Is there a man with a soul so lifeless that he has never dreamed of traveling to various destinations around the globe? Dreaming is one aspect; visiting the countries of your dreams is an entirely different matter. However, truly living that dream represents the pinnacle of achievement.
During my high school years, I developed a strong desire to travel abroad. I yearned to explore those places that existed only in my imagination. However, I was raised in a middle-class household; my father worked as a mechanic, and my mother was a plain housewife. In total, I have nine siblings.
Consequently, traveling abroad seemed unattainable for me during that time. Nevertheless, the dream persisted. So much so that by the age of 25, I obtained my passport without any specific plans to visit another country.
Then, unexpectedly, it occurred. I was employed by a non-governmental organization where some staff members were traveling to other countries to provide training to farmers and interested groups in agricultural systems, which ultimately earned my boss the esteemed Ramon Magsaysay Award for peace and international understanding, often regarded as the Nobel Prize of Asia.
While attending a journalism workshop in Los Baños, Laguna, I was approached by the renowned journalist Juan Mercado. He was one of the speakers and the head of the Press Foundation of Asia, which is also a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award.
During a break, Mercado inquired, “Do you have a passport?” I was completely taken aback by his question, but I promptly responded, “Yes, I do.” (I had gotten my passport two months prior.) Upon hearing this, he further asked, “Would you be interested in traveling to Bangkok for another seminar?”
A month later, I found myself in Bangkok, Thailand – my inaugural journey to a foreign country. At the age of 26, I had the chance to travel abroad and participate in a press briefing regarding food security in the region alongside journalists from various nations.
I made a second visit to Bangkok when I received an invitation from the German embassy to attend a business expo. This occurred in October, and one of the highly anticipated events was the Oktoberfest. All invited journalists were asked to be present.
Prior to the conclusion of the party, a raffle contest was held for all attending journalists. When my name was announced, I received my prize: a winter jacket. I pondered how I would utilize it, considering I hail from a tropical country! Nevertheless, I took it home with me.
Unbeknownst to me, I would find it useful two months later. A week after I arrived, I received an email from my friend, the award-winning journalist and author Don Hinrichsen, who inquired if I could collaborate with him on a paper regarding water and population. To accomplish this, either he would need to travel to the Philippines or I would have to go to the United States. Without any hesitation, I implored him to consider the latter option. He agreed.
With relative ease in obtaining my US visa, I set off for the land of milk and honey one December. My destination was New York, the city that never sleeps! Picture this: a journalist raised in the Philippines, completely unaware of what winter entails!
Upon our arrival at JFK International Airport, I promptly joined the line of foreign travelers at the immigration section. After responding to a few questions, the immigration officer stamped my passport, handed it back to me, and said, “Welcome to the United States!”
Manhattan was a dream realized – a location that has appeared in numerous Woody Allen films. The residents are impeccably dressed – as if they have just stepped out of a fashion magazine photoshoot. Central Park, Times Square, Radio City, and that enormous Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center – you name it, I had witnessed them all.
After spending a week in Manhattan, I was en route to my sister’s residence. They collected me from the airport in Saint Paul and we headed directly to the Mall of America (indeed, the largest mall in North America). It is so vast that it requires approximately three days to explore fully.
I never had the chance to witness snow in Manhattan (I only experienced extreme cold while walking along the bustling streets), but staying at my sister’s sister-in-law’s home in Minneapolis was utterly captivating. I gazed out from the glass window of the room where I was sleeping and observed the snow accumulation in the neighborhood (a sight I had previously only seen in Hollywood films).
I lived at my sister’s home in Hibbing, Minnesota. On the morning of December 25, we arose quite early as we needed to celebrate Christmas at her mother-in-law’s residence. During our journey, I noticed snowflakes falling from the sky. It was as if I could hear Bing Crosby singing, “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…”
In fact, this was my second experience with winter. The first occurred in Durban, South Africa, the year before. I was present at the 13th International Conference on AIDS, where I had the honor of meeting two esteemed figures: Nobel Prize laureate Nelson Mandela and Hollywood actor Danny Glover.
Completely unaware of Africa, I was astonished to discover that South Africa experiences four distinct seasons. I only learned this when I came across a magazine that mentioned: “Winter Issue.” Therefore, when I ventured out for dinner with my Filipino friends, we were utterly taken aback by the frigid temperatures we encountered.
Winter is wonderful, but primarily for capturing photographs and selfies. Observing snow also provides a true sense of what the color white represents; this may explain why the Holy Bible describes purity with the phrase: “as white as snow.” If only winter could last for just a week!
If you believe I detest winter, I actually prefer autumn. It is not excessively cold; it feels akin to being in an air-conditioned environment. Additionally, witnessing the transformation of leaves from green to yellow, then orange, red, and finally brown is delightful. “Are those leaves painting?” my niece inquired when she viewed the photographs I captured.
—###
