What began as a joyful day at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival quickly turned into a nightmare I’ll never forget. After packing up our Tahanan Studio booth, I stayed behind to enjoy the evening—only to be pulled into chaos minutes later by desperate calls for medics. I found myself moving into crisis mode, helping where I could, then caring for a young boy who had been separated from his injured mother. I stayed with him through the fear, the questions no child should ever have to ask, and the long hours at the hospital. Since that night, I’ve felt like I’m moving through water—trying to show up for my community while struggling to feel grounded in my own body. Yet even in the midst of pain and trauma, I’ve witnessed deep love, courage, and collective care. We can’t unsee what we’ve seen—but I believe healing is possible when we walk through it together.
