Marissa Ricalde Muna and Akina Marie Chargualaf have been publishing the newsletter Week to Weekend for over a year and a half now, and the two friends are looking to expand their work in the coming weeks.

Week to Weekend produces high-quality lifestyle content that’s hyperlocal but also holistic; it’s a publication that is equal parts modern, polished, and aspirational.

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Where most local lifestyle content falters is in its delivery. It’s rote and imitative of lifestyle articles published 30 years ago. These days it comes off as stilted and distant and disconnected. 

So what makes Marissa and Akina’s pieces so refreshing is their writing style and their attention to detail. The pair have a distinct point of view. They know their audience, and they are deliberate in catering to that audience. Reading Week to Weekend feels like catching up with your friends who have their lives together in the group chat — and it works.

“Week to Weekend is a digital lifestyle publication and brand created to inspire creative living, meaningful connections, and wholesome experiences that will take you throughout your week and into your weekend,” Marissa and Akina told The Husk. 

Marissa, whose parents are from the Philippines, was born and raised in Guam. Akina is from Guam and Japan.

“We write about our experiences and collaborate with fellow creatives to share stories surrounding food, travel, home, culture, and more,” the pair said. 

Week to Weekend is a culmination of creative seeds planted over time. Over the years, Marissa and Akina have contemplated merging forces to work together on a project. 

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“In 2018, we would get together for creative mastermind sessions on separate projects. Our ideas often centered around storytelling, travel, lifestyle, and art forms like writing or visuals,” they said. “Shortly after the pandemic, we thought: Why not join forces to share our unique perspectives about our island and region? Since then, we’ve connected with other creatives and individuals, which has been incredibly fulfilling.”

The pair have written about the ultimate Guam Bucket List, a gift guide for creative living featuring Guam businesses, and written about young local entrepreneurs like Stephen Chua, who opened a streetwear retail space in Tumon, and Hana Johnston who runs the swanky secondhand shop Good Lookin Out in Hagåtña. Each post is accompanied by impeccable visuals and links that aim to feed the body and soul.

“We love finding hidden gems in our community and sharing stories that might be overlooked,” the pair said. “While our content might not appeal to everyone, we aim to speak to Gen X and millennial generations by creatively spotlighting thoughts, ideas, experiences, and stories that resonate deeply.”

Over the past 17 months, the pair have covered a host of topics. Akina said the Week to Weekend road trips around Guam were among her favorite issues to put together. 

“We learned a lot while exploring the village of Humåtak and the Hagåtña Heritage Trail,” Akina said. “Another fun issue was Now That’s What I Call the 90s.”

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For Marissa, sharing personal essays about family and motherhood in Week to Weekend has been a rewarding effort. 

“I love sharing personal essays about motherhood and family, which is quite different from my usual reserved nature from my Filipino culture. It’s not only a creative outlet for me but writing openly makes me feel like I can connect deeply with our audience. But my personal favorite is Issue 10: Everyone Brings Something to the Table because this is where we took the time to really explore Chamorro Village and speak to our manåmko’ who have been doing business there for years,” Marissa said. 

With each issue, Marissa and Akina take readers on a journey. For mainstays in Guam – like Chamorro Village and Micronesia Mall – Marissa and Akina have a way of showcasing them in a new light. Guam is home, but Week to Weekend also makes Guam feel like new territory, encouraging readers to revisit those familiar places and see it through a different lens.

With dozens of issues under their belt, Marissa and Akina are looking to expand the Week to Weekend footprint with a new website in the coming weeks while continuing to publish their regular newsletter posts. 

“Exploring the newsletter realm has been exciting, and Substack is a great starting point. We’ve found awesome reads and connected with like-minded individuals, writers, and experts on the platform,” they said. 

The publication has been a source of inspiration and collaboration for Marissa and Akina and for their readers. To their younger selves, the ladies say they’d give this advice: “Don’t worry about being perfect or what others will think of your work. Just do it. You learn and grow through the process, and it’s been wholesome for us to make meaningful connections along the way. Turning your creative passions into a business is fine, but always remember why it brings you joy. That’s the heart of it all.”

And for like-minded creatives who are looking to put their art into the world like Marissa and Akina, the pair said it’s best to just try.  

“Try. Just try. No matter the outcome, it’ll be an amazing learning experience. You’ll meet incredible people, learn more about yourself as a creative, and overcome hurdles. Taking the first step always leads to gain, whether through life experiences, creative ideas, or personal growth,” they said. 

Support Week to Weekend 

Follow them on Instagram @weektoweekend and subscribe to their newsletter. Keep an eye out for their new website as well. 

Week to Weekend Your week-to-weekend guide to all things Guam.