You speak English even in small neighbourhoods

Sometimes it was a simple “good afternoon” that you loudly declared with a smile on your face, other times you started to chat about different countries and our travels. Whether it was kids running on the shore, ladies at the markets or a solitary man living alone in a forest, all of you were happy to share your time with us and made a great effort to have a conversation.

You guys can play with anything!

We might have been staring at you too much when you were playing with your flip-flops or with bottle lids. No need for expensive toys here!

You do your best to preserve hidden islands

In some areas, you follow strict ‘carrying capacity’ rules in order to preserve the natural treasures of waterfalls and forests. You restrict the number of tourists who can enter areas during a certain period of time and we think that’s an amazing approach! But we feel you must become more active in keeping trash out of your forest and rivers.

Oh, your jeepney!

What makes them so special is the way you paint them and how you pass the money to a driver via other passengers!

You love to pose for pictures

Pointing a camera in your direction flatters you!

You always keep a positive spirit

When we saw your destroyed schools, huts and boats from typhoon Yolanda that hit you in November 2013, we had only one thought: the God you believe in so much could allow this to happen only to a people who have tremendous power to cope with tragedy. You remember exactly what you were doing that day, where you ran to hide and how long the hell lasted in your barangay.

Now, almost six months later, when you’re still waiting for your shelter to be repaired or build from the scratch, you smile! You smile and you help those who have less than you.
“Bahala na,” you say. You really live the moment, not caring about tomorrow or the past. Even if this might prevent you from planning for the future, you live your life fully, with love, open hearts and a willingness to help those who need it.

The things we learned about other cultures so far have been precious for us. But the things you have taught us are crucial for our self-development, too. People of the Philippines, you have helped us to realize that humanity is something that connects this world. We must remember that we are all the same, no matter which corner of the earth we were born in.

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