On 18 December 2025, the 52nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Fiji, I left Manila to fly to Fiji, to join the landing team here. We had an important task: to establish a new Embassy of the Philippines in Fiji, which will cover Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, with Consular Jurisdiction in French Polynesia, and Wallis and Futuna.

So I was at the airport a little past 4am with my mom, my daughter & her partner Ryan, and my granddaughter, Estella. Initially, I said there’s no need to bring me to the airport; just reserve a cab, assist me in putting my luggage (total of 50+ kgs.) to the cab, and see me off. It’s more practical I said.  Abie teased me saying that I’m too “independent.” . But they really wanted to join me to say goodbye. 

So we arrived at the airport, took a few photos. I checked my gate and lined up to check my luggage in and get the boarding pass. That took 25minutes, prompting my daughter to ask, “Babalik ka pa dito, Mama?” I went back, feeling lighter this time after checking in two (2) heavy luggage, took some more photos, shared some reminders, gave some parting funds, and finally, said goodbye.

Fast forward, I flew to Hong Kong, stayed at the airport for six (6) hours; flew to Nadi, Fiji; waited for (4) hours for my flight; then for the first time, flew a small plane with less than 20 passengers (It was fun!) and arrived in Suva at past 11AM. I met my team (3 from the Embassy plus the Honorary Consul) at the airport, then we went to my hotel in Suva.

I just requested put my luggage in my room, freshened up a bit (I had been travelling for over 20 hrs. with little sleep and rest), then we had a quick lunch, went to the telecom shop to buy a sim card, went to the another shop to buy a bus card, walked to a footwear store to buy rubber slippers, then went to a grocery store for some essentials. Afterwards, I went back to my hotel located in the Central Business District of Suva. I bid my team goodbye so we could all rest, as it was late afternoon already.

Now, I’ve been here for two weeks, spending Christmas and New Year here. My team managed to squeeze in both official and unofficial appointments within that period, did our own photoshoot by the beach and at the park for a digital Christmas card, visited several properties for four (4) purposes (temporary Office, possible Chancery, feasible Ambassador’s residence, possible apartment), and joined my team to purchase office supplies and equipment, as Fiji both geared up and slowed down for the Holiday celebrations.

It was a hectic time. But of course, we found time to smell the flowers: we went to a park, visited a Sunday bazaar, went to the downtown market twice, dropped by two (2) Filipino stores and one (1) Filipino resto just to say hi, and dined at a French café, Holiday Inn, Paradiso Bar and some stalls in various food courts in the malls at the Central Business District.

There were moments when loneliness crept in. I couldn’t stop my tears when I went to church on my 1^st Sunday and on Christmas day, while praying to God during mass. A few times, while I was at the hotel balcony reflecting on my life, the tears came again. And in the middle of my simple New Year dinner, which I cooked, just after a video call with my family where I wished everyone a Happy New Year and said that everything is okay, I was suddenly overcame with sadness that I had to stop eating momentarily.

2025 gave me some unforgettable plot twists, with my foreign assignment here in Oceania as the biggest in the last quarter of the year and the 2nd biggest for the year (with the unexpected arrival my grandchild topping the list). ❤

My foreign assignment was a surprise I didn’t expect to arrive soon. It’s a blessing that came my way. It’s a mission that seems daunting, but one that I look forward to embracing, with my team of qualified and dedicated personnel.