Bagong Pinay/ Malakas at Maganda/ Peeling the Layers Series by Joann Natalia Aquino

Peeling the Layers Series:
A "Work In Progress" Towards A Warrior's Journey of Self-Discovery

" ... Peeling each layer will eventually lead us to the core, the center, the heart of our purpose."

About the Series

This is the birth of the "Peeling The Layers Series: A "Work In Progress Towards The Warrior's Journey Of Self-Discovery."

We are all warriors in our own entitlement, and a warrior is not only defined by their passion to fight, but also the choices they make and the fruits they bear after they survived the battle. Before the battle, good warriors know to prepare themselves in what they must do in order to survive, hence working on humanizing themselves and justly working within. This series will include collections in areas that may help us with our own self-discovery and examples that may guide us in the path of our own journey.

From the book "Revolution From Within," Gloria Steinem wrote, "Most writers write to say something about other people and it never lasts. Good writers write to find out about themselves and it lasts forever." In my pursuit with this path and my own journey, my hope is to have us all discover ourselves and recognize that we are on a journey, this is an ongoing process, thus a work in-progress, and alas, there are no short cuts we can take to avoid life's obstacles.

Before we can be effective outside and attempt to change the world, our society, our community, our organizations, our homes, our relationships; we need to first look within our self and recognize what work needs to be done, therefore acknowledge that the change needs to start from within. Allowing our hearts to be searched, exposing our wicked ways, accepting corrections, patiently enduring the pruning development in order to grow, and trusting in the process that this may lead us to the pathway each of us seeks. Metaphorically speaking, akin to the interior of an onion, peeling each layer will eventually lead us to the core, the center, the heart of our purpose.

(Republished with permission from the author and Asian American Journal: International Examiner, article originally published at Asian American Journal: International Examiner on June 2001)

Here are other articles in the "Peeling the Layers" series:

About the Series
The Art of Letting Go & Acts of Forgiveness
Following Your Heart and Living Your Passions
"Why Are You So Angry?": Rage and Anger Management
(will be uploaded soon)
(will be uploaded soon)
A Tribute to Motherhood: The Dance Lessons My Mother Taught Me
(ongoing series, please stay-tuned for more to come)

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About the author:: Ms. Joann Natalia Aquino is a freelance professional writer/ journalist, and a Legislative Liaison working on public policy development and legislative affairs for the Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs for the State of Washington. In her spare time, she is also an Editor for a few publications (print and online), and is currently writing her first book "The Re-awakening of the Babaylan: Her Story," along with other shelved writing projects, she vows to finish sometime in her lifetime. At the moment, she juggles her time traveling between Seattle and New York, the places she both calls her "home."

To reach the author, please e-mail: joannnatalia@newfilipina.com or editor@newfilipina.com .