On where I am now

Thinking of the many things I could do to make the business better. Because my parents aren't getting any younger. Because people from our town rely on the business for income. Because everyone needs to see that a sleepy town like Santa Ignacia, Tarlac can. Because the world needs more Filipino designs. Because the planet needs to see what recycling can do.

Thinking of how our business setup is the same as other small businesses in Tarlac or in the country, in general. That locals rely on businesses like ours to eat 3 meals a day, to turn dreams as real as the four walls that keep us safe and the diplomas, certificates, curriculum vitae in our hands. That our respective governments no matter how small the number of people in our employ will somehow recognize how this matters a lot to them. That the materials we use, really just to be discarded as trash can be a family of five's and many families of five's daily breads: the life blood of a community. That much has been done to make something out of nothing, but more to be done to turn something into everything. Everything we need. Everything we want. Everything we live for.

Thinking of what I can do. What I want for myself. What I want for these people who are extensions of my self because they are the reason why I love what I do and I do what I love. Because they are the reason I'm where I am now. Because it was by my parents' dedication to raise good children that I have been placed in the field of design and entrepreneurship. Because it was by my family's and friends' presence that I know what it is to be dependent and independent, and being either or neither in weaknesses and strengths are secondary to a shared experience because family is family. Because it was by the care of my manang (I miss her bitso bitso and her inangit) and her joys and the joys of people like her that have taught me the things that matter. Because it was under the tutelage of my mentors and teachers and personal heroes that I was equipped to hurdle all the challenges that came my way. Because it was by the sweat of these people's brows that I am where I am now, and for that I am immensely thankful.

May I be able to plan for all these things, and that everything will fall into place. That I may have faith in the grand scheme of things, in others, and in myself.

- Written on a bus trip from an exports seminar, 04/26/2018

January Hustle

Started my first few days of January productive with some projects.

A montage of my first 10 days of 2017. Yes that's a self portrait just because. :P

Cheers to a productive 2017!

(Another) First Post!

I've got nothing better to call my blog. I've got no fancy first words either.

I'll start by making this a bit about myself. I write to satisfy myself anyway. :)

I'm a Tarlaqueño. I was born in Tarlac City, and was raised in Santa Ignacia, Tarlac. I speak Tagalog casually, with the occasional Ilocano and English too. Like I say with much humor in some of my Facebook posts, "Iloconyo."

I graduated form Tarlac Montessori School, had my freshman year of college in the University of the Philippines Baguio and finished the rest of my course in the University of the Philippines Diliman.

I freelanced in Makati, Metro Manila for about a year from graduating, doing illustrations and graphics for some ad agencies.  Eventually, I got fed up with the Manila lifestyle and went home. Tarlac, as expected, was a different ballgame altogether.

I worked under the Department of Trade and Industry's Local Designer's Program. Under the said program, I learned about product design, more of entrepreneurship, and was asked by the Provincial Director to study a medium with which I'll specialize. Bamboo was the in thing. I read up a lot of materials, on processing bamboo and similar media.  Besides personal research, we from the Program were given the privilege of undergoing training workshops on business development and design.

I'm currently with the family business.  The scope of my work includes design, costing, pricing and finding the right market for products we manufacture.  With it, I still freelance making packaging labels, corporate identity and branding materials, illustrations. Occasionally, I get invited to speak and share what I know about handicrafts, bamboo, wood, marketing, packaging and labeling and some other stuff.  I also got elected as vice chairman of a cooperative of entrepreneurs based in the province. It all sounds fancy, but really... It's just wanting things and getting things done one way or another.

I'm not a very systematic person. I think. Hahaha. I plan a lot, but in executing these plans I'm quite sloppy. I blame it on my inexperience.  This blog is another one of those spur-of-the-moment good ideas I get, though I'd come rushing unprepared not knowing what to put here, hence this introduction.

In this blog I'll post plenty of items. Maybe some thoughts on everyday normal things like the weather, politics, product features, food, drawings & designs of course. Maybe a bit about my current projects. Whatever feels right.  I've tried blogging before and writer's block is quite strong.  I ended up wanting to write stuff about design and it all just stopped cause I didn't know what to write about. Haha. Oh, and for the sake of saying this is a regular thing, I'll be updating at least once a week.

This isn't my first attempt at blogging so... whatever. lol