About

Sophia Bonoan is a writer and storyteller from Manila. She graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2019 with a BFA in Creative Writing, was a fellow in the 23rd Ateneo Heights Writers’ Workshop, and won a Loyola Schools Award for the Arts for fiction. Her short stories have been published in HEIGHTS Ateneo, TAYO Literary Magazine, and Big Deal. In 2019, she self-published her first collection of short stories, Even in Sunlight, Ghosts Linger
She has worked as the Editorial Assistant at CLAVEL Media, writing features on various Filipino creatives and press releases for local art, music, and entertainment, and also worked as a copywriter under the creative agency BoyBrightBoy Multimedia Corporation and as a contributing writer for Smart Communications. She currently works as a content writer for Ayima.

Smart Prepaid | Our Voice | Living Off Your Art - How Jill Arteche Makes It Possible

Sleepy bus rides after work, merienda with the family, late-night Netflix binges, and even trips to the bathroom—these are just a couple of things that make up our day-to-day and that we’re often quick to forget about. But, for artist Jill Arteche, these are the very moments from where one can get the greatest inspiration. With bright colors and cartoonish, even grotesque, faces and figures, Jill transforms the unremarkably mundane into unforgettable art. With such a distinct style, one almost

#LockdownSessions with Electronic Musician similarobjects

Jorge Juan B. Wieneke V, more popularly known as as similarobjects, is an electronic musician and producer that, among many other things, is also one of the founding members of beatmaking collective and music label BuwanBuwan Collective, one of the founders of virtual club Club Matryoshka, the head of production house Kindred Productions, and a teacher of Electronic Music at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. And with more projects and titles under his name, it’s no surprise that life under lockdown is just as busy as it was before the events of March and the months that followed.

6 Essentials–Other Than A Face Mask–For New Normal Living

Wearing a face mask at all times in public, social distancing, and washing our hands religiously are the most basic yet most important aspects to keeping ourselves and others safe, but you can still add even more precaution to these steps by incorporating new items or routines that make life in the time of COVID just a little easier and more convenient for yourself. Here are a couple of things that can help you stay as virus-free as you can.

#LockdownSessions with Donsuki

Donna Louise, who also goes by the moniker Donsuki, is a visual artist prominently known for her surreal and satirical works that show just how close real life actually is to a fever dream. Locked down in a studio apartment in Pateros, she illustrates her current days and state of mind for us in ink, and discusses artistic influences, how she’s been handling self-isolation, and how artists like herself are moving forward and keeping afloat in the midst of the “new normal.”

Chill PC Video Games for Anyone Missing Outdoor Adventures

Cooped up at home, you’re probably looking forward to the next time you can head out into the wilderness and explore. While we can’t exactly travel around right now for our safety and others’, the virtual world has got us covered. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer looking for a change of pace or someone just looking to delve into a good story, these games’ll make you forget where you are for a little bit with drop dead gorgeous settings and equally compelling stories.

Queer Asian Films and Series to Watch this Pride Month

There have been plenty of great films and series out there focusing on different LGBTQ+ experiences and relationships, and with a list that continues to grow with every passing year, it can be a challenge to keep up and decide what to watch next. In the middle of a quarantined pride month, spend some of your time at home with a couple of queer Asian films and series for every kind of person—from lovers of feel-good teen rom-coms, to the mystery-thriller fanatic—hopefully there’s more than one thing here for everyone to binge this month and every month.

#LockdownSessions with Artist Anna Bautista

Visual artist Anna Bautista has racked up quite a few achievements in the past couple of years—from being the designer of UKNWN and CC:Concepts to co-owning start-up SupportYourFriends, she also began her professional career as a painter with two solo exhibits to her name—all while still a student at De La Salle University. Through her art, Anna blends classic Filipino imagery with the pressing current events of today, tackling prevalent issues in the form of satire.

Travel the World from Your Couch by Watching These Shows

Spending three months under quarantine is making us miss a lot of things, and travel is definitely up on that list. But while COVID-19 is keeping us from adventure right now, that doesn’t mean we can’t find other ways to satisfy the travel bug that’s been gnawing at us. Fortunately, the internet has been helping us stay sane in more ways than one, so maybe this is another thing it can cure–even just for a little bit. From before the pandemic, these are some of our favorite travel and nature sho

10 Life Lessons from Our Favorite Childhood Cartoons

Who says cartoons are a mindless distraction? For years, cartoons have been keeping kids entertained while simultaneously teaching them important and profound lessons about life, love, and self-acceptance. Even in adulthood, the cartoons from our childhood are still giving us tips on how to handle the harder parts of living. In these troubling times we’re in right now, maybe we can take some strength from the characters that helped shape us into who we are today. As Told by Ginger (2000-2005)

#LockdownSessions with Fashion Design Duo ḢA.MÜ

Launched in 2017 by Abraham Guardian and Mamuro Oki, ḢA.MÜ is a brand “for the free-spirited.” Having quickly gained the attention of local and international audiences alike, ḢA.MÜ’s designs have been displayed in the likes of the Bench Design Awards in 2018 and Palais De Tokyo’s City Prince/sses exhibition in Paris in 2019. Heavily inspired by contemporary art and the idea that clothing has no gender, every piece made by the duo treads the fine line between everyday wear and avant-garde and is just as unique as the people who wear them.

These Fictional Characters Are Pros at Living in Lockdown

In a lot of the movies and shows you’re streaming right now–and we know it’s a lot–you’re probably living vicariously through your favorite characters that get to go outside and live their lives in a pandemic-free world. But after two months under quarantine and probably more to go, you might be looking for someone to relate to. Here are a couple of our favorite characters that show that life under lockdown might be tough, but that doesn’t mean getting through it is impossible.

#LockdownSessions with Mara Manalo of Studio Mara

The past couple of years have undoubtedly been a busy few for interior designer Mara Manalo of Studio Mara. The mind behind spaces like Ilya, Zoo, It’s Vintage, and many, many more, Mara also proves that you don’t have to stick to being good at just one thing. Her talents extend to event styling and production design for various advertisements, high-fashion editorial shoots, and television show sets. Despite the non-stop work, no space she touches is ever the same as the last, leaving us wondering what’s up her sleeve for the next project.

In the Midst of the Outbreak, These Filipino Designers and Creatives Are Making A Difference

We’ve been seeing people from all types of professions and backgrounds stepping up and contributing to causes greater than them for nothing in return, inspiring others to do the same. That long list includes various creatives, from graphic artists to musicians to fashion designers and everyone in between, these are just a couple of people and brands making huge strides in the time of COVID-19 that will inspire you to extend a helping hand as well.

How Hysteria Supply Turns Clothing Into A Social Movement

To put it simply, clothing is a way to be seen. Whether it’s to express individuality or to associate yourself with a particular group or subculture, personal style can say a lot about someone without them having to say a word. However, in a time of social uncertainty and political madness, clothing probably isn’t the first thing on everyone’s minds when asked to think of platforms for dissent–but Hysteria proves that it certainly can be.

These Pinoy Studios and Filmmakers Have Released Their Films Online, for Free

Since the COVID-19 epidemic came to a head earlier this month, the citywide lockdown in Metro Manila has everyone’s lives at a near standstill. But in response, several local film studios and independent filmmakers have released their movies online for all of us to enjoy, completely free of charge. Keep reading to find out what films you can watch now and where to find them. Regal Entertainment, the studio behind Shake, Rattle & Roll, has uploaded a load of old school movies to their Youtube ch

Netflix Horror Movies (and a Series) to Binge on Lockdown

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent quarantine has everyone indoors and looking for different things to do to keep their minds occupied. Undoubtedly, one of those things everyone must be doing is catching up on the series or films they have yet to see. For the horror buffs or beginners out there looking for something to watch in the middle of the quiet nights that frequent this enhanced lockdown, this list provides you with movies that’ll keep you from feeling alone at home, and like there’s always someone or something watching your back. You can let us know if that’s a good or bad thing.
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