My 29th blog:

From Flour to Fonts:  My Creative Journey From Printing Press to Baking and Beyond

 

In my early blog posts, I reflected on my life's turning points—marriage, annulment, and moving forward. Yet, I had left unexplored the years that shaped me before those events—the chapter where my creative journey truly took root: my time in our family’s printing press.

 

Before its doors closed in 2011, I served as EDP head, navigating the evolving landscape of layout design. My first tools were far from the sleek digital software of today. I worked with an IBM electronic typewriter with memory before transitioning to Pagemaker and CorelDRAW. Graphic design wasn’t just a profession—it was an inheritance. My parents built their first humble printing press in PhilamLife, Quezon City, laying the foundation for the artistry that runs through my veins.

 

Recognizing the business’s potential, my parents entrusted it to my eldest sister, who took the helm as general manager. The industry’s pressures mounted; eventually, my second eldest sibling stepped in to lead before migrating to Canada with her husband.

 

Many assume my career began with baking—but that’s only part of the story. Before immersing myself in the world of pastries, I spent two years teaching project management at the University of Asia and the Pacific, then transitioned into online English instruction for Korean, Japanese, and Filipino students. Eventually, I returned to the family printing business, crafting layouts, brochures, and logos until the shop shut down. From there, I shifted paths once more, stepping into the role of an administrative paralegal in my father’s law firm—another chapter I’ll explore in due time.

 

Years passed, and my passion for baking flourished. Ever the cautious entrepreneur, I just chose to sell my creations online, primarily through Facebook. Now, with my TESDA-accredited baking and pastry classes behind me, I find myself drawn back to my creative origins—graphic design. What pulled me back wasn’t mere nostalgia, but the challenge of shaping visuals with meaning and storytelling.

 

Creativity is more than an interest in my family—it is our lifeblood. From photography, painting, portrait sketching, dancing and singing, teaching, baking, writing and blogging, and graphic design, artistry has always been the way we express, connect, and evolve.

 

And so, my career has naturally woven itself through these artistic avenues, each chapter adding another layer to my journey. Whether through the precision of graphic design, the warmth of baking, or the structured storytelling of layout, my path reflects the sheer beauty of creative expression. Art isn’t just technique—it’s where I find meaning, where I thrive, and where I rediscover myself with each stroke, each pastry, each design.

 

This is not the end of my journey. It is the rediscovery of Beth—an unfolding story that will continue for years to come.

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