NLAI or Nasa Labas ang Ili was a series of two walks I facilitated along a route inside the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in 2023. It was one of several workshops by various facilitators under Rosa Mirasol Melencio–Quijano's first solo exhibit entitled "ILI: Mga Kwento ng Lupa, Bayan, at Tahanan" (ILI: Stories of Land, Country, and Home). Ili is an Ilocano word, which throughout history has meant village, town, or community.

The first NLAI walk was held on April 20, 2023, around 4:00 in the afternoon. I called it Dapit-hapon (sunset). Meanwhile, the second NLAI walk was held on April 27, 2023, at around 7:00 in the morning and was called Bukang-liwayway (Sunrise).

The NLAI walks were seminal in my exploration of walking as a platform for cultivating attention as well as a gathering that allows us to return to ourselves, others, and nature. The following is an account of the first NLAI walk: Dapit-hapon.

People were still walking around the Sining Makiling Gallery when we began sitting down on a circle of chairs. I started the workshop by asking them to introduce themselves and describe their most favorite walk route. I introduced myself and told them about the road I used to visit almost every afternoon back in Pangasinan. The road that will later be named Snake Road.

I told them how I felt like I owned the road in the past, how I would lie down on the side looking at the stars after farmers have gone home—farmers I personally know. I told them how I left Pangasinan a couple of months after it was cemented—after motorcycle riders, Tiktokers, vendors, and teenagers began flocking every afternoon on what was once my favorite walk route.

I passed the baton to the person on my right and listened to participant stories of their favorite routes. Lea said that her favorite walking route might just be the route we are walking this afternoon. Benjie said that the academic oval at UP Diliman is his favorite walking route. Maui mentioned the place he grew up in at Quezon City. Abbey said Sampaloc Lake. Kuya Icktoy said he likes walking at the beach. Uwa said he's favorite walking route is life itself—a walk where he encounters many people whom he could show kindness to. Bien mentioned Roxas Boulevard, where one could walk along Manila Bay. And Cha, mentioned a farm she stayed in at Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

After the introductions, I told them that the walk we are performing this afternoon is more about attention than it is about walking. Walking will simply be a tool to train attention. I told them that attention is like a gift we offer to someone. The more we offer it and the higher the quality we offer, the more chance of building relationship. Love and friendship grows from the mulch of attention.

I then told them that this afternoon's walk will offer attention to three receivers: Kapuwa (Other), Pook (Place), and Sarili (Self). How will we do it? We would divide the walk into three parts. On the first leg (the walk towards), we would focus on Kapwa. The second leg (the rest), we would focus on Pook. Lastly, on the last leg, we would focus on Sarili.

The walk would be a practice of being here in the present moment. Instead of using the breath as anchor for attention, we would use kapuwa, pook, and sarili consecutively. After this introduction, I asked everyone to join me outdoors to start the first leg of the walk.

Nasa Kapuwa ang Ili: Home is in the Other

After dividing the group into pairs, pairing strangers with each other, I read the following poem "Sabay Tayo" by the poet Inggo.

Sabay Na Tayo
by Inggo

Gusto kitang makausap muli
Habang naglalakad tayo pauwi
Nais mapakinggan ang iyong mga kuwento
Habang nakatingin sa mapupungay na mata mo

Ikkuwento ko sayo ang parte ng buhay ko
Baka sakaling magustuhan maging parte nito
Ikuwento mo rin ang parte ng buhay mo
At magbabakasakali ako na maging parte din nito

Bagalan sana natin ang paglalakad
Nang masulit ko itong pagkakataon
Kasi baka hindi na ito maulit pa
Darating pa nga ba ang tamang panahon?

Humantong na tayo dito sa lugar
Kung saan dapat ng maghiwalay
Hindi ko man gusto matapos oras na ito
Sana bukas ay muli kang makasabay

(English translation)

After reading the poem, we started to walk outside gallery and continued toward Freedom Park, half of which was once a World War II Japanese prisoners' camp. At the southern edge of the park, we turned left to Pili Drive where we walked slowly for a few minutes before entering an interior dirt road near a creek of the Molawin River.

Along the dirt road, we passed by houses and shanties, some of which were owned by informal settlers who built them just outside an iron fence built by the university. Walking in the Philippines, whether on urban or suburban spaces like where we were walking that time, exposes one to the realities of poverty. I knew my group knew about this, but I told them about the dirt road before the walk to prepare them.

Nearly after the walk started, I received my first feedback from Benjie, "Take it slow, Vince. Tatay Icktoy is with us." I looked back at the 75-year-old man who decided to do the walk with us.

"Ok, I will. Or I will wait for you," I said. Marky saw us from afar and ran toward us. "I will join the walk," he said. He was playing volleyball with some friends. "Why did you left your friends?" I asked him. "It is you I want to be with," he answered.

Before the walk started, I shared a few reminders. I reminded everyone that discomfort is inherent in any walk and that we would be treating it as part of our training this afternoon. I also told them that despite us having a plan, I am open to making changes if the present moment asks so. Marky suddenly joining us is the first change. I thought I would be walking the first leg alone. But there I was doing exactly what the first leg was designed to do: connect with Kapuwa.

On the corner of Freedom Park and Pili Drive, Hogar, another LB friend saw us from his bike and decided to join the walk. Not being briefed about the design of the walk, he started talking with everyone. I let it be. This exactly is what supposed to happen.

Nasa Pook ang Ili: Home is in Place

We entered the interior. I heard Abbey say, "Uwa and I rode our bikes until the end of this concrete. We turned back."

And now we're walking the rest of the road. And I know Uwa and Abbey will like what they will see very much.