My story.

When I was a little girl in sea-and-flower-fragrant Monterey Bay, I used to pretend I made a special healing potion. In the backyard, I would gather eucalyptus leaves, twigs, flowers and little fruits then place them in a container of water. I'd shake them up vigorously with my little hands to mix the aromas and juices. This misty liquid wasn't for me --- it had a trace scent of Listerine (blechh!). With this child's concoction, I'd tend to my poor dollies. When they were sick, of course.

I have gone through several journeys that have brought me to where I am today. Some are very personal and others are so everyday that they are quite easy to share.

Born and raised in the United States in the 60s, I spent my early childhood playing in Georgia and then in California. When I was 11, my widowed mother moved most of the contents of our home, my two brothers and me included, back to Bacolod, her hometown in the Philippines. There I had the grand opportunity to connect with a very large, very loving extended family and to rediscover my roots.

In my senior year, a philosophy teacher put forward an almost "dangerous" question for us pampered-all-girl-school-girls--- "Who am I?" Ayn Rand and Socrates were seared deep into my psyche and I lost the innocence within my balmy, sweet-rice, candied-banana and childish contentment. At 16, I began to question many things solid and dear to even the concept of God... I began a quest for something I could not grasp and not even name... The Seeker was awakened in me.

I was so looking forward to a broader experience of life that my next step in my little world was to go to co-ed college. And so I went off to Jesuit college in the big city of Manila and there my sheltered life's horizons were again expanded with the university motto of "A man for others." For the first time in my life, I was opened up by the possibility of being a person for others, not just for my little self-centered self---caught up in books, grades, dates, fashion, photogenics and manicures.

I later went off to the state college of University of the Philippines at Diliman. This was a college that was famous for its education and notorious for its student activism. So not only did I nurture my artistic skills there at the College of Fine Arts pursuing Visual Communications, Editorial Design, I also tested my mettle as yet another Diliman aktibista taking to the streets. I pushed the concepts of my art school projects to include community development and causes of the oppressed. I pursued content that explored national identity and colonial mentality.

After taking to the streets one final time during the days of EDSA and People Power of 1986, in March 1986 I took off for the U.S. to seek my fortune, intending to return to do more editorial design for developmental causes and to settle down. The Fates can give you glimpses of alternative paths in your life. And thus I made the choice to marry a native New Yorker instead of returning to a comfortable life in Bacolod. In the U.S. I was able to finally pursue a career in graphic arts and advertising and then began working in interactive multimedia CD design and production. From there, web design was the natural next step.

Meanwhile, I also was having children. Now I have 3 boys. As of this writing, they are now the ages of 16, 10 and 6. Motherhood brings about good things for me. There is exasperation of course. But there's lots of love, lessons in human relations and even moments of self-discovery. The unconditional love I get from these young people is like nothing else. The opportunity to return to them what they give me is the best gift I have been given Life.

It was after my 2nd son was born when I began to do web design. I even started a partnership in Internet design and consulting with Mothermedia. Later, I had to choose between earning money doing web design, or not earning any income doing web design work for worthy causes. The latter was the choice I made.

Pretty soon, the web work became online community work and women's empowerment, and then that in turn became real-world community interaction in the States and in the Philippines. I have done a lot of creative work doing web design and content development, web community work, organization building, marketing, creating women's workshops, doing spiritual exploration, writing and artwork. Now I am chairing a large networking event for 2005, which is a national conference to be held in New York City next year.

Whew! Little did I expect that trained as a graphic artist, I would end up doing women's empowerment, pursuing community healing and writing spiritual prose. These and the fact that I have trained and work as a healer are some of my big Life surprises so far.

Aside from the creative and community work that I do, I also enjoy yoga, meditation, walks, gardening, motherhood and being a mentor. Sometimes I make a mouth-watering delicacy in the kitchen, but the recipes I have inherited are usually so rich and fattening that those occasions are truly rare.

I have been on the Internet since 1991. The Internet has been an astounding outlet for expression and community for me. It is an amazing tool for connection with goods such as books (books and more books), for connecting with mind-expanding ideas and with people around the world who share the same concerns and ask the same questions as I do.

I promise you, in real life, I've outgrown a lot of self-centeredness, but where else can one enjoy rambling and writing in the key of ME (mi-mi-mi-me-me-me-ME!), but in one's bio. You read this to the end? You persevering, brave soul. May your Life be filled with Love, Light and Laughter.