The Bayanihan Spirit
I was born in the Philippines and moved to the U.S. when I was four years old, wrapped in the love of my parents and four older brothers. Growing up, our home was built on Bayanihan - a Filipino value that celebrates community, compassion, and the power of collective care.
For over 50 years, that spirit has guided me in everything I am: as a mother, a wife, an HR executive, and a creative soul. I have always been a deep believer in the universe and the power of intention; I believe that the positive forces we put out into the world are exactly what the universe returns to us. Whether I am nurturing my family or my craft, I move with the trust that when we care for the "Bayan" (community), the community, in turn, sustains us.
A Life Dedicated to the Journey of Others
Long before I touched clay, my professional life was an exercise in this exchange of energy. For decades, I served as a leader in Global People Operations. I never saw my role as managing "resources"; I saw it as Human Advocacy. My joy has always come from being an architect for other people’s dreams - helping a new hire find their footing or guiding a rising talent into a leadership role. I’ve learned that when you provide a safe, supportive environment, you create a space where people can finally manifest their best selves.
Finding My Center
In 2023, the universe asked me to redirect that advocacy toward myself. Battling a chronic condition for over a decade, I needed a new way to heal and reflect. I found it at the pottery wheel.
There is a profound energy in clay. It requires you to be fully present - to put your intention directly into your hands to find your "Sentro" (center). Pottery became my lifeline, a rhythmic meditation that allowed me to reconnect with joy and express emotions that words couldn't reach. I realized then that the peace I was creating at the wheel was a force I needed to share.
The Bayan Vision
I have deep gratitude for the studios where I first found my craft and the beautiful souls I bonded with there. I believe the universe provides space for all of us to flourish, and I see Bayan Ceramics not as competition, but as a complementary force to the incredible creative community in Oak Park and Chicago. My calling is simply to expand the circle - offering a new home where even more people can come together to create, heal, and find their center.
In September 2025, I decided to take everything I learned about building global teams and pour it into this vision. At Bayan Ceramics, the "support system" is the wheel, the clean air, our nurturing team, and the positive energy of a neighbor. Whether in my corporate life or building this new sanctuary, I will continue helping people grow. At Bayan Ceramics, I’m just doing it through the tactile, healing power of clay.