David Poarch

Nuffnang Featured Blogger for the month of November

My name is David Poarch. I am a Filipino-American and currently occupy myself with sustenance fishing, rural subsistence living, freelance web & software development, entrepreneurship, polymathic studies, and blogging.

‘Adventures of the Coconuter,’ which many refer to as simply ‘Coconuter,’ is my blog. It serves as a log of experiences in my epic journey as a modern nomad in the Philippines, and wherever fate may take me, as I search for purpose and meaning to life figuratively encapsulated in an allegorical and seemingly ever-elusive golden coconut.

Diving into the blog, one becomes immersed into a unique world where utopia charms, struggles bar, nature abounds, civilization intoxicates, and answers hide in the thickets. Inside, a massive puzzle exists — one to be solved or, more likely, to be attempted by those who still care to wonder. The epitome of engineering perfection has embedded challenges in every encapsulated layer.

Though seemingly overwhelming, therein lies a method to the madness, and pieces will painstakingly fall into place. Except, many of the pieces have not even been found yet. Here and throughout, hubris is met with a heavy barrage of blows, humbling in nature — conveying, quite clearly, that what we know is really…very little.

Indeed, curiosity may have killed the cat, but this does not prohibit others from trying. Who knows, the owl may make it across.

Feathers met with an opposing wind and took flight to cross the Pacific a few years ago. Partly due to academic burnout, assimilation difficulties, childhood memories of the Philippines, and a few other reasons, I dropped out of an elite university and left a comfortable life in the US in exchange for a simple life in provincial Philippines. I embarked on the fateful journey and started blogging in early 2006, when blogging was just gaining popularity in the country and the Philippine blogosphere was arguably still in its infancy. With only two hundred dollars in pocket, a couple boxes full of my personal belongings, and a dream, I made the leap of faith and sought refuge in rural Philippines. ‘Coconuter’ was born.

No one had ever heard of anybody doing such a thing. Hardly anyone could understand it. The decision was criticized by many as being rash, selfish, and just plain crazy. Several non-believers were quick to dismiss it as fake. Yet, most found it interesting. In a matter of months, the ‘Coconuter’ story not only caused a stir on the internet, but it would also be featured on television and print media — including ABS-CBN, GMA’s QTV, the Inquirer, and the Philippine Star, among others.

Since at first it seemed that several had taken an antagonistic stance, it was ironic that ‘Coconuter’ would bloom into an inspirational story, as many Filipinos would regard the decision (to leave the American Dream for a simple life in rural Philippines) as an act of nationalism.

Moreover, the universal, philosophical topics discussed in the blog broke barriers, making it relevant to anyone.

As a blogger, freedom of speech has allowed me to not only document my experiences with relative candidness, but I have also been able write on controversial or taboo subjects. Though I believe this is the best thing about being a blogger, the repercussion of being met by staunch criticism remains.

Regardless of the elicited reactions, I remain a proponent of holding onto one’s beliefs. Just because what you believe is vehemently rejected and/or attacked by society, it does not mean that it is a worthless idea or one that should be sacrificed. If you have given your thought ample judgment and carefully considered its balance of positive and negative attributes and it still stands, then it is a thought worthwhile of holding on to. Such unique thoughts unfazed by the pressures of society are the ones that constructively and creatively contribute towards the healthy balance of our collective ideology.

This is perhaps the essence of ‘Coconuter’ — serving as a channel for unconstrained expression of ideas, healthy debate, perspective contribution, knowledge sharing, and opening minds. Always remember, if you throw away your own thoughts and freedom of thinking, then in essence, you not only discard the worth of yourself but you throw away your own very being in the process.