Filipino Fun

Seven short months ago, I was torn between either travelling through South America with two of my best friends, or venturing off on my own somewhere in Asia. Being a Canadian-born half-Filipino, I had always wanted to visit the Philippines and “get in touch with my roots”, (however cliché that sounds), and so when I came across Free and Easy’s Philippines trip, something just clicked. Telling my friends and family I’d be travelling with a group of strangers in a foreign country was obviously met with some concern, but man am I ever glad I made that decision. Putting yourself out of your comfort zone and breaking the monotony of 9-5 life can be a challenge, but it’s worth it: those strangers became close friends, and the Philippines became the source of some amazing experiences…

Hiking the Banaue rice terraces in northern Luzon was simply awe-inspiring, knowing that this massive feat of engineering was built by hand over 2 millenia ago, and it’s still providing sustenance for the locals. Waking up to a beautiful beach and having mangoes and bananas for breakfast in a deserted beach hut became routine in Catanduanes. A cheery group of kids led us on an trailblazing adventure to the lighthouse on Malapascua. Party central of the Philippines, Boracay saw some crazy Free and Easy adventures, from Canada Day pub crawls, to skimboarding, to some intense pick-up basketball games with the locals. Panglao was home to delicious homecooked meals, chicken fights in the pool, and awesome F&E house parties. And Siargao…the most laidback, enjoyable place on the trip, where you can forget about time and live a life of surfing, sipping with locals, and hammocking day in and day out.
All of these destinations were incredible in their own respect, but one of the best memories I took away from this Free and Easy trip didn’t happen on one of the Philippines’ many beautiful islands. It happened on a 12 hour night ferry, chugging along somewhere in the middle of the Visayan Sea, while lying on the hard metal deck, sipping some cold SanMig’s with good friends. Our conversation trailed off as we lay there for hours, watching in silent amazement as veiny electric purple lightning strikes continually traced across the inky black sky, miles and miles away. It’s funny how some of your most treasured memories can occur in the most unexpected of places.