Tim Yap shares wonderful stories and lessons traveling around the country

TIM YAP shares invaluable lessons from his extraordinary adventures traversing the Philippine islands

“These are seven thousand plus reasons to fall more deeply in love with our country. Whether we like it or not, we are married to the Philippines.”

Traveling is an act of getting to know yourself better. From the time you start planning your trip and going through your itinerary to packing your bags, all of it is an exercise of introspection, elimination, learning, and living—it’s all part of the journey.

The luxury in travel lies in the choices one must make and how one defines luxury. Travel is highly personal, and for others, even sentimental. I know of a top chef who sent a limousine to pick up her son up from the airport during his son’s first trip to New York because that’s exactly what her mother did for her. Others like to post their boarding passes, take photos in the lounge, have arroz caldo or go to the noodle station, and many more—things that some people secretly frown upon online. But I’m totally okay with that. Whatever floats your boat, my friend.

For me, the luxury there lies in catching up with my thoughts, or seeing that blockbuster movie I missed in the cinemas, or in discovering whatever gems the inflight entertainment has. I also happen to like crying inside the plane. Nothing feels better than emptying out all your emotions before and after a trip. Somehow I get extra emotional when watching movies 35,000 feet high. Science also dictates that your tear ducts are more active when inside a highly pressurized vehicle. I cried the hardest watching Cinema Paradiso en route to Amsterdam and also bawled at the ending of Kita Kita flying back to Manila from Fukuoka.

New York is the number one place in the world that shaped me. It was the place that gave me most of my early turning points in my life, fed me with much spiritual nourishment in the form of getting lost, watching shows, wandering around, meeting people, and finding myself. New York gave me the chance to have a billboard on Times Square, an opportunity to watch all of its offerings on Broadway within a month, and explore all of its nightlife, during the days when New York was literally “the city that never sleeps.” It was the place where I took photos of stylish people in the streets and published them in my newspaper column back home when there was no term invented yet for street style photography. New York was the place where I got excited, starstruck, hurt, and heartbroken. It was also the place where I got married to the love of my life.

Aside from the Big Apple, I have also had love affairs with several places in the world—from Paris to Puglia, from Iceland to Argentina—all offer a different kind of beauty and madness. I am a lover, not a fighter—so I embrace it.

But the more I love the world, the more I realize how much I love our very own Philippines, the land of my birth and the land which nurtured and nourished every part of my being. Harly on I learned that we can’t be a strangers in our own home so I made it a point to get to know the Philippines better. I have a lot of friends from all over the world who are not Filipino, they come and visit and are really eager to explore all the diverse parts of our country. I told myself, “They can’t know my country better than I do.” So I made a commitment to go to as many places as I can. We have seven thousand plus options, after all.

These are seven thousand plus reasons to fall more deeply in love with our country. Whether we like it or not, we are married to the Philippines. So yes, of course, people always complain about marriage and will always try to find ways to get out of it. But don’t you think it’s better to stop and smell the roses from Baguio, taste the bulalo in Batangas and the

bagnet in Vigan? The more I knew, the more I fell in love. From Aparri to Batanes, Zamboanga to Iolo, there simply is no place like home. Of course, supporting our own spots empowers so many people—gives them jobs, encourages livelihood projects, and boosts local tourism—but at the end of the day, the more you get to know your own country, the more you get to know you.

EVERY PLACE IS A THRILLING ADVENTURE

Hach place is steeped with history that explains to us why we are the way we are. It’s like finding your own family tree and hidden history book within your ancestral home storage space and finally piecing things together. Sooner or later you find out that the answers to life’s burning questions are just within you.

I have fond memories of Old Manila as I grew up in the streets of Binondo. As a kid, I was always palaboy and pasaway and I would walk around from Chinatown to Hscolta, Avenida to Recto, and beyond. I knew the streets of Divisoria, the churches of Binondo and Sta. Cruz, the malls around the University Belt and Manila Hotel, Army and Navy Club and even Luneta, which was the “mall” and “see-and-be-scene” place, I think, during my parents’ time.

I also like Bohol very much. I discovered the subtle beauty and charm of the place when Bea Zobel, Ir. took us many years ago and we did the Loboc River Cruise, discovered the ancient churches, dined at the convent, got serenaded by the Loboc Children’s Choir, amongst many more cultural experiences. The lifestyle editor of Wallpaper magazine was in the country once and I hosted the entire tour for him, playing his tour guide (I take this job very seriously) and I would like to think he was quite impressed. Also, I have been emceeing Mutya sa Tagbilaran (Miss Bohol) for many years now so I feel I have been exposed to the people as well. The mayor of Tagbilaran is a Yap (not related) and just this year, the governor is also a Yap (related).

“Iammost excitedabout thisgeneration oftravelerswho are“woke”and careaboutthe environment.I amexcitedabout thisnewbreedof Filipinoswhoare extremelyproudof whatwehaveand wouldhappilyshow theworldwhatwe areabout.”

For Camarines Sur, we put together a fun group of people, made a hashtag #ComeOnCaramoan and posted away after making sure we enjoyed the beach, hopped around the islands, and did the adventure tour after the European TV crews of Survivor left the islands. I was given the title of Honorary or Adopted Son of Camarines Sur by Gov. Migz Villafuerte after this, and my friendship with the people of CamSur and the province itself has only strengthened through time.

I’ve been going to Palawan countless times and each time I go, the islands bring forth a new surprise. Palawan always has something good to offer, from ultraluxe destinations to eco-friendly solutions; I think they are leading the pack to show us how it’s done. I also visited San Vicente, Palawan a few years ago through the youngest elected female mayor of the country Pie Alvarez and she showed us the land and how they intend for it to grow. Just recently, I attended a wedding in El Nido town and I was amazed at the number of tourists all over the island. I spoke to the bartender and I realized we were the only Filipinos inside the establishment that night!

The first time I was in Siargao, I knew it was a gem of a place, much like the vast majority of Mindanao. The country has a multitude of treasures yet to be discovered. During my latest trip on my birthday, I saw some fireflies around our villa and so we ran towards the mangroves, just by instinct. And lo and behold, they were all gathered around this tree. Thousands of fireflies just flying around, like in the movie Avatar. I looked at that enchanted sight and then up at the sky, and it almost seemed like the fireflies were copying the stars in the night sky. It was just there, right in front of me, as if God or the Universe was talking to me.

When we climbed Mount Pulag, we were told that if we were noisy, the gods of the mountain wouldn’t show the sea of clouds when we got to the summit. The entire group of people I was with was the noisiest. Can you believe I was the only one quiet in the group? I couldn’t either. So when it was time for us to climb the mountain, it rained hard and when I told one of our climb mates that “Of course, what the mountain guides are saying is true. The spirits of the mountain don’t want to be disturbed.” Right after that, a branch of a tree just sprung out of nowhere and gently slapped me on the face, as if to say “Hell, yeah!” “Did you see that?” I asked my climb partner. “I definitely did,” she answered, with eyes wide open in disbelief. The mountains of Benguet have many secrets. And just going around it, I am mesmerized by its beauty and enthralled by its charm.

Now Boracay might seem to be a cliché answer but it’s still a beautiful one. I spent a good majority of my young adult life on its shores: almost entire summers working on events, walking from end to end of the island talking to everyone, setting up and hosting, selling a brand, and partying the night away—not necessarily in that order. So close am I to the island that I have become godfather to many local kids and have taken part in entourages of various weddings of locals from the island. After its temporary closure, I visited and it looks great—I hope they get to maintain it and also get to finish the roads they have been fixing for years now.

FINDING YOUR OWN DESTINATION

On my way back to Manila from Siargao, I had to change my flight to make it on time for a work obligation. My flight got canceled then was diverted to Davao then to Clark. But I was alright, as Filipino airline staff are always nice, attentive, and action-oriented. But there were these foreigners who were just waiting on the side and they told me that nobody was attending to them. Sometimes, Filipino staff are often shy when it comes to explaining these kinds of situations, so I helped. In the end, some missed their connecting flights while some were able to take the next flight with me.

In that regard, I think we need to get ourselves together. It’s not the most fun in the Philippines if you get diverted or miss your international connecting flights altogether. No amount of promotion will ease the burden that travelers will incur if we keep messing up the end of their trips. The dessert has to measure up to the delectability of the appetizers and the main course.

I advise travelers to always have an open mind when you travel. Be adventurous. Go the extra mile. Don’t be scared to go on a different route. Do as the locals do. Never be afraid to ask. Filipinos love to answer their versions of the truth, so go with it till you find yours.

I am most excited about this generation of travelers who are “woke” and care about the environment. I am excited about this new breed of Filipinos who are extremely proud of what we have and would happily show the world what we are about. We belong to a new age where Filipinos have come to realize their own value, and we are in the process of becoming even better.

I have foreign investor friends who have moved to the Philippines because they like it here. I know of ambassadors who have quit their jobs after knowing that they have to leave the country and go to their next posting. I know of this airline GM who cried for days and didn’t want to go to his next destination and just wanted to stay in the Philippines to be with Filipinos.

There is just so much to explore, and so little time—the grandeur of the mountain province, the cuisine of Pampanga, the beaches of Siquijor, the forests of Bukidnon, and many others to mention. Why should we go there? Not just for the bragging rights of being the first— like the people who had been to Boracay before it became the Boracay we know today—but for yourself. Travel connects you to your higher self. It keeps you in touch with your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual self. Let’s explore and make ourselves better.

It is our time to shine. Tourism is the spotlight that will put the Philippines at the forefront of this potential. There is so much to see and experience. Come and visit. Don’t be a stranger in your own land. Get to know the Philippines and get to know yourself.