48pigeons

Talking about migrations, for any bird flock, it’s a big journey for them. Leaving home for somewhere more suitable for their habitat. There are times they have no choice but to leave for a warmer place, for a colder place, or for a place with more food. Somewhere they can survive, somewhere they think is better for themselves and, most of the time, for their family.

As a human, I’ve learned about migration by myself. I’ve relocated from one place to another. From one country to another. In the modern society that we are living in, from a place with fewer opportunities in jobs and studies to another place where I thought there were more opportunities for me. Or sometimes, the opposite. I just wanted to try a place I never thought I would be in.

In February 2023, my first migration was from Thailand to Singapore. It sounded like an upgrade. In fact, financially, it was. Singapore opened more doors of opportunity for me to see, to learn new and various cultures and languages. Not just for gaining more resources, I learned more about myself. I learned what I like and what I don’t like. What style of work I don’t like and what kind of activity I like to join. Singapore hindered—or rather, fed—my curiosity about new religions and new hobbies. And having money at the time enabled me to pursue them more deeply. However, the high-risk, high-return situation turned into a short journey in the country. I had to move back to Thailand after almost a year of living there.

Around the time of summer in Thailand and Spring in Japan and Russia, I explored those two countries rich in culture and art. Totally different languages, atmospheres, architecture, and people. And after that, I rejected an offer in Japan and I took the only job offer I had left in the Philippines and migrated again in July 2024.

The journey didn’t start smoothly like the first migration, but this time I didn’t have many options. In fact, deciding between staying in my home country or moving to the Philippines, I chose the Philippines. During those difficult times, I had many complaints; I was in dark moments, lonely, hungry, and lost my mind. A lack of fortune pushed me into survival mode, and it wasn’t the worst idea at all to choose to do it like that.

I met friends and found a family here. The place I can call my first home in the Philippines. Every morning my friends called my name just to play with them. I brought many toys and hobbies just to spend time with them. I learned some words in Cebuano, and it’s been really helpful up until now.

In the Philippines, I’ve learned to live the island life. Lucky enough that my work allowed me to work remotely, so I didn’t hesitate to live outside of the big city. I had enough years of living in cities before and I knew I would be depressed if I had to do it again, especially in a country surrounded by the most beautiful nature on Earth.

This migration has been testing my level of resilience and endurance. I experienced a typhoon for the first time. I experienced an earthquake for the first time. I learned how to use my body in the water more than ever. I drowned and survived. I saw sharks. But most importantly, I found a romantic relationship here. She didn’t take my island life away at all, but that made me question what I was supposed to do with my next life chapter. I have come to the point of making a decision again. To continue my journey as a lone bird, or to build a strong foundation with a potential life partner. However, it might just be more natural to me that I wasn’t able to give my way to the latter choice. I admit that I failed in that area, and hey, it wasn’t the first time I failed in these relationship things. I’m not sure if I was ever born to build a family of my own family name.

If I were to describe myself as a migrating bird, I might be the bird that is always flipping through the sky all alone and never stops. This bird perched himself for a bit for a sunset and met another bird. The other bird also had her own destination for migration, and it was the place he had just left. Would he return on his journey back home with this beautiful girl he met, or would he continue his way to his next planned destination? Which island and which branch of a tree would he stop at and decide is the right place to build his nest? This bird knows himself and when that time will be, but he keeps asking himself: who can join the same way with him?

The story of the migrating bird should not end where he builds his nest. The migrating bird will face more and more circumstances making him and his family (if he has any) leave his next home again. Until the time his life ends.

Poramin DOVE (April 28, 2026)