August 6, 2026
After returning home and spending time reflecting on my Fulbright experience, I realized there was one story I hadn’t fully told. I had written about the schools, the students, and the lessons I learned, but I hadn’t truly recognized the people who made every moment possible. This journey would not have been the same without the incredible hosts who welcomed us in both Manila and Iloilo. Their kindness, generosity, and genuine care transformed this from a professional experience into one that felt deeply personal.
From the moment we arrived at the airport in Manila, we were welcomed with warmth.
After a long journey through customs and immigration, Derrick, Roch, and Jabes greeted us with smiling faces. They watched our luggage while we hurried to the restrooms, patiently waited until every member of our cohort made it through customs, and had comfortable vans waiting to take us to our hotel. It may seem like a small gesture, but after traveling halfway around the world, those thoughtful acts of kindness meant more than they probably realized.
When we arrived at the Ascott Makati, the hospitality continued. The hotel staff had arranged a special room so our entire group could check in quickly and comfortably without standing in long lines. Walking into my room was another surprise. It felt less like a hotel room and more like a small apartment. There was even a washer and dryer, something I never expected to have while traveling internationally. Every detail had been considered, including making sure bottled mineral water was always available as we adjusted to a new country.
Those thoughtful details became the pattern for our entire stay.
Each day was carefully planned to balance professional learning with opportunities to experience Filipino culture. We visited Pitogo High School, the AHA Learning Center, Montessori de San Juan, and the U.S. Embassy, where American staff shared the history of the embassy and offered valuable cultural insights before we traveled to our host communities. Every experience had purpose, and every moment reflected the care our hosts had invested in making our time meaningful.
At the end of each day, despite how exhausted we were from the heat and full schedules, our hosts welcomed us back with wonderful meals and opportunities to debrief together. They wanted us to process what we had experienced, learn from one another, and continue building relationships as a cohort. They constantly reminded us to drink water, checked on our well-being, and made sure we were cared for physically and emotionally.
Before we departed for our individual host communities, our hosts thoughtfully planned a weekend in Batangas. Looking back, I realize it was exactly what we needed. They understood that after several busy days in Manila, we needed time to rest, reflect, and prepare ourselves for the next chapter of our journey.
In Batangas, they gave us opportunities to simply breathe. We had a chance to choose different massage types from the hotel spa, enjoyed a boat ride, snorkeled in the crystal-clear sea, and experienced the peaceful beauty of the area. There was no rush. Instead, there was space to slow down, reflect, and prepare our minds and hearts before moving into the communities that would soon become our homes.
That weekend taught me something important. Hospitality isn’t simply about creating an itinerary. It is about recognizing what people need. Our hosts understood that before we could fully invest ourselves in our schools and partner teachers, we first needed time to recharge. That level of thoughtfulness says everything about the people who welcomed us into their country.
Throughout our time together, I realized the learning wasn’t one-sided. While we came to learn about Philippine education and culture, our hosts were equally interested in learning about us. The Fulbright experience became exactly what it is intended to be—a true exchange built on mutual respect, curiosity, and friendship.
When it was time to move into our host communities, I was fortunate to be placed in Iloilo.
There, JL became much more than our guide. He became our historian, storyteller, teacher, and friend.
Just as our Manila hosts had done, JL thoughtfully planned every day to maximize our short time together. He wanted us to experience not only our partner school but the heart and soul of Iloilo.
One morning, we were up before sunrise for a 5:30 a.m. walk along the Iloilo Esplanade. At first, many of us questioned the early wake-up call. By 8:30 that morning, after experiencing the tropical heat, we completely understood. Because of his thoughtful planning, we enjoyed one of the most beautiful parts of the city while it was still cool enough to truly appreciate it.
Over the next several days, JL introduced us to the real Iloilo. We explored churches, museums, chapels, local festivals, fish markets, and neighborhoods that most visitors never experience. When it came time to shop for souvenirs, he didn’t take us to expensive tourist stores. Instead, he brought us to places where local families shop so we could find meaningful gifts and support local businesses. He wanted us to take home authentic pieces of Iloilo, not simply souvenirs. He made sure that we had home cooked meals by setting up food trains from teacher teams that included many local meals. He even had his sister run to the next town over to get us buko pie (which was delicious)! She was so sweet to bring it to us just before lunch.
One of the qualities I admired most about JL was his humility.
He is an accomplished author and illustrator, yet he never sought attention for his work. Instead, he quietly shared his books with us and generously gave each of us a copy as a gift. His kindness spoke far louder than any introduction ever could. And one of the collaborations that I hope to see through fruition when we collaborate on a book and topic that means so much to both of us, special needs inclusion in the Filipino classroom. I am so excited about this opportunity to collaborate with an educator across the world.
One moment, however, perfectly captures who JL is.
Our group had been looking forward to visiting Guimaras Island, but unsafe weather made the trip impossible. We were disappointed, but safety always came first. Knowing how much we had hoped to experience Guimaras, JL later made the trip himself simply to bring back the island’s famous mangoes for us to enjoy. Not many hosts would do that. That simple gesture reflected the generosity and thoughtfulness we experienced throughout our stay. And on the same day, after hearing a conversation between myself, Daniella and Michael, I mentioned that I should have grabbed a rosary for my great-neice and great-nephew, and right there along with the mangos, JL gave me two rosaries that he stopped and picked up on our last morning in Iloilo. Who does that, JL – that’s who!
My partner teacher, Ma’am Twinkie, embodied that same spirit of generosity.
She spent countless hours preparing lessons, organizing materials, creating signs and cards with her students, and ensuring every classroom experience was meaningful. She welcomed me as both a colleague and a friend, shared handmade Filipino gifts, and even spent an evening showing us around the city after long days at school. Looking back, I know she must have been exhausted herself, yet she always made time to ensure I felt welcomed and supported- it’s a lasting educational collaboration that has turned into a lifetime friendship.
The staff and students at Andres Bonifacio Integrated School welcomed me as though I had always belonged there. They opened their classrooms, shared their traditions, trusted me with their students, and welcomed me into their school family. Those relationships are among the greatest gifts I brought home, along with many facebook followers and new friends that I can’t wait to see where life takes them! I will pray for their life to unfold in ways they never imagined.
As educators, we often remember the lessons we teach.
This experience reminded me that some of life’s greatest lessons are never found in a classroom. They are found in simple acts of kindness, genuine hospitality, and people who choose to care for others without expecting anything in return.
To Derrick, Roch, Jabes, JL, Ma’am Twinkie, the entire PAEF team, the staff at Ascott Makati, the teachers and students at Andres Bonifacio Integrated School, and every person who welcomed us into your country—thank you.
You did so much more than organize an international program.
You welcomed us into your homes, your schools, your communities, and your hearts.
Because of you, the Philippines will always feel like more than a place I visited.
It will always feel like a place where I was welcomed, cared for, and forever changed.
Maraming salamat. 🇵🇭❤️
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