CONTEST | Picked 4 Lakbay Norte 3!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

The first time I saw master traveler Ferdz Decena post something about a certain Lakbay Norte Tour two years ago at his Ironwulf travel blog, I was totally bowled over. A week-long road trip, checking every nooks and crannies of the upper Philippine archipelago, chowing down local cuisines like there’s no tomorrow and spending the evenings on posh hotels; all these without spending a single centavo; who’d not want to be on that bus?!

I said to myself that I would like to be a part of this tour one day and even pestered Mr. Decena and Ms. Nina Fuentes of Just Wandering as to how such lucky guys and gals could get to participate in such a journey. Alas, I didn’t get any clue as to how.

Fast forward three years later and I'm a newbie Facebook user. Forced to create an account to blog about a European tour, I was added to the Pinoy Travel Bloggers and the PTB Bagets Facebook groups. I soon learned that this is where everything happens; this was where these guys connect and make it possible to travel as a gang. Besides that, I also found that this is the place where travel opportunities arise.

And so it happened that I logged on at the group the night before All Saints’ Day and found a post by Ivan Henares about the third installation of Lakbay Norte; the North Philippines Visitors Bureau was looking for six bloggers to join the media group for this year’s familiarization tour of Northern Luzon. The only problem was, I have less than one hour to fill out their application, create the required blog post and submit everything before the deadline expired.

I scrambled like mad, filling every detail and furiously writing and creating a banner for my blog. I was struck by two questions on the application form though; do I have a Facebook Fanpage and a Twitter account, and how many fans and followers do I have. Uhmm… I have neither of those. I know how much an impact this might have on my application but I went ahead and hoped to heavens that my photo credentials would see me through.

It was a minute before the midnight deadline as I pushed the publish button on my blog and clicked the send icon on my e-mail client. I sighed with relief, a classic buzzer beater.
Weeks passed and I forgot all about the said trip, I joined really for the sake of trying. I’m not really that confident that on getting picked considering how new I was to the travel scene in the country.

A few weeks before Christmas I got one of the best gifts for the season; an e-mail from Karlo de Leon asking for confirmation to the third Lakbay Norte! Woohoo! I was in for a nine days of pure adventure!

The final list was announced some weeks later and I was astounded with the other guys that got picked; Angel Juarez of Lakwatsero, Gael Hilotin of The Pinay Solo Backpacker, Marcos Cayatao of Ambot Ah!, James Betia of Journeying James and Edcel Suyo of Solo FlightEd. My goodness, these guys are travel legends! I’m not sure what prompted the powers that be to include me in this line-up, but I'm certainly not complaining.

The tentative locations for this coming year’s Lakbay Norte include Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tuguegarao, Kalinga, Pagudpud, Laoag, La Union, Baguio, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Subic, Clark, Angeles and Pampanga. I hope further changes would include Sagada, Isabela, Abra, Aurora and Batanes; but I guess that’s asking too much haha.

Lakbay Norte would zoom off the Northern road on the third week of January. I’m excited as hell and I’m hoping to I can bring you guys along the ride through some stories and photos. A big big thank you to the North Philippines Visitors Bureau for having confidence in me, I'll se you guys there!

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31 comments

  1. soloflightEdDecember 28, 2011 at 9:38 AM

    congrats and you deserve it Christian! galing mong photographer and writer kaya! :D

    at sa wakas, magiging sikat na ako kasi makukunan ako ng picture ni THE Christian of Lakad Pilipinas! gagawa pa ako ng article ngayon. excited na ako! :D

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  2. DrewDecember 28, 2011 at 10:04 AM

    I look forward to the photos and stories Christian! Have fun on the road and congratulations!

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  3. fbalgosDecember 28, 2011 at 11:57 AM

    ikaw na talaga! hahaha!
    ikaw pa napilitan gumawa ng FB account nyan hah..
    ako napilitan din gumawa ng twitter (I think)lol!
    Good luck sa Lakbay Norte! :)

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  4. journeyingjamesDecember 28, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    naks! dream come true ko din ito, binabasa ko naman yun Lakbay norte posts nila estan at nina.
    excited to travel with you guys! turuan mo naman ako ng basic photography. sila lang ang legends, bago parin ako sa travel blogging scene.

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  5. Pinoy AdventuristaDecember 28, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    congratulations Christian! You all deserve it! Have fun! Happy New Year!

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  6. RobbieDecember 28, 2011 at 12:35 PM

    Yes, you are relatively new but already making waves in the community of Travel bloggers!!! :D

    I personally think you were already a shoe-in and congrats again! :D

    Feeling ko ang dami mo nang backlogs. =))

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  7. MichiDecember 28, 2011 at 12:52 PM

    congrats!

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  8. Micamyx|SenyoritaDecember 28, 2011 at 1:23 PM

    Congratulations Christian! Sa mga participants, ikaw na lang hindi ko pa nami-meet in person hehe. Sana magkaroon pa ng changes at sa Pangasinan na lang kayo mag-overnight para mameet ko kayo dun :D

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  9. Gladys | WanderingTandem.comDecember 28, 2011 at 2:48 PM

    congratulations! will definitely be looking forward to your posts and your photos :)

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  10. Traveling MorionDecember 28, 2011 at 3:28 PM

    wow congrats:)

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  11. escapeDecember 28, 2011 at 4:01 PM

    congratulations sir! well deserved with the rest of the chosen. kakatuwa yung paghanap mo sa ptb at nalaman mo kung saan nagtatagpo para bumyahe bilang isang gang. hahaha.... enjoy the week long trip in january.

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  12. Ryan MachDecember 28, 2011 at 4:30 PM

    Woho! Congratulations. I'm excited for you, guys. I can't wait to read your posts about this exciting journey. ;p

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  13. romzDecember 28, 2011 at 9:19 PM

    the year is not yet finished and yet you already have a plan for early next year! you already na talaga! hehehe... congrats bro! will wait for your stories and images and take us with you again :)

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  14. KarlaDecember 29, 2011 at 2:15 AM

    Wow! Congratulations Sir Christian! ^__^ More blessings to come talaga. You deserve it. :) I wish madami ka pa pong blessings na matatanggap in the year 2012. The trip looks very exciting. Enjoy! Happy New Year! ^__^

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  15. UnknownDecember 29, 2011 at 4:02 AM

    I'm already expecting that you're gonna bring home beautiful pictures. Congrats! :D

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  16. RM BulsecoDecember 29, 2011 at 4:11 AM

    Congratulations sir!!! :D :D

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  17. UnknownDecember 29, 2011 at 6:45 AM

    Congratulations! Give yourself a little credit. The mere fact you were chosen means you're one of the best already. I've been following your blog for a while and it's really good. =)

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  18. LestatDecember 29, 2011 at 7:43 AM

    galing! congrats! have fun!

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  19. Admin/AuthorDecember 30, 2011 at 12:28 AM

    Congratulations!

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  20. Cleober SinuesDecember 30, 2011 at 8:18 AM

    Now that's a great way to start your year bro. Enjoy and I look forward to your kwentos and imahen :)

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  21. Lan BellaDecember 30, 2011 at 8:18 AM

    bossing pasabit naman.. hehehe

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  22. Cherryl ReonalDecember 30, 2011 at 8:19 AM

    Nice Kuya Max!! Now, who's the jetsetter? hehehe! Have a safe trip. =D

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  23. FerdzDecember 30, 2011 at 11:33 PM

    Sinong master traveler? *looks behind* lol

    Congrats Christian! I think you're deserving to experience this thrilling north luzon tour. You have a great eye and writes well too. And from experience Lakbay Norte has a good wealth of materials for your blog and photography too ;)

    Looking forward to your accounts there :D

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  24. ninaDecember 31, 2011 at 1:06 AM

    This is your year Christian! :D

    Congrats on getting picked! Enjoy Lakbay Norte! Di ka magugutom dyan :D

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  25. joniphilippinesDecember 31, 2011 at 1:29 AM

    happy new year sir, Lakbay Norte wouldn't be complete without the name "Christian" there :)

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  26. silvertoesJanuary 1, 2012 at 2:12 PM

    congrats sa inyo! next year kami naman hehehe

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  27. juanderfulpinoyJanuary 1, 2012 at 9:12 PM

    Hindi mo ba alam na ang dami dami mong fans . Dami nagaabang na gumawa ka ng facebook account haha. Congratulations!

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  28. Christian | Lakad PilipinasJanuary 3, 2012 at 12:26 AM

    SoloflightEd
    Thanks Ed, adik ka eh no? haha :P

    Drew, Pinoy Adventurista, Michi, Gladys, Morion, Pinoy Wandering Boy, Romz, Karla, Lloyd Lost Boy, RM Bulseco, The Pinoy Explorer, Cleober
    Thanks! Ang layo pa pero excited na ko! :)

    Simurgh
    Haha buti na lang di pa ko napipilitan gumawa ng twitter :P

    Journeyingjames
    Ikaw ang pinaka hardcore na traveller na kilala ko brad! :)

    Robbie
    Kahating taong backlog tas madadagdagan pa ng Lakbay Norte hehe

    Micamyx
    Sa mga kasama sa Lakbay, wala pa ko nami meet kahit isa :P
    Minsan sana'y magkasabit naman ang ating landas, di pa ko nakaka meet ng Senyorita sa buong buhay ko eh :)

    Dong Ho
    Dati nagtataka ko bat sama-sama yung mga bloggers pag nagta travel, naliwanagan ako ng naisali ako sa grupo hehe

    Tin
    Salamat Tin! :)

    Lestat
    Tenk Lestat, next time dapat kasali ka na rin :)

    Lan Bella
    Naku sir, kung pwede lang sana magsabit sinabit ko na kayo kaya lang ipagpaalam muna natin sa sponsors hehe

    Cherryl
    Salamat Ate Cheche! Ikaw pa rin ang original na jetsetter :P

    Ferdz
    Thanks Idol! Means a lot to me. :)

    Nina
    Haha mukhang kelangan ko magpigil sa pagkain dito ah

    Joniphilippines
    Haha salamat sir Joni!

    Silvertoes
    Oo naman! :)

    Juanderfulpinoy
    Oo naman, nanay ko, tatay ko, mga pinsan at kapatid, at shempre ang mga pinilit kong mga officemates :P

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  29. JeromeJanuary 5, 2012 at 3:24 AM

    congrats!

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  30. KlaJanuary 5, 2012 at 9:56 PM

    Congratulations! I have to admit, most of my travels were patterned after yours. You write well and take great photos, too. I wish to see your stuff in magazines and newspapers in the future, you deserve it!

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  31. Christian | Lakad PilipinasJanuary 16, 2012 at 9:05 PM

    Supertikoy
    Thanks man!

    Kla
    Thank you for the very kind words Klaris! :)

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