When tour guides become tourists

Written by Lucille Anne Octavio 

     I have lived for seventeen years in Iloilo. I have been staying in Iloilo City for almost eight months. I have traveled in Manila, Baguio, Boracay, Butuan and many local places around my area. Basically, I have stepped across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao—I have toured the Philippines. However, despite all the places I have visited, I found myself a tourist in my own land. 

    Supposedly, I am a student guide. The study trip of Monash University here in Iloilo City put me in charge of Malaysian students who knew very little about the place. For ten days, I have been a tourist myself in my own home. And yes, I really did enjoy hosting the open house. I have learned a lot about the Philippines , especially in Iloilo City. I have come to know a lot about Malaysia. I have made lots of self-realizations. I know I have grown because of this tour. 

    The unique and amazing Gamot Cogon School has existed for almost seven years already, but I just found out about it last week. Heritage houses here in Iloilo City have stood for almost a century, but I only visited them last week. I have seen the Ati people, but never visited their community- I just did it last week. I have passed by several urban poor sites, but never stepped in there- until last week. Dinagyang has been so popular internationally through the years, but I watched it live for the first time on Sunday. 

    It has always been exhilarating to meet “new people” just like these Monash University folk. These people are my first international friends. And because of them, I have been more aware about the facts of Malaysia. I never really cared about the country at all until these people came into my life. Now, I am able to know how complex their country is. 

    I was able to know how much more complex MY country is. I was able to see the reality that there are really people who experience extreme poverty. I was able to acknowledge that there is an extreme disconnect between the government and the people. And I was able to ask myself what can I do to solve such chaos. So far, I haven’t discovered even one concrete solution. All I want and HAVE to do now is to be a better citizen of my country. To be aware of these poor people who strive hard every day. To vote wisely. To make my dreams come true so that I will be able to help others, and help my country as well. And to set another goal for myself —to have my own study trip, learn more about my place and have my answers to every societal problem that my country has faced. And contribute to the solutions. 

    On the bright side, this experience made me value my own culture. It is so amusing how these Malaysians enjoy riding the Jeepneys because they have none of them in Malaysia. They find seeing lots of chickens and carabaos strange for a city. They see eating 'balot' as a challenge. They don’t have Dinagyang. They don’t have Red Horse. They don’t have 'lechon'. They don’t have mango floats. They don’t have Halo-halo. It is amazing that there are things in this vast world that belong only to the Philippines. And that makes me a proud Pinoy! 

      Just like every man who misses his home whenever he has gone farther in his journey, everyone will return to the clichés of their life- everyone will go back to where he belongs, and everyone will seek a way back home. 

     It has been ten days since I started opening myself up to them. It has been a great ten days since I slowly built these unforgettable experiences, amazing friendships and striking realizations from them. It has been ten days since I was able to level myself up between the time we first met and now, when they are about to leave. It has only been ten days, and those ten days will always be among the best ten days that I will always remember. 

     Being the student guide of these eighteen people made me a better person. This study trip was indeed an eye-opener for me. It taught me lots of lessons in life. One of them is that I need to be flexible and understanding with every person that I meet. I need to be aware of the term 'propriety'. And I just learned that  though I may not please everyone because of what I have done, at least I have tried to please them. Another is for me to be open to everything around me—people, circumstances, harsh facts—and if possible change what I can change for the betterment of the universe. It is called volunteerism. And the most important thing that this experience has imparted to my whole being is the need to be aware of my own environment. I must not just think of myself and myself alone. There are lots of people who need help. And because everyone is capable of helping everyone, I should share what I can. I should do what I can do. 

     To the Monash University folk who touched my life, thank you very much for the experience. Thank you for the lessons this trip that you offered has taught me. Thank you for the friendship. Thank you for everything that you have shared. I will always remember the times that we sang in the jeepneys, played like kids, laughed like there was no tomorrow, went out and had fun, and all the lame jokes and pick-up lines we all have shared. These ten days that we were together is one of the chapters that I will have to read over and over again and smile gratefully for over and over again. 

Well, it’s not a goodbye yet. It’s a see-you-next-time thing. 

     Just like every man who misses his home whenever he has gone farther in his journey, everyone will return to the clichés of their life- everyone will go back to where he belongs, and everyone will seek a way back home.

And he’s a better man now.

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Hi there! I am Lucille Anne Octavio but you can call me "L.A." I am 17, a freshman studying for a Bachelor of Science in Management here in University of the Philippines Visayas. I love adventure. I enjoy trying new things that are challenging and fun. I so loooooove talking and laughing and dancing.

I will be an official theater actress on Feb 2013 (please wish me luck for my first production). My passion revolves around the stage, leadership and fashion. I am scared of the dark and crossing a busy street. I smile a lot. I think a lot. And I am so random. Having a good time for me is thinking about things while having a sundae and fries. And football.

I find it interesting to socialize with people of different ethnicities, though it scares me a little. But do not worry, this is an adventure, and so I like it. I do expect to make “different” friends during this study trip- I think it will be cool because I will be meeting people of different ethnicities, exchange interesting things from our cultures, and gaining more thoughts to think through with my sundae and fries.