Writing about deeply personal topics is both a challenge and a necessity. As I worked on Redeeming Renato: A Memoir, I found myself confronting painful truths about faith, sexuality, and cultural identity. The process was often unsettling.

Read more: renatogandia.com/2025/03/12/w...

This season holds a quiet magic for writers. Beyond the bustling markets and twinkling lights, there’s a space where we retreat, not to escape the world, but to observe it more keenly. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas! #WritingCommunity #WritersLife #FilipinoCanadian

The Remnants We Keep. That’s the prompt for this piece, which is the theme of www.everythingisurgent.com first edition. I’m grateful for the chance to be part of this project! #WritersCommunity #PinoyWriter

Had the chance to chat with Christina Pantoja Hidalgo, and she’s as warm and insightful as you’d imagine! Such a cool, down-to-earth conversation that left me thinking about how much stories really connect us. Definitely feeling recharged to keep writing! #FilipinoWriters #WritingCommunity

Spent an evening hanging out with the ever-brilliant Niles Jordan Breis. His wit and wisdom are only matched by his effortless charm. Conversations with him always leave me inspired—and laughing, too. #CreativeMinds #WritingFriends #WritingCommunity #PhilippineLiterature

1/ I’ve always imagined returning to the Philippines unannounced—not out of malice, but for peace. No spectacle, no orchestrated reunions. Just me, showing up, a quiet presence in a familiar chaos. 🧵