3 days before my epic Mindanao Challenge (a personal challenge to live within Php400/day for 16days while in Mindanao), I received an email thru my contact page.
Although it was customary for me to be reading comments of how this simple blog of mine was helpful to budget travelers, this particular letter touched me, inspired me to continue what I’m doing. You know, this kind of letters are in time to encourage a simple traveler like me. And so I’m publishing it for everyone to read. It is a reminder for me that everything I write here online is read, digested, critiqued and shared; therefore I vow to make this blog better. After all, this is not only mine, this is my gift to the Filipino community wanting to discover the beauty of their own country even with a limited budget.
My gratitude goes to Mae for this uplifting letter. Salamat ng madami!
Here’s the letter:
____ ____ ____
grabe kuya! you don’t know how you’ve inspired me to get my itchy feet (not because of fungal infection huh!) to every inch of the philippines! reading your blog was like experiencing your journey also. Nung nasearch ko ang blog mo na curious ako kaya talagang sinimulan ko mula una mong post hanggang sa latest! dalawang four hours ko binasa yung buong blog mo (umaga before duty then pag uwi ko binasa ko next newest posts). I have this dream of exploring pero takot ako umalis mag isa ng bahay pero sige dahil nakita kong nag enjoy ka sabi ko sa sarili ko “why not” and pag uwi ko ulit ng pinas ang sasabihin ko naman “why not now!”
Kaso andito pa ko sa work overseas. Di bale pag uwi ko me isa na nga akong naka book eh… coron palawan poh! Ngaun sabi ko dapat before mag end of the world na talaga at least makalahati ko man lang ang pinas! joke!
hahaha! keep it up kuya sana maging kulay blue na yung buong lakbayan map mo! Ingatz ka lagi sa mga byahe mo and thank you for sharing us your wonderful sojourn! God bless u! ^_^ magdala ka din ng off lotion un ang isang essential din na dapat mong dalhin if i may suggest.
p.s. magkamag anak ba kayo ni ramon bautista? mejo me resemblance hehe joke!
____ ____ ____
I just hope and pray that when you come back here in the Philippines you would reach places you dreamed of. Coron, Palawan is so beautiful, if I would choose a retirement place, it would be Coron.
About Ramon Bautista, hahaha! Siya may Tamang Balita, ako may Tama lang. 🙂
Kayangan Lake (2009)
I hope that I can visit the 80 provinces of the Philippines before this year ends. I hope that funds would come too.
For now, I hope that you can follow my Mindanao Challenge for 16 days. As of now, a lot of great developments are happening. I will just surprise all my readers in time.
For live updates, everyone can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter.
To all my readers, thank you so much for all your comments and suggestions, I read all of them and I cherish those.
Blessings!
2 days before #MINDANAO400! Let’s do this!
i agree with the letter james… you truly inspired a lot of people…
flip, thanks a lot! we are an inspiration to the community. kayo din sa PTB ang inspirasyon ko.
Inspiring letter from an inspired reader of your blog. Thanks to you she gets to escape from that barrier of self doubt and fear that people have about travelling…
Ramon Bautista and Journeying James in one travel show? why not…it will be a riot for sure.
waaaahhhh! riot and chaos on TV, amazing yan! calling mr.ramon bautista.
let’s continue inspiring people thru our travel stories marky/ nomadic experiences
You site really had inspired a lot of readers including me… Keep it up James!!! Can’t wait for your Mindanao Challenge… Ingats and Have Fun! 🙂
yeah! thanks mervs… me too, cant wait for monday . this is it, after nito 100 days na..
Isa kang magandang ehemplo sa mga kababayan natin na takot mag-explore dahil akala nila hindi nila ito magagawa with limited funds. May kaibigan nga ako na sinend ko blog mo sa kanya. Hindi niya akalain yung Php500 a day budget hehe pero posible naman talaga siya, diba? 😛
About Ramon Bautista, na-meet ko siya in person. Siya may tama, ikaw yung balita! 😛
ahahaha! may tama talaga yun pero malalim mag-isip.hahaha idol ng marami si ramon.
salamat mica for sharing the link. sana nga marami pang makabasa ng blog.
This is a big step! You go James! We’re rallying behind you. Homecourt ko pa naman yan!
lois!!! yes, homecourt mo nga, im excited for davao and samal, para ngang bitin pala yung 16 days.
thanks thanks! you guys enjoy and take care while in SEA. RTW na next nyan, so excited for yah and chichi!
Nakaka excite naman ang mga great developments na yan, more good things to come James! Go lang ng go 🙂
ahahaha! im sure, everyone will be excited about that
tama! you’re an inspiration to all of us wanna-be travellers! 🙂 keep it up and goodluck sa mindanao challenge mo! keep safe!
pabaon sayo ang dasal na maging maayos ang lahat para saiyo.. pabaon din ang “high five” para sa inspirasyon na binibigay sa maraming Pilipino na mahalin ang sariling atin..
sa bawat lugar na pupuntahan, ibati mo ako kay haring araw at ingiti rin sa liwanag na dala ng lalake sa buwan.. iyakap din kami sa sariwang hangin, pati na rin sa ibat ibang kultura pang matutuklasan..
kagaya daw ng “blue moon”, hindi lahat ay nabibigyan ng pagkakataon.. sa mga panahon na ito, binigay ng langit ang pagkakataong ito para saiyo.. siguraduhin mong pawang ngiti ang dadalhin mo sa bawat pag alis sa lugar.. hindi kinakailangan perpekto ang takbo ng karanasan, ang mahalaga ay pinahintulutan ka ng panahon na madaanan ang lahat ng ito..
maghihintay kami sa mga magagandang balita mula sa iyo…
🙂
Tama siya James, actually yan ang nffeel ko para sa inyong mga batikan sa PTB! inspirasyon namin kayo! 🙂
It’s so overwhelming to receive letters from readers. What they don’t know is in turn, they inspire us also to keep doing what we do. Safe trip Kompanyero.
nyaks kuya!!!! nipublish mo letter ko grabe nakakahiya hehehe!!! nag blush ako tapos uminit tenga ko saka pisngi ko hahaha! idol!!! ^_^
ahahaha! thanks mae for the letter and for reading all the posts. grabe ka, ako nga di ko kayang basahin lahat ng sinulat ko.haha
Hello,
You really are my inspiration in traveling, As of now I have visited 31 provinces and hope to finish it all before my retirement. I only do it during my seminars but some are at my own expenses like in Dapitan with my son. Keep it up and may u inspire morethru your blogs….
thanks filipina, hope you see mor of our country. enjoy!