About

About Me

Some people call me Givency, some call me Giv, and some call me Lou, depending on where in the world I am, what language they speak, and how cool they are feeling that day. I go by all of them.

I love traveling, eating, shopping, and sleeping. That is the honest list. I also love anything with rice, which is both a preference and a personality.

I have always loved handwritten letters. I used to receive them in elementary and high school, and yes, I kept all of them. Letters are brave. They say the things people are too nervous to say out loud. They take time, thought, and heart, which makes them the highest form of effort in my book. To me, they are proof that someone truly sat down and thought about you. I write letters too, so if you ever get one from me, please know you have been chosen with intention and possibly too much emotion.

I started writing very young. I joined journalism early and worked in feature writing and news writing, eventually representing my school in competitions across the Philippines. Some of my proudest moments were seeing my articles published in newspapers my dad would buy from street vendors just to read my work. That was one of the first times I realized words could travel far. There is something unforgettable about watching someone you love hold something you created.

I may not read as much as people expect a writer to, but I think obsessively, write constantly, paint when I need to breathe, and collect stories everywhere. I love history, documentaries, listening to how people think, and admiring architecture wherever I go. Old buildings, quiet streets, tiny details on walls, and the way cities tell stories through structure are some of my favorite forms of poetry. I also love debates, maybe a little too much, which is why my mom avoids arguing with me. My dad loved it though and said I got that fire from him. I do not love it as much anymore because Oliver is way too good at it, so now I tell him English is my second language. If that does not work, I say I am temporarily deaf. If that still does not work, I tell him he does not love me anymore.

I love singing and dancing, and I am extremely lively. I keep trying to become an introvert, but life keeps making me the loudest person in the room. I am curious, expressive, emotional, and endlessly enthusiastic about everything that makes people human. I am also a very positive person. I believe if today is not your day, tomorrow will be, or the next one, or the next one after that. I believe people should live the life they want, not the one they are told to live, because you only get one heart, so you might as well use it.

This is a home for stories that do not rush and thoughts that do not need to be perfect. Take what you need, leave what you do not, and come back whenever you feel like reading something that feels quietly familiar.