The Top 5 Teams of Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun 2015 Backpacker Challenge

This year marks the 4th year of the Cebu Pacific's "Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge." It may have changed a bit and improved the usual Juan for Fun Challenge, but the main challenge stays the same. To make it much fun and memorable, the Cebu Pacific Team consulted the past winners and they came up with the idea of a special activity where each team will have to do at least one activity per team with the aim to benefit the local community; such as tree planting activity and beach clean-up, among many others. It also includes sharing the team's Juan of a Kind Story that best describes each team and the activity on how it is important to the team.

Dubbed as “The ultimate backpacking adventure,” Cebu Pacific’s Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge promises more surprises and thrilling challenges. From June 23 to July 1, 2015, five teams of fun-loving students will explore several destinations in the Cebu Pacific’s extensive network, for eight straight days – all for free.

Here are the top five thrill-seeking teams and young travelers who will take on a big adventure in the Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge. The experience will be more exciting as all the teams will visit one of the international destinations in the Cebu Pacific network.

The Teams:

They are 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.

They are thrill-seeking brotherhood that prepares them for their most fun adventure yet!

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.

They always keep in mind that all work and no play makes Juana a dull girl. The girls are bringing out the fun!

Jassy Tomol (19), Joyce Gonzales (20), and Kat Locsin (20) of University of the Philippines – Cebu from Team Iskapade with the expert guidance of Coach Bogart the Explorer.

They love treasuring every experience they encounter. This is another trip they won’t forget!

Team Juan Big Fight is composed of 20-year-old Ateneo de Manila Univesity students Aaron Crisostomo, Asia Wy, and Kyle Favis with Coach Iya Villania.

They are prepared to take over any obstacle they face all for a fun adventure!

The youngest team this year, Cheloi Marasigan (19), Mischa de Guzman (19), and Rae Argallon (19) of University of Sto. Tomas represent Team Square with Coach Champ Lui Pio.

The Coaches:

Coach Champ, Coach Iya, Coach Bogart, Coach Joyce, and Coach Jude

To mentor the teams as they go on an exciting quest for adventure are this year’s Adventure Coaches. Throughout the duration of the challenge, musician Lui Pio “Be Creative”, TV host and actress Iya Villania “I am the misis of the ultimate traveler! You can get travel tips from both of us”, Youtube star Bogart the Explorer “You don’t need money here. Travel for free!”, host and DJ Joyce Pring “We may just beat any other team in the competition!”, and travel writer Jude Bacalso “Learning is a two-way street”. All coaches will stay in touch and cheer for their respective teams through social media. Each team is assigned a marshal to ensure teams are safe and are abiding by the rules.

“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,” said Cebu Pacific VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

“We send off this new batch of adventurous young Juans with the freedom to explore Bangkok and this beautiful country of ours. We hope this encourages more young people to think of travel as affordable and within easy reach if one is bold enough to go for it,” she added.

The international destination is in Bangkok, Thailand where teams will begin their exciting escapade. After taking on the vibrant Thai capital, they are free to conquer any three Philippines destination of their choice! This is the first time the Juan for Fun teams has the freedom to explore any destination in the Philippines.

They should then make their way to the Juan for Fun 2015’s final destination, Davao on July 1, for the challenge’s culmination.

Within their given travel allowance of USD250 and PhP35, 000. Each group is tasked to have as many fun experiences and discoveries.

By the end of the competition, the team with the most number of fun activities out of their given budget, and highest ranking in special fun challenges, will be named the Juan for Fun 2015 Ultimate Backpackers. They get to win awesome prizes which they can use for more epic adventures.

The criteria for judging are 70% for the most number of fun activities and 30% for the special fun challenges and special activities.

Prizes:

The winning team

• 12 round-trip tickets to any Cebu Pacific International or domestic destination
• 3 Canon Powershot SX600 cameras
• 3 Samsung Tab 3 Lite tablets courtesy of Smart Bro
• P30,00 worth of gift certificates from Boreas travel gear

2nd Place

• 9 round-trip tickets to any Cebu Pacific International or domestic destination

3rd Place

• 6 round-trip tickets to any Cebu Pacific International or domestic destination

Runners Up

• 3 round-trip tickets to any Cebu Pacific International or domestic destination

The Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge 2015 is co-presented by GetGo, Cebu Pacific’s lifestyle rewards program, and Nissin Yakisoba. The challenge’s major sponsors are Smart Bro, Boreas and Canon. It is also supported by the Philippine Department of Tourism, Tourism Authority of Thailand, and endorsed by the Commission of Higher Education.

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.


Article and photos were taken by Ace Paragoyo, Pinoy AdvenTurista's official representative to the Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun 2015 Backpacker Challenge send-off event held last June 23, 2015 at the Grand Sunset Pavilion of Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Manila.

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