When we think of living the "Island Life," we imagine cool breezes, warm sands, beautiful surroundings and life at an easy pace. We think of the beauty of being surrounded by ocean vistas, peace and tranquility listening to the waves crashing on the shore. For Filipino's in the Davao Region, "Island Life" means rebuilding from past typhoons and armed conflict between the government, and the Islamic Moro rebels, adding bombings and gunfire to mar the tranquility and beauty. But even under these circumstances, Filipinos are resilient and confident in the future. In these stories, they write about the challenges of rebuilding after a typhoon, and living in a war torn area, but they also write about their dreams for the future, and finding the best in difficult situations. Collected by Eric Suan during Writing for the Soul Workshop Expos, these stories represent a slice of their island life. We know you will enjoy their "Pieces of Me."