Odette Pia Cabanela keep the words of his father that, "you can be penniless with dignity than be rich without integrity."
Who's that girl? This 38-year old part-time writer/artist was born on 21st of March, 1980 and grew up with 4 siblings. Her 15 years working as a part-time writer include such experiences like working at GMA network station and being a speechwriter for a former Defence Secretary, collectively in Los Angeles and Manila.
Education matters: She had attended Our Lady of Pillar Montessori Centre, Assumption College/Post Grad-International Academy for film and television in Cebu during her nursery and onwards.
Her other interests: She likes reading, doing anything creative and new, museums, festivals, painting of course, binging on foreign films/shows, and daydreaming.
A mantra: She always keep her father's words of wisdom that, "you can be penniless with dignity than be rich without integrity." Another one is by Winston Churchill, "if you're going through hell, keep going."
She was born and raised as Catholic. She said, "I still believe in God and someone bigger than all of us, but I don't want to be a hypocrite and say I am one so I identify more myself as a non-practicing Catholic. I still pray and go to church sometimes."
Who are you if you're a superhero and why? "I cannot fathom the idea of being one but if I will be, I will be a very flawed superhero, WOLVERINE. My worst character is I'm too-self critical. I was at the peak of my game in Manila and had an International award under my belt. Then, I fell on hard times in my personal life. I retreated professionally. I was too harsh on myself for losing some years. But because of that trait, I was able to pull myself out. I will criticise myself for my mistake and will do so again if I let myself sink," she explained courageously.
Happiness and success together: She said she had found it but she's searching for them again, hopefully at the same time in the future and wishing she could hold on to it until she leave this life.
At the rock bottom: She said she had experienced it. "I was raised in a household with a strong, solid foundation. I was nurtured by two great role models so I grew up believing I am strong enough not to falter or not to succumb to darkness when it comes. It might not take me faster than most people could, to get out of that black hole, but I'll get there. I always remember that no one is responsible for you but yourself," describing how she had overcome failures.
The greatest fan her life: It was her father and her 17-year old budding artist niece.
Her contribution to change the world: "The world is evolving fast and information is disseminated incorrectly all the time. When I was a TV writer back in Manila, I covered current affairs to get the real story out to masses. I also get to do that as a part time writer here in L.A. but as an artist/painter, I wish to give a different perspective to things through my works. Such as my work shown on my Instagram account, entitled Purity in the Water. Also, I currently volunteer to a group called Reading to Kids, to encourage the younger generation to read more in this age of gadgets and self-obsession," she notably said.
If not in your profession right now, who, what, and where are you? Why? She answered, " I'd be in a dark corner, questioning my life. I'm fortunate enough to have done creative things in my life when I could, as well as volunteer. One of my goals is to be able to do humanitarian work in Mindanao, Afghanistan and Syria.
Her voice matters: "I am saying this to myself more thanto anyone else. Career wise, it doesn’t matter if you were idle last year, or the year before that, or 10 years ago. What matters is you are moving now. Your worth is what you permit yourself, not what is predetermined by others for you," she concluded.
I also want to share that I have been recently selected as one of the artists to showcase her work at a major art festival in Los Angeles in March 20th. You can check me out through www.rawartists.org/piacabanela tickets are for purchase through an artist’s link.
