About

Fate has a funny way of working itself out. You dream of one thing, and then as you go through the motions of pursuing that dream, detours emerge and you find yourself in a place you never imagined.

It’s been like that for me this past decade, and I’ve had no regrets. Shifting careers from the corporate world to journalism was the best decision because it’s great to be in a field that doesn’t feel like work at all. Being a journalist based in the Philippines may not be the most financially rewarding career, but it’s a deeply enriching one that has taken me to the most interesting places; exposed me to brilliant, once-in-this-lifetime minds; given me front-row seats to witness all things new and innovative; and has instilled in me a drive—a sense of patriotism, really—to tell unknown stories about the Philippines to a global audience.

What was it Rumi said? “If your eyes are opened, you’ll see the things worth seeing.” That’s how journalism has been for me. Being trained to be on the lookout for new stories heightens the awareness somehow, and it’s this philosophy that I take with me when I leave behind my version of the daily grind and lose myself in the many pleasures of travel.

No matter how my life will unravel, I know that travel will remain a constant. It is, to quote Elizabeth Gilbert, ”the great true love of my life… I am loyal and constant in my love of travel. I feel about travel the way a happy new mother feels about her impossible, colicky, restless newborn baby—I just don’t care what it puts me through. Because I adore it. Because it’s mine. Because it looks exactly like me.”

About the blog
This site was initially created to chronicle my trips to other countries, but something my late aunt told me before my first long-haul flight many moons ago stuck. It was hours before my trip to San Francisco when she called me to her room and gave me a Philippines Travel Book. She pointed to a photo of the Banaue Rice Terraces, and upon seeing the puzzled look on my face, said, “Before you go off making your mark in the world, take a look at where you come from. Go around the country. Find a place, a story, that you will proudly share with the people you meet along the way.”

When I finally made that first trip to Benguet almost a decade later, I realized the value of her words. This site is my way of honoring her memory.

Here you will not only find articles about far off places—because the only cure to my wanderlust it seems is a new stamp on my passport—but it is my hope that by sharing stories about the Philippines, you’ll be inspired to make it part of your next itinerary. It’s an ongoing journey—I have over 7,000 islands and the rest of the world to explore—and I can’t wait to share tales of my travels (and sometimes, the occasional epiphany) with you. See you on the road!

Tricia
@jetsetjourno

Disclaimer: Views expressed here are the writer’s alone and not of the publications she works for. Text and images on this site are property of the blog author, or of their respective proprietors noted at the end of each post. Entries are not necessarily in chronological order. 

 

33 thoughts on “About”

  2. I am beginning the new year traveling when the time permits. So many places i want to visit and following you i think ill find lots of info. Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Hey Tricia,
    Just happened to run into your blog. You have got a beautiful space running here. Loved your travel-stories. Its very subtle. I guess I will be hanging around here a lot. :) Great work

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  6. Thanks for the follow! I hope you enjoy the site and I’m looking forward to exploring all of yours! Don’t be a stranger. Maybe we could collaborate on something!

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  7. I saw your website is promoting beautiful places in the Philippines.

    I am starting a site for OFW to see the Philippines, Based in Toronto Canada.

    How can i utilize your picture? write up? any video?

    how can we work together, the old bayanihan way.

    tom

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    1. Hi Allane! Thanks for leaving a comment and for following my blog. Seems like I’ve found a fellow travel junkie in you. Looking forward to reading your posts, too :) Cheers and happy travels!

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  9. Hello Tricia

    I have been passed the Writing Process Blog Tour and would like to pass the tour to you, if you’d like to accept?

    I am posting on Monday 21st and so the tour would pass to you to post on Monday 28th July.

    Please let me know if you’d like to take part and I’ll link to your blog on Monday.
    Sara :)

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    Reply

      1. my pleasure tricia – :) keep travelling and exploring – :)

        tricia is her name
        adventure is her game
        she travels in its fame
        she loves to play its frame.

        for you :)

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