MANILA, Philippines — Kach Medina Umandap shared her inspiring journey as the first Philippine passport holder to visit all 193 United Nations-recognized countries.

In an ANC interview, Umandap said the record-breaking travel expedition took 12 years to accomplish.

It started when she was 20 years old when she decided to work as an overseas Filipino worker for four years in the Middle East after graduating from college.

"I didn't really intend to travel to every country in the world. I just want to travel. Like, I just really wanted to do it," said Kach.

She began backpacking in 2013 at the age of 24 until she realized her fondness for traveling overseas, which prompted her to leave her job the next year, fully adopting the digital nomad way of life.

Her early days as a travel vlogger led to exposure, sponsorships, and opportunities that helped her continue her travels.

At 29, Kach already visited seven continents and hit 100 countries. However, she also faced significant challenges, particularly when visiting countries that required visas.

Philippine passport is 75th most powerful in the world: global index

She said countries like Turkistan, North Korea, Sudan, and Tuvalu, as well as Paraguay and Uruguay were among the countries that were particularly difficult to visit due to factors like expensive flights, difficult visa applications, and limited embassy presence in the Philippines.

She also mentioned her experience traveling to North Korea, highlighting the need for a double-entry China visa and the unique process of crossing the border.

Additionally, she recounted her experiences traveling to war zones like Sudan and Syria, where obtaining visas for these countries was challenging.

"There was a rule that a single Filipino woman was not allowed to enter because there's a lot of domestic helpers that were being abused. They were taken away from Lebanon, Jordan, to go to Syria," Kach said.

"I waited two years to enter Sudan because no one was allowed to enter until last year. I was the third tourist and first Asian to enter the country," she added.

Though she had to face these complex visa applications and travel to other countries to obtain visas from embassies and consulates not present in the Philippines, Kach still attributes the resilience and adaptability of her Filipino upbringing, which has helped her navigate challenging situations while traveling.

At 36, she has managed to visit the remaining 95 countries after seven years.

To be recognized as a global travel master, they must prove they’ve spent at least 24 hours in each country.

Ultimately, she expressed a desire to inspire younger Filipinos, especially OFWs, to embrace remote work opportunities rather than traditional overseas jobs, suggesting this shift could lead to more meaningful travel experiences.

Now back in the Philippines, Kach wants to explore her home country, reconnect with friends made during their travels, and show them hospitality.

RELATED VIDEO