Looking back at the milestones, the late nights, and the continuous process of creating, I realize how much of my foundation was built on the wisdom, discipline, and generosity of these legendary mentors. It was an absolute honor to be trained by the very best:

Michael Williams (One of the original casts of Miss Saigon) for teaching me the fundamentals during the “Basic Theater Workshop” under Little Boy Productions. He taught me the discipline it takes to command a space.

Gabe Mercado (of SPIT) for opening my mind to Improv Theater at PETA. He showed me how to think on my feet, trust my instincts, and find magic in the unexpected.

Pinky Amador, whose Acting Masterclass pushed my boundaries and taught me what it truly means to dig deep and commit to a character and a vision.

Tatang Ricky Lee, for the masterclasses in storytelling during his Creative Writing Workshop. He didn’t just teach me how to write; he taught me how to see the human condition and give it a voice.

Julie Ann Fran from Star Magic Philippines, for the brief voice lessons, even for a very short stint! I miss you, teacher!

Every “Action!”, every script written and every creative risk taken carries a piece of their mentorship. To be shaped by their brilliance is a gift that keeps on giving.

To my mentors: Thank you for passing on the torch.

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I poured my days like water into stone,
To find a well where they could freely drink,
I carried weights they could not lift alone,
And pulled them back when standing on the brink.

I watched them rise, I watched their world expand,
They wore the armor that my patience made,
But once they stood securely on the land,
The memory of who helped began to fade.

They treat your kindness as a debt they won,
A casual right they somehow were decreed,
And rewrite history when the work is done,
To prove they never really were in need.

It hurts to watch the feathers that you gave
Be used to fly away and block the sun,
To know you broke yourself so they could save
The very lives that now leave you undone.

But let them go, with all they took away,
The bitter truth is theirs alone to keep:
A house built on the things they can’t repay
Is just a shallow place where shadows sleep.

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Stepping back onto a bustling set holding an actual script was an incredible rush. Knowing my voice would be live changed everything.

The absolute highlight was trading dialogue directly with the main cast. I shared the frame with the phenomenal Kim Chiu, whose on-set energy is infectious. I also got to deliver lines alongside Elle Villanueva—who plays the fierce Atty. Vanessa in GMA’s intense drama Apoy sa Dugo.

Watching them switch instantly from casual banter to raw dramatic focus when the director shouted “Action!” was a masterclass. Delivering my lines smoothly alongside them and hearing “Cut, good take!” was incredibly validating.

This experience reminded me that passions never really leave you. It was a fun, exhilarating return that reaffirmed my love for the screen. I am officially back, and I can’t wait for the next role!

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Think of it in terms of the human body. An ordinary person looks at the body and understands its basic functions: it breathes, it moves, it digests, and it performs its daily duties. That knowledge is perfectly sufficient for survival. But a doctor sees the body entirely differently. Where the ordinary eye sees smooth skin, a doctor visualizes the complex network of nerves, the cellular regeneration, the microscopic electrical impulses, and the intricate anatomical systems keeping the person alive. The doctor knows there is infinitely more to the body than what meets the eye.

That is how I have come to view Christianity. There is a deeper spiritual anatomy to this faith that the ordinary mind rarely encounters. Beneath the structured dogmas and Sunday obligations lies an expansive, esoteric side to spiritual practice—a landscape of mysticism that only a few truly explore. This isn’t a rejection of my Catholic identity; rather, it is an evolution of it. It is the belief that our faith holds keys to unseen dimensions that go far beyond basic catechism.

This realization has completely reshaped my personal practice. I don’t just pray for the sake of repetition; I engage with the living, breathing spiritual ecosystem that surrounds us. My daily walk with faith involves actively working with spirits and communicating with angels—the celestial messengers and guardians that scripture mentions, but whom we rarely teach people to truly interact with. I have developed a personal language of prayer, utilizing intentions and spiritual alignments that feel authentic to the deeper truths I have come to understand.

Living and practicing faith on this level can feel solitary, as it moves away from the conventional path trodden by the crowd. But just like the doctor who finds wonder in the hidden complexities of the human form, I find an overwhelming sense of peace and purpose in exploring the deeper layers of the divine.

Christianity is not a flat, two-dimensional set of rules. It is a multi-dimensional spiritual reality, filled with mysteries waiting for those who are willing to look past the surface and seek the deeper architecture of the soul.

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It was during the pandemic in 2020 when I decided to buy a lot at Foressa Mountain Town, a development of Aboitizland, at the mountains of Balamban. As we all know, almost everything went low, including this, so I took the opportunity to inquire and buy one.

One of the reasons why I pushed myself to invest on land is because my late father used to invest on land and properties as well. This is my first time to buy a piece of land, and I believe it’s worth the investment.

I’m curious as to how much it costs now that it’s 2023, so I chanced upon a property specialist just a few days ago, and to my surprise a sqm of land went up to 30% up from the rate I got it for. As they say, you’ll never go wrong with real estate. 

Looking at the development of Foressa, there is something to look forward as it said to be the future getaway at the Midwest of Cebu since aside from having houses, there will be commercial spaces and adventure activities to be offered.

I have also heared that sometime in the future, there are plans that the Cebu Provincial Capitol will be transferred to Balamban, and having a place in Foressa Mountain Town is an advantage for me if I, God willing, will go do business with the Cebu Provincial Capitol in the future.

Also, I chose this development is that I want to be closer to nature, and having a place near the mountains in a secured community such as Foressa Mountain Town is a good choice.

I was excited when my property specialist informed me that my lot is ready for turnover. So, here’s me together with my mama and my 2 younger sisters for the turn over. It was around 2 hour drive from the Cebu City proper, and it was all worth it.

I still have no plans yet if I will build a rest house here, or sell it in the future… For now, all I know is that I have a piece of land as an investment, and something I can call mine. 

Here’s to more small wins with you. 

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I drove from Manila City to Subic just to try the Discovery flight that was offered by Capt. Mich & Capt. Daryl.

It was 2pm when my younger sister, Kristiana, and I arrived at the Subic International Airport Gate 5. We first had a pre-flight briefing and then we started to do the basics of taxiing – and then we flew.

With us on the flight was Capt. Daryll, giving me the 1st officer seat for me to have a worthwhile pilot experience as I maneuver from taxi, take off, flight and landing – of course with his guidance and care.

Giggles – the perfect word that described what I felt during that flight, and still the feeling I have now while writing this story.

This experience was a perfect decision-maker for me – if I really wanted to do flight school or was it just a random interest. So, for those who want to try out flying school, you may experience this first, and decide after.

When we took off, it literally scared me to the bones, but after some time absorbing all the mechanics of the aircraft how many feet above and observing the outside environment, especially understanding the wind, my fear turned to cheers – I had an unforgettable experience.

Here’s a raw clip. Enjoy.

Fly with you soon!

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I still remember the day when I was on my way to the city, exactly nearing the end of the bridge, I was so fascinated with my friends who are called by clients for their services. I was so much inspired and hopeful, then I asked myself “When will the day come when people call for my service? When will the day come when I am needed because of my capabilities? I hope I can be like them…” These questions kept on recurring and I always remained hopeful. But one day, I decided to take a leap of faith and started to do something that I really wanted. Like any other driven person, especially that I am using my own money to start something, the risk was high and was afraid to lose; but thankfully, I prosper.

I trusted the process. I started with very meager resources and accepted projects with minimal to no fees just for me to hone my skills and get into the industry, and I wasn’t complaining at all. I actually had fun doing things I love. I had fun clients asking me for help and solving it for them.

So you ask… What is the process?

In Psychology, they call it Dopamine. It is a chemical in your body that acts as a reward center. It makes doing the hard things pleasurable because you know that in the end, you will be rewarded.

Which is definitely true. Being dedicated to the things you do always pays off.

One time when I was in my city condo, I was looking outside the window where an on-going construction was taking place. For months, I watched it from ground zero until the building was erected; it was a year in the making… but when it was still ground zero, and I was looking at the workers, I felt that it was hard to construct a building.

With all the mason works and the heat of the sun, it must be very exhausting. Every day I look at them dig, carry cement, do wire works and all… it was such a messy scene, and I can’t figure out how they do things… but days and months passed by, a majestic construction was erected. Just like that.

What I realized with this is that it will always look and feel impossible at first, there will definitely be a lot of trial and error, but if you are consistent with what you do, you will always get there.

Just trust the process.

For now, I can’t say that I have already made it but I am proud that, at the very least, I can say that I am thriving and starting to feel the rewards of my perseverance.

For me, there is no other way but to move forward.

Just keep going, my friend.

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I love my solitary adventures every time I come to Manila, and besides, Manila was my home for 6 years when I had my job working for a TV Network and my short stint at an airline company when I was younger. It was such an interesting life chapter, which makes Manila a familiar place I always love to come back to.

Quiapo

It must be Tatang Ricky Lee’s scriptwriting manual “Trip To Quiapo” that influenced my long walks to Quiapo. When he was my teacher for storytelling, he told us that if we want to write a meaningful story, we must pay a trip to Quiapo. What’s in Quiapo anyway? Must be the interesting stories that lies in all the corners of that place, from the penitent religious, to all sorts of people with different life stories to tell. 

I come to Quiapo to pray, but mostly, I come here for crafting. There’s this one street they call Villalobos street – a stretch of a street with crafting stores that sells various beads and components. I love this place for the random finds I get, especially the semi precious stones in factory price.  

Binondo 

Just some few blocks away from Quiapo is Manila’s Chinatown, Binondo. I must be burning a lot of calories already from all my walks, where I lost the sense of time as I enjoy every moment from it’s monumental arch, lucky charms hanging in the store windows tempting you to have a piece of good luck, and mainland Chinese and Chinese Filipinos walking around the street as if you are transported somewhere else. 

My favorite here has always been the egg tart of Lord Stows Bakery , while most people line up to buy a basket full of Eng Bee Tin’s Hopias in different flavors, I savor the flavorful egg tart, especially when it’s straight from the oven.

And after few walks, I finally arrive in Lucky Chinatown Mall, my gateway to my much-awaited walk around this enterprising place of Divisoria and Tutuban. 

Divisoria & Tutuban

I cannot anymore count how many times I have been walking around the different streets and malls in Divisoria – 168,999, Tutuban Mall, Divisoria Mall – and I never get tired.

There’s always this childish excitement I feel every time I visit this place. I remember early this year when I stayed in Manila for about 4 months, that I frequent these routes everyday for no apparent reason to buy anything, but just to stroll around. I have been way too familiar with the stalls and floors, but there are times that I discover new stores with great finds that I can bring back to Cebu. 

Manila, oh how I love your streets. You were my home when I was yet young and a dreamer, where my dreams became realities and where my heart was made tougher through time.

They say life here is designed differently, always fast, always wanting for more. but looking back, it was a life chapter I can never forget. Manila always feels home.

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My morning ritual always include a cup of black coffee over morning contemplation, and for a lack of a better term, it helps me poop well (I definitely have to say that too, haha); and when I reach my office, another cup of black coffee is on my desk. Like any other psychoactive stimulant, black coffee gives me a hint of focus and boost my mood, it even calms and relaxes me down.

I may want to fancy freshly brew coffee beans, but instant coffee is already okay for me. I have tried several instant coffee but Nescafe has always been my staple go-to everyday coffee. Aside from its coffee, one of the reasons as to why Nescafe is my primary choice is because of their relatable ad that questions us “Para kanino ka bumabangon?” (Who do you wake up for?) The Nescafe ad warms my heart that makes this question my everyday motivation to wake up with a purpose. I just love Nescafe coffee.

My daily coffee consumption is moderately 3 coffee cups a day, more than that, I get to palpitate. and when this happens, I counteract by drinking a lot of water. My palpitation is so bad that I tell myself I won’t be drinking coffee anymore, but then again, when it subsides, I drink coffee again. I can never say no to my coffee. I love my coffee.

If I have a long day of desk work or study time, I drink black coffee, but when I have a long day of physical work, I take coffee with sugar and cream. Plain black coffee again gives me the focus that I need, and on the other hand, coffee with sugar and cream give me the rush that I need for the long day of work.

I hope you love coffee as much as I do. Conversations with coffee with you may be a good choice for me. Tara, kape tayo?

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He was born and raised in a small town in Tigaon, Camarines Sur, my papa is from a political clan in the town of Camarines Sur from long ago – Governor Paz Cea de Conde (1st woman Governor in the Philippines), Governor Gerardo Fuentebella Cea, Senator Edmundo Cea (Senator), et al; As a corporate man, he was working as a Vice President for a multinational logistics company.

My papa always had a plan to run for Mayor in his town, he gave back and served until it was his time to go from this beautiful world.

Growing up, I always wished my papa was still alive so I can give back with whatever he deserved as a hardworking father, but though destiny did not make it happen, I always know that my papa is somehow proud of what I have become, and I promise to give back and continue the legacy that he has started – of being a good family and a community man.

My papa left this beautiful world when I was a young man, in my early 20’s when everything was still a blur for me, when figuring out who I was was my priority and making money was in the least of my concern, because at the back of my mind, I always have my father to back me up.

As a young artist, I was a headache, and I know for sure that my father was not proud of my dire love for the arts, and I barely make enough money. It’s out there, artists have always been stereotyped as “starving.” Artists have always been viewed as “talented but poor.” My papa, being a Vice President of a company and a barangay politician, has always wanted me to become an executive leader, a manager, someone of high regards; but I was doing otherwise because then again, I was still discovering who I was and it’s in the arts that I find solace. His well-intended concern was for me to have a firm future, just like any other parents would. Growing up, it was hard to grasp his reasons, but as I grow older, I genuinely understand why.

I am thankful that somehow as years passed by, I have managed to grow up and economically understand that I need to have my creativity work for me, and here we are doing creative things and earning at the same time.

I know I always had papa’s leadership style, and I always wish to continue being a great leader in this young age. Papa, I know you have been gone for more than a decade, but you are always a part of me and who I am capable of becoming.

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