The Perks of Travel Writing and Networking

What can traveling, writing and social networking do? A lot.

Never in my wildest dream did I desire to see myself writing a blog how much more joining social networks with my photos publicly posted online. After a friend’s constant prodding and thinking about it for some time, those reservations became a reality. 

What started as a love for travel and writing my experiences in journals, and later on through a blogspot account, led me to a bolder step. Why not create my own website? With the help of a webmaster, I put up an e-journal and named it GiGi Journals (GGJ). My venture did not stop there. I thought of communicating and sharing it to our fellow Filipinas living anywhere else in the world.

Fast forward. 

Barely five months old now, the GiGi Journals site is already stirring up a crowd. Well, that is through MySpace social network, so far. GiGi Journals has now become a community of Filipinas from all walks of life; a sole community of Filipinas married to foreigners, overseas workers, tourists and those Filipinas back home who are simply proud to be a Filipina traveler or dream to be one.  

As days pass by, GiGi Journals has also become an advocacy venue when one MySpace friend requested that I try to help fellow Filipinas not to become victims of online scammers. One story was even a product of venting out pent-up emotions while sharing her travails as an overseas worker. Through this social network, I also came to know more about the traits of a Filipina. There are Filipinas who are skeptic because of certain personal biases, but generally speaking, I find Filipinas friendly and thoughtful. The GiGi Journals’ MySpace comment box and mail inbox could attest to that. 

The world may commonly know Filipinas as care givers, domestic helpers, entertainers, cooks, teachers, nurses, missionaries among others but behind these diverse professions they have amazing stories of struggles, joys and triumphs awaiting to unfold. Some Filipinas have traveled far to see places or to study more. But there are also those who go abroad to find work, find love, and security. Simply put, to make life better. Needless to say, realization sets in. Somewhere along the way, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of a strange land, the heart still misses home. Even the biggest smile behind those beautiful, breath-taking sceneries digitally shot could not hide the facts of life. Gary V’s song, Babalik ka rin in a Duty-free ad years ago, is indeed a reminder that there is no place like home.

GiGi Journals is purposely for Filipinas who want to discuss about the Philippines and their journeys in life as they travel or work abroad. Often times, I encounter Filipinas who are willing to share but anxious to express their thoughts in writing which is why I encourage my MySpace Filipina friends to write even in Tagalog. Once done, I translate the text in English as nearly as possible from the original Tagalog text. Added to that, I ask leading questions to help them start with their story. The end product? A narrative only a Filipina could recount. These are poignant stories that will open the minds of other people who don’t even know the difference between a Filipino and a Filipina; that Filipinas with a Maria name aren’t used to be called as such; that the books we use in school are also written in English; that we are linguists, too.And the list goes on ...

Why only Filipinas? It’s because we have a unique way of experiencing life that is simply Tatak Pinay. If you have a story to tell or just want to read stories, check out my online travel journal and discover how the world is seen through the eyes of a Filipina.