At 79 years young, Luisa Yu has officially finished visiting all 193 UN listed countries in the world—and she has made history doing it. With her recent arrival in Serbia, the unstoppable globetrotter has now become the oldest known Filipina to complete this extraordinary feat.
Luisa Yu, born in Leyte, Philippines and now a Miami resident, has spent five decades chasing her dreams of travelling the world. Her journey across 193 countries has taken her to stunning places such as the sun-scorched deserts of Namibia and far away pristine beaches of Fiji as well as exhilarating adventures such as skydiving in Dubai and trying dog meat in North Korea. However, it was her emotional touchdown in Serbia, which marked the final stamp in her globetrotting passport, that made this long adventure the more special.
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“I can’t believe I made it. This is a dream I’ve had since I was a young girl in the Philippines, watching movies with beautiful sceneries,” Yu shared joyfully during her visit to Belgrade, where the locals and fellow travel enthusiasts warmly welcomed her making her an instant darling of the travel world crowd.
Yu’s story is not just one of adventure, but of courage, resilience, and a zest for life, that defies age. She began traveling in earnest after retiring, proving that it is never too late to pursue your dreams. Along the way, she has inspired countless others—especially Filipinos and older travelers—to push past boundaries and see the world with their own eyes.
“I want to show people that life doesn’t stop at a certain age,” Yu said. “It’s always the right time to explore, to connect with others, and to be amazed. Don’t be afraid, just go.”
“Don’t be afraid. Just go.”
– Luisa yu
A proud Filipina through and through, Yu is also one of the most valued members of PGE where her dedication, spirit, and generosity have earned her deep respect among her peers, who see her as both a role model and a beacon of what is possible.
Throughout her travels, she proudly carried the Philippine pride, often sharing stories of Filipino culture and hospitality with the people she met across continents.
While still enjoying the surreal moment, Yu is reflecting on her incredible adventure— the stories, lessons, and laughter from her global odyssey. She hopes her journey will encourage future generations of Filipinos to dream big and travel far.
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As she puts it: “The world is too beautiful not to see. I may be 79, but I still have more places to revisit, more people to meet. This is just the beginning of a new chapter.”
Luisa Yu, the globetrotting Lola (grandma), is living proof that adventure has no age limit—and the world is just waiting for you to discover it. Follow Luisa through her Instagram luisa_yu14.
