From Survival to Serenity: How Walking Changed Its Meaning in My Life

When you grow up poor, walking isn’t a fitness routine or a lifestyle choice. It’s survival. Back then, walking felt like a burden, a constant reminder of what we didn’t have. People would see me and ask, “Bakit ka naglalakad? Wala kang pamasahe?(Why are you walking? No money for fare?)” — and in my case, the answer was always yes.

I still remember one particular day — the long, exhausting journey from Calamba to Alabang just to visit my mother at work because we had nothing to eat at home. I walked alone. The road was hot. My legs felt heavy. At first, walking was loneliness, a shadow that followed me every day. But over time, it became something else — a quiet challenge I was determined to conquer again and again.

A Different Kind of Walking

Now I live in Oviedo, Spain — and here, walking is part of life’s rhythm.

You don’t walk here because you have no money. You walk because it’s beautiful. Because it’s healthy. Because the streets invite you to.

Here, walking is not a sign of poverty — it’s a sign of living. The city is built for it. Sidewalks that curve alongside centuries-old buildings. Narrow streets that open to plazas where children play and elders greet each other. Trails like the Senda Verde that wind through green hills, whispering rivers, and tunnels carved from old railway lines.

Even the elderly walk. Some with walking sticks, some slowly, but all with intention. As far as their feet can take them. It’s as if the people here have made a silent pact: as long as you can walk, you do.

For me, it’s not hard to adapt. My feet have known long journeys. The difference is that now, walking doesn’t weigh on me — it lifts me.

Gratitude in Every Step

My life has always been challenging, and walking was part of those challenges. But I’m thankful — truly thankful — that I got to survive those phases of my life. Walking taught me resilience before I even understood the word.

I am not an athlete. I am not a professional sportsperson. But my legs have carried me through poverty, through exhaustion, through days when hope felt far away. Walking will always remind me — and humble me — of what I have endured, and what I can still endure.

Life is a walk. It’s not about who reaches the finish line first. It’s about how you endure, how you enjoy the scenery, the detours, the re-routes. It’s about the people you meet along the way and the stories that shape you.

And sometimes, it’s about looking back at the miles you’ve walked — in hardship and in peace — and feeling grateful for every single step.

We Walk With Purpose Now

Walking has transformed from a necessity to a choice, a symbol of life and health — and now, a way to give back.

One example is the ANCOP Global Walk, a meaningful event where people worldwide walk together to support communities in need. It’s a reminder that every step we take can help others walk toward a better future.

If you want to learn more or join this inspiring movement, visit: https://ancopglobalwalk.com/

And next year, we plan to walk the Camino Primitivo.

See you in our next adventure!

When you grow up poor, walking isn’t a fitness routine or a lifestyle choice. It’s survival.

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