About a month ago, I traveled to Manila, Philippines. It was to attend WordCamp Asia 2025. I really wanted to meet the cool people that build WordPress. It was also great to catch up with people who I have come to admire.

I generally do not remember to take photos or selfies. Often, when I do remember to take them, I end up taking pictures of things rather than people.

But lately I have started taking photos and turn them to black and white.

Here are some fleeting memories from my first visit to Philippines.

As I checked out of my hotel window, this was outside. The first night I slept not as soundly as I would like. I would sit beside the window and look out. This building was an office space and hundreds were working the night shift.

I was at WordCamp Asia’s Contributor Day. For some reason, I did remember to take a photo of all the bustle.

After a good day of meeting friends, I waited and waited and waited for a Grab taxi. Finally got one and got stuck in traffic. Then for some reason we were really speeding along. I took a photo!

I was in a meeting room, checking out and figuring out some changes to a video. I completed the video. (The video is embedded at the end) Then I looked outside at the city moving along and took a photo.

One of the days, I did take the bus shuttle from one of the venues back to the hotel. I was the last to climb into the bus, which meant I ended up sitting right at the back. Made for nice photo.

With WordCamp Asia in my backpack, I settled for a good brunch with my friend at a restaurant. We finished a good tuck in with some baklava sweet and great tea.

After the brunch, I walked along the sea side and found this. It was a fence with a lot of locks on them.

Video

I went to Manila as an attendee to WordCamp Asia, came back to India as one of the lead organisers! Good luck to me.🤞

Here is the video we showed to announce Mumbai as the host city.