I’m Apple, a serial creative from Manila, Philippines. I compulsively make things that I think don’t exist yet but should—and sometimes it’s because some of my obsessions just need to merge. This blog is an example.
I tend to write about uncomfortable things, like depression, vulnerability, and personal failures. I also like talking about the strange ways I “cope”, like astrology, tarot, and leaping head-first into projects I may not finish.
This blog started out as a personal diary of sadness and heartbreak, but it has since grown into a chronicle of recovery, magic and the things that help. Here you’ll find meditations on my mental health, mind-dumps of new ideas, snippets of my spiritual digging, and the occasional poem or fictional story.
I write, create and occasionally consult for sensitive creatives who feel cornered in this loud and overcrowded web. I write for those who miss the authentic personal blogging era and are wistfully waiting for its comeback.
I hope that through this blog you feel a little less alone and you find a little magic in your hands.
Press
Investing in Women Asia, 2019
Karr Katigbak, Edukasyon.ph 2019
Mylene Mendoza, Candymag 2018
Kleona Amoyo, Young Star 2018
Belle Mapa, Scoutmag 2018
Sofia Cope, Native Province 2017
Gaby Gloria, Young Star 2017
Chang Casal, CNN Life 2017
Gett Baladad, Project Vanity 2017
Rissa Coronel, Silakbo.ph 2017
Office of Sen. Risa Hontiveros
Past Projects
Writing Room, 2017
A technical writing workshop designed and taught by me. Each session was intimate but intensive, attended by a small group (4-6 participants) over four hours. The program was packed with short lectures on different writing techniques, followed by timed writing exercises applying what they learned.
Luna: Light in Darkness, 2017
A mental health awareness fair created by me and co-hosted with Mira Arguelles. The full-day event featured creative workshops with a mental wellness approach, an art market partly featuring sellers with mental health conditions, and a performance night featuring speakers and musicians with advocacy stories.
Adjourn, 2017
An end-of-the-year journaling challenge created by Sofia Cope and co-hosted with me. We designed five prompts for our combined followers to reflect on, one for each of the last five days of 2017. Participants were encouraged to post on their blogs or Instagram pages with the hashtag #Adjourn2017.
Word Chat, 2017
A poetry-writing group existing purely on Facebook chat. A word-prompt was randomly decided every Sunday, and participants would compose a poem (shared within a Google Document) before the next Sunday. The casual project lasted nine weeks and involved over 20 people from all writing levels.