I just submitted an 18-page essay for my Palanca entry. Yep, eighteen pages. Exactly 4,986 words I agonized over, paragraphs I rewrote a hundred times, and countless moments of dread in front of a blinking cursor when the thoughts in my head refused to make it to the screen. Now it’s done…

I remember it was summer of 2003 when I created my first blog. I did it out of the need to channel my inner Hulk who gets infuriated at life's slightest inconveniences into something rather creative. Then I got through that teenage angst phase and became mature (surprisingly). Started…

"Hey, I got a new badge on my blog." "Congratulations! You deserve that!" "Thanks! But I want to add something right there." There was a pause. "I want to win a Palanca ," I told Jan flat out loud. He gave me an eager look as he contin…

I was asked to do a speech after my name was announced. I don't exactly have an affinity for speaking, let alone an impromptu one. Usually, the words I compose in my head are not the same words that come out of my mouth. I only wanted to be grateful but instead, I uttered: "I wro…

I have been reading someone lately. And it's not because he is famous nor do I find his life interesting. I know this blog can be described exactly the same way, but nope, this is not about me. He was also a competitor from the last blogging contest I joined. And even though I wanted …