Alexandra Schulze

Author Marga Ortigas is a Philippine delegate in this year's Frankfurt Book Fair

Article (news)

ABS-CBN Lifestyle

<p>In this series by ABS-CBN Lifestyle, readers get a glimpse into the everyday lives of the country&#x27;s most fascinating creatives from multiple industries. Much as they&#x27;re often put on pedestals and applauded for their mind-blowing work that sets them apart, it&#x27;s just as interesting to see how they go about their workaday worlds without the rose-colored glasses. Because really, in the end, these talented individuals are regular humans too...just like us.  </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>A Day in the Life of a PH Delegate to the Frankfurt Book Fair: Marga Ortigas</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>1:47am </p><p>Hello, world! Nope, I’m not partying late or meant to be up at this hour, but here we are. Awake because of a coughing fit. Been trying to stave off the flu so I got up to take some medication. Last thing I need is to be downed by a bug in the run up to the Frankfurt Book Fair. I leave for Europe in a week and I still have presentations to prepare! Not to mention finding the right outfits – I really need to get me more Filipiniana…</p><p>Meds ingested, I will try to fall back to sleep by putting on an audio book or a podcast, something soothing or reflective from BBC Radio Four. A favourite is “From Our Own Correspondent”, in which BBC journalists deliver insights on or analysis of their overseas coverage.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:959px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17592402192511759240216125.png" id="isPasted" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Turning to one of my trusted podcasts like “From Our Own Correspondent”, in which BBC journalists deliver insights on or analysis of their overseas coverage, to lull me back to sleep. <em>Image courtesy of Marga Ortigas </em></span></span></span></div><p>8:30am </p><p>Ok, so the podcasts don’t always work as a lullaby, and by this time, I am usually ready to give up the tossing and turning and start the day. At least it’s morning – time for some taichi stretches. I’ve found a few teachers I like online – and the exercises really help get things flowing. It’s a great way to wake up and feel energised. Even with the looming flu.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:959px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17592400871771759240081597.png" id="isPasted" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Wellness regimen of choice: taichi to get the mind and body activated! <em>Image courtesy of Marga Ortigas</em> </span></span></span></div><p>9:00am </p><p>COFFEE TIME!!! </p><p>Love me a flat white in the mornings, but as I am staying in and unable to make that at home, I’m putting the trusty moka pot on the stove. I’ve got a variety of beans from different sources in the cupboard––a friend’s leftover stash, a present from Mindanao and one from Benguet, a souvenir from a fave coffeeshop in San Diego—so I just pick one for the day and go with it. </p><p>While the coffee brews, I pick out the work ‘duster’ for the day. (There’s nothing like an old cotton house-dress inherited from my mother in which to sit around the home. Wearing the soft, breezy fabric somehow makes it easier to let the mind flow…) </p><p>When the coffee’s ready, it goes from the pot into a nice ceramic cup with some steamed milk and the day’s writing can begin! (Wee tip: Coffee is really best drunk from a ceramic cup… especially when they’re presents from friends ;))</p><div> <span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:959px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17592406226381759240615591.png" id="isPasted" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">There&#x27;s nothing like a good cup of coffee in a ceramic mug from a loved one. <em>Image courtesy of Marga Ortigas</em></span></span></span></div><p>10:00am </p><p>So, for the past hour I’ve just been going through my inbox. (There goes my plan to sort out those presentations for Frankfurt by this morning.) Quite a number of emails have come in overnight (and days ago!) that I seem to have missed. Many are to do with the upcoming trip to Europe, but there are more pressing ones related to a translated version of my book, <em>The House on Calle Sombra</em>. The European publishers have a few questions in need of immediate responses. Eeeeppp…</p><div><br/></div><p>11:00am</p><p>And now another hour has gone by and I am still going through revisions on the translated manuscript…I have to get it back soon or it could hold up the schedule for printing. Back in a mo…</p><div><br/></div><p>1:00pm</p><p>What?? It’s past midday?? Where has the morning gone? Oh my – I need to get cracking on these presentations… I am not about to ‘wing it’ at the world’s largest book fair! Must research… </p><p>Good thing it’s the kind of day that makes you want to just get comfy at home… have I shown you what’s outside the window? </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:959px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17592406989381759240693828.png" id="isPasted" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The view outside my window that has led to flooding across the city...and a corruption investigation. <em>Image courtesy of Marga Ortigas<strong></strong></em></span></span></span></div><p>Been like this (and worse) for weeks. </p><p>As you might imagine, it has led to flooding across the city. And those floods have led to a corruption investigation — trillions of pesos gone missing on ghost flood control projects… unscrupulous developers and politicians pointing fingers at each other… it’s been quite the telenovela for Filipino viewers. Hmmm, wonder what’s new with all that today… </p><div><br/></div><p>4:00pm </p><p>Catching up on the day’s domestic news led to reading more articles and watching more videos about other events happening around the world. I no longer work with a news network – but there is still so much to share, so many thoughts. So much to digest and contextualise… and to put down in writing… so, yes, I started a Substack newsletter. As if I needed one more thing on my plate right now – but here we are. The Duster Dispatch (of course): Threadbare Truths in a Well-Worn World. An outlet for some reflection. </p><div><a href="https://margaortigas.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://margaortigas.substack.com</a> </div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:959px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17592408601611759240853948.png" id="isPasted" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">My latest Substack entry on The Duster Dispatch (of course): Threadbare Truths in a Well-Worn World. <em>Image courtesy of Marga Ortigas </em></span></span></span></div><p>5:00pm</p><p>Ok, the day is now earnestly nearing evening…I realise I haven’t eaten and grab a few crackers before my next round of flu medication. I don’t have much of an appetite these days, with the endless cold and the coughing. Next to my writing table, beside the now empty cup of coffee, I have all sorts of remedies I keep at home for just such a time as this. With all these herby medicinal flavours, it’s no wonder I’ve lost my appetite…</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:959px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17592409893221759240985544.png" id="isPasted" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Endless alternative remedies in between rounds of flu medication. <em>Image courtesy of Marga Ortigas</em></span></span></span></div><p>7:00pm </p><p>After much pondering and tinkering with a presentation app, I think I am finally making headway on at least one set of slides that I will need for the Book Fair. I don’t know why this has me more nervous than being on air doing live news coverage. Perhaps because it feels more personal? It’s to do with written work I put together out of thin air as opposed to factual reports crafted in a narrative manner. There is something that feels so very…exposed…about it.</p><p>Before I get stuck back into the slides, I revisit a social media post prepared by one of my fellow authors. He sent it a little earlier in the day, but I am only now able to look at it properly. Would you look at that? Who would’ve thunk? After 30 years as a journalist, one of the Frankfurt panels I will get to participate in is to do with Philippine sci-fi! Sci-fi! The talk will be led by author Renato Tranquilino, who gathered us together to show a different face to Philippine ‘visionary’ storytelling. Wow. Fingers crossed… and here we go! </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:959px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17592410581021759241055292.png" id="isPasted" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Another title I didn&#x27;t see coming: sci-fi author! <em>Image courtesy of Marga Ortigas</em></span></span></span></div><p>Back to my slides…it’s going to be another long night. The outfit search will have to wait for another day…  </p><div><br/></div><p>ABOUT THE AUTHOR</p><div><em>Marga Ortigas is a senior international journalist who got her start in Manila and went on to work for CNN and Al Jazeera across Asia, The Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. She has authored two novels and two works of nonfiction, all tackling contemporary cultural realities and published by Penguin Random House South East Asia. Marga will be part of the Philippine delegation to this year&#x27;s Frankfurt Book Fair, where the country is featured as Guest of Honour. </em></div>

<p><i>In this new series by ABS-CBN Lifestyle, readers get a glimpse into the everyday lives of the country's most fascinating creatives from multiple industries.</i></p>

In this new series by ABS-CBN Lifestyle, readers get a glimpse into the everyday lives of the country's most fascinating creatives from multiple industries.

Creative Space: A day in the life of journalist and author Marga Ortigas

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Creative Space: A day in the life of journalist and author Marga Ortigas

ABS-CBN Lifestyle,

Marga Ortigas

Published Oct 06, 2025 09:30 AM PHT

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