Kristine Mae Cruz

My Work

I write children's books (finally):

I'm currently working on a picture book about a robot trying to help, with Neighborhood Literary. More on that soon! I'll be loud about it when I can.

Before this, I spent 13 years doing content and communications work for SMEs. It was alright as alright could be, but the ghost of preteen Kristine lugging around her mom's comedically heavy typewriter was ever persistent.

I'm currently based in Manila! I've lived multiple lives, first as an ESL teacher in Vietnam, then as a researcher for a shady startup (many regrets), and over a decade as a digital marketing and comms specialist.

Rob Cham Studio

We create + have fun:

I'm one half of Rob Cham Studio, the creative practice of Rob Cham (surprise), a Philippine National Book Award-winning illustrator and komikero. He makes amazing art and I help with most everything else! He is also my favorite person. :)

That means communications, social media, the online shop, brand partnerships, and sometimes, the part where someone has to figure out what to make next and how to get it into people's hands.

Check Out Rob Cham Studio!

When I'm not working

A non-exhaustive list of things I like:

Pokémon TCG

I experienced the high of getting a top chase card and it was a very stressful time. So now I collect cards/art by Aya Kusube, Miki Tanaka, and Kedamahadaitai Yawarakai!

My current favorite Pokémon are Surskit, Stunfisk, and Phanpy. Charizard is my first love but the prices are absurd, so I just look.

Astrology

Gemini ☉ · Sagittarius ☽ · Aquarius ↑

I have terrible memory so I always forget what most of it means—I love talking about it though.

Food & Travel

These go together because I only ever travel (which I do constantly) when I have a dozen restaurants, coffee shops, and snack stops to visit.

Everything else

Pop culture! New pop music & old pop-punk music! Movies, movies, movies, and a bunch of TV shows people don't talk about any more.

My current Letterboxd Four Favorites: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Stranger Than Fiction, Perfect Blue, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.