When you look back on a trip, it’s not the places listed in guidebooks that stick with you, but the unexpected, one-of-a-kind moments that unfold. Let me share one of my favorite memories. It was dusk, and I set out on a little food adventure with three fellow travelers. Our plan was to find a restaurant in the nearby town, but things took a different turn. As we walked outside our hostel, we were greeted by some local kids. We chatted with them for a while, which led to a Filipino family inviting us to join them for a meal and some drinks. We thought, "Why not?" and accepted the invitation.
The scene at the family’s place was lively. I found myself seated on a wooden bench under a bamboo roof, surrounded by at least 20 Filipinos. Kids and dogs were running around, and the whole extended family was there – nieces, nephews, uncles, and aunts. The head of the family, Romeo, poured us some coconut wine, a strong homemade brew that left me with a pounding headache the next morning.
We were then ushered inside and seated at their dinner table in their cozy little house. After a prayer, we dug into a feast that included rice, noodles, freshly caught fish from the nearby river, and yes, pig skin. I was skeptical about the pig skin, but it turned out to be delicious – the best thing I had eaten in weeks. The family insisted on treating us, so we returned the favor by getting them some beer from the nearby store.
The rest of the evening was filled with stories, laughter, and music. We sang along with a guitar, and the kids showed me their latest catches of live frogs and crabs. A local character known as The Skeleton joined us, entertaining us with his antics and songs. We played drinking games until we were all a bit tipsy and ready to call it a night.
In the days that followed, I bumped into my new friends around the village. They even invited me to join them for a fishing trip (which I sadly had to decline due to a ferry schedule). I was amazed by their warmth and hospitality, with no ulterior motives except to enjoy each other’s company. This kind of genuine hospitality seems to be a common trait in the Philippines.
Experiences like these are the ones you secretly wish for when you travel, and I consider myself lucky to have had a few on this trip (a memorable wedding in Laos also comes to mind). I’m grateful for the wonderful people who welcomed me into their world during my travels.
