2024 has blessed me so many reasons to be thankful.

First of, my professional accomplishments. In 2024, I was able to fully bounce back at work in the field of Architecture, overcoming the minor downtime I experienced during pandemic years. Truly, God provides those who perseveres.

Next of, this fruitful year has rewarded me with two major milestones as a travel enthusiast. 2024 started with a good news, as my application to join the Circumnavigators Club has been duly accepted. The Circumnavigators Club is an international organization of travelers, founded 1902, with the headquarters based in New York City, USA. With the acceptance, I was among the applicants who were featured in The Log Magazine, Issue One of 2024. As of now, there are still certain steps for me to accomplish, to fully become an official member, hopefully before summer of 2025.

To be considered, one must have circumnavigated the globe, crossing every meridian of longitude in the same direction. I was able to achieve this during my month-long backpacking journey to the Americas last year. The Route: Manila > westwards to Riyadh,Saudi Arabia > New York,USA (East Coast) > Toronto,Canada > Cancun, Mexico > Cuzco,Peru > Rio de Janeiro,Brazil > Bogota,Colombia > Costa Rica > Nicaragua > Honduras > El Salvador > Los Angeles,USA (West Coast) > Singapore > return to Manila.

And to cap off this blessed year, my blog, Biyahe ni Josemanuel, has been recognized during the recent Davao Blog Awards 2024, as the Cebu Pacific Davao Blogger of the Year. Truly, this recognition is the cherry on top of my year and I am over the moon for this honor.

I started blogging the year 2013, sharing personal travel memories and experiences, as well as other defining moments in life that I consider milestones. Though with flaws and all, my blog has survived the years and remained steadfast along with my mother blog org, the Davao Bloggers Society (DBS). Today, we celebrate the 11th year of Biyahe ni Josemanuel, as well as my 10th-year membership with the DBS.

To the DBS organization, thank you so much for the recognition, and most especially, for keeping me under your wings since 2014. To all the sponsors of our DBS org, we are truly grateful for the support. And to enthusiasts and bloggers\vloggers I follow, who keep pushing boundaries in travel, thank you for the inspiration.

Cheers! To to more travel kwentos with you. 🩵🧡