Philippines to Japan and Back. My Journey as a "Fresh" PhD Student.

Kamusta po kayo? Ako nga po pala si Budz, Pinoy. Unang beses ko lang magsusulat dito, kaya tingin ko kailangan ko muna magpakilala hehe

(How are you? Btw, I am Budz, Filipino. It is my first to write here, so I think it is a must for me to introduce myself hehe)

I'm a new PhD student in Kawasaki-sensei's group, and I just arrived here in Japan last October 2024 – still fresh… but n ot that fresh, lol. I grew up in the easternmost part of the island of Catanduanes. Our island is incredibly beautiful, and I was lucky enough to spend some time there (with my dog, Dragon ) before coming to Japan. 

 

Some of the pictures I took during my last visit to my hometown in Catanduanes last August 2024. 

Life back home in Catanduanes is simple and peaceful EXCEPT when there's a typhoon. And every year, we face a lot of typhoon!! My home province is usually the first to get hit, with the Philippines averaging about 20 typhoons annually. Filipinos, especially those in Luzon, may said "sanay na"  (used to it). Fun fact: we even prepare names for typhoons ahead of time—25 regular ones arranged alphabetically, plus backups, just in case we exceed the list! Being ready for typhoons is just a way of life—even their names are prepared in advance. 

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/weather/list-tropical-cyclone-names-2025/

For my PhD research, I'm planning to investigate the resiliency of urban communities to typhoon-induced floods. My case study is the City of Marikina in Luzon, which is geographically prone to flooding. I still vividly remember back in high school that Marikina being all over the news during (Typhoon) Ondoy. Every Filipino knows Marikina as the “Shoe Capital of the Philippines,” but it's also known for its floods.

A local told us that during Typhoon Ondoy (2009), the floodwaters rose to the shoulders of the 40-ft Marikit Statue.

I officially started 2025 in the Philippines, and I'm so grateful for this opportunity. From January 10–15, we (me, Kawasaki-sensei, and Leo-san) visited Marikina to coordinate with local officials and test our survey questionnaire. I was thrilled to speak Tagalog again hahaha!! My friends know how much I love conversations, though they still insist I'm an introvert —   bakit kaya?  (I wonder why?) lol.

Marikina residents really know their typhoons, that they can tell you which brought the heaviest rain, lasted the longest, when it started, and how deep the floods reached. Flooding caused by Typhoon Ondoy (hit last 2009, more than a decade ago), Typhoon Ulysses (2020), and Typhoon Karina (2024) were among the most memorable for them.  It amazed me how aware everyone was of the city's flood alarm system, which uses sirens to water levels and evacuation instructions. While floodwater typically recedes within a day, the aftermath is the real challenge. Residents shared how the thick mud (up to 2 feet high) left by the floods took anywhere from a week to months to clean up, especially with the low water pressure from their faucets. This mud cleanup delays repairing flood-damaged homes, making it a major hurdle. 

We learned so much from this pre-survey activity, from the proactive efforts of the residents to the numerous disaster management initiatives of the local government. While there's still a lot to be done, I think this is a promising start.

We truly appreciate the officials of the seven barangays and city offices we visited for their warm accommodations.

This was Sensei's n-th trip to the Philippines, but for Leo-san, it was his first. Like any proud Filipino, I wanted them to experience our hospitality—through good food, of course! Finding good places to eat was the easiest part of the trip. Thanks to YouTube and my Marikina friends, my restaurant recommendations were a hit lol. They loved the silog meals and tried every variation like it was a checklist: tapsilog , longsilog , tocilog  hahaha. They also enjoyed sisig , bulalo , and lechon kawali . And of course, we went to Jollibee! They tried the iconic Chickenjoy and even met Jollibee himself. But honestly, I was the happiest in the group because I finally got to enjoy the palabok and unli -rice at Mang Inasal again lol.

Here are just a few pictures (out of many) of the delicious food we enjoyed, including a stop at Jollibee!

Their favorite? The pinoy desserts! They like the Mango-graham shake! They like avocado ice cream! And, they like-like the Halo-halo!!!   At first, they were skeptical about the mango shake with graham crackers (how could they doubt this perfect combo?!), but in the end, they loved it! Even the humble turon (₱20 or ¥53) offered by barangay officials was a hit hahaha. I considered introducing them to balut (fertilized duck egg), but honestly… I don't eat it myself ( Please don't revoke my Pinoy card lol)

We're now preparing for our next trip, this time to conduct the actual survey. As always, I'm hoping for the best— Budz!

Floods and Poverty: A new Chapter on Philippine's Perspective

Dear Readers, 

They say a new year means a new beginning, and with new beginnings come new challenges. Have you ever felt a mix of excitement and fear when starting something new? That’s exactly where I am right now. 

Guess what? I’m stepping into the next chapter of my journey—as a doctoral student! How does it feel, you ask? Well, it’s a mix of excitement, anxiety, insecurity, and a bit of pressure! But I’m learning to trust the process and take one step at a time, just like I’ve done before. ;D

For my doctoral research, I’m continuing to explore a topic close to my heart: Floods and Poverty. This time, my focus has shifted to the Philippines, building on my previous work in Thailand. Like before, my research incorporates data from household interview surveys.

The Fieldwork Begins: Manila, Philippines

From January 10th to 15th, my advisor Sensei, Budz (a new addition to our team), and I traveled to Manila for an initial survey. Our goal was to gain a deeper understanding of the targeted study area. We visited several villages, particularly in Marikina, a well-known flood-prone area in the Philippines. 

One of the highlights of this survey was interviewing people from various income levels, ranging from low to high. These interviews offered us a glimpse into the realities of their lives—stories of resilience, struggle, and hope. Unlike in Thailand, where I often relied on translators, many locals in the Philippines spoke English, allowing me to participate directly in the interviews. By adding ‘po’ at the end of English sentences, I felt like I was becoming Filipino—HAHAHA! It was incredibly rewarding to connect with the participants on a more personal level.

During our visits, we heard numerous heartbreaking stories, especially from the poorest households. For example, one family of eight lived in an extremely cramped house. It was difficult to imagine how they managed to sleep, let alone find any comfort in such a small space. Despite their daily struggles, they must also endure the stress and devastation by floods. Another family shared how their anxiety spikes every time rain intensifies, as they fear another typhoon or flood could destroy what little they have left. 

Manila: Chaotic but Full of Warmth

As someone who comes from Jakarta, I could totally relate to the chaos of Manila—HAHAHA. The traffic, the peak hours, the noisy honking. But despite the chaos, there’s a unique warmth in how Filipinos show their hospitality. They laugh easily, love to sing, and are loud (in the best way possible). It reminded me so much of my own people back home in Jakarta.

Not only the people, but surprisingly, my taste buds adapted really well to their food. It felt oddly familiar, even though I had never tried it before. I absolutely loved exploring their culinary scene. Here’s a fun fact: I’m a sweet tooth, so my favorites were definitely the avocado ice cream, mango juice, bubble tea, and, of course, their national dessert: Halo-halo! My taste buds were so spoiled there. xD

Reflections and Moving Forward

All in all, this trip was an incredible start to my doctoral journey. Frankly, the road ahead feels a bit daunting, but isn’t that how all great things begin—just a little scary? For those of you who are in the same boat, let’s face it one step at a time. Here’s to embracing the unknown and making the most of every step forward.

To whatever coming our way this year. Cheers!

-Leon

Jetlag, Conferences, and Stories from the Capital of America

Happy New Year, everyone!

First of all, I wish you all a fantastic year ahead! 😊

As promised in my previous blog (Read: Autumn Conferences: Annyeonghaseyo to KIWW24), I want to share my experience from my trip to Washington, D.C., just before Christmas for a conference.

This was my first time flying such a longggg distance, and wow—what a ride! The jetlag hit me hard. My eyes felt unbearably heavy by 6 p.m., and I found myself wide awake at 2 a.m. when the city was fast asleep. Despite the discomfort, it was a unique experience I’ll never forget.

Now, onto Washington, D.C.! The city truly lives up to its reputation as the capital of the United States. Its urban planning is remarkable, with well-structured buildings and harmonious color palettes. Don’t just take my word for it—check out the photos below!

The Conference Experience

The conference was a massive event—my first time seeing so many students and academics gathered from all over the world to share their research. The topics were incredibly diverse, covering hardcore hydrology, geology, disasters, and climate issues.

What excited me most was the growing focus on socioeconomic issues linked to climate disasters. I presented in a special session on inequality in the Global South, which felt like a significant step forward in addressing climate justice. Kawasaki Sensei’s session also disscussed about sociohydrology issue, particularly poverty exacerbated by climate disasters. Our discussions even continued at the World Bank Headquarters—how cool is that?

 

Exploring Washington, D.C. and Beyond

While in Washington, D.C., I took some time to explore its beautiful museums and historic alleys. Each corner of the city radiated charm and history. However, I must say, everything—even mineral water!—was quite expensive, so my culinary adventures were limited ;(( - unlike Korea Hahaha!

Outside of Washington, Sensei and I toured Alexandria, a waterfront city in Virginia. We traveled there by cruise boat, which offered stunning views of the city’s picturesque buildings reflecting on the water. It was a peaceful magical trip!

A Week to Remember

Flying far from Asia for the first time, battling jetlag, attending a significant conference like AGU, visiting the World Bank Headquarters, and exploring the beauty of Washington and Alexandria—this week was truly a blissful adventure that I’ll treasure forever.

See you all again soon everyone! May this year bring us closer to our dreams and fill our hearts with peace and gratitude. #Cheers

Lots of love,

Leon