I’m Regina. I write a lot. I love to build stuff: from costumes and props to communities and gardens. I’m wife to Oneal and mom to Lucas.

What I do

I’m a writer and project manager by training, but I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember.

I was a college freshman when an essay of mine was published in a national daily newspaper, and that was probably the official beginning of my “career” as a writer. Since then, I’ve written for many Philippine news outlets and magazines: Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News Online, ABS-CBNnews.com, Rappler, Homegrown, Cosmo.ph, Smart Parenting, HealthToday.

Thanks to a stint in an IT company, I learned project management too. That’s what I did for six years in my work with the Probe Media Foundation, Inc., as project coordinator of the Mulat Pinoy–Kabataan News Network. In my work with MP-KNN, I did a lot of live social media coverage and public speaking about how social media can be helpful for non-profts. I met so many inspiring people, of different races and genders and ages. It was fulfilling, tiring work, where I learned so many new things and met so many amazing people, and I’m very very proud of it.

My work with MP-KNN showed me that I need my work to mean something, to have an impact on society, especially those who are disadvantaged or underprivileged. I think it was this sense of purpose that led me to Unilab Foundation, where I worked for three years as Media Relations Officer. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to work with the youth again, through Ideas Positive, but I must admit it was Project Inclusion‘s work with Persons with Disability that held the most meaning for me.

After I left ULF, I worked full-time in media for a year, as Managing Editor of How To 101 and Mantle Magazine. The stories were amazing, exciting, out of this world. I met fascinating people and did exciting things. (I also had a lot of wine!) But after a while I felt the need to do something else.

Now I work as Communications and Liaison Officer for Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and I tell stories that I hope will help bring lifesaving healthcare to those who need it most.

What I do for fun

I often define myself by my work, but there are also a lot of people who know me by my hobbies. The ones who do know me as a big Star Wars geek, and trust me that’s an understatement. Through Star Wars, I met my husband, Oneal. I joined an international costuming organization called the 501st Legion, and I served for 11 years as an officer of the Philippine Garrison. I met George Lucas. I named my son Lucas.

It’s pretty amazing.

I don’t have much time or energy to build costumes or props these days, but I geek out in other ways. I love discovering new things to geek out about. I read when I can, and watch fascinating shows like Outlander and Altered Carbon. My husband and I love introducing Lucas to all the things we enjoy, from dragons and spaceships to costumes and art, books and stories to fairies and magic.

I love cats. I’ve loved and taken care of many cats over the years, but some will always hold a special place in my heart:

• Botchok, whom I picked up in 2000. Sadly, she passed away in November 2015.
• The Baby Raptors, three kittens abandoned on our balcony, found in August 2015

What I do for fitness–and mental health

More recently, I’ve found myself writing about fitness and mental health. I find that these are two things I care about greatly. My fixation with physical fitness has a lot to do with the fact that I’m getting older, and I would like to take care of my body so I can do all the things I want.

I have become very concerned about my mental health ever since I became a mother. Fatigue, the loss of identity, the onslaught of hormones, these do so many things to the body and wreak havoc on the mind. It was in 2020 when I got my diagnosis of anxiety and depression, and it is one of the most important things I have ever done for myself.

This is me, and this is my life. I hope to chronicle some of it here. Stay tuned!

Questions, comments or suggestions? Send an email: regina [at] thegeekycatlady.com