Teen sensation Kim Chiu was in Canada last October 2008—along with Gerald Anderson, Jericho Rosales, and Jed Madela—to perform in shows sponsored by The Filipino Channel, or TFC, the international channel of ABS-CBN. Since it was already winter in Canada, Kim was warmly covered from head to foot. "Dito sa Pilipinas ko binili 'yong ibang panlamig ko," she says. "'Yong iba, doon na, kasi hindi pala kaya ng dala kong jacket ang sobrang lamig."

(YES! February 2009 issue)

For Kim, one of the best things about being an entertainer is getting to travel around the country and even the world. Someday she wishes to visit Japan.

(YES! February 2009 issue)

This photo was taken in downtown Toronto, where Kim did most of her pasalubong shopping.

"Na-over-baggage nga kami," she says with a laugh. "Nagbayad pa kami, kasi ang bigat ng dala namin. Si Gerald, ang ginawa niya, iniwan niya 'yong mga bagahe niya, 'tapos pina-ship niya na lang."

(YES! February 2009 issue)

In between shows, Kim and her fellow Kapamilya stars got some free time to see the sights, including the scenic Niagara Falls bordering Ontario, Canada, and New York, USA.

 

(YES! February 2009 issue)

It was Kim's first time in Canada and her first time to experience actual snow. So even though it was freezing cold outside, she was excited to explore the place. "Gusto ko 'yong lugar na malamig. Kahit saan, basta malamig. Ang sarap kasi ng feeling, compared dito sa Maynila, ang init-init."

(YES! February 2009 issue)

Now here's Shaina Magdayao and her 13-year-old niece, Francesca, with the majestic Mount Fuji, an active volcano and Japan's highest peak, located on Honshu island.

"Nakaakyat po kami sa Mount Fuji, the closest that we could go," Shaina said in an earlier interview with YES! Magazine's online affiliate, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal, www.pep.ph). "Kasi po, masyadong mataas at may snow na ang tuktok nito. Picture-perfect po talaga."

Shaina originally wanted a trip to Europe after her 18th birthday, which falls on November 6, but she opted to go to Japan so she could fully use up her five days' vacation from her Kapamilya commitments.

(YES! February 2009 issue)

Shaina's niece, Francesca, is the daughter of Shaina's eldest sister, Sheila, and Sheila's husband Federico Moreno. "Yong trip, treat ko na 'yon doon sa niece ko," says Shaina. "Kasi, birthday niya that October. Magkalapit kami ng birthday."

(YES! February 2009 issue)

Though Shaina didn't make it to Europe, her dream destination, she said Japan was a good alternative.

"Parang 'binibida lagi ang Japan, kasi hindi pa naman ako nakakapag-show doon. So sabi, malinis, maganda, mabait 'yong mga Hapon. Totoo nga, at saka they're very polite."

With Shaina is her dad Ike, who accompanied the two young girls on the Japan trip.

(YES! February 2009 issue)

Shaina couldn't resist posing with a cute mascot in Nagoya City, where Nagoya Station, the world's largest train station, is located. Nagoya is also the headquarters of the Central Japan Railway Company, that country's main railway company.

"Lahat ng train stops, pinuntahan namin," Shaina tells YES! "'Yong entry point namin is Nagoya, so from Nagoya we went to Tokyo and other cities."

(YES! February 2009 issue)

Japan is known for its high-fashion shopping districts. Of course, Shaina didn't pass up the chance to sample the scene, and one of her stops was this Louis Vuitton shop. "Suwerte kami dahil inabutan pa namin ang autumn sale, kaya po medyo mura. Nakabili nga po ako ng gusto kong Louis Vuitton bag, birthday gift ko sa sarili ko. Matagal ko na pong gustong bumili, kaya lang walang okasyon para bumili ako. Since birthday ko naman, binili ko na, saka mga damit."

(YES! February 2009 issue)

Francesca, Ike, and Shaina had a great time experiencing the bullet train, known in Japan as the Shinkansen (literally, "New Trunk Line"). In the Philippines, it's well-nigh impossible for someone as well-known as Shaina to take public transport, so she really enjoyed the experience afforded by anonymity in a foreign country.

"Doon, gustong-gusto ko tinetake 'yong mga public transportation nila. Gustong-gusto ko 'yong ganoon, 'yong nagte-train ako. Noong nag-Singapore kami dati, gustong-gusto ko nga rin nagta-taxi ako."

(YES! February 2009 issue)

Enchong Dee—here appreciating the Hong Kong skyline—says he's happy to be chosen one of the three Coke Smile Ambassadors: "Perhaps they feel that I can inspire kids to do what they love doing and instill the idea of not giving up on something you like to do, no matter what challenges you encounter, just like with what I do with swimming and showbiz, where I have the best of both worlds."  

Aside from being an actor and a TV and print model, the 19-year-old Ernest Lorenzo "Enchong" Dee is, first and foremost, a student. He's in his fourth year of A.B. developmental studies at De La Salle University. He's a swim champ as well. In the last season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP Season 71 2007-2008), Enchong won seven gold medals and was named Most Valuable Player in the men's division for swimming.

Enchong says he's learning to master the art of time management: "It's never easy. But having 24 hours a day, I've managed to prioritize and manage my time accordingly. I need eight hours of sleep, three hours of training, five hours of studying and of paying attention to professors, then I still have eight hours of giving my all to showbiz. Sometimes, if my schedules clash, then that's the time I compromise and ask permission from whomever I need to." 

(YES! February 2009 issue)

Enchong Dee visited Hong Kong twice last year, in October and in November. "Both were four-day trips," the swimming champ and Bench model tells YES! in an email interview. "I was able to experience and visit Disneyland Hotel, Marco Polo Hotel, and the awesome W hotel, which is such a cool place to stay at!" W Hotel is an international chain of luxury hotels. Here's Enchong walking outside the  posh W Hotel in Kowloon.  

(YES! February 2009 issue)

A kid at heart, Enchong truly enjoyed his first visit to Hong Kong Disneyland. That's him goofing around at the Tomorrowland theme area. "I especially appreciate and remember how people came up to me in Disneyland because they recognize me from TFC," he says. "I'm not embarrassed to show how I love seeing cartoon characters and the rides and just enjoying like a kid, so they saw my childish side."

(YES! February 2009 issue)

Trying out the local dishes in different restaurants was also part of Enchong's itinerary: "I love Crystal Jade's jellyfish! It's my favorite because everything is just so fresh. We also ate in Canteen and in City Super."

(YES! February 2009 issue)

Enchong made it a point to try the different rides, including Dumbo the Flying Elephant (left photo), Buzz Lightyear, and Space Mountain, which he rode five times. He also watched the parade on the theme park's Main Street (right photo). "Although I'm not a fan of Disney characters, it is still undeniable what Disneyland does. It felt like I was a little kid all over again."

(YES! February 2009 issue)

Enchong and his travel buddies, which included his manager Keren Pascual (not in photo), used the Mass Transit Railway to go around Hong Kong. "It was so fun because I experienced things that are outside a student's budget when traveling. Everything was just so new to me, and it was one of the few trips that was purely for vacation, since I usually travel for swimming competitions."

(YES! February 2009 issue)