PH Trip, Part 1!
It’s been a while since I’ve last written here—but I finally have something worth sharing. We went home to the Philippines to visit our friends and families, after two years of living in New Zealand. And oh, what a homecoming it was!
We landed just after midnight on the 4th of July. The moment we stepped out of the airport, we were greeted by the familiar weight of warm, humid air, the buzz of Manila traffic, and the unmistakable hum of a culture we’ll always belong to.
Our first night was in BGC, where my husband’s brother lives. We napped for a few hours, and when we woke up, we did the most Filipino thing possible—Jollibee for breakfast. That first bite of Chickenjoy (paired with spaghetti, of course) was a mix of nostalgia and comfort.
Afterwards, we strolled around BGC and just couldn’t resist shopping—bags are so much cheaper in the Philippines compared to New Zealand, so we stocked up. The rest of the day was spent hanging out with my brother-in-law, which mostly meant joking around, trading travel stories, and, naturally, eating way too much food.
The next day, July 5th, turned out to be one of the best parts of the trip. Me and my college best friends put together a mini reunion in Parañaque—some even travelled all the way from the provinces just to make it. We spent hours playing UNO, laughing non-stop like nothing had changed, then shared dinner made up of dishes they either cooked themselves or grabbed on the way.
And the sweetest surprise? They brought out a birthday cake for me, candles and all—even though my birthday wasn’t until later. Blowing out those candles with my college barkada cheering me on just confirmed what I already knew: true friendship means they’ll still show up for you, even if you’ve been an international ghost for a long time! We may be apart for years, live different lives, and even be separated by oceans, but it never really matters. The moment we’re in the same room again, it’s the same energy, the same banter, the same love—as if we are back in Uni, nothing has changed!
ZAMBALES
July 7th, we travelled to Zambales by bus (a five-hour ride) to visit my best friend from my previous job, Glenn—and our dog, Vienna. Glenn adopted Vienna when we decided to move to New Zealand. Knowing she’s been so loved and cared for made it easier for us to leave, but it also made this reunion extra special.
Glenn and his family warmly welcomed us into their home with a delicious home-cooked lunch that instantly felt like comfort. Afterwards, we headed to the beach! Watching Vienna run along the sand, tail wagging, felt like no time had passed at all.
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As the sun set, we found ourselves at another resort, sharing dinner, cocktails, and a few bottles of beer. The night was filled with nonstop conversation—reminiscing about old colleagues and dreaming about what lies ahead.
Coming home after two years reminded me of something simple but true: places change, people move on, and life keeps unfolding—but love, friendship, and belonging don’t fade. They wait for you, quietly, until you’re back again. And when you return, it feels less like starting over and more like picking up right where you left off.
Part two coming in the next post! 💋
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