My Relationship with WordPress
As I mentioned before, my primary reason for this trip was to spend time with a lovely friend, so attending WordCamp Asia 2025 was more of an option than a goal for me. I thought that as long as I could cheer on my friend’s LT, see everyone after a long time, and give them a hug, that would be enough.
The truth is, my motivation for WordPress had hit rock bottom due to the “banana on pizza” issue.
Even before that situation, my main business had not been focused on WordPress for the past few years. While I still had an interest in the Gutenberg project and wanted to stay connected with the wonderful community, I had been struggling to figure out what kind of relationship I should maintain with WordPress. At the end of the year, during SotW, I had the chance to hear Matias’ positive reaction to new features like logical properties, which made me think, “Alright, maybe I’ll give it another shot.” But then came the announcement that development would be on hold for a while. At that point, I didn’t even know what mindset I should have going into Contributor Day. All I could do was joke about focusing on food and sightseeing.
With these mixed feelings and my late decision to go, I didn’t coordinate with anyone and simply chose Zipair Tokyo, which seemed affordable and clean. Since my flight from Narita was early in the morning, I had to stay overnight near the airport. But even factoring in the hotel cost, it was still significantly cheaper than JAL or ANA. And since it was a direct flight, any delays wouldn’t be too critical. Compared to myself five years ago, I was a bit more experienced with traveling and decided to push myself just a little more.
Narita Feels So Far Away
Before every WordCamp, a Japanese-speaking members’ group chat usually pops up, and I find myself invited before I know it. So, in the days leading up to the event, my notifications are typically lively. This time, however, the drama started even before people arrived in Manila. Someone missed their flight, another one was unsure if their booth swag would pass through customs, and my notifications were buzzing while I was packing and working.
Watching the early arrivals finally reach Manila, I set off for Narita on February 18, 2025, the night before my flight. It had been over ten years since I last went to Narita. Freezing on the platform in the cold wave, I got on the almost empty Sobu Line’s Tozai Line through-service train and started dozing off. Around the same time, my husband was caught in a delay due to a person standing on the tracks. In the end, I arrived at my hotel in Narita around the same time he got home.
This made Narita feel even farther away. I also nearly missed my stop because I wasn’t paying attention to station names and assumed I was still somewhere in Chiba. Wiping my cold sweat, I reached my hotel, Marroad International Hotel Narita. Though old, it had all the necessary amenities, and a classic atmosphere, and was reasonably priced for a pre-flight stay. I was already exhausted but managed to buy a sandwich from the very crowded hotel convenience store and take a bath before immediately falling asleep. Thanks to my fatigue, I wasn’t too bothered by the sounds of other travelers in the hallway.
Sadly, I’ve gotten better at waking up early over the years, so I had no problem catching the shuttle bus the next morning. Pushing my newly purchased, pure white suitcase, I wandered through the vast airport, thinking about how “Kita Wing” – a famous Japanese idol’s song – song intro song went. The airport was so unremarkably white and quiet in the early morning that I barely remember it. Structurally and in terms of signage design, it felt slightly confusing.
One thing that stood out was the large digital display above the Zipair counter, stating that checked baggage required some kind of tag. This made me anxious, so I stepped out of the line to ask a staff member. It turned out there was no issue, but I still found it odd that such a notice was placed there—it felt like poor UX. Do other airlines do this? Maybe I was just hungry. I absentmindedly munched on the sandwich while waiting in line again, justifying my poor manners with the thought that being grumpy would be worse.
To brace myself, I downed the coffee I had brewed at home the night before—but in the end, I still forgot to take off my Apple Watch at security. After apologizing profusely, bowing my way through the checkpoint, I somehow made it out in one piece. Then, I stumbled into the next area, still unsure of its purpose.
Though I didn’t physically trip, my mental SAN points took a hit from the impersonal treatment at security. That cold efficiency which is one of my least favorite things as well as the overwhelming noise of air travel, is something I struggle with. I wish they could automate the process already.
Luckily, near Gate 16, there was a spacious, stylish work area with a modern Japanese design. It was the only time during this trip that I actually got some focused work done.
By the way, Zipair has an app for mobile check-in. However, when I tried to scan my passport in the app, I kept getting errors. After some trial and error, I managed to get it working on the browser version instead. I wonder how many people actually succeed with the app. Was it just a random bug?
Finally, to Manila!
Once I got on the plane, I found it surprisingly comfortable. That might have been largely because the middle seat in my row was empty, but even for a four- to five-hour flight, the space was perfectly fine. Plus, the fact that the Wi-Fi was actually usable without any extra charges was a huge plus. Streaming videos was a bit tough, but since yarn add worked just fine, I’d say it was more than enough.
The sandwich I chose for the in-flight meal was… extremely average. Maybe it was because I had totally forgotten I had also picked a sandwich for breakfast that morning. Absentmindedly chewing on those, I read a few more chapters of the novel I had brought along. Set in Cebu, Philippines, the story had a slightly quirky first-person narrative, but the vivid descriptions pulled me in. Before I knew it, the landing announcement was playing.
Outside the window, the sky was overcast, but the sea below had a warm, golden hue. It looked extremely shallow, though I guess compared to the Japanese coastline, most places would. I had been bracing myself for the cold, yet suddenly, I found myself in the warm air of Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 1. Still in a bit of a daze, I just followed the flow of people—and before I realized it, I had ended up in the crowded immigration area. I had planned to stop by a restroom along the way since I knew they would make us walk a long distance, but too late now.
I wanted to get changed as soon as possible, so I was about to ask an officer about the priority lane for WCA when he suddenly cut me off with, “Are you Japanese?” Without even listening to my question, he started using a translation device to tell me that I needed eTravel. Yeah, obviously, I know that.
Normally, as a typical Japanese person, I would shrink back in situations like this. But my need to change clothes won out, and I asked again, this time more assertively. Finally, I was guided to the diplomat lane.
I’ll probably never get the chance to go through a diplomat lane again in my life. That curiosity aside, it wasn’t much different from regular immigration, other than the signage. Whether in Japan or anywhere else, I always find it a bit rude when staff just gesture with their chin without saying a word. But thinking about how they deal with people all day long, I can’t really blame them. I wonder—would even the friendliest, chattiest person stop talking if they had to do this job?
I still didn’t feel hot at all, but at some point, my Heat-tech shirt had already soaked through with sweat. I quickly changed out of my Ultra Light Down jacket into a tank top, finally feeling refreshed—but also a little self-conscious. Now that I think about it, I barely saw anyone wearing tank tops here. People were dressed lightly, but they weren’t really exposing their shoulders. Or was I just imagining things?
Kumusta?
When I picked up my luggage, I heard my first-ever Tagalog phrase spoken in real life from the baggage handlers—maybe “uncle” or “brother”? I couldn’t fully grasp what they were saying, but I could tell it was definitely Tagalog (or perhaps another local language similar to it). That alone made me feel a bit emotional. Wow. I’ve finally arrived in the Philippines! “Komusta?”
Now that I think about it, the officer at the front of the immigration area was also warm. Then there was the kind guy who helped lower my suitcase and another who guided me to the Grab pickup area. While they were all just doing their jobs, they were noticeably friendlier than what I’d typically experience in Japan. Wait… was I supposed to tip them? No, that can’t be it… right? I wasn’t sure if I was expected to tip them, but nobody else seemed to be tipping, so I assumed it wasn’t necessary. As I was lost in thought, I started booking my Grab ride to the hotel, only to realize something terrible—I forgot to exchange money!
Panicking, I tried to turn back, but as I had been warned, once you step outside the airport doors, there’s no going back inside. Oh no, this is bad.
Breaking into a cold sweat, I dodged the relentless taxi touts, found a quiet corner near the taxi stand, and hastily registered my card on the app. If I hadn’t managed to register it, I would’ve been completely stranded. Honestly, I’m so glad I chose Ahamo—if I had run into eSIM troubles on top of everything else, I wouldn’t just be panicking; I’d be on the verge of tears. And to think someone called me a somewhat experienced traveler…
Thankfully, I managed to get my first-ever Grab ride in the Philippines, and my driver turned out to be one of the most hospitable person I met during the entire trip. What a promising start! He loved Japan, and his English was fairly easy to understand. We had a fun conversation—he taught me several Tagalog greetings, pointed out various casinos and conference venues, and shared all sorts of local tips.
That said, I struggled to catch his pronunciation of “who.” I had to ask him to repeat it multiple times. My bad. One thing I realized during this trip was that I wasn’t used to the accent, so I sometimes struggled to catch certain words. Of course, it depends on the person, but in general, it sounds quite smooth—almost like there’s less intonation. I’m not exactly sure why, but I often found it hard to grasp. Though, to be fair, my own pronunciation is soooooooo far from perfect, and I already struggle with comprehension in large, echoey places like halls and hotel lobbies—even in Japanese. So maybe that was the main issue. Anyway, I want to say sorry for repeatedly questioning them who I met in Manila.
The cheerful driver told me he had previously worked for a Japanese company, maybe Honda or another Japan-affiliated business. I silently wished him luck in finding a job in Japan as we arrived at my hotel in Manila: Conrad Manila.
I was surprised to find that there was a security checkpoint at the entrance—and even more surprised to see multiple receptionists in elegant dresses. So this is what a fancy hotel feels like. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, I waited in the lobby for my friend. The air conditioning near the entrance was quite strong. Hmm. Is this the return of the ice-cold AC nightmare from the US?
By now, I’ve already lost count of how many times I’ve been called “Ma’am, Ma’am.” It makes me feel a little self-conscious, to be honest. I’ve never really used “Sir” or “Ma’am” myself, but thinking about it, I probably should have when addressing strangers here. My apologies for being an impolite foreigner… Also, I still haven’t broken my habit of saying “Hi” instead of “Hello” in every situation. I really need to work on my formal English.
Cute is Justice — Admiring Beauty is Human Nature
By this point, as a middle-aged woman who usually prefers staying indoors, I was already quite exhausted and felt as if my day was practically over. I found a seat—an oversized stool, A sofa?—so stylish that I hesitated to use it as actual furniture. As I took a break, a sleek, stunning beauty approached. I realized I was already grinning the moment I saw her, fully aware of my reaction as I waved at her.
That’s right—this was where the real adventure began! Nothing beats having a beautiful friend by your side! Her radiant smile instantly wiped away my fatigue. Honestly, I might as well have been in love, given how ridiculously giddy I was. Just remembering it now, I might have been swooning too much.
Right from the start, she demonstrated her true designer’s instinct—before I even had a chance to notice, she pointed out the flaws in the way our floor’s signage was designed. The awesome front-end engineer with a keen eye for design was about to be my travel companion for the next five days. Thank you for everything!
Feeling reinvigorated by her, we had some time before check-in, so we decided to store our luggage and head to a nearby mall. I had thought it would just be a way to kill time, but I was completely underestimating the Philippines. My apologies.
The path from the hotel to the mall already felt like something straight out of a theme park—a hidden passage where you’d half expect Mickey Mouse to appear. I still remember the shop names, walking through a narrow pathway between two divinely named stores, Chronos and Pandora, before finally locating the main building. The lack of clear maps or directories left us wondering—do people in Manila never get lost? But throughout my stay, I frequently saw locals wandering around aimlessly, so I guess everyone does get lost here.
And so, guided by my well-prepared friend, who had arrived in Manila a few days earlier to scout out the area, we finally found SM Mall. From that moment on, it was game over—we were shrieking in excitement nearly every meter, completely captivated by all the cute things around me. I was a bit worried that the store clerk might have been slightly taken aback.
One brand in particular blew me away: axcs. That is also what she told me. I immediately wanted to see if I could buy it in Japan, but a quick search only led me to SM Mall’s website—how disappointing. Honestly, if they ever launched in Japan, I’m sure it would go viral.
According to a Mynavi News article (in Japanese), axcs is an SM Mall private brand. Their gadget accessories were adorable, but their socks and jewelry were just as irresistible. While I could see Japanese influences, the bold colors and unique designs had a distinct charm that would be hard to find in Japan on a large scale.
To make matters worse, everything was so affordable that even my wallet—strained from an unplanned purchase some days prior—started to loosen up. I tried my best to hold back, but in the end, I walked away with a scarf, a headband, and a butterfly hairpin. That bag from my previous post? I managed to resist it that day… but, of course, I caved and bought them the next day.
The 100% silk scarf was dangerously well-designed — I could have easily bought five or six of them without thinking. If I ever get the chance to visit again, I’m certain I’ll be get them again. I’ve always loved Turkish scarves for being high-quality yet affordable, but the Philippines might be an unexpected hidden gem in that regard. The world is still so vast.
The Essential Condition for a Best Dinner
We were already losing track of time, thoroughly enjoying the essence of a girls’ trip from the very start. With the newly bought scarf wrapped around me, we set off for dinner. A few days before our trip, my friend had asked, “I managed to get a reservation—should we go?” That dinner was, without a doubt, the highlight of this trip.
Stepping off the bustling street filled with lively jeepneys, the atmosphere changed instantly. It was like those rare pockets in Tokyo—just a step away from the main road, yet perfectly insulated from the chaos, with a refined and tranquil air. Some restaurants don’t just meet expectations; they surpass them, exuding a charm so undeniable that you can tell from the outside: this place is going to be incredible.
Toyo Eatery was exactly that. According to my friend, she had already sensed it from the website alone. Impressive.
Seeing the table adorned with banana leaves, I couldn’t help but get excited. And then came our waiter—professional, with outstanding hospitality. It was the kind of service that made you want to declare “This is delicious!” before even taking a bite. My younger son has this habit of exclaiming “Delicious!” just from the sight of food, and honestly, I felt like copying him.
Since this was my very first experience with Filipino cuisine, I couldn’t tell whether the exquisite balance of vinegar and subtle sweetness was unique to this restaurant or a hallmark of the cuisine itself. But one thing was certain—I was completely captivated from start to finish. Just recalling it now is enough to make my mouth water.
The restaurant’s name, Toyo, apparently comes from the Filipino word for soy sauce. Maybe that’s why I found the flavors closer to Japanese cuisine than to Chinese or Korean, which tend to use more spice. And let’s be clear—I love Chinese and Korean food. But the flavors here had a delicate, layered depth, especially the later courses. One particular soup had the refined complexity of a high-end ume ochazuke, reminiscent of the dashi-based soups served in Japanese kaiseki cuisine.
And then there was the Piniritong Pata, a deep-fried pork knuckle. No trace of gaminess, just the best pork knuckle I’ve ever had. I desperately want to learn how they fried it so perfectly. Dipping it into the accompanying vinegar sauce—Filipinos, you are geniuses. Maybe other countries have something similar, but I’ve fallen in love with this. Can I get it on Uber Eats somehow?
Speaking of which, the vinegar sauce was the highlight of not only this meal but even the hotel breakfast. I need to know how to make it, but would I even be able to find the right ingredients? The mango and shrimp sauce salad was also mind-blowingly good. I wonder if there are restaurants in Tokyo that serve Filipino food like this… At this point, I genuinely regretted spending most of my life unaware of Filipino cuisine.
It was so incredibly delicious that it easily ranked among the top five meals of my life. I wanted to finish every bite, but even after eating until I was about to burst, I just couldn’t. And yet, somehow, I still had room for dessert.
The chocolate ice cream, grated with a mysterious salt right in front of us, was so exquisite it could have been the creation of a world-renowned chocolatier. The chewy rice dessert, wrapped in burnt banana leaves, was absolutely divine. It was also strangely nostalgic.
And then, as if the meal hadn’t already been perfect, they handed us a parting gift—freshly baked bread. “Come back again,” it seemed to say. This level of hospitality reminded me that exceptional service isn’t exclusive to Japan—it’s a universal language.
I owe this experience entirely to my friend, a self-proclaimed foodie who curated this unforgettable evening. Yes, the key to a perfect meal isn’t just what you eat—it’s who you share it with. I felt truly honored to be her dinner companion. Thank you!
At this point, I still had no idea about the full potential of Filipino cuisine. Having such an outstanding meal on my first night, I couldn’t help but wonder—will the rest of this trip even be able to measure up?
That night, I fell asleep in blissful contentment.
(Will I finally be able to reach the actual event in Part 2…)
