In Makati, Christine Dayrit, The Philippine STAR's resident travel writer for 25 years, launched her book '60 Dream Holidays Around the World.' The 464-page volume features 60 stories from her newspaper columns. She shared her lifelong passion for travel and plans to visit Antarctica in February.
Christine Dayrit, who has penned over 1,000 travel articles since 2000, launched her book at Chef Jessie’s restaurant in Makati. 'My love for travel began long before I knew it was a calling,' she began. For 25 years, she has journeyed across six continents, shaping her heart and craft. 'For 25 years, I’ve chased the world across six continents. Six continents that have shaped my heart, my craft and my courage – each one a chapter, each one a lesson. The only land I have yet to set foot on is Antarctica... this coming February, I will finally go – and complete the circle of all seven continents,' she told a standing-room-only crowd.
She thanked STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte and his wife Milette, her childhood best friend, as well as editor Millet Mananquil. 'It’s the most impressive coffee table book I’ve ever seen... Christine, no doubt, will be the envy of all the travel writers in the country,' Belmonte said. In the foreword, Mananquil wrote, 'Christine is the girl who gathered wonder… After reading this book, you will discover the true essence of her persona: she is a citizen of the world… footloose, thanks to her parents who urged their children to run after a platypus in Melbourne, listen to Maori legends in New Zealand and chase sunsets in Serengeti.'
Christine's family owns Miladay, a 59-year-old fine jewelry store founded by her late parents Vicente and Milagros Dayrit. She serves as marketing director. 'My mother, Milagros, adored jewelry; my father adored the world. When we were kids... I, however, would stand before the maps on the wall – studying where each gem came from, imagining the mountains, the miners, the long journeys behind those tiny sparks of light,' she recalled, a curiosity that guided her global explorations featured in the book.