Listening Beyond the Numbers: Stories of People and Movement at PPAISC 2026

March 4-6, 2026 - Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines – At first glance, population research often looks like a world of numbers – tables, graphs, migration rates, and demographic trends. But over three days at the Philippine Population Association International Scientific Conference (PPAISC) in Cagayan de Oro City, I was reminded that behind every statistic is a story waiting to be heard.

During a presentation during the 2026 Philippine Population Association International Scientific Conference (PPAISC)

Stories of people who leave home to work abroad and try to build a life again when they return. Stories of families adjusting to long separations across oceans. Stories of communities rebuilding after disasters, and of voices that are too often left unheard in policy conversations.

Listening to these stories – told through research, data, and lived experiences – became the most meaningful part of the conference for me.

As a graduate student currently working on a thesis about the sustainability of return migration among overseas Filipino workers, I naturally gravitated toward sessions on mobility and migration. Yet what struck me most was how the studies went beyond the typical narratives of migration as simply an economic choice.

One presentation explored the reintegration of circular labor migrant returnees, emphasizing that coming home is rarely a single moment. Reintegration, the study argued, is an ongoing process shaped not only by migrants’ personal efforts but also by the institutions meant to support them. While reintegration programs exist, gaps in implementation, such as bureaucratic inefficiencies and limited resources, often prevent them from reaching those who need them most. The discussion revealed a difficult reality: returning home can be just as complex as leaving.

Other studies expanded this view by examining how migration decisions are shaped by culture, family, and social context. Research on migration among Muslims in the Philippines showed how religious norms, gender roles, and household dynamics influence the decision to move. Another study on Filipino seafarers revealed how global labor mobility reshapes family life, as households reorganize roles and responsibilities during long periods of separation. In these discussions, migration was no longer just about workers crossing borders; it was about families negotiating distance, uncertainty, and hope.

Mobility also appeared in unexpected ways in discussions about environmental change and disasters. Several presentations explored how adaptation strategies, such as flood-control infrastructure and relocation programs, can sometimes produce unintended social consequences.

The conference also opened space for conversations about gender and sexuality, reminding participants that population issues are deeply intertwined with identity and inequality. One study examined how stronger implementation of Gender and Development (GAD) programs can improve workplace inclusion for gender and sexual minorities. Another presentation shared the experiences of bakla individuals during disasters in temporary housing communities in Manila.

Their stories challenged the notion that disasters affect everyone equally. Instead, they revealed how gender identity, social position, and access to resources shape vulnerability and recovery. As someone who has many friends within the LGBTQ+ community, listening to these narratives allowed me to appreciate their lived experiences more deeply and strengthened my respect for the advocacy within this inspiring community.