I found a quiet corner in Cebu, tucked away from the big malls and busy terminals. An outdoor café with mismatched chairs and a view of the street — just enough distance from the noise to hear my thoughts. I ordered an iced coffee I didn’t finish and sat watching golden hour melt into the…
It’s hard to describe what it feels like to stand on the edge of everything you’ve ever known. Tonight, I’m in Cebu City, sitting on the floor of the departure terminal near Gate 4, with my backpack beside me and a deep ache in my chest that somehow feels like both fear and joy. I’ve…
When you grow up in a tiny bamboo house with a tin roof that leaks when it rains, you learn early what it means to appreciate small things — a dry corner, a warm meal, a quiet evening with your family. That’s the kind of life I had in Sagay. Simple. Hard. Beautiful in its…
The bus rumbled along the dusty road, cutting through fields of green sugarcane under a sky that promised nothing but good things. I chose a seat by the window and settled in with my backpack at my feet. The air was warm, scented faintly with earth and diesel, and filled with the hum of conversation…
This morning, as the sun gently warmed the small streets of Sagay and the scent of damp earth and fresh pandesal drifted through the air, I took a deep breath and stepped outside. Wearing my favorite white off-shoulder dress — the one that’s been with me through birthdays and beach walks — I felt like…