Hello

My Story

I grew up in a place where tradition and culture are deeply rooted, shaped by Igorot ways of life that continue to be practiced and protected in many communities across the Philippines. Growing up in this environment taught me resilience and shaped my hope for a better world. While patriarchy was deeply observed, it felt normal, like the way things were supposed to be. I accepted it without resistance because I did not know there was something to resist.
 

That perception changed when I started going to school. I began to realize that just because a practice is traditional or has existed for a long time does not mean it should always be preserved. Change shapes a person’s choices. It influences how we think, how we decide, and how we position ourselves politically and socially. Education taught me that questioning is not disrespect. Sometimes, it is necessary.
 

I became part of our school’s publication as an editorial writer, and that experience sharpened my writing and communication skills. More importantly, it taught me the power of words. Words can be used to build or to destroy. They can reinforce injustice or challenge it. They can shift a perspective held for decades in a single moment of clarity. Writing became my voice. It became my way of calling out inequality and standing against it.
 

My interest in science and technology has always been there, and it never faded. I am currently taking a complex and demanding program, and that is exactly why I love it. Beyond academics, I became more aware of how digital platforms shape narratives and spread information at an incredible speed. I realized that technology could be more than innovation. It could be a tool for awareness. I was fortunate to work with a company that became my foundation in marketing, programming, and development. I was not handed these skills. I learned them because I chose to. I had the discipline and the will to grow.
 

Over time, I became part of The Refugee Archive as a member of the creative team. It was the perfect intersection of my advocacy and my passion. I usually limit how much I give, choosing carefully where to invest my energy, but this time was different. I was willing to use my skills, time, and resources to amplify voices that are too often ignored. To help stories travel farther than borders allow.
 

I may not share the same lived experiences as those whose stories we carry, but I believe deeply in the responsibility to the women raising children alone. To those who never asked to be visible, but deserve to be seen. I see you. And as long as I have a voice, I will use it not to speak over you, but to make sure the world listens.