CEBU TRIP / AMBASSADOR 2026
Yuya & Kaye
Two people with deep connections to the Philippines
are coming to rediscover Cebu.
Early November 2026 — Cebu visit
From November 2026 — Stories shared online and on social media
February 2027 — Featured in the next issue of CebuTrip Magazine
There is much more to Cebu than beautiful beaches and resorts.
It is also the local restaurant you discover while walking through the city, the warm welcome from hotel staff, a memorable spa experience, food shared with new friends, a sunset by the sea, and the everyday encounters that make a trip feel personal.
To share more of these authentic experiences with travelers in Japan, CebuTrip has selected two new ambassadors for 2026: Yuya and Kaye.
What makes this pair especially interesting is that neither of them is discovering the Philippines for the first time. Both already have meaningful connections to the country — but in very different ways.
This November, they will experience Cebu again through fresh eyes, meeting people, exploring places and sharing the stories they find along the way.
What is the CebuTrip Ambassador Project?
CebuTrip is a media platform that introduces Cebu and the Philippines to Japanese travelers, students and residents through online articles, social media and its print magazine.
The CebuTrip Ambassador Project goes one step further.
Instead of simply introducing destinations from an editorial point of view, our ambassadors actually travel through Cebu, meet people, experience hotels, restaurants, activities and local culture, and share what genuinely stands out to them.
THE IDEA
Experience Cebu firsthand.
Meet the people behind the destination.
Discover places Japanese travelers may not yet know.
Turn those experiences into stories that inspire people to visit Cebu.
The goal is not simply to show where to go. We want to communicate what Cebu feels like — the food, the energy, the hospitality, the people and the moments that make visitors want to return.
From 70 Years of Japan–Philippines Friendship to a New Cebu Story
In 2026, CebuTrip released a special issue commemorating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines.
That special edition was created in collaboration with Cebu Pacific and introduced Cebu as a destination connecting people, cultures and travel between Japan and the Philippines.
The 2026 CebuTrip Ambassador Project continues that story, once again with the support of Cebu Pacific.
This time, the connection goes beyond a magazine. Yuya and Kaye will actually travel through Cebu, experience the destination themselves and share what they discover with audiences in Japan.
Meet the CebuTrip Ambassadors 2026
FEATURE 01 / AMBASSADOR
Yuya｜三海裕弥
Yuya
Height: 184 cm
Profile: Model / Digital Creator
Instagram: @kapetayo_yuya
Followers: Approx. 123K
Yuya is a model and digital creator whose content covers fashion, lifestyle and travel.
With a height of 184 cm and professional modeling experience, he has also built an Instagram audience of approximately 123,000 followers, sharing natural lifestyle and travel content that captures the atmosphere of each destination.
The Philippines is a place close to his heart
Yuya has visited the Philippines many times and has also spent extended periods of time in the country.
His relationship with the Philippines also extends to his professional career. He has worked as a model for Philippine fashion and footwear brands.
YUYA'S VOICE
“The Philippines is a place I feel very connected to. I love the energy of the cities and the warmth of the people.”
What is he most excited about in Cebu?
・ Trying local food
・ Experiencing Cebu's sea and nature
・ Connecting with local people
For Yuya, the journey is not only about seeing famous attractions. He wants to experience everyday Cebu — the streets, food, conversations and people behind the destination.
“I hope to share not only Cebu as a tourist destination, but also the real atmosphere of the city and the warmth and character of the people from my own point of view.”
FEATURE 02 / AMBASSADOR
Kaye
Kaye
Height: 160 cm
Background: Born in Japan to Filipino parents
Current activities: Japanese language education for children with Filipino roots / Philippine-related events
Languages: Tagalog / Japanese
Instagram: @kapetayo_kaye
Kaye was born in Japan to Filipino parents and grew up moving between Japan and the Philippines.
Today, she teaches Japanese to children with Filipino roots and continues to take part in Philippine-related events and community activities.
She also loves Filipino food and enjoys making Filipino snacks at home. A passionate foodie and runner, she is even planning to take on her first full marathon next year.
Kaye also speaks Tagalog, giving her a natural way to connect with people during the Cebu journey.
Growing up between Japan and the Philippines
During her childhood, Kaye frequently traveled between Japan and the Philippines and spent time growing up in nature-filled Laguna.
For her, returning to the Philippines has always meant returning to family, warmth and a place that gives her energy.
KAYE'S VOICE
“The Philippines is a place where the warmth of my family and the people always gives me energy. I'm excited to see what new people and scenery are waiting for me in Cebu.”
What is she looking forward to in Cebu?
・Discovering great Cebu food
・ Enjoying tropical fruits
・Seeing Cebu's beautiful sea
・ Watching unforgettable sunsets
・ Talking, laughing and connecting with local people
“From the perspective of someone who grew up between Japan and the Philippines, I want to share not only the beautiful scenery, but also the warmth found in the food and everyday life. I want to stay curious and honestly share the moments that make me excited.”
They Were Already Connected Through the Philippines
Yuya and Kaye may be the two CebuTrip Ambassadors for 2026, but this is not the first time they have worked together.
HOW THEY MET
It started with KAPE TAYO TOKYO
They first met around four to five years ago through the launch of KAPE TAYO TOKYO, a Filipino concept café located near the Philippine Embassy in Japan.
They created menu ideas together and spent many days baking pandesal, introducing Filipino food and culture to people in Japan.
Their connection continued through modeling work for a Filipino streetwear brand and other Philippine-related events.
A Filipino café in Tokyo → Philippine brands and events → and now, a journey through Cebu together.
What do they think of each other?
YUYA → KAYE
“She has a way of instantly brightening up any place she is in.”
KAYE → YUYA
“Before I know it, he has already become friends with the Filipinos around him!”
“He is genuinely curious about the culture and how things are made. He asks local people questions and researches things himself. You can really tell how much he loves the Philippines, and that makes me very happy because this is also the country of my roots.”
They applied separately — and both were selected
One of the most unexpected parts of the story is that Yuya and Kaye did not apply for the ambassador program as a pair.
They applied separately, and each was independently selected as a CebuTrip Ambassador.
KAYE'S VOICE
“We used to bake pandesal together at the café while sharing the Philippines with people in Japan. Now we get to share the Philippines from Cebu itself. It feels like a wonderful connection.”
YUYA'S VOICE
“Because we have different strengths and different perspectives, I think this will be a fun journey where we can show Cebu from many different angles.”
Sharing the Cebu Beyond the Usual Tourist Spots
Beautiful beaches and island adventures will naturally be part of the journey. But CebuTrip also wants to show another side of Cebu.
- Local restaurants and cafés
- Hotels and resorts with their own stories
- Spas and wellness experiences
- Local products, shops and brands
- Activities, islands and nature
- People, communities and everyday Cebu life
There are still many places in Cebu that are loved locally but remain relatively unknown to Japanese travelers.
Through the ambassadors' experiences, CebuTrip hopes to introduce these places in a way that feels personal, useful and inspiring — not simply as a list of destinations, but as stories worth traveling for.
Why This Project Matters for Cebu
For CebuTrip, the ambassador project is also about creating stronger connections between Cebu and the Japanese travel market.
Japanese travelers often look for detailed information before choosing where to stay, what to eat, which activities to book and which places feel trustworthy.
Firsthand experiences, clear information and authentic storytelling can therefore play an important role in introducing Cebu businesses and destinations to new audiences.
FROM CEBU TO JAPAN
The journey will be shared across CebuTrip's web articles, social media and print magazine, allowing a single Cebu experience to develop into a longer story across several media channels.
Creating New Stories Together in Cebu
The ambassadors' itinerary is not only about visiting places that are already well known.
CebuTrip also hopes the journey will lead to new encounters with hotels, restaurants, cafés, spas, attractions, tour operators, local products and brands that have a story worth introducing to Japanese travelers.
What interests us most is not simply “a place to feature,” but experiences with a clear sense of Cebu:
“An experience visitors can only have here.”
“A story that helps people understand what makes Cebu special.”
Depending on the story and the objective, these collaborations may develop across CebuTrip's web, social media and magazine platforms.
Businesses and tourism partners interested in reaching Japanese travelers through the CebuTrip Ambassador Project are welcome to connect with the CebuTrip editorial team to explore possible partnerships.
Yuya & Kaye Are Coming to Cebu This November
Yuya and Kaye are scheduled to arrive in Cebu in early November 2026.
During their stay, they will experience Cebu's hotels, food, wellness, activities, local culture and communities, with stories beginning to appear on CebuTrip's website and social media from November.
We are especially excited to see what two people with such different perspectives — but the same affection for the Philippines — will discover when they explore Cebu together.
Their journey will also continue into print, with Yuya and Kaye scheduled to appear in the February 2027 issue of CebuTrip Magazine.
From real-time stories in November to the next CebuTrip Magazine in February, follow Yuya and Kaye as they discover a new side of Cebu.
Follow the CebuTrip Ambassadors
Yuya
@kapetayo_yuya | Approx. 123K followers
Kaye
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