As the world slowly reopened from COVID, we spent a month crossing the Philippines to capture the journey of a lifetime—all on a device that makes phone calls.
The "Xiaomi 12 Travel Series" was a month-long, cross-country marathon that rocked me to my core in the best way possible. Emerging just as global restrictions were easing, the objective was to capture the raw beauty of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao alongside major endorsers like Rhian Ramos, Mikael Daez, and Chef Jose Sarasola—all shot exclusively on the Xiaomi 12 Pro. We were constantly on the move, hiking, swimming, and flying, feeling like some of the very first explorers returning to these stunning locations.
The massive hurdle was the sheer physical endurance required; this project permanently drilled run-and-gun filmmaking into my soul. However, the real breakthrough was the creative payoff of trusting my instincts and my team. I successfully pitched Siquijor to the agency, featuring it commercially just before it exploded into the massive destination it is today. Pulling cinematic, breathtaking footage out of a tiny device—and surviving the journey of a lifetime—was only possible because I had the absolute best, most agile crew by my side. This was a journey that I'll never forget.
