Life has a way of dimming the lights when you least expect it. For me, that transition wasn’t metaphorical; it was literal. Following a diagnosis of a progressive eye condition, the vibrant world I once knew began to fade. I lost all vision in my right eye, leaving me with only 20% in my left.

In an instant, the pillars of my identity crumbled. I had to walk away from my career and exhaust my resources. More painfully, I had to give up the passions that made me feel alive: photography, traveling, cooking, and hiking. My world became a blur of uncertainty, compounded by a battle with depression and anxiety. When your physical vision fails and your support system feels distant, it is easy to let the darkness take over.

Finding a Spark in the Dark
I knew I couldn’t stay in that headspace forever. I needed to survive—not just financially, but mentally. I am eternally grateful for the friends who held me up, but I needed to find a way to walk on my own again.
That’s when I turned to scents. Combining my fascination with fragrance and my background as a pharmacy major, I began experimenting with soy wax and oils. What started as crafting simple candles for my own home quickly evolved into something deeper. Candle making became my therapy. It was a way to stay sane, to stay productive, and to quiet the meltdowns that come with navigating a world that wasn’t built for the visually challenged.

The Birth of Story Candle PH
The transition from a hobby to Story Candle PH happened almost by accident. A former classmate and a student noticed my work and asked if I was selling them. Soon, word spread. People began buying them as gifts, and then came the inquiries for larger milestones—weddings, baptisms, and reunions.

As someone who relies on this income for essential medicine and medical check-ups, the growth was both overwhelming and a profound blessing. I began joining local bazaars and weekend markets. It hasn’t been easy; I’ve navigated hand accidents, financial stress, and the sheer exhaustion of managing a business with limited sight. But with the help of a kindhearted cousin and an unyielding will to persevere, the “story” kept moving forward.

A Hopeful Future
Today, Story Candle PH has found a home at the Made Here Artisans Studio in the Wright Park Hotel. My product line has grown beyond scented candles to include reed diffusers and hanging diffusers, with room sprays and wax melts coming soon. Perhaps most excitingly, I am launching my first candle-making workshops this February, sharing the craft that saved me with others.

I still have days where I wish things were as they were before. Navigating this path alone is a constant challenge. But I’ve learned to make the most of what I have. To every customer and kind soul who has supported this journey: you are the reason I keep the flame lit.

Through Story Candle PH, I’ve learned that even when you lose your sight, you don’t have to lose your vision.