Cities and Stories

This 2015, I found myself in towns, cities, and countries far from home. It has been a year of cities and stories. Indeed, as He promised in 2014, the Lord has brought me to greater heights. It is a testimony to God's faithfulness - 36, 000 feet in the air.

During the hours spent in airports and transits, there has always been an urge to write - about the trip, about the places, about the people, etc. And often, I fail to write beyond a sentence or two. Nothing beyond 140 characters. Even square images are not enough to capture a city's soul. 

Stories are waiting to be discovered behind a skyline, a coastline, or even over the horizon. Before I go on other adventures in 2016, allow me to share some stories of three cities I've been this year.

God answered two of my prayers three months ago - to join the cross culture and to visit my dad in the middle east.

Growing up, I have only dreamed and prayed of flying to visit my dad. I dreamed of feeling the desert heat, walking barefoot in the sand, and seeing camels. It was a crazy thought. At the back of my head, while praying for this, I was certain that this is impossible. We need to pay for tuition, for utilities, for daily need, and for other things here.

All of my life, I waited for papa to arrive at the airport. We get to be with him for 60 days, every other year. The family waits until midnight, immersed within a sea of strangers waiting for their loved ones. We wait until we see a familiar face, until we see a cheeky man wave at us. It was a comforting moment to be reunited, to feel safe with his presence. 

A photo posted by Debbie Manalili (@debbiemariz) on Oct 12, 2015 at 7:17pm PDT

#CrossCulture2015

While I'm still thinking to write an entry about my experience #CrossCulture2015, allow me to share some of my favorite posts over the mission trip. I stuck to black and white photos, except the first one with my dad, simply because the experience alone puts color into it. Such cheesiness. 

A photo posted by Debbie Manalili (@debbiemariz) on Jul 27, 2015 at 1:19am PDT

A photo posted by Debbie Manalili (@debbiemariz) on Jul 29, 2015 at 1:37am PDT

A photo posted by Debbie Manalili (@debbiemariz) on Jul 22, 2015 at 8:30am PDT

Gratitude List

Deciding to write is one thing, focusing on a subject is another. I always find myself struggling at the later, having my thoughts all over the place. In the attempt to rekindle this passion for writing, allow me to share some of the things I've been grateful for the past few months. 2015 has been, and still is, a year of God's love and grace in all ways. 

SG: Day 1

After several trips this year, I finally decided to create a series of turista vibes blog posts. I've been to other places inside and outside of the country, but most of them are for conferences - except the trip to Singapore. Hence, for the next few day (or weeks), I'll be sharing the details of my SG trip.

Singapore: Prologue

One Wednesday morning, my friends were intrigued about the photos I've been posting over Instagram and Facebok. Instead of answering them directly, I took the photo below and posted it on social media:

However, the photo created more questions. It was not spontaneous, the trip was already booked weeks after I came back from Japan. I've always wanted to travel on my own, so I grabbed this chance. My parents knew about this plan after I purchased the ticket, luckily they allowed me to push through with the trip.

Travel Itch

My favorite places in the Philippines as of January 2014

In 2011, my brother and I tagged along our mom to attend this wedding in Baler, Aurora. It was a long ride from Manila yet a good one. Baler is definitely breathtaking, and reaching it will take you through a picturesque road trip. I realized then that I don't have to travel far to see awesome sights, I just have to explore and discover the hidden treasures within the Philippines. Since then, I flew wandered around the country - either with family or friends, or for leisure or academe. I tend to fall in love with each destination, and create memories with each travel. Growing up, my family and I would often travel to Pangasinan (by car) or fly to Cebu - but the story is always different for each trip. I'm at home with every expressways, national highways, barrio roads, and airports. I crave to travel more, to different destinations, to hear different languages and to learn (or at least understand) these. It's an expensive hobby, so I guess I better do well in the future to support such luho. An adventure awaits those who travel, I'm looking forward for my trips this year.

Travel

If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light.

Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears.

Cesare Pavese