My name is J.R.
I'm a writer whose story has been shaped by more than one place.
I took my first airplane flight at age 9 immigrating from Manila to Los Angeles. Two years later: my first unaccompanied flight across the country to New York City. This was the start of years on planes following my parents who chose to live separately while being together. My stepfather on one coast and my mother on the other. Then, I lived away from them for high school, then college and, finally, on my own.
Growing up this way formed a love of independence and connection, equally. It’s been a lifelong pursuit of engaging both in all their forms: road and home; whimsy and method; change and foundation.
I’ve found that between the familiar and new is where I like to live and work.
Random Facts
My first language was English.
My mother was a linguist, humanist genius with a rare, but delightful guffaw.
My father was a news anchor in the Philippines for over 30 years.
At age 88, my stepfather sold everything and started traveling the world on his own.