Texts and photos by Jeremaiah Opiniano

VALLADOLID, Spain—SPANIARDS coming from this place, like a former king and some Augustinian priests who became bishops in Manila and Cebu during the 17th century, conquered Filipinos and their land about four centuries ago.

But today at Spain’s former seat of power and the capital of the Castilla y Leon region, a small pack of Filipinos —around ten— quietly made this quiescent city their home.

BARCELONA, SPAIN—THE outlet of the popular Brazilian coffee shop Bracafe in Paloma district is Filipinos’ favourite hangout, like this gentleman in a cap. OFWJC Photo Service

Care and feeding of migration journalism,
 a decade hence

—Adopted from an essay written by Pulitzer Prize winner and juror Jacqui Banaszynski

IN a serene compound a decade ago, a writing plot was conceived. That humid January afternoon inside a Jesuit-run university, three men dipped into their warm coffee cups to hatch their hot idea.

PASAY CITY—CANDIDO Caminero’s legs didn’t wobble in his recent band sortie with some of his nine children. There are over-12 videos in his son’s laptop to prove it.

One would not even think the 63-year-old is tired and weary from months-long work as chief engineer in ships.

MAKATICITY—A FORMER ship captain’s low-income hometown is 151.66 kilometers away from here.

The structures in his hometown of Bautista, Pangasinan have nothing on the slickness of the marbles, tiles, and furnishings of the multi-storey office building of Capt. Manolo Gacutan.