JOEL'S JOURNAL

Come Over for Dinner
September 11, 2025
What having 27 guests come over in two months has taught me about having company over and how social ties are nourished by different kinds of gatherings around the table.
a packed lunch on top of a table with a person holding a spoon and fork
July 17, 2025
At lunch over my packed food, I get a glimpse of the values that shaped me, the culture I grew up with, and the nostalgia of my childhood in one tiny container.
A graphic illustration of people enjoying a summer day on and around a giant glass of halo-halo, a Filipino dessert, with colorful ingredients like shaved ice, purple yam, and fruit pieces
May 29, 2025
A spoonful of halo-halo, a bite of banana cue, or a whiff of grilled liempo transports me to the past, as if they are time capsules carrying memories of my childhood summers.
A close-up of a sliced loaf of bread
February 6, 2025
How to keep a sourdough starter alive—and what it can teach us about love.
A nostalgic Illustration of a festive Filipino christmas outside a church, with food stalls, christmas lanterns, lights, and families enjoying the holiday atmosphere
December 12, 2024
  As December arrives, Filipinos eagerly count down to Christmas day with Simbang Gabi, puto bumbong, and bibingka. Originally served to fuel the working folk, these treats now symbolize warmth, tradition, and nostalgia—making Christmas special and memorable, year after year.
An illustration of a pattern featuring various cakes, referencing the famous phrase "Let them eat cake."
November 14, 2024
From gracing tables celebrating important milestones, to being a well-deserved treat and a comforting pick-me-up, cake is more than just cake.