Before the era of self-styled and self-proclaimed social media influencers, Daphne Osena Paez pioneered lifestyle journalism on the internet.

It was her carefully curated but authentic and sincere content that hooked fans to her blog, daphne.ph (OG readers of course started with the livejournal version). 

Apart from her success as a lifestyle host on TV, it was her voice as a writer that gave birth to the lifestyle brand of Daphne. She has partnered with National Book Store for a line of stationery, and on her own, created a furniture and jewelry line.

Despite hitting pause on her more elegant pursuits for her new challenging job as press briefer for the Marcos government, Daphne’s long-time fans still look forward to her life updates—from sending her kids to school abroad, dealing with an empty nest, hearing about her adventures in farming, or traveling the world to get inspired.

When the world gets too much, I recharge in… 

Our home, just us. My husband puts in good music, makes me a cocktail, and we have long talks. If and when we have cabin fever, he takes me to our farm or to the beach in Calatagan. I find the sea very healing. Road trips are great to clear our minds. Flying out and being away would just add to the stress.

When I need inspiration, my go-to destinations are

Museums and art galleries. Or anywhere near nature as long as it isn’t too hot.

My favorite weekend escape in the Philippines is

Our small farm just south of Metro Manila. We’ve had it since Stella was a baby. We planted a variety of Philippine native trees between old coconut trees. I like to grow narra seedlings myself. I give them up for adoption because there isn’t enough space in our property now. We have cacao, avocado, rambutan, guava, dragon fruit, langka, coffee, and seasonal vegetables. I can proudly say that I make hot chocolate from my bare hand—from planting the tree, to harvesting the cacao, fermenting and drying the cacao beans, to roasting and grinding. But only in small batches. 

If I could live somewhere else for a month it would be in

I’d love to linger in Barcelona for the art, design, and food. But I hear the locals are up in arms about foreign tourists taking over their city. Because we live in Manila, a dense metropolis where everything is at a frenetic pace, I’d like to go somewhere quiet. I’m in my North American quaint town mom era now, so I’d like to be in a cottage-type home where I can cook, read, write, garden, and just get comfortable with my family. I’d like a Gilmore Girls vibe for a month somewhere like Niagara-on-the-Lake or Elora in Ontario, Canada. 

One province in the Philippines I wish I could retire in is

I have not thought about this yet. My husband loves the mountains, and I love the sea. We both need the convenience and energy of the urban life too. The Philippines is beautiful, and many places have different things to offer. I’d like to enjoy nature and have access to the sea. I’m a water baby. I used to scuba dive regularly, which was a major factor in why I wanted to live in the Philippines. But as I get older, healthcare is also a major factor. In time, with all the government’s investment in health infrastructure, more areas of the Philippines will have regional hospitals. Realistically, probably somewhere in Batangas. 

First trip out of the country

I was six years old. My brother and I spent a summer in California with my Mom. My Dad didn’t come because he couldn’t be away from work that long. He was an active officer of the Philippine Air Force, assigned to fly President Marcos (Sr.). I still remember our flight. There was a stopover in Hawaii and I had the worst headache. I don’t think cabin pressure was well regulated then. It was the first time I heard the word Honolulu and thought it sounded funny. Los Angeles and San Francisco were fun. It was the ultimate American Disneyland experience for a kid because of the fun amusement parks, candy stores, and toy stores. I still remember seeing groovy hippies in the sidewalks of San Francisco. California became our family’s regular travel destination in the 1970s. 

Favorite place to stay/hotel in the world

Gangtey Lodge in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan has the most charming and luxurious rooms with sweeping views of the gently-sloping valley. Bhutan was isolated and inaccessible up until the 1970s when the King made the effort to transition from absolute monarchy to parliamentary democracy. The process is still ongoing for this young and small nation which is actually one of the oldest remaining kingdoms on earth. Bhutan still retains its elusiveness and protectionism, that getting there is not easily attainable. The culture is still pure and unaffected by external factors. It has five Amankora lodges, with the one in Bumthang being most unforgettable for me. It comes with access to the old King’s former palace. 

Suitcase essentials

I don’t know how life was before packing cubes became a thing. They are so convenient and they keep our bags so neat. They also make it so easy to unpack and stay organized at our destination. I like using Truest by Lucy Torres Gomez because of the pretty prints and sizes, but the cheaper ones in Greenhills and Lazada work well too because they’re so light. 

Most beautiful places in the world I’ve been to 

For natural environment, El Nido, Sagada, and New Zealand. For culture and history, Bhutan, India, Morocco, Jordan. For urban life, Paris and Barcelona.

Favorite airline

None, really. But I only use PAL for my regular Toronto visits because it flies direct. It is so convenient especially if you have small kids. Filipino flight attendants are so helpful. I remember those long haul flights traveling solo when my daughters were still small—back when Stella was one year old, Lily was three, and Soph was six. I had a baby sling and stroller, just me and three little ones. I’m so grateful to Filipino flight attendants. 

Three things you can never leave home without

Regardless of my destination, I make sure I have skincare with sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses.

Most memorable trip ever

There are many memorable trips with my husband and daughters. But my Spain and Morocco trip will always be memorable. The year was 1986, I was in high school in Toronto with my family, and I my dad got me that trip as a 16^th birthday gift. It was an organized tour to Costa del Sol, Malaga, Granada, Gibraltar with a side trip across the Mediterranean Sea to Tangiers, Morocco. It was a great adventure for a young girl seeing my first bullfight, dodging aggressive sellers at the souk, dodging even more aggressive Spanish boys at the discoteca, and just being in awe at the architecture at the Alhambra. The beautiful memories were also mixed with drama because it was March 1986 which was the beginning of the change in our family’s situation because of my dad’s work and the political situation in the Philippines. 

Travel tip to make it as stress-free as possible

Put photos and files of all your documents in your phone. Print out visas and QR codes in case your phone runs out of battery. Double and triple check expiry dates of passports. 

Favorite travel companion 

My husband. We enjoy slow travel and local culture. We appreciate big landmarks but we are happy just sitting in local cafes, or going through markets music stores, bookstores, and art galleries. He is averse to “Instagrammable” pictures. I still like the money shot. So we meet halfway.

Best budget tips when traveling

Book early. But I am so bad at this because our family of five has different schedules and time zones now, so it’s harder to plan in advance. I’ve used third-party apps like Klook for deals in attractions in South Korea and Japan. We got our Holy Land pilgrimage in Jordan, Egypt, and Israel through a travel agent friend. It was a good deal with a great set of people who became our friends. 

Piece of clothing I always bring with me when I travel

A linen or light wool blazer, silk scarves, hat, comfy black pants from uniqlo, muji or lululemon. I aim for comfort but with a little polish. You never know when you’ll need to look dressed up, which happened when the Queen Mother invited me to dinner while I was in Bhutan in 2016. Her Majesty hosted dinner in my honor at her home. I only packed trekking clothes and boots as customary for visitors in Bhutan and the Himalayas. Our common friend, a lovely Singaporean lady, lent me her silk Bhutanese national dress called the Kira. I wore it with desert boots. It was a memorable dinner with only four women at dinner including the Queen herself. My friend gave me the silk Kira to keep. It is one of my special treasures. Now I always bring extra shoes just in case another royal invites me to dinner.

Dream destination

It’s not so much a dream because these days most places and travel experiences are attainable if you’re organized enough. But I’d like to go on a Marian pilgrimage through Europe. I’d also like to go to Antarctica before it gets too commercial. Scotland would be amazing too.

Bucket list things to do

I’ve had my share of bucket list travel experiences through my work in television and through my blog. I also hosted a travel show for Air Asia, which took me to major Asian cities and smaller, less traveled ones for two years. I don’t get to travel for work now. And it’s a bit harder to book trips and vacations. I’ve had my first vacation just now after almost two years of working, and it was to be with family in Toronto. We sent our daughters off to university and helped them move. We spent a lot of time in quaint small towns. 

Favorite travel destination for

Food – I’m no fun with food. I developed a severe allergy to shellfish and farmed fish ten years ago. So I only eat fried chicken in places like Bangkok, Bali, Taipei, and other Asian mega cities. It doesn’t bother me. My husband and kids love Tokyo and Seoul for food.

Fashion – Everything is online now so I don’t really shop when I travel. But I still enjoy looking through vintage clothing stores in Japan and the Toronto area. 

Furniture shopping – Betis, Pampanga. Check out the furniture factory showrooms like Betis Craft and the Deco Central in Clark Freeport. Hardin BnB and Venta Suites are pretty bed-and-breakfast accommodations.

Arts and culture – New York. Our three daughters are museum geeks like me. We can linger all day at the Met, MOMA, Museum of Natural History, and smaller galleries. The New York urban landscape is so dynamic and diverse, just being there gives a hodge podge of culture. We recently had a better appreciation of Singapore too. Though it’s much more curated and deliberate, nothing is left to chance, it is still a good and easy destination for Filipinos. Their national gallery is an impressive space with a great collection of art from all over the world. We also like to feel like travelers in Manila. Escolta area is a cultural and artistic experience for us, so much so that it inspired my eldest daughter to create an animated film set in Binondo.