DUE... LIE...
Don’t laugh, but I noticed something about myself this month.
Whenever I’m stressed, my brain starts making wordplays. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s just how I process things. This month’s words ended up being due and lie.
And honestly… they describe July perfectly.
Due, because it felt like everything was due this month. Bills, commitments, deadlines, events. July was packed. On top of all of that, I had two conventions, and the biggest thing of all was releasing Peripheral 2/2.
Then there’s lie.
I actually filmed a video talking about one of the biggest lies I’ve dealt with this year. If you’re part of the local art scene, you probably already know what I’m talking about. It’s the Patrons of the Arts situation. Months have passed, and there are still artists who haven’t received what they’re owed. I wanted to edit and upload the video, but every time I sat down to do it, I just… couldn’t. Maybe I’m still hoping they’ll make things right.
So yeah. Due and lie.
Two simple words that somehow summed up everything July threw at me.
I’ve been so busy lately that I had to put birthdays and celebrations of the people I love into my calendar just to make sure I wouldn’t miss them. It sounds a little sad when I say it out loud, but I think it’s actually a good kind of busy.
As I’m writing this, my body is still sore. I spent three straight days vending last weekend, around ten hours each day. It’s exhausting, but I honestly can’t complain. Every event reminds me why I do this in the first place. To meet people and do what I love till the day I’ll have to meet my Creator.
Right after that, my daughter asked if we could celebrate her 11th birthday at Manila Zoo.
Of course I said yes.
She absolutely loves animals.
We brought my husband, my daughter, my brothers, and our moms. It turned into such a fun family day. The last time I stepped into Manila Zoo, I was still in elementary school. It feels surreal that years later, I get to bring my own daughter there.
I always think about moments like these.
Kids don’t always remember the toys you bought them, but they remember how they felt. They remember the places you took them, the laughs you shared, the little adventures together. I like believing we’re investing in her core memories. One day she’ll grow up and hopefully remember that we loved her enough to make time for these moments.
When we got home, I somehow managed to squeeze in something I haven’t done in a while.
Gaming.
Ever since I became a published Author, I’ve barely had time to sit down and enjoy a game from start to finish. But this time, I finally finished Clair Obscur.
What a beautiful game.
As someone who spends most of her life thinking about stories, I really appreciated what they did. It’s not perfect, but the storytelling stayed with me even after the credits rolled. I can definitely see why people are calling it Game of the Year.
…I’m still not over Gustave, though. (If you know, you know.)
After that little break, it was back to work.
PICOF was finally here, and with it came the release of Peripheral 2/2, the ending of Dai’s story.
I wish I could say everything went smoothly. Butttt it didn’t.
The printer was cutting it incredibly close, my artist was cramming, and honestly… I think deadlines will always find a way to humble me. Even on launch day, the books arrived an hour late to the venue. I had already gone on stage for my talk before they got there, so I couldn’t even hold the manga while introducing it. But despite all the little disasters, the books arrived safely. And in the end, that’s what mattered.
Meeting everyone made every stressful moment worth it.
I always feel like I’m taking a gamble whenever I invest in new books or new merch. Every convention comes with that tiny fear of asking myself, What if nobody comes?
Then I meet all of you. Some of you have been following my stories for years. Some of you just discovered my work that day. I even had the pleasure of meeting a very kind doctor and bought all my books! To all of you, thank you for giving my stories a home.
As I finish writing this, I’m exactly one week away from another huge milestone.
For the first time ever, I’ll be exhibiting at SMX Convention Center for PGDX x Sticky Expo. I still can’t believe I’m saying that.
Before I became an author, I spent four years as a game streamer during the pandemic. Streaming wasn’t just a job for me. It carried me through one of the hardest seasons of my life. While I was grieving, it gave me people to laugh with, talk to, and simply exist with. Gaming became part of my story.
So being invited to an event that’s all about game developers feels incredibly special. This time, I’m not attending as a visitor or just a gamer. I’m going there to share my own work.
Who knows?
Maybe someday I’ll come back to PGDX with a game based on one of my stories.
That would be pretty amazing. For now, though, I’m still so grateful.
July has been exhausting, overwhelming, stressful, exciting, and unforgettable all at once.
There’s still so much I want to do.
I don’t ever want to settle for “good enough.” I want to keep learning, keep creating, and keep telling stories for everyone.
If there’s one thing July reminded me, it’s that the hard days and the beautiful days usually arrive together. Despite all that, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Dai’s story also revolves around those two words: due and lie.
As a doctor, his life is constantly dictated by deadlines, responsibilities, and the pressure of what is due. That’s why he always carries a pocket watch with him—a reminder that time never stops moving.
But beneath all of that is a lie he’s allowed himself to live with for far too long.
I wrote his story to remind people that no matter how much time has passed, it’s never too late to choose the right thing.