I am a Filipino. My name is Nathanael Nunag. I have a Philippine passport. I am a traveler. This is my passage to the world. Then and now.
Filipinos’ story has always been an outward-looking one. We long for the sea and what is out there, yet we remain rooted to the land of our birth. Like the souls depicted in the Manunggul jar we journey yeteverything we really are remains. Our journey to the world as a people is told and retold by our passports and travel documents. Our passport is our identity. It tells us where we come from, where we have gone before, and where we are heading. It tells of our comings and goings, if our departures and arrivals. But beyond serving as canvass for nostalgic musings, passports are valuable historical, economic, political and social heralds. Their pages convey facts, which, before discerning eyes, link disparate events, weave talesm and paint a picture of a nation from snapshots of individual persons. Our passports are intertwined with our story as a people. Let’s talk about the freedom to travel- we want to give people in every part of the world the same chance that other peoples have.
Filipinos possess one of the best travel documents in the world. He endured centuries of colonization and suffered indignities in the hands of his kindred, but with true grit, he fought for and regained his freedom each time. He faced challenges and overcame them. He persevered and was rewarded. Now, his right to travel is respected. His identity is acknowledged. His passport is welcome.
We have enlisted countries we have visited since we started our blog 4 years ago. Unfortunately, we only have been to 15 Countries which is a bit short of a number for a travel blogger/vlogger. We promised ourselves to travel as we want to but ended up still-staying on our day time jobs. Let us know if you have the same position as ours and what is your escape plan? Or if you have already succeeded from that scenario, let us congratulate you and ask some of your tips. Or if you are this rich kid who just enjoy traveling anywhere , we are very happy for you!
We would love to hear which countries you have been. If you have your blog/vlog link too, you can post it on the comment section. We would love to engage with you. If this article reaches 50 valuable comments, we will be giving away a paypal credit of 10 US dollars as a raffle prize among those people.
Here are the 15 Countries We Have Visited Before The COVID Lockdown. What’s yours?
1.) Myanmar
Read our blogs: Bagan and Mandalay
2.) India
Read our blogs: Agra and Mumbai
3.) Malaysia
Read our blog: Malaysia Layover
4.) Vietnam
Read our blogs: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Sapa, Hue
5.) Cambodia
Read our blogs: Siem Riep and Phnom Penh
6.) Philippines
Read our blogs: Sta.Cruz, Magdalena, Pampanga, Manila, Alabang, Mandaluyong, Pasay, Quezon City, Palompon, Tacloban, San Juan, Bauang, Tiaong, Cebu, Oslob, Baguio, Laoag, Paoay, Vigan, Tuguegarao, Sta. Ana, Boracay, Palaui, Palawan, La Libertad, Manjuyod and Bohol
7.) South Korea
Read our blogs: Seoul and Muju
8.) Taiwan
Read our blogs: Taipei, Jiufen, and Taichung
9.) Australia
Read our blogs: Great Ocean Road, Tullamarine, Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney
10.) China
Read our blog: Hong Kong
11.) United Kingdom
Read our blogs: London, Oxford, Guildford, Stone Henge and Bath
12.) United States of America
Read our blog: New York
13.) Thailand
Read our blog: Bangkok
14.) Singapore
Read our blog: Singapore layover
15.) Japan
Some historical facts:
- When Martial Law was declared by President Ferdinand Marcos on 21 September 1972, Juan de la Cruz found himself barred from travelling overseas. Through Letter of Instruction No. 4, President Marcos instructed then Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Carlos P. Romulo, to stop issuing travel papers, including passports, to any citizen except to those sent abroad by the Philippine government. For a person to leave the country, he must be cleared by the Travel Committee which included the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of National Defense, the Department of Tourism, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency. When Martial Law was lifted in 1982, restrictions on the issuance of Philippine passports were likewise lifted.
- During the term of Sec. Arturo Tolentino as Foreign Affairs Minister from 1984 to 1985, he emphasized the right of every Filipino to obtain a passport. He abolished the Income Tax Return as a documentary requirement for passport application. Rich or poor, Filipinos right to travel would not be denied.