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IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay — As early as September, familiar sounds begin to drift through Filipino neighborhoods: children tapping tin cans, friends strumming guitars, voices rehearsing “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit.” Christmas carolling is once again alive — a ritual deeply woven into Filipino culture, faith, and community life. For generations, Filipinos haveContinue Reading
MANILA, Philippines – For most people, walking is an ordinary act. For Lito de Veterbo, it’s a statement. In 147 days, De Veterbo — known among hikers as Mr. LNT or Mr. Leave No Trace — crossed the entire Philippine archipelago on foot, from Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte to Glan, Sarangani.Continue Reading
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Philippines – Anthony Tario Austria grew up in Buug, a quiet town in Zamboanga Sibugay where his mother worked the rice fields and later took on odd jobs in Malaysia to keep the family afloat. Life was difficult, but in the middle of poverty, Anthony discovered a gift:Continue Reading
Eleven years after the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed a historic peace agreement, a former rebel leader has reinvented himself—not as a fighter, but as an entrepreneur, building an ecotourism destination in a province once synonymous with banditry and kidnapping. Barahama Ali, a former senior leaderContinue Reading
GUINDULUNGAN, MAGUINDANAO DEL SUR – Beneath the gently oscillating canopy of young coconut trees, Abdulpatah Bato Aliman washes the grime from his callused hands. Resplendent with corn stalks, fruit trees, and vegetable plots border his agricultural land. A chorus of laughter from the children rings in the background. It isContinue Reading
IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – The streets of Ipil, the bustling capital of Zamboanga Sibugay, are getting louder as political motorcades weave through barangays, posters cover every wall, and candidates flood the airwaves with promises as elections day get nearer. But behind the campaign music and hopeful slogans, a quieter storyContinue Reading
Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay — In the quiet rhythm of the tides, fishermen in this coastal town steer their boats through the mangrove-lined waters, hauling in oysters and red grouper—life teeming where once there was none. Just a few decades ago, these waters were empty, devastated by rampant mangrove deforestation. WithContinue Reading
