MANILA, Philippines – Think a visa application for one country is tough enough? Imagine filing for 128.
Kach Medina Umandap did that and more to become the first Filipino to visit all 193 United Nations (UN)-recognized countries with just a Philippine passport, according to Filipino World Travelers, a global community celebrating locals who exceed international travel expectations.
Around the world, the group says, less than 500 people have been able to visit all 193 UN member-states.
“Everywhere I went, there were Filipinos,” said Umandap, who completed her 13-year journey around the world on January 7, 2025. “My Filipino identity served as a bridge, connecting me with fellow Filipinos abroad, creating a supportive community throughout my travels.”
The Philippine passport has visa-free access to only 65 countries, classifying it as “low-index,” which means it has limited global mobility — or to put it simply, it’s a “weak” passport.
Yet Umandap had always wanted to travel the world, so she didn’t mind going through the time-consuming visa application processes and financial planning, as well as convincing family and friends that she’s fine trading a stable, full-time job for a digital nomadic lifestyle — working online while traveling to different destinations.
“To fund my travels, I leveraged digital skills to earn income while traveling, such as freelancing, blogging, or online teaching,” said the San Pablo, Laguna native.
Umandap’s travel blog enabled her to collaborate with travel companies and national tourism boards to access discounted travel packages, sponsored trips, and promotional opportunities.
From using loyalty programs of airlines and hotel chains to building relationships with local businesses, Umandap was able to get discounts and free opportunities across her journey.
“I’ve built businesses like TwoMonkeysTravelGroup.com, FilipinoPassport.com, and TravelwithKach.com, which not only allow me to continue earning while pursuing my passion for exploration, but also help others navigate the travel world and achieve their own travel dreams,” said Umandap.
Among the 193 countries she visited, her favorites were Montenegro, Patagonia de Chile y Argentina, and Switzerland.
These destinations, she shared, boast lush sceneries, high mountains, and opportunities for nature exploration that were quite unique from the usual go-to tourist spots.
Her last stop was Sudan due to the civil war. But when the country welcomed tourists again, Umandap became one of the first foreigners to visit this year.
The 36-year-old admitted, though, that a backpacker’s life is equal parts alluring and intimidating.
“I constantly refined my travel itinerary, optimizing routes to minimize backtracking and maximize time spent in each destination,” shared Umandap, citing her extensive research and planning before going to any country to avoid wasting time and money.
Of course, there were tradeoffs, and she mentioned “sacrificing [her] personal life as a divorcee with no children.”
Still, communities turned out to be an important aspect in Umandap’s travel journey.
She found a strong sense of bayanihan (community spirit) when volunteering, staying with friends, or building relationships with different travel groups like the Filipino World Travelers and NomadMania.
Umandap, who graduated with a degree in Economics in 2009 at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, emphasized the importance of thorough financial planning and adaptability when setting out to travel.
“To make travel dreams a reality, I always recommend to Filipinos to create a budget,” said Umandap, who, at one point, was also an an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), holding corporate jobs in the Middle East.
“Tracking your expenses helps identify areas for cost-cutting, allowing you to set realistic travel goals.”
Umandap also encouraged travelers to just try again if their visa applications get rejected. Getting professional guidance from visa consultants and travel agencies may also help, she noted.
“Remember that rejections are common,” she said. “Learn from them and reapply with improved applications. Don’t give up on your travel dreams.”
But once the adventure starts, Umandap said the sightseeing should come with fostering “deeper connections on multiple levels” and forging “meaningful relationships with people from various backgrounds.”
This way, she said, Filipino travelers can try exploring the possibility of becoming Remote Filipino Workers (RFWs).
A staunch advocate of upskilling, Umandap hopes to discuss and teach the importance of building digital skills in different schools, universities, and other youth groups.
“I believe that if more Filipinos work remotely, it will be easier for them to travel the world,” she said.
Despite completing her extraordinary journey, Umandap’s wanderlust is boundless. Her next travel target? To visit all 82 provinces in the Philippines.
Umandap said her decade-long adventure enriched her in many ways — making her set and achieve ambitious goals, helping her embrace challenges and view them as growth and learning, and even acquiring new skills that she sometimes earned from.
“I wanted to prove that even with a passport that might not be the most powerful, Filipinos can achieve remarkable things,” she said. – Rappler.com