UAE-based Filipina digital nomad Kach Medina Umandap completes historic journey to all UN countries using solely a Philippine passport
Kach Medina Umandap, a 36-year-old Filipina digital nomad, has made history as the first and youngest Filipino to travel to all 193 United Nations-recognized countries using solely a Philippine passport.
Umandap completed her extraordinary journey on January 6, 2025, with her final stop in Sudan, overcoming years of challenges and restrictions associated with traveling on a low-passport-index nationality.
A UAE-based overseas Filipino worker (OFW), Umandap divides her time between the Philippines and Dubai. Her career as a digital nomad and travel blogger has enabled her to earn a living while pursuing her dream of traveling the world. Through her work, she has documented her experiences, inspiring others to break from conventional travel norms and embrace a nomadic lifestyle.
Umandap's journey was announced by the global community of Filipino World Travelers (FWT), which celebrates Filipinos breaking barriers in international travel.
Drawing inspiration from Filipino-Americans Odette Ricasa, aged 79, and Luisa Yu, aged 80, the only other Filipinos to have traveled all United Nations countries, Umandap's accomplishment stands out due to her use of a Philippine passport solely.
Umandap holds no dual citizenship, is not a permanent resident of any other country, and, as a dedicated OFW, relies solely on her Philippine passport to navigate her travels. This makes her the first and youngest Filipino to achieve this milestone using only a Philippine passport and arguably the first woman from a developing country with a low passport index to complete such a monumental task.
According to NomadMania, a website that tracks travel accomplishments, there are fewer than 500 individuals worldwide who have achieved the feat of visiting all 193 UN countries.
In 2024, Umandap visited 26 African countries, saving Sudan as her final destination due to the country's ongoing civil war. By reaching Port Sudan in early 2025, Umandap became one of the first tourists to visit the region since the unrest, offering a glimmer of hope for the revival of Sudan's tourism industry.
Umandap returned from her trip and arrived in Cebu on January 13, 2025, and celebrated this remarkable achievement in the Philippines.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
14 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Trump's new travel ban goes into effect against citizens of 12 nations
President Donald Trump's sweeping new travel ban came into effect early on Monday immediately after midnight, barring citizens from a dozen nations from entering the United States and reviving a divisive measure from his first term. The move is expected to disrupt refugee pathways and further restrict immigration as the Trump administration expands its crackdown on illegal entries. Many of the nations covered by the restrictions have adversarial relations with the United States, such as Iran and Afghanistan, while others face severe crises, like Haiti and Libya. In announcing his restrictions last week, Trump said the new measure was spurred by a recent "terrorist attack" on Jews in Colorado. The group had been protesting in solidarity with hostages held in Gaza when they were assaulted by a man the White House said had overstayed his visa. That attack, Trump said, "underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted" or who overstay their visas. The move bans all travel to the United States by nationals of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, according to the White House. Trump also imposed a partial ban on travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. Some temporary work visas from those countries will be allowed. New countries could be added, Trump warned, "as threats emerge around the world." Mehria, a 23-year-old woman from Afghanistan who applied for refugee status, said the new rules have trapped her and many other Afghans in uncertainty. "We gave up thousands of hopes and our entire lives... on a promise from America, but today we are suffering one hell after another," she told AFP. World Cup, Olympics, diplomats excluded The ban will not apply to athletes competing in the 2026 World Cup, which the United States is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico, or in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Trump's order said. Nor will it apply to diplomats from the targeted countries. United Nations rights chief Volker Turk warned that "the broad and sweeping nature of the new travel ban raises concerns from the perspective of international law." US Democratic lawmakers and elected officials blasted the ban as draconian and unconstitutional. "I know the pain that Trump's cruel and xenophobic travel bans inflict because my family has felt it firsthand," congresswoman Yassamin Ansari, who is Iranian-American, posted Sunday on X. "We will fight this ban with everything we have." Rumours of a new travel ban had circulated following the Colorado attack, with Trump's administration vowing to pursue "terrorists" living in the United States on visas. US officials said suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national according to court documents, was in the country illegally having overstayed a tourist visa, but that he had applied for asylum in September 2022. Trump's new travel ban notably does not include Egypt. His proclamation said Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and war-torn Libya, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen lacked "competent" central authorities for processing passports and vetting. Iran was included because it is a "state sponsor of terrorism," the order said. For the other countries, Trump's order cited an above-average likelihood that people would overstay their visas. Agence France-Presse
Time Out Abu Dhabi
18 hours ago
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
There's been a brilliant visa update for Indian tourists travelling to the Philippines
Got the Philippines on your travel list? If you're an Indian national, packing for paradise just got a whole lot simpler. Starting June 8, Indian passport holders can enter the Philippines visa-free for up to 14 days for tourism purposes – no lengthy embassy visits or paperwork required. All you need is a passport valid for six months beyond your stay, proof of accommodation, funds to cover your trip and a return or onward ticket. That's your beach getaway sorted. But it gets even better. According to the same announcement, made by the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, if you're an Indian citizen holding a valid visa or residence permit for the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore or the Schengen area, you can extend your island time to a full 30 days – no visa necessary. Just show your valid passport and return ticket at the border and you're in. The visa-free entry applies at all Philippine ports and while extensions aren't on the table (so don't overstay your welcome), this move is a major step towards smoother travel between India and the archipelago nation. There are a few fine-print notes: the policy is strictly for tourism. If you're transiting through, planning a longer stay, or heading to the Philippines for business, study or work, you'll still need to apply for the relevant visa through the usual consulate channels. Still, for Indian travellers dreaming of white sands, warm seas and unforgettable Filipino hospitality, this is very good news indeed. Need some travel inspo? Travelling from Abu Dhabi is about to be so much faster Zayed International Airport is the world's first airport to make this change 18 countries offering visa-on-arrival to UAE residents Here's where to go UAE citizens now get visa-on-arrival for India: a game-changer for travellers That quick trip to India just got even easier
Filipino Times
2 days ago
- Filipino Times
Philippines grants visa-free entry to Indian tourists starting June 8
Indian tourists can now enter the Philippines visa-free starting June 8, 2025, according to a new policy announced by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Indian nationals are allowed to stay for up to 14 days in the country without a visa, provided they show valid documents, such as a passport valid for at least six months, a confirmed hotel booking, proof of funds, and a return or onward ticket. Those holding valid visas or residence permits from countries like the US, Japan, Australia, Canada, the Schengen area, Singapore, or the UK (AJACSSUK) may enter the Philippines visa-free for up to 30 days. They must also show a valid passport and a return or onward ticket. The DFA clarified that this visa-free entry is strictly for tourism and cannot be extended or changed into another visa type while in the country. Travelers must not have any negative immigration records with the Bureau of Immigration. Indian citizens planning to stay longer or visit for reasons other than tourism must still apply for the appropriate visa from a Philippine embassy or consulate. Eligible applicants may also apply for e-Visas through the official Philippine eVisa website. However, these e-Visas also cannot be extended or converted into other visa types.
