Self introduction! Hello to all of you! I’m Ann, and I was born in a town in Iloilo, about 30 kilometers away from the city. Our home was surrounded by a small coffee plantation, with trees like mango, coconut, cacao, and many other tropical or native fruits — it really felt like paradise! We also had plenty of animals around — chickens, geese, ducks, goats, pigs, cows, and even a carabao — and a small rice field. That was my childhood — simple, yet full of joy and natural beauty. Now, I carry those memories and stories with me here on the podcast Ma-HILIGAYNON Ta! I still clearly remember how we used to walk about 3 kilometers just to get to school when my siblings and I were in elementary. It was only when I got to high school that we moved closer to the highway. During the rainy season, we’d walk barefoot through rice paddies and small streams, carrying our school shoes and supplies. We would wash our muddy feet in a little stream beside the road before waiting for our favorite tricycle driver to pass by and take us to school. You know, it’s only now that I realize how tough that was — but back then, it all felt like fun. I never even thought of it as difficult, especially for young schoolgirls like me. We had a very loyal dog — his name was Burgo. He looked like he came from a police breed, maybe part German Shepherd mixed with a native dog. He was a gift from my grandfather. He was my companion through every silly adventure and farm chore. Want to hear more of my stories? Just follow my podcast! Let’s keep talking — see you in Ma-HILIGAYNON Ta! This is Ann — padayon lang, abyan (keep going, friend).