My Unforgettable Two Weeks at MCL

By Konoka Miyakawa

“As long as you come back alive, that’s all that matters.”

That’s what I was told before leaving for this trip. But in reality, my experience was nothing like what people imagined. Instead of just surviving, I came back with countless unforgettable experiences and a new perspective on life.

A Taste of Something New

On my second day in the Philippines, I had pork blood soup for the first time.
Drinking an animal’s blood was something I had never done before, so I was pretty nervous. But when I finally took a sip, I was surprised—it didn’t have a strong smell, and it actually tasted really good!

I realized that in the Philippines, every part of an animal is used and appreciated. That made me think about how much food we waste in Japan. Even the blood, something many people would throw away, is turned into a delicious meal. It made me feel that the pig’s life was truly valued.

Three Moments That Stood Out

1. The Warmth of the Filipino People

One of the things that left a deep impression on me was how kind and encouraging the people in the Philippines are.

Compared to Japan, where people can be quite reserved, Filipinos are always supportive. Even when I was just walking down the street, people would smile and say things like “Beautiful!” It was such a refreshing and warm atmosphere.

Before coming to the Philippines, I struggled with low self-esteem. But being in this environment, where people lift each other up, helped me see things differently.

Another thing I admired was how confident everyone was.
In Japan, many young people doubt themselves and feel insecure.
But in the Philippines, people of all ages seemed to carry themselves with confidence and joy.
I realized that this strong sense of self-worth is something Japan could learn from.

2. My First Encounter with Begging

While visiting a market near MCL, my friends and I were eating snacks when two young boys came up to us, holding out their hands.
They didn’t say anything, but their message was clear—they were asking for food.

I knew they weren’t a threat, yet I felt panicked.

Luckily, Tomo, the founder of MCL, quickly gave them some of his snacks.
I noticed that one boy got a smaller portion than the other, and he looked at his friend’s bigger piece with longing in his eyes.
I felt relieved that Tomo was there to handle the situation, but at the same time, I didn’t know how to feel about it.

Then, on the day I left MCL, it happened again.
While sitting on a shuttle bus at the airport, a young girl and an elderly woman knocked on the window, their hands stretched out in front of them.
I froze.

I didn’t know what to do, so I just looked away and stared straight ahead.

When the bus finally started moving again, I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. But instead of relief, I felt ashamed.

Before this trip, I thought that if someone was begging, the best thing to do was to give them food or money.
But after experiencing it firsthand, I started questioning whether that was really the right thing to do.

There are so many complex reasons why people end up in such situations.
Just handing them food or money doesn’t solve the root of the problem.

I also noticed that most of the beggars were young children or elderly people—those who had no way of earning money for themselves.
Seeing small children begging was heartbreaking.
I couldn’t stop thinking about how different our lives were, just because of where we were born.

At the same time, I felt a strong desire to help.
I realized that MCL has been working for years to support people like them, and it deepened my understanding of international cooperation.

3. A Conversation That Changed My Perspective

One day, I was listening to a conversation among university students at MCL.
They were talking about Japan’s high suicide rate.

I didn’t have the English skills to fully express my thoughts, so I just listened. But one sentence stood out to me:

“Filipinos may not have money, but we are happy.”

It was such a simple statement, but it made me think.

In the Philippines, there are many people struggling financially. But despite that, they seem genuinely happy.
On the other hand, Japan is economically stable, yet many people are constantly stressed and exhausted.

I started to wonder: What if we could support each other?

Japan has financial stability, while the Philippines has a joyful and resilient spirit.
Maybe, by learning from each other, both of our countries could find a better balance.

A Life-Changing Experience

These two weeks at MCL were the most eye-opening experience of my life.

One night, after dinner, we all sat together and sang songs.
We sang “Aozora” by The Blue Hearts, and the lyrics really hit me:

“Does the color of your skin or the place you were born really define who you are?”

Even though I couldn’t speak English or Bisaya, everyone at MCL found ways to communicate with me—through simple words, gestures, and laughter.

For the first time, I stepped outside of Japan and saw how big the world really is.
I realized that the small world I used to live in wasn’t everything.
There are so many cultures, perspectives, and ways of life beyond what I knew.

And with that, I also realized that the things I used to worry about weren’t as big as they seemed.

This experience changed the way I see the world, and I want to carry these lessons with me as I move forward in life.