NLEX celebrates the northern spirit and culture with Humans of the North series

Humans of the North

As an avid traveler, what fascinates me about a destination is the local culture, the people, amazing tourist spots, and of course, food.

What makes you excited about a destination you have visited several times already? I’ve been getting this question a lot from fellow travelers. I would say it’s the people. I’m excited to meet new friends, listen to their stories, and somehow learn from their adventures (and misadventures).

Stories are the marrow of humanity. Conversations serve as the thread that connects communities, allowing histories, cultures, and traditions to flourish from generation to generation, in an era where tourism has afforded us a window to the world, humans and their vibrant stories lend more meaning to experience. Through the human element of travel, destinations transform from being mere points on a map to one that reconnects us to our roots and our humanity.

In celebration of the narratives that lend vibrancy to Philippine destinations, NLEX Corporation is launching “Humans of the North”, a mini-documentary series that showcases the indomitable human spirit, traditions, and cultures of the North. The campaign will unfold over six parts, and each will feature a unique story of an everyday man or woman from a northern Luzon province.“Wherever we go, people leave a significant mark in our remembrance of destinations. The hospitality of locals and unique traditions often make us want to visit or return to places. Through Humans of the North, we hope not only to instill local pride, but also create conversations that will engage travelers to look beyond the appearance of a place and look inward to its people and to themselves,” said NLEX Corporation President and General Manager J. Luigi L. Bautista.

Humanity through strength

What makes Humans of the North a standout is its ability to provide viewers a lens into Northern Luzon through the accounts of day-to-day heroes and workers.

Ditas Gonzalo, a 46-year-old female kutsera (coachwoman) from Vigan, left her hometown in search of a better life in the city. As fate would have it, her hopes would be crushed with the sudden death of her husband, forcing her to return to the historic cobblestone streets of Ilocos Sur to single-handedly raise her children.

Belonging to a family of horse-drawn carriage drivers and guides, Ditas found herself returning to her roots to sustain the household. Today, Ditas is one of only six female…