The Tennis Foodie – Emmanuel Damian

A blog that combines tennis, delicious food and travel

The Tennis Foodie’s blog started on the 4th December 2016, which was a huge decision for the author Emmanuel Damian, who had previously used TripAdvisor, Facebook, Instagram and other types of social media for his reviews. He decided to create his own brand, which focuses on four things: “TFTF” which stands for Tennis, Food, Travel and Fashion. A unique combination, with the purpose of displaying a healthier side of gastronomy, as well as interrelating sports and travel.

About the Tennis Foodie
Emmanuel is currently 28 years old, and grew up in the beautiful province of Batangas in the Philippines.
At University he studied Pharmacy, and graduated magna cum laude, he also won several academic and leadership awards. Emmanuel describes himself as very competitive by nature.

As a child, he developed interest in tennis but chose to focus on academics, until 2012 where he started playing again. Emmanuel says, that playing tennis allows him to travel around the world, and after a match it is natural to reward himself with a healthy meal, therefore, “The Tennis Foodie” was the perfect combination for him.

On average, the blog gets 500-700 readers per day, and has more than 6,000 social media followers. The blog also won four awards in just over a year.

We had the honor of interviewing Emmanuel about the Philippines.

What is the most important thing to you when writing about the Philippines, what do you focus on?
“I always highlight the uniqueness of the Philippines. I make sure to introduce it. I am a Proud Pinoy and I love my country. I want all readers to engage themselves in the Filipino culture and traditions.”

We also asked Emmanuel what his favorite thing about travelling in the Philippines is:
“I love immersing myself with the local culture. I have this motto that I follow every time I visit a new city or place: “Travel like a local.” I make sure I ditch the touristy spots and discover my own hidden gems. I also eat local food. I say no to fast food whenever I travel. I always discover new things.”

The Tennis Foodie’s favorite place to visit in the Philippines is Coron, Palawan because it is very clean, simple and serene. He says that the local people are some of the most hospitable, and that it will always have a special place in his heart. Batangas, his hometown is also one of his favorite places because it is less polluted, beautiful and has many fresh fruits and vegetables.

“One of the things I love the most about the Philippines is the natural resources that we have. We have so many nice places to offer to tourist, and the Filipinos are very hospitable. I also love the food scene in the Philippines. It keeps on growing. You have diverse options. We also often see fusion cuisines so it is not boring. The tourism campaign that says: It’s more fun in the Philippines – is certainly true.”

In every country, there are good and bad aspects, we asked Emmanuel what he would change about the Philippines.
“I think I would like to impart more discipline on every Filipino. It always starts within ourselves. If we cannot follow simple rules, we will not be able to reach a common goal. It is evident on simple activities like throwing your trash to proper segregated bins. Another example would be following simple traffic rules. Rather than jaywalking, go to the designated pedestrian crossing or under/overpass available in the city.

I always try to travel sustainably; I make sure I use recyclable materials. I also avoid using plastic and instead use eco bags. I love eco bags as you can use it for your toiletries, laundry, etc.

Advise to people travelling to the Philippines for the first time:

“Always smile! Filipinos love to smile. Always feel at home! Never be afraid to join the fun! Enjoy the journey. At the end of the day, you will be a part of a diverse and hospitable family. “

You can read more about Emmanuel and his interesting travel, tennis and food blog here
Or check out his Facebook page or Instagram.