Have you been looking for a travel podcast? Straight from The Department of Tourism (DOT) itself, Escape: Stories from the Road showcases the best destinations in the Philippines through stories from different personalities – and it’s perfect for anybody who loves to travel and wants to start traveling again.
Photo from The Department of Tourism
This five-episode podumentary (podcast + documentary) infuses an element of storytelling that is quite different from the podcasts you might be used to. Through the stories told, the DOT hopes to inspire people to participate in meaningful tourism through unique experiences and local interactions.
Photo by Kidlat de Guia
Each episode follows a theme – adventure, identity, fiestas, music, and food – and involves interviews with notable individuals such as National Artist Kidlat Tahimik, Dr. Felicidad Prudente, who is one of the leading Filipino ethnomusicologists in the country today; and former Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
The first episode on adventure features some of the best outdoor experiences in Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, and Camotes Island while the identity episode brings the audience from Baguio to Davao to share stories of people who, in finding the path to gain their identity, found the path to greatness.
The episode on music explores the sounds of the islands, from the city to the remote forests of the Philippines, emphasizing that music not only serves to entertain but to preserve history in our soundscape. The fiesta episode discusses how Filipino festivals have evolved from honoring patron saints to highlighting the best of the towns and provinces.
For the food episode that was recorded in May, then-Tourism Secretary Puyat shared her advocacy in supporting local farmers and how this led to further developments in food and farm tourism in the country.
Poster from The Department of Tourism
DOT’s Escape: Stories from the Road podcast is hosted by travel filmmaker and photographer Aaron Palabyab along with guest co-hosts, national athlete Maureen Schrijvers; designer, musician, and filmmaker Kate Torralba; and sports broadcaster and podcaster Cesca Litton. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Castro, Overcast, and Anchor.
Got an interesting story you’d like us to feature? Email me at angeline.wheninmanila@gmail.com or send me a direct message at When in Manila Angeline on Facebook. Interact with the team and join the WhenInManila.com Community at WIM Squad! Join our WhenInManila.com community on Viber, as well!
