With over two decades in strategic communications across government, development, and the private sector, I design narrative systems that help leaders move institutions — not just messages.
With over two decades in strategic communications across government, development, and the private sector, I design narrative systems that help leaders move institutions — not just messages.
As Assistant Secretary and Chief of Staff at the Presidential Communications Office under President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, I helped shape the messaging architecture of a reform-oriented administration during a period of rapid digital disruption and institutional scrutiny.
Today, I advise founders and public-interest institutions on a central question:
How can we conserve and deploy human bandwidth more intelligently?
When communication is unclear, organizations waste time, energy, and trust. I help leaders:
• Clarify positioning and institutional narrative
• Strengthen internal decision flow
• Align messaging with strategy
• Build communications systems that scale
Most recently, I built from scratch the communications office of an international IB school in Manila, integrating storytelling, fundraising, and community engagement into a coherent operating system.
I am also the author of Unstuck: How To Work Around Traffic When Government Won’t Really Help, a playbook on reclaiming time and bandwidth in congested cities.
Outside advisory work, I founded Rise Artisanal, a sustainability-driven sourdough microbakery, and perform as lead vocalist of Manila’s long-standing blues band, The Blue Rats.
If you are a founder or institutional leader refining your messaging or redesigning how your organization works, I am currently opening limited advisory engagements.
Message me to start a conversation.
My 5-year old sourdough business is an extension of my 20-year experience as a communications professional. I take all the photos, write the website and social media copy, design and update the packaging, and implement and track SEO and analytics.
Unstuck is a practical playbook for reclaiming
time and human bandwidth in traffic-congested
cities by redesigning the way we work. This took
eight years to complete because I worked on it
outside of work.
Launched the school’s first digital communications program, including a website upgrade and social media presence for community engagement and fundraising. Contributed to a 25% enrollment increase (260 to 345 students from Jan 2023 to May 2025). Developed content to support capital campaigns and donor communications; collaborated with academic leadership to align messaging with curriculum and student achievements.
Coordinated with partner organizations and donors to launch a church-run soup kitchen and support community rehabilitation centers for drug users. Mobilized and secured funding for at least 10 local partners and volunteers to run a community-based drug rehabilitation program.
Designed and implemented data-driven communications strategies for a national volunteer network managing 100+ NGO partners and 3,000+ volunteers; led research and policy translation for a nationwide review of the Philippines’ flagship conditional cash transfer program (4Ps).
Post a job and invite Mai, or contact them directly. No hidden commission.