PHILIPPINES AND THAILAND: THE TIES THAT BIND

"It's the friends you meet along the way who make the journey worthwhile.

- CHRISTINE DAYRIT

I just embarked on a culLtural, historical, and gastronomic exploration of the Visayas region, focusing on the storied islands of Cebu and Bohol. I had the honor of traveling with distinguished guests: Filipino Ambassador to Thailand Millicent Cruz Paredes and her spouse, Atty. Jason Robert Paredes; Irish Amb. Patrick Bourne and his spouse, Sonali Rajasingham Bourne; Peruvian Amb. Cecilia Zunilda Galarreta Bazan; Guatemalan Amb. Shirley Dennise Aguilar Barrera; UNESCAP deputy executive secretary Lin Yang and her daughter Shangshang Wu; and Joan Marie Acero, attaché at the Philippine Embassy in Thailand.

This special tour was arranged by my dear friends, Joone and Annabelle Daokaew of All Around Holidays, an outbound and inbound travel agency based in Thailand-true champions of friendship through travel. We all journeyed through our islands not as mere visitors, but as fellow travelers; curious and ready to embrace our culture. Every moment of this journey flowed seamlessly, thanks to the flawless coordination of Pan Pacific Travel Manila.

Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Millicent Cruz Paredes came back to her homeland with a gift: the gift of connection. From Cebu's historic heart to Bohol's natural wonders, they came to understand not just our stories, but our spirit. In Cebu, we stumbled upon a lively ukulele shop, and Amb. Bazan couldn't help but dance with delight as infectious and pure laughter echoed through the room.

At Marina Seaside, a seafood banquet was enjoyed before we took a high-speed ferry to Bohol, where more surprises unfolded. At the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary, we gazed in wonder at those soft, wide-eyed animals that appeared to possess the forest's secrets.