Backpacker
TV personality Kiko Rustia’s journey as traveler goes beyond sightseeing
TV personality Kiko Rustia’s journey as traveler goes beyond sightseeing
For TV personality Kiko Rustia, not all who wander are lost. In a recent interview with Bulletin Entertainment, he shared that he doesn’t go on trips just to relax and enjoy scenery and food, but for immersion.
“Ako ’yung tipo ng traveler that I need to experience everything. Hindi
ako pwedeng isang aspect lang or ’yung for example site lang okay na.
Hindi ako ganu’n,” he said. He believes that is imperitave as it’s a way to “promote responsible tourism.” Kiko added that good experiences from traveling are not just about adventure but “the place getting something from you.”
He has been to places where the people have seemingly forgotten their roots.
“But it’s not because of them but because of ’yung mga pumasok na influences. It’s just sad. It’s our responsibility to actually help these people. I believe that we should start acting as a responsible tourist or traveler.”
The 36-year-old backpacker gave pointers on traveling. “Be in touch with the places you visit. You have to respect the local cultures,” he noted. “Ako napaka importante sa akin na everywhere I go pinaka basic you greet everyone ‘Magandang umaga po.’ You greet, you show respect kasi hindi ka taga du’n so magbigay pugay ka kasi bisita ka.” He added that visitors should also find out more about the places before going, whether it’s about their culture or lifestyle. “Kasi ’pag na instill mo na ’yung ganung mentality, everything else will follow.”
Keep going
Kiko, who considers traveling his “breath,” revealed he will never tire of the beauty of local places.
“Oo nakakapagod physically pero another reason why I love what I do is because kung hindi kayang gawin ng iba then let me do it for you, let me share that experience to you,” said he who used to host the travel and wildlife program “Born To Be Wild.” “I like to take people on adventure. For some reason, mas na e-excite ako when I tell people about these places that I went to. When I do the show ‘Born To Be Wild,’ mas lalo akong na e-excite
kasi I know I’m taking the viewers, capturing their imagination and taking them to these places that otherwise they won’t be able to go to,” he shared.
The former “Survivor Philippines: Season 1” contestants revealed even though he has been away from the limelight for quite some time, he was onto a different adventure – becoming a family man.
“Right now, medyo nakaprimera
ako. Bumagal kasi I got two kids – two and one year old. Actually that’s one of the reasons I haven’t really been active on TV,” Kiko said.
In any case, being a freelance artist had been advantageous to him as “mas hawak ko ang oras ko.”
“My life dati with ‘Born To Be Wild’ was literally in some far places. Perfect
siya nu’ng single ako. Living the life. It was the perfect job, as in dream siya.
Pero now that I got kids parang I have to take it slow,” he shared. Still, he misses those days. “I’m actually excited over any opportunity that would come my way and of course I am more than happy to be part of any show,” he explained.
Treasured history
Kiko is a member of Victory Liner’s creative team.
Though he was originally its brand ambassador, he tried to share some of his insights as he doesn’t want to just be the poster boy, so to speak.
“By allowing me to become one of the creative team napunta sa table
’yung ‘Why not we create a documentary about the places that start from Victory Liner’s route,’” he said.
Last year, a one to five-minute digital series “Know Your North” debuted on their official YouTube and wesbite, where the show tells the deeper stories of places up north.
Kiko is part of the “mini-documentary” not as host but “just someone na makikita mong dumadaan lang.” “Non-speaking, wala akong talagang any engagement sa audience. I’m just someone, I’m just a traveler. We let the stories tell their own story.”
He believes that sometimes, when the host is much
I’m just someone, I’m just a traveler. We let the stories tell their own story.