Jude Bacalso
If one were to describe Jude Bacalso, it would be as a person exuding joie de vivre. She brings vitality and enthusiasm for life in all her passions—be it as a travel writer and photographer, television personality, radio host, stage performer, educator or researcher, among others.
Having shared the stage with some of the country’s most respected theater actors and concert performers, Jude is definitely no stranger to the spotlight and large audiences. Known for her sharp wit and infectious energy, Jude has hosted her own morning talk show called Jud Morning!, a top-rated show on ABS-CBN’s Regional Network for three years, as well as radio shows for Y101 (101.1 FM) and Monster Radio (BT 105.9).
Amazing everyone even more, Jude is also a trailblazer in the field of natural sciences, having published various studies in international scientific journals. She taught Biology, Zoology and Ecology in Velez College of Cebu, and is currently the president and in-house terrestrial and aquatic biologist of Green Ventures, an environmental consultancy firm that she established.
As a travel writer for Smile Magazine, Cebu Pacific’s inflight magazine, as well as other publications, Jude Bacalso has been urging readers to pack their bags and go on planned or spontaneous trips for years.
Jude’s love for travel is evident in her knowledge of the must-see places in the country and abroad. “I profess a great love for my hometown of Cebu, which is shared by many non-Cebuanos. I also have a love affair with second cities such as Melbourne and Ho Chi Minh. They retain enough of first city comforts, but have all of the second city vibe. The energy is palpable, the culture undiluted, the prices a bit lower, the pace more forgiving,” she said.
She added that through the years, she has become adept at making the most of her travel budget. “I’ve learned when to scrimp, like choosing public transportation and booking budget airline promos, and when to splurge, like culinary experiences, one-of-a-kind native products or a good show.”
New, exciting adventures await with Cebu Pacific
This June, Jude is excited to share even more travel advice, when she becomes one of the coaches in the Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge 2014. The charismatic multimedia personality will coachone of five university teams who will embark on a journey that will take them to seven different locations in the Philippines and abroad in nine days.
“I want my team to do the flipside—do something that people have never read about. As a travel buff who writes about a single destination several times for different publications, I’ve learned that any destination can be an inexhaustible source of adventure. Know where to look, keep an open mind, and always listen. Some things transcend the language barrier in amazing ways,” she said.
She also shared that it is important to listen to the locals as they are the experts in their own domains.
Excited to coach her team, Coach Jude enthused, “I love the fact that this is called Juan for Fun because when people join it, it’s not all about winning, it’s about having fun. If you’re here to win the game, you’re missing the point. Having the opportunity to travel for free automatically makes everyone a winner!”
Follow #CoachJude in the Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge by visiting www.juanforfun.com. Joining her as adventure coaches are volleyball player Gretchen Ho, sportsman and TV host Paolo Abrera, champion surfer Luke Landrigan, and YouTube star Bogart the Explorer. Cheer for your favorite team and join the conversation on Cebu Pacific’s official Facebook and Twitter (@CebuPacificAir) pages by using the hashtag #juanforfun.
The Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge 2014 is co-presented by Jack ‘n Jill Magic Chips, with the support of Vaude, Merrell, Canon and the Department of Tourism, and the endorsement of the Commission on Higher Education.