Roam like a local in Taiwan with Globe’s affordable and convenient GoRoam offer

Planning to enjoy visa-free travel to Taiwan? Savor that mouthwatering xiao long bao, stroll through vibrant night markets, and explore its beautiful ancient temples while keeping your loved ones up to date with Globe's latest roaming offer, GoRoam Taiwan.

As a leader in transforming mobile roaming services, Globe infuses convenience and affordability into wanderlust-driven adventures. The expanded GoRoam offering is the perfect digital companion to your Taiwan escapades, offering competitively priced data packages nearly at par with local SIM rates.

You can avail of the Taiwan-exclusive GoRoam package for just PHP550, which comes with 2.4GB of data valid for 30 days. No need to swap SIMs – keep your home contact number and let your Taiwan story unfold seamlessly.

"We've been listening, we understand the traveler’s desire for unhampered connection at rates close to what they’d find in the country they are visiting," said Coco Domingo, Vice President of Postpaid and International Business at Globe. "Our vision is to redefine roaming by putting customer convenience at the forefront. GoRoam Taiwan is another exciting chapter in our journey."But the globe-trotting does not stop at Taiwan. GoRoam has got you covered in other popular Asian destinations. Get GoRoam Thailand with 15GB of data at PHP500, usable for 8 days when you go to Thailand. If you want to explore Hong Kong, stay connected with GoRoam Hong Kong’s 3GB of data for PHP600, good for 5 days. Access the GlobeOne app to register to these offers at never-before-seen roaming rates.

"We're changing the game. We’re making roaming more affordable and worry-free for our customers. With GoRoam, our customers can fully immerse themselves in their travels without sacrificing their need for connection," added Domingo.

Ready to roam like a local? Channel your inner explorer with GoRoam. Register via the GlobeOne app and let your adventure take flight!

● Postpaid subscribers can pre-register a day before their trip via GlobeOne. Once abroad, simply turn on data roaming and mobile data on your phone settings to activate the offer.

● Prepaid customers can register while abroad, also via GlobeOne. Once registered, begin surfing simply by turning on mobile data and data roaming, and set network connection to 3G. Then restart your device. Once GoRoam is active, set your network connection to LTE or 5G for the best possible data roaming experience.

To enjoy seamless data browsing while abroad, ensure your device’s APN is set to internet.globe.com.ph. Track your GoRoam data usage via the GlobeOne app.

To learn more about Globe Roaming, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/international/roaming.html .

Explore the world this summer with Emirates

Emirates is inviting you to go on a well-deserved retreat to some of the most popular destinations among Filipinos. To make your getaway even more memorable, Emirates has cooked up a number of special offers that you can avail throughout the summer, so you can make the most of your travels.

You can experience these on top of Emirates’ award-winning inflight features and impeccable, world-class service, allowing you to start enjoying your vacation even before you reach your destination.

Explore the most popular destinations among Filipino flyers of Emirates

With Emirates’ expansive network of international destinations accessible through its global hub in Dubai, the world is all yours to explore this summer. If you’re still looking for the perfect destination for your getaway, then you’ll never go wrong with the top 10 most popular destinations among Filipino flyers of Emirates year-round: Dubai, Istanbul, Rome, Paris, London, Madrid, Amsterdam, Athens, New York, and Cape Town!

First is Dubai, where there is something for everyone—from luxury retail establishments for shopaholics to theme parks for the whole family. Istanbul, with its majestic attractions such as the Hagia Sophia, Dolmabahce Palace, and Topkapi Palace, is also a great city to explore. There’s also Rome, with its ancient wonders like the Colosseum and the Pantheon among other must-visit attractions.

Paris, home to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Palace of Versailles, is for those looking for something romantic. London is another sightseeing hotspot where world-famous landmarks and museums can be found. The same can be said for Madrid, where several of these equally iconic attractions await.

In Amsterdam, you can go on a scenic canal tour, and then cap the day off at one of the city’s numerous jazz cafes. In Athens, you can go on an island-hopping tour or explore the numerous temples within the city. Meanwhile, New York has museums and dining spots that are must-visits, but not before taking a selfie at Times Square. Last but not least is Cape Town, with its natural marvels that can leave any and all nature-lovers awestruck.

Fly Emirates for a summer getaway like no other

Summer getaways are all about making memories that can last a lifetime, and Emirates is here to make that happen with several offers available exclusively to Emirates flyers all season long.

Sit back and relax as you immerse yourself in ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment offering up to 6,500 channels of on-demand, multi-language entertainment featuring more than 45 Academy Award® winning films, over 2,000 movies, 650 TV shows, and 4,000 hours of music, podcasts, and audiobooks across 40 languages. New titles include Avatar: The Way of the Water, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, just to name a few.

Of course, it won’t be an Emirates summer getaway without the seasonal culinary specialties. All summer long, Emirates flyers will be treated to a range of delicious dishes like fresh, seasonal strawberries and burrata. For a refreshing respite from the summer heat, Emirates summer mocktails Tropical Twist, Rose Iced Tea, Citrus Twist, Raspberry Spice and Mint Lemonade will feature on all flights in July and August.

In addition, customers flying to or through Dubai can simply show their boarding pass and a valid form of identification to hundreds of retail, leisure, and dining outlets, as well as famous attractions and luxury spas, to enjoy fantastic discounts throughout Dubai and the UAE with My Emirates Pass valid until September 30. To see all My Emirates Pass offers, please visit https://www.emirates.com/ph/english/experience/my-emirates-pass/.

Members of Emirates’ award-winning loyalty program, Skywards, can also earn Miles with our worldwide partners like hotels, airlines, car rentals, retail and banking. Members can spend these Miles on reward tickets, upgrades, or even tickets for concerts and sports events. Learn more about Emirates Skywards here: https://www.emirates.com/ph/english/skywards/.

Go all out with Emirates First Class

When you fly Emirates, everything feels like an upgrade, whether you’re flying Economy, Premium Economy, or Business Class. But if you want to experience true inflight luxury, you can always go all out with Emirates Boeing 777 First Class—the first and only airline cabin class of its kind offered on flights to and from Manila.

Travel in complete privacy with your own fully enclosed suite, where you can dine and watch your favorite titles on ice all by yourself. Each suite is also fitted with a luxury amenity kit featuring a skincare collection from European luxury brand Byredo, a set of Bowers & Wilkins Active Noise Cancelling E1 headphones, a premium leather notebook and pen set, and complimentary sleepwear from Emirates.

You'll also get exclusive perks such as complimentary chauffeur-drive to and from the airport and access to Emirates' premium airport lounges, among others.

Visit https://www.emirates.com/ph/english/experience/cabin-features/first-class/b777/ to learn more about Emirates’ Boeing 777 First Class offers.

Fly Emirates this summer for a getaway experience you will never forget!

Emirates currently operates 25 weekly flights from Manila, Cebu, and Clark to Dubai, connecting Filipino travelers to hundreds of destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. For more information about Emirates, please visit www.emirates.com.

New Airbnb data shows how tourism has dispersed post-pandemic, benefiting rural off-the-beaten-path communities in the Philippines and Southeast Asia

●     Across parts of Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific, Airbnb recorded an increase in non-urban nights booked in Q2 2022 when compared with Q2 2019

●     In the Philippines, travel interest in destinations outside major cities have increased with guest searches for Siquijor surging over 280 percent

●     Tourism dispersal is creating new economic opportunities for more people in emerging destinations as they look for ways to combat rising costs of living

As the travel rebound continues to unfold, the benefits of tourism are spreading across the Asia Pacific. In Southeast Asia, new analysis by Airbnb reveals that the resurgence in domestic and inbound tourism is empowering locals to earn a living and make ends meet.

With people continuing to embrace flexible new approaches to travel and living, communities that have traditionally missed out in the past are increasingly well-positioned to secure a bigger slice of the tourism pie, according to new Airbnb report ‘Further Afield: Spreading the Benefits of the Travel Revolution’. Across the region, this has presented fresh opportunities for locals looking to supplement their income as they grapple with rising costs of living.

Across the Asia Pacific, Airbnb nights booked in non-urban areas have increased in South Korea (up more than 180 percent ), India (up about 140 percent), and Australia (up about 60 percent) in Q2 2022 as compared to Q2 2019. In Southeast Asia, searches for stays in Siquijor in the Philippines surged by more than 280 percent while searches for Marang in Malaysia almost doubled.

The typical earnings for non-urban Hosts increased correspondingly in the same period for a number of destinations. In Australia and South Korea, typical host earnings have more than doubled as travel returned in full force. In the Philippines, almost half of local Airbnb hosts surveyed said their earnings have helped them navigate rising costs of living including housing, daily necessities, and home improvement needs.

Not only are travelers eyeing destinations off the beaten path, they’re also looking to stay longer. Notably, nights booked for long-term stays (stays longer than 28 days) in non-urban areas approximately doubled in popular travel and remote working hotspot Thailand in Q2 2022, up from Q2 2019 pre-pandemic.

In Southeast Asia, a number of destinations outside major metropolitan hubs were popular  among travelers on Airbnb for long-term stays in Q2 2022. Examples included:

●       Dapa, Panglao, Dumaguete and Silang in the Philippines

●       Ipoh, Kuah, Semenyih, and Port Dickson in Malaysia

●       Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Lanta and Krabi in Thailand

Mich Goh, Airbnb’s Head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan, said: “More than two years since the start of the pandemic, we continue to see fundamental shifts in travel that are creating new opportunities for off-the-beaten-track communities. It’s incredibly exciting to see travelers so enthusiastic about exploring new destinations, as well as the positive economic impact cascading to locals.

“The increasing popularity of Dapa, Panglao, Dumaguete and Silang reinforce the importance of the Department of Tourism’s plans to drive tourism development in the countryside and promote lesser-known destinations.  We are committed to continuing to work together with governments and stakeholders to keep inspiring travelers to step off the beaten path, and help ensure more communities can share in the benefits of tourism.”

In addition to encouraging travelers to explore further afield through innovative search tools such as Categories and I’m Flexible, Airbnb remains committed to partnering with governments and communities in Southeast Asia, including in the Philippines. The company has partnered with Thailand and Indonesia’s tourism authorities on a range of ‘Live and Work Anywhere’ initiatives to attract global digital nomads and remote workers, as part of broader efforts to drive inbound tourism as travel returns.

Readers can view the full report here https://news.airbnb.com/further-afield/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about us and our industry that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements regarding travel trends, the travel industry and the future of travel, the behavior of Hosts and guests and about our future performance, prospects, plans and objectives are forward-looking statements.

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “plan,” “expect,” “could,” “potential,” “objective,” or “continues” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur at all.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the objectives expressed or implied in this press release. Therefore, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the effects and duration of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic on us, the travel industry, travel trends, and the global economy generally; any further and continued decline or disruption in the travel and hospitality industries or economic downturn; changes in political, business, and economic conditions, including current geopolitical tensions and regional instability; and the other risks listed or described from time to time in Airbnb’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including Airbnb’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and subsequent Form 10-Qs and Form 8-Ks, which are, or will be, on file with the SEC and available on the investor relations page of Airbnb’s website.

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information and estimates available to us as of the date of this press release. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise any information contained in this press release, except as required by law.

Go grand at this year’s Pasigarbo sa Sugbo by booking these incredible Airbnb Stays

Osmeña Boulevard will erupt in colors and festivities once again as Cebu’s magnificent ‘Festival of Festivals’ makes its much-awaited comeback this year on August 28. A total of fifty festivals are joining this year’s Pasigarbo sa Sugbo — making it the biggest and grandest to date!

If you’re going to the Queen City of the South to witness the jaw-dropping talent and creativity of the Cebuanos, why not book an equally stunning Airbnb Stay hosted by Cebu’s top Airbnb Superhosts? They may even fill you in on the newest hole-in-the-wall gems and intriguing side-trips to explore after all the merriment and street dancing!

Luxurious pool villas in the heart of Cebu

If you’re bringing the entire family or the whole barkada, you might want to check out Superhost Chad’s modern luxury villa. With seven bedrooms spanned across three floors, a home theater, a kitchen stocked full with delicious supplies for breakfast, and an infinity pool with spectacular ocean and city views — this villa will definitely not disappoint.

For a secluded yet luxurious experience,  Luxury Villa in Busay may be your go-to. Nestled in the mountain town of Busay, this villa boasts top-notch amenities and in-house staff ready to accommodate any needs, including delectable meals prepared by your personal chef. The guest favorite? Definitely the infinity pool with panoramic views of the city.

Nature sanctuaries in the outskirts for longer Cebu getaways

If you crave peace and quiet after the festivities, Nala’s Farm lies within just an hour’s drive from the city. Perched on a hill, the stay provides incredible views of the surrounding mountains and resplendent sunsets. Guests can opt to dip in the pool for a quiet afternoon, or sweat it out with a game of volleyball, basketball, or table tennis in the recreational area.

Get closer to the water and stay at Sam Xander’s Stone Beach Villa located just by the beach. Enjoy dinners and picnics al fresco on the patio, a crisply manicured lawn, and a bonfire area for late-night smores roasts. The villa also sits close to great diving spots if you and your loved ones are up for an underwater adventure after Pasigarbo.

Another seaside Cebu gem is Playa Norte located in Danao City. This expansive designer beach home can comfortably accommodate up to ten guests, and features rustic wood furnishings and multiple seaview rooms.  Guests can soak up the sunshine in an outdoor tub, swim, and kayak at the beach, or curl up with a book or two on the sofa.

For an enjoyable and hassle-free Pasigarbo sa Sugbo experience, all Airbnb Stays now come with AirCover — the most comprehensive protection in travel and included for free in every stay. To discover more incredible places to stay in Cebu, visit airbnb.com or download the Airbnb app.

Relax like BTS: IN THE SOOP Estate Now on Airbnb

●     An exclusive getaway to rest and recharge in the countryside at the place where BTS stayed during the filming of HYBE’s original content.

●     The expansive property will immerse guests in the serene natural rhythms of PyeongChang, South Korea, a mountainous region famed for its lush forests and rolling hilltop vistas.

●     Two lucky guests from around the world will enjoy leisurely experiences that authentically recreate those BTS participated in while on the show

K-Pop fans rejoice! The expansive property where 21st-century pop icons BTS stayed during the filming of HYBE’s original content, IN THE SOOP BTS ver. Season 2, is now on Airbnb for an overnight stay for the first time ever. Guests will get the chance to find a moment of peace in the lush countryside of South Korea’s Gangwon region – just as the seven members did while enjoying everyday life and rest on the original content produced by HYBE.

During the second season of IN THE SOOP BTS, the band members experienced leisurely moments and reconnected with nature amidst their busy schedules. Guests will stay at the property, which is a part of a larger estate, and relive their favorite IN THE SOOP BTS moments, such as:

●  Reading books in the study like RM or relaxing, Jin-style, on the unicorn-shaped float in the home’s pool

●   Finding creative inspiration and strumming guitars like SUGA, snapping selfies with a Polaroid like j-hope or painting on a canvas as V does

●    For more high-energy entertainment, weight training like Jimin, flying high on a trampoline like Jung Kook or bouncing a ball in the basketball court like Bam, Jung Kook’s dog

 

About the stay

The one-night stay* on August 29 for only $7** — a nod to the band’s seven members — will immerse two lucky guests in the various elements the K-pop group personally enjoyed during their time on property only a few months ago, including:

●    Some of the same furniture and amenities that appeared on the show so guests can truly channel the lifestyle of BTS

●    A karaoke machine, sound system and all of BTS hit tracks and albums, including “Permission to Dance”, “Butter” and their just-released album, Proof

●    Specially catered dishes like charcoal grilled Korean beef (which the band referred to as “the best taste in the universe” in the show), and tteokbokki, or simmered rice cakes. Plus egg tarts produced by Bang & Bakers, currently  served at HYBE INSIGHT, HYBE’s music museum.

How to book

Guests can request to book this stay on Tuesday, August 2 from 11 AM KST (10 AM PHT) at airbnb.com/inthesoopbts. Guests are responsible for their own travel to and from Seoul, South Korea. Round trip car transportation will be provided for the 20-minute journey from KTX PyeongChang station to the IN THE SOOP BTS property.

While only one overnight stay will be offered, “geok jeong ma” — there will be an opportunity to check out the IN THE SOOP BTS property while staying at other listings near the property soon.

For those looking to discover similar stays surrounded by nature, Airbnb recently introduced a new way to search and discover homes through Airbnb Categories. With 200,000 countryside homes available around the globe, there are plenty of “in the soop” inspired getaways.

Those hoping to stay in the IN THE SOOP BTS ver. ‘Pyeongchang’ Filming Location should note that this stay’s rules require following applicable local rules and guidelines as well as Airbnb’s COVID-19 Safety Practices, which will include wearing a mask and practicing social distancing when required by local laws or guidelines. Staff will also comply with local rules and guidelines while on-site, and will abide by our five-step enhanced cleaning process.

 

*This one-night stay is available for one participant and their fellow guest and is not a contest.

**Plus taxes and fees

Airbnb is closely monitoring Korea COVID-19 infection rates and government policies and will offer booking guests a US $1,000 Airbnb travel credit if Airbnb determines it is necessary to cancel the stay.

 

 

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 900 million guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer one-of-a-kind stays and unique Experiences that make it possible for guests to experience the world in a more authentic, connected way.

 

About HYBE

HYBE, rebranded from Big Hit Entertainment in March 2021, is a global entertainment lifestyle platform company that seeks boundless expansion in order to innovate the music industry. Ever since, HYBE has been expanding its multi label system including BIGHIT MUSIC, BELIFT LAB, SOURCE MUSIC, PLEDIS Entertainment, KOZ ENTERTAINMENT, ADOR, HYBE LABELS JAPAN, while HYBE AMERICA also manages its affiliate labels including Big Machine Label Group. In addition to the label business, HYBE established an integrated structure with its  solution business that creates concert, video content, game, original story and retail, as well as a platform business through Weverse, a global fandom platform. Composed of its three headquarters based in Korea, Japan and the US, the company works towards bringing innovative change throughout the global music industry.

 

About BTS

BTS, an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Beyond the Scene,” are a GRAMMY-nominated South Korean boy band that has been capturing the hearts of millions of fans globally since their debut in June 2013. The members of BTS are RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. Gaining recognition for their authentic and self-produced music, top-notch performances, and the way they interact with their fans, the band has established themselves as 21st century pop icons breaking countless world records. While imparting a positive influence through activities such as the LOVE MYSELF campaign and the UN ‘Speak Yourself’ speech, the band has mobilized millions of fans across the world (named ARMY), collected six No.1 Billboard Hot 100 singles in a span of a year and just over a month, and performed multiple sold-out stadium shows across the world. They were also named TIME’s Entertainer of the Year 2020. BTS were nominated two years in a row for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 63rd and 64th GRAMMY Awards and have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards like the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards (Artist of the Year 2021) and MTV Video Music Awards.

 

About IN THE SOOP

IN THE SOOP, an original content produced by HYBE, features artists embarking on a break in the woods as they step away from their regular work routines. Starring artists reconnecting with nature, HYBE released a series of shows from “In the SOOP BTS Ver.”, “In the SOOP BTS ver. Season 2”, “IN THE SOOP SEVENTEEN ver.”, to its spin-off “IN THE SOOP : Friend-cation”. Based on the concept of restful and healing break from the series, HYBE introduces off-line pop up stores with lifestyle products in multiple cities around the world including Seoul, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. Fans will also be able to experience a unique accommodation and F&B experience at IN THE SOOP BTS ver. ‘Pyeongchang’ Filming Location starting August 2022. Through IN THE SOOP, HYBE continues to provide immersive entertainment lifestyle experiences through original content featuring artists, merchandise and offline stores.

Work Week Enders at Richmonde's The Exchange

 If your work week is constantly hectic, then you need to end it right by having a night or two of unabashed good time. Give yourself a well-earned pat on the back and get some after-office perks as Richmonde Hotel Ortigas’ bar lounge reopens its doors to welcome back the city’s busy workforce. Every Thursday and Friday, The Exchange creates a fun hotspot where you can let your hair down, reminisce the good ol’ times, and even let your singing fantasies come true!

All eyes will be on stage as The Exchange holds Thursday Jamming Night and Friday Retro Replay with resident pianist Bobbet Bernades and ‘80s cover band, Big Bash Band, respectively.

Celebrate the almost-weekend with your pals at The Exchange’s Thursday Jamming Night with the bar’s resident pianist, Bobbet Bernades, and take your karaoke sessions to the next level. From 7:00pm to 10:30pm, sing your heart out on stage and take the spotlight with live piano accompaniment or cheer on your lounge-singer-wannabe friend. From acoustic sounds and bossa nova vibes to pop tunes and standard ballads, wow the crowd with your wide range of repertoire.

Relive and rediscover the smash hits of the 70’s and ‘80s as The Exchange’s resident crowd-drawer make its long-awaited a comeback. The Big Bash Band resumes its live performances at the Friday Retro Replay all Fridays of August and September. At no cover charge or minimum consumption, The Exchange will transport you in time as you groove to the band’s infectious beats from upbeat disco, funky pop, and hip new wave songs. The throwback tunes continue all throughout the night with cool remixes and vintage MTVs for an old-school kind of night.

Just a few of the must-try bar chow at The Exchange:  Queso Fundido, Onion Rings, Moules Marineres, and Caroline Pulled Pork Pizza.

Queso Fundido

Onion Rings

Moules Marineres

Caroline Pulled Pork Pizza.

And as you enjoy the bar’s entertainment, get your fix of bottomless fun with drink-all-you-can offers. Happy Hour, available from 6pm to 9pm, gives you limitless orders of local beers and select cocktails, served with chips, crackers, and nuts, for only PhP 850 nett. Wine lovers also get a treat with Unli Pours of house red and white wine for two (2) consecutive hours at PhP 800 nett.

End the week with bottomless fun at The Exchange: Drink-all-you-can Happy Hour from 6pm to 9pm for PhP 850nett and Unli Wine Pours for 2 hours straight for PhP 800 nett.

Complementing your drinks is The Exchange’s bar chow choices which consist of a mix of all-time faves like the classic sisig kapampangan (pork mask, chicken liver, citric acid, chilies, sea salt), sinugba (cured marlin, grilled pork belly, pinakurat, red onions), the popular onion rings (beer-battered onion rings, house-blend ranch, srirachianaise), and Angus burger (beef steak, mozzarella, cheddar, pretzel bun); and house specials like queso fundido (spiced queso dip with pulled pork), moules marineres (sauvignon blanc steamed New Zealand mussels), and jojos & chili con carne (spiced potato wedges, homemade chili, mozzarella), from Richmonde Ortigas’ Executive Chef, Tristan Galang. All takers of Happy Hour and Unli Pours get 20% off on bar chow orders.

The Exchange, located at the 2^nd floor of Richmonde Hotel Oritgas, is open Thursdays and Fridays from 6pm to 11pm. For inquiries and table reservations, call +632 8638 7777 or +63 917 534 4352

As the initial venture of leading real estate company, Megaworld Corporation, into the hospitality business, Richmonde Hotel Ortigas is a proud local brand that opened in 1999 at the heart of the then-burgeoning Ortigas Center. It is now a member of the steadily growing stable of homegrown brands under the Megaworld Hotels and Resorts group. For more information on Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, log on to www.richmondehotelortigas.com.ph and for the latest news on the hotel, follow @RichmondeHotelOrtigas on Facebook and Instagram.

DOT Presents “Escape: Stories from the Road” Podcast

 The Department of Tourism (DOT) presents its first podcast, “Escape: Stories from the Road,” showcasing the best destinations in the Philippines through stories from different personalities

Escape: Stories from the Road

This five-episode podumentary, a combination of podcast and documentary, infuses an element of storytelling, veering away from the usual question-and-answer formats of podcasts. Through these stories, the DOT hopes to reach out to the various audiences and inspire them to participate in meaningful tourism through unique experiences and local interactions.

One of the special guests, National Artist Kidlat Tahimik, shared stories about Baguio—his home and a UNESCO Creative City. Photo courtesy of Kidlat De Guia.

Each episode follows a theme, such as adventure, identity, fiestas, music and food. Among the notable individuals interviewed for this podcast are National Artist Kidlat Tahimik; Dr. Felicidad Prudente, who is one of the leading Filipino ethnomusicologists in the country today; and former Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

Paragliding adventure in Nueva Vizcaya. Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism.

The first episode on adventure features some of the best outdoor experiences in Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, and Camotes Island; while the identity episode brings the audience from Baguio to Davao to share stories of people who, in finding the path to gain their identity, found the path to greatness.

The episode on music explores the sounds of the islands, from the city to the remote forests of the Philippines, emphasizing that music not only serves to entertain but to preserve history in our soundscape. The fiesta episode discusses how Filipino festivals have evolved from honoring patron saints to highlighting the best of the towns and provinces.

For the food episode that was recorded in May, then Tourism Secretary Puyat shared her advocacy in supporting local farmers and how this led to further developing food and farm tourism in the country.

DOT’s “Escape: Stories from the Road” podcast is hosted by travel filmmaker and photographer Aaron Palabyab along with guest co-hosts, national athlete Maureen Schrijvers; designer, musician, and filmmaker Kate Torralba; and sports broadcaster and podcaster Cesca Litton. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Castro, Overcast, and Anchor.