PERIPHERAL As I’m writing this, I’m currently working on a calendar for 2026—three months before 2025 even leaves us. I know it seems quite early, but the dream of becoming one of the greatest anime of all time won’t happen by itself, and I have to develop certain habits. I know, it’s kind of weird to even say that, especially since I’ve been in and out of sickness the whole month of September. In fact, right now my sides hurt so much from coughing. My doctor said I ruptured the lining of my lungs, and I was like, “Woah… that’s possible?” Honestly, I’m just all over the place. Most of the time I’m thinking about Eyes See You, and the rest of the time it’s about family affairs I can’t just shake off. Because yes, I’m a mom and a wife. Those things are a part of me, so besides the fictional world I’m curating in my mind, this takes up a lot of space in my noggin too. So back to the 2026 plan. I’ve decided to make something HUGE happen. And when I say huge, I mean HUGE. Sometimes I even imagine Rizal when he was writing Noli Me Tangere, if he thought of it as something that would have him killed… But really, I think about that. Because what I envision for my novel feels kind of the same thing, but not really? Same as in, I want it to make a difference, but not really as in—I don’t want to get killed for it, if you know what I’m saying? But deep in my heart, I know I don’t dream of becoming the greatest writer of all time. I dream of becoming one of the most meaningful author lives lived. I’ve always prayed to God that if He makes me great, I will never take it for granted, and I will help as many souls as I can. I want to build schools that could help people like me—people who didn’t finish their studies but could just focus on dreaming, without the financial burden being the wall that blocks them. I want to put our country on the map. Because if Japan could do it, so can we. All these thoughts linger in my mind, and right now, all I can do is hope. But I swear, little by little, day by day, it feels like it’s becoming more and more of a reality. This August and September, I wasn’t able to edit or publish the videos I took from my past events—Patrons of the Arts, Collabs & Aesthetics. They got caught in between my sick weeks, and I just couldn’t bring myself up to do anything. But I’ll tell you this: those shows have been the most successful shows I’ve ever done, both financially and mentally. I was able to have so many wins because of the amazing people I met there, and it brought me one step closer to where I want to be. These people—both artists and con-goers—probably don’t realize how much it means to someone like me, that they’d lend me their ears to hear my pitch and actually support my love by buying my art. I can never thank them enough. I wish I could give everyone a tight hug so they’d know how big of a deal this is for me. I wish I could condense my whole experience and origin so they could really understand why this matters so much. Speaking of origin, that’s when it hit me. Back to the 2026 calendar I was talking about—I’m planning to hard launch my brand on my birthday, January 5, 2026. I’ll be turning 32, and me officially leaving the calendar numbers should have something special going on. I’ve always been lowkey about birthdays (except my wedding day, when I invited my guests and gave them a heart attack because they thought they were going to a birthday party but it was actually my wedding). But I thought, hey—you know what? A year in someone’s life is a huge deal. And I shouldn’t hide in the shadows for something as big as I ought it to be. So yes, this is all about that event. I’ll be real with you—I don’t have the whole thing planned yet. But since I managed to plan my wedding in a month, I know a lot can happen in three months. And I’m here for it. This is actually also an invitation to you. I’ll be leaving a form here where you can sign up, since I’m planning this event as invite-only for Eyes See You. I’m so excited to tell it all here, but until I know exactly what’s going to unfold, let this invite be it for now. I promise, when you sign up, you’ll know what’s coming. If I do end up charging for this event, it will only be to cover food and nothing else. I’ll also be posting a poll on how this should go, because if you know me, I’m all in for collaboration. This event wouldn’t even be possible without you. In fact, everything I do wouldn’t be possible without you. So hang tight—I’ll do this for real. Thank you so much for reading this diary entry. I know it stretched long and I yap a lot. But I’m so grateful for your never-ending support. BOOK YOUR SEATS NOW January 5, 2026 | 4:00 – 9:00 PM | Sine Pop Cubao Back to My Diary

MY GHOST MONTH I lost my voice for an entire week, right after recovering from the flu the week before. It was tough, especially since we’re in the middle of producing the Eyes See You One Shot Manga. As the writer, I don’t do the drawings, but I still need to explain the little details. And when you can’t speak, that becomes frustrating. Most days, I was stuck in bed with my phone, and sometimes I couldn’t even hold it because I was coughing too much. All I could do was rest and sleep. Even though this reflection is coming two weeks late, I still want to say this: First of all, thank you to all the artists I met at Patrons of the Arts. It was my first time attending, and I wasn’t expecting much, knowing how many talented creators were there. To be chosen as one of the artists to showcase my work was an honor. Becoming a writer was always my dream, and living that dream now still feels unreal. I’m learning not to discount my successes, because convincing someone to read a book you wrote, especially when it’s “just” an eBook and not a physical copy, is a huge achievement. I’m endlessly grateful for the support and kind feedback I’ve received. Writing has always been my passion, but like many artists, doubts often speak louder than belief. Not everyone makes it, and I’ve wrestled with that reality. But what I’ve come to hold onto is that my writing works because I rely on the One who called me to this purpose. I write because of Him. This was something I once dreamt of but never thought I’d return to. And yet here I am, brought back by God. After walking in so many different shoes, “author” was the one I never thought I’d wear. If you know my story, you’d understand the road here wasn’t easy. But I’m not saying this to rant… it’s simply a reminder that the road may be long, but the destination makes it worth it. Now it’s September, and I can’t help but think of the song “Wake Me Up When September Ends.” For years, this month has felt like my personal “ghost month.” It’s the month of my love anniversary with my first husband. The month he proposed to me in front of our families. And the month he passed away. For a long time, I avoided doing anything meaningful in September. I carried guilt for living when he wasn’t, worried people would think I didn’t care anymore if I moved on. But the truth is, his loss will always be part of me. What happened scarred my soul deeply. And yet, even when the days feel silent, creativity stirs underneath. Ghost months don’t mean nothing is happening; they mean seeds are growing underground, waiting for their time. I don’t claim to be wise. I’m just like anyone else, trying each day to become a better person. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned through all of this, it’s to never lose hope. Nothing in this world is promised, but the One who holds everything is not ready to let us go. And when your ghost month, or ghost days arrive, I hope you remember that too. Back to My Diary