Enchong on how to travel on a budget

When he is not busy with showbiz work or attending to his restaurant business, Enchong Dee loves to travel to different places and explore with his family.

The Kapamilya actor truly treasures every bonding moment with his loved ones. He never passes up the chance to take souvenir photos with them knowing that their family reunion usually happens once in every 10 years. “Bihira lang mabuo kasi ‘yung family namin dahil merong nasa Norway, States, Australia and the last time was with our Mama Pearlie (his grandmother),” he said in his interview in Tonight With Boy Abunda.

In fact, Enchong has a particular photo with his family that is very meaningful to him. He even wrote a caption, “I don’t know when it will happen again,” clueless that his Mama Pearlie will never be able to join in their next get-together since she had passed on recently. It all the more made Enchong realize the importance of spending time with someone dear to you as often as possible. “You give time to your parents now and not tomorrow because we don’t want regrets.”

Enchong is a certified kuripot when it comes to spending his hard-earned money for his travels. However, he explained that he is just budget-conscious, and being “budgetarian” is the more apt, better-sounding term for kuripot in this age of millennials.

“Budgetarian means you spend on the things that are the most important,” he explained and went on to tell that impulse buying is a no-no. “It must be clear to you the reason of your travel. Like me, when I go to a certain place, it’s for vacation and once I had that Instagram shot I wanted then, I’m fine.

“But, of course, we are different kinds of traveler. That’s why like my book, it specifically targets the budgetarian traveler. I’ve nothing against those who spend extravagantly on their travels because you worked hard for your money.”

His book, Basta Trip Mo, shares varied suggestions on making your travel meaningful and worthy. One important tip on his list is how to save money for your dream travel. “Traveling starts from your payday. You can start saving, say, P1,500 every payday and in a month, you have P3,000. By December, you already have that amount enough for your travel.” 

Enchong didn’t deny about the possibility of having flings on out-of-the-country trips. “Not exactly fling but I think it cannot be avoided because you go out, you party and you get to meet other people, especially at my age and I think it’s not part of my consciousness when I travel. If it happens, it happens.”

Basta Trip Mo has two cover designs — one with his face on it and the other is colored yellow with its title imprinted on large, bold letters. He said that the book was intentionally done that way so those who would just want to read the book but do not want his face on it can still get a copy. A wise marketing idea, isn’t it?

With Enchong on the hot seat, he gamely did the Fast Talk’s Shoutout edition. Read on.

•Shoutout to your favorite swimming trunks:

“Uy, kasya ka pa!”

•Shoutout to your sister-in-law:

“I’m proud of you, Ate Olga!”

•Shoutout to your fans in Africa:

“I wanna see you guys soon!”

•Shoutout to Alexa Ilacad who reportedly has a crush on you:

“I crush you, too!”

•Shoutout to all the flight attendants:

“You’re doing a great job!”

•Shoutout to corrupt politicians:

“Please think about us!”

•Shoutout to Erich Gonzales:

“You’re doing a great job!”

•Shoutout to Maja Salvador:

“Love you!”

•Shoutout to Bea Alonzo:

“Kailan yung trip to Portugal na libre?!”

•Shoutout to Selena Gomez:

“I’m Enchong Dee and I’m an artista in the Philippines, please notice me!”

•Shoutout to all the haters and bashers:

“I love you more!”

•Shoutout sa taong huling nagpakilig sa’yo:

“Balik ka na!”