TheStoryFactory

"Connecting the dots, I realized it’s not just about the typewriter itself that got me into to it, but on what this machine can do - reports, stories, anything you want to record. My work for this past 20 years may have different processes or outputs, yet they’re all the same. They tell a story. Stories define who we are, where we come from, and where we want to be. And helping people find, tell, or share their stories is what I do." - Aurelia L Castro #TheStoryFactory #YourStoryMatters #VideoResumes #AureliaLCastro

"I’m fortunate that we had Au (Aurelia L. Castro). She was with us almost 24/7. She went to all of our friends gatherings, she would just tag along and she does it very graciously…She just kinda slowly does her thing…I could never have pulled together all these different conversations to make a story. But she was able to condense all these into short, little snippets. It’s an art…" - Joan Chee

"The first reason I started thinking about this was or the why of having a video was I knew Kock Seng had a life-limiting illness. I also knew that this life-limiting illness would, in the future, cause him not to be able to talk or even talk clearly; his inability to even write, type - those are things are gonna happen and I wanted his story with his voice, with his thoughts to be shared with his family, his friends...And selfishly I wanted to hear his voice. I wanted something that would be a legacy for myself, possibly for my children, possibly for others down the road when he wasn’t here." - Joan Chee

"Meet Brandon, my pandemic friend…Despite of his status in life, he pushes hard…continued in his studies, and make money even at his young age. Brandon reminds me of my days when I was a kid. I see myself in him - roaming around the streets to earn money, doing some work at the bike shop to have something to eat...I struggled, I made mistakes. I gambled and lost whatever money I had…Brandon reminds me, too, to be grateful that I have made my life right and strived to work hard and inspire others to do the same." A digital story by Jere Ryam. Digital Storytelling Workshop conducted by Aurelia L Castro with Feed the Children - Philippines, Cebu City, Philippines, 26-28 May 2021.

Flawed, yet favored

“As a daughter of a fisherman and a housekeeper, at a young age, I witnessed how difficult life is…Despite all the hardships, I really admire my parents for being strong as they sweat blood to send me and my siblings in school. I was able to graduate college with the degree of Bachelor in Elementary Education-General Content course with outstanding grades…I then became a licensed professional teacher…While applying and waiting for a public teacher position, I decided to work in the government as an office staff and two months later I was given an opportunity to work in an NGO named Feed the Children. This organization is not new to me since I am one of the beneficiaries and I was also a pioneering member of the youth-led environmental organization, Green Planet.” A digital story by Abegail S. Centinales. Digital Storytelling Workshop conducted by Aurelia L Castro with Feed the Children - Philippines, Cebu City, Philippines, 26-28 May 2021.

"In my time spent alone dreaming to escape to other worlds, I found solace in words, sounds, colors, shapes, and textures. Many years ago, I started with a sketch not knowing where it would take me...and now I have more than a sketch with me. I have poems, stories, pictures, paintings and songs...Poems taught me tenderness. Stories taught me empathy. Paintings taught me stillness. Pictures taught me to remember. Songs taught me to feel. But then blasting myself open to the world also meant allowing life to reveal my deepest aches and desires..." "Despite, despite, despite". A digital story by Kristoff Peralta. Digital Storytelling Workshop, Feed the Children - Philippines, Cebu City, Philippines, 26-28 May 2021.

DeAnna on Digital Storytelling - "...A GIFT TO ME." “The story that I chose to tell was my journey over the last 40 years... It’s been an interesting journey for me and doing this story has really been healing for me, healing in my heart because what it allowed me to do was to look back to reflect on where I was, how I got to where I am and it’s almost like I was able to put together the first act of a play and now I’m at intermission and ready to begin the second act…it’s been a gift to me.” - DeAnna

"My heart whispered it was just the beginning and I have since learned to let go...Though it aches to walk some paths alone, I trust the universe will take me to where I need to be." GO WHERE YOU FLOW. A digital story by Rae Rosal. #DigitalStorytelling #TheStoryFactory

Raquel T. Choa, The Chocolate Queen, tells her tablea journey to Marie Lozano of ANC 24/7 for the award-winning show Cityscape. #CasaDeCacao #TheChocolateQueen #TheChocolateChamber

Ribbon-cutting ceremony (Serbisyo Caravan & Business One-Stop Shop, Agri-fair, and Food Bazaar). Kasadya Sa Esperanza 2022 - An Agri-Eco Tourism Promotional Activity (Aug 18-23, 2022, Esperanza, Masbate). #KasadyaSaEsperanza2022 #EsperanzaRising

PARADE. Kasadya Sa Esperanza 2022 - An Agri-Eco Tourism Promotional Activity (Aug 18-23, 2022, Esperanza, Masbate).

Slow Learner

"I aimed nothing less than to top the exams. And I made it! I thank God and I’m so proud to be the first to have given this honor to my alma matter. I am so happy to have made my parents proud. We are poor but we can also achieve great things. And I am so proud of myself - the slow learner, the one who marched alone...To my family, instructors, friends, and schoolmates, thank you so much. To my partner, who is always there to support and comfort me, thank you so much daddy Reinier. I love you and Arah so much. To the Chairman of CMC, Mayor Felipe L. Cabatana and to the Dean of Education, Dr. Richard Cerrudo Ching - thank you for believing in our capacity as a student. I will be forever proud of the school where I came from." - Angelica Estrella Besa (March 2022 LET Topnotcher)