed for my attention, I always had my nose in a book. My mother actually had me “banned” from my grade school library (she instructed the librarians not to let me borrow any books) because I would check out and bring books home to read instead of studying, and my grades in school suffered because of it. Indulge me as I share my list of 10 books that…
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In my Father’s house
I drove up to the guard at the gate of the retreat house and asked permission if I could walk in and check out the place. I had just come from brunch at the cafe next door and since I was already there, I wondered if I would be able to wander in and explore the retreat house right next to it. The guard radioed his higher-ups asking for approval, then maybe because I was just a lone, curious tourist, gave me the go-signal. I had been wanting to check out the retreat house’s chapel, pictures of which I first saw online. It did not disappoint, and I delighted in…
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Two weeks in Bohol
Last May I went to Bohol for some R&R (they call it self-care these days, I guess). It was a much-needed two-week break from being “over-peopled” and it was also a chance to get some art/work done in a new environment. It wasn’t my first time in Bohol. I was there last year for my friend’s wedding and I found Panglao island just beautiful: I decided to go back to Bohol when I was choosing where to go for vacation. I chose Bohol because it had the right combination of elements I was looking for in a working vacation: it should be a place I’ve been to before so I can…
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Silent retreat, 2018
âGod always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.â I asked God for His leading on my venue for my silent retreat. I wanted a place in nature, full of trees. The leading was this certain Augustinian retreat house in Tagaytay. I googled it, didnât like it (not enough trees), so I chose another retreat place instead. We have free will to choose, I reasoned. But friends pointed outâ you asked God and God already gave you His choice. Are you still going to go with something else? So I begrudgingly booked the Augustinian retreat house even though it was not MY choice. But I choose to go with whatever God…
