Meet Our Team

Severino Profeta Reyes

Founding Editor

Sev emigrated from Cavite to California at the age of 7 and, despite being surrounded by Tagalog-speaking kababayan, lost his native language. Fifty years later, after earning a BA in Economics (UCLA), he  embarked on relearning Filipino. Pursuing his passion for linguistics, language, and literature, he obtained an MFA in Creative Writing/Poetry. His thesis, Geography of Somewhere, explored physical, psychological, and cultural third spaces as he travelled across the US in search of belonging and identity. Beyond Filipino, Sev is pursuing fluency in Portuguese and Chabacano.

Allandale Antenero

Founding Travel Writer

Allandale is a Filipino immigrant and former freelance travel writer, now residing in San Diego. He now rebuilds his life in the medical field, fostering a sense of purpose as a certified nursing assistant while studying full time to become a registered nurse. Despite being diagnosed with dyslexia, he continues to write personal travel narratives and essays that explore the intersectionality of race, class, and gender, navigating between the past and present; the homeland and the so-called “American dream.”

Gretchen Filart

Managing Editor

Gretchenʼs 17-year writing experience spans freelancing for local newspapers to helming print and digital travel magazines as Editor-in-Chief. A Best of the Net and Pushcart Prize-nominated poet and essayist, her visceral pieces appear in local and international anthologies and earned recognition in global writing competitions. She explores small infinities, intersections, and the human experience in her work, alongside advocating for psychosocial health as a stroke survivor with bipolar and ADHD.

Carmelo perlas

Editorial Cartoonist

Melo is an award-winning illustrator who began his career at age 14, contributing to major titles like Pilipino Komiks and Abante Komiks. A consistent winner in regional and national school press competitions, his top accolades include the 2005 Presidential Award for Culture and Arts and 2nd place in the 2007 NCCA National Editorial Cartooning competition. Currently, he balances a role as a Creative and Design Officer with his work as an Editorial Cartoonist for The PH Insider. He remains a prolific contributor to publications like Liwayway and Bannawag while maintaining an active practice in local and international comic commissions.

Maia Imperial

Editorial Designer

Innately curious and versatile, Maia wears several hats as a musician, video editor, graphic designer, photographer, and cinematographer. She began photography at age 11, and at 16, landed her first travel assignment with Northbound Magazine. She later covered music and fashion events for brands and briefly worked in advertising before returning to her favorite subjects: still life and in-betweens.