"I was born on Halloween, which probably explains a lot, and I grew up in Metro Manila, steeped in my family’s colourful personalities and stranger-than-fiction stories.
I studied in Catholic schools, from kindergarten up to university. I developed a love for philosophy, modern classics and drama at university. I'm very grateful for the formation these schools have given me. I tend to go to dark places in my writing, but I do so with the light of my faith (imperfect as it may be) and a good moral compass.
I also worked in the advertising industry, honing my craft as a copywriter in various multinational ad agencies, and later became Associate Creative Director at Great Wall Advertising.
I spent a good part of my twenties trekking around the Philippines, sampling regional food, and experiencing the hospitality of my fellow Filipinos from Batanes to Mindanao.
I moved to Canada in the mid-nineties, met my spouse, and worked as a a technical designer for the Hudson's Bay Company. I now work in Communications, writing for special events. I studied creative writing at the University of Toronto, with novelists Kim Echlin and Helen Humphreys, and published some poetry in journals, as well as online publications.
My spouse, Paul, remains my first and best reader. When I'm not writing, I keep the memories of Philippine kitchens alive in my cozy, richly-coloured casa in leafy South Etobicoke, where I cocoon with my spouse and daughter as we plot our next family adventure."