Introducing myself and my journal: SOPHISTIKATE: Katepiphanies and Kateaclysms

About Me:
I'd like to introduce myself by explaining how I came up with my journal title. Here goes:

I listed quite a number of words that have "kate" or katea (pronounced as K.T) in it. It isn't because I'm in love with my name or not in love with it. It just that a journal is supposed to be a space for oneself. I even asked my friends to vote which one they think would best suit me. But all the three words--sophistikate, katepiphanies, and kateaclysms tied up thus the title.

I enjoy playing with words and for this reason, every word in the journal title has at least 2 meanings. It's also the same thing with the subtitle. Having read, Helene Cixous, I opted to use her "ecriture feminine" which means "feminine writing". Feminine writing is both a construct (one which was invented/created/fashioned by the patriarchal society) and a de-construct (one which is female in nature). She says that ecriture feminine must come from the female body, a writing that is experiential rather than cerebral and logical that male writers do. But of course, this does not mean that my writing is deduced of philosophical thoughts.

"I" in the subtitle obviously is the voice that speaks here and now. All the words that come after it have "i" in them too. So I guess, the myth of Narcissus is mirrored on the title, and the myth of Echo on the subtitle.

So I was born in a country where national language cannot be agreed upon. As language in itself is political in nature. Although most of us understand Filipino, the national language, there are instances that some regions in our country prefer to converse in English. Some families too discourage their children from learning the national language as English is "the" language spoken at home. It is understandable of course in a third world country like us as English is the "master's" language. My country is a class-conscious country, as the gap between the privileged and the under-privileged is widen by this fact. Am I class-conscious? Of course! I am conscious of the gap and I am trying, in my own way, to mediate. I am conscious that my country is falling apart. I know for a fact that this falling shall also pass for I am conscious that there is a way to reconstruct.

My birthday falls under the house of Libra, the scale, same birthday as Mahatma Gandhi. This may have affected my personality that's always in search of truth and justice, peace and leadership. I like diplomacy in any kind of transaction. I am not the highly passionate type of person who would scream at the top of my lungs whenever I disagree with something or someone. But when it's necessary to go out to the streets and make noise to seek for justice, my voice will surely harmonize with the rest of the people. In everything that we do, discernment is a necessary ally.

My Passions:
Arts and literature, politics, spirituality, transformatinal leadership, multiculturalism, travelling, quality education, gender equality and sustainable environment

My Challenges:
a financially sustainable future to continue doing what I'm doing and the things that I have to do for myself and the society at large.

My Vision for the Future:
A sustainable and just future.

My Areas of Expertise:
research