Marcos honors 3 Filipino travelers who visited all 193 UN countries

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomes three extraordinary Filipino world travelers in a courtesy call at Malacañang on Thursday, April 24, 2025. PHOTO AND CAPTION BY YUMMIE DINGDING / PPA POOL

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday honored three exceptional Filipino world travelers who had visited all 193 United Nations-member-countries.

Marcos, in a courtesy call in Malacañang, welcomed Odette Ricasa, the first Filipino to achieve the milestone; Luisa Yu, the oldest; and Kach Medina Umandap, the youngest.

READ: Kach Umandap sets record: First to visit all 193 countries with PH passport

The three travelers were accompanied by Donalito “Dondon” Bales, who is the founder of the global community of Filipino World Travelers.

Ricasa, Yu, and Umandap discussed with Marcos their travel experiences.

The president then highlighted how Filipinos are popular for their innate hospitality and empathy no matter where they are in the world.

“Most importantly, kahit saan tayo pumunta gusto tayo … We create nice communities. Nagtutulungan talaga,” Marcos told them.

(Most importantly, wherever we go, we are liked… We create nice communities. People really help each other.)

“So, nakakaproud naman. I’m sure you left a whole trail of new friends and new Filipino fans everywhere in the world,” he also said.

(That’s really something to be proud of. I’m sure you left a whole trail of new friends and new Filipino fans everywhere in the world.)

Bales gave Marcos his book titled, “Galà: Adventures of the Most Well-Traveled Filipinos.” Released in September 2021, the book features stories of Ricasa, Yu, Umandap, himself, and other inspiring Filipino travelers.