I’m Eileen! I’m a Filipina American musician and writer. I started this blog because I believe more women of color need our voices heard in the world, and I’m starting with me.
I believe everyone deserves to see themselves represented in the arts. In a world where I felt all alone in my childhood, it was the arts that showed me a universe filled with people like me. This blog is my small way of giving that joy to the world. My hope is that others will feel empowered to express themselves creatively and authentically in the world as a result of reading my words.
Who would enjoy this blog?
You’ll enjoy this blog if you’re someone who:
- Supports women and nonbinary people of color in the arts
- Is interested in reading about the world from the perspective of a neurospicy woman of color
- Wants to learn life lessons from the arts
- Performs, teaches, or just plain loves music
- Needs gentle reminders to care for yourself
- Enjoys reading poetry, short stories, and creative nonfiction
- Likes random pictures and/or posts about food and cats
What’s my story?
I started playing piano at the tender age of 4 years old, and according to my mom I practically came out of the womb singing. At age 16, after a particularly difficult AP Chemistry class convinced me medical school wasn’t in the cards, I decided music was something I wouldn’t hate doing everyday for the rest of my life.
I’ve been a professional pianist, accompanist, and educator since 2011. After a brief stint in academia, I got a part-time job in arts administration, and now have a full-time career in arts management. I currently support myself financially as a pianist, teacher, and arts manager.
My deepest artistic passion lies with the written word. I’ve expressed myself through various forms of writing (poetry, short stories, non-fiction) ever since I learned to write. My work has been published in Anthropology Now and TAYO Literary Magazine.
My decades of experience in the arts as a neurospicy woman of color have profoundly shaped my worldview—in everything from teaching philosophy to social justice to mental health and more.
One last thing…
The greatest loves of my life are food and my two cats (Mochi and Matcha). So don’t be surprised when food and cat posts sneak their way on here!
Riffs on the Reg 