19/10/2025
|| Writing his own destiny: Where RJ Nuevas found his voice
In a land where powerful fairies or diwatas guard enchanted gems and kingdoms breathe through myth, there is a man who shapes worlds not with sword or sorcery, but with pen and imagination.
RJ Nuevas, the mind behind Villa Quintana, Anna Karenina, Sana ay Ikaw Na Nga, Widows’ War, Royal Blood, and one of the writers and creative heads of Encantadia, has long proven that the truest magic is found in storytelling. Yet, before his words filled living rooms across the nation, he was simply a student, roaming the halls of Quezon City Academy, dreaming, doubting, and daring to hope.
“I never thought I could write,” he admits— a striking thought from the mind behind some of television’s most beloved teleseryes. And though his story was not written in golden pages or bound in hard covers, his modest roots never held him back. Instead, they became his driving force. With passion and dedication as his constant companions, he rose to become one of the country’s most respected storytellers.
Like many others, long before his name was tied to television, he was simply another dreamer finding his way. Nothing about his early days suggested the grand worlds he would later create, until teachers and mentors began to see the spark in him.
Among them was Mrs. Riano, his former English teacher, now the president of QCAFI, who fueled the first sparks within him. She introduced him to Nick Joaquin’s The House on Zapote Street, the story that helped him discover the beauty of storytelling, the story that turned him, an average student, into a reader, and eventually, a narrator himself.
But not all skills are learned from words printed on stacked pages, some are shaped through experience, guidance, and unexpected lessons. Mr. RJ described himself as a shy student, never the type to crave for the spotlight, yet Mr. Patalen, one of his former teachers at QCA, unknowingly helped him step out of his shell. He sent him to teach other sections, unprepared, helping him to face his fear of speaking. What may have seemed like a daunting tas—k at the time became the very training ground that developed his confidence and public speaking skills abilities he still carries with him today.
Even the simplest lessons left lasting marks. He recalls how his Filipino teacher, Mrs. Dimaano (formerly Ms. Sto. Domingo), once corrected him on the difference between ng and nang, along with teaching him the proper usages of sila and sina. A small detail,but an essential stepping stone, a necessary fuel to further ignite his passion.
These lessons from his teachers gave him the tools to grow, but it was his friends who gave color to his days as a student. His barkada became his refuge, the laughter in between classes, the shared stories, the small adventures that made life in QCAFI unforgettable.
Looking back, RJ believes that one of the most important things in youth is choosing good friends, because they shape not only your memories but also the kind of person you become.
His journey was far from easy, coming from a humble background, financial struggles often weighed heavily on him. But, instead of letting these challenges extinguish his dreams, they became the gasoline that made his fire burn brighter.
As he stepped out of the halls of QCAFI and entered college, RJ’s path took an unexpected turn. Unlike what many may assume, he did not take a course related to filmmaking or writing, instead, he initially studied architecture at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST). It was only when he started to write comics and began earning money from it that he decided to try and pursue a career in writing.
“Don’t doubt,” he exclaims, “strive to be better.” That resilience, born from hardship, became the foundation of the writer he is now.
From the enchanted forests of Encantadia, to the gripping tension of Royal Blood, Mr. RJ continues to draw inspiration from people, their struggles, their needs, their strength. Each world he creates carries pieces of resilience, hope, and the human spirit.
To the students of QCAFI, he leaves a piece of advice, “enjoy your youth, cherish your friendships, and embrace the lessons of your teachers”. Education, he says, is more than academics, it is the confidence, the key, that allows you to open the doors to your dreams.
And so, the boy who once doubted his ability to write has become the man whose stories brought entire kingdoms to life. RJ Nuevas stands as living proof that even from the most modest beginnings, greatness can rise—and with courage, passion, and perseverance, anyone can write their own story worth remembering.
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Written By: Jamelle Eirawahn T. Garcia
Layout By: Leanne Rose Toledo
