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Friday, March 29, 2024

Stranded foreign tourists share what they love about staying in the Philippines

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What they initially wanted was to take a trip to explore our country, but the border closure due to the pandemic has allowed them to get to know our islands better as they chose to stay longer than planned. 

Chris and Carol of 'Jumping Places'

Chris and Carol, travelers from Brazil, first arrived in the Philippines in February. They were out on a tour in the Gigantes Islands when they heard about the quarantine, which made them afraid at first—but eventually thought it was a good decision to stop COVID-19 from spreading. 

After deciding that it was better and safer for them to stay in the Philippines, they moved to El Nido, Palawan, for better amenities. It didn’t take long for them to fall in love with the place for its easy way of life and breathtaking beauty. 

Stranded foreign tourists share what they love about staying in the Philippines
Chris and Carol of Jumping Places

“When I go outside just to get groceries, I know we can’t spend time on the beaches, but just going past it and looking, it’s like a reset button,” shared Chris in their vlog that explains their decision. “Filipinos in general are just positive people, and that’s helping a lot.” 

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“We may feel a bit sad sometimes because we miss our families and friends, but at the same time we realized that we are lucky to be stuck in a place like the Philippines,” he continued. 

“Even the very few people that we meet are being friendly and very nice to us. They’re always smiling even knowing that things are not so good out there, and we think that’s the mindset that we all must try to have.”

Mike and Nelly of 'Making It Happen' 

Austrian travel vloggers Mike and Nelly found themselves stuck outside of Manila when the quarantine was implemented, so they decided to travel to Siargao, where they knew some people. 

Stranded foreign tourists share what they love about staying in the Philippines
Mike and Nelly of Making It Happen

While they admit that their situation is a little difficult, the generosity of Filipinos makes it easier for them to bear as they wait to be able to get back to the capital. 

“The Filipino generosity never ceases to surprise me,” said Mike in this vlog entry where Filipino friends hosted them for a get-together on Mother’s Day. “I wish it were like that everywhere on planet Earth, but we are lucky to be in the situation that we can be here in the Philippines.” 

“I am very, very grateful that we are able to experience [Filipinos’ hospitality],” added Nelly.

Jmayel and Sacha of 'Eight Miles From Home' 

English family Jmayel, Sacha, and their daughter Story are also staying in Siargao, where they feel fortunate to be stuck in. 

They visited the Philippines as they were looking for a new home, a place to “feel content in”—and ended up in Siargao right before the government announced a quarantine. 

Stranded foreign tourists share what they love about staying in the Philippines
Jmayel and Sacha of Eight Miles From Home

Siargao provides them a nice, quiet, and inspiring environment where their entire family can stay calm and relaxed while waiting out the quarantine. The family considers the pandemic as some sort of sign that they should be moving—if not to Siargao, then to somewhere in the Philippines. 

“I love the way it feels on the island, just general day-to-day living. It has a very nice, relaxed vibe,” said Sacha in their vlog entry explaining their circumstances. “The people are wonderful, and the island attracts a good crowd.” 

“We are safe and sheltered in what can only be described as a paradise, and we are grateful for that each day,” enthused Jmayel. 

Carson and Zowie of 'Bisayang Hilaw' 

American travel vlogger Carson Moody and his Filipina-Australian girlfriend Zowie Palliaer ended up spending the quarantine in Dumaguete City. Carson, who professes a genuine love for the Filipino culture and people with his extensive content immersing himself in it, manages to stay upbeat and positive despite the current situation. 

Stranded foreign tourists share what they love about staying in the Philippines
Carson and Zowie of Bisayang Hilaw

“If you look closely, you’ll see raw, authentic Filipino life. A young girl by herself on a bamboo boat with ramshackle homes by the river. Forget the tourist spots. This is what the Philippines is all about, and moments like this will always be my favorite,” said Carson. 

Anna and Trevor of 'Delightful Travellers' 

Canadian travel vloggers Anna and Trevor also found themselves stuck in wonderful El Nido, Palawan when the quarantine started. They arrived in early March and were given the option to repatriate in April, which they turned down after realizing that they had the chance to stay in what they considered one of the most beautiful places in the world. 

Stranded foreign tourists share what they love about staying in the Philippines
Anna and Trevor of Delightful Travellers

“We are in one of the most beautiful places in the world—that’s just a nice perk,” said Trevor in their vlog entry in which they discussed their options. “The people have been exceptionally nice to us, we feel right at home, we feel safe. We feel really good about where we are.” 

“We don’t know how long we’re going to be here, but we think this is the right thing to do,” shared Anna.

George and Lucy of 'The Juicy Vlog' 

Manila-based British travel vloggers George and Lucy moved to the Philippines in 2019 to explore everything the country had to offer, but got caught up in the quarantine in March. The worst-case scenario hasn’t dampened their spirits and sentiments about the Philippines though, as all its sites and experiences still occupy a special place in their hearts.

Stranded foreign tourists share what they love about staying in the Philippines
George and Lucy of The Juicy Vlog

“We definitely wanna go back to our family afterwards, of course, we do. It’s not gonna be a permanent move back to the UK, we still have [the Philippines],” said George in a recent vlog where a fan asked them about their current plans.  

Rod of 'RodVivKids' 

Dutch travel vlogger Rod, who documents his travels with Filipina wife Viv and their six kids found themselves stranded in Marabut, Samar as they were spending their vacation. With such a big family, they eventually needed some help to get by, which they were easily able to get from both generous neighbors and fans.

Stranded foreign tourists share what they love about staying in the Philippines
Rod of RodVivKids

“Thank you so much for helping us out—seeing the deeds, instead of just words,” said Rod of compassionate Filipinos who sent money to help the family in their time of need in a recent vlog entry. “When we say we care for people, we should also show it in our deeds.” 

For the latest travel updates and advisories in relation to COVID-19, visit philippines.travel/safeph

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