Storyteller Ferdz Decena | IronWulf.com
- 27970 Views
- May 4, 2012
- 6
Shaping Cultural Experiences
Travel has been an integral part of my life since I was a young child. I grew up in a multicultural, bilingual home in the Netherlands with a Polish mother and a Dutch father. My
- 18922 Views
- May 10, 2012
- 7
Update & BBC News Link
A brief update: One interview video will be uploaded tomorrow evening. I believe the BBC News One-Minute World News provides well-balanced reporting of news, hence why I wanted to share it. Top stories on May
- 24336 Views
- May 11, 2012
- 5
From Nigeria to Boston
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VNkCazT_T4&feature=youtu.be
When you first meet Oluwagbeminiyi Osidipe, you encounter a very vibrant, friendly, and unique personality. Oluwagbeminiyi or Niyi – as she shortened her name for simplicity – was named by her mother, who had a “very personal experience” when she had her, Niyi explained. Niyi is a Yoruba Nigerian transplant who arrived in the U.S. in 2006. As one of the most densely populated (West) African countries, Nigeria derives its name from the river that spans its land. To the South, it borders the Gulf of Guinea to the Atlantic Ocean. Originally colonized by the British, Nigeria gained independence in 1960. Its main ethnic groups are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, who speak English and their own respective languages, while major religions include Islam, Christianity and indigenous beliefs. Niyi shares her story, her views on politics, cultural differences she’s embraced with humor, and what we can learn from each other by expressing curiosity. Her message is simple: travel enriches us through its exposure to new cultures, and enables us to grow.
- 13748 Views
- May 16, 2012
- 6
Mark Twain on Travel
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” (American author Mark Twain, Innocents Abroad).
Have you had the opportunity to travel (extensively, within your country, or even once abroad)? Can you relate to Twain’s sentiments? How does travel enrich us?
- 13849 Views
- May 19, 2012
- 19
Pleasing The Taste Palate
Food has the wonderful quality of uniting us no matter where we are. There is nothing partisan or narrow-minded about food. It simply invites us to indulge, create recipes, and share with others. Two of my favorite Polish dishes (included in collage) are pierogies and barszcz czerwony – a beetroot soup – served on Christmas Eve in Poland. How does food bring us together? What are some of your favorite dishes and why? Can food trigger memories?
- 13892 Views
- May 23, 2012
- 2
Stereotypes: Truth or Fiction?
DEFINING STEREOTYPES: “An idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation.” (Merriam-Webster). Stereotypes enable bias and preconceived notions to perpetuate, but can also reveal valid
- 12749 Views
- May 29, 2012
- 4
Annual Human Rights Report
“The world changed immeasurably over the course of 2011. Across the Middle East, North Africa, and far beyond, citizens stood up to demand respect for human dignity, more promising economic opportunities, greater political liberties, and
- 11079 Views
- May 31, 2012
- 4
Euro Crisis & Emerging Stereotypes
Brief Crisis Breakdown Since the onset of the global financial crisis, or Great Recession, in 2007, the Eurozone has feared impending growing global debt levels, as well as sovereign debt within European countries themselves. In
- 11610 Views
- June 4, 2012
- 2
Remembering Tiananmen
Today marks the 23rd anniversary of Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in Beijing, China. Inflation, a lack of career prospects, the fall of Eastern European communism, and political corruption, are all said to have fueled anger
- 13260 Views
- June 7, 2012
- 18
Coffee's Uniting Power
A cup of coffee can bridge cultural gaps. At least, that’s what Gizem Salgicil White, founder of Turkayfe.org, believes. Her organization aims to create awareness of Turkish culture, particularly within America. Gizem is a Turkish native,
- 6374 Views
- Nicolette
- May 2, 2018
- Storytellers
In today’s Culture with Travel storyteller post, we spotlight Ferdinand Decena, an award-winning photographer and blogger.
Learn about Ferdinand in our interview:
Tell us a bit about yourself! Why do you love travel? How do you think travel unites us or teaches us more about the world?
I’m Ferdz Decena, a travel photographer and writer from the Philippines. I was fortunate to be raised in a family that loves to travel.
As a kid, I enjoyed our family summer road trips. We often spent time by the beach in my father’s province in Quezon Philippines and my mom’s home in Bicol.
But, growing up, this became less frequent.
I wanted to recapture that sense of wonder and started traveling on my own when I was already working. I think travel is always a way to learn about the world. It broadens our horizons but at the same time it shows us that people go through the same struggles as everyone wherever we live.
What surprising aspect of culture do you love about where you’re from (your specific town/city) that travelers may not be aware of?
I think a lot already know about the famed hospitality of Filipinos. We love to entertain guests and offer them what we can. We like to please people, which can both be good and bad. And, we always like to leave good impressions on our guests.
Which dish do you feel best represents where you’re specifically from? Share a picture and tell us why you love it!
For me, Adobo represents our cuisine. It is simple but differs in character depending on which place in the country you are at.

Share about a custom/tradition you observe, and talk about the role of family in your life. What does family mean to you?
Filipinos are family oriented. Unlike other countries they tend to stick together even if they grow up. So, a sense of family is one of the important things Filipino hold on to. For most, it’s what we live for, to make each of our family members have better lives.
Art and dance can tell a deeper story about local culture. Tell us the story of a specific artwork or dance that has a meaning for you. Share a photo, if you can. (i.e. street art, festivals, paintings, architecture, woven artwork, a family heirloom, etc.)
I love the Ifugao and Igorot culture of the highlands. I always urge people to visit the Cordillera regions to see and experience their culture. Their native dance mimicking animals and dancing synchronized to the sound of gongs is both mesmerizing and hypnotic. Their dances are also tied deeply into their rituals.

Languages not only give us the power to communicate but also can unite us across cultures. Share a favorite saying you have, or teach us something in your native language.
Say “Kamusta” with a smile. It mean’s “Hello”, a great way to start a conversation. I always believed in giving thanks so say “Salamat!” for “Thanks.”
Have you ever met a stranger during your travels who made an impact on your life in a certain way, or maybe it was you who helped someone else? Share the story!
I’ve had a lot of memorable encounters with strangers, especially during solo travels. There were simple strangers asking directions that became companions on a trip.
For me, one memorable encounter was in Myanmar. It was a balloon festival in Inle Lake and all the rooms were booked and I couldn’t find a ride out. This kind lady at the hotel called up all the available hotels aside from her own. Not satisfied, she also called up the buses to find me a seat, which she did. I was touched as she went out of her way to help me. A stranger that just walked into a hotel to ask for information and help.
In Batanes, Philippines as well, I remember being capsized with my friends in Sabtang Island. Our boat turned over and we were soaking wet. A couple took us in, let us sleep in their house for at least 3 nights until the weather got better, and the boat transfers resumed. They even let us join in their meals. We kept in touch with them after and revisited them when we returned to the island.
Follow Ferdz and his travel adventures, and check out his personal website. He’s on Instagram, Twitter and more!
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