January 15, 2025
by Jon Lorence Panelo
Discovering the Philippines, Achievement, and Happiness
Recently, the Department of Tourism (DOT) introduced its slogan Love the Philippines, highlighting that the country has much more to offer beyond fun, such as its natural assets, history, and rich culture. Through the slogan, the DOT seeks to increase travel activities in other regions by helping them develop lesser-known tourism destinations. As of 2024, the Philippines has 18 regions with so much to offer regarding natural wonders, manmade attractions, food, and festivals.
As someone passionate about traveling, I have already been to many regions in the Philippines. Born and raised in Region XI, I had pretty much explored all of its provinces. Growing up, my family organized road trips to regions 10, 12, and even Caraga. At 12 years old, I went on my first flight with my family to do a Luzon tour covering the National Capital Region, Region III, and Calabarzon as a present from my uncle and aunt. When I graduated senior high school in 2019, my mom rewarded me with a trip to Cebu, while later that year, my aunt gifted my dad and me with a trip to Palawan. Last year, as I was already working, I was able to go to Bohol with my aunt and grandmother, and just recently, I was able to treat my mom with a Region VI tour.
A highlight of my trips would be my recent Region VI tour. It was my first time going on an entire island tour, which was the Island of Panay, visiting the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, and Boracay Island. It was a trip I highly recommend for others to try, especially during the month of January, as you would get to experience the sunny weather and two festivals, namely Ati-Atihan and Dinagyang. It was January 18, 2025, a Saturday, when my mom and I took the Davao to Iloilo flight at around six in the morning. Upon arrival in Iloilo, we met up with the rest of my family, who had arrived the night before, and hit the road for Kalibo, Aklan. The moment we arrived in Kalibo, it was just in time for the start of the Ati-Atihan festival’s Sadsad, the street parade and style of dancing honoring the Santo Niño. As the streets were filled with colorful costumes, dancing groups, and marching bands, we became one with the people by dancing with them and taking lots of photos and videos. After that, we took a three-hour road trip to Caticlan Port and arrived at Boracay Island at night.
The next day was spent entirely in Boracay, with my mom and I exploring the entire island from point to point and reaching as far as the rock formation known as the Boracay Keyhole. During that time, I understood why tourists and locals kept coming back to Boracay, because of the best white sand and saltwater. As a travel tip, the best photos with no people in the background can be taken at 6 AM during the sunrise, while the best natural lighting can be achieved during sunset in an area with a smaller crowd. On the 20th, we left Boracay and went to Capiz to experience Roxas City’s Baybay during the day. We then arrived at Iloilo at night to experience Iloilo’s nightlife at Atria Park District. The following day, January 21, my family decided to visit Antique and take a trip down memory lane to visit our relatives during the daytime. On the way to Antique, we visited the iconic Miagao Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the late 16th century. Finally, the last day of our trip was exploring Iloilo City and visiting the Esplanade, Museum of Contemporary Art, and Festive Walk.
Although I am not yet in the industry, I am grateful to be able to travel thanks to my full-time job as a research assistant, which enables me to work remotely, and as AISAT’s part-time AvM faculty and research consultant, which only requires me to be in school during my class schedule or when needed. Nowadays, achievement and happiness are defined differently from one person to another. I hope and pray that you find your definition of achievement and happiness through traveling, a dream home, a dream car, or whatever that may be!