Last July 1, Cebu Pacific flew a few members of the local press and the blogging community to Davao City for the culmination of this year’s Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge. I was one of the three Cebu bloggers who got invited to cover the event. If you’re wondering what the #JuanForFun challenge is, here’s a little backgrounder:
The Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge is Cebu Pacific’s ultimate backpacking adventure. Now on its fourth year, the challenge gives teams a chance to explore numerous destinations in Cebu Pacific’s network. For this year, the groups traveled to Bangkok, Thailand, and various Philippine destinations. Now, the rule is pretty simple: the team with the most number of fun experiences and discoveries and the highest ranking in special fun challenges (with a given travel allowance of USD250 and PhP35,000) wins!
We arrived at the venue a few minutes before the program started. This gave us enough time to go around and chat with the different teams.
The Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge 2015 announcement of winners was held at Eden Nature Park and Resort in Barangay Eden, Toril, Davao City.
The program officially started around noon. Of course, #JuanForFun’s co-presenters and sponsors also graced the event.
This year, five teams with three members each took part in this very exciting backpacking challenge. Each team was given a celebrity ‘coach’ who supported them online and helped them complete their tasks.
This is Team Iskapade from UP Cebu receiving their special award from Merrell. Congratulations, ladies! 🙂
Team Extreme from Manila won the special award from SMART.
The GetGo special award went to… drumrolls…. Team Iskapade! Woohoo!
Go, Team Cebu! 🙂
The Yakisoba special award went to Team Square from UST.
Unfortunately, Team Iskapade wasn’t able to make it to Top 3. But don’t worry, girls. We’ll win next year! 🙂
Runners up: Team Iskapade with Coach Bogart the Explorer and Team Square with Coach Champ Liu Pio.
Team DoMaRo from Mindanao placed 3rd. Here they are with Coach Jude Bacalso.
The final two teams – Team Juan Big Fight and Team Extreme – nervously await the announcement of the grand winner. Who’s your bet?
Team Juan Big Fight Coach Iya Villania and Team Extreme Coach Joyce Pring are as nervous.
Coach Champ is all chill, though. Haha.
And the 2015 Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge winner is…. Team Juan Big Fight! Congratulations, guys!
And congratulations, Coach Iya!
Placing second is Team Extreme from Manila. Congratulations, guys!
Big Winners! Members of Team Juan Big Fight will bring home 12 round-trip tickets to any Cebu Pacific international or domestic destinations, 3 Canon Powershot SX600 cameras, 3 Samsung Tab 3 Lite tablets from Smart Bro, and Php 30,000 worth of gift certificates from Boreas Travel Gear. Wow!
Coach Iya congratulating her team.
All 5 teams pose for one final photo with their coaches. Good job, everyone! Congratulations!
After the event, before our flight back to Cebu, we were given a quick guided tour of the whole resort.
Eden Nature Park and Resort is a pretty huge complex. Spanning at least 18 hectares, the resort offers various features and activities you couldn’t find in other mountain/nature resorts.
Eden has a fishing village, an amphitheater, a deer park, a mountain trail, hydroponic greenhouses, an aviary, an art center, a sports field, and a whole lot more.
Eden’s greenhouses growing vegetables using the state-of-the-art hydroponic technology. Amazing.
This pine tree-lined road leads to some of the resort’s cabins.
Who doesn’t?
Thinking of having a scenic garden wedding? Here’s an idea. 🙂
Beautiful sight.
Here’s a spot where you can finally finish that book! 🙂
The aviary is pretty, too.
The aviary is one of the most popular spots in the whole resort.
The property is so huge so guided tours have to be done using coasters.
Here is a replica of a Bagobo house right in the heart of the resort. The Bagobos were the original inhabitants of this tract of land.
The herbs garden grows various types of herbs that the resort uses at the restaurant. Cool, right?
Lola’s Garden offers a wonderful panoramic view of Davao City.
If you ever find yourself in Davao City, never miss Eden Nature Park and Resort in Barangay Eden, Toril, Davao City!
Wow! Very nice adventure resort ni ang Eden! Congratulations to the Juan for Fun winners!
yep. mountain adventure resort siya G. nindota iapil sa juanforfun sa? haha
Thanks for the feature! It was really an amazing adventure!
Congratulations Kyle and Team Juan Big Fight!!! 🙂
A very nice article, thanks for the feature!