Some prayers take years to be answered. Others arrive right on time.
Recently, I received confirmation that my University of the Philippines (UP) Travel Grant has been approved. This means that 100% of my travel, registration, and living expenses for presenting at an international conference in Hanoi, Vietnam this July will be covered.
For those outside the Philippines, the University of the Philippines (UP) is the country’s national university system, recognized for excellence in teaching and research across multiple disciplines. Within UP, the Office of International Linkages (OIL) plays a critical role in supporting scholars like me. Their mission is to strengthen UP’s presence in the global academic community by providing grants, partnerships, and opportunities for faculty and students to engage internationally.
This support does more than fund a trip. It allows me to focus entirely on sharing my research on Culturally Intelligent Storytelling, knowing that the logistics are taken care of. It also means that when I stand on stage in Hanoi, I will not just be representing myself. I will be carrying with me the support of my institution, my mentors, and the academic community back home.
Every scholar knows the struggle of resources. Grants like this matter because they create bridges: between local research and global conversations, between Southeast Asian perspectives and international audiences.
As I prepare for this next step, I am deeply grateful. Not only for the financial support, but for the affirmation that the stories we tell from our part of the world matter enough to be heard on a bigger stage.
