Unexpected Encounters in the Philippines
It was a bright morning in 2006 when I boarded a Cebu Pacific flight to Cebu City, marking only my second trip outside Davao since I’d arrived in the Philippines a year earlier for an international development assignment. My destination was Dumaguete City, where I was to attend a workshop at Silliman University. The thought of reconnecting with other foreign development workers—some of whom I hadn’t seen in months—made me genuinely excited. The flight itself felt special. The crew greeted us with warm smiles, and soon we were soaring above the lush hills and winding rivers of Mindanao. From my window seat, I gazed out at the long stretches of white beaches below and the unmistakable Chocolate Hills of Bohol in the distance. It was breathtaking—one of those quiet moments where you feel completely present. Upon landing in Cebu, I opted for a scenic countryside bus ride to Dumaguete rather than a boat. The ride was long, and I found myself dozing off until a gentle tap on my shoulder stir...