Coming back home

The first stop in our four-country, three-week vacation was the Philippines. We wanted to spend time with family and do some shopping before heading to our next destination. With some recent life changes, I know I might not be able to visit home as often, so I wanted to make the most of this trip.

It was raining when we landed. A typhoon had just hit, so the weather was pretty gloomy and wet. That same day, the news was full of stories about a huge rally on the infamous flood control project. It was on the radio, TV, and social media. The whole country was talking about it.

Even with all that going on, I noticed how much the Philippines has changed. There were new malls, better roads, and more digital systems in place. People were using QR payments, ordering rides through apps, and even small stores had modern setups. It’s honestly impressive to see how much progress there’s been since I left.

I remember the first time I came home after moving abroad. I was really emotional and frustrated about how slow things seemed to improve. I used to send long voice messages to my friends, ranting about corruption and inequality. This time, though, I felt more calm. Maybe it’s because I’ve accepted that some things take time, or maybe it’s because I’ve learned to focus on the good instead. People are still kind. They still find ways to laugh, even when life is hard. That’s something that hasn’t changed.

Before we left for Japan, we had a family reunion in Manila. We spent days preparing games, prizes, and loot bags for everyone, especially those who traveled from Nueva Ecija. The preparation was intense, but turned out to be such a fun and memorable day. Definitely worth it.

We also went shopping at Greenhills, which by the way looks very different now. They’ve downsized the tiangge section, and I heard the area is being renovated into a proper mall. It felt strange not seeing the maze of stalls and busy crowds I was used to, but I guess it’s part of how things move forward.

Overall, the trip reminded me that the Philippines keeps changing, but it still feels like home. The weather, the noise, the food, the people—everything still has that same familiar warmth. I don’t know when I’ll be back next, but I’m glad I went this time.