History

The Inspiring Journey of Filipino World Travelers

The story of Filipino World Travelers began as a dream in 2020 when Dondon Bales embarked on a mission to showcase the adventurous spirit of Filipinos. While writing his book about Filipino global explorers, Dondon envisioned a community that would unite and inspire Filipinos worldwide through their shared love of exploration.

By September 2021, this dream started taking shape. Dondon released his book, "Galà: Adventures of the Most Well Traveled Filipinos," and co-founded a Philippine-based non-stock, non-profit corporation dedicated to Filipino travelers. Serving on the board of directors, Dondon played a pivotal role in promoting the Filipino travelers community in global circles such as the Extraordinary Travel Festival, NomadMania, and the Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) by the Tourism Promotion Board of the Philippine Department of Tourism.

In early 2023, the journey hit a rough patch when corruption and disinformation among other board members led by the chairman threatened the integrity of the organization. Guided by the belief that “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” Dondon remained steadfast in his vision and chose to take action — founding a new, independent global community of purposeful Filipino World Travelers.

He envisioned this new group to use travel as a force for good. Rallying support from like-minded individuals, Dondon invited several members from the previous organization and welcomed new faces, establishing the group with a new brand called Filipino World Travelers on April 3, 2023. The brand is owned by Dondon through Explore Next Level, the “Galà” book’s publisher and is a business registered under the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. The new group’s logo adopted the same design as the book’s front cover. 

Joining him in this noble endeavor were Luisa Yu and Abigail Friedrich, who became co-leaders. Together, they dedicated themselves to growing the organization with a focus on quality members, affiliates, allies, and supporters. Their collective efforts quickly bore fruit as the community flourished.

In April 2024, Filipino World Travelers celebrated its first anniversary, marking a year of incredible growth and achievements. The organization proudly recognized its 53 Founding Members, representing 16 countries around the globe. This milestone was not just a celebration of their accomplishments but a testament to the enduring spirit of Filipino travelers and the powerful impact of their journeys.

Through perseverance, integrity, and a shared passion for travel, Filipino World Travelers has become a beacon of inspiration, proving that even in the face of adversity, dreams can lead to extraordinary realities.