The Philippines’ leading airline, Cebu Pacific recently wrapped up another epic year of the Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge, taking five university teams on an unforgettable adventure around the country. But for this year’s Ultimate Backpackers—Glenn Layola, Audrey Ramos, and John Ray Blance of JuanTeamPH—the exciting explorations are not over yet. The triumphant trio from Bacolod City received the challenge’s biggest prize yet: Travel-All-You-Can passes valid for one year. For seven straight days, JuanTeamPH traveled all over Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Surigao, Butuan, and Legazpi, Albay, making them the Juan for Fun team with the most number of places visited. “It wasn’t our original plan, but after the first stop, we thought, ‘we’re already here. Sulitin na natin ito (let’s make the most out of it),” said Glenn. And that’s exactly what the team did. They carefully managed their budget to fit as many fun activities as possible, tried local delicacies and even exotic dishes, making sure to get to know locals as they went along. Among the team’s most unforgettable destinations was Surigao. “The water was so clear that you can see the corals even when you’re on the boat,” shared Audrey. “We also visited Sohoton Cave, where we had to hold our breaths so we could get to the other side.” TeamJuanPH also had a great time in Legazpi, Albay, and found the locals very accommodating. “We met a very friendly tricycle driver there,” John shared. “He offered to tour us for a discounted fee and took us to a lot of interesting places. Because of him, we managed to do about 50 activities in one day.” As they traveled, the team discovered more about one another and got to know their country better. “One thing I realized is we shouldn’t be afraid to ask for directions. It’s a nice way to meet new people and establish a connection with them. You get insider information on the nice places to visit, too!” added Audrey. The trio also emphasized the value of “disconnecting to connect.” “Our generation is so caught up in technology. We spend so much time taking photos and looking at our screens that we forget to look at the sights in front of us,” Glenn said. “We should also make time to disconnect so we can connect with nature.” The Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge 2016 was made possible by its official sponsors: Boreas travel gear, Merrell footwear, and GoPro camera. The challenge was also supported by Wenger and Dan’s, and endorsed by the Department of Tourism and Commission on Higher Education. Go on an ultimate adventure and travel around the Philippines with Cebu Pacific. Take a look back at the exciting explorations of the Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge 2016 teams by visiting www.facebook.com/CebuPacificJFF or exploring the hashtag #JuanForFun2016. For bookings, seat sales, and other information, follow Cebu Pacific’s official Facebook and Twitter (@CebuPacificAir) pages. (PR)
