Aguilar: Rushty Ramos: Biyahe for responsible tourism

Rushty with his “Biyahe” team. (Contributed photo)
Rushty with his “Biyahe” team. (Contributed photo)

TRAVEL is an important part of our lives. In fact, traveling is life itself. It is an experience on its own regardless of whether we reach our destination or we get derailed on our way towards our set direction.

With the infinite choices and possibilities of places to travel be they for business or pleasure, we seek for help from those who have been there and have a thing or two to say about the places we wish to visit. It is a practical way to save time and resources as it secures us the ultimate pleasure that the place can offer. This gives rise to the popularity of travel videos made by vloggers.

This weekend, we got hold of a local travel vlogger who rose to fame through his television program called “Biyahe” originally aired at ABS-CBN channel. I am talking about Rushty Ramos.

Peppered with so much good vibes in his content and achieving a wide reach among Hiligaynon and Ilonggo speakers, Rushty has become the most popular local travel vlogger in Negros and Panay.

Also known as “Mr. Biyahero,” Rushty is a father of three, a businessman, a former director, a photographer, a videographer, a dreamer and a traveler.

I personally came to know Rushty in one of our media travels to Mindanao last August. True enough, this guy can spark the wanderlust in each of his viewers. There was not a boring moment with him around.

Mr. Biyahero made it his mission to visit and showcase all the local tourist spots especially those that were yet to be discovered. In his vlogs, you can expect Rushty to come up with the most random, unfiltered and hilarious content as he showcases the beauty of the places he visits.

“Our objective is for people to want to discover new places, savor tasty foods, and explore new adventures. Beyahe goes to where the locals go and will try to do what the locals do. Getting lost is part of the trip,” Rushty said adding that, “We try to find places that have potentials for tourism, so tourists will have options other than the mainstream tourist spots and attractions.”

As a veteran television journalist, Rushty is a natural in front of the camera.

“I was accidentally discovered 11 years ago by our former big boss of ABS-CBN regional head Atty. Abigail Querubin-Aquino when I guested in a travel segment. I danced with the porters of Negros Navigation, something she found so funny. Since then, everything was history.”

Rushty fondly shared his beginnings in his vlog, “The most memorable was our pilot episode on the Ati-atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan. Being the host of a new travel segment I still don’t know what to say, don’t know what to do whenever you are near, don’t know what to say my heart is floating in tears when camera passes by I could fly, hahaha.”

However, it was not all fun for Mr. Biyahero, “The most challenging time is during our shooting in a river in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, where we met an accident. It was unfortunate that my guide who rescued me lost his life. For a certain time I found it hard to continue hosting the travel segment due to the trauma that haunted me. Two months later I decided to push through with the show because it was my life long advocacy to promote local tourism,” he added.

To date, Rushty is a very active promoter of Negros Island and its culture. He is thankful for the undying support of his Biyahe family who never left his side.

He is especially thankful to Liwanag “Wantong” San Miguel Jr., Dustin and Belle Mijares, Jay and Pamela Jalandoni and Ramon Borromeo, and the cameramen of ABS-CBN News Department.

“I want to be remembered as a Biyehero that teaches responsible tourism especially on environmental awareness.”

When asked if he is open to collaborate with SunStar Bacolod in his travel vlogs, he said “I am a retired travel TV host but I am now going to another platform in social media. There is no stopping. To partner with SunStar ‘pwede’ for digital travel lifestyle who could say ‘no,’ SunStar is a legit and respected entity. It will be an honor to collaborate with the team.”

Indeed, Mr. Biyahero stays true to his love for adventure and is very much still up for the challenge to travel on unchartered territories.

On behalf of SunStar Bacolod, I look forward to such partnership Rushty. Let us climb new mountains and swim on new seas under the sun and the stars.

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