MANILA, Philippines — In a world where the odds are stacked against the Philippine passport, Kach Umandap has carved a path of possibility, proving that borders can be crossed with courage and determination.
At just 36 years old, the San Pablo City, Laguna native became the first and youngest Filipino to travel to all 193 United Nations (UN)-recognized countries and two observer states, using only a Philippine passport—a feat that highlights not just her personal achievements, but also her advocacy for fellow Filipinos.
Growing up with her mother and grandparents in Laguna, Kach has always dreamed of traveling the world. She shared that her initial goal was to become a diplomat.
“I really wanted to become a diplomat. That’s how I started,” Kach told INQUIRER.net in an interview.
“Imagine, as a Filipino, how can you travel the world? Only if you have a diplomatic passport,” she explained.
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After graduating from the University of the Philippines Los Baños in 2009 with a degree in Economics, Kach took her first job as an on-the-job trainee at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office at the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait.
During her stay, she documented the plight of abused domestic workers, which she described as demoralizing.
“It’s demoralizing… I told myself that one day, hopefully, there will be fewer Filipinos like that. But I never thought I could do anything back then. Maybe eventually, when I have the voice,” Kach narrated in mixed English and Filipino.
Little did she know that her voice would emerge later—not as a diplomat, but as a trailblazing digital nomad.
From OFW to digital nomad and remote Filipino worker
Kach left the Philippines a month after graduation, working in the Middle East as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) taking on corporate jobs until 2013.
However, a deep desire for freedom and exploration led her to leave her job in 2014, fully embracing the digital nomad lifestyle.
“Being a digital nomad allowed me to work remotely while traveling. If I can make the same amount of money while staying in Cebu or Manila, why not do it in Ethiopia, right?” Kach said.
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“Imagine if you could be completely free, go where you want when you want and not just earn, but actually save money at the same time,” she wrote in a published article in 2014.
This shift marked the beginning of her journey to becoming what she calls a “remote-based OFW,” the newest version of the Filipino worker.
According to Kach, her secret to affording her global travels lies in her entrepreneurial spirit.
From blogging to networking with tourism boards and companies, Kach turned her passion for travel into a sustainable career.
“In 2014, I started blogging and ventured into social media. At the beginning, I was really lucky to be sponsored by tourism boards, Turkish Airlines, Star Alliance, and AirAsia,” she revealed.
“I really network. I network with government officials. I network with companies who could bring tourists to the Philippines or me to bring tourists there,” Kach added.
Breaking barriers with just a Philippine passport
Traveling with a Philippine passport comes with its unique set of challenges, Kach emphasized.
She said many countries assume Filipinos are visiting for work or to marry locals, and obtaining visas often involves extensive effort.
“A lot of times, they think of me two ways: Either I’m going there to work illegally or I am finding a local guy who’s going to marry me,” she said.
But Kach pointed out that she never obtained a foreign passport even when she was still married to her British ex-husband.
“Despite having been married before, it doesn’t automatically mean that you’ll get a passport [of his citizenship], right?),” she underscored.
More so, according to Kach, she wanted to remain a Filipino until the end, amid the challenges that came her way as a digital nomad.
“In some countries, it’s complicated because we don’t have embassies. So [you go] at your own risk,” she explained.
Despite these obstacles, Kach persevered. Her journey to Sudan, the last country that she visited, took two years of waiting due to civil war and seven months of visa applications.
“In the end, I got a visa on arrival through an agency,” she recounted.
Her determination paid off when she earned verification from NomadMania, which she described as the “Guinness World Records equivalent” for travelers.
“If they don’t verify you, it means you’re just in transit [in a country]. They check your belongings, your visa, and confirm that you’re actually inside the country, not just at the airport,” Kach explained.
“I was finally verified the other day, so now I can brag… they just confirmed that I am the first woman from all the developing countries to achieve it,” she joyfully shared during the interview.
She added that being verified by NomadMania is significant, with only 500 individuals verified by the organization as of now.
Empowering the next generation of digital nomads
Now based in Dubai, Montenegro, and Palawan, Kach is shifting her focus to empowering fellow Filipinos to follow in her footsteps.
Her long-term goal is to help ispire a generation of remote Filipino workers (RFWs) who can explore the world while working online.
“My next mission is to visit all the provinces in the Philippines while teaching how to become a remote worker,” Kach shared.
“If we have more RFWs, it’ll be easier for Filipinos to travel because everyone would know you’re working online,” she explained.
Through her startup FilipinoPassport.com, her blog Two Monkeys Travel Group, and travel website Travel with Kach, she also helps Filipinos navigate visa requirements and discover off-the-beaten-path destinations.
She also dreams of giving talks in schools to inspire the youth to pursue digital skills and travel.
“I really want to focus on educating now, especially homegrown kids, to encourage more RFWs. And then eventually, when they gain experience and confidence from traveling within the Philippines and working remotely, they can transition into becoming digital nomads,” Kach said.
Lastly, she advises fellow Filipinos to “learn digital skills, save money, and explore the Philippines first.”
“Learn digital skills and then improve your skills to survive anywhere and anytime… travel around the Philippines if you want to become like that [digital nomad],” according to Kach.
“Learn how to save money, because you need that. And then earn a living, try to make money from it,” she added.
Redefining success for Filipinos
Kach’s story is not just about breaking records; it’s about redefining success for Filipinos.
“When I started, I never imagined I’d be here. But if I’m the youngest to achieve this, who’s going to be next? I want to inspire the next generation,” she said.
Her journey proves that with strategy, resilience, and a digital skill set, Filipinos can transcend the limitations of their passport and dream beyond borders.
“Once you know your power, no one can discriminate against you,” Kach asserted.
As Kach continues to travel and inspire, she’s not just building her legacy—she’s building a movement, one remote Filipino worker at a time.