Manila, Philippines -- "I've always viewed life as a game -- and I think that's the secret in winning in life."

New York, USA -- I finally arrived at the Port Authority Bus Terminal! Good heavens! We rushed to the gates and asked for directions at the counter. I was instructed to go to bus route 126 at Gate 323 (PABT-Hoboken, New Jersey 12PM)

Long story short, we dazzled upon the maze-like gates inside the terminals. I went crazy with the broken escalators (I mean really? I got two huge suitcases y'all!) I had to bring it upstairs and cry ever-so-slightly until we reach the third floor. The NYPD were very kind and they gave us the directions for our specific gates. Up to this point I still don't know why we were running.

When we got the the ticket booth, my friend realized that he'll be staying for a night at the terminal since the next bus will arrive at 8AM the next day. I still have a bus going to Hoboken after an hour. So we shook hands, gave each other's business cards and hope we could connect later in the virtual world! Thank you Jasurbek!

And so I'm alone; everything went slow again. I got to the point where I was going in circles; they just kept giving me the wrong directions! It's almost 12AM and I'm still not at the correct gate. An officer was nearby and I went to her for help. Fortunately, she assisted me with the ticket dispenser and was finally at the waiting area.

While waiting for the bus, I was so lucky to connect to the terminal's wifi. There was definitely no time to spare as I searched for the maps and directions at the terminal's website. When the bus arrived, I got the chills again. I STILL DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO.

While I knew the location I'm bound to go, a first time visitor wouldn't obviously know where in 9th street Washington Av. would you specifically go. Poor Adam flashing the maps across his face and praying for the best.

Then there's this lady beside me who told me to not use my phone as long as she's there. Just when you thought that you've already had enough confusion, poof! Voila. I'm assuming that she's not allowed with too much light? (I really don't know)

I told her that I was lost and I needed to look at the maps to keep track. She said, "Oh you're lost? Well where are you going my dear?" I said I needed to go to 9th street. "Oh don't you worry!", she exclaimed. "I'll tell you when you need to go down. It's a lovely place! You'll feel the breeze in your face uphill."

While I was already super thankful for being saved from my worries, I was kinda worried what she meant by "uphill."

It's time -- 8th street and I'm off! I have bidden farewell to the surprisingly kind lady and got off the bus. It was awfully quiet and dark; I thought I was at an abandoned village with vintage looking  dollhouses. It was nerve-racking. I could've sworn that I was the only person walking in Hoboken at that hour. My maps was obviously not loading and there was no single human whom I could talk to.

I was praying and walking and praying and walking (you get the drill) until I stumbled upon a dormitory with two guys listening to some loud music. I yelled from the outside and I felt like I scared them (lol). I mean, what would you feel hearing voices from the window at 1:30 in the morning? They replied, "Hello, who's there?" like I'm some kind of a telephone call. But then I replied that I was outside their window and was terribly lost at that moment. They told me that Stevens Institute of Technology was just straight ahead and it was already there after a 2-minute walk!

After a few steps uphill, I felt the breeze from the Hudson river. There was a huge open gate as if it was waiting for my arrival!

I AM HERE. I couldn't believe my eyes. I was facing the golden New York Skyline. T'was truly majestic! I could sit there all night.

Right off the bat, I was about to produce man tears.

TIP: Choose an earlier flight.

Off I went to the train and was supposed to pay 5 dollars but then the first disaster came. I only had 50 dollar bills and the machine only accepted up to 10 dollars. You're supposed to get and swipe the Metrocard at the gates to go out. Apparently, I forgot to get smaller denominations and I'm now stuck inside the train station. The operator told me he could get me out for while and buy something at the snack bar to get change. But then I saw a credit card sign at the Metrocard dispenser! I tried swiping my card and got a 10-dollar metro card in less than a minute! Holy guacamole! God is good! 

While at the Jamaica station, I began asking some NY folks about the B train to Times Square. Contrary to what many people say, New Yorkers are actually very accommodating and they actually take their time to fully explain to you your destination. (real or not) Yep, that's the twist though. 

I was finally at the Sutphin Blvd- Archer Av Station from JFK airport and got on-board the freakishly familiar train I used to see at the movies. I went sheepishly at the corner and heard some Russians talking at the other side. There wasn't any seat until we've reached a few more stations. When I got a seat, another Uzbek sat at my left and asked if I knew where's the Port Authority Bus Terminal was. I was dumbfounded since I knew it sounded familiar not realizing that it was also the same place I was bound to go! I honestly felt a divine intervention at that very moment! Out of all the people in New York.. I mean really?! You've got to be kidding me!

What happened next was a series of running underground the concrete jungle. I actually felt like I was in the Amazing Race! Except we have a fully loaded XL suitcases that took all the fun away. We were almost at the end of the exit. This is it, I whispered. I'm ready to take on ze Big Apple! 

There it was! A dark silhouette of gargantuan buildings. You'll feel like an ant trying to catch your breath (well that's because you lifted a ton of suitcases up to the second floor)

I felt the first breeze at the back of Times Square. I already felt half ill. Indeed, I could hear Frank Sinatra's voice in my left ear! It came in too soon. At this point, to be real honest, I was just following my friend in whichever direction he would go. Man, was I exhausted! We were rushing to the left block from the exit and all I could hear was sirens, traffic, arabic/persian language on my right and plain old english but in a different accent. It was truly different yet it felt familiar. Everything became slow as I observed and internalized my first New York encounter. 

Manila, Philippines - Ticking off my carry-on list, grabbing another cup of water and last minute hugs to my mom and to my dog, off we go for another early flight from Terminal 3.

T'was a nerve-racking point in my life. I couldn't even imagine myself being away from my country for 2 weeks. What more for a few months? I sat down at the backseat of the car contemplating what the heck am I supposed to do with my life for the next 48 hours. Yes, you'll look forward to it but that's just 50/50 of the equation. All I can do at this moment is pray and ask the Lord to guide my wandering arse.

After our driver parked for less than a minute at the departure area, I looked at the sky (and thought of the trouble awaiting me) Everything went silky smooth inside the airport. You all know those typical things you had to do inside. For example, watching some first time travelers struggle at the security scan. (just kidding)

I remember when I had my first flight, I had all the things you had to take off when passing through the scanner. Name it: watch, belt, boots, coins in my pocket, bracelets, laptop in my bag. It was a nightmare! Now with my 20th boarding pass, I've finally mastered the scanner-proof airport outfit! A plain tee, comfy black jogger pants and a light pair of white nike kaishi is all you need!

For the first time in my life, the immigration officer didn't utter a single word. Very far from my first travel in Seoul. I think I received 50+ questions regarding my work camp it was frustrating. God knows how much crap I've had in airports and he blessed me this time with faster immigration process!

When I stepped inside the departure gates, I grabbed a cup of Bo's coffee and a hamdesal-type of sandwich.

Woosh, I inhaled my last Philippine air and off we go to Dubai!

Manila, Philippines -- "An encounter with a smaller door after crossing the main entrance. A prerequisite to a new chapter." All photos are from the official page of LPU Manila and Ina Bernabe. All rights reserved.

Sendai, Japan -- "I found myself in a delusional position -- thinking that it's odd to call a person you just met 15 minutes ago, your father. Yet it felt natural I guess, it just felt natural."

We arrived at the JENESYS hall in Miyagi prefecture -- 20 minutes late --which was quite unusual in Japan. I saw people staring outside from the window. We rushed upstairs and catched our facilitators apologizing.

"Suddenly I was nervous."

T'was like waiting to be adopted and you don't have a clue of who your parents might be or would be like. I reached the number and saw their names. I was quite fidgety that night.


"Hello!" "Ah! Konbanwa!" I don't know why I said that but I just did. She said to call her Ka-chan or mom. Too cute! Trophy (from Thailand) and I formally introduced ourselves and had some few talks.

Ka-chan (mom) said that To-chan (dad) was at work and he'll arrive at the evening. The ceremony didn't took that long and we had to leave soon.

Hong Kong, Hong Kong -- "My first travel was light, vivid and crowded with unfading scenes of discovery"

Welcome to Adam's Key. A collection of random theories, introspection and soul-searching thoughts that eventually led me to places.

I was just a normal kid; expected by many to wonder. I asked God why I wasn't allowed to see the world. He replied, "humble yourselves, so that I may exalt you in due time." I never spoke after that.

Sometimes in life you see yourself wandering in the maze of inequality and left in awe with the concept of "privilege." Yet, great things are bound to yield in due time. My family was generous enough to let me glance through the few things that this world could offer at the age of 19. I was delighted; enlightened. I knew it was only the start.

Yet I felt worrisome, I felt doubtful. Not realizing the things God prepared for me. I think I had the best vacation in my life. Only to find out it was only part 1 out of 5 of His plans.

Looking back, I was that normal kind. Expected by many to wonder. And so I did.

Baku, Azerbaijan -- Our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal once said, "the youth is the hope of the fatherland." But what if he/she permanently leaves the country?

How do you intend to give back to the Filipino youth all the learning and experiences you got abroad? A measure of a real young aspiring diplomat is to serve the people and the interests of the people.

The Ilustrados (Spanish for "erudite," "learned," or "enlightened ones") constituted the Filipino educated class during the Spanish colonial period in the late 19th century.

They're called the "enlightened ones" for a reason. They're exposed to contrasting paradigms and European ideologies other than the existing moribund propaganda back home. After another window is opened, they go back. 

Is this the case today?

"You should love your country. Do you expect other nationalities to sacrifice or even die for our country? No." - Ambassador Reynaldo Arcilla, Philippine Foreign Policy Class 2015


Jose Rizal, after obtaining a new perspective, went back to the Philippines to organize La Liga Filipina and bring the reform movement to the Philippine soil. I remember a Taiwanese friend who went to one of the most prestigious university, Brown University. We met in D.C. and engaged in discussions vis-a-vis the China-Taiwan relations and the political system of the Philippines. I asked her what she intend to do after her studies, "I'll go back."

When I was 15 years old, I was ready to leave the country; to change my passport, citizenship and to travel the world. I've searched all over the internet the most powerful passport in terms of visa-free regulations or even what country is the most corrupt-free. If I made a mistake by not enrolling to the International Relations program of the Lyceum of the Philippines University, and didn't have retired Ambassadors of the Philippines as my professors, without a doubt my passport wouldn't be maroon anymore.

"But you have to pay the price"

The price of being stuck in traffic 6 hours a day, the price of paying 30% income tax to a government that doesn't have your vote of confidence, the price of not feeling safe while walking in the streets of Manila and so on. 

My professors ingrained to me the real situation of my country. I was overly-confident when I saw the syllabus of our Philippines Socio-cultural Conditions involving topics like family, religion, gender and all the basic stuff. But lo and behold, it's my lowest grade to date. This, however, is the first time I felt "okay" to have low grades because I was learning so much. We didn't talk about families like papa, mama and baby, we've talked about how we became one of the most intact families in the world. 

"Learning your roots is crucial"

Having an extended family under one roof (from grandmas to aunties), why our own Filipino families became the "shining savior" instead of the government. The influence of major religions in state development and policy-making; Religion as a geopolitical and neocolonial instrument. 

We then dissected the history of tagalog or filipino; it's never-ending debates on what our national language should be called. Bogus treaties from the modern world imperialists. All these without losing the Philippine aspect.

A world view

However, other than being trained by leaders in the Foreign Service, I gained a multi-dimensional perspective by being immersed in different places embedded with a new kind of language, beliefs,  morals and cultures that is waiting to be discovered. To me, being an Ilustrado doesn't only mean being educated in the four corners of a classroom situated abroad. I believe the world itself can be your classroom. 

I'm actually very interested in History. That's why I'm wondering why I find myself sleeping in lectures and struggling with my Perspective on Civilizations III and IV classes. But who would have ever thought that I'll study about the Caucasus, the Soviet Union and the diaspora in a deeper level. We had those in our exams but I never expected to be so interested on the regional relations of the Caucasus. The reason: because I'm going to Azerbaijan. I've always loved that feeling when you've read about something before you actually experience it. Like reading a book before you see the film. 

"You should share your stories! We're really curious how you do it." - Ms. Sarah Laurel-Lopez, LPU 

Imagine the youth realizing that he/she could do things beyond his/her capacity. It's no hocus-pocus to help your fellow Filipino youth to develop and eventually help boost our country one way or another; to inspire your fellow stakeholder to improve himself/herself.

It all starts with passing down knowledge; the only reason why I'm writing this blog. The moment you realize you could turn the ordinary to extraordinary, is the day you transform those to real-life solutions. My greatest contribution to the youth other than the youth development project you see everywhere is my resolve to make every Filipino youth informed; possessing the knowledge that could transform a community.

Ilustrado (Part II) will discuss about the specific learnings I got in some of the few  countries I've been to, how I would translate those learnings for the Filipino youth and its actualization. 

1.  The American Heritage Spanish Dictionary (2nd ed.)
2. Jump up ^ http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltObtenerHtml?origen=RAE&LEMA=despotismo&SUPIND=0&CAREXT=10000&NEDIC=No#ilustrado.
3. ^ Jump up to: ^a b Glossary: Philippines, Area Handbook Series, Country Studies, Federal Research Division, Library of Congress, LOC.gov (undated, retrieved on: July 30, 2007