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| The 5 team finalists for Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge 2016 with their adventure coaches |
Like any supportive fellow traveler, I was delighted when I learned that Cebu Pacific has been organizing its own travel challenge. Now on its fifth year, the Juan for Fun Backpacker challenge gives younger people from different universities, a chance to discover what their home country has to offer.
For seven days, 5 teams explored and experienced the Philippines following an itinerary they created with a travel allowance of 35,000 Pesos. The challenge alone feels like a prize already! But you know what's even more amazing? The winning team gets a Travel-All-You-Can pass! Each member of the winning team will be able to book as many free flights as they want to any domestic and international short-haul destinations within one year. They also got to take home gift certificates from Cebu Pacific’s partner brands: Tripologie travel store, Merrel shoes, and Boreas travel bags.
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| #JFFJuanTeamPH |
At the end of the challenge, the student team from La Salle Bacolod, #JFFJUANTeamPH, was declared a winner. The criteria was based on itinerary creation, fun activities, points scored on the challenges and social media posts.Teammates Glenn Layola, Audrey Ramos, and John Ray Blance, were guided by their adventure coach, TV host and VJ Robi Domingo. The team's exciting itinerary included Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Surigao, Butuan and Legazpi, Albay. Congratulations everyone! :)
Placing second was #JFFTeamPura, composed of Marie Tuason, Karlo Carranza, and Samantha Rice. Their itinerary covered Bohol, Cebu, Dumaguete, Siargao, Iloilo, and Davao. Their energetic adventure coach was Bogart the Explorer.
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| #JFFTeamPura performing their cheer at the Juan for Fun awarding ceremony |
In third place, group of friends #JFFTeamWork, Serge Calumpong, April Nacion, and Jaysson Presores. Together they explored Laoag, Cebu, Bacolod, and Davao. Their adventure coach was travel writer Jude Bacalso.
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| #JFFTeamWork |
Tied at fourth place was #JFFTeamPablo and #JFFTeamTAG. The former is comprised of Brendan Tangan, Linus Pagulayan, and Cherson Bariuan from St. Paul University Philippines. JFFTeamPablo's enjoyed Coron, Camiguin, Iloilo and Cebu. Their adventure coach was Saab Magalona .
#JFFTeamTAG’s Tricia Quintero, April Baldovino, and Gian Nicdao of University of the Philippines-Manila headed to the country's popular destinations, Boracay, Cebu, Iloilo, and Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Their adventure coach was musician Champ Lui Pio, who performed a couple of songs during the awarding.
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| #JFFTeamTag in yellow shirts and #JFFTeamTag in pink |
Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge 2016 has Boreas Gear as the official travel gear, Merrell as the official footwear, and GoPro as the official camera. The challenge is also supported by Wenger and Dan’s, and endorsed by the Department of Tourism and Commission on Higher Education.
Get going and explore more of the Philippines with Cebu Pacific. Revisit the adventures of the Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge 2016 teams by visiting www.juanforfun.com. For bookings and information on new and exciting programs, follow Cebu Pacific’s official Facebook and Twitter (@CebuPacificAir) pages.
(Side story : The cheapest round trip airfare I've snagged to date was a booking I made in 2009. For a round trip ticket from Manila to Tacloban, my colleagues and I just paid 56.02 Pesos each, all IN! Since we already had a lot of trips scheduled for that year, we decided to just do a day tour. As though it was just any regular day, we had breakfast in Tacloban and another hearty lunch in Samar. By evening, we were back in Manila to have dinner with our own families. Full story here.)
Note : All photos used in this post are from Stratworks.