May 23rd to 25th, 2025. A palindrome to remember.
As I have mentioned in my first adventure entry, this year shall be the first of me taking things to the next level to gain knowledge and insights as I navigate life in general. Days after the Ozamis-Clarin leg, plans of going to Cagayan de Oro popped up, thanks to this someone special in my life.
Initially speaking, it was to attend my second WordPress meetup, which, coincidentally, is dated two days after my 10th anniversary on the platform. I aimed to gain further insights about the remote work economy in Mindanao, since my MBA thesis currently centers on the Philippine gig economy, possibly being affected by the prevalence of artificial intelligence and other economic issues.
Beyond that, I wanted to make this trip even more memorable because, again, it was he who invited me to do this trip. In a nutshell, this person has been around my life for quite some time, and he has done nothing but accompany and support me not only here on WordPress but also in navigating life. After two months of not seeing each other in person and just being heavily reliant on video calls to communicate, we finally got to spend some time getting to know each other more in person.
This was my first time going on a trip away from home for more than a day. Even when I had company, I got crazily nervous because, first, I am not familiar with Cagayan de Oro and me sucking at directions is a huge problem, and it’s my first time staying away from home with a man as company. I’m not good at dating at all, so I really couldn’t imagine how everything would pan out.
But then, he’s been nothing but patient towards me. Thanks to him, I got to experience what it’s like to try new, interesting things, walking around the streets at midnight, conquering fears one moment at a time, and opening my heart to this undeniable yearning to explore more.
So, to you, paqs.me, thank you.
As soon as I entered Cagayan de Oro, I immediately tried navigating my way to the place on my own. The experience was a bit hilarious, though; I got lost in the middle of the city as I was on my way to the place where we’re supposed to check in. But honestly, it was also my first time enjoying the experience of just walking around an unfamiliar place fearlessly. It immediately made me realize why he enjoys traveling very often. The rush of curiosity and awe as I stare at the infrastructure was present in my system for the first time, albeit I’d agree with what he said: Cagayan de Oro is not the right place to feel the euphoria. But can anybody blame me at this point? As a first-timer, I guess my feelings are justified. I can only imagine how intense these surges of emotions will be once I travel farther in the near future.
I also realized that my cardio exercises are paying off; hiking across the city center isn’t that tiring of an experience. Too bad the weather wasn’t in my favor. I got soaked in rain as I continuously hiked with this song playing on loop:
It’s okay, though. This song’s lyrics resonated so well as I did it. It’s like I finally got to embrace what it’s like to figure things out on my own, even at the smallest of the things I do, like this one. I’d love to do this again soon, when chances come. Maybe in the first week of July, when I come back here for an upcoming coding workshop I’ll be attending. I might even stop by some places, too.
Going back to the other main agenda, WordPress Meetup CDO, it was an enlightening experience. One main reason why I joined this event is to gain a deeper understanding of the gig economy landscape (especially with the presence of artificial intelligence) across my area as I write my thesis. I can’t deny being a newbie in such a crowd intimidated me A LOT, but I don’t want to drag him down either, and I really meant business—to gain knowledge and connection, so I had to do something about my social anxiety.
At that time, the good thing was my constant communication with my best friends. They knew about my trip and checked on me from time to time to make sure I was okay, so I told them about my dilemma. They told me that I’m in good hands and that I should make the best out of the moment. They encouraged me to try speaking up during the open forum to prove that I deserve a spot in that event.
So I did just that. I paid attention to the discussion, took notes of the things I need to know that are relevant to my ongoing research, and thought of some possible questions for the open forum. Thank God and thanks to him, I succeeded in conquering my fear. I managed to ask a question related to podcasting and I’m glad to have sparked a discussion among my fellow participants. Funny as it may seem, my nervousness led me to speak proficient English with my hosting voice.
I was also able to give a productive update to my thesis adviser about this event. He’s known about my series of events to attend to better grasp the topic that I’m writing about. He agrees that direct exposure to the subject matter is the best thing to learn, after all.
Overall, the experience was exhilarating, and I would love to join more WordPress meetups and other similar events in the near future. Clutching my first WordCamp would be nice, too.
The rest of the trip were moments worth cherishing, which are encapsulated in this gallery. I do hope and pray that I get to have more.
I am way beyond grateful to do this with him. Moreover, I thank God for this chance.
One thing I forgot, though: I wasn’t able to get a refrigerator magnet and a keychain from this place. It’s okay, I’ll be returning here in the first week of July anyway and I’ll be doing this leg alone. As promised, that’s another upcoming write-up to look forward to.
As this happened on palindrome days, may this trip become a prayer and manifestation for more to come. Cagayan de Oro is a milestone to celebrate, and I can’t wait to go even farther.
