Hope, Education, and a Random Trip to the Falls

Today was one of those unplanned days that somehow turn into meaningful ones.

We decided to go to a waterfall around noon. No preparation. No detailed plan. Just a simple "Let's go" and then we went.

Luckily, it didn't rain.

What I thought would just be a random trip ended up becoming a day filled with conversations that stayed with me.

One of the people I talked to was a high school principal. Naturally, I asked him a question that I've been asking a lot of people lately:

"Do you still have hope for the Philippines?"

Without hesitation, he said yes.

Then he added something that stuck with me:

"When you spread hope, it spreads too."

I liked that answer.

It was simple. Not overly intellectual. Not political. Just simple optimism.

So I asked another question.

"Do you love the Philippines?"

Again, he said yes.

Even though it's difficult.

Even though there are countless reasons to complain.

Even though corruption, inefficiency, and all sorts of problems seem to be everywhere.

He still chooses to love the country.

Then I asked him something that I think reveals a lot about a person:

"If you had the opportunity to change something, what would you prioritize?"

His answer was immediate.

Education.

Especially educating the youth and the community.

And honestly, I agree.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that many of the problems we complain about today are connected to how people think, how they make decisions, and how they understand the world around them.

If we want long-term change, maybe education really is one of the simplest and most powerful places to start.

I also asked him about his biggest lesson after fifteen years of service.

His answer was surprisingly calm.

"Just do good things and let things unfold. If it's meant for you, it will happen."

Then he shared a story.

Some time ago, he applied for an opportunity to work in Alaska. The salary would have been around ₱400,000 a month.

At the same time, he was applying for a school leadership position.

He made a decision.

Whichever opportunity arrived first would be the one he would take.

The principal position came first.

So he accepted it.

And here he is today.

A principal.

Serving a community.

Still optimistic about the future.

I found that story fascinating.

Most people would immediately chase the bigger paycheck.

But life took him in a different direction.

And he seems genuinely happy with where it led him.

One thing I realized from our conversation is that maybe I overthink the future too much.

I spend a lot of time imagining possibilities.

Building plans.

Thinking about systems.

Thinking about how things could change.

And while there's value in planning, sometimes I forget that life unfolds in ways we can never predict.

Sometimes all we can do is keep moving, keep doing good work, and trust the process.

On a completely different note, I discovered something strange.

I only slept around five hours last night.

Then I spent time soaking in the cold water of the falls.

The weird thing?

I didn't feel cold.

I stayed there for quite a while, and my body felt completely fine.

Maybe it was the excitement.

Maybe it was the conversation about sex.

Maybe my body simply adapted.

Or maybe I was too distracted thinking about life, hope, education, and the future of the country.

Either way, I enjoyed it.

The biggest thing I took home today wasn't from the waterfall.

It wasn't the scenery.

It wasn't the cold water.

It was the reminder that there are still people who believe in this country.

People who still choose hope.

People who still choose service.

People who still believe that educating one young person can create a ripple effect far beyond what we can see.

And honestly, hearing that gave me hope too.