By: Aaron Jan S. Sabile & Shaira Nicole M. Santillas
Currently, a scriptwriter who worked with Cathy Garcia Molina in the film “The How’s of Us”, the steps she took in becoming what she is, is not what we expect from any writer around the world.
Crystal San Miguel is her name. She is bubbly, carefree, and the type of person to go with the flow. Despite her personality, she is quite a fierce person who tries new things and risks her abilities.
Her college life is what most college students are facing. She was undecided about her course and it made her think about what she really wanted.
“‘Yung dad ko engineer siya, so pangarap ko ‘yan maging engineer, maging accountant. Tapos napunta ako sa UPLB (University of the Philippines Los Baños) ‘doon ako nag aral. Ang course ko Computer Science,” she said.
(English Translation: “My dad is an engineer, that’s my dream to become an engineer, to become an accountant. Then I went to UPLB (University of the Philippines Los Banos) that’s where I studied. My course was Computer Science.)
She further revealed the difficulties of her course that she wanted to shift to another one, yet, her family wanted her to finish it.
One of her friends encouraged her to inquire at Far Eastern University Manila even though her parents didn't know about it; then, she passed.
Her friend suggested to her to take Mass Communication because there are a lot of handsome men, and she ended up taking the course. “Nabudol ako eh, madami ngang gwapo. (I got scammed, there’s so many good-looking guys),” she jokingly said.
In her line of work, we can tell she loved her profession. Writing is her daily motivation and routine.
“Pag hindi ako nagsusulat, parang hindi ko na makita ‘yung sarili ko kung hindi ako nagsusulat. (If I can’t write, I don’t see myself as writer),” she said.
Crystal devoted everything to scriptwriting, but before she became one, exploration was the bridge to it.
After graduating, she expanded her talents to different industries and landed on training as an assistant director but was eventually pulled out because of her tardiness.
“Palagi akong late. (I was always late),” Crystal said.
Immediately, she was directed to Star Cinema as a production assistant and took the course Concept Development. Crystal honed her skills, and that led her to believe she has gifts in writing.
Forward to the present day, as a professional writer, she still has the habit of not describing herself as a writer. In her several years of work, she remains humble inside of her industry writing.
As talented as we think she is, Crystal’s scriptwriting journey is not linear; she had to face all the problems inside the industry. There are instances where personal life can affect her field of passion.
“Concept development, doubt sa sarili (doubt in self),” she said as one of the hindrances in her journey.
As one of the common things we can see in some writers; revisions of scripts, letters, etc., she also instated, “Marami ipapabago sa work mo. (There will be many changes in your work).”
She might be a happy-go-lucky person, but she can be committed to the things that are close to her heart.
With sparkly eyes, she talked about her love for writing, and that her skills have become a very personal thing for her. It gave her purpose and dreams in life.
However, she came to the point where she felt like her skills would be taken away from her, and it hurt her to think that way. That’s when her hindrances became her motivation.
She turned every negativity into her own motivation as she continued to give a lot of advice to the youth who don’t have a clear path in their life.
“Tuloy tuloy, ‘wag maiinip; ‘wag papakain sa frustration. (Just continue, don’t be impatient; don’t let frustration devour you),” she said with her chin up and never let her smile fade.
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