City Girl Through and Through: Meet jahcabelin from Manila - My Hive Introduction

Hey, Hive peeps! 👋

Rajah Patria here! For those wondering, it's pronounced as /ˈrä-jə ˈpā‧trēə/. I am new to the community and ecstatic to write my first-ever post! 🥰

I am an only child born and raised in Manila City, the heart and capital of the Philippines. Growing up in a multicultural family is a unique experience for me. My mother is from a Filipino-Chinese family in San Pablo, Laguna, and my father has a Hiligaynon-Spanish upbringing in Oton, Iloilo. ✨

I am a curious cat, questioner, knowledge seeker, and novelty lover. Books, arts, and my wide eyes opened up the world that I could make anything interesting and fun. I have so many questions that my parents sometimes give up answering. I see the world differently than most people I know. I may be a 'new soul' compared to others. 🌈

I was a shy kid and enjoyed solitude. When everyone was eager to go outside, I looked forward to the next big thing in our house that I could turn into an adventure. I am that child who chooses books over toys when asked for gifts. I love reading and looking at colorful illustrations. I am a book lover. 📖

Perhaps my parents influenced me even before I could walk. Even my name is poetic. Rajah means ruler, like kings and queens. In contrast, Patria means land, similar to the famous line of Jose Rizal in his 'Last Farewell': "Adios Patria adored," which translates to "Farewell to my beloved land/country." 👸

A lot of female icons influenced and inspired me, especially Barbie! I was (and still am! Haha) that fashionable kid who loves pink, dressing up, and accessorizing while advocating for fairness in almost everything. Now, I am a materials engineer, a former academic researcher, an artist, a fashionista, and a teacher, and I am now exploring being a writer. When Barbie said I could be anything, I followed it in my heart. 💖

I value expanding my knowledge and am a firm believer in lifelong learning. My father used to say, "Jack of all trades, master of none." It imprinted in my head as I strived to learn as much as I could growing up. Later, I read that this saying was incomplete. It was "A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one." It gave a whole new meaning to me. I have always felt diverse because I have not mastered one passion of mine. I have a lot of interests! ❤️‍🔥