Melo Villareal
I attended the Cebu Pacific’s Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge’s send-off party at the Sofitel Hotel Manila last June 23. We were able to meet-and-greet the competing teams for this year’s Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge, and we were also able to see again each team’s celebrity coaches.
Juan For Fun 2015 Teams and Coaches with Cebu Pacific VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog
Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge 2015 is a backpacking adventure sponsored by Cebu Pacific. The challenge is now in its fourth year of sharing thrilling adventures to its participants. Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge 2015 is an all-expense paid adventure slash contest open for college students in five groups of three. The contest proper (or should I say, adventure proper) began on June 23, and will end on July 1, 2015.
The contest mechanics? Simple. Each of the five teams are to set on a fun adventure on Cebu Pacific Network’s destinations during the contest proper. Each of the five teams are given an allowance of USD 250 and Php 35 000 for each team.
Team Domaro with Coach Jude Bacalso
Now, all the participants have to do is to make the most out of their allotted budget—to explore the destinations, to experience the ultimate backpacking adventure, to win the contest’s specially-designed challenges, and most especially, to have fun!
Epic Advenures of Juan for Fun 2015 Teams in Bangkok Thailand
All five teams are required to begin the backpacking challenge in Bangkok, Thailand. After “conquering” Bangkok, the participating teams will be given the liberty to choose among Cebu Pacific’s destinations across the country to “conquer” next, with the guidance from each team’s respective coach.
Team Square with Coach Champ Lui Pio
This year’s celebrity coaches are TV host and actress Iya Villania, Hale band member Lui Pio, YouTube sensation Bogart the Explorer, VJ and DJ Joyce Pring, and writer Jude Bacalso. The members of the winning team will each receive 12 roundtrip tickets to their chosen Cebu Pacific destinations (be it international or domestic), a Canon PowerShot SX600 camera, a Samsung Tab 3 Lite tablet courtesy of Smart Bro, and Php 30 000 worth of gift certificates for Boreas Travel Gear.
I personally think that Cebu Pacific’s Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge is a fun way of exploring the Philippines (and this year’s international destination, Thailand) at no cost at all. It’s a good way for reaching out to all the adventure-loving people out there, an effective way of boosting the tourism sector, and making people realize the beauty and wonders of our country! Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge is all-expense-paid, challenging, and fun, so I don’t see why anyone should hold back joining it.
Team Extreme with Coach Joyce Pring
Cebu Pacific VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog also seems to express a similar opinion with her statement: “In each Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun challenge, our student teams get to experience a lot of ‘firsts.’ It can be their first time on a plane, in a new destination, being responsible for itineraries or travel budgets, or traveling with friends. It’s what makes the challenge memorable and meaningful for everyone involved”.
Aside from being supported by the country’s Department of Tourism and Thailand’s Tourism Authority, Cebu Pacific’s Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge 2015 is also co-presented by GetGo and Nissin Yakisoba, and sponsored by Smart Bro, Boreas, and Canon.
Team Iskapade with Coach Bogart the Explorer
Each team is required to go to Davao, the contest’s last destination, on July 1. I’m looking forward to seeing this year’s contest results, and the array of fun activities that each team underwent!
The top five thrill-seeking teams
Best friends ready to take on their next adventure, Doel Lozano (21, Notre Dame Dadiangas University), Marielle Padilla (21, ACA SarGen Foundation College), and Rogen Sagarino (20, Mindanao State University – General Santos) make up Team DoMaRo. This determined trio will be paired off with Coach Jude Bacalso.
Team Extreme is made up of Gio Tiongson (22) of Ateneo de Manila University, and twins Miguel Manalang (22) and Luigi Manalang (22) of De La Salle University. Coach Joyce Pring will mentor this athletic trio.
Team Juan Big Fight with Coach Iya Villania
Jassy Tomol (19), Joyce Gonzalez (20), and Kat Locsin (20) of University of the Philippines – Cebu form Team Iskapade. Stay tuned to these adventure-seekers as they discover new destinations and overcome challenges with the expert guidance of Coach Bogart the Explorer.
Team Juan Big Fight is composed of 20-year-old Ateneo de Manila University students Aaron Crisostomo, Asia Wy, and Kyle Favis. They are ready to have great fun and reap big wins with Coach Iya Villania.
Juan for Fun 2015 competing teams in Bangkok
The youngest team this year, Cheloi Marasigan (19), Mischa de Guzman (19), and Rae Argallon (19) of University of Sto. Tomas represent Team Square. These architecture students are raring to conquer this adventure with Coach Champ Lui Pio.
Join these five thrill-seeking teams as they take on new adventures in the Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge 2015 by visiting www.juanforfun.com. Cheer for your favorites and join the conversation on the Juan for Fun Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CebuPacificJFF), the team pages on Instagram or by using the hashtag #JuanForFun2015.
