Summer state of mind
Robi Domingo’s bags are packed and he’s ready to go on fun trips as the season of the sun creeps in
Robi Domingo’s bags are packed and he’s ready to go on fun trips as the season of the sun creeps in
TV host Robi Domingo goes to many different places both for work and leisure and the more he travels, the more his wanderlust heightens.
He and his family used to hire travel agencies to book their itineraries but these days, he sometimes does the planning himself.
What does he enjoy most when traveling? Surprisingly, it’s when he gets lost.
“Minsan mas okay ’yung mawala ka, kasi du’n mo mahahanap ang sarili mo,” he said meaningfully. “Mas masarap kasi ’yung maging foreigner at local ka
at the same time sa isang lugar, lalo na ’yung hindi mo alam ang lenggawahe (ng lugar). The best part of it is you discover it on your own.”
With films like “That Thing Called Tadhana” showing characters going on escapades to do some soul-searching, we asked Robi if he does the same. Yes. “Now that I go alone while traveling, I realize many things. It’s like why would you dwell in the negative things if you have seen the beautiful things around you.” He said Filipinos are blessed to have amazing places to visit in the country. “Growing up kasi I lived in the world of books. I was a book nerd from grade school to college. Takot ako mag-explore eh,” he revealed. “But when I started visiting different places, meet new people, nagkaroon ako ng new perspective in
life. I just found na it’s nice to explore, to go on adventures kasi ang dami-daming magagandang lugar lalo na dito sa bansa natin.”
Siargao and Baler are in Robi’s bucket list this summer.
Does he have a travel buddy? Robi just smiled.
“If ever I would have (a travel buddy), I hope forever ko na siyang makakasama.” ‘Lakwatsero’ In 2014, ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs aired the special documentary, “Lakwatsero Sa Hokkaido,” that featured Robi exploring the winter wonderland tourist spots in Japan. After four years, “Lakwatsero” returns but as online series, ABS-CBN’s first digital current affairs show. On it, viewers will see Robi embrace the moniker “Lakwatsero” by showing the audience what the places he will visit have to offer – from mouthwatering food spreads, conquering the great outdoors to enjoying jitters, laughs and solo travel surprises. At a recent press conference, Robi can’t help but turn emotional over the show. “I love travelling so much and this is actually the first program na ipinagkatiwala sa akin na kapag sinabi iyong lakwatsero, pangalan mo ang lalabas, walang kasama, walang contestants,” he said. “Ang bida, hindi naman ako but iyong places na pinupuntahan namin and ang mga causes na talagang pinupush namin. It’s not just a travel show but also, we get to realize na kailangan natin maging advocates na protektahan at i-conserve (ang environment),” he added.
Among the places Robi will feature are Basey and Calbiga in Samar, Iloilo and Bacolod, Mt. Apo in Davao del Sur, Malapascua and Bantayan Islands in Cebu, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, and Iligan City.
The online series has six episodes. Robi said he discovered a lot of things while doing the series.
“Honestly marami akong bagay na hindi alam na tipong nagugulat na lang ako kasi (may mga lugar na) hindi pala siya mahal puntahan,” he disclosed. If anything, Robi said “Lakwasetro” will definitely be a “travel goals” for everyone especially the millennials. “I believe there’s a certain lakwatsero and lakwatsera inside of us,” the 28-year-old TV host said. “We millennials, we want to travel a lot. Talagang inaayos natin ’yung mga vacation leaves, mga weekends natin kasi kailangang sulitin ang bakasyon. And that’s what we aim for the show, we try to set the travel goals for millennials.”
“Lakwatsero” executive producer Kelvin Paulino explained how the series differs from the rest. “Kasabay sana ng bago tayo magbook ng flights and hotels natin, sana i-check out nila ang ‘Lakwatsero’ para mabigyan tayo ng idea kung paano natin ma-a-achieve ’yung travel goals na iseset ni Robi for every one of us,” he said. “Hindi lang siya basta ipapakita namin iyong lugar, ipapakita rin namin kung paano mapupuntahan ’yung lugar and kung paano masusulit ang bawat araw sa lugar. It’s really the way forward with the travel contents,” Kevin added.
Asked why the team opted to use digital platform, Robi said: “It’s the way to go. Papunta naman talaga doon ang
format ng lahat ng media ngayon. Sobrang natutuwa po kami kasi binigyan kami ng pagkakataon na mauna sa
platform na ito. We are really happy and ipapangako namin na magiging siksik, liglig at umaapaw ang adventures ng mga viewers in the future.”
(In partnership with Cebu Pacific Air, netizens may catch “Lakwatsero” Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 6 p.m. on the Life Section of news.abscbn.com, via the official Facebook page of ABS-CBN News, or through its official YouTube channel.)
It’s nice to explore, to go on adventures kasi ang dami-daming magagandang lugar lalo na dito sa bansa natin.