I never had the chance to ride a plane when I was young. And as a child, I’ve always dreamed of riding one. I’ve always wondered what the world looked like from above. 

In 2012, I finally decided to visit one of the most popular destinations in my country, Boracay. I admire the sunsets that I see on pictures, and it was a dream for me to finally see one. 

Once I was in Boracay, seeing the beautiful sunset made me realize that the world is beautiful, indeed. And that the beauty I once saw is just a portion of what I am yet to discover. I knew from then on that my once curiosity to see the picturesque sunset of Boracay transformed into a passion to see the beauty of the world. A passion that drives me to where I am now. 

My dream is to travel the world. But I know that before I appreciate other countries, I’d have to appreciate my own. The Philippines is a wonderful country. It has a beauty that would easily immerse anyone. And with every experience, city, and island, it made my heart and mind itch for more. 

Months have passed since I visited Boracay, and it’s as if I found a part of me through that experience. I’ve always heard about its beauty, but it’s different when you see it yourself. And it’s that thought that motivated me to travel the Philippines. 

Bicol. Batangas. Laguna. Pampanga. A few of the many provinces I visited to see the beauty of my very own country. There’s so much I learned within a short amount of time. And it dawned into me that this is something I would like others to experience one day.

A dream come true. Finally, my first international trip ever. I remember being so excited when I landed in Japan with my college friends back in 2014. It’s really one off my bucket list. 

As expected, the Land of the Rising Sun had delicious food. The environment was clean and I felt how disciplined everyone was. It magnified and I easily emulated. The people were all polite, punctual, and respectful. 

It was a fun trip which I did not want to end. I wanted to stay in Japan because it freed me from all life’s negativity. Because of its beauty and how it has personally affected me, I was encouraged to explore more. This was just the start of something bigger.

This experience was coupled with fear and excitement, because I was assigned to travel alone by the company I used to work for previously. Apart from meetings and work, I managed to squeeze in time to explore the United States. 

It has always been a dream for me to step foot here. There’s this certain knowledge that I have of the United States because it’s something I’ve learned through the years, and it’s entirely inevitable that we hear about it especially due to its huge influence on the world. And finally, stepping foot in the US, an experience I never imagined coming, was so breathtaking. 

After my USA trip, I wanted to find out about different Asian cultures. But more than that, I wanted to go to the places I’ve always dreamed of visiting. 

I continued traveling around the Philippines — beach hopping in the different islands of the country. Taking every view with a breath of fresh air while maximizing the beauty of my very own country that I wish others could see and experience as well.

I then went back to Japan during Spring and finally decided to visit Seoul, South Korea during Autumn. I realized that each country has its own outstanding beauty. Each has a story to tell — a story that’s waiting to be told. 

I’m glad I took this road of life. I find myself renewed with each trip I take. It’s the kind of life I’ve always dreamed of, and I’m happy to be able to finally share this with you. 

I’ve set aside money for my future travels from the time I visited Boracay. I fell in love with visiting new places, meeting new people, eating various cuisines, and learning different cultures. I’ve realized that with all my travels, I learn. And I’d like to share what I’ve learned to the world. 

In 2017, I opened Randz Around the World, a personal page of my different travels. It became a public photobook of my life, while sharing travel tips and advice to future travelers. 

This year was very eventful, indeed. I went to South Korea using an airline ticket I redeemed from travel points to watch a Coldplay concert. I got to travel to El Nido with my mom. It’s our first trip together, and it made it so memorable. 

I work as a full time IT and a part-time Crossfit coach, but I continued to provide travel services because it became an outlet to me. But apart from these, I stayed true to my heart and explored the world. 

Similar to me, it is my mother’s dream to travel the world.. And as a way for me to give back, I surprised my mother with a trip to Taiwan and Seoul. Both to spend her birthday and for her to experience winter snow in one of her dream cities. 

It will always be a fulfilling and beautiful experience seeing your mother happy. To me, this is the greatest feat, and I wouldn’t trade the happiness I gave her for anything else. 

 This year, I went to 5 different countries, as a backpacker traveler. Strolled through the beautiful Saigon in Vietnam, watched the beautiful sunset in Angkor Wat in Cambodia, ate the best Pad Thai in Thailand, hiked in Vanvieng Laos, joined the climbing monkeys in Batu Caves, Malaysia, and walked the aisle of the Garden of the Bay in Singapore — all these I did in a span of a month. 

As a backpacker, I got to mingle more with different travelers who come from different walks of life, and of course, the locals. I was invited to some of the locals’ houses and I’ve been given the chance to join them in their daily routines. I really immersed myself in their ways of life. It’s truly a remarkable experience.

2019 could be the biggest leap of faith I’ve done thus far. I decided to leave my full time IT job to pursue setting up a travel agency, because I know this is where my heart is. 

I left all I had just so I could follow my dream. But then along the way, I realized my dream is not only for myself, but for others as well. That through this travel agency, I could help others and I can give them the chance to experience the moments I had during my trips. 

I joined Travel Depot’s course on how to put up a travel agency so I could equip and inspire myself on the next steps I would soon be taking. And learning the basic operations of having a travel agency made me want to travel even more.

The journey is not over. It’s only about to get bigger. 

 My years of experience in traveling with a heart that is always ready to learn led me to this new path. 

To be with you on this next chapter of my life would be the greatest privilege. Allow me to be part of your journey in creating beautiful core memories of their dream travel.