Last month was election time in the Philippines, and from what I gathered, it was definitely an intense moment.
But politics aside, the Philippines has risen quickly on my long and constantly shifting list of places I want to experience. Quite honestly, it has climbed right into my top ten.
And the reason for that is not just one thing.
Filipinos in Hawaiʻi
The biggest influence on this growing desire to visit the Philippines does not actually come from sitting behind a screen and researching it. It comes from living in Hawaiʻi.
After living in Hawai’i for four years, it would be an understatement to say that there is a strong Filipino presence in the islands. That is rooted deeply in Hawaiʻi’s plantation history, and because of that, Filipinos are a huge and meaningful part of everyday life here.
Whether first generation or several generations deep, I have had the chance to work with, meet, and be around so many Filipinos here in Hawaiʻi. Over time, one thing has stood out to me again and again. They are some of the warmest, funniest, and most enjoyable people to be around.
That alone was enough to make me look more closely toward the Philippines.
Euronews
Over 7,000 Islands
Once I started paying more attention, I eventually pulled up Google Maps and really looked at the Philippines properly. My lord!
There are over 7,000 islands spread across the archipelago, ranging from tiny specks to major landmasses. Just looking at that from a traveler’s perspective is exciting enough, but what really hooked me is the idea of moving through the country by ferry.
That kind of travel has always appealed to me. Slow movement between islands, seeing how one place changes into the next, and letting a destination unfold gradually rather than all at once. For a traveler like me, the Philippines immediately started looking less like one trip and more like an entire journey.
Carolinerosetravel
Endless Waterfalls
Once the Philippines had my attention, the algorithm did the rest.
Over time I started following tourism pages, local creators, and travel accounts connected to the country. And one thing that seems to come up constantly is waterfalls. Every time I open Instagram, there seems to be another one. Another jungle setting, another plunge pool, another place that looks unreal.
At some point, it stopped feeling like random scrolling and started feeling like a sign that this country was creeping higher and higher on my list.
There just seems to be no end to what the Philippines offers when it comes to lush scenery and natural beauty, and that definitely has my attention.
Serious Eats
The Food
I am not a foodie, and I have never tried to pretend to be one. But food matters in travel because it tells you just as much about a place as anything else.
Even from my experience in Hawaiʻi, Filipino food has already given me a taste of what I know is only the beginning. From pancit to lumpia and so much more, it is obvious that the cuisine is full of comfort, flavor, and variety.
And if what I have already had here is only the warm-up, then I know the real thing in the Philippines is going to be something special.
Escapology101
The Energy of the People
More than anything, though, what keeps the Philippines high on my list comes back to the people.
Based on my experiences with Filipinos in Hawaiʻi, it is hard not to feel drawn toward the culture and the energy they bring. There is a kindness, humor, and warmth that keeps leaving an impression on me. Whether I am around younger Filipinos, older generations, or people somewhere in between, there is a friendliness that feels real and easy.
Of course, being around Filipino communities in Hawaiʻi is not the same thing as being in the Philippines itself. I know that. But it has absolutely shaped my curiosity and made me want to experience the country more directly for myself.
For Now
As of right now, I do not have immediate plans to visit the Philippines. My direction still leans heavily toward the Pacific Islands with my storytelling mission – One Ocean, One People, and that remains where my focus is for the moment.
But the Philippines has undeniably climbed. It is no longer just somewhere off in the distance on a long list. It has become one of those places I can clearly see myself giving a real stretch of time to when the moment is right.
And when that time comes, I already know I am not going to want to rush it.
Have you ever been to the Philippines? Please let me know below.
Consider this blog post a prep for an entire future series of Phillipines Voyaging!
As of right now (June 2022), I have no immediate plans to visit the Philippines as Iʻm aimed for the Pacific Island countries as far as travel goes. But Iʻm always telling my fellow Filipinos here, Iʻm definitely game for a spontaneous 2-3 month trip in the Philippines.
Donʻt believe me?..watch me!
National Geographic
A Potential One Ocean, One People Chapter
As my curiosity around the Philippines has grown, so has another layer of thought behind it. This is not just another destination on my list. The Philippines sits in a very unique position in the world, especially when I start looking at it through the same lens I have been developing across the Pacific.
With over 7,000 islands, the Philippines is an archipelago shaped by waves of migration, trade, and outside influence. It feels like a crossroads, not just geographically, but culturally. There are elements of Southeast Asia, deep indigenous roots, centuries of Spanish influence, and modern global connections all existing within the same space. That combination makes it stand apart, but at the same time, it creates a quiet connection to the Pacific Island cultures I’ve been immersed into.
Across the Pacific, I have spent time in places where life is deeply tied to the ocean. Navigation, land, language, and identity are all connected through water, and that relationship shapes how people live and see the world. The Philippines is not always grouped into that same conversation, but when you step back and look at it, there are clear parallels in how island life and ocean connection play a role in shaping culture.
That is where something begins to click for me. If and when I make my way to the Philippines, it would not be just to move from island to island, but to understand how these islands connect within themselves and how they relate to the wider story of island cultures. There is a depth there that goes beyond travel and into something more meaningful.
Because of that, I can already see the potential for this to become a future chapter of One Ocean, One People. A chapter that explores how an archipelago like the Philippines fits into the larger narrative of ocean-connected communities, how culture is preserved, how it evolves, and how people across different island regions share both similarities and differences shaped by history, geography, and time.
That is not something I can fully speak on yet, because I have not been there. But it is something I can feel building, and more often than not, that feeling is where the next journey begins.
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