15 Travel Hugots that Only Filipinos will Understand

Yes, Filipinos are hospitable. And generous. And a happy people. But just because we’re a generally friendly bunch doesn’t mean we don’t complain about things. In fact, we Filipinos know that we’re notorious for complaining, sometimes to the point of being irrational. But when it comes to travelling, our hugots and struggles are real. We swear it!

1. Abang-abang for seat sales all day errday

Sawang sawa na mga kaibigan mo sa pag abang ng seat sale, pero ikaw lumalaban parin!

It doesn’t matter if we have more than enough money to travel, if there are seat sales, then we’ll take it! At every opportunity, we will try to travel as frugal as possible even if it means tirelessly looking out for seat sales every single day. And when you happen to be travelling on a budget when that CebuPac piso fare is announced — BINGO! Abangerz na kung abangerz, at least nakamura ka sa ticket!

2. So many dream destinations, so many visa applications

Korea, Japan, America, Australia, Europe, etc. If only it were that easy to visit all these beautiful places, but nope. Aside from budget, one of our biggest problems as Filipino travellers is securing visas. The fees, the documents, the nerve-racking interviews, just the idea of these can be intimidating. But for the love of travel, we do what we can.

Also read: Easiest to Hardest Visa Applications According to Filipino Travellers

3. Why isn’t this “budget-friendly” destination budget-friendly?!

Well maybe because you cheated and spent some of your savings on other things aside from your trip. Guilty? We are too.

Although, we also understand that what could be budget-friendly for some travellers may still be pricey for some. Kanya-kanya kasing diskarte lang talaga sa pag-plano ng budget-friendly itinerary.

4. Bakit ang hirap maghatak ng travel buddy?

There are so many conditions you need to work around. Your friend wants to come with you but she can’t go on leave when you can, he doesn’t have the budget, she’s too lazy to plan, or he won’t go unless another person tags along. You can only do so much to convince your friends to travel with you. But if all else fails, would you fancy solo travelling instead?

Also read: Is This You: 8 Types of People You Hate Travelling With

5. Delayed nanaman flight ko…

It’s raining hard and they say there might be a bagyo. You’re already checked in at the airport and just waiting for your flight. You sit there patiently and wait for further announcements. There seems to be no sign of trouble. So far so good. Until you hear it. Okay, now your flight’s delayed. That’s the worst that could happen right? You’re advised to wait a little more. Then it DOES get worse. Flight. Cancelled. Sabi mo na nga ba.

Also read: How to Deal with Cancelled Flights Due to Bad Weather

6. It’s so hard to plan with the barkada!

Why does it have to be so hard? Oh yeah, maybe because all of you want to go to different places, see different attractions, and do different things. Sometimes, you’re just meant to have a different set of barkada when it comes to your travelling plans.

7. Ang dami gusto ipa-pack ni mommy for “emergency”

You thought you were done packing until your mom walks into your room with a pack of medicines and double checks everything. By the time she leaves, you have your own first aid kit, and extra everything. Extra shirt, extra pants, extra underwear, even extra socks. And it’s all for the “emergency” situation your parents always seem to overimagine. Yan ang tunay na “extra”!

8. So. Many. Layovers.

Living in the Philippines, it always seems like we’re far away from all the countries we want to visit. A three-hour plane ride is already short for us. Plus, if we want to go to the continents of Africa and Europe, we most likely have at least one very long layover depending on our destination. Emphasis on AT LEAST.

9. Oh no! No more space for pasalubong!

You enjoyed shopping so much that you forgot to leave space for the souvenirs you bought for your friends and family. And they asked you to bring home A LOT of nice things. Yan tuloy, mapapabili ka ng extra bag.

10. Researching everything with the word “affordable” preceding it is a norm

If you’ve ever planned for a vacation, you know this. Affordable accommodations in *insert name of city here*. Affordable restaurants, affordable shopping districts, affordable tours, etc. You’ve practically grown sick of searching the word “affordable” in every place you go, but you keep on doing it. Why? Because budget travel is life.

11. I don’t have the right adapter to charge my gadgets in this country…Fail.

Not all outlets around the world are the same as the one in our country. Sometimes some people realise this too late and end up buying adapters when they’re already in their destination. That’s another few converted money down the drain when you could have bought one back in the Philippines.

12. Ilang beses na ata ako pinagkamalan na *insert other nationality here*

Many of us Filipinos get mistaken for other Asian nationalities or ethnicities even if we don’t have a drop of their blood. We can’t help it if we have similar features, so what else can we do except to laugh it off? Nasanay na rin tayo eh.

13. Tipid pa more

You’re going out with your friends tonight but you have your fingers crossed that they won’t pick a pricey restaurant, because, yup, you’re saving for another trip again. Your family’s going to the mall on the weekend and you’re thinking of an excuse not to go because you don’t want any temptation to get money from your travel savings. It’s a never ending cycle. Walang katapusan ang pagtitipid sa buhay biyahero, bes!

14. How many vacation leaves do I have left? Ubos na pala…

Wala ka nang choice kundi mag file ng unpaid leave sa susunod na bakasyon. Aray ko po.

15. I need to fit everything I want to see in a long weekend itinerary!

Long weekend ba kamo? Tara! Ipagkasya natin lahat sa tatlong araw.

And when your friends ask you why you need to fit everything in three days instead of just extending your vacation, “Kaawaan niyo ako. Ubos na VLs ko!”

Also read: 13 Long Weekends in the Philippines in 2018

The more we travel, the more these travel hugots become all too real. Pero hawak kamay natin sila haharapin!