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