Pop culture
Published in The Philippine STAR
Looking back on the tracklist now, I find myself associating unexpected memories filled with happiness and hope with some of the most popular songs on the album — and it’s only now that I’ve come to know how special 1989 actually is to me.
Gone are the days of wanting a Sparks Fly whirlwind romance. In its place rests the quiet comfort of reveling in the little things.
Because I believe nothing can better encapsulate my year than the Reputation album, it made me think: What was the soundtrack of everyone else’s 2022?
I felt more and more inclined to immerse myself in what I instantly felt was such an inclusive and welcoming community. I wanted to take part in celebrating the LGBTQIA+, and ultimately, become a better ally.
As someone who often processes my thoughts through writing, I know it’s not always great to sit alone with my own ruminations. But admittedly, I don’t always have the time or headspace for an actual discussion.
Enter podcasts.
I’ve been watching Friends over and over for as long as I can remember. Often my go-to for when I want to de-stress, the show never made me think about how much my life mirrored it, or how much it mirrored my life. At least until recently.
More than once, I’ve felt a song was made either for me or about me, and I’m sure others have felt the same.
The sad truth is: heartache, heartbreak and hurt happen for us to realize that life and love aren’t always what we want or imagine them to be.
Never Have I Ever met the stars of one of my favorite Netflix shows. Not in person, anyway. At first, the thought of interviewing the cast online made me feel like a new student barging into uncharted territory.
Lifestyle
Published in Cosmopolitan Philippines, The Philippine STAR, METRO.style, REBEL, and Nutrition Depot
My studying abroad criteria? A big city where I could build a global network.
As family businesses thrive, they’re able to cultivate their relationships with each other, too.
After all the work video calls we’ve had over the past almost two years, nobody really wanted another Zoom Christmas; nor did anyone want the responsibility of planning another celebration that would pale in comparison to those of pre-pandemic times.
My goal wasn't to look like the women around me, but rather to be strong like them, in whatever way that meant to me and my body.
Here are my tried-and-tested essentials for my mid-size body type that make me feel confident anytime and anywhere
A Pinay shares her experience on what it was like to shift from a career she was passionate about to one that helped her take better care of herself.
These strong women are crushing the stereotype that lifting weights is masculine, and it's helping them live their best lives.
It does take some practice to incorporate meditation into your daily routine, so here are 5 tips to help you get started and maximize your experience.
When it comes to weight loss, it’s never an all-or-nothing. You can’t push yourself to work out practically 24/7 to burn calories, nor can you completely cut off eating carbs or even your favorite snack.
THE WORLD AROUND US
Published in The Philippine STAR
The weeks after elections had me feeling like I was in limbo. While trying to wrap my head around the fact that we were dealt different cards than we had hoped for, I wallowed in regret, thinking: what else could I have done?
In an ideal world, we can say that we’re moving past these biases, albeit slowly. And while we aren’t quite where we should be yet, as illustrated by some modern-day examples, some of these other stories show a spark of hope that we’re coming to understand what it means to provide equal opportunities for all.
Distance learning may not be the ideal educational setup especially for young children, yet these teachers have found creative solutions to not just give their kids a world-class learning experience, but to also hone other skills and shape their values to give them the brightest future possible.
I don’t think I have it in me yet to be as brave as them and open myself up to the online dating world. And so, I share their stories, with the hope that somehow someone might find the courage to take their own scary leap of faith.
Thought pieces
Published in The Philippine STAR
In the sixth grade, my English teacher asked us to write an essay on where we would be in 10 years’ time. I quickly (and admittedly quite excitedly) drafted a piece on how I had just started my career as a writer, telling stories about I don’t know what.
In a could’ve-been ‘good girl-bad boy’ love story, I learned that even the baddest of boys can teach you the best things.
They say dreams come at a cost, but after five long and agonizing years spent tirelessly working, I wonder: did pursuing my dream really have to come in the way of a job that finally made me happy?
At the height of the pandemic, I recall being asked “Why don’t you just leave?” way more than I can count. After all, having a blue passport gave me an easy way out.
All I could think about and all I knew was: I was nowhere else but in the moment. I felt so free, and I loved every single bit of it.
And while you can already surmise by the title of this piece that I haven’t gotten that fairytale ending, this too, in its own way, is a love story.
Whether it’s going with your gut, taking things slow and steady, or channeling your desires into something more — pandemic or no pandemic, I hope you have it in you to dream, and dream big.
While they never pressured us to follow in their footsteps, my grandmother’s passing six years ago made me worry how I could continue her legacy — and that of my grandfather’s, too, when the time came.
To belong, to be accepted, to be loved: these are always at the heart of why I choose to please people. All I want is to be wanted, so if I bend (and break) myself to get just that, then maybe I’ll get the acceptance I long for. But when I don’t, I don’t just lose others’ acceptance — I lose them, and ultimately, I lose myself.
I grew up with fairytales, chick lit and rom-coms, always waiting for the day I, too, would get my happily ever after. But life isn’t always about storybook endings. And none of these are love stories, either.
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