Wanderlust Reawakened

“Revenge travel” has been on a lot of people’s lips when travel restrictions began to ease up, and there has been even more buzz around it as the summer season began this month. Asti Business Services Inc. (ABSI), an Asticom subsidiary, General Manager and HCX Technology Partners Managing Director Melissa “Mel” Tecson and General Manager of Fiber Infrastructure and Network Services, Inc. (FINSI), also an Asticom subsidiary, Marc Kerveillant personally look forward to destressing during the summer.

“Traveling allows me to not only get to know other people but also get to know myself in a deeper way. I learned to appreciate traveling even more during the pandemic amidst all the restrictions,” Mel says.

“It goes without saying, work can be stressful. To overcome the stress, I travel. Traveling gets me to come out of my usual routine, disconnect from the daily grind, and make new memories with my family,” Marc shares.

“When it comes to balancing life and work, I practiced work-life integration even prior to joining Asticom or experiencing the pandemic. I prioritize urgent matters whether at work or in my personal life. Do gentle pivots and do not always create hard boundaries. It’s great that in Asticom, there is enough flexibility, and you can always plan for your personal time off. When you are on vacation, people will respect your time off and try not to bother you, so you get to enjoy your well-deserved break,” Mel adds.

Mel and Marc share some travel tips to help you unwind.

1. Plan! Plan! Plan!
   “You first need to know the purpose of your travel so you can plan accordingly. Is it to relax? Discover places? Or meet new people? When you travel, research places to visit, food to eat, and even what transportation to take — planning is part of the journey after all,” Mel says.
2. Visit tourist-friendly places or locations.
   “You don’t want your experience to be traumatizing and daunting, so always take precautionary measures, and travel safely. Choose a destination you can truly enjoy without worrying about your safety. There are places known to be tourist-friendly and some have certain restrictions you must comply with. It’s best to ask around or do your research. Because the pandemic is still a concern, you must consider the COVID-19 situation at your destination and follow the required minimum health protocols,” Mel says.
3. Do not stress about the little things.
   Mel adds, “You can’t plan every step and be prepared for everything. You will only know and learn about certain things when you get there. Wonderful memories are created when you discover things or places from unplanned side trips. With that, I advise you to just go with the flow and have fun!” Marc also adds, “Don’t overthink or over plan. Having a strict schedule and bouncing between guided tours may add more stress to your trip and leave you with less time to discover.”

4. Find local gems
   Marc says to “immerse yourself in the culture and cuisine at the local food spots, where there aren’t many tourists but you can experience great food and new things.”

Postcards from Mel and Marc
Since it’s warm and humid in the Philippines during the summer, Mel and Marc recommend go-to places to cool down during the blazing summer days.