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Immersed in Cultural Colors: An Unforgettable Experience at the Bato Fiesta Festival, Philippines

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January 25th, 2024 became one of the most colorful and meaningful days in my journey as a participant in the SEA-Teacher Program. On that day, I, along with three fellow SEA-Teacher participants from Indonesia, had the rare opportunity to attend the Fiesta Festival held in Bato , Southern Leyte, Philippines. It was more than just attending an event, we truly immersed ourselves in the rich and captivating local culture. ✨ What Is the Bato Fiesta Festival? The Fiesta Festival is an annual celebration highly anticipated by the people of Bato. It is a way for the community to honor and express gratitude to their patron saint. The festival is celebrated with vibrant enthusiasm, bringing the entire town together in joyous unity. Streets come alive with crowds of people in colorful costumes, and artistic performances take center stage, especially traditional and modern dances that portray Filipino life, struggles, and cultural uniqueness. This festival goes beyond mere entertainment; it ...
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A Touching Series of Surprises on My Birthday

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February 7th – 7:30 AM That morning, I joined a fellow student teacher to serve as a judge for a 9th-grade performance class. It was my first close interaction with this group of students. Upon entering the classroom, I immediately noticed their bright, cheerful expressions. There was a clear sense of eagerness in the room, as though they had something special in mind. I took a seat at the back with other student teachers and began evaluating the group performances. Once the session concluded, the students unexpectedly gathered around me. They invited me for photos and engaged me in friendly conversation. One student asked how old I was, to which I replied, “I’m 20, and tomorrow I’ll be 21.” The moment they heard this, they spontaneously erupted into a lively rendition of the “Happy Birthday” song. They varied the tempo at times slow and melodic, then suddenly upbeat and energetic. Their sincerity moved me deeply. I received warm hugs from many students, along with heartfelt birthday...
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Cultural Connection and Teaching Adventures at SLSU Philippines

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Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) is a campus located in Thomas Oppus, Southern Leyte, Philippines. I never imagined that my visit to SLSU Thomas Oppus would be one of the most unforgettable and amazing experiences. This trip was not just about education, but also about getting to know a new culture and developing myself personally and professionally. Before I left, I was a little worried about how I would adjust to the new environment. However, those worries were immediately dispelled once I arrived. My friends and I were warmly welcomed by everyone there. They treated us with utmost hospitality, especially our coordinator, Ma’am Lillian, who genuinely became a mother figure to us during our time at SLSU. She treated my friends and me like her own children, making sure that we always felt comfortable. In addition, the lecturers, teachers, and campus staff took turns looking after us and taking us to visit various beautiful places and taste the local specialties such as Chicken Ad...
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The Charm of a Beautiful Island: Sweet Memories Behind My Seasick

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It was supposed to be the perfect vacation—sunshine, the sea, and serenity. Today, my friends and I set off on a long-awaited trip to Limasawa Island in Southern Leyte, Philippines. Known as the site of the first Catholic Mass in the country, Limasawa is more than just a historical landmark. It is a gem of natural beauty, wrapped in white sand, turquoise waters, and warm island breezes. We left early in the morning, accompanied by our coordinator, members of the parents’ association, and their families. Our spirits were high as we made our way to the port, where we waited for our boat to arrive. I hoped that this boat ride would be smoother than the one I had experienced back in Indonesia—but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The gentle rocking of the waves quickly turned into a nightmare for me. Nausea hit hard. I spent most of the journey trying not to pass out while everyone else enjoyed the breathtaking view. But the moment we arrived and stepped onto the island, all that disc...
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A Busy and Warm Wednesday in Tommas Oppus Philippines

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 Stories from January 29, 2025 The day started off in a rather lazy way, I woke up a little late and decided to get ready to go to the market… without taking a shower first. It was a bit funny, but that’s how it is. Together with my buddies , we took public transportation and continued on foot for a while until we finally arrived at the market. At the market, we bought some cooking ingredients that had been planned in advance. The atmosphere was lively, typical of a traditional market full of color and aroma. After finishing shopping, we stopped by the mall to look around for a while, then went home by public transportation and bus. Once I arrived at the cottage, I immediately started cooking for everyone. Today I made a simple stir-fried long beans, but cooked with lots of love. Meanwhile, the buddies bought us a special snack made from cocoa and eaten with sticky rice with a hint of ginger—a truly unique and warm combination. They also cooked us French fries , which were the ...
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A Day Full of Little Turns: From Classrooms to Late-Night Thoughts

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  Tuesday, January 28, 2025 Today seems like a simple day on the surface, but it is actually full of little twists and turns. The morning started off quite productively as it was my schedule as a student teacher assistant . I spent most of my time assisting the student teachers who were teaching. I enjoyed this task because there was a certain satisfaction in helping students and being a part of the learning process, even though my contribution was still in small ways for now. After that, I took a short break around noon. Funnily enough, these quiet moments felt so precious amidst the otherwise busy days. In the afternoon, I returned to the high school lab to accompany my female friend who had to meet with our cooperative teacher to discuss the lesson plan. What we initially thought would be a simple discussion turned into a series of questions, revisions, and clarifications. There were confusing moments, some laughs, and of course some valuable lessons learned. That evenin...
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First Day in Tacloban: The Beginning of an Unforgettable Journey

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A Tiring But Memorable Day My first day in Tacloban marked the beginning of a truly memorable adventure. I arrived in the late afternoon with my friends and our lecturer. The airport atmosphere was calm, and we were warmly welcomed by Ma’am Lillian, the SEA-Teacher program coordinator, who personally came to pick us up. Her presence immediately made us feel appreciated and cared for. The journey from the airport to our accommodation took around 2 to 3 hours. Along the way, I observed my surroundings and was pleasantly surprised by how familiar everything felt. The streets, the buildings, even the general atmosphere reminded me of Indonesia, specifically Jakarta in the old days. The public transportation here was quite similar too, though they looked a bit different. Most people relied on public transport, and it was rare to see motorcycles, which was quite interesting. Before reaching our destination, we stopped by a local restaurant called “Jolibe,” which turned out to be a popular sp...
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