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. My next travel writing job (in February 2024) will take me to the Philippines International Dive Expo in Manila, followed by a diving trip to Puerto Galera.
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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.