GENERAL TRIAS, Cavite — A 58-year-old widow from General Trias has fulfilled a longtime dream after visiting all 82 provinces of the Philippines, earning her a place in the history of Project82, a nationwide travel challenge.
Nena Altovar Flores, a homemaker and mother of three sons, became the 353rd finisher in Project82’s history and the ninth-oldest Filipino to complete the challenge.
Flores’ love of travel began in 2006, when her family made it an annual tradition to visit different parts of the country. As her sons grew older, the family continued creating memories together at each new destination.
When her children became busy with school and work, she kept traveling with her husband, touring different parts of the Philippines by plane, car and motorcycle.
In 2020, her husband died, a loss she called a major blow. Rather than giving in to grief, Flores turned to travel as a way to heal.
In 2021, she decided to continue traveling on her own and took up mountain hiking as part of her recovery and to stay active. It was around that time she learned about Project82, the challenge to visit all 82 provinces of the country.
Her response was simple: “Why not?”
Since then, she has often traveled as a solo joiner, sometimes with new friends she met along the way, and sometimes planning her own trips. Each journey added to her experience, confidence and the people who inspired her.
From July 14 to 17, she completed her goal after visiting Batanes, the 82nd and final province on her list, officially making her part of Project82 history.
Flores said her story shows that the end of one chapter in life can also mark the beginning of another, adding that she found the strength to move forward after loss and hopes to show others that dreams have no age limit.
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