Step into
my sketchbook...
Step into my sketchbook...
Inspired by the hidden details of the garden and the quiet beauty of the everyday,
I transform hand-drawn concepts into a world of visual storytelling.
Every piece is crafted to bring a touch of charm and organic beauty to your creative projects.
Inspired by the hidden details
of the garden and the quiet beauty
of the everyday, I transform hand-drawn
concepts into a world of visual storytelling. Every piece is crafted to bring a touch of charm and organic beauty to your creative projects.
Seamless Pattern
Seamless Pattern
Ela and the City of Found Objects was inspired by my childhood memories of finding magic in forgotten things. I wrote and illustrated this story to share a gentle lesson on creativity and resilience: while the winds of life can break what we build, our power to reimagine and rebuild can never be taken away. I hope Ela’s journey inspires you to find beauty and possibility in the simple world around you.
Ela and the City of Found Objects
Ela is a collector of forgotten things.
While others look up, Ela always looks at the ground.
She found smooth river stones from a pile of sand.
She found pale seashells and translucent windowpane oyster shells (kapis) that glinted in the light. She found a piece of dried bamboo, and a bottle cap that sparkled under the sun.
To others, these were just trash.
To Ela, it was a city waiting to be built.
In the shade of a large mango tree, Ela built her masterpiece.
The bamboo became a high bridge.
The kapis shells leaned against each other like glowing lanterns.
The shiny bottle cap was placed on top of a stone tower like a golden roof.
She made a path for the ants. She also made a resting area adorned with hibiscus flowers.
"My city is so strong now," Ela whispered.
But suddenly, the sky darkened.
A strong gust of the habagat wind swept through the branches.
Swoosh! The kapis shells flew apart.
Rumble! The bottle cap bounced off into the grass.
Snap! The bamboo bridge split right down the middle.
Within three seconds, Ela's city was gone.
Ela froze. Her chest felt heavy.
She tried desperately to join the broken bamboo back together, but it would no longer stick.
She tried to rebuild the tall towers, but the wind kept knocking them down.
Ela just sat down on the ground. "Everything is ruined," she cried.
"I can't bring it back to the way it was."
The wind grew cool and gentle.
Ela looked at the broken bamboo. It could no longer be a high bridge.
But when she laid it down flat, it looked like the curved roof of a tiny hut.
Ela looked at her hands, which were stained with red soil.
The city didn't build itself. She—Ela—was the one who designed and built it.
The wind could destroy her towers, but it could not take away her imagination.
Ela smiled.
She no longer tried to rebuild the old city. Instead, she built low shelters close to the ground.
She laid the kapis shells flat to create a spacious yard where the ants could roam freely.
She strengthened it with mud, mimicking the way her father laid cement.
The new city was not like the first one.
It was wider, sturdier, and stood firm under the sky.
The strong wind might blow again.
But tomorrow, Ela will create yet another city of found objects.
Character Illustration
I wrote this story to celebrate the unsung heroes of our history—the ones who fought with quiet, everyday acts of love rather than weapons. Tandang Sora reminded me so much of the strong, nurturing nanays in our own lives who keep everything running with tough love, warm meals, and fierce protection. I wanted to tell her story in a fun, relatable way to show that patriotism doesn't always have to be about grand speeches or battlefields; sometimes, it’s as simple as opening your door and feeding those in need.
Tandang Sora: The Original "Nanay" of the Revolution
We usually think of the Philippine Revolution as a bunch of guys in camisa de chino running through the woods with bolos. But the real MVP? She was an 84-year-old grandmother who probably would have lectured the revolutionaries on their posture while saving their lives.
Meet Melchora Aquino, or as the history books (and her fan club) call her: Tandang Sora.
The "Before" Years: More Than Just a Grandma
Before she was a national icon, Melchora was the ultimate boss of her village. Widowed early, she raised six kids solo. You know exactly the type of "nanay energy" she had—she was the village coordinator, the party planner, and the unofficial life coach.
She was the kind of woman who had eyes in the back of her head. You know the drill: if you were looking for something and couldn't find it, she’d walk in, look for two seconds, find it immediately, and hit you with that legendary line: "Kung may ahas dyan, kanina ka pa nakagat!" (If that were a snake, it would have bitten you by now!)
And heaven forbid any neighborhood kid stepped near her garden; you’d hear her shouting from the porch: "Hoy! 'Wag kayo dyan, may tanim ako dyan!" She was the hermana mayor—the person who kept the barrio running, kept the peace, and probably kept everyone in check with just one look.
1896: The "Grandma of the Revolution"
Fast forward to 1896. Most people at 84 are enjoying their retirement, maybe complaining about the weather or—like you’d often hear from her porch—not Melchora.
When the Katipunan started the revolution against Spain, Melchora didn’t just say, "Good luck, kiddos." She opened her home and store to them. She treated her kitchen like a secret bunker. While the Spanish were busy hunting down "rebels," they didn't realize that the most dangerous weapon in the resistance was a grandmother handing out rice, water, and herbal meds.
She turned her house into a sanctuary for wounded soldiers. She didn't have a sword, but she had a pantry and a level of grit that made her the "Mother of the Katipunan."
The "Guam Vacation"
The Spanish eventually realized their mistake—the "old lady" was the logistics manager of the revolution. They arrested her and exiled her to Guam. Seriously, can you imagine? Most people get a retirement home; she got a forced international trip.
But did she break? Nope. She refused to apologize for helping her country. She essentially looked at the Spanish authorities and gave them the ultimate "I’ll do what I want" attitude. She stayed in exile until the Americans took over, finally returning home in 1898.
Why She’s Still the GOAT (Greatest of All Time)
Melchora passed away in 1919 at the ripe old age of 107. She outlived the Spanish Empire, for crying out loud.
The First Pinay on Cash: She was the first Filipino woman to appear on our money (the ₱100 bill and 5-centavo coin). Every time you see her on a bill, remember: that’s not just a face; that’s the woman who fed an entire revolution.
The Shrine: She’s got her own shrine in Quezon City. If that doesn’t scream "Icon," I don’t know what does.
A Legacy That Nourishes the Soul
Tandang Sora leaves us with a quiet but powerful truth: "Ang tunay na paglilingkod ay hindi nangangailangan ng karangyaan, kundi ng busilak na puso." (True service does not require luxury, but a pure heart.)
She spent her life feeding the hungry, and I can't help but think about her famous tinola. We’ve all tasted the dish, but what exactly was in her recipe? Was it extra ginger for the sick soldiers? Maybe a secret herb from her garden? I guess some things remain a mystery, but one thing is for sure—it was a tinola seasoned with the most powerful ingredient of all: pure, fearless love for her country.
Stickers
Meet the snacks that talk back—with kindness.
The Food-turistic collection features five hand-illustrated friends
designed to be your personal cheer squad.
Whether you're journaling,
decorating your laptop, or gifting a friend,
these stickers serve up a daily dose of 'core strength' and positivity.
T-shirt Design
Stickers
Meet the snacks that talk back—with kindness. The Food-turistic collection features five hand-illustrated friends designed to be your personal cheer squad. Whether you're journaling, decorating your laptop, or gifting a friend, these stickers serve up a daily dose of 'core strength' and positivity.
Bits and Pieces
