Dennis Gaviola

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ABS-CBN News Intern

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17765896727181776589664095.jpeg" width="960" id="isPasted" class="fr-fic fr-dii" style="width:960px;display:inline-block;height:auto"/>The instructors of the ‘Pen Noobies’ workshop introduced different types of fountain pens, tips and taught the attendees how to write using them during the Manila Pen Show 2026. Photos: Ruf Serafin</div>MANILA — More than just a fun hobby, fountain pen enthusiasts and collectors believe their pens keep the art of writing by hand alive.Once a mundane necessity, handwriting in an age of smart phones, laptops and AI, can now be seen as a deliberate act of escape, refreshing novelty, and a source of comfort.It is also a way to be better connected with our thoughts and our feelings.“I feel that we can’t forget how to write with our hands and how to actually form letters on paper with ink because that’s the way our brain can actually connect more strongly with what we’re learning,&quot; Leigh Reyes, president of Fountain Pen Network Philippines Inc. said.“Handwriting alone actually helps a person process their thoughts and emotions better,” Marjorie Garrovillo, a telco executive and a dedicated pen enthusiast, said at the Manila Pen Show 2026 held in Fairmont Makati last March and that featured over 60 global exhibitors.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17765898438201776589842401.jpeg" width="960" id="isPasted" class="fr-fic fr-dii" style="width:960px"/></div>Lester Jess Mangondato, a participant in the ‘Pen Noobies’ session of the pen show, said his journey in journaling began as a way to pause and reflect on life.When choosing pens, he said it is “more of the function over the aesthetics&quot;, adding a fountain pen can provide writing comfort and still look good.Reyes said that she has noticed that more people have started having an interest in fountain pens not just to collect but for everyday use such as journaling and planning.Jane Bautista, also a participant in the ‘Pen Noobies’ session, said she is looking forward to attending more workshops, as she loves the community with the same interest in pens. <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17765898721391776589870852.jpeg" width="960" id="isPasted" class="fr-fic fr-dii" style="width:960px"/>For the organizers, the event was a reminder that amidst the growth of technology, the importance of writing is still essential and encouraged. </div>In an age of constant innovations in technology, the fountain pen invites us to slow down.As we look towards the future, it is clear that we may live in a digital realm, but the human capacity to leave an indelible mark, to write, to create, and to feel remains as relevant as ever.

Once a mundane necessity, handwriting in an age of smart phones, laptops and AI, can now be seen as a deliberate act of escape, refreshing novelty, and a source of comfort.

Once a mundane necessity, handwriting in an age of smart phones, laptops and AI, can now be seen as a deliberate act of escape, refreshing novelty, and a source of comfort.

More than a hobby, pens help preserve handwriting in a digital world

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More than a hobby, pens help preserve handwriting in a digital world

ABS-CBN News Intern,

Patricia Matriz

Published April 19, 2026 05:33 PM PHT

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Updated April 20, 2026 09:33 AM PHT

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Fountain pens

Manila Pen Show

Handwriting

Penmanship

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