Traveling together takes groups of friends out of their comfort zones. Whether it’s a beach vacation, a culinary tour, or a spur-of-the-moment trip, barkadas end up making new memories, having fun and growing even closer.
Fortunately, the enriching power of travel has become more accessible to barkadas on a budget, thanks to the country’s leading low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific (CEB). With its 33 domestic and 16 international destinations, CEB’s low fares give barkadas opportunities to travel more often to different locales.
Friends who love flying
26-year-old Kirsten Lopez, who is a merchandising executive, travels with the rest of her barkada to experience what they call the three Bs—breathtaking beaches, beer and beautiful memories. Her barkada is comprised of diverse individuals, but what links them is their passion for enjoyment, adventure, and living life to the fullest.
“There is only one thing we expect to happen when we travel—to be pleasantly surprised. Our trips are always filled with unexpected but amusing and good-humored events. And that’s what makes our experiences special,” says Kirsten.
The group makes it a point to travel at least once or twice a year. They have been to Davao, Boracay, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete, Coron, and Bacolod.
“Our trip to Davao is the one that brought our travel group together. We were about 18 who flew to Davao City at that time. We arrived there as strangers, and left the place as the best of companions,” she enthused.
They wish to visit the neighboring countries of Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Singapore next.
Sporty adventurers
For 27-year old customer service representative Jay Orden, traveling quenches his and his barkada’s thirst for adventure.
“We have been to Boracay, Bacolod, Dipolog, Iligan, Manila, Cebu. Since our group forms a couple of teams, we love traveling together for Ultimate Frisbee tournaments. It’s great if we’ve never been there too, and we meet local players who end up touring us to the best places in their city,” he shares.
Living in Dumaguete, Jay and his friends’ first trip to join the Manila Spirits, an international Frisbee tournament in Manila, was one of their most unforgettable travel experiences together.
“Traveling lets us discover things about each other, and we’ve had memorable trips when we really bonded as friends and as a team. Going to different parts of the Philippines also gives us pride since we represent our hometown. We also get to meet new friends so it becomes a growing family all over the country,” Jay relates.
Kirsten and Jay, with the rest of their friends, are just two examples of how friends learn about and enjoy the world through traveling. And with carriers like Cebu Pacific empowering them to fulfill their travel dreams, they can continue to discover new places and more about one another.
