Former beauty queen Pia Wurtzbach is also known for her globe-trotting adventures as seen on her official Instagram account.
Read: Pia Wurtzbach, Maymay Entrata reveal the countries they consider their second home
Besides sightseeing, one of her top travel activities is tasting local cuisines.
For Pia, trying new food is an essential part of her travel experience.
"It's really a part of when you travel," Pia said in an interview during the launch of Lay's Philippines' Flavors of the World series.
The event was held on August 4, 2023, at the Trinoma Activity Center in Quezon City.
She continued, "Anywhere you go naman when you travel, like, okay may sightseeing, but part of the experience is also tasting.
"It's also eating, indulging. And wala naman masama doon. We all deserve to give ourselves a treat and to indulge."
Pia went on to dispel the misconception that beauty queens or even models like her don't eat, stating that she loves food and enjoys eating a lot.
In her own words, "Even for me, like, I know people think that, 'Ah, model di siguro kumakain iyan, nagpapapayat.'
"Girl, hindi! Sobrang I can eat, and I eat a lot, and I love food, and I love taste, and I love snacks, and I love chips. And it's the truth!"
Read: Pia Wurtzbach bares stomach rolls in bikini snaps
But how does she manage to stay in shape while indulging in food during her travels?
Pia emphasized that she doesn't restrict herself from enjoying food.
"I'm gonna be honest, it's not easy. It is so hard to resist temptation.
"And it's so hard to keep a routine and a schedule of balancing your lifestyle, yung pagiging active and your workouts, but also enjoying the food.
"But I really don't deprive myself.
"And that's why, you know, when it's around the Christmas season or even after my wedding, maybe you'll go back to my previous photos, makikita niyo naman kung kumakain ako, e. Kitang kita sa mukha ko..."
She continued, "But you know what? I don't make myself feel bad. I don't make myself feel guilty anymore.
"To me, I just enjoy. I enjoy food. I feel like when you travel, it's part of the experience.
"Huwag mo nang i-deprive yung sarili mo."
Pia mentioned that she would rather spend more time on physical activities, including going to the gym, to maintain her figure, instead of depriving herself of delicious food.
She said, "Have a balance lang of... of course, when you have some free time, you know, stay active. Kaya mo namang lakarin, lakarin mo na lang. All those little things really help.
"But I don't deprive myself of good food anymore because it's just so like... How can you fully experience a place if you don't taste and you don't eat, right?
"And it's sad. Like, Filipinos love food. We love to taste different flavors.
"And we love to do it with a group. We love to do it with friends. We love to socialize. So hindi ko siya kayang tanggalin.
"Mag-workout na lang ako para mabalanse ko siya."
FAVORITE DESTINATIONS
With the potato chip brand introducing flavors inspired by American, South Korean, and Mexican cuisine, Pia was also asked about her top three favorite spots from each of these countries.
For Pia, Times Square in New York City is a definite must-visit for anyone traveling to the U.S. for the first time.
She said, "Anybody who's never been to the U.S. has to experience what it's like to see Times Square for the first time.
"To walk there and to see all the lights. Kahit madaling araw kang pumunta, it's just so alive. It's literally a city that never sleeps.
"Just make sure you go at a good time of the year because it can be very cold. Sobrang lamig. And also can be very hot. So, they have medyo extreme seasons."
Los Angeles, California, is also on Pia's list of must-visit places, as the weather and overall vibe reminds her so much of the Philippines.
"The lifestyle is great. So mas active yung lifestyle doon. You can enjoy, move around. Lots of Filipinos also live there, right?"
For those seeking a culinary adventure, the San Francisco Bay Area has a plethora of options to explore.
Pia said, "Ang sarap ng pagkain doon. As in, that's where you go to find love again.
"You fall in love again talaga with the food. And it's also so LGBT-friendly. That's what I love about that place. Sas Castro [District] yun."
As for South Korea, Pia mentioned that she had a delightful cultural experience in Busan during her visit there in 2018 for a travel show.
She reminisced, "I actually did a travel show, Pia's Postcards, and we went to Korea. We went to Busan.
"Busan is more of like, less city center... It's less city center, but they're also promoting it to be more of parang cultural where they film a lot of movies, where they do a lot of mga productions.
"I suppose mga TV series, they also do there.
"So if you want to have a little bit of a less busy city experience, it's a nice place to go.
"Still a lot of culture. Still a lot of food options. You'll still really have a lot of fun there."
In addition to sampling their cuisine, Pia also had a great time shopping in Korea.
"Shopping is also really fun in Korea. Mga make-up, ganyan. And the fashion, you know, you don't have to buy the high-end luxury brands.
"If you buy the local designers, wala kang kapareho pag dinala mo siya sa Pilipinas," she divulged.
Regarding Mexico, Pia fondly remembers her delightful trip to Cancun in 2017.
"It was a short trip. But the people there are very friendly.
"Para din silang mga Pinoy. Very hospitable. Masayang kasama. Mahilig din sila sa mga pageants.
"But the place I went to, kasi it's more of a party vibe. I would say it felt very festive. Definitely a place to experience at least once," she added in closing.
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