BYE 2022, HELLO 2023

Photo by Roven Images on Unsplash

It's that time of the year when I get a change to relax and reflect. I would say that my 2022 was filled with a lot of exciting and colourful events. I was blessed with great opportunities. However, I also navigated lots of challenges. I am just thankful for the support of many people. Hence, I got through 2022! Let me detail my journey. 

On a professional level, in the first quarter of 2022, I was appointed an Honorary Fellowship in the Humanities Research Centre at the Australian National University. This opportunity allowed me to connect and work with brilliant scholars in HRC. To start with, I presented in a seminar series where I talked about an ‘digital (im)mobilities’.

My book titled “(Im)mobile Homes: Family Life at a Distance in the Age of Mobile Media” was published as part of the Studies in Mobile Communication series of Oxford University Press. I presented my book in a series of seminars and in a podcast. A range of speaking engagements connected me to many brilliant scholars in my field.

If you want to purchase a copy of my book, you can check out the OUP website. You can also check Amazon or Book Depository.

In the last quarter of 2022, my book entitled “Philippine Digital Cultures: Brokerage Dynamics on YouTube, co-authored with my dear friend and mentor Professor Cheryll Soriano, was published as part of the Asian Visual Cultures series of Amsterdam University Press. Che was a great collaborator to work with. I learned a lot from her mentoring, expertise, and work ethics. We will be launching and promoting the book in 2023. Please stay in touch with us.

If you want to purchase our book, you can check out the AUP website.
 
For a 20% discount on the hardback book, excluding shipping or applicable sales taxes, enter code “AUP4” at the checkout. Valid until 31st March 2023.
 
I have also published several journal articles as part of my project on understanding the digital practices of older migrants during the pandemic. 

In the coming year, I am joining the editorial board of Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies. I will also continue my editorial board membership in the International Journal of Cultural Studies, as well as a Social Media Editor of the Asian Journal of Communication.

In 2023, I will join Mobile Media & Communication as Book Review Editor. I am looking forward to reading the latest books in the field of mobile communication, as well as mentor book reviewers. 

I have also been blessed to obtain funding for my projects. I was not expecting to get three funding. The outcomes happened in October 2022!

The first funding came from the COVID-19 Small Grants Fund of the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Victoria. FECCA funded the project “Apat ay Sapat campaign: Combatting vaccine hesitancy among older Filipino-Australians”. This project was in partnership with the Australian Filipino Community Services.

The second funding came from the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS). UP CWGS funded the project “Performing care in a digitalized world: Elderly Filipina migrants in Australia”. As the Chief Investigator, I am working with Athena Presto on this project. The project is funded by This is one of the selected and funded seven projects under the 2022 UPCWGS Research Grant. It will commence on January 2023.

Lastly, I was awarded a highly prestigious Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award for my project “Exploring the digital divide in the ageing migrant’s personal home”. My project was one of the 200 projects funded (15% success rate) by the Australian Research Council. This funding will further support my engagements and projects designed to better support communities, organisations, and stakeholders for older migrants in Australia. It will also support my scholarly works on advancing the intersecting and growing field of digital media and migration. I am extremely grateful to the assessors, college of experts, my mentors, and friends in academia for supporting my project.

These successes would not have been possible without the support of many people, scholars, and organisations.

In 2022, I started working closely with the Australian Filipino Community Services. We kicked off a funded project. I’ll also be working with them for my DECRA, in addition to many organisations I have established meaningful and sustained connections.

I also continued working with scholars across the world. I am co-editing a Special Issue with my dear friend Associate Professor Koen Leurs. We’re proud of our SI, supporting ECRs while also advancing the field of digital, mobilities, and migration. The SI will be published in the International Journal of Cultural Studies.

I was working with great scholars, including Professor Larissa Hjorth, Associate Professor Yang Hu, Dr Tanja Ahlin, and many more. They’re inspiring to work with.

In 2023, on top of working on my funded projects, I am leading a Media, Inclusion and Migration (MIM) Network as part of the Mobility, Diversity Multiculturalism stream at the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation. We’re producing a series of activities to engage scholars, migrant communities, and stakeholders. Additionally, I am stepping in as a co-convenor of the Mobility, Diversity Multiculturalism stream in 2023.

On a personal note, I turned 40. I celebrated my special day with dear loved ones and friends in Melbourne. We celebrated in a roof top bar, with COVID safe as a priority for the guests!

I also went home to the Philippines after more than two years of being away because of the pandemic. I was extremely happy to hang out with my family and meet-up with dear friends. Catching up was filled with sharing experiences on dealing with the pandemic and the lockdown. I also enjoyed the travels and eating an array of Filipino dishes. More importantly, staying with my family and friends allowed me to heal, rejuvenate, and feel inspired.

My 2022 has also been filled with many challenges.  

I started the year with a heavy heart. I applied for promotion in 2021 and I was not promoted. I was devastated. 

I had such heavy feeling when I applied for my DECRA grant application, which was 46 pages long. Instead of being disheartened by the promotion outcome, I soldiered on and focussed my energy on completing and submitting the grant application. But it was difficult. I got through because of supportive people.

Meanwhile, Billie, my neighbor’s cat, passed away. The last time I saw her was on 10 March 2022. It’s quite sad because Billie was my constant companion during the lockdowns and days I was working from home. Til we meet again, lovely Billie!

Typical move of Billie, blocking my way and waiting for me!

Around May, I received a horrible news. It was the time I was working on my rejoinder for my DECRA. Again, instead of being derailed by the news, I focussed my energy on my grant application. I also appreciate my friends in Melbourne who checked on me, including Nat, Ben, Alexia, Akane, Jian, Andy, Monika, Marianne, Robbie, Brady, Laura, and many more. I also appreciate the support from my friends in the Philippines, including April, Elmi, Leez, and Che. It was great to chat with Maria, Cheenee, Nice, and Eden, my Pinoy friends in Australia. Also grateful to my family who extended their support, especially my dad who was very worried for my well-being. More importantly, thankful to my partner for comforting me and providing ways to navigate the traumatic event!
 
I was not expecting to get a DECRA because of the low success rate. However, with what I have been going through for the past years, I hoped and prayed that change can happen. So I am immensely thankful to be successful in obtaining a DECRA.

I am extremely grateful to my mentors most especially to Professor Lenore Manderson and Dr Akane Kanai who lent their time in December 2021 and January 2022 to guide me in DECRA application. They have inspired and encouraged me during the grant application process.

I would not be able to survive 2022 and all the many challenges without the support of many people. Thank you for those who listened to me, offered comfort, and lent their time to offer guidance and camaraderie. I will never forget the generosity and kindness. The catch-up over coffee, exchanges on social media, or simply chatting over the phone were helpful.

Thank you to my friends in the Philippines for the fun and inspiring chats.

Thank you to my amazing and supportive friends in Melbourne for the chit chats over dinner.

Thank you to Cheenee and Nice for being always there even we're living in different states of Australia! To Eden, my constant foodie and chika companion, thank you!

Thank you to your my wonderful friends in Australian academia! Too many to mention but you know who you are!

Thank you to my family in the Philippines for the care and support. So much fun hanging around with my smart and energetic nephews!

Thank you to Guy for always being a voice of reason, especially during difficult times.

2022 was an exciting year. I gained a lot of friends inside and outside of academia. So much fun hanging out with Laura, Sylvia, and Charisma!

I am excited to be wrapping up my teaching and commencing my DECRA in April 2023.

In 2023, I promise to be kinder to myself. I am prioritising my health. I am also ensuring that I nurture enriching relationships with my family, my partner, and my friends. 

On a professional level, I will continuously work with scholars, communities, and organisations on addressing issues navigated by migrants in a digital world.

I am looking forward to 2023. It will be a busy and exciting year. It will also a year to 'move' to a supportive and better environment.

I would like to thank those people who have supported and helped me get through 2022.

Goodbye 2022.

​Hello fantabulous 2023!