“What? People still write with fountain pens?”
This is a common reaction when I mention this hobby to people outside the fountain pen and stationery world. It’s true that ballpoint and gel pens are less finicky—they can write on any kind of paper at any time, don’t have to be cleaned, and will write as long as they haven’t dried out. Fountain pens are best used with certain kinds of paper, will not necessarily write at all angles, need to be cleaned, and require more care than their ballpoint or gel counterparts.
So why bother using such high-maintenance pens? Every fountain pen fiend has their own reasons. Here are some of mine:
1. Fountain pens require less pressure to write with than other pens. The ink flows pretty freely when the nib glides along the page, as opposed to ballpoint or rollerball pens, which need to be pressed a little (or a lot) more firmly on paper. More pressing, more effort with your hand. It may not seem like much, but for journalers like me who sometimes handwrite several pages a day, it makes all the difference in preventing a cramped hand.
2. There are so many pens to try. Whether one prefers lighter or weightier pens, slimmer or girthier, extra fine nibs to broad nibs, sleek black to glittery colorful designs, there’s a pen to suit any preference at any budget. You can even “frankenpen” your own from compatible brands; a body from one brand, a piston from another, a nib from a third, and, continuing with Reason 3…
3. There are thousands of inks to experiment with. Different inks behave differently depending on the nib and the paper being used. From basic black 200 years ago, inks now come in every color imaginable (including different shades of black). Some have shimmer, some have metallic sheens, and some are even scented.
4. An appreciation for nostalgic, old-school things. I prefer paper books over e-readers and love looking at old things in museums and historical sites. I love watching history documentaries. I am writing this with a keyboard and a screen, but I like to handwrite something with intention daily, whether it’s my journal or my commonplace book.
5. Fountain pens are forever, if cared for properly. My dad and I have pens that are 20+ and even 40+ years old. These are not even high-end pens, so price is not the determining factor for longevity. As long as fountain pens are used with reasonable care and cleaned from time to time, they will work. Just keep refilling with ink.
6. Last but not least, meeting people who are just as geeky (or even geekier) about your shared hobby. I’ve stuck with the hobby for the writing experience it delivers, but other members use lingo like “feedback” and “bouncy,” which helps me develop an even greater appreciation for these writing instruments. I’m learning more about fountain pen mechanisms, pen care, and cleaning from club members. And who else can understand why we get so excited about notebooks, pencil cases, and other stationery accessories?
Perhaps, in brief, using fountain pens lends an experience that other types of pens do not. I highly encourage you to try writing with one and see what I mean. We will gladly escort you down the fountain pen rabbit hole.
I’ve been using fountain pens for 25 years (hinting at my age), but aside from three other people in my life, I had never met anyone else who enjoyed using them—until this year, thanks to newfound friends from the Fountain Pen Club of Cebu. Over 50 of us fountain pen fanatics showed up to the Pelikan Hub meet, nearly double the 35 attendees from last year’s meet. So, absolutely; people still write with fountain pens, perhaps more now than in the last couple of decades.
Sponsored by renowned fountain pen maker Pelikan, a German company with a 200-year history, Pelikan Hubs are found all over the world, and gather in October every year to bring fountain pen communities together.
“Pelikan Hubs are annual global events where enthusiasts of handwriting and writing instruments, particularly fountain pens, gather to connect and hang out with fellow fountain pen collectors,” explains Pelikan Hub Cebu 2026 hub master Bry Onglatco.
Organized by local volunteer “hub masters” and sponsored by the Pelikan company, these meetups are designed for community building rather than direct sales. Registered attendees often receive a gift bag that includes goodies like the “Ink of the Year.” This year’s ink was the Edelstein Apricot, a lovely shade of pastel orange or peach, depending on the light and paper.
This year’s Pelikan Hub gathered at Shakey’s on F. Cabahug Street. Over mojos and pizzas, we nerded out, reconnected over our writing instruments, tested each other’s pens and papers, and even signed each other’s notebooks just like we used to do in school.
Further exciting the fpen geeks, Scribed and Manila Penography kindly sent over more stationery goodies for the event. Cebu-founded Troublemaker Inks, which fountain pen enthusiasts around the world may recognize, was also at the event and raffled off many of their unique inks to happy recipients. Some members of the Cebu Fountain Pen Club generously raffled off coveted prizes such as pen cases and pen cleaning services. Special thanks go to Charm Tan, Dr. Banjo Ho, and Gerald Yuvallos for assisting with organizing the event and sponsoring raffle prizes.
Photography Kyrra Kho