adventures

In 2014, I was part of a team (called Team Juanabees) that competed in the first international edition of the Juan for Fun (JFF) Backpacker Challenge. It was an Amazing Race-inspired competition for young travelers studying at universities.

We went on a 9-day adventure in 6 destinations: one international (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), and five local destinations (Bacolod, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin, and Manila). We could not use our smartphones to navigate places; we had to use physical maps or ask locals! We also had a celebrity adventure coach, Gretchen Ho—a former volleyball player, broadcaster, and TV presenter—who gave us travel tips (e.g., where to visit, where and what to eat, famous spots, etc.) before each leg of the race.

As a travel enthusiast, it was an opportunity to discover new places, gain new friends, and immerse myself in different cultures. It was indeed an experience of a lifetime! We finished 3rd in the competition and won six round-trip tickets to any Cebu Pacific Air local or international destination. I used one of my tickets to return to Thailand in 2015, three years after I finished my exchange program in Bangkok in 2012.

If you love traveling with fun challenges, join the next JFF and have a chance to explore the Philippines or even other countries! You can visit Cebu Pacific JFF on Facebook for more updates.