Cover Memory keeping? Do it through a journal (Photo: Celine Dabao)
Memory keeping? Do it through a journal (Photo: Celine Dabao)
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Have something to say? Sometimes it’s good to keep your feelings in a journal
Let me begin with an ironic confession: as a writer, I was never fond of scribbling my feelings in a journal. Why would I want a written record of my misery and fleeting joys? I live with the delusion that one day, we’ll all be important enough for distant future civilisations to exhume and study us—no need to make their job too easy.
But getting older means being stripped of illusions. No one’s going to dig me up. I started journaling at the height of the pandemic, when connecting with another sentient being my age felt as likely as hugging a hologram. I had to get by.
Indian journalist Shubhangi Swarup describes the feeling of memory-keeping as a form of self-preservation through introspection. “I write because it makes me feel like someone’s listening, or maybe I’m finally listening to myself.”
But why do we feel the need to preserve ourselves even when no one else is watching?
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Above A stack of leather journals by Cada Dia (Photo: Cada Dia)
Above A journal entry by Celine Dabao
A stack of leather journals by Cada Dia (Photo: Cada Dia)
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“Journaling has made me more intentional about my experiences, savouring each one as they come up and finding new connections between discrete events as they occur,” says Tatler Homes associate editor Celine Dabao.
She adds that maintaining the daily habit of memory-keeping helps her prove that she can trust herself to live mindfully. “Although there are times I miss a day, I try not to compound these missed entries; instead, I find time in the morning to write while my memory is still fresh.”
After her godmother handed her a journal in 2020, Dabao jumped into journaling, describing her style as straightforward, factual and focused on linking events together. “I have been journaling consistently for the past five years, if you’re referring to daily entries. I started my junk journal entries, which feature receipts, stickers, postcards, tags and more, about three years ago,” she says.
“When I feel the need to express my deeper emotions, I have longer entries that occur more sporadically. As for my junk journal entries, they are eclectic, vibrant and intuitive reflections of my mood at the time of creation,” she adds.
More from Tatler: Bianca Gonzalez Intal writes to the woman she once was—two decades ago
Above For Alex Burgos, Kaye Baguilod and Miel Arrastia, journaling is the best way to recall and reflect on their fondest memories (Photo: Cada Dia)
For Alex Burgos, Kaye Baguilod and Miel Arrastia, journaling is the best way to recall and reflect on their fondest memories (Photo: Cada Dia)
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“The goal was to create more than just a place for goal-setting. It was meant to be a space for planning, reflection, creativity and personal expression”
For Alex Burgos, Kaye Baguilod and Miel Arrastia, journaling is the best way to recall and reflect on their fondest memories. The trio, who rally for the art of memory-keeping through their business Cada Dia, say that writing is a way to see how far they have come.
Initially, they wanted to produce planners, but eventually went for something that goes beyond ‘to-do' lists. “Cada Dia began as a passion project back in college. The goal was to create more than just a place for goal-setting. It was meant to be a space for planning, reflection, creativity and personal expression,” the trio share with Tatler.
At their core, Burgos, Baguilod and Miel say that appreciation for functionality and intentionality is the ethos of their brand. “Today, our leather folios carry that vision forward. They’re not just notebook covers, but everyday companions that hold essentials.”
The beauty of having daily entries, according to Burgos, is that it offers a consistent space for emotional release. “To us, journaling is the ultimate form of self-care. Writing things down is both a release and a way to process moments as they happen. It helps us work through our thoughts, but also permits us to let go of them once they’re on the page. That presence and reflection not only help us feel lighter, but also give us a better sense of ourselves.”
Why start now?
Above Celine Dabao began journaling in 2020, after receiving a gift from her godmother (Photo: Celine Dabao)
Above A journal entry by Celine Dabao
Celine Dabao began journaling in 2020, after receiving a gift from her godmother (Photo: Celine Dabao)
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“We do not know how much time we have left, but there is something so beautiful and humbling about staking such small claim on existence”
It is never too late to start journaling; as Dabao puts it, “We do not know how much time we have left, but there is something so beautiful and humbling about staking such small claim on existence.”
She asserts that every entry is a chance for us to touch base and find small things we can be grateful for; after all, it is very human to yearn for meaning.
“Journaling is a way to slow down, allowing you to find sparks of joy in moments that range from running errands to spending time with loved ones and hitting personal milestones,” she says.
Above When should one start journaling? (Photo: Cada Dia)
When should one start journaling? (Photo: Cada Dia)
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For Arrastia, those new to journaling should ease into it one step at a time. To become a lasting habit, it needs to feel sustainable, less intimidating and above all, enjoyable.
“Journaling can come in many shapes and forms. When most people think of journaling, they imagine pages filled with text,” she explains. “To some, that might feel time-consuming. It doesn’t always have to be that way. Journaling can be as simple as a quick reflection, a gratitude list, setting goals or even creating a junk journal spread. It’s any form of reflection that feels natural to you.”
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Credits
Artwork: Celine Dabao
Images: Cada Dia
Topics
Jove holds a degree in Journalism and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Philosophy at the University of the Philippines–Diliman. She has flair for in-depth, interview-driven stories that explore politics and culture, shaped by her background in national broadsheets.
When she’s not on assignment, Jove spends her days painting, sipping lemonade, and walking her dog, Jupiter. She can often be seen in Escolta with a film camera in hand, browsing novelty shops in search of rare memorabilia. For leads, reach her at Jove@tatlerphilippines.com.
