Hi TravelPrince (Jayrom),
Tell us about yourself - where you from, how old are you, places you’ve been, etc.
Hello, I'm Jayrom they call me Jay for short and TravelPrince being my blogger name. I came from Ilocos and transferred to Manila when I started my college education. I'm 31 now but I look very young at early twenties maybe? I've been to 23 provinces in PH so I still need to hurry up before it's too late. I love the Philippines and I would prefer visiting first the treasure and paradise of my country before heading to foreign land. My first international visit was in Hong Kong - ohh I love their transport system, it was designed and planned accordingly so that was phenomenal. Currently I'm the Strategic Business Unit Manager in Xerox Business Solutions for Finance and Accounting North America Operations and have been employed here for 8 years. I love my job, I love working with people and love working at night. I love hiking but have fear of heights and love the beach but I'm not a good swimmer. Just recently I fell in love with landscape photography and I think I will die if I cannot go out to outdoors every weekend. I also started by blog last year and been very happy sharing my travel stories to people. Well, I'm looking forward that someday I will be known as a good travel blogger and hopefully earn from blogging and stop working in corporate world. I dreamt of having my own coffee shop themed with travel places in our region, showcasing the secret paradise of the Philippines that is still in the pipeline and once given the opportunity to attend trainings and workshop for pastry baking and coffee brewing I will definitely push for that business.
How long have you been hiking?
I started hiking and love the mountains when I was still in college. I came from a mountainous province and been climbing when I was still a kid helping my family on their harvest so it's no longer new for me about climbing but then I had formal training when I joined the college based org in UE. I was amazed on their photo and equipment exhibit and right then I registered and started my hiking career - that was 2003. So I attended required trainings and all and finally certified as member of UE Mountaineers after a year. In total I think I've been hiking for 5 years since I stop when I was still starting building my career and of course I still don't have enough cash and time to continue this passion.
How many mountains have you conquered?
I have conquered 46 mountains some of which are same mountains over the period of 5 years. I think the most memorable was Kibungan Cross Country - that was for three days for three provinces - memorable because I learned lot of things on that journey. I became more appreciative of life, I became more thankful for what I have and realized that I am blessed bec I am enjoying things that I have worked hard. I think I was home because we passed by Ilocos and I saw how life is on those area - there was a realization that I shouldn’t be asking for more since I have enough and blessed for what I have now. I think the most challenging was Pantingan - Tarak day hike traverse, maybe because of the 20 hour trek and being a sweeper is my weakness. I hate waiting.
Do you travel to climb mountains or do you climb mountains to travel?
I travel to climb mountains, I have the hunger for outdoors and if I travel I would always choose mountains over a city. Mountains are always my priority when working for a travel plan it gives me satisfaction when I have reached the summit - it gives me a chance to see the world from different perspective. Travelling to climb mountains is priceless, it is a huge opportunity for people who are capable of doing it. Hiking is not easy, it actually tough and requires physical, mental and emotional strength but then we keep doing it because we love the reward it offers after a tiring ascend - the view from top is just magnificent and being at top makes me feel closer to Him.
How do you plan and prepare on you climbs?
I actually really prepare for major hikes, 3 months before the climb I have weekend day hike near the Metro and I also work out twice a week just to make sure I am physically prepared. I have a checklist of things to bring for that climb and making sure have them all sort out 3 days before the actual climb. 1 week before the climb I also make sure that I have enough sleep, have proper diet and making log off from work at 5. I do my research of the place, read blogs and taking notes on the concerns and danger of the place.
Important lesson you picked up from hiking which you can apply in your daily life?
Who/what is your hiking inspiration?
I have no particular person that inspired me to hike but what makes me inspired hiking maybe is because of the love for outdoors, because of the physical demand it requires, it’s good to get tired and hiking is good form of exercise. It gives me the opportunity to experience local life and culture of people in the area. It is a passion, and of course the photographs that I have captured are just an awesome souvenir for me. It gives me energy to do it over and over again, it fuels me to live and enjoy the moment. It is the best way outlet from a stressful city life.
What are your hiking goals?
I have nothing in particular in mind but as long as I have the capability and strength to hike I will as long as I still have summit to reach I will go wherever that mountain is. Of course I'd love to visit mountains in Asia.
What can you do to help (even in your own lil ways) in preserving/ protecting our mother nature?
The social media has a big role now why we've been seeing traffic on trails and trash along the way or in campsite. I'm okay with that sharing details and beautiful spot in PH but then we just need to be responsible hiker, as a seasoned hiker what I can do is every time I organize hike I do make sure that I orient my participants with the basic outdoor ethics. The booming number of hikers has a good result in our environment – it brings livelihood to locals thus it would lessen illegal environmental activities but then as organizer we need to orient and making sure our participants are responsible. In our own little ways we can achieve preserving and protecting our environment by being a good example to younger generations. I am also willing to be part of environment advocacy so I can be more aware of what is going on with our environment and be more involved in huge environmental activities.
Would you recommend hiking to someone? Why?
I would, hiking is for everyone as long as proper planning and preparations come to play. Everyone is capable of hiking as long as we have enough training and well planned accordingly considering the specifications of mountains in relations to physical ability and strength of individual. Hiking is also like teaching you need to start with the basic, to intermediate to advance.
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| TravelPrince at Mt. Guiting-guiting |
