Coron and beyond

It's our year.

The Philippines has been appearing on top (but sometimes bottom) of all sorts of lists. I'd like to believe that there is more good press than bad, though the latter easily outshadows the former. I'm trying to do my share.

Mention my country and you're supposed to think of islands.

That's me in an oversized life vest with my mom in a bangka, halfway through a 3.5-hour ride. But how about this?

Let me tell you more in Calamian: The Crown of Palawan.

AirAsia Awesome Islands & Beaches Travel Guide

This early, I have so much to be excited about. I've got a few trips lined up, more in the planning, and surely some unexpected ones coming later. Add to that a handful of resolutions that will change  my life... if I can keep them up.

I have neglected my blog in the last two months, but I hope to reverse the one-post-a-month trend. At some point I will probably do a major overhaul, but right now it's all about content, which tends to be scattered between Travel 3Sixty and Facebook instead of landing here.

For now, I'll leave you with inspiration, suggestions and tips for your travels. Check out our fresh travel guide, Awesome Islands & Beaches. Download it now.

Pinoy Sunday

Philippine Independence Day celebration + Pacquiao-Bradley fight + Corpus Christi. Feels like home.

BBDO Guerrero "Meme" TVC 30s (International Campaign) Department of Tourism

Am so honoured to be part of this.


Credits:
Advertising Agency: BBDO Guerrero
Producer: Jing Abellera / Ino Magno / Anj dela Calzada
Director: Dale Lopez / Meggy de Guzman
Editor: Princess Wendam
Coloris: Musseli Cruz
VFX: Justin Gimeno
Post-Production House: Post Manila

The Department of Tourism would like to thank the following photographers who gave us rights to use their images for FREE:

1. Joey Rico (for the Street fashion meme)
2. Abby Yao (for the Stretch limos meme)
3. Gutsy Tuason (for the High fives meme)
4. La Venta 2012 (for the Underground meme)
5. Henson Wongaiham (for the Tour guides meme)
6. George Tapan (for My humps, Going upstairs and Commuting memes)
7. Company of Ateneo Dancers (for Meetings meme)
8. Darwin Dumaraos (for Bananas meme)
9. Bottle School (for Stargazing meme)

Hey now, you're an Allstar

Get your game on, go play.

Two months into the job, I'm very proud to be an Allstar working for a great airline brand, one of the great Asian business stories of the past decade. Everyone at RedFort, our freezing-cold HQ, works hard and plays hard, from the ramp boys to the FAs to the office staff. There's so much talent and dedication here that it's catching.

Formula 1 drivers in the office? Check!

A fun corporate culture: Allstars in beach wear to celebrate the Philippines' AirAsia launch

Barclays Premier League Trophy visits RedFort

It's an office with no doors. You can literally walk up to our Group CEO, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, to say hi. (I did.)

In total, there are nearly 10,000 of us working across the region. It's quite a change coming from a company of 15 to a department of 150, but I'm thankful every day for the chance to do something I enjoy.

Our latest TVC

AirAsia (say ehr-EYzhuh) flies from Clark to Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur. Philippines' AirAsia now flies to Kalibo (Boracay), Puerto Princesa (Palawan) and Davao from Clark. More destinations coming soon. We're also hiring. Fly with us!

Seeing similarities

Do you see what I see? There's something very similar about these orchids at Sofitel Philippine Plaza (left) and this Malaysian dessert (right).

Bagong salta

Let's do this.

In a few days I will officially be an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker). "Expat" doesn't cut it; bagong bayani (new hero) I ain't. It's a purely personal challenge I am posing to myself. That said, two weeks of paperwork have given me more respect for the millions of OFWs abroad. There is nothing easy about leaving the country to give your family a better life.

Here's a little farewell song, courtesy of Amber Davis.

 

Manila, I hope you'll be a little better when I come home.

The bay

A Sunday morning at the CCP Complex, Pasay City, Philippines.

Pieces of home

Less than a week to go before the move. If you know your landmarks, my destination (above) should be easy to guess. [via]

I had over a month to read, paint, play, do the paperwork, and recharge. Whatever happened to the 2012 sabbatical? Don't worry, I'll be productive.

There's no question about it: it's more fun in the Philippines. The next best thing is to bring stuff I won't find elsewhere.

 

Shirts from SM. Reasonably priced and made in the Philippines. Only Pinoys will grasp "why not chocnut" (~P250) but sparkly Manila (~P350) has universal appeal.

 

Three reads: Leon Ma. Guerrero's The First Filipino, and Ricky Lee's Para Kay B (P250) and Si Amanpola sa 65 Kabanata (P300). I did consider the newly released Zsazsa Zaturnnah sa Kalakhang Maynila (P500--echos lang--actually P175) but the sensibilities of the new country might not go well with a gay character with a female superhero alter ego. The three books might not exactly be benign either (I will have to read to find out), just not illustrated.

The packing list is changing every day. Edit, edit, edit!

Spotted and pinned: More fun in the Philippines!

Now everyone is having more fun and it's cool. Three of my It's more fun in the Philippines photos were included in Anton Diaz's collection on Pinterest.

Out of the current 200 or so images by different contributors, one of mine was included in spot.ph's Top 30.

Maraming salamat to Anton and to spot.ph!

Now it's even easier to make your own meme. Check out morefunmaker and create your own meme instantly.

It's more fun in the Philippines

Social media has been abuzz since the Department of Tourism launched the new Philippine tourism campaign by BBDO Guerrero. Unlike last year's brouhaha, the concept (It's more fun in the Philippines) was widely accepted, despite a minor controversy yesterday afternoon. (Naman, crab mentality pa rin hanggang ngayon?)

There's something so true about the line that resonates with the public, even those who are well-traveled. It made me want to do something.

Seeing Roland Benzon's set on Facebook inspired me to create my own. After a quick scan of my favorite images I had shot here, I came up with these with a little help from Jayvee Fernandez's tutorial.

Taken at Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna

Dirty ice cream in Manila

A street festival in Makati City

Parish church in Teresa, Rizal

Intramuros calesa, Manila

Dragon sighting, Palawan Underground River

Hello, 2012!

Before and after midnight, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City, Philippines.

Christmas in the fields

Sharing with you what I saw on Christmas Day.

Song: Gurdonark "Forgotten Fields" CC BY-NC 2.5

Parol ng Pilipino

 

 Possibly our last Christmas in this church in Teresa, Rizal. Construction is now complete.

  

 

Entries to the lantern competition