Travel has changed rapidly for the world ever since the pandemic restrictions eased, so it comes as no surprise that more and more people are jetting off to gorgeous destinations after being deprived for almost two years. It’s certainly a cause for FOMO (fear of missing out) among netizens, too—a condition where one feels left out by the latest “cool” thing, which, in today’s case, is the plethora of seascapes and travel OOTDs in our Instagram feeds.
Unlike her fellow celebrities and content creators, Inka Magnaye is one of the few personalities who doesn’t go on trips as much. In a TikTok video, she got candid about her thoughts on the realities of traveling, including the privilege that comes with it. ICYDK, she’s currently in Singapore for a work trip--her first international travel ever.
Given her status, a netizen couldn’t help but comment, “Hindi ako makapaniwala [na] first time mo lang sa plane kasi ang galing mo mag-English tsaka mukha kang mayaman na afford mag-travel.”
Instead of responding shadily, Inka kept her cool and took the opportunity to form an empowering and, shall we say—refreshingly real response. “Why have I not traveled before? Long story short is I can’t afford it.”
The Reason Why Inka Magnaye Doesn’t Splurge on Travel
“Every time I think of traveling, it sounds so much fun. And then I think about plane tickets, accommodations, food, pocket money for whatever I need, transportation, and then pasalubong. And you know, as much as I know that travel will be good for me, these are expenses that I just can’t justify on my own,” she explains.
Inka says that traveling costs a lot, and the money can be allocated to more important matters, such as her living expenses. “The way I think of it is the plane tickets to and from will be my rent. The food and accommodations alone for that trip would be my groceries. Transportation, pocket money, those things can go to my bills.”
She admits that her mindset must have stemmed from her family’s rocky past, which forced her to fend for herself. “I don’t know. Maybe I think of these things because of what happened to me when I was a teenager. Remember I made kwento to you guys that my parents’ business burned down and we couldn't afford to go to school so I was homeschooled.”
“I think that that happening to me made me so hyperaware of the responsibilities I now have as an adult. Because, again, I’m the primary breadwinner of my home. So these are things that I need to think about,” she added.
Of course, there are unprecedented moments to prepare for, too. “I need to have money saved for whatever else happens, like in case of emergencies. So I really can't afford to travel. I hardly even go shopping.”
Don’t get her wrong, though. She totally loves the joys of going places! In fact, in a separate clip, she got teary-eyed upon landing in Singapore. “I feel so grateful, so lucky. It’s like the world has become real for me, and not just the things I watch in documentaries or read in the news.”
She also penned an inspiring message for her followers on the comments section. “I’m gonna keep working hard so that one day, I can afford to travel. No need to pretend we’re mayaman or afford natin mag-travel or shopping when we can’t. Tayo lang mahihirapan pa. It doesn’t mean that we can’t become mayaman. We will. But that won’t happen if we buy things we can’t afford.”
Keep doing you, Inka!
This story originally appeared on Preview.ph.
* Minor edits have been made by the Cosmo.ph editors.
