"You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?"

If you woke up on Siargao Island, you might be tempted to answer yes to the question-turned-meme posed by former U.S. vice president Kamala Harris. Spending the last two weeks on this picturesque island, coconut trees everywhere you look, I have felt the warmth and kindness of the Siargaonon people and I am beginning to understand the reason why they call it the "Siargao Curse".

My first two weeks in the Philippines have been filled with karaoke, trying new foods and experiencing the strong sense of community that radiates through Siargao island and its people. But there's more to life than just beaches and coconuts, which I have experienced while living in a small barangay in the northern municipality of San Isidro. To finish the quote, "You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you". The same sentiment extends to the visitors of this island, as Siargaonons feel the impact of tourism on their home.

On my first trip to Pacifico beach, walking with Jelyn (one of the program coordinators at Lokal Lab), she told me about the restricted access that locals have been experiencing due to private landownership along the seafront. While the beach itself is free to access, there are limited entrances. As more plots of land are sold, more and more of these spaces are at risk of becoming inaccessible to the people that grew up with them. While visiting Magpupungko rock pools, I was told a similar story by one of the locals - she used to visit the pools with her parents growing up, but now they must pay to enter. I found these conversations very moving, as these perspectives are often lost when travellers recount their incredible holidays abroad. After just a few days, I could already see some of the challenges that tourism often brings.

Alongside these insightful moments, I have experienced many firsts in the Philippines. Trying my first halo-halo, celebrating my first fiesta and drinking water from a coconut for the first time. All of these are staples in the life of Siargao locals. But also, daily life here involves frequent brown outs, limited running water and a lack of transportation around the island. Despite these difficulties, I have witnessed the creative ways that people learn to adapt and persevere. As I work alongside the community building team, I have the unique opportunity to learn what supporting a community's resilience and sustainability look like. I hope to absorb as much knowledge as I can, implementing the lessons that I learn from these local leaders both at home and in my future travels.