Break up doesn't always mean heart break.

Do you know how it feels like when you've built your whole world around one person then suddenly that person breaks up with you for all the good reasons and you end up with shattered dreams in front of you? Well I don’t.

The initial client for my thesis was the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators, SCBWI Philippines. It was easy to convince the regional director to be the client for this project because she thought it was “interesting.” I was actually glad for her immediate response, which made me not pursue my initial thesis topic on school for multisensory impaired.

Being a writer, publisher, illustrator, mother and a lot of other things, she’s a really busy person so our first meeting was at a booktalk at Greenbelt 3, with two other young people whose interest in children literature made them bring Roald Dahl’s books. I had to attend the SCBWI Booktalk so that I could consult my thesis with her. My client was kind enough to give me the chance to discuss my thesis with the group and they had “interesting” suggestions and ideas. Yep, it’s nice to hear ideas from non-archi people. Hard as well. :P

Our second meeting was supposed to be for consultation for the architectural program. It was the same day I met with Rio Alma. Upon getting a really good grasp of the meat of my thesis, which is promoting literacy, she breaks off with, “That’s not what we do. That’s not our concern.” And she had a really good explanation on what they really do that I almost got ashamed of what I was doing. Something about the difference between an author and an author who is also a publisher. (Saving this topic for another post.)

It was understandable why she had to break up with me, or call off our architect-client relationship. She believes that my project does not capture what the organization really does and what they stand for. And I actually did not intend it to be so it was okay for me to let her go. I think what bothers her is the idea that the book will be in library archives forever and might give the wrong idea to people on what SCBWI is all about.

Most of my data are based on my interviews with her. Most of the data in my architectural program are based on those data.  So yeah, that’s what I was referring to when I said shattered dreams. I asked my adviser about this and she said it was okay and that I should stick to that database. And that’s why
I said, “Well, I don’t.”

I thank you, Ma’am Beaulah for saying “This is interesting,” when that’s the only thing I was looking for to pursue this project I am currently working on. We have met only twice but I’ve learned a lot from you. I see you have great reasons behind what you do. So please, carry on.