Brin Isaac

Writer and MA student 📚

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About

I'm a MA Philippine Studies student and researcher from the University of Philippines working in the development sector, specifically on project management and communications.

My interests include conflict studies, international relations, political economy, multimedia journalism, and web design.

Work Experience

Young Leader

Pacific Forum

Dec 2024 - Present

I was competitively selected for the Young Leaders Program, a distinguished platform for young professionals in the Indo-Pacific region. Furthermore, I contribute in policy discussions and junior- and senior-level conference and events globally, shaping the ocean policymaking framework with experts on critical regional issues, including maritime dispute settlement, foreign policy, and security.

Project Associate

Gas Policy Development Project

Dec 2023 - Present

I manage the dissemination of research and resource materials to domestic and international partners, coordinating logistical requirements, and contributing outputs for internal and external communication.

Executive Secretary

Philippine International Law of the Sea Academy

Sep 2021 - Present

I lead in performing secretarial duties while liaising with natural and juridical persons in relevant organizational matters across local and international platforms to foster strategic partnerships, enhance visibility, and further engage in industry discussions. I also implement and maintains a robust compliance framework to ensure all offices adhere to the standards and regulations of the organization, including maintaining an updated database of and keeping all documents and other paraphernalia of the organization.

Local Assistant

Embassy of India, Manila

Aug 2023 - Oct 2023

I assisted in planning and executing cultural events, press conferences, seminars, and workshops for the Embassy, and served as a primary point of contact for education-related inquiries and initiatives between India and the Philippines.

TomasinoWeb

Sep 2017 - Jun 2023

From 2017 to 2023, I progressed through various roles at TomasinoWeb. In my tenureship, I co-founded an award-winning special coverage and co-founded culture-focused websites while rebuilding its main site.

  • Chief Technology Officer (June 2022 - June 2023) - I oversaw the activities, operations, and outputs of the web technologies department of the organization. I co-founded Draft 143 and Lamona, both websites that emphasize culture and stories. Furthermore, I spearheaded the rebuild of the organization’s main website.
  • President (June 2020 - June 2022) - I oversaw the activities and operations of the executive, publication, and web technologies sides of the organization. Under my term, the organization garnered more than 18,000 following across social media while gaining wider recognition and bagging more than 4 awards.
  • Executive Editor (April 2020 - June 2021) - I oversaw the activities, operations, and outputs of the executive, publication, and web technologies sides of the organization. I co-founded an award-winning special coverage which garnered two major awards, an Excellence Award and Top Award for Covid Comms Nominee, from the International Association of Business Communicators – Philippines (IABC Philippines).
  • Blogs Writer (2017 - 2019) - I wrote stories on pop culture and society.

Teaching Assistant

University of Santo Tomas

Feb 2020 - Mar 2020

I served as an assistant to the head instructors and professors who taught the English language to Japanese students.

Education

MA Philippine Studies (specialization in Foreign Relations)

Asian Center, University of the Philippines

1.33

Jan 2024

Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Empowerment

University of Connecticut

Sep 2025 - Oct 2025

Storrs, Connecticut, United States

AB Asian Studies

University of Santo Tomas

1.87

Aug 2019 - Jun 2023

Volunteer

Staff and Chair

UST Model United Nations

Assisted the activities, sessions, and operations of the United Security Council to the annual Model United Nations of the University of Santo Tomas. Led high-level discussions and deliberated papers related to the 2022 conference's theme, dynamic global diplomacy.

Voice Talent

UST Tiger Radio

Provided voice overs for the University communication bureau radio’s news show, TR Thomasian Viewpoint with an audience of more than 100 listeners per show.

Staff and Moderator

UST Model United Nations

Assisted the activities, sessions, and operations of the United Nations Economic and Social Council to the annual Model United Nations of the University of Santo Tomas. Led high-level discussions and deliberated papers related to the 2021 conference's theme, global health.

Projects

TomasinoWeb Main Website

Together with the members of the Web Technologies (Y15) department of TomasinoWeb, we rebuilt the main website of the organization. The project involved building everything from scratch, specifically design and code itself. In its totality, the project amassed to around 250+ frames and 19.2K lines of code. I managed the product together with my project leads. I also headed research and design for the website rebuild.

Brin's Giant Music Database

(Almost) all of the music I love in one big messy Notion page.

stories told in baskerville

A chapbook written in a span of two years that tells stories of yearning, distance, and the city streets. baskerville was once sold in Komiket back in 2019.

TomasinoWeb R101 Website

I designed the recruitment website of the premier digital media organization of the University of Santo Tomas this year hehehe (â—Ź'â—ˇ'â—Ź) The TomasinoWeb Main Website won a Philippine Student Quill Award in September 2025.

Draft 143

Draft 143 is a compilation of stories about love and friendship told through our version of receipts and tickets. I did the copywriting, terms of submission, project management, documentation, and the conceptualization of the said project.

Philippine International Law of the Sea Academy

The Philippine International Law of the Sea Academy is the premier law of the sea (LOS) academic capacity-building training organization in the Philippines and the very first LOS academy in Southeast Asia. I belong in the project's core group as its Executive Secretary, moderator, and assistant to lecturers for the modules that the caravan is conducting.

Lamona

Lamona is a food and drink directory for Thomasians, by Thomasians. I managed the project and developed the concept, brand, and product with the project's developers and designers. Moreover, I spearheaded the project's research and fieldwork pre-launch and post-launch. Lamona also won at a Philippine Student Quill Award in September 2025.

Awards

Merit Award (Philippine Student Quill Award)

IABC Philippines

Aug 2025

The main news website of the premier digital media organization of the University of Santo Tomas, TomasinoWeb, was awarded a Philippine Student Quill Award (Merit)

Merit Award (Philippine Student Quill Award)

IABC Philippines

Aug 2025

The food and drink directory of the Manila university belt, Lamona, was awarded a Philippine Student Quill Award (Lamona)

Most Diplomatic Award for the ASEAN Political Security Community

UST Model ASEAN Meeting

Mar 2023

Awarded as the "Most Diplomatic" for this year's Model ASEAN Meeting simulation at the University of Santo Tomas.

Excellence Award (Philippine Student Quill Award)

IABC Philippines

Aug 2022

For TomasinoWeb's special coverage titled "#TheBayanihanCoverage: A Special Coverage on the Covid-19 Crisis". The said special coverage was spearheaded by me, Jose Rafael Ballecer, Christine Annmarie Tapawan, Rabin Bote, and Patricia Jardin.

Merit Award (Philippine Student Quill Award)

IABC Philippines

Aug 2022

“It seemed like there was nothing left to lose; that this week-long suspension is a gain for our wellbeing. A month later, it revealed itself as a black sheep in disguise.” NOTE: “A lighter shade” won a Philippine Student Quill Award in the 9th iteration of IABC Philippines’s annual awards.

Best Delegate

ASEAN Foundation

Sep 2021

Awarded as the top performing delegate in the 2022 ASEAN-China Young Leaders Summit's debates which talked about drug trafficking and regional security.

Publications

The Funan Techo Factor: Thailand’s Balancing Act on Asia’s Intertwined Seas

Pacific Forum

Jun 2025

One of the most controversial recent developments is China’s newest project in Cambodia, the Funan Techo Canal (FTC), which touches upon the Gulf of Thailand and is said to be the next flashpoint of the US and China.

Far from perfection

TomasinoWeb

Jun 2023

"Despite the thrill of it all, I still count everything to its last days to see how long it takes before I could be that perfect version of myself."

"Is it because of the same thing again?"

TomasinoWeb

Mar 2023

"If we want to experience growth and development from the University, we, all together, have to get into the nitty-gritty of the rust and the grimes of our system–the ones that repeatedly haunts generations of Thomasians."

21

me!

Nov 2022

A lyrical essay about the 21st year of existence.

A lighter shade

TomasinoWeb

Dec 2020

“It seemed like there was nothing left to lose; that this week-long suspension is a gain for our wellbeing. A month later, it revealed itself as a black sheep in disguise.” NOTE: “A lighter shade” won a Philippine Student Quill Award in the 9th iteration of IABC Philippines’s annual awards.

Languages

Tagalog (Native) , English (Native) , Mandarin (simplified) (Basic) , Spanish (Basic)