Will Filipino food suit a Japanese palate? Our staff ate their way through the Philippines and came back fans — here's our honest verdict, plus a Top 10 dishes and Top 5 sweets to try.
New study-abroad plan development kicked off in earnest in Cebu — inspecting a Japanese-affiliated university and three Korean-run language schools as we searched for the right fit for people from Hokkaido.
We signed a friendship-partnership agreement with the Mayor of Lingayen and spent the day immersed in a town where English is genuinely woven into everyday life — a reminder of just how much this place has to offer our students.
Our representative sets out from New Chitose, flying via Nagoya and Manila before the long drive north to Lingayen — Series II of the Hokkaido study-abroad site visit diary opens with a day of connections, first impressions, and the warmth of familiar faces at the end of the journey.
Is the Philippines really dangerous? We walked Manila and Lingayen ourselves — here's the honest picture, the precautions that genuinely matter, and why Lingayen felt far more reassuring than we expected.
We flew home from Manila to New Chitose on the final day of our eight-day reconnaissance trip, taking with us a deep appreciation for the warmth, the learning, and the people we encountered throughout our time in Lingayen.
We made the long journey from Lingayen to Manila by intercity bus, then spent the remaining daylight exploring Manila on foot — a side of the Philippines quite unlike anything we had seen so far.
A full day in Lingayen — CSi Mall, Jollibee, a beachside hotel inspection, and a farewell dinner.
Island hopping at Hundred Islands with the teachers — caves, BBQ, taho, and a night-market dinner.
From a trial English lesson and a traditional Salsalo farm lunch, to the launderette, a partner hospital, hotel visits, and a late-night massage — a full day of learning and living.
From a morning beach ride by tricycle to a local café, a city museum, and the town hall — a day spent exploring Lingayen on foot and discovering what life around the school is really like.
We meet the school staff in Manila, share our first Filipino meals together, and make the five-hour drive to Parrots-kun Language School in Lingayen — a travel day that turned out to be anything but ordinary.
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