When we reached out to podcaster, advocate, and journalist, Ceej Tantengco, we wondered how she's able to juggle her different pursuits and continue to create new things she could share with fellow Women in Progress®️. Our conclusion: the right mix of passion, purpose, intentionality, and doing the inner work needed along the way.
Tell us something about yourself!
Hi, I'm Ceej! I'm a journalist, podcaster, and gender equality advocate. I wear many hats—like being the head of communications at PumaPodcast, a communications consultant for the Meralco Bolts in the PBA, and advocating for women in sports through my podcast "Go Hard Girls." What ties everything together? It all comes down to passion for what I do, and a sense of purpose in trying to make change where I can.
Where or which aspect of your life do you want to see progress in?
I'm working on becoming less of a perfectionist towards myself and my own work, and on having more self-compassion. And towards others, I'd like to grow as a mentor to my team at our startup—the kind who makes others feel empowered and equipped to make decisions with confidence.
Share with us your most recent, proudest win (big or small!)
My Philippine history podcast "What's AP? Araling Panlipunan Rebooted" just got its first book deal! A publishing company approached us with the idea of adapting some of our episodes into children's books.
My co-host, historian Sab Schnabel, and I are already done with the manuscripts. We're happy to be working with an all-female lineup of illustrators, and we love the art so far! Excited for these to come out in 2022.
Talk us through your favorite routine (day or night).
6:30 AM - Is it weird that I feel most productive right when I wake up? This is usually when I answer emails, call my boyfriend on the phone, and organize my tasks for the day.
Starting my day this way puts me in a good mood to take on bigger tasks later on. 8:00 AM - This is when I have breakfast and do things around the house like watering my plants and checking on our mushroom logs in case they're ready for harvest.
9:00 AM - This is when I officially log into work and start talking to my team. Because of the different hats I wear, every workday is unique. Sometimes I'm writing scripts. Sometimes it's posting a game day poster for the basketball I work with. Sometimes it's getting dressed and doing makeup for a hosting gig. Sometimes it's teaching a webinar, or recording voiceovers, or any other thing.
I'm the kind of person who looks for a balance between routine and spontaneity, so that variety is something I intentionally built into my life.
Anytime: I started keeping a journal during lockdown and it's helped so much with my mental health. It's a chance to routinely unplug, be alone with your thoughts, and process your emotions—and I look forward to it every day!
Here are some of my favorite prompts for journaling: What are you grateful for today? What did you struggle with? What do you want to remember about today? I used to only journal in the morning and evening, but now I pick up my journal whenever I need a break from work.
Here's how Ceej Tantengco keeps herself up to track with her passions and having enough room to explore and keep the things she enjoys the most at the moment—
Creativity, growth & progress
Read: "Great Thinkers" by The School of Life, "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, "The Art of Travel" by Alain de Botton
Podcast: I'm a huge fan of podcasts. I prefer podcasts that do a documentary or narrative feature format, like "Gastropod," "99% Invisible," and "Twenty Thousand Hertz."
Locally, I love podcasts like "Musikalikot" and "The Linya-Linya Show" because of how much I learn from their discussions. And of course, my own podcasts "What's AP? Araling Panlipunan Rebooted" and "Go Hard Girls," because in the process of making them, I study and learn a lot as well!
Mantra: "Huwag tanungin kung mahirap. Tanungin kung mahalaga." —Fr. Roque Ferriols, SJ
Inspiration: I've gotten into watercolor painting during the lockdown and learned a lot from artists on Instagram like @alicelovesdrawing
Wellness
Skin: Simply Skin's Ultherapy®️ and Clearlift Laser Treatment + Laneige Water Bank Hydro Cream EX
App: Spotify! I listen to guided meditation podcasts like "Meditation Muna" and psychology podcasts like "Hidden Brain"
Movement: Confession time—I don't work out as much as I should. Oops!
Unwind: Journaling or playing Stardew Valley
At-home
Snack On-Hand: Croissants, pain au chocolat, pies, empanadas—anything bread, really!
Drink: Yakult
Desk essential: I write in my journal every day as a way to keep track of my thoughts and what I'm grateful for. I use the Midori A6 notebook and a variety of fountain pen inks, and stickers.
I like matching the inks to my mood, and my current favorite is the Sailor Manyo Nekoyanagi, a creamy sort of purple that shades pink and blue.
Art/decor: I have a collection of art prints from museums I've visited and from artist friends. I also have posters of some of the movies that made me fall in love with cinema, "Amelie" and "Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back." Planning to get "In The Mood For Love" too!
To you, a Woman in Progress®️ is:
A woman who uses her time, effort, and platform to create progress. A Woman in Progress is not just someone who enjoys the progress happening around them but actively takes part in pushing for progress—not just for herself, but for others and for those who need it the most.
Get to know more about Ceej Tantengco via @ceejtheday! Find out what her treatment of choice could do for you— head here to learn more about Clearlift Laser Treatment.