Distance And Proximity

What do you do for work? Is this something you’ve always wanted to do?
I’m in public relations! My present job feels like a natural progression after being in the business of storytelling for six years now. I started from being a journalist and content strategist back in the Philippines to currently practicing PR for a range of clients—from the arts to beauty—after finishing my master’s here.

What’s something you’d change about your work if you could?
Myself. There’s so much more I want to learn about my job, the work our clients do, and the new media landscape here in Singapore and the region. They’re always changing, and to truly keep up in such a fast-paced industry, there’s a level of agility, skill, and sensitivity required from people tasked to tell these stories from a branded perspective. I’m nowhere near the level I aspire to be. so the only way to catch up is to change with the motions as well.

Beyond self-improvement though, my industry is notorious for its stress and long hours, so if there’s anything else that needs changing, it’s the broader system that favours this hustle over wellbeing.

What would you say has been the greatest achievement of your life so far?
Surviving the pandemic. It’s been an emotionally, mentally, and physically taxing recent history—in my case, I started my first job in this country at the start of the outbreak in March 2020. I grappled with a hectic new industry, working culture, and corporate PR (which wasn’t in my wheelhouse) all while working remotely and being apart from my loved ones. Special shoutout to social media apps for bridging the gaps, and my support system here for keeping my sanity intact!

What is one thing you’re currently saving up for?
My trip back to the Philippines! I recently splurged on a trip to Bangkok to visit my boyfriend but now, I’m religiously saving up for beach and out-of-town trips with my family and friends later this year.

Do you have any hobbies?
I picked up embroidery at the height of the pandemic, and it’s almost like therapy. It teaches me to embrace slowness and the quiet, and be more forgiving of my mistakes since you can always go back and do over a better stitch. It’s a calming anti-thesis to my job and the world we now live in.

You have great skin! Can you share some of your skincare tips with us?
Thank you! I’m a big advocate of knowing your skin’s problem triggers before anything else—whether it’s stress, certain ingredients, habits, genetics, or even hormonal conditions like PCOS. That way, you can nip the problem in the bud and work towards tailoring your routine, rather than subscribing to trends and wasting your money.

Product-wise, I highly recommend using a retinoid, SPF, and simple healing products with Centella Asiatica, aloe vera, propolis, and rosehip seed oil for a foolproof sheen!

What’s your go-to comfort food?
Anything that tastes rich and will probably clog my arteries—pizza, prawn heads, Jollibee Chickenjoy with spaghetti, you name it.