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Travel Up in Going Places Magazine

Kara Santos

As a freelance writer and travel blogger, I usually write about destinations or other people. Last month, I was asked to go in front of the camera for a photo shoot and short video feature for Going Places Magazine, the monthly travel magazine of Manila Bulletin Publishing. First published in 1999 as Cruising, this is one of the longest-running magazines in the Philippines.

The editors chose to put the spotlight on “People of Travel” sharing features on Filipino bloggers and digital influencers who are changing the travel scene.

I’ve contributed a few articles to the magazine starting last year and actually landed on their March 2012 cover (but only because I happened to be covering the same travel assignment as the photographer), so it’s an honor to be recognized and invited to be a part of #TeamGP.  

It was an interesting experience getting glammed up for a real photo shoot. This is the first time I’ve worked with an actual crew of photographers, videographers and make-up artists who did my make-up and styling with me as the subject. They specifically asked me if I could bring my motorcycle for the photo shoot in Intramuros. Of course, I said yes.

Magazine Feature

You can read the feature about me, titled “Wanderlust on Wheels” in the June 2017 issue of Going Places Magazine. In the interview section, I share some of my travel essentials, the most memorable rides I’ve done and some of the places I love visiting.

Story, photography & styling credits:

The rest of the contributed photos above were taken while biking in Queenstown, New Zealand; hiking in Itbayat, Batanes; biking in Basco, Batanes; hiking in Calayan Island in the Babuyan Islands, and hiking up Bongao Peak in Tawi-Tawi.

Print advertisements

As if that wasn’t enough, to advertise the new issue of the magazine, #TeamGP was also featured in print ads in Manila Bulletin the whole month of June! This is the first time I’ve seen myself in a print advertisement in a national broadsheet. We were asked to list 10 memorable places we’ve been to for the print ad layout.

Team Going Places

I have the highest respect for the other travel bloggers who I’m featured along with in this issue. Ferdz Decena of Ironwulf has been quietly documenting his travels away from the spotlight, focusing on stunning landscape photography. He’s the most down-to-earth humble nice guy and was one of the people who inspired me to start a blog in 2011 when I first met him in Lakbay Norte.

Melo Villareal of Out of Town Blog is one of the pioneers in the Philippine blogging community, who started in the early days of the internet in the Philippines before blogging was even a thing. He’s constantly traveling both here and abroad, and is one of the most fun people you can be around.

ACFJ Photojournalism batchmate Estan Cabigas of Langyaw has traveled to all 81 provinces of the Philippines and is the undisputed expert on all things heritage and architecture in the country.

Yoshke Dimen and Vins Carlos of The Poor Traveler have amassed a huge following for putting out the most well-written, useful and informative travel guides out there, inspiring regular employees to maximize the precious vacation time when they travel.

Going Places Magazine “People of Travel” Issue launch at Manila Hotel

My blog is relatively new compared to these guys but I think a large part of why they included me was how bad-ass my custom motorcycle looks. The editors spotted it in Motobuilds 2017, the custom bike competition held in Mall of Asia (MOA). They also probably needed to include another girl for gender balance. Haha. I can think of a lot of other influential travel bloggers they could have featured in this issue, but I’m really honored to be a part of this.

Double Cover Issue

The special issue has two magazine covers, featuring popular YouTube vlogger Wil Dasovich and Binibining Pilipinas Grand International and beauty queen Nicole Cordoves. As a friend pointed out on Facebook, “Oh diba, ka-level mo lang si Nicole Cordoves!” It also features Trails to Empower Kids (TREK), a volunteer-based organization helping kids and communities who live in the mountains and other isolated areas.

With more than 1 million combined followers, thousands of snapshots of the most beautiful destinations in the country and around the world this is #TeamGP of Going Places PH. We love going places!

Going Places Magazine is now available in all major bookstores, Buqo, Magzter and Press Reader. 

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