Reconnecting

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LAST week, I got to spend three days in one of my happy places in the Philippines – Bicol. To be honest, when the partnership between MovEd (the non-profit organization I founded and chair) and the office of then third district of Camarines Sur representative and current Vice President Leni Robredo was forged, I had only been to Bicol a few times prior. And each time, just to accompany my mom to check on the work of my lola’s foundation in the same area. I had never stayed for prolonged periods of time – they were always quick trips, but I always remember being very fond of the warmth and hospitality of the people and the place. The partnership at the time was an easy choice given that the leader is someone I highly respect and admire, not to mention, the place was really in need of the help our programs had to offer (the district happens to be one of the poorest in the Philippines). It was a natural choice, and one that I have always felt a strong bond and connection with. But with each passing day, and every visit back, that connection grows. It’s the type of fondness that just wants you to keep on doing and giving more. Suffice to say, Bicol has won a very special place in my heart.

It’s the kind of place where life is simple, and the place is laidback, yet, things get done. It is where people are very receptive of – and extremely grateful for – anything you’re able to give and spare them. Do not even get me started on the food because it is definitely home to some of the Philippines’ best known delicacies, and that is always an added bonus. It is a place that enriches my soul in a most inexplicable way; one that nourishes my spirit in a way that the toxicity of fast-paced Manila can sometimes eat up.

It is also a place where signal is erratic. And while this can become frustrating at times for a multitasker like me, I’ve chosen to and have eventually learned to look at its bright side, which has now made me appreciate it. It reminds you to connect with those who are with you, and to take in all that is around you. It is somewhat of a slap in the face, and a reality check to something most of us are guilty about – in our attempts to stay connected with the world around us, we oftentimes overlook those who are right in our midst. Meals in Bicol I’ve found to be most enjoyable simply because it is no temptation to anyone to pick up their phones. The undivided attention one is able to give and get in return is priceless. It is a place that brings us back to our basics, and brings me back literally to my roots (my great-grandfather was from Albay). And perhaps that is one of the many more reasons why the connection I’ve forged with the place in its people just keeps strengthening each day.

If I were to describe Bicol to someone, I would most likely say that it is my soul space in the Philippines. A lot of the parts there I spend my time in may not be as picturesque as the ones that make my social media accounts, but it is that very reality I am able to immerse myself in that reminds me constantly of why I have set out to do what I do. It is a place where I know I am not only extremely productive in, but purposeful as well. It is a place that constantly reminds me to be mindful of my surroundings, and that never fails to re-instill the importance of connecting with those immediately around you in me, versus making the effort to stay connected with those not in your midst. In a world that is already so seemingly stratified and somewhat divided, we must make the extra effort to blur those boundaries, and lend a hand. Because if we do not start, and it is not us, then who will?