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Hi from Davao!
This is the last town on my Philippines tour. Already tomorrow, I’ll be flying to Singapore, to literally spend “the longest night in the year” there.
I’ll tell you more about it in a bit, but first, I have to thank you all for the heartfelt messages you sent after the Christmas edition of the newsletter. It’s always nice to feel the pulse of the readers, and the story starring my Panglao host Elvira resonated with quite a few of you. Many thought the example was exceptional.
But, guess what! A week later, I was on the island of Bohol, where I unknowingly booked a room in – a church! And history repeated itself: my hosts went above and beyond to treat me not like a guest, but like a member of the family. Besides just accommodation with included breakfast (a package I paid for – AND it costed less than 15 euros!), they also generously offered to share their Christmas Eve and Christmas lunch with me.
I learned a lot from this:
a) Filipinos are sweet.
b) They love to add sugar to what we consider savory food, such as macaroni and cheese with chicken.
c) They live the mantra that life gives back what you give to life.
One doesn’t have to be religious to see that what Jim and Arlene Crain are doing with their Soul Center in Batuan is an impressive endeavor. They started a secular/commercial project of a guesthouse so it would finance their non-lucrative work with local children.
While it could be a surprise to check in at a hotel with a neon-glowing cross at the entrance, I love the fact that hosts don’t try to convert their guests, or hard sell the idea of God or salvation.
It reminded me of one of those extraordinary couchsurfing stories I shared, where a Jesus aficionado hosted me in Budapest without forcing me to pray before sleep. There is power in subtlety.
Just before this Filipino-American family of donut missionaries (well, one could argue that luring children with sugar is like exploiting someone’s weakness) invited me to join their festive feast, I witnessed a Christmas miracle in their backyard. It was a nativity scene at a place where nobody expected it. Click on the link if puppies make you melt.
But it came time to say goodbye to Bohol and Panglao, places where I learned that I could touch the power lines the same way Michelangelo’s Adam joins a fingertip with God. That’s how close the afterlife can be in Asia.
Well, an American recently electrocuted himself when he slipped on a street in Phuket and grabbed a faulty lamppost. Some of these streetlights are so danger-heavy that I am surprised these types of accidents don’t happen even more often.
In 2004, however, an entire region slipped under the unstoppable power of a tsunami that claimed over 220,000 lives. Two decades later, those who were lost remain frozen in memories of those who survived, just like the still wave that’s in the center of the Khao Lak tsunami memorial.
Stopping time is an illusion. We only have so little of it at our disposal.
For tomorrow’s flight to Singapore Changi, arguably the best airport in the world, I intentionally decided to extend my transit time. Instead of just rushing through this spectacular place, I’ll spend nearly 24 hours at one of the most exciting world airports!
That will be my New Year’s Eve. And New Year’s Day.
What about you?
Have the longest night of happiness!
Ivan Kralj
Pipeaway.com
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