Hi, everyone! Welcome to Greta’s Junkyard — a lifestyle blog I started in 2013 that serves as a dump of my favorite things. My name is Gretchen Gatan Fragada and I’m a writer and editor based in Metro Manila. And as of yesterday, December 12, 2023, I was the managing editor of Modern Parenting, a premium publication under One Mega Group.
Full Circle with Modern Parenting
My first project with Modern Parenting was the inaugural 100 List print issue in 2021. I was very pregnant with my now toddler daughter Cambria and was so excited to be working on my first magazine — a dream come true after years of working in the digital space! The 100 List of 2023 also happens to be my last project with the publication.
Becoming a mother truly changes your perspective and priorities in life. Though I genuinely love what I do, I’ve decided to go back to my original 2021 plan of focusing on my passion projects — projects that took a backseat because of a full-time job — so I can also be a more present parent and heal from my postpartum trauma.
Definitely Bittersweet
It’s a bittersweet feeling but I know I’m at peace with this decision so that I’ll have more flexibility and get to be hands-on with Cambria, who is turning two years old in two weeks! At the same time, I’m still fulfilling the career girl in me — just with a different pace and path. These are precisely the kinds of stories and experiences I encounter often on Modern Parenting. Parents, especially moms, struggling to find that right balance.
A New Chapter Awaits
I will forever cherish my two years with the brand.
Putting together its print issues always felt surreal. It was also an honor to have helped grow its page views to what it is today. And it’s all because of an amazingly talented, dynamic, driven, and competitive team. If there’s anything I’ll miss, it’s working with them every day.While it’s the end of a chapter, it’s also the start of a new one. So here’s to my next adventure and all the lessons and opportunities that await!