About Liwanag Candle Co.

Hello and welcome!

My name is Shaun Jeffrey, and I am the proud founder of Liwanag Candle Co. Liwanag means “light” in Tagalog. It’s a word that’s carried me through some of the hardest, most defining moments of my life. Our logo is written in Baybayin, a pre-colonial Filipino script, as a way of honoring my roots and reclaiming something that was nearly lost to history, to silence, to forgetting.

I started this company in the middle of unraveling my own story. During the height of the pandemic, over a plate of tostadas with my mom, I found out I was adopted. That conversation changed everything. It cracked something open not just grief, but also clarity. Since then, I’ve held onto the phrase “liwanag sa dilim,” light in the darkness. It became a lifeline. And eventually, it became this.

Every candle I pour carries a little bit of that light. A memory. A moment I didn’t think I’d make it through. A reminder that warmth can come even in the most uncertain seasons.

At Liwanag, I use 100% soy wax and phthalate-free oils, because I want our candles to feel as safe and intentional as the stories behind them. Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword here. It’s about care, and making something you can feel good about bringing into your space.

When you light a Liwanag candle, you’re not just lighting a scent, you’re joining me in a small ritual of healing. Of reclaiming. Of soft, steady hope.

From my heart to yours, thank you for letting a little of my light into your life. I hope it meets you gently, wherever you are.

- Shaun