Written by Mia Tandingan
Imagine you’re in your 20s.
One moment you’re cramming for finals in a shared dorm room,
The next, you’re signing a lease in a new city, your life packed in suitcases,
saying not goodbye, but see you soon.
You’re updating your résumé, calling your mom at midnight,
falling in love at a train station—
and getting your heart broken the next day. Again.
Everything is shifting.
You’re chasing dreams that change along the way.
You’re learning what it means to stay.
To leave.
To grieve.
To begin again.
You keep asking yourself: What is home? Who am I becoming?
You learn that sometimes, coming home isn’t a place —
it’s a person, a memory,
a version of you you’re still trying to meet again.
This is where Homecoming begins —
In between, where everything feels temporary, but somehow, still lasts forever.
(Poetry attempt on an amazing hook by Mia)
Y’all I know I slayed lol. 💅🏼✨
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Meet Marj – poet, teacher, and self-proclaimed romantic “in the best, most cringe way possible.”
Marj is the kind of poet who laughs before she cries, the kind who will make you feel seen even in your silence. With being a Gemini sun, Aries moon, Sagittarius rising (if you know, you know), she truly embodies duality: quiet yet loud, soft yet bold, serious about her craft yet unserious about most other things.
At the center of who she is, Marj writes with tenderness. Homecoming is her debut poetry collection where it’s a gentle place for anyone who’s ever felt lost during a change. “It’s a love letter to everyone, every people, every place, and every moment in time that feels like home to me,” she says. Written after years of living a nomadic life in her twenties–moving abroad, chasing dreams, healing from heartbreak, and eventually returning home–Homecoming is both a reflection and a question: What is home? Who is home? Where is home?
As a poet, Marj embraces vulnerability. She tells her students that claiming the title “writer” is often the hardest part, especially when it feels too soft, too much, or too exposed. But that’s where her strength is. “Even when I write about grief or pain, my voice always comes back to kindness and grace. I live as one. I live as a writer.”
What Poetry Means to Marj
Before Homecoming, Marj explored many ways of writing. “My roots in writing are actually in film,” she says. She studied scriptwriting, then shifted to music publication and editorial work, storytelling through essays, podcasts, and short stories about other people’s lives.
But poetry? That was different.
“It wasn’t until Homecoming came out two years ago that people saw a side of me I hadn’t shared before,” Marj explains. “People were surprised because I had spent years telling other people’s stories. And then, SIKE. Here’s mine, in poetry~”
What makes poetry so special to her? “Poetry doesn’t demand anything from you but presence. Unlike other forms that explain or narrate, poetry just is. It’s the soul of being.”
That’s why, even though poetry can seem intimidating or hard, it became Marj’s safe place. Poetry became Marj’s “resting place”, not “passive rest”, but an introspective space where she could simply be.
Her love for poetry started early. “I was five when I was already performing spoken word in kindergarten programs,” she recalls. Growing up in a middle-class family with limited resources, Marj’s parents couldn’t afford books or trips to the cinema, so they got creative. ✨ “Every night before bed, I would perform story time for my family, even if they were ready to sleep, I was still up there, storytelling.”
Those early moments were important. “Having people read my work from the start made me even more curious and excited,” Marj says. That spark stayed with her and helped shape who she is as a writer and poet today.
In my Feels, Everyday Moments & Canon Events
Some people wait for big moments to write. For Marj, writing is the moment. “I equate poetry with living,” Marj shares. “Writing, the art of it, is attached to making meaning–and making meaning comes from noticing. Observing. Being present. And that’s what living is.”
Writing poetry is how she keeps her heart open, even when the world feels harsh. “When nothing makes sense—not breath work, not prayer, not even a call to a friend—poetry is where I go. It doesn’t ask anything of me. It just lets me sit beside it. That’s why it plays such a key role in my grief.”
She writes in joy and even in silly moments. “Poetry is everywhere…nonsensical moments included. As a writer, it’s how I process. It’s how I stay human.”
Some of those moments have been big. Canon events. The release of Homecoming was one of them. “That was a massive shift,” she recalls. “It showed a part of me no one had seen before. It was scary to be that open, and after a year, I went through a bit of a crisis. But the reward outweighed the discomfort. It expanded my world.”
Even when life is hard, Marj keeps writing. Poetry doesn’t ask her to be perfect. It just gives her space and lets her show up. Sometimes it’s a quick thought after teaching. Sometimes it’s a big feeling about change. Either way, poetry helps her live as life happens.
How a Text Sparked into a Collaboration: Homecoming x Kurated Kultura
Sometimes, the best creative partnership starts with a simple message and a little bit of fate. Marj laughs as she admits, “Honestly, I don’t remember exactly how we connected.” Luckily, Alexa does.
It all began with a mutual friend from San Jose who happened to be in Alexa’s business coaching cohort. “She told me, ‘Go connect with her when you go to the Philippines,’” Alexa recalls.
When Alexa went to the Philippines, they tried to meet but their schedules didn’t match. So Marj sent copies of her books to Alexa’s hotel room. From there, Kurated Kultura included Homecoming in one of our kits, and that’s how the collaboration started.
What’s Next for Marj? (Honest & Hopeful ver.)
“Hopefully a lot of money,” Marj laughs. “I meant that. I meant that. Please don’t take that out. Let’s welcome that in.” 😄
But beyond the jokes, Marj is deep into finishing her second book, which she hopes to “birth by the end of this year.” She’s about 80% done, mostly editing now. Interestingly, this second book was originally meant to be her first.
“It’s quite the opposite of Homecoming,” she shares. “The second book is about the times that don’t feel like home—when people and places aren’t safe enough to call home.”
Alongside writing, Marj is also embracing teaching more, working with younger writers and building community writing spaces she’s passionate about.
“My dream? To take these poetry and writing salons on tour,” she says with excitement. “It still blows my mind that Homecoming is out there, being read in different parts of the world. People tag me from all over, and that’s wild.”
But she’s dreaming even bigger. One day, she hopes to open her own bookstore and library—a warm, inviting creative studio where writers can gather for classes, residencies, workshops, and community events. “I want to fill it with books from underrepresented voices,” she says, “to introduce more writers who need amplifying and make those stories more accessible.”
As she nears the end of her twenties, she jokes, “Your girl is tired.” Marj is also prioritizing rest and recovery. Burnout is real, and she’s learning to balance between creating and caring for herself.
Read, Share, Live
If you’re looking for a place to begin, whether it’s writing poetry or living more intentionally, Marj has three words for you: Read, Share, Live.
For Marj, writing isn’t about perfection or performance. It’s about presence. It’s about being honest with yourself and curious about the world around you. It’s about paying attention, especially when things are quiet, messy, or unclear.
First, read. “Reading is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to learn the craft. Read everything! Books, essays, poetry, articles. It teaches you how others shape their voice, which helps you shape yours.”
Second, share your work. “Writing can feel solitary, but it isn’t meant to stay that way. Find peers. Find a space—formal or casual—where you can be witnessed. Writing is meant to be shared.”
Third, live with intention. “The truth is, you can’t write if you’re not living. Not performing life, but really being in it. The more honest you are with yourself, the more meaningful your writing and your days become.
Marj reminds us that intentional living isn’t about curating a perfect life. It’s about being clear about what you want, who you are, and what matters most. She reflects, “There was a time when I thought I was living an intentional life but really, I was just performing in one. It wasn’t until I stopped following the template and started being honest with myself that I understood what intention really meant.”
Whether you’re just starting to write, or just learning how to be more present with yourself, Marj offers this gentle encouragement: start where you are.
You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to begin.
🤎Support Marj in her creative journey! Follow her on Instagram: @marjostani
📖Pre-order your Homecoming book now!
📦 Restock available at Kurated Kultura for anyone in the US!
📍 In the Philippines? DM Marj directly for orders!
📝 Marj also offers 1-on-1 creative writing mentorships, both in-person and virtual—perfect for anyone looking to start (or restart) their writing journey.
💬 Curious about her writing workshops, courses, or editing services? Reach out! She’s open to speaking engagements too.
✨ Whether you're a beginner or seasoned writer, Marj is here to guide, support, and write alongside you.
