Sophia

   A trip to the heart of Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur was a transformative experience that forced me to rethink the  nature of research and community engagement. As a group of researchers, we came to this rural settlement with  certain  assumptions and prejudices. But this idea was soon overturned. From the moment we began our first meetings with local leaders and residents, it was clear that the people of Sto. Domingos were  true experts on the issues facing their community. They had a deep and nuanced understanding of the barriers they faced and the resources available to them. Our role was not to jump in and tell them what to do, but to listen, learn, and collaborate to find the right way forward.   Trust and relationships were at the core of this collaborative approach. Rather than conducting research in isolation, we made a concerted effort to engage with a diverse array of stakeholders - from farmers and small business o...