Vanessa N. M. Abenojar is a Filipino-American poet born and raised in Seattle, Washington, and currently residing in San Antonio, Texas. The daughter of Warlito and Trinidad, Vanessa’s roots trace back to the La Union province in the Philippines. Her mother hails from San Fernando, and her father from Naguilian. Her grandparents immigrated to the United States, settling in California and Washington, where they brought over their children to build a new life.
Raised in a Catholic household, Vanessa was baptized in Oakland, California, and spent much of her childhood moving between the Bay Area and Washington State. While she often stayed with her grandparents, she found joy and a sense of belonging in the performing arts. From band, orchestra, and choir to poetry, dance, and drill team, these creative outlets became the foundation of her identity and a source of community.
In 2013, Vanessa enlisted in the military, embarking on a career that stationed her in bases throughout Asia, Europe, and the United States. She continues to serve while continuing her artistry with hopes to inspire others to never stop creating, being true to your art and soul while serving.
Vanessa also volunteers as a Catholic catechist teacher for kindergarten and 3rd/4th grade students, deepening her commitment to faith and service. Currently, she is part of an international artist collective called Return to Cindr, which fosters creative collaboration across borders.
As an aspiring Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Vanessa is committed to helping others through advocacy and empathy.
Her poetry reflects her life’s journey and explores themes like mental health advocacy, intergenerational healing, cultural heritage, resilience, environmental justice, social equity, grief and loss, love and relationships, faith and spirituality, and creative expression.
Through her work, Vanessa seeks to create spaces for dialogue and understanding, inspiring others to find strength and solidarity in shared experiences.
Vanessa is the life partner of Nathaniel and builds their life around two dogs and a lizard. Her life and work embody resilience, creativity, and a deep belief in the transformative power of storytelling and connection.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.