Since I was a kid, I read like a maniac. I read David Copperfield (not the magician!) by Charles Dickens over one summer when I was twelve years old. This is my tangible memory as a young reader because I struggled through this Dickens classic, but wanted to finish it, for reasons that now escape my adult mind.
To date, my most treasured print book is the Riverside Shakespeare Collection!
Through the years, I’ve continued my passion for reading while writing short stories privately.
As I’ve matured, there are certain writing guides I’ve incorporated internally. Otherwise, my writing isn’t authentic to my voice.
Rule 1: My protagonists are conscious of the Filipino experience.
They will most likely be of Filipino ancestry, but perhaps they are not. Regardless, my protagonists will be conscious Filipino history and culture and if they are not, they will explore it.
Rule 2: My antagonists will aim to destroy the lives of my Filipino conscious protagonists. The antagonist in Enlightenment is unseen until later in the book. Or is he actually seen? Hmmmm…
Rule 3: A love story is the heart of my novels.
Every great tale has star-crossed lovers struggling to overcome adversity. This is the case in Enlightenment with Dorothy and Adrian. Or is it? Hmmmmmm…
Rule 4: My stories educate readers through the plot of a fictional tale.
I believe most writers are educators and I’m no exception. I’m particularly interested in increasing the Filipinx consciousness on the history of their homeland, the Philippines, prior to Spanish colonization. It’s quite a sordid tale, one which must be rehashed in different credible forms.
“Enlightenment” and The Bathala Series is a fictional urban fantasy series that could be used by educators to reel in students about pre-Spanish Philippines.
Novels completed
1. Book 1 of The Bathala Series – Enlightenment
2. To Keep a Promise – A high school sweetheart love story.
The Bathala Series in the works
1. Book 2 of The Bathala Series – Atonement
2. Book 3 of The Bathala Series – Confinement (the story of Urduja)
3. Book 4 of The Bathala Series – Deferment
4. Book 5 of The Bathala Series – Resentment
5. Book 6 of The Bathala Series – Temperament
6. Book 7 of The Bathala Series – Fulfillment
Screenplays
1. A Forgotten Innocence – completed
2. 90’s popstar biopic – draft
3. And One – draft
Renowrites 