15/04/2026
I thought it would be just a simple trip with my co-workers…
But it turned into something I’ll carry with me forever.
It started with a random plan travel together, take a break from work, and experience something new. Then we did something unexpected… we invited one of our customers from Starbucks a Korean, far from home.
At first, it was just a kind gesture.
“Samahan natin siya, ipakita natin ang Pilipinas.”
But along the way, something changed.
From co-workers and a customer…
we became a group sharing the same journey, the same laughs, the same struggles on the way to Buscalan.
The long hours, the tiring hike, the quiet moments in the mountains
everything felt different because we were experiencing it together.
And when we arrived, it wasn’t just the place that made it special.
It was the people.
The kids of Buscalan, smiling so purely reminding us that happiness can be simple.
The locals, welcoming us like we belonged.
The slow mornings with coffee, where time didn’t feel rushed… just real.
Then came the moment I’ll never forget meeting Apo Whang-Od.
And getting my first tattoo.
Each tap of the ink felt like more than pain…
it felt like a story being written on my skin.
A story of courage.
Of culture.
Of saying yes to something uncertain.
But more than anything
a story of connection.
Because this trip wasn’t just about traveling.
It was about how strangers can become friends…
how a simple invite can turn into a meaningful bond…
and how the right people can turn a simple journey into something unforgettable.
From co-workers… to a client… to shared memories that feel like family.
If there’s one thing I learned
don’t just travel for the place.
Travel for the people. ✨