Hi, my name is Raf.
I’m a traveler, experience host, and gastro diplomat.
I was born and raised in the Philippines. Lived in Japan, Malaysia, and India. Moved to New York in 2014.
I’m passionate about sharing Filipino culture through food. Prior to the pandemic, I hosted a social dining experience called Filipino Food Crawl. I took a small group of guests to Filipino restaurants to eat while having a conversation about Philippine history, culture and traditions. I have hosted over 500 guests from 20 different countries, and the tour has been featured on BuzzFeed, Food Insider, and various food blogs/newsletters.
Before moving to the US, I was on my way to becoming a Philippine diplomat. But plans changed so that career path didn’t pan out. My love to promote and represent the Philippines still remained so I created Filipino Food Crawl to continue pursuing this passion even though I was no longer in the government. I thought I was going to become an economic or political diplomat, but I became a gastro diplomat instead.
I’m an avid traveler. I’ve documented my (food) trips in articles and videos, which I hope will inspire you to travel, explore, and step out of your comfort zone.
I’d love to hear from you. Contact me here.
