From Sa Pagitan:

“Isabela's collage reflects fragments of her identity -- an identity that is made up of various elements of her past life in the Philippines and her present life in Canada. It is a patchwork of stories that interweave; much like the stories that make up her identity.

Her poem is the intersection of her past and present identities. It is her way of finding beauty in the fragments of her life story.”

I explore the powerful medium of an art journal in archiving one’s memories and celebrating one’s creative journey. Andrea Balba of @andreajournals shares her wisdom and insights about art journaling with me in this piece.

From Sa Pagitan:

📝On the blog: Isabela Q. Villanoy’s article “Piece by piece: Memories and Empowerment through Art Journalling — A conversation with Andrea Balba” @andreajournals explores the connection between art journalling and memory. From archiving our past through digital and concrete means to understanding the message of the medium, Andrea shares with Isabela the beauty of transforming art from ephemera and giving tangible objects a second life.

MNERVA is one of University of Toronto’s literary journals. “Affiliated with St Michael’s College’s newspaper, The Mike, Mnerva aims to form a community of writers to uplift the voices of creatives at the University of Toronto” (taken from Mnerva’s official website)

My editorial work for Mnerva encompassed proofreading and editing submissions for clarity and coherence. My design and social media contributions allowed me to illustrate for the journal’s 2nd issue Boundaries and to grow its online presence on Instagram.

A Filipino phrase that means to be in-between. This in-betweenness can encompass identity, culture, geography, and more. This zine was inspired by a decolonial project for a Women and Gender Studies course at the University of Toronto. 

​This is a healing space where people from all over the world can express themselves through writing, art, and more.

(ee-ha-yag)(v.)proclaim/reveal
We aim to create a patchwork of empowering stories and ideas for and by Filipino/a/xs in Canada & diaspora.

I always find comfort in books — they hold universes within themselves that are fascinating to unravel and discover. Books have been my companions through the darkest and happiest times of my life. And authors are just like my trusted and lifelong friends who converse with me through their beautiful words.

I owe it to these 6 books, for making me fall in love with literature and writing, time and time again. And I hope that they will do the same for you, too. 

I discuss the history of youth activism and its importance in uplifting the narratives of young girls.

Published in The Mike, at St.Michael’s College, University of Toronto | Re-published in The Foolscap Journal, at St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto

I talk about Billie Eilish’s humble beginnings, her music, and her empowering style.

Published in The Mike, at St.Michael’s College, University of Toronto.

I give a review of my favourite short films from TIFF’s “Short Cuts Programme 07”. These films are “Flood” by Joseph Amenta, “Locals Only” by Brent Harris, and “Bare Trees in the Mist” by Rajan Kathet.

Published in The Mike, at St.Michael’s College, University of Toronto.

The article tours you around the city of Toronto during the 2018 Nuit Blanche. I explore the relationship between art and storytelling, and relate this experience with Marshall McLuhan’s idea of “the medium is the message”.

Published in The Mike, at St.Michael’s College, University of Toronto.

Together with Arts Editor Sana Mohsin, we interview student actor Sanjay Pavone. We talk about his experience working on “Flood”, his student-actor life, and his love for short films.

Published in The Mike, at St.Michael’s College, University of Toronto.

A thoughtful reflection after reading Michelle Obama’s “Becoming”. I share two lessons I learned from my reading experience.

Published in The Mike, at St.Michael’s College, University of Toronto.

I write about remake culture and its importance in creative expression, and in changing skewed narratives or debunking outdated ideas.

Published in The Mike, at St.Michael’s College, University of Toronto.

A review of my favourite art pieces from the Gardiner Museum’s exhibit titled “Japan Now: Form + Function”, curated by Joan B. Mirviss.

Published in The Mike, at St.Michael’s College, University of Toronto.

Published in Her Campus U Toronto

“The journey of your passion project may be tough, but the outcome is fulfilling. Here are some ways you can take to turn your passion into a reality. Whether you’re starting it, continuing one you’ve already worked on, or regaining strength from an unsuccessful first run, I hope these pieces of advice will serve beneficial in whatever stage of the project you’re at.”

Published in Her Campus U Toronto

“I owe it to these 6 books, for making me fall in love with literature and writing, time and time again. And I hope that they will do the same for you, too.”

“I’d like to think of a bullet journal as a creative space for reflection, celebration and planning. There are no hard and fast rules for bullet journalling so you have all the creative freedom to express yourself and your plans. At the end of the day, it needs to suit your personal lifestyle and needs. So, if you're looking for inspiration or you're new to the bujo world, here are 5 spread ideas that you can use!”

Published in Her Campus U Toronto

“When you lose your productivity streak, you’re finding it difficult to wake up early in the morning or you’re forgetting to set time for yourself, don’t pressure yourself into compensating for it by establishing insurmountable goals or tasks. Take things one step at a time and start from there. Instead of showing you a long list or an overwhelming self-care map, here are the top 3 steps that I think may help you build your personal self-care vocabulary in the coming weeks of quarantine.”

Published in Her Campus U Toronto

Published in Her Campus U Toronto

“When it comes to building online communities, digital platforms can be both destructive and beneficial in directing your vision. Many content creators – both emerging and professionals – continue to struggle with questions of online authenticity and brand identity – a natural occurrence that really reflects the ways in which they constantly engage with their own work. As a content creator of an online organization, I also find myself in this identity crisis every now and then. Before I tell you my recommendations and advice when building an online presence, let me share with you how and why Ihayag came to be.”

“Inspired by YouTube influencers Nadine Felice and Lavendaire with an added twist by me, this vision board allows you to define, outline and organize your big and small goals using pictures, cut-outs from old magazines and quotes without the overwhelming word list. In addition to the visual aesthetic it adds to a bare wall, it also becomes a decorative piece that constantly reminds you of what you need to do this 2020 as you wake up in the morning and sleep at night.”

Published in Her Campus U Toronto

Published in Her Campus U Toronto

”Although the statistics and facts on this global crisis can be overwhelming for many of us, it’s important to recognize the innovative efforts of various individuals all around the world in combating this problem – a lot of whom are empowering women in the STEM industry. In a world where plastic is a major pollutant of our oceans, urban cities and small communities, Sharon Barak, CTO of the start-up company called Solutum, has invented a biodegradable alternative to plastic. A chemical engineer from Israel who once worked at a plastic company, Barak is changing the game of the plastic problem that has been hurting our environment for years.”

“Last September 2019, I had the opportunity to attend the launch of the Pinay Collection, a Filipino clothing line that aims to “celebrate and reclaim Pinay identity” through fashion. By using the owner Jovie Galit’s creative calligraphy skills to beautifully render various Filipino words on apparel, the brand concretizes Filipino empowerment through the marriage of language and art. As an immigrant navigating through the challenges of assimilating in the Canadian landscape, this memorable experience made me realize that home is more than just a small dot on the map or a brief moment in the past that can only be spoken about in past tense.”

Published in Her Campus U Toronto