About Me
You can call me Bianca. I was born and bred in a city called Las Piñas on the biggest island of the Philippines. When I was 18, I enrolled in the University of the Philippines - Diliman for a degree in Economics when an opportunity to move to the United States for college emerged.
I spent a few years in the literal center of Pennsylvania, State College, where I attribute a lot of my individual growth to. After getting my degree at Penn State, I was stuck in my college apartment waiting for the world to change. Just like everyone else, I tapped into my hobbies during the pandemic and that’s when @eatsbybianca launched on Instagram. What started as a passion project to showcase foods I’ve tried and restaurants I’ve enjoyed became an outlet and opportunity for me to expand my reach. I worked with brands and restaurants as I looked to the market for new products that suited my low sugar, intuitive eating, and natural lifestyle.
When it was time to move on from my college town, I moved to a huge city by the name of New York and started working a legal role at a multinational firm. The ever so fast-paced city pushed me to my limits and beyond them, and needless to say, I burnt out.
Currently, I am based out of Honolulu, where I am (in the most authentic terms) getting my life together while having the privilege of enjoying this beautiful island.
About the Brand
I let go of the @eatsbybianca brand because I wanted to slightly deviate my focus out of the food space and pivot into holistic well-being. The whole concept of Good Now, Better Later is a very intentional thought. When you invest in yourself now, whether it’s for your physical health or mental health (or other health areas), you will feel good now. But what we often overlook are the benefits we reap tenfold in the future. We are a society of immediate results.
When I was younger, everyone above 60 years old in the Philippines had diabetes. I watched my grandparents carry their maintenance pills everywhere, and I assumed that kind of life is something that everyone goes through at that age. Then I moved to the United States. I witnessed older folks’ abilities to drive and walk, and I was amazed by them. I started researching bits and pieces of why the Filipino elderly often have that defined pathway of diabetes, high cholesterol, and arthritis. A single roll of pandesal can contain a tablespoon of sugar which is half the recommended daily limit for sugar intake. Heck, I used to have three in one sitting. That started my love for nutrition.
To Some of My Folks
I have some people I’d like to thank for helping me bring this brand to light.
Johnny, thank you for being my biggest hypeman and for opening your arms to every idea I texted you about. I cherish our friendship more than ever. Thank you for keeping me sane.
Sofia, my soul sister and chosen family, thank you for pushing me to be my best self. For letting me become the person I am today without the pressure or expectations. I love you forever.
Donovin, thank you for being my friend and mentor. I truly, truly cannot imagine life without you.
Analee and Grace, my New York roommates and two of my closest friends, thank you for living life with me. There’s no one else I’d rather bug in the middle of the workday than you both.
Manik, you are the first person I read an excerpt of this blog to. You keep me going in more ways you can’t even imagine.
Ryan, my former roommate and dear friend, I adore you. I brought my most authentic self to Hawaii and into our space, and you graciously embraced me in my truest form. I have the pleasure of turning into the version of me I’ve always aspired to be while being around you.
My Honolulu Write Team, thank you for letting me bask in your discipline to write on Sunday mornings.