Writer, poet, and creative AI explorer, I’ve spent the last 20 years weaving words across journalism, copywriting, ghostwriting, and storytelling. My work spans poetry, historical fiction, essays, and literary criticism, often exploring memory, identity, and the strange, beautiful ways we make sense of the world. When I’m not writing, I’m probably deep in a book, experimenting with AI, or chasing after the perfect cup of coffee. My blog at april.pagaling.com is where all these worlds collide. Writing, creativity, mom life, and everything in between.
The Siren Call The house was the last kubo by the mangroves,green plastic chairs stacked
𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘔𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰.𝘐𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘮,𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺
This morning I cleaned an octopus. I used my hands the way I was taught
A review of On Looking by Lia Purpura . Acollection of essays that challenges readers to slow down, pay attention, and see the ordinary world in startling new ways.
A sharp, reflective review of Ongoingness: The End of a Diary by Sarah Manguso. A minimalist meditation on memory, time, and the urge to document our lives.
A reflective review of Aswanglaut by Allan Derain , exploring its rich mythology, dense Tagalog prose, and the troubling portrayal of women through a colonial lens.
Stories live everywhere. They’re not waiting for literary contests. They’re not waiting for you to sound impressive. They’re already happening. All writing really asks is: Were you paying attention?
I’ve been thinking a lot about how the same sunset feels different depending on where you stand. This piece, Two Altars, is my attempt to capture this, one version from the mountains, one from the sea. It’s written in haibun form (prose + haiku), and it means a lot to me. Hope it brings you a quiet moment.
Every writer asks: how do I start? This talk with the PUP DEFLL Writers’ Circle explores creative nonfiction, finding your voice, and writing the story only you can tell.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Anemone © Copyright BkNinja. All Rights Reserved.
