Lester Babiera is a freelance photographer and multimedia producer. He loves to travel, seeking new experiences and memorable adventures. Recent explorations include backpacking in Southeast Asia and India. He is currently setting his sights on exploring East Asia. What gives you courage? The future.

Vida Cruz’ s stories have been published or are forthcoming in Lontar: The Journal of Southeast Asian Speculative Fiction, Expanded Horizons, and various anthologies. A first place winner of the 2017 Writers of the Future contest, she also attended the 2014 Clarion Writers Workshop. She likes giraffes and the color purple. What gives you courage? The thought that I can look back at this moment or experience and know that I will have no regrets.

Eldry John Infante is an architecture student from Pampanga, Philippines. He is a photography enthusiast, designer, illustrator and an avid fan of all things Japanese. What gives you courage? To know the possibilities of life; to know that there are people who appreciate you whatever you do, and to know that the universe can conspire to help you achieve your aspirations.

Timothy Percival is a London-based multidisciplinary artist. Earlier this year, he completed a solo exhibition of paintings in East London and will be releasing his latest book An Epitaph for Seven Years in Exile on shelves this summer. What gives you courage? The idea that I’ m responsible for my own actions. Wishing to be the best person I can be gives me great courage to truly act well.

Lawrence Carlos is currently an architectural writer for BluPrint, a Philippine title on architecture. Trained as an architect in the UK and Germany, his architectural photographs were featured in the RIBA London Awards and the Architects’ Journal Small Projects Award. He is an avid vinyl record collector and has a penchant for film photography.

Mikhail Plata is a visual effects artist and animator based in Manila. He specializes in creating corporate videos, advertisements, and motion graphics videos. When not at work, he likes to spend his time running tabletop role-playing games, collecting board games, designing his own games, or playing wizard with special effects. What gives you courage? The prospect of learning and growth. I feel courageous and more confident knowing that every pathway and roadblock I encounter will bring me somewhere, and that there is no possible decision or direction I could take that would not give me something new to learn about the world or myself.

Kara Gonzales is a designer, stylist, artist, mental health advocate and dog lover still figuring out what to do with her life. If you’ re in a similar situation, she wants you to know that you’ re not alone. She’ s always up for coffee conversations; hit her up if you need one. What gives you courage? That would be a“ who.” Diane.

Mikhail Lecaros is the editor-inchief of pop culture hub Sabaw. PH, and a freelance movie writer who has a love-hate relationship with cold showers. What gives you courage? Is there any catalyst for courage more metaphorically potent than a cold shower at the beginning of the day? Standing there, barely awake and vulnerable, you are confronted with the harsh reality that even if you may not particularly enjoy what comes next, it is an obstacle that must nevertheless be overcome. And when those first arctic jolts rend the remnants of slumber into unwilling alertness, you may derive some satisfaction from the knowledge that, whatever the day brings, you’ ll be more than ready for it. After all, you already cleared one hurdle before breakfast. Anything after that’ s gonna be easy.

Celine Reyes is a wayfaring wordweaver whose stories have been featured in several notable publications. Her blog Celineism has been hailed as one of the Top 50 Blogs of the Philippines for 2017. She’ s obsessed with trees and natural landscapes, and dreams of planting her own forest. What gives you courage? I draw courage from dreams and from people who share the same ideals as I do.

Miguel Llona is a freelance writer and the former managing editor of BluPrint magazine. If a genie grants him three wishes, he’ ll( stupidly) wish for a healing ability, an adamantium-laced skeleton and retractable claws.