This Adobo Life: A Poetic Autobiography

by Noel Aquino

In this collection, Noel Aquino shares his immigrant story from the Philippines to the US, navigating the process of growing up, romance, identity, and culture. Through a blend of poetry, short stories, journal entries, and illustrations, he takes readers on a five-part journey—from Paglisan (Departure) to Pag-unlad (Development) —following the phases of leaving home, growing into adulthood, confronting heartaches, embracing identity, and finding peace.

Presented in both Filipino and English, these bilingual poems aim to show the bridge between culture and language, his moments of growth and transformation. Paired with personal insights, this collection invites readers into the heart of his experiences as he learns to balance conflicting cultural identities and find belonging.

From the uncertainty of leaving home to the power of self-acceptance, This Adobo Life is a moving story of heartache, growth, and the journey to understanding oneself.

Genres: Poetry

419 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 20, 2025

About the author

Noel Aquino is a Filipino American makata (poet) who loves to write about the simple things in life, turning the mundane into the extraordinary. He reflects his diverse interests in his poetry, be it by the words, by the music pairing, or through captions.

Whenever he is not writing, he spends time with his loved ones, cooking food, playing board games and video games, watching k-pop concerts, and enjoying nature.

Reviews

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never really considered myself a poetry reader, but thanks to #akdangpinoyreadathon, I stumbled upon a book that completely shifted that.

I first discovered This Adobo Life by Noel Aquino in ebook format, but when I learned about the illustrations inside, I knew I needed the physical copy and I’m so glad I did.

Holding it in my hands, doodling beside the author’s own sketches, and leaving my annotations on its pages became such a joyful, almost meditative experience. It didn’t just deepen my connection with the text, it transformed the way I engaged with the book.

Every piece in this collection resonated with me. There’s something calming, even healing, about sitting with these poems, reflecting on them, and allowing myself to be fully immersed. Isn’t that what we all hope for when we read, to be absorbed, to lose ourselves, and to find parts of ourselves in the process?

What makes this book even more remarkable is its dual language presentation. Written in Filipino with English translations, it’s astonishing how the author managed to preserve the soul, rhythm, and beauty of the original language without losing meaning. That is no small feat and Noel Aquino does it so beautifully.

This Adobo Life is more than a poetry collection. It’s an invitation to pause, to feel, to reflect, and to recognize that we share profound human experiences. It reminded me that even in our most personal emotions, we are never truly alone. And that, to me, is the greatest comfort literature can offer.

Thank you, Sir Noel, for sharing your art, your words, and your heart.

[Cecille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit I dove into this book without knowing it's about poetry, but this one triggered memories in me and helped me be engaged.

I like how this explored the author's life through poems, from his childhood to romantic relationships and acceptance of himself. His emotions during the pivotal moments of his life are palpable, because his writings truly came from his heart. I found myself writing on the pages, one that I do not like to do with my books but felt it necessary. I wanted to share my thoughts too, even with little reactions to some of the lines. It's clever to write poems in 2 different languages, because some of them will hit you differently depending on the emotions. There are poems in Tagalog that resonated with me, some in English as well.

Towards the end of the book, I looked back to the time that I wrote poems as well, though I can only count them in my one hand, but it was a release for me, as I think it was for him too. Poems are therapeutic in my opinion, a glimpse into our minds and hearts.

[Jireh · Rating 4 out of 5]

this collection is full of gems and passages with really beautiful cadence. it also gave me a newfound appreciation for the filipino language.

[Laurenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through the poetry and prose in his book, we experience the author’s journey of love, resilience, and self-discovery as he stumbles his way through life.

Written in both English and Filipino, these poems highlighted the good, bad, and also the ordinary experiences as one may encounter in life. True to its title, this book is just bursting of flavors which I devoured every page and savored every emotion it served me with.

In a world where everybody seems to be getting closer to the top or finding love, seeing yourself stuck in a standstill makes one feel heartbroken for the person you could’ve been or the person you thought you’d have forever in life. As hard as it may be to accept this, the poems further assure you that nobody really has it all together — someone out there is also trying to perfect the recipe of life.

Lastly, I love how this book is so interactive wherein it doubles as a journal with prompts for you to write down your thoughts. As someone who loves to annotate while reading (and always has something to say), reading this book was very memorable and I enjoyed every part of it.

[Miracle Meryll · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Deep, raw, emotional, and direct—these are the words I’d use to describe this book. The author’s writing truly captured my heart from start to finish. While reading, all I could think was what a privilege it is to be inside someone’s mind and to know their story.

This poetic autobiography by Noel Aquino shares his experiences as an immigrant through a heartfelt collection of poems, journal entries, illustrations, and photography—all of which play a significant role in the book’s impact
One of the most special elements is its bilingual format, written in both Filipino and English, which truly amazed me. It shows how language can be a powerful force in literature. I’ve personally experienced how a poem can feel completely different when read in Filipino versus English. Sometimes I even preferred one version over the other—and that duality added so much depth to my reading.

I believe this book is for anyone who feels deeply and thinks a lot. It’s a testament to how powerful thoughts can be—especially when written down. You might not even notice that you’ve already created a whole book out of your reflections. It's also for those who’ve left home and found not only themselves, but a new home as well. This proves that feeling too much can be a gift or a curse, a curse because emotions can be drowning but it also can be a gift because look, it’s a book now and it has this magic that an individual is seen and heard.

Some of the poems that really stood out to me were Ash, Kalat, Kulungan, Pihikan, Discover, Maintenance, and Panahon.

The only thing I didn’t love? The pineapple in the adobo hahahahahaha

[Mark Alpheus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Adobo Life by Noel Aquino is a delightful poetry collection that spans one life's twists and turns, and the various realizations acquired by growing up.

First of all, I like how the author designed the reading experience by carefully choosing the poems that represent a part of his life. The continuity itself made reading it page-turning and emotional — as if I'm watching somebody experience life and grow in front of me. Because of this, I also found myself relating to his stories at several points in the book, even stopping for a minute to relive moments in my life and reflect how far I have come and differently I've become.

I was also awestruck by how intimate the reading experience has been, especially because the author has been honest from the start: that in writing these poems he was also relearning a part of himself, which was a powerful message in itself. It will never be too late for anybody to seek change. Reading this book has also made me realize that if I really want to share a piece of myself in the future through poetry, then it must start somewhere — me holding a pen and writing on paper.

To honor my reading experience and this book, I'm also sharing several poems I've saved in my notes app over the years: each, I believe, tackling different topics.

Some of the noteworthy titles I've noted in my first time reading This Adobo Life:
Sinilangan
Sapatos
Saliwa
Dalisay
Hang
Kulungan
Bahay
Strength
Plan
Fulfillment
Meeting

This has been one of the books I'm glad and honored to have owned this year, so I'm offering my deepest gratitude to The Filipino Shelf and Noel Aquino for this opportunity 🍃

[Rose R. Sales · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book—I didn’t rush into reading it, and I loved every literary piece in it. Every time I opened its pages, it touched my poetic mind and left me amazed. I would close it with a smile, and when I returned to it later, it always felt like being welcomed with a tight hug. The minimalistic design perfectly suits the vibe. The occasional questions that pop up invite you to think and reflect, while the illustrations and photos add a personal, heartfelt touch. I love it!

When I read, I don’t directly annotate on the book. Instead, I write my thoughts on sticky notes and keep them in my notebook. And truly, almost every time I flipped a page, I found myself picking up my pen to write something because every poem struck something within me. Sometimes I wrote down the most impactful lines, other times my realizations, agreements, discoveries, or simply my astonishment at the author’s brilliance. I even wrote multiple times, “He’s very smart!"

One of the reasons I was amazed is because each poem has two versions—one in English and one in Filipino. The rhymes, metaphors, and meanings turned out beautiful in both, like a perfect marriage of languages. I felt so grateful to experience the innocence, happiness, love, wonder, pain, growth, and resilience captured in these poems. It’s truly a remarkable autobiography. And while I loved every piece, I deliberately highlighted that my favorites are on pages 77, 85–86, and 90–91—an impactful trio that stayed with me.

I also learned so much from this book: new words, deeper meanings. I kept notes because I really admire the writing style. The structure of the book is well put together. After reading the entire collection, all I can say is that the author is creative, emotional, insightful, resilient, intelligent, and wise. I am inspired, and I definitely recommend others to read this. It’s not just a poetic ride on paper, but a reflection of waves, rainbows, and life itself.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vulnerable and moving book of poetry that invites you to explore your own inner world!

There is a breathtaking push and pull between reflecting and becoming, between yearning for roots and reaching for tomorrow. This book is both deeply moving and an invitation to the reader to explore. I’m dumbfounded, quite frankly, at the artistry in both the poems, the illustrations, the paired journal entries, and the pictures. The entire book rises and falls masterfully, the heavy hitters spread out well but also near one another when it served the story or to reach a climax. And the imagery!!! Bahhh! So good. So beautifully grounded and surprising and felt.

The vulnerability and raw nature of his work is healing to read and brought me to tears many times over. While our experiences are incredibly unique and shape our perspectives profoundly, there is shared humanity in feeling. We all know what it is to be desolate. To be without ourselves. To be broken by something once treasured. To feel wonder. To be entranced and pulled into the joy of something or someone. So well done! Must read.

[Kat Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Don't you deserve
to stand in the warmth
of your own light?"

I've always said that I'm not a poetry reader nor I've read enough to comment on someone else's poems. But I'm beginning to understand that this year is a year of new things, of jumping out of comfort zones, of discovering a different aspect of oneself, of taking risks and dive into the unkown.

Hence, I believe that This Adobo Life just came in the most perfect time.

This 354-page book is a collection of poetry about the author's life—his familial complexities, his past relationships, and his struggles of cultural identity as a Filipino-American. Surprisingly, in the most wondrous yet sometimes heartbreaking way, I found myself resonating to a lot of the pieces. It made me want to sob and scream and say, "finally, someone saw me!"

This collection took me to a journey of self-recognition and realizations—which, admittedly, wasn't an easy one, but the words held my hand and never let me go through it alone. And for that, I'll be eternally grateful.

[Aika Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝙌𝙪𝙚𝙪𝙚: 𝙠𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙡 𝙣𝙖 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙠𝙞

Minsan kahit gaano kadami na ang librong nabasa mo, bawat isa mayroon pa ding iba't ibang unique na emosyon na maibibigay sayo.
And, I was not prepared reading "This Adobo Life" by Noel Aquino.

Akala ko isa itong typical na auto biography - mga kwento ng buhay simula pagkabata, achievements, challenges at aral. Pero hindi. This Adobo Life offered more than these.

Sinimulan sa Pagbita, sinundan ng Paglisan sa bayan.
Pero higit na pumukaw sa'kin ang mga kabanata ng Pagtanda at Pagdilat.

𝘕𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘩𝘪𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘰,
𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘶𝘩𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘰,
𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘱𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘰𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘬𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘰 𝘮𝘰.

Hindi biro ang umibig at masaktan. Ang umibig ng sobra sobra na halos wala ng natira sa sarili. Kasabay ng Pagtanggap at Pag-unlad, tinalakay din ng bawat tula, sanaysay at prosa/tulang tuluyan ang paksa ukol sa mental health sa pamamagitan ng pagbahagi ni Noel ng kanyang mga sariling kwento.


𝘔𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘪 𝘥𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯...
𝘏𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘵 𝘯𝘢 𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘰,
𝘬𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘢𝘯𝘰 𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘴 𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘰....

𝘈𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘣𝘰
𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘭 𝘬𝘰,
𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘰 𝘱𝘢 𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘯
𝘬𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘢𝘢𝘯𝘰 𝘬𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘪 𝘢𝘬𝘰 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯...

𝙋𝙖𝙜𝙠𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙥𝙤ꜱ 𝙣𝙜 𝙠𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙡 𝙣𝙖 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙩 𝙣𝙞 𝙈𝙖𝙠𝙞, 𝙨𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙣 𝙢𝙤 𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙤 𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙪𝙥 𝙤𝙛 𝙅𝙤𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖.

rating: 5/5
please check my creative review here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DMAmU9iSJ94/

[Lenn ♡ | anatomyofabooknerd (IG) · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘥𝘰𝘣𝘰 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 by Noel Aquino is a tender and intimate journey through memory, identity, and the quiet ache of belonging. Told through a blend of poetry, short reflections, journal-like entries, and illustrations, the book feels like being invited into someone's inner world—unfiltered but thoughtfully crafted. Aquino writes with a voice that is gentle yet deeply resonant, shifting between English and Filipino in a way that mirrors the lived experience of many in the diaspora. The bilingual storytelling doesn't just add texture; it becomes a central part of the emotional landscape, capturing the tension and beauty of growing up Filipino while building a life elsewhere.

What makes this book stand out is how personal it feels without losing universal relatability. Aquino's reflections on leaving home, navigating heartbreak, finding one's footing, and redefining “belonging” are layered with nostalgia and vulnerability. The moments he shares—small, sensory, often quiet—accumulate into a portrait of someone continually piecing himself together across time, distance, and culture. You'll feel the warmth of childhood memories, the heaviness of separation, and the soft, hopeful hum of self-acceptance.

While the fragmented structure may feel unconventional to some, it ultimately works in the book's favor. The shifting forms reflect the fluid, nonlinear nature of growth and identity. Instead of delivering one continuous narrative, Aquino offers snapshots—each one carrying emotional weight, each one revealing something new. It's reflective, heartfelt, and honest in a way that stays.

At its core, 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘥𝘰𝘣𝘰 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 is a love letter: to home, to family, to past selves, and to the small moments that shape who we become. It's a book that speaks gently but stays with you long after, especially if you've ever longed for a place, a time, or a version of yourself that feels both distant and deeply familiar.