As a child, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut. I think I was always drawn by the endless possibilities beyond the space we’re living in. Yet over time, that dream began to feel impossibly distant. I don’t know but there’s a profound beauty and mystery in the vastness of space, but as I grew older and began to understand the realities of my country, my admiration turned into guilt and frustration.

I came to realize how challenging it is to dream big when you’re from the Philippines. Aspirations that reach for the stars often feel reserved for those in the West. They can fly high but I cannot. They can be Astronauts but I can not. They can leave but I can only stay.

This inequality becomes even more glaring in the face of the climate crisis. While powerful nations drive advancements, often at the cost of releasing countless tons of hazardous gases, my country bears the brunt of vulnerability–shouldering the consequences of climate change. San Simon is my reflection on what we—both as individuals and as a nation—have lost. It delves into dreams lost, lives taken, and the quiet strength of those who continue to endure.

Through this work, I offer a quiet, heartfelt embrace of these losses, honoring what could have been. And it aims to spark a conversation, amplifying what needs to be done.