About Me – Gabriela Francisco
I’m a pumpkin-spiced chia latte with soy milk.
Yup, I’m no regular latte. I come extra spicy, tailored to zing your senses and leave you wondering what drink you actually ordered. Who is this woman I just met? People can’t figure out my heritage. I’m no regular cup of Joe, but a fusion of Filipino and European flavours, with a well-steamed hue of ginger tan. I was raised half my life in Southeast Asia and live the rest in multi-cultural Canada.
Most of my stories are seasoned with wild adventures of my childhood in the Philippines, where giant eagles swoop low to catch a clan of monkeys and cobras crawl into your living room on rainy days. I may make you drool with a few articles of Filipino cuisine. My favourite one is on Chicken Adobo.
My poetry and essays reflect my knack of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. I delight in the beauty of imperfections for that is what makes us unique and special. I believe gratitude can transform miseries into blessings. And forgiveness heals all souls. Rowing down the river of life with ridiculous optimism, I rely on divine intervention to lead my path.
My latest book, Falling in Love with Me, is a self-love poetry book for teens. It’s filled with affirmations, encouraging you to believe in yourself and embrace your imperfections. It’ll cheer you on as you hurdle your challenges and help you get up on your horse when you fall.
Currently, I am writing a novel about my hippie days during martial law in the Philippines. I was tired of the pretty pink box my parents packaged me in, so I decided to spice up my life with drugs and boyfriends with audacious gusto. Little did I know at the age of 16, I was hanging out with a married man and a drug dealer. Boy, was I in for a helluva trip. That is one drink I dare not sip again.
I devour art gluttonously for it makes my spirit soar. I guzzle poetry, creative writing, and calligraphy. I nibble on painting, scrapbooking, art journaling, furniture repurposing, and photography. Cooking is my animated art, my way of showing love, and sometimes my love can be absolutely delectable. Mother Nature is my favourite artist.
The secret to my creativity is my ability to daydream. I’m slow to start any project, like simmering cardamon and cloves for a robust taste. I dilly-dally into La-La Land sipping my David’s tea while staring into nothingness. Silence releases my chattering mind and, voila!, my ideas flow like steam rising from latte. When inspiration swirls in my reverie, I bubble with savagery and I become unstoppable. I use this technique for writing, teaching, school concerts, event-planning, and the like.
I’d like to think I approach people with a warm cinnamon-like welcome. I value relationships and stretch my arms wide open to those who come into my life. Family and friendships add delectability to my cup of tea. Those who know me say I’m a down-to-earth dedicated mother who holds her two daughters close to her heart. Others say I’m a social butterfly flittering from one circle of friends to another.
I am a beach walker. Chasing sunsets is my favourite pastime. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you will see several posts of beaches, islands, and flaming red sunsets from the Canadian Northwest and the tropics. You will also see my favourite companion, an elegant standard poodle, called Misty May. (She attracts a lot of followers).
Just as black assam tea is the essential flavour of chai tea, education is steeped in the inner core of my character. From the values imparted by my parents to the Bachelor degrees of Education and Psychology, and to the post-graduate studies of the Montessori Method, I quaff any form of learning. Travel and experience enrich my wisdom. I will forever quench my thirst for knowledge through endless courses till my last breath.
So enjoy this handcrafted latte. I hope it’s the right flavour for you. Drink up and enjoy your journey with me.