Finding My Way Home: A House, a Compass, and a Second Chance

By Marie. August 29, 2025. Updated November 1, 2025

A Heritage House Story

Writing for Tita M Wanders from memory is a funny thing—a compelling push that makes a story come alive. As I sit here, my fingers tracing the familiar patterns of a worn wooden table, I'm reflecting on a place that has become a compass for my life: a 200-year-old cultural heritage house in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

Filipino Heritage Home

I first stayed in this Filipino heritage home five years ago. At the time, I was just a guest, an ordinary folk seeking refuge from the world at the height of the pandemic. I didn't know then that this house would become so much more. Its wooden floors don't creak like old songs; they hold silent histories. Its capiz windows don't just filter light—they filter memories, casting a soft, nostalgic glow on everything within its walls. I spent three months here, living within its quiet grace, finding a sense of peace I hadn't realized I was missing.

Lift PH Up Organization, Inc.

Now, I've returned. But this time, I’m not just a guest; I'm a steward. This house, which once offered me sanctuary, will now be the heart of something bigger—the home of Lift PH Up Organization, Inc., an organization dedicated to fostering dignified and equitable empowerment for local Filipino communities. It's a non-stock, non-profit corporation which a friend, Beni, the owner of this heritage house, founded. It's primary purpose is to uplift underserved communities — including marginalized and indigenous groups — by addressing systemic poverty, advancing literacy, combating hunger, and fostering sustainable development. Through education, equitable access to resources, and community-led initiatives, the organization seeks to create enduring, transformative change and inclusive opportunities for all. It's a quiet movement dedicated to dignity, equity, and place-based empowerment for local communities. The house won't just hold our office; it will hold our dreams and our purpose.

They say some houses wait for you. They linger in your mind and call you back when the time is right. This one did, and in a way, it was always waiting for me to find my way home. It waited for me to realize that its true purpose was never to be a place of refuge, but a foundation for a new beginning. My beginning. Our beginning.

✨A Storybook Created by Gemini Based On This Post

Have you ever felt like a place was waiting for you? This storybook is for anyone who believes in magic, second chances, and the power of a house to change a life. It's a whimsical look at my journey back to a heritage home that is now the heart of Lift PH Up Organization, Inc. Check out this link for the full story. Or, simply click the cover of the storybook below.