About 15 years ago, a friend asked me if I think I’d ever work in a corporate office behind a desk. I definitively answered a hard “no.” In 2014, I found myself in Hong Kong, working for a remittance company at World-Wide House in Central, taking money from OFWs behind a desk and encoding the amounts on a computer before giving them their change – this was after almost a decade of building a career in theater and music back home in the Philippines.

After just about two months working for the remittance company, I was fortunate enough to have worked for The SUN – an established news company for Filipinos in Hong Kong, where I was able to learn more about the Filipino community in HK. Three years have passed; here I am, working in a posh-looking corporate office in Taikoo Place, Quarry Bay, behind a desk to write and edit English press releases and documents five days, 40 hours a week.

The difference this time? I have decided to start building my music career again, putting together all my hard work and energy outside working hours to write, record, produce and promote my music along with other things such as online live shows and programs. Just like you – most probably an OFW here in Hong Kong who’s working hard during the day (and away with your families), I also long for a more comfortable life and be able to support myself and my loved ones financially. However, being an artist, it is really hard to let go of the urge to create art – in my case, music and writing.

Over my years of working here in Hong Kong and meeting a lot of OFWs, I was always inspired by those who are still able to pursue their creative and artistic passions. I have been fortunate to have met photographers, painters, musicians and poets who continue to make the world more beautiful through their art, after hard days of working for their employers.

I am starting this regular blog here in PANGYAO.HK, hoping to inspire a bit more people to still follow their artistic dreams while working here in HK. I’ll be giving out tips and thoughts on how to balance your time, and answer your questions as well, if you have any.

Stay tuned, and stay inspired! J