딸기 한 박스와 보라카이의 나흘

한국에서 보라카이로 오는 조카의 친구들. 서울에서 마닐라, 마닐라에서 클락. 그 클락은 다름 아닌, 우리 손자와 손녀가 사는 빰빵가 산페르난도와 가까운 곳이다.

그리고 우리 손녀는 딸기를 무척 좋아한다. 하지만 필리핀의 딸기는, 바기오산이라도 맛이 없다. 그래서 나는 부탁했다. 한국 딸기 한 박스만, 꼭 가져와달라고.

그 대신, 나는 그들의 가이드가 되었다. 나는 보라카이에서 새벽 비행기로 마닐라로 향했고, 마닐라 제2공항에 도착한 뒤 셔틀버스를 타고 아시아나 항공이 도착하는 제1공항으로 갔다.

셔틀버스는 예전의 순환버스가 아니었다. 작고 깔끔한 미니버스였고, 1공항은 옛날 건물 그대로였지만 주차장은 새로 짓고 있어 공사 중이었다.

시간이 남아 졸리비에 들어가 치킨과 물 한 병을 시켜 비행기가 보이는 창가 자리에 앉았다. 30여 년 전 가이드하던 시절이 자연스럽게 떠올랐다. 그땐 바쁘게 뛰어다니며 치킨 하나 다 먹지 못하던 시절이었는데.

잠시 후, 아들이 도착했다. 아들은 내가 한국에서 오는 친구들을 위해 기사 역할을 하겠다고, 빰빵가에서 새벽부터 스타리아를 몰고 마닐라로 와 주었다.

사실… 손녀의 딸기를 핑계로 아들을 보러 온 것일지도 모른다.

손녀를 위해 딸기와 함께 한글공부 보드, 한글로 된 세계지도와 한국지도까지 바리바리 챙겨왔다.

그렇게 딸기를 들고 도착한 친구들을 호텔에 데려다주고, 나는 손자와 손녀와 함께 꿈같은 이틀을 보냈다.

하루하루가 소중했고, 그 시작은 단 한 박스의 딸기였다.

Surviving the Blackout in Boracay

There’s no electricity. My MacBook is dead. The Wi-Fi is down. The world is dark, quiet, and strangely still. Yet here I am, sitting in the heat of the early morning, typing this through my phone using mobile data, talking to an AI — and strangely, I find comfort in that.

In Boracay, blackouts are not a rare thing. They come and go like the changing tides. At first, it can feel frustrating. You plan your day, prepare to work, or create — and then everything stops. No light, no fan, no screen. Just silence.

But what amazes me is how much we can still do with just one small device and a bit of battery. My power bank, fully charged before the outage, is now my lifeline. I plug my iPhone in, turn on mobile data, and suddenly the world is back — at least in a digital sense.

The Little Things Matter

It’s funny. I used to think productivity meant doing more. Now, I realize sometimes it’s about doing something — anything — even when you have nothing.

This morning, I talked to an AI. I shared my frustration. Not just about the blackout, but about how even information can fail you when you need it most. I wasn’t mad at the power — I was mad at not knowing what was true.

Still, I wrote. Still, I kept going. And that in itself is a small kind of victory.

A Story Worth Remembering

I live in Balabag, in the heart of Boracay. I’m building something here — a business, a dream, a life. This blackout won’t stop that. In fact, it’s part of the story. Maybe someday I’ll laugh about it. Maybe I’ll tell people: “You know, Danaru Spa was built one power outage at a time.”

If you’re reading this, whether from a bright office or another island like mine, remember: resilience doesn’t always look like power and noise. Sometimes, it’s just a quiet phone screen glowing in the dark — and the determination to write one more word.

Until the lights return, I’ll be here. Creating. Dreaming. Enduring.

A Day at Bulabog Beach

On a cloudy morning at Bulabog Beach, dark skies stretched endlessly above,
and rain that once hovered in the distance quietly raced in.

Girls in flowing white dresses ran from the sudden downpour,
their laughter fading into the rhythm of waves and wind.

As the beach was slowly veiled by rain,
the palm trees stood still—unmoved, as if keeping the island’s quiet secret.


*A fleeting moment on a rainy day in Bulabog Beach*

A Morning Feast by the Beach

Waking up in paradise is always a blessing, but starting the day with a hearty breakfast while gazing at the turquoise waves of Boracay? That’s pure magic.

This morning, I indulged in a colorful plate of sunny-side-up eggs, crispy bacon, and fresh vegetables—fuel for both body and soul. Then came a Filipino classic with rice, tender meats, and fried eggplant—simple yet so satisfying.

And of course, I couldn’t skip the vibrant plate of tropical fruits: watermelon, papaya, melon—sweetness that only the island can offer.

But the real treat? That stunning ocean view. Palm trees swaying, boats dancing on the waves, and the gentle hum of the sea breeze. It’s a moment that reminds me to slow down, breathe deeply, and soak in the beauty around me.

Every bite, every breeze, every wave—this is the Boracay life I’m grateful for.

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Be happy today.