#breakthenorms

Dear friends, greetings to all who confuse Art and entertainment with the Church. For too long, I've bowed under the male-centric discourse about the sanctity of the immaculate body (oh dear, cover up, because you give me sinful thoughts and that makes you dirty). It's the 21st century, yet the sacred/profane, clean/unclean dichotomies are as strong as ever.

I'm fascinated by the notion that pictures and films are supposed to extend the real, breathing body. Well, no, we women don't care if someone masturbates to our photos as long as they don't inform us about it in unwanted ways. The boundary between public and private is really manageable, even for those below average IQ levels.

I'll spare you a lecture on unwanted compliments (it gets complicated here too, with those expressed intelligently and those that are crude), reducing it to the minimum: visual creation can truly stem from the joy of working with the body. We, women, don't reduce our image solely to the desire for attention.

So, a message to all those who insightfully called me or other girls "w****s," quoting the poet: "Kiss my ass, all of you" (virtually, of course, and yes, yes, I know, it's pretty)

Weird routines are the heartbeat of our survival.

In a world that demands normalcy, our peculiar rituals are acts of defiance, orders from the universe that make sense only to us.

They shelter us from storms of conformity.

I CHANNELED MY “NOT-SO-INNER JOLLIBEE” TO REMIND OUR LADY BOSSES TODAY. ♥️

Yes, Jollibee—as in bida-bida—dahil ang mensaheng ito ay para sa mga kababaihang "bidang bida" naman talaga.

Have you ever found yourself asking, “What should I focus on to truly succeed?” Not because you lacked ambition, but because you loved learning, creating, and exploring different paths?

We’re often told that success means picking just one thing—mastering a single craft, sticking to one path. But what if some of us were never meant to fit inside just one box? What if we were meant to thrive in many?

This question resurfaced when I was asked to write about my life’s journey for “The Lady Boss Book” in 2022. It should’ve been simple—who else knows my story better than I do, right? But as I sat down to write, doubt crept in.

"Where do I truly belong? What do I claim as my 'thing'?"

The more I reflected, the more I realized—I had been asking the wrong questions. Success was never about choosing just one thing. It was about showing up fully—pouring my heart into whatever I pursued, thriving wherever I was planted, and allowing myself to evolve.

✨ My Jollibee Heart 🐝♥️

When I pursued writing, I didn’t just write—I poured my soul into storytelling. I wrote poetry, feature articles, speeches, narratives—some in English, some in Filipino. I joined and won competitions, not because I was trying to prove something, but because I simply let my heart speak. Was it talent? Or was it just me doing what felt natural?

When I pursued music, I didn’t just sing—I created. I wrote songs that made it to songwriting competitions, school hymns, and even a purposeful composition ("Be The Inspiration") for the “End Polio Now” campaign under the Rotary Club Foundation.

One song that still holds a special place in my heart is the official school hymn of Legazpi City Science High School—a song that, to this day, students continue to sing.

And in its most powerful moment—the bridge—I envisioned it being sung without instruments, just the raw, echoing voices of students, proud and unwavering:

"We are mighty warriors, we are sons of God."

Hearing that line, even years later, still gives me chills. It wasn’t just a song—it was a declaration of faith, strength, and resilience.

But even after all these experiences, I found myself downplaying what I had done. Was it enough to say I had “succeeded” in music?

Even when I stepped away from it for years, music kept finding me.

One night, in my mid-twenties, I started going live on Instagram—at hours when I was sure no one would be watching (like 1 to 5 AM!)—just for the sheer love of singing. But somehow, the universe had other plans.

A DJ from TeeRadio stumbled upon my stream, where I was singing with my video off—so all he heard was the music. Thinking it was just the radio, he listened in… until I accidentally played the wrong chord and laughed. That moment broke the illusion, and he realized it was live.

Intrigued, he reached out and later invited me to perform at the studio—an opportunity that led to my music being heard by thousands of listeners (The magical moment was here). And there it was again. Music found its way back to me.

Then, when I pursued business, I didn’t just “try it out.” I built. I took risks, fell hard, bounced back, and led teams. I built partnerships, businesses, and created employment opportunities. It wasn’t just about profit—it was about creating impact for my clients, my team, and the people who trusted in what I had to offer.

When I pursued trading and financial education, I didn’t just trade—I taught. I founded Global Markets Eruditio, which now has thousands of students (Erudites), helping Filipinos navigate the financial markets without falling for scams. Because for me, financial literacy is freedom—and I wanted my community to take control of their financial future.

Looking back, I realized something simple yet profound: no matter what I pursued, I thrived. Not because I was “gifted” in one thing, but because God gave me the heart to pour into everything I did.

Even when I hid in my own way—like going live at 3 AM so no one would see me—God always provided a stage. And then it hit me:

How ungrateful have I been to doubt His gifts?

✨ God Gave Me Wings—Why Would I Clip Them? 😌

For years, I felt guilty for not being able to define my “one thing.” I convinced myself that I needed to pick a lane. The world constantly told me:

"Stick to a niche. Specialize. Focus. A jack of all trades is a master of none."

And yet, every time I confined myself to just one thing, I lost a part of myself.

Then, I remembered the quote that changed my life:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure."

I first stumbled upon this in college when a stranger from the audience handed me a piece of paper after I gave a speech in an extemporaneous competition. I had asked the audience to close their eyes and imagine waking up as the person they always wanted to be.

I didn’t realize how much my words resonated—until that person felt compelled to gift me wisdom that would carry me for life. Because the real fear isn’t that we’ll fail. It’s the weight of knowing we are capable of so much more than we allow ourselves to be.

✨ Wag Choosy Kung Pwede Namang Many 😉

How many times have we found ourselves asking:

"Should I be a Businesswoman OR a Mom?" "Should I be Ambitious OR Compassionate?" "Should I chase my Passion OR choose Stability?"

We ask these questions as if we can only choose one—as if choosing both is impossible.

But who decided we had to be just one thing?

This International Women’s Month, I stand as unapologetically multi-faceted because God made me this way. And the least I can do to honor Him? Embrace every part of who I am and share His gifts without fear.

As my amazing team member, Ashley at Auctrix beautifully said:

"Let’s not get trapped by the tyranny of OR—where we live as if we can only choose one. Why not choose both?"

Why not Businesswoman AND Mom? Why not Ambitious AND Compassionate? Why not Passion AND Stability?

So, to every woman out there: 😘

You were never meant to shrink. You don’t have to dim your light to make others comfortable. You are allowed to be powerful and soft, brilliant and kind, unstoppable and at peace—all at once. Because you were never meant to play small. You were meant to thrive.

And the world? The world is waiting for the woman who dares to break the "OR" and embrace the "AND." One who therefore dares to be, a Jollibee. Again, hindi dahil bida-bida ka, kundi dahil bida ka naman kasi talaga.

Now go. And be everything you’ve always been made to be.

Happy International Women’s Day! 🥰🌻💃🏻💕

P.S. My sincerest kudos to a lady boss herself, Sis Aika for growing such an amazing team you have at the Lazy Baker Cupcakerie 🤩🥹🙏 My sweet Women's Day date last night with my gorgeous ladies, the women of Auctrix was truly memorable because of your flavorful meals and warm customer service. God bless you always!

"Be Gay Do Crime" is a provocative slogan that originated within LGBTQ+ activist circles. While it shouldn't be taken literally, the phrase encapsulates a complex history of queer resistance and civil disobedience.

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Historically, simply being openly gay was criminalized in many places. Laws against homosexuality, cross-dressing, and gathering in queer spaces meant that living authentically as an LGBTQ+ person often involved breaking unjust laws. The Stonewall riots of 1969, a pivotal moment in queer history, exemplify this intersection of queerness and criminality in the eyes of the law.

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