Caution Hot Kapitolyo On Fire! :Kapitolyo Restaurant Review
I was feeling a bit down yesterday and happened to pass by at Caution Hot, a newly opened restaurant in
Read List
Random Picks from the Archive
The internet shifts like the tide. One moment I am steering through its vast expanse, the next, I am caught in a riptide of information. Here are some pieces I’ve pulled from the archive, insights, stories, and ideas that make me pause, rethink, and see things differently.
Why Picking Your Battles Is Important
As a mom, we all find ourselves giving tons of bad news to our kids. Somebody has to tell them
One Domain to Rule Them All: Simplifying Your Online Presence in the Age of AI
The digital world is crowded, but I have found ways to carve out space and make it work. Here’s how
Tortang Talong (Filipino Eggplant Omelet)
Growing up, tortang talong was a staple in my household. My father plants them and we sell the extra eggplants
About April
My name is April Pagaling, and I’m a writer, poet, and creative AI writing expert. For the last 20 years, I’ve made a living as a writer across different fields—journalism, copywriting, social media, ghostwriting, and creative writing. My work spans poetry, historical fiction, essays, and literary criticism, often exploring themes of memory, identity, and cultural inheritance.
This blog is my online journal—a space where everything comes together. From writing and creative insights to food, mom life, and everyday reflections, it’s a record of the stories I live and the ones I create.
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Latest Posts
Book Review: Ongoingness: The End of a Diary by Sarah Manguso
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.
Aswanglaut and the Art of Reading With a Side Eye
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.
Writing ✍️
The Story Only You Can Tell: Notes from a Talk with the PUP DEFLL Writers’ Circle
Every writer asks: how do I start? This talk with the PUP DEFLL Writers’ Circle explores creative nonfiction, finding
April Bewell
April 7, 2025
Writing About Writing
The Unexpected Ways Blogging Changed My Brain
Years ago, I started blogging with the vague idea that it would sharpen my writing. Make me more disciplined.
April Bewell
April 5, 2025
Poetry
NCMH. A Visit
A fragmented visit to the National Center for Mental Health. Forms, corridors, and forgotten names. This poem is a
April Bewell
April 3, 2025
Book Reviews & Recommended Reads
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
A raw, unfiltered review of Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner — a grief memoir steeped in Korean
April Bewell
March 21, 2025