In 2023, I spent three and a half months in the mountain province of Sagada, Philippines, apprenticing with local potters and immersing myself in the rhythm of clay, earth, and community. Nestled high in the Cordillera mountains, Sagada is a place where time moves slowly, where the mornings are misty and quiet, and where craft is deeply connected to land and tradition. Under the guidance of artists like Siegrid Bangyay, Ardeth, and Manag Tessie I learned not only new techniques but also new ways of seeing—of working with what’s around you, listening to your materials, and honoring every step of the process. This season of making shaped my hands and my spirit in lasting ways.