Through Muddy Roads and No Barrier: Grocery Shopping, Eating Street Food, Equal Treatment and One Tribe as One.

Early in the morning, we traveled to fetch our grandmother by heart. She is not related to us by blood, but she is very special to our family because she was the one who helped deliver my mother when I was born. In short she is a traditional medwife along time ago. We call her "aye" a T'boli term for grandmother. She came with her daughter and her grandson when we picked them up from their place.

The road going to their place is not easy, it is muddy, rocky, and full of rough parts. Literal mountain. Some areas are steep and very bumpy. Traveling there is not comfortable, but nothing is impossible when you are visiting people you care about.

Along the way, we saw beautiful views of nature. The mountains, green trees, and fresh air made the long ride relaxing. Even if the road was difficult, the scenery made the trip refreshing.

When we arrived in the city, the first thing we did was go grocery shopping. They are shy in front of the camera, so we did not take many photos I made sure that aye had her own groceries and her daughter has their own as well. In Filipino culture, sharing what we have with family and elders is important. Even if it is just simple groceries, it is or way of showing respect and care.

I also want my child to grow up learning these values. In our tradition, we help and give when we can, especially to elders who have been part of our life journey. These simple acts teach children the meaning of generosity.

They only stayed with us for one night. Before we brought them back home, we stopped by a street food stall because that is what they enjoy the most. The fried chicken was freshly cooked, and it looked perfectly crispy. I also bought pastel with filling inside that costs only 10 pesos. That is aye's favorite food, so I made sure to get some for her.

On our way back, we stopped for a while at a small falls along the road near their place. It was a simple stop, but it made the trip more special. My child was very happy seeing the water and enjoying the moment.

The road going home was still muddy, rocky and far but the memories we shared made the trip meaningful.

Thank you for reading my story and the lead photo was edited in Canva. Have a nice day, everyone!