Diwa Daily

  • The Chua-Gonzaga Library Project

    The first half of February whizzed by completely because of a hobby I reconnected and fell in love with again. Ever since I received my first Barnes & Noble leather-bound book in the mail, I felt the same throb of passion for rebuilding and collecting rare and beautiful books. It’s like meeting with an old…

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  • Sunday Paper Co Simple Notebook in Black

    Sunday Paper Co, a Manila-based stationery brand, was the first thing I searched for when I stepped into Common Room’s Rockwell branch two years ago. This was the year I started paying more attention to local brands like Sunday Paper that embodied good design and quality in their products. As a loyal fan of blank…

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  • Feeling Amazing with My New Renegade Folk Shoes

      I discovered Renegade Folk on Instagram a long time ago, completely head-over-heels over their limited edition Feeling Good sandals in Marsala. They’re simple, sexy, and exactly the kind of sandals I’d wear everyday. The brand itself is admirable as they’ve grown into one of the most popular local fashion brands in the country. Launched…

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  • The Power of the Dreams Board

    Yesterday, I passed the Nursery class after dropping Noah off at his classroom for the day. The kids formed two lines, with their Chinese teacher demonstrating how to, if I understood their gestures correctly, walk properly within their lines. Their hands at their hips, the taller assistant standing behind her, the Nursery teacher spoke her…

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  • 2017 Wins: The Full List

    I’m still wrestling with the idea that twelve long months have already gone by. So many things happened and changed, so many goals accomplished and failed, it’s hard not to wonder what the new year could bring to the table this time. My 2017 ally is my undated Passion Planner and it enabled me to…

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  • Dolldalita Dolls are Lovingly Handmade from the Philippines

    Before moving to Cagayan de Oro city, I brought a super old Fisher-Price basic telephone and a stuffed Thumper doll that I’ve had since I was a child. Both were for my kids to play with as they settled into their new home. I guess I saved them so I could anchor to cherished memories…

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  • I want to work at (insert location)

    I read that asking a child, or anyone for that matter, what they would like to be growing up is problematic. The question demands that you select and identify with one specific occupation. It leaves no room for changes in decision, interest, or preference. Moreover, if you come from a family that expects you to…

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  • Read before you sign

    I’ve come to believe that important life lessons are learned through either advice or hands-on experience. The latter, more often than not, is the best and most painful teacher. It’s also the teacher whose classes I keep attending with or without intention. ? This week’s lesson I had to (re)learn is to read before you…

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  • I deleted 6,000 tweets in one month

    Every time I log in to Twitter (@heysstef), I get distracted by the 18.4K tweet count glaring at me from the side of my feed. I couldn’t shake off the urge to bring that number down, no matter how senseless and time-consuming the task was. Did I really post that many tweets? What were those…

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  • Bright Books: Beautiful Journals Giving Light to a Child In Need

    Socially responsible stationery—it’s everything a paper collector like me could ask for. I get to bring ideas to life while helping others in need. You can just imagine my joy when I stumbled upon Bright Books by Amy O’Shea. Founded in 2009, her experience in Uganda with the Arlington Academy of Hope inspired her to…

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