A Filipino Family Business Story: How Our Small Beach Business Became a Legacy By Joanna Vidal A photo of an aerial view of our village and nearby areas, showing the seaside and the river that connects to the sea. (Photo credit to the owner.) Welcome Back, My Dear Readers! Today’s blog post is extra special—it’s deeply personal, nostalgic, and close to my heart. I’m sharing the story of our family business back home in Pangasinan, Philippines. If you’ve been following my journey, you already know I’m a proud Filipina, born and raised in a small seaside village. My childhood was filled with simple joys and the kind of life where every family member played a role in helping make ends meet. We didn’t have much, but we had each other—and the ocean. One of the most unforgettable parts of my childhood was helping with our small beachside business: renting nipa huts (locally called kubo) to day-trippers and vacationers. These weren’t fancy resorts—just humble bamboo cottages with thatche...
The Hope Voyage: A Lifetime Experience By Joanna Vidal Breakfast at the camp It all started unexpectedly. Due to the nature of my work, I found myself in a meeting with my boss—who’s also my mentor—and an American man named Mike. At first, I assumed it was about our usual culture and heritage projects, since that’s what we normally work on. As the conversation unfolded, Mike started sharing stories about his own work. He had some idea about our projects too, though not in detail. Later, I found out that Mike Metzger is a freelancer who has worked on various initiatives, including collaborations with government institutions in Abu Dhabi. But what truly stood out was his deep passion for humanitarian work. Over coffee and casual conversation, he opened up about a vision close to his heart—a project called “The Hope Voyage.” It was more than just a desert expedition; it was a mission to raise awareness and funds for the people of Hadramout, Yemen. His goal was to help dig water wells...