The Philippines, an archipelago made up of 7,641 islands scattered across the Western Pacific Ocean, is a country best explored outside its capital, Manila. Beyond the fame and notoriety of its devastating typhoons, power-hungry politics, beauty queens and hot-blooded netizens, is a republic blessed with its own brand of tropical cool brought by the rich ecosystem of its coasts and rainforests. From limestone-covered lagoons in Palawan to palm tree-dotted sandbars in Cebu, it’s safe to say that it is the birthright of every Filipino to retreat in sleepy beach towns after a hectic work season and prolonged stints in the city.

This cyclical exodus marked by summer and monsoon is a common thread that binds the creativity of its people. There is a sense of migration – a longing to get out then return to one’s base after a long journey. This is not surprising, considering it has one of the largest diasporas in the world listed next to densely populated nations like China and India. Even so, it also has its own inner diaspora within the homeland as a result of its geography. These physical gaps are the very cracks from which a diverse creative community has emerged, one that embraces a unified future amid the clash of cultures.