Kach Umandap in Easter Island, Chile. - Kach Umandap
MANILA: 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)-recognised 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.
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 demoralising.
“It’s demoralising... 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—as a trailblazing digital nomad.
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.
This shift marked the beginning of her journey to becoming what she calls a “remote-based OFW,” the newest version of the Filipino worker.
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.
Traveling with a Philippine passport comes with its unique set of challenges, Kach emphasised.
She said many countries assume Filipinos are visiting for work or to marry locals, and obtaining visas often involves extensive effort.
But Kach pointed out that she never obtained a foreign passport even when she was still married to her British ex-husband.
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.
“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 shared.
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 inspire 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.
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.
Her own 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. - Philippine Daily Inquirer
