I have always loved writing, which is why I took up Journalism in college. I once dreamt of putting up my own magazine publication company, and starting a youth-oriented magazine that will make sense of real adolescent issues. I'm still interested in working in the magazine industry, although that dream has taken a backseat after I took interest in other things and found new passions.

I dream of publishing a novel someday, a book that will inspire and empower young people, hopefully girls in particular.

Although I am of course aware of the phenomenon of Filipinos leaving the country in search of greener pastures abroad, I have never cared much about it, especially since we didn't have an OFW in the family, even within a couple of degrees. But a semester at the National University of Singapore changed that. I took a couple of Southeast Asian Studies classes, both of which dealt heavily with migration, and that's when my interest in Filipino labor migration started, and grew. When I returned to the University of the Philippines, I took up more subjects on migration.

I'm very keen on Filipino labor migration, such that our group's Communication Research 101 paper was on children of OFWs and their academic performance, and my thesis is on reader perceptions of OFWs based on socio-economic class and exposure to newspaper articles about OFWs. I also pitched a story on children of OFWs to Candy magazine, which was consequently approved and which I have just finished. I'm looking forward to working in a migration research institution after college graduation.

I often say that I have found my calling in this area, and I do believe that this is something I've been led to do. In the future, I want to travel around the world to get involved with Filipino migrant communities, and then come back here to get involved with left-behind families of OFWs.

I caught the travel bug from my parents, who have both been to many places the world over, thanks to their jobs that allowed it. I've only mostly been to Asia, which is fine. I love Asia and I personally think it's the most interesting continent to explore, because of the amazing diversity in culture and heritage. My travel list include all ASEAN countries, as well as countries in East and South Asia. I also want to go on a Caribbean cruise, and a backpacking adventure through Europe. Of course, I also want to visit the beautiful nature destinations in the Philippines, such as Palawan, for the marine life, and Donsol, for the whale sharks.