letter from the editor

12 Oct, 2025

The thing about writing is not to talk, but to do it; no matter how bad or even mediocre it is, the process and production is the thing, not the sitting and theorizing about how one should write ideally, or how well one could write if one really wanted to or had the time. — Sylvia Plath

No one could have said a better reminder to me than my dear companion, Miss Sylvia Plath. So here I am, in search of avenues to create, write, and be creative—I've found (rekindled) my fascination with magazines.

I've always been a fan of magazines—or any form of media in that sense. There's just something about a piece of glossy, colorful paper plastered with your favorite celebrity’s face sitting on the edge of the supermarket cashier counter that grabs your attention.

Add to that the eye-catching choice of covers with A-list celebrities shot either in the most exquisite and creative photoshoots or paparazzi snaps of their most scandalous moments. Finished with an irresistible (borderline out of context) headline that would just make anyone pick it up and want to read the full piece.

Just like any teenager in the 2000s to the 2010s, I've had my collection of magazines, with my choices progressing based on my age and growing interests (except I never outgrew some things cough HSM cough Taylor Swift). I went through:

• K-Zone and Total Girl - A pre-teen’s best friends! This was peak journalism for grade schoolers because they talked about things that actually mattered—cartoons, High School Musical, Disney, Nickelodeon, Winx Club, Bratz, Beyblades, and tips on how to deal with your first crush!
• Candy - The ultimate companion if you’re obsessed with Twilight or any vampires, Zac Efron’s rebranding, One Direction, Taylor Swift, Gossip Girl, and the new white boy of the month.
• OK - More Hollywood exclusive content, a sneak peek into the glitz and glamour.
• Yes! - Local filipino celebrities dishing out. Back when you had to wait until your faves release an official statement via a magazine to know the full story.
• Reader's Digest and National Geographic - Essays and stories that stay with you, investigative journalism, nature, in-depth look at the world, exploration, and travel. These opened my eyes to the extent of how much I hadn’t seen or experienced yet.
• Mega and Vogue - Fashion, style, elevated beauty, and taste.
• Good Housekeeping and Real Living - Home, interior design, lifestyle, living the good life.
• Rolling Stone - Deep dive into music, artists, interviews with your favorite band or singer.

And then suddenly they disappeared…

Print publication has come to a stop—first it was less issues, then a switch to digital publication to keep up with the digital consumers, then unfortunately to some, publishing their last issues.

Written content became either too casual, spammed on social media or too serious by publications desperate to be taken too seriously.

Whatever happened to the anticipation of waiting for the newest issue next month? The smell and feel of the glossy paper on your hands? The giddy feeling of wishing you would get a free poster of your favorite actor? That feeling of awe towards the author and the team when you finish reading a thought-provoking piece? The delusion of wanting your story to be picked for the “readers’ feature” section?

Magazines offer such a good variety of tones, topics, and features. There is art in the choosing of what or who would make the cover, scoring an exclusive interview with the hottest on the list, what would be the best headline that will send this copy flying off of shelves, the best closer, the ads that would make the cut, the editor’s vision…

Of course all of this I learned from reading and rewatching The Devil Wears Prada or any romcom in the 2000s where the lead actress is always a magazine writer. Maybe that’s also where the fascination comes.

But all of this to say that I’ve wanted to write and I’ve chosen to do so in magazine format (in the best way I can!) I want to turn my thoughts into words in the form of features, top 10 lists, made up interviews, photo features, advice to the reader, and letters from the editor.

I've always been a showgirl at heart, and I'll treat myself as one in this all-exclusive issue showcasing my loyalty to me, myself, and I :)

—nikki

Here's a look!