research – WEARENOTDATA

Abril

I was excited for this month to arrive, but I also dreaded it at some point. My emotions were all over the place, mostly because there were so much unknown for me. But I kept reminding myself that I committed this life to always going where I am called, and going to places I doContinue reading “Abril”

Marso

MARSO is a painstaking attempt to pull me out of my head. This month, I spent a long time sitting in my head and thinking, when I should have just left my thoughts and explored the days. This zine is a reminder that writing (poetry) is a commitment – it takes all of me asContinue reading “Marso”

Pebrero

Pebrero is a poetry collection that holds words and feelings that I could not bring myself to talk about. By turning them into poetry, I was able to have an internal conversation to help myself unpack the weight of the boxes I carry. This is Pebrero.

Enero

ENERO is a collection of poems that distill my daily experiences of being a researcher; embodying this body in a foreign city; becoming while also recognizing my lived experiences; and celebrating people who have fought to see better days. The cover – a Filipina cyborg – depicts my ongoing internal debate of how living inContinue reading “Enero”

What I talk about when I talk about doing a PhD

I have always been conflicted whether to pursue a PhD. I was never sure, but the desire to do it has always been with me. I cannot remember exactly when it started, but it just lingered. I started applying for PhD positions late 2020, and through the process I learned how not to take rejectionsContinue reading “What I talk about when I talk about doing a PhD”