Hey there,

Last week’s ended the letter with this line…

So today, for the 3rd and final part of my “Discovering The Philippines” series, let’s talk about some of the ways that I’ve changed since visiting the Philippines for 4 of the last 12 months.

First, let’s just point out one of the most obvious changes:

Taglish

If anyone spends more than a few minutes talking with me, they will start noticing that I incorporate “Taglish” into my casual communication.

There are simple words like “lang” that are so just so easy to slip into short sentences.

Now, instead of saying “wait” or “okay”, I say “wait lang”, and “okay lang”.

Lang means “just or only”, but you attach it to words to add emphasis or draw attention. It is like adding a verbal “thumbs up” after a word.

Big World

Spending a lot of time in Asia was a strong reminder that there is a big world outside of the United States.

My perspective of the world is expanding.

I’m spending much more time thinking about where I fit into the world, instead of just how I fit into my country.

I am much more aware of growing geopolitical tensions between Southeast Asia and the west (not to mention the troubles in Europe).

I wonder what the future holds.

And the best way to understand the future is by looking into the past.

History

Over the past year I’ve learned more about the history of Southeast Asia and the Philippines than any other time in my life.

Here are five impactful books I’ve read since my first PH trip:

Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides

This is a story about the Bataan death march and then eventually rescuing the prisoners from the Cabanatuan prison camp. This book really goes into the harsh conditions that American POWs faced during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in WW2. It was a fascinating read.

The Indomitable Florence Finch by Robert J. Mrazak

This is an incredible story about a dual Philippines/American citizen during the Japanese occupation in the 1940s. This book should be required reading for anyone that wants to know the story of a true hero.

American Caesar by William Manchester

The is an epic biography of General Douglas MacArthur. Love him or hate him, the man unquestionably changed the arc of human history, especially as it relates to Japan, Korea, the Philippines and many other parts of the world. This is one of the most well-written book’s I’ve found, and I couldn’t stop reading until it was done.

On Desperate Ground by Hampton Sides

This book is actually about the Korean war but it is from the same author as “Ghost Soldiers”. This was a fascinating read and I spent weeks thinking about this book, after I finished. The imagery of endless war in inhospitable conditions tends to stick in your brain for a while.

Chip War by Chris Miller

I wouldn’t have read this book if I hadn’t read all of the others above, but this is probably the most important book that has come out in the past few years. It goes into the technology that (seems to be) driving the tensions between China and the United States. This book is all about the semiconductor industry, why it is so important right now, and how Taiwan landed themselves right in the middle of all of it. I didn’t want this book to end. #nerdalert

But why spend so much time reading up on history?

Well, aside from the fact that it is just fascinating, I’ll end this section with two semi-condradictory quotes from unknown authors:

Now What?

Well, given that I’ve become so connected to the Philippines, you are probably wondering when I’ll go back and what will come next…

I’m wondering the same thing.

There are a lot of unknowns in life, right now, and the world is constantly changing, but there are a few things that I’m certain of:

• I’m going to build part of my future in the Philippines.

• I’m going to develop my “setup” with the Philippines at its core.

• I’m going to own fruit trees, houses, and tons of animals.

• I’m going to teach and help other people develop the skills that they need to thrive.

• I’m going to create a space where I can innovate with technology and explore nature.

Why am I so sure?

Because this vision that I have for my future is stuck in my mind, and there is no way for me to remove it, even if I tried.

The history and culture of the Philippines has impacted who I am today and the person that I am becoming.

Every day the vision that I have for my future gets a little bit more clear. This is one of the reasons why I’ve been drawing lately.

Art seems to be the best way to articulate what I see in my mind. My mind is filled with images of the Philippines - both past and future.

And the future is bright.☀️

Till next week,

Cliff