i keep coming back

dear manila,

oh, how you frustrate me sometimes.

and at times how you anger me, how you have people who discriminate through religion, how some people judge you because of what you believe in, how you have people who look down on their own nation,  how you have people who don't believe in your capabilities in being a country that can thrive, and how you have people that cannot see your potential to do so.

but i know that beyond all of this, there is something there. something that allows me to believe that there are people out there who have not given up on you. there are people who trust that you are what they need in their lives. there are people there that believe you are the place where they can be someone, a place where they can be successful and a place where they can be whoever they want to be.

they are the ones who believe beyond the frustrations.

they are the ones who left first world countries to share their international education with their countrymen.

they are the ones who share hard earned knowledge with you.

they are the ones who come back home.

they are the ones who believe in you. maybe you can begin to believe in them too.