Dear Readers, If you peeked into my phone gallery, you’d probably find a kind of beautiful chaos. My husband often reminds me to delete the unnecessary photos, to tidy things up. He’s right, of course. But maybe you understand that urge to preserve every fragment of memory from a cherished journey. Every photo feels like a seed of a story I might one day return to. I am a collector of beautiful travel memories. This week, as I embarked on writing this newsletter, one photo caught my eye: my Philippine passport. That small booklet is so much more than paper and ink. It is my book of adventure, my global identity, my legal existence in airports and foreign lands. Despite its size, it carries remarkable weight of movement, possibility, identity, and transformation. And now, it takes on another meaning: a symbol woven into Journeys of the Soul, One Story at a Time. In a world where some passports unlock borders with ease, mine often feels heavy. Each trip means stacks of documents, long applications, and proof of who I am except for those blessed, visa-free destinations. According to Visa Index, Filipino passport holders currently enjoy visa-free access to 63 countries, while some sources count up to 67 destinations when including visa-on-arrival and electronic travel authorizations. Visa Guide notes that as of August 2025, “the Philippine passport ranks 127th out of 199 countries and territories”, an index that reminds us of both privilege and limitation. It is contemplated that despite improvements, Filipino travelers still encounter rigorous visa requirements for destinations in North America, much of Europe, and some parts of Oceania and Africa, making travel planning and paperwork complex and time-consuming. For many Filipinos, the rituals of waiting, hoping, and sometimes being denied are all too familiar. But over time, I’ve learned to see these obstacles as part of the journey itself, less of a barrier, more of an invitation to grow. Law school taught me how to become tenacious, and my remote legal work taught me how to navigate bureaucracy - skills that turned me into my own paralegal, carefully assembling every file, facing each interview, and following the small miracles stamped into my passport. I still remember the first time mine was stamped in Lima, Peru - a country I could enter visa-free. After a long line at immigration, the relief of hearing that stamp of ink on paper was unforgettable. Others seemed to glide through effortlessly while I waited with doubt. And yet, that single stamp unlocked a lifetime of adventures. It reminded me of something deeper: just as our passports dictate where we can go, we all carry invisible passports, too. Our cultural passport shaped by the traditions, languages, and roots we inherit can open doors or present challenges wherever we go. Our emotional passport represents patience, openness, curiosity inviting connection or, when weighed down by fear, close it. Our spiritual passport represents our beliefs and mindset transforming obstacles into lessons, and uncertainty into wonder. Together, these unseen passports shape every journey as surely as the one tucked inside my bag. Every stamp leads me deeper into a dream planted long ago by a seven-year-old girl from a small coastal town in Southeast Asia, where the sun kissed the sea, who once gazed at an atlas book and imagined the world. What about you? Which invisible passports guide your journey? I’d love to hear your reflections - reply, comment, or simply carry the thought with you into your next adventure. Of love, spirits, and travels, Nisa Opalla P.S. From my own journeys, I know how travel and visas can feel overwhelming at times. If you ever need a listening ear, a bit of encouragement, or someone to share small insights with, I’d be happy to help. Journeys of the Soul is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Journeys of the Soul at nisaopalla.substack.com/subscribe
