Postcards from Pinas. A sneak peek of stories and memories

Just a couple of days ago I returned from my recent adventure in the Philippines. An adventure which was a brief whirlwind tour through cities, islands and remote villages. Although I had only ten short days and an insanely packed itinerary which occasionally had me traveling faster than my mind could handle, the trip was just wonderful. But rather than the many attractions along the way, the most memorable thing was once again the hospitality, kindness and welcoming attitude of the Filipino people. You will never stop to amaze me and I am grateful to call some of you my dear friends.
After just one day back in the country it just clicked and it was as I’ve never left. Last time I came as a tourist, this time I came as a friend and it made for a whole different experience. I traveled to meet old friends and to make new ones and both just worked out perfectly. 
 

An eventful journey

I finally managed to have a blog meet up which took place in the center of Manila in the best location one could wish for. Readers and followers took the time to come out and say hello and it was great to take this blog thing from the virtual world into the real world.
I then took off on a three day motorbike excursion along the not yet trodden path on Cebu Island where I met interesting people everywhere I stopped. Lee, the Canadian resort owner and Filipino by heart, the hard working blacksmiths in the barrios or the ever cheerful women in the many public markets along the way. As multifaceted as the country is, so are its people.
The next stop was Bantayan, an island struck hard by the recent typhoon Yolanda. I learnt about the reconstruction efforts, helped building new houses for the victims of the super storm and met amazing people who go out of their way to improve people’s lives on the island.
 

Memories made and stories to tell

Each one of these episodes made for a great story on its own and I will start telling them all here on the blog. One after another with the images I took along the way. To give a little sneak preview of what is about to come, I compiled a few images which I call “Postcards from Pinas”. I hope you like them. Feel free to send them around or save them.

Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean I’ll miss you until we meet again.

The lights of Manila Bay

Hard working fisherman coming home with their catch

Balamban meat market. Holding the trophy.

No worries just fun. Kids playing on a anchored banka.

My room with a view.

Serenity in beautiful Moalboal

Children of the sea. Moalboal.

The hard working blacksmiths somewhere along the vegetable highway of Cebu Island

The friendly ladies from the fish stall of Balamban public market

Stranded on Bantayan Island

Little rascals in a Gawad Kalinga Village, Bantayan.

How small things can make people happy. Bubbles in Bantayan.

In the cock fighting arena of Bantayan on a Sunday afternoon. Madness.

What’s left to say before my next challenge awaits me? Despite the briefness of the journey, I found it very hard to leave. I not only left a country behind which I now consider my second home, I also said goodbye to good friends, not knowing when we will meet again. My last days passed in a strange blur of sadness and melancholy. As I got to chat to a few OFWs at the airport, waiting for their flights out, I got a very small glimpse of how it must be for them to leave everything behind.

I want to believe that it wasn’t a goodbye but until we meet again. And that’s also how I want to close this little preview: Until next time, take care, stay safe and paalam / adto nako.

Yours,
Kuya Philipp (Pipoy)