Philippines Travel Writing
My mother was born in Iloilo, Philippines; my first visit there happened before I was two years old. I’ve since lost count of the number of times I’ve visited the country, exploring regions as diverse as Metro Manila, Bicol, Palawan and Bohol. It’s been a real pleasure to specialise in the Philippines as a travel writer, as it’s a lesser-known destination to British travellers. I’m proud to bring it into the spotlight.
I often combine my Philippines travel journalism with my scuba diving expertise. As a certified PADI Rescue Diver, I’ve dived the Japanese shipwrecks of Coron, the coral gardens around Apo Island and many other sites.
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January 2023 | Read
This piece won the AITO Travel Writer of the Year 2022-2023 Silver Award for articles under 1,500 words. It was my first piece for The Times and my debut as a Philippines travel writer in any national UK publication.
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November 2023 | Read
This was my first piece for Wanderlust, the UK’s biggest-selling travel title. It spans a wide range of recommendations, from the most ethical whale shark-watching spots to the best mall food (that’s my #1 travel tip as a semi-native Philippines writer – go eat at the mall!).
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July 2023 | Read
Writing for the South China Morning Post – a publication that is more “local” to the Philippines – allows me to niche down in my Philippines travel writing, covering topics that would be deemed too obscure by UK publications. This is how I was able to write about my mother’s hometown of Iloilo for the first time in an international title.
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May 2023 | Read
This piece combines two of my favourite things to do – writing about Philippines travel, and nerding out about interior design. This new(ish) crop of Manila hotels incorporates interesting Filipino elements, such as Capiz shells and ube patisserie.
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April 2023 | Read
In many ways, Taal is the source from which much of Filipino culture springs – the Tagalog language, the national dress and the Villavicencio revolutionary family. Though most Philippines travel writers overlook it in favour of Vigan, I believe it’s just as worthy of a visit.
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March 2023 | Read
Bicol’s long been high on my list of Philippines destinations, so I was incredibly lucky to visit on a state-sponsored travel writing trip with the Philippines Department of Tourism. Loyal as I am to my beloved Iloilo, I must grudgingly admit that Bicolano food is the best I’ve tasted in the country.
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July 2019 | Read
This was my first piece of Philippines travel writing for the UK media; I think it still holds up.