Five teams, seven days, one exciting adventure like no other—the Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge 2016 promises all these and more. Now on its fifth—and biggest!—year, the annual backpacking escapade is bringing five teams of thrill-seeking students to exhilarating destinations—all for free.

As if the once-in-a-lifetime escapade is not enough, this year’s Ultimate Backpackers, or big winners, will take home the challenge’s biggest prize yet—a Travel-All-You-Can pass. This entitles each member to as many free flights to domestic and international short-haul destinations as they want within one year. They will also win exciting premium travel gear from the challenge’s partner brands.

Throughout the challenge, the teams will have to take on as many exciting experiences and daring discoveries within their given travel allowance worth P35,000. They can visit the country’s renowned tourist spots including heritage sites, churches, and parks, sample scrumptious local delicacies, and get to know the locals.

To make the adventure even more awesome, Cebu Pacific has tapped celebrity travel enthusiasts as Adventure Coaches to guide and provide advice to the teams. The list includes first-time coaches—actress, singer and blogger Saab Magalona, and TV host and VJ Robi Domingo. They will be joined by returning coaches—musician Champ Lui Pio, Internet star Bogart the Explorer, and travel writer Jude Bacalso. Throughout the challenge, these celebrities will stay in touch and cheer for their respective teams through social media.

University travel trios

Representing Bacolod is #JFFJUANTeamPH composed of Glenn Layola, Audrey Ramos, and John Ray Blance of La Salle Bacolod. Partnered with Coach Robi, this team shared that they are raring to explore more of Visayas and Mindanao. “We would like to explore wonderful beaches and do extreme sports, like one of Asia’s longest ziplines in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato,” said Glenn.

Hailing from Tuguegarao, Brendan Tangan, Linus Pagulayan, and Cherson Bariuan of St. Paul University Philippines make up #JFFTeamPablo. With Adventure Coach Saab as their guide, these student leaders believe that their enthusiasm to serve other people, strong friendship, and strong personalities will lead them to victory. “Our motto is, ‘There is no certainty. There is only adventure,’” added Linus.

Engineering students from De La Salle University, Marie Tuason, Karlo Carranza, and Samantha Rice are #JFFTeamPura. They are excited to have Bogart the Explorer as their adventure coach, especially Marie who is a true-blue Davaoeña herself. The trio said that should they win the Travel-All-You-Can passes, they will visit a new destination every two weeks. “We’ve already made a bucket list which includes Siargao, Palawan, Tawi-Tawi and Boracay because of their magnificent beaches, Bohol, because we want to see the Chocolate Hills, and Naga City because of its rich Philippine historical sites,” shared Samantha.

Patricia Quintero, April Baldovino, and Gian Nicdao of University of the Philippines-Manila are #JFFTeamTAG. Throughout their seven days of adventure, they vow to always have fun, be in the moment, and do their best to be the ultimate champs, with the help of their adventure coach, Champ. Their ideal itinerary should they win the ultimate prize? “Breakfast in Cebu (let’s face it: lechon is the way to go!), have lunch in Palawan (for some seafood and vitamin sea), head to Bohol to burn all the food we ate, and cap the day in Boracay,” added Patricia.

#JFFTeamWork is composed of Serge Calumpong of Ateneo de Davao, April Nacion of University of Southeastern Philippines, and Jaysson Presores of the University of Mindanao. They are excited to be partnered with adventure coach and fellow Bisaya, Jude. Close since they were in high school, the trio said joining Juan for Fun would be an exciting adventure and an ultimate test of friendship. “We know that there will be no dull moments when we are together,” shared April. “We would do our best to encourage one another and, of course, mag-lingaw-lingaw pag-ayo (enjoy everything)!”

The Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge 2016 has Boreas Gear as the official travel gear, Merrel as the official footwear, and GoPro as the official camera. The challenge is also supported by Wenger and Dan’s, and endorsed by the Department of Tourism and Commission on Higher Education.

Discover daring destinations and follow the adventures of university teams in the Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge 2016! Know more by visiting www.juanforfun.com, and following the Juan for Fun (www.facebook.com/cebupacificjff) or Cebu Pacific Twitter (@CebuPacificAir) pages.