How I Started Travel Blogging
Before I became Miss Backpacker, a part of a travel blogging community, and a mother of three, I was a journalism student just starting out. That’s how I started travel blogging without knowing it would change my life. What began as a school requirement in 2004 (keeping an online diary) became the start of a life full of stories, travel, and meeting new people.
From Student Diaries to Miss Backpacker
I started blogging in 2004. It wasn’t intentional. As journalism students, we were encouraged to keep an online journal for school: document daily life, reflect, and write. Platforms like Tabulas, Xanga, Blogspot, and eventually WordPress became my digital homes. Back then, I didn’t know that this habit of journaling online would change how I see the world. Puro kalandian lang ang content ng blog ko noon. HAHAHA. My college friends would know this.
Eventually, something shifted. Somewhere between the rants, kaartehan, and random diary entries, I began to write with more intention.
My earliest travels began in 2007 and were mostly hiking trips. I wasn’t doing it alone either. My then-boyfriend (now husband), Rowjie, was there from the start. That’s another story, but he was a constant presence in those early adventures. Together, we traveled on a tight budget, taking overnight buses, staying in cheap hostels, and eating where the locals ate. Although we had little, we had curiosity, energy, and the need to move.
By 2009, travel became more than just hiking. That same year, I bought the domain missbackpacker.info. I didn’t have much financially, but I had a strong urge to explore, document, and connect. This was another step in how I started travel blogging with more purpose.
Growing up, travel wasn’t really an option. I didn’t come from a well-off family. In fact, my first airplane ride was only in 2007, thanks to a sponsored trip to Boracay of all places. I remember feeling overwhelmed, excited, and out of place all at once. But that experience sparked something in me: a desire to see more, go further, and write about it all. Writing about those moments wasn’t about inspiring others, it helped me remember who I was at a time when I was still figuring life out. Naks. Lalim.
How I Found My Tribe in Pinoy Travel Bloggers
In 2011, something unexpected happened. James of Journeying James mistakenly messaged me on Facebook, thinking I was someone else. When he saw I also had a travel blog, he asked Marky of Nomadic Experiences to send me a message and add me to a Facebook group called Pinoy Travel Bloggers (PTB). Joining that group opened up new opportunities and connections for me.
There was a time when the PTB community was buzzing with energy. We weren’t just writing blog posts. We collaborated, encouraged each other, and grew the local travel blogging scene together. One of the things I loved most was the PTB Blog Carnival, a monthly writing collaboration where we’d write around a common theme. It brought out our unique voices while tying us together as a real community.
Suddenly, I wasn’t traveling alone. I met kindred spirits who live to tell stories about their journeys. Some trips were sponsored, and most we funded ourselves. But what mattered most were the shared stories and genuine friendships.
From hiking…
‘Yung ginabi na kami kasi nawala si Elal at Chino kasi nagdadaldalan sa trail
Nakarating kami sa guesthouse/resthouse nila Drew sa Tagaytay after this hike
IDK who owns this picture. Naka-save sa HDD ko.
To food trips (and alak lol)…
To unforgettable memories…
From Exploring Together to Raising Three and Still Writing
Looking back, I’m thankful for the friendships and lessons I gained through blogging. Meeting these people, traveling with them, and hearing their stories taught me that travel isn’t just about ticking off destinations. It’s about shared moments, different perspectives, and the connections you make along the way. Even now, with three kids and a completely different life, I’m still grateful to be part of that world, kahit sa likod lang ng screen most days.
That’s how I started travel blogging and why I’m still doing it. What started as a school assignment became something far more meaningful. It’s now a living archive of people I’ve met, places that shaped me, and lessons that continue to guide me. More than memories and passport stamps, it’s the friendships and the self-discoveries that I hold closest.
Thanks for reading! 🙂