Life in the Philippines is always an adventure, and today was one of those days where we hit the road for something very important: Liam’s therapy. Every Monday and Friday, we make the trip to Dumaguete for his speech therapy sessions. It’s a bit of a journey, but seeing the progress he’s making makes every kilometer worth it. On the other days—Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday—he goes to his regular school, so he’s a pretty busy little guy!
The day started with the usual excitement of getting ready. We had to buy our tickets and prepare for the commute. One thing you learn quickly here is that you have to be flexible with transportation. Liam is such a champ with the travel now; he’s used to the routine and usually stays pretty calm, even when we’re switching between different modes of transport.
Once we reached the city, we had to transfer to a tricycle. I always joke that I have to sit in the front because I’m "so big," while Jessa and Liam tuck into the back. It’s a tight squeeze sometimes, but it’s all part of the experience! We finally made it to the center, which is more like a specialized school for his therapy. He spends his time there working on his speech, and today he did so well. In fact, he was doing so great that he actually started crying when it was time to leave—he just wanted to stay and play more!
Since the whole family was together in Dumaguete, we decided not to head straight home. We treated ourselves to a "detour" at the mall. First things first: food. We went for some Inasal chicken. Honestly, if you’ve never had it, you’re missing out—it’s consistently delicious and exactly what we needed after a long morning.
After lunch, it was all about Liam. The highlight of any mall trip for him is the playground. We let him run wild for a bit to burn off some energy. We also picked up a massive lollipop for him as a reward for being such a good boy during his session. I did have a little chuckle wondering if he’d be disappointed later when he realized it was actually a big container filled with smaller lollipops instead of one giant one, but for now, he was thrilled.
By the time we finished our shopping and playtime, the traffic was starting to pick up. We found a jeepney to take us back toward home. It was a long day, and we were all a bit tired, but it was a successful one. These trips to Dumaguete are a staple of our life right now, and while they can be exhausting, they’re also filled with these small, happy family moments. Thanks for coming along with us on our little school run!
