Exciting times are ahead for the Philippine Global Explorers (PGE) as we welcome Dr. Rambi Francisco as our new President and CEO! With his passion for travel, deep commitment to education, and an inspiring vision for growth, Rambi is ready to lead us into a promising chapter.
Leadership Transition
Rambi takes the helm from former President and CEO Dr. Riza Rasco, who has been an incredible guiding force in PGE and has shaped it into the largest national travel club in the world. In a heartfelt message to the PGE community, Riza emphasized the importance of fostering new leadership for the organization’s longevity and sustainability and expressed her confidence that there is no better person than Rambi to carry PGE’s mission forward.
“A Co-Founder of PGE, Rambi has long played a key role in shaping the organization into what it is today. He possesses the training, temperament, and deep commitment needed to lead a unique organization such as ours – one that empowers Filipinos to explore the world while giving back to our communities across the Philippines.”
Meet Rambi Francisco
Rambi is a dedicated husband and father of three young daughters. He has proudly served in the US Air Force for 19 years, which took him and his family around the world to live in California, Texas, Louisiana, Alaska, Korea, Italy, and Germany. Currently based in New Jersey, he is set to retire from military service next year to return to his roots, where he plans to enjoy a laid-back lifestyle and discover all 82 provinces of the Philippines.
Rambi has visited all seven continents and traveled to 136 countries and territories, all through travel hacking. His company, TravelHackRR, is a platform that allows him to share this passion with others, teaching them how to travel hack and opening up new and exciting ways for fellow globetrotters to see the world. Through TravelHackRR University, he leads an annual travel hacking trip where his advanced students from all over the world maximize credit card points and rewards for free flights and accommodations.
Rambi earned a Master’s in Business Administration and a Doctorate in Business Administration focusing on leadership, where he completed a doctoral study on Sustainability Strategies for Nonprofit Organizations. His thirst for knowledge and growth brought him to Cambridge for Harvard Business School’s Leadership Development Program.
His commitment to education is evident through his work in Mentoring Young Filipino Leaders (MYFL), an intensive eight-week program in which a highly selected cohort of young Filipinos train under the mentorship of Filipino leaders located around the globe. Rambi has personally mentored over 40 youth based in the Philippines through MYFL.
In 2022, Rambi and PGE Board Member Sheena Shroff and their childhood friends began supporting Filipino college students through a scholarship stipend. This initiative inspired PGE’s first scholarship project, the PGE Gabay Scholarship, which provides a stipend to help students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring they have access to education and opportunities that will allow them to break free from the limitations imposed by their socioeconomic status. PGE Gabay Scholarship granted a stipend enough to cover living expenses until graduation to its first scholar in January of this year through the generosity of the PGE community.
Rambi’s biggest personal advocacy is access to free and quality education, which he was blessed to receive as a scholar at De La Salle University in the Philippines.
Personal Interests
Outside of PGE, Rambi loves scuba diving during his travels, enjoys theatre on Broadway, and keeps up with sports, flying to Miami for a weekend for the F1, or spending a few days in Paris for the Olympics. He’s also a proud season ticket holder for the Philadelphia 76ers!
Work in PGE
As former Vice President of Internal Affairs, Rambi focused on membership and relationship building to strengthen the community by bringing members and volunteers together. He spearheaded the first two annual grand meetings for PGE, which were a resounding success, and passed on the torch to PGE’s dedicated volunteers.
As Vice President of External Affairs, he tapped new talent to help grow the leadership and special projects teams. He oversaw Project Vinzons – PGE’s first adopt-an-LGU program, which paved the way for 48 participants from 19 barangays in Vinzons to participate in a transformative 2-day Eco-Heritage Township workshop designed by Alvidon Asis and aimed to preserve and enrich Vinzons’ culture and heritage and stimulate economic activity through tourism.
Rambi’s Vision for PGE
“My vision for PGE centers on three key priorities. First, we must deepen our engagement with official members and deliver even greater value to their experience. At its heart, PGE began as a community of travelers committed to uplifting one another – and without our members, there is no PGE.
Second, we aim to forge meaningful partnerships with other organizations. By collaborating, we can amplify our mission, share the spirit of PGE with a wider audience, and create greater impact for the Philippines.
Finally, we will continue – and expand – our projects across the country. With the passion and support of our members, we can launch new initiatives that advance PGE’s advocacies and create lasting change in the communities we serve.”
Goals and Plans
Under Rambi’s leadership, PGE aims to enhance membership engagement, foster new opportunities, and establish partnerships that benefit the broader community.
Key initiatives include:
– Quarterly Leadership Syncs: A chance to team up and brainstorm!
– Partnerships: Collaborating with groups like the Rotary Club Makati for greater outreach.
– Fun Events: Get ready for PGE’s 6th Founding Anniversary, our Grand Annual Meetup and regular chapter activities!
PGE will carry on with impactful programs for the benefit of our fellow Filipinos through our commitment to making a difference right where it counts. All members are encouraged to come forward with meaningful projects that align with PGE’s mission, vision, and objectives.
Join the Journey
Let’s warmly welcome Rambi Francisco as he takes on this exciting role! Join us in upcoming events, connect with like-minded explorers, share your travel experiences to help us grow our community. Mabuhay ang PGE!
