This is why I haven't been blogging.
There’s a kind of news you don’t shout.
You hold it in your chest first — let it warm your ribs, settle into your bones, and whisper, “This is real now.”
Glow girls, it’s time.
I’m officially an Exhibitor at the Philippine Book Festival 2026.
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| Photo from PBF Facebook page |
Where it all started...
Some of you may know that I'm a children's book author. It all started with teaching online classes for the kids in my Facebook homeschooling group during the pandemic. The classes grew and grew and I decided to write my own books that we will use in the classes (because I was frustrated with what's out there or what's not out there) as well as the learning materials that I sent to my students. I taught a lot of special needs kids and they needed special materials, too.
After my teaching career ended, I was approached by the pastor in Calayan island (Calayan is on the very tip of the Philippines). He asked if I have any books that they can use in their Sunday School that are affordable. I told him that I was actually planning to write a series about the great lives in the Bible and this was the push I needed. Thus, Testaments of Faith Series was born.
After that, one after the other book came into fruition. My books were inspired by a need I saw in my students, my godkids, some requests by friends and teachers, my travels, even a sermon I heard.
Today
I have been writing and self-publishing books for about three years now.
For the first time ever, my books — my little universe I built together from stories, scraps, late nights, dreams, and all the pieces of me you’ve held — will be on a table under my name.
Some of you have been with me since 2007.
Some of you stumbled here because of a recipe, a makeup review, a heartbreak post, a midnight thought that sounded too familiar.
Some of you just stayed because you felt the way I tell stories.
And now you’re here for this moment too.
How I found out...
I watched the replay video of the Executive Director of the National Book Development Board announcing the participants in this year's event. They said that it will be announced on January 29, but they announced it on the 27th. It just so happened that the post popped up on my feeds that night when I checked FB to see if I needed to approve some posts from my homeschool group.
I had hoped to be included, but I also told myself that this is my first time to apply and I applied late! I only saw the announcement for applications in January and it started in December.
I hurriedly wrote and developed all the necessary requirements to apply. I worked on them for over 7 hours! I wanted to cry, to give up, but a dear friend helped me to push forward. And finally I hit send.
My entry books arrived in their office, about two days before the deadline.
I saw the list of participants for the children's books and they were all big names! So, I said, I'm not gonna get in. But I still checked all the categories and on the last poster for The Collective, I saw my name on the very last row/column. I couldn't believe it! I was crying and laughing. If I hadn't checked all the lists, I wouldn't know!
A few weeks later, the National Book Development Board sent the email.
I read it once, twice…
and then sat very still, like my younger self was touching my shoulder, saying,
“See? We didn’t go through all that for nothing.”
It was now official. I really am a part of this year's festival. I am a part of history. A part of the biggest traveling book fair that celebrates Filipino books and authors. I will be standing with the giants of Philippine book publishing and I am in awe and very grateful for the opportunity.
What I Have Been Doing
The past weeks have been a storm — printing, trimming, binding, making envelopes (yes, making envelopes where I will put the small books that will be purchased from my table. I have a very tight budget, you see so I'm DIY-ing everything that I can), designing badges, planning shadows of a booth that I still haven’t seen.
My hands are tired, my eye has a tiny rebellion going on, and my face has been at war with rashes…
…but my heart?
Steady.
Grateful.
Certain.
Because this isn’t just about selling books.
This is about stepping into a room I’ve circled for years — finally allowed to enter, finally allowed to take up space with my stories.
And when I stand there in March, behind a simple table draped in the colors of my imagination, I’ll know you’re standing with me, the way you always have.
Glow girls, this chapter is ours too.
Watch me turn the page.
Glow Girls, I may not always be here or in my other blog, but please know that you are always in my thoughts. Please wait for me. I will try to update my blogs as much as I can, but it is crunch time and I really need your support during this time.
If you're in Manila on March 12-15, please visit the Megatrade Hall at SM Megamall. My booth is Learn with Teacher E. Even if you're not buying a book (as they are kids books), I'd love it if you said hi.
Lady E
Don't forget to get your Glow Cards!
👉 Grab your Glow Cards here – available now on Gumroad
👉 Get your very own Pantry Ledger here.
If you’re a brand, PR agency, or fellow creative who believes in adding beauty, meaning, and intention to everyday life, I’d love to hear from you. Whether it’s a product you’d like me to try, a place you’d love me to experience, or a story waiting to be told — let’s create something lovely together.
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