July 14, 2026
There’s something incredibly special about learning a country’s history while you’re standing in that country.
Today began at the Philippine-American Education Foundation (PAEF), where our Fulbright cohort officially kicked off our learning experience in the Philippines. We were welcomed by the PAEF staff before an overview of the program was presented and what the rest of the week will look like. As exciting as the itinerary looks on paper, today made it all feel very real.
One of the highlights of the morning was learning about the history of the Philippines. While I knew pieces of its past, hearing the story from Filipino scholars gave me a much deeper understanding of the nation’s identity and the resilience of its people. Every country has a story, and today reminded me how important it is to learn that story from those who live it. There are 185 languages in the Phillipines. That number just amazes me. And to hear how each has thier own characteristics from somespoken and romantic sounding to harsh and loud. The language range in tone and meaning across the country.
One idea especially stayed with me throughout the day: bilingual education.
In the Philippines, English is incorporated throughout much of the curriculum, while students continue learning and preserving their native languages. Rather than viewing bilingualism as something extra, it is embraced as an essential part of education. As an American educator, I couldn’t help but reflect on how different our schools might look if we approached multilingualism in the same way. Imagine the opportunities our students could have if speaking multiple languages was viewed as a strength from the very beginning.
The afternoon was one of the most meaningful parts of the day.
We met Filipino Fulbright and International Leaders in Education alumni and worked together on a driving question focused on voice, choice, and leadership in education. I had the opportunity to collaborate with Rofu, and our conversations quickly moved beyond the assignment. We discussed how students have opportunities to share their voices, especially when decisions within schools directly affect them and their families.
During our conversation, we also discovered we share a passion for preparing future educators. After learning that I teach College Credit Plus education courses back home, we exchanged contact information and began talking about ways my students and his future Filipino teachers might collaborate in the future.
Moments like these remind me what Fulbright is truly about.
Yes, it’s about travel.
Yes, it’s about learning.
But even more than that, it’s about building authentic relationships that continue long after the trip is over.
To end the evening, our group met local educators for karaoke. There was plenty of laughter, cheering each other on, and maybe a few questionable song choices! 😊
What struck me most wasn’t that we came from different countries—it was how similar we really are.
Teachers everywhere want students to succeed. We celebrate their victories, worry about their struggles, and often pour so much of ourselves into our classrooms that we leave a little empty at the end of the day. Whether we’re in Ohio or the Philippines, that passion for students connects us.
Today taught me that understanding another culture isn’t just about studying its history. It’s about sharing meals, exchanging ideas, making new friends, singing together, and realizing that education truly is a universal language.
Speaking of meals, it wouldn’t be a blog without me talking about the food I tried today. Lunch also became an opportunity to step outside my comfort zone. Since traveling is about experiencing culture—not just seeing it—I made it a goal to try foods I’d never eaten before.
Today’s new foods included:
- 🍠 Ube Champorado with dried fish
- 🍰 Ube Cheesecake
- 🍢 Isaw (grilled chicken intestines)
I’ll admit…some were definitely outside my comfort zone! But that’s part of this journey. Every new experience gives me a better understanding of Filipino culture, traditions, and everyday life.
Tomorrow we’ll learn more about the Philippine education system and visit AHA Learning Center. And with a happy accident as Roch called it, we will be getting to visit a local high school today and meeting there with the Department of Education staff. I can’t wait to step inside classrooms and see learning through another lens. Each day keeps getting better and better.
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