I found the video of my interview with GMA Network andΒ have now uploaded to the WanderlassΒ Youtube channel. The interview that Iβve cleverly entitled βWanderlass TV Interviewβ was first seenΒ on 24 Oras, a weeknight news on GMA Network, on May 14, 2014.
I missed its broadcast because I donβt really watch television. But my friend JunΒ saw it, took a photo of his TV and shared it on facebook. Β A few days later, another friend Toto said he saw the segment on GMA News TV. It was around noon time of May 19, 2014. And because I still donβt watch TV,Β I didnβt see that too. Last week though, Jori from GMA Network sent me the video. So here you go, if you care to seeΒ the Wanderlass Tv interview.
Itβs about Couchsurfing
So the interview is in Filipino, for the benefit of the curious international people, itβs about couchsurfing. Couchsurfing is this website that connects travelers with hosts. It fosters cultural exchange by, for example, bringing a French traveler to a Filipino home. The traveler gets an inside scoop on what a country is about beyond the tourist spots. He gets to experience the daily life of the people in this country. As for the host, you bring travel to your home by bringing in a traveler.
The news article focused more on the budget travel solution angle of couchsurfing. It suggested that my around the worldΒ trip was made possible financially because of couchsurfing. The truth is less than 20% of my 435 days traveling around the world was spend couchsurfing. But when I did, it was always great.
While it is true that many people used this as a means to travel cheaper, by saving accommodation costs especially in expensive cities like Paris or New York, one should neverΒ make this the only reason to do couchsurfing. It is always interesting to see what adventure you get with a local.
Itβs an amazing concept but should be used with caution. The newΒ feature mentioned about the horrificΒ experienceΒ of a Chinese woman getting raped in Leeds. Β I have been a member of couchsurfing since 2007.Β Iβve hosted over 50 people in my house and have been hosted many times as well with no incident. I donβt credit this to pure luck. As with everything else in life, weΒ have toΒ be discerning with the choices we make, including choosing hosts and guests in couchsurfing.
On Wanderlass TV Interview
I was very surprised that the couchsurfing feature was centered on my personal travels, particularly on my around the world trip. I like it that they referred to me as the Pinay Adventurista and thenΒ showed my skydiving and bungy jumping video. When Jori contacted me for this βsummer featureβ on traveling, I thought I was going to be one of the many interviewed.
IβveΒ been interviewed and featured a few times in newspaper and magazine pieces, but this was the first time on TV. I felt bit awkwardΒ seeing myself on video. My voice always sounded kind of weird to me. I was actually not sorry that I didnβt catch the feature on TV, haha. It would be fine for me to never see it actually. Then one month later Β I received a message to a link of this wanderalss tv interview!
Now that youβve seen it,Β you think I canΒ have a job on TV? ^^
It’s so awesome to know that there are a number of Filipina solo travelers/adventurers out there! I’ve just spent the last few hours going through the incredible blogs listed on Filipina Travel Bloggers and it’s been absolutely inspiring! My only claim to being Pinay is that I was born in the Philippines and still hold a passport from there, but unfortunately I don’t speak the language very well at all (I can make out a few things to save my life, probably, but not much!). My family and I left when I was a baby and I’ve lived in four different countries since then. Recently, though, I’ve decided to embark on my own travel adventure and will be leaving my corporate job in the U.S. in a few months. I’m seriously contemplating making the Philippines my first stop on a sort of “reconnecting with my roots” mission, but I’m honestly very nervous about it. I’ve had several friends who have returned to the Philippines in hopes of reconnecting only to become jaded and dejected. Do you have any thoughts? Advise? Warnings? :) I am open to all comments and opinions–the good, the bad, the ugly. Stay awesome and thanks in advance for any advise or tips you can offer–about the Philippines and/or traveling as a female in general.
More power to Couchsurfing,