CEBU Pacific’s long-standing campaign for the youth, Juan For Fun, is back for its eighth year on the quest to broaden the minds of the youth through the wonders of traveling.
Last Aug. 1, five youngsters were given a send-off witnessed by the Cebu Pacific team, Juan For Fun alumni and media guests included where they got to meet the travelers at Dusit Thani: Dariel Vallez, a 23-year-old agriculture graduate from Northern Mindanao who wishes to travel to promote agriculture to the youth; Bin Nur Magangcong, a 22-year-old Marawi siege survivor who was awarded a Medal of Courage for helping in the rebuilt of his city. He hopes to promote peace and acceptance of diversity in different Filipino cultures. Next is 18-year-old artist Jeric Cabanillas, who wants to learn more through travel by participating in community activities in other places of the country; Artus Enriquez, a 22-year-old bird watcher, aims to protect endemic species in the country; and Jessica Resch from Cebu, founded “We Feed,” an NGO catering to less fortunate kids from Cebu, Tacloban, Dumaguete, Boracay, Bukidnon to Clark.
“I’m not taking this one as an adventure—rather a learning lesson or education given to us by Juan For Fun,” Resch shared.
Each team received adventure passports with curated travel itineraries matching their respective advocacies (a first in the campaign), featuring Cebu Pacific destinations including Bacolod, Cebu, Puerto Princesa and Siargao. All teams are accompanied by trained marshals and someone to document their travels, but won’t be dictating them where to go as they have the freedom to explore their destinations how they want to.
“Whether you’re a first-time flyer or a frequent flyer, you can always bring new insights, develop new perspectives, given a different set of people to travel with, or unexpected circumstances that can take you out of your comfort zones. That is the nature of Juan For Fun and we hope that you guys make the most out of this trip, to explore this beautiful country of ours, meet the friendliest of locals and most importantly—in true Cebu Pacific fashion—have fun,” said Cebu Pacific’s director for marketing Michelle Eve de Guzman during her speech.
Joining the event were their mentors: travel writer and photographer Jude Bacalso, Kyle ‘Kulas’ Jennermann of “Becoming Filipino,” TV host and social media personality Joyce Pring, and a new addition to the team, celebrity and vlogger Mikael Daez. As an added treat, guests enjoyed a sumptuous lunch prepared by the Cebuano culinary heroes featured on the Netflix original “Street Food.”
The search for Juan For Fun began from June 26 until July 10 and was open to those from ages 18 to 24, with a unique life story. After reading more than 3,000 entries spanning Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, Cebu Pacific chose these five passionate individuals to go on a life-changing trip with two of their friends.
“Passion for travel is always apparent and this is our way of enabling more people to travel, to discover that kind of passion. It’s different seeing people who’ve traveled for the first time or even for the first time in a city and when they come back—it’s fulfilling every year for us,” said de Guzman.