About Me
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.
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 of other people’s dreams -helping a new hire find their footing or guiding rising talent into leadership roles. I’ve learned that when you provide a safe and 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 Center (“Sentro”). 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 Studio 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, connect, and find their center.
In September 2025, I decided to take everything I learned about building global teams and/or it into this vision. At Bayan Ceramics Studio, the “support system” is the wheel, the clear air, our nurturing team, and the positive energy of a neighbor. Whether in my corporate life or building this new sanctuary, I will continue to help people grow. At Bayan Ceramics Studio, I’m just doing it through the tactile, healing power of clay.