#‎RoadTripperMonday‬ – a weekly feature of our very own Road Tripper.

Planned out how to spend the last week of September? Start off by checking out this Monday’s Road Tripper! Today, we will feature Irene Crisologo. She is a scientist and an advocate of the environment. We had the pleasure of going on our road trip with her in one of our Random Road Trips.

To know more about Irene, read more about her here —

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1. What do you do for a living?

I pursue Science! In particular, I study rainfall and how to accurately measure them.

2. What is one of your guilty pleasures?

Food! I enjoy making it and learning about it as much as consuming it. As I live far away from home, I sometimes try to make Filipino food to cure homesickness. From that I gained appreciation for how much care and patience goes into making our ubiquitous pandesal, how every person (and their moms) have different styles of making adobo, and how I would never eat any other mango other than the Philippine mango.

3. What is the title of the movie of your life?

Tough question… for the lack of a better answer, I’d go with “Irene”. Boring answer, moving along….

4. If you could go back in time what would you tell your 16 year old self?

Keep doing what you’re doing, great surprises await!

5. If you can be teleported anywhere around the world, where would it be and why?

Assuming I’d be on a boat when I appear there and that I can teleport back at will – Point Nemo at night. It’s the place in the ocean that is farthest from land. I can just imagine the quietest silence and the brightest stars. I’d gladly stay there for a few hours and marvel at the vastness of the ocean and the sky.

6. Which celebrity would you go on a “one-night-only-date” with?

Massimo Bottura. He’s the chef and owner of the ‘best restaurant in the world’ (three Michelin stars!). I’d love to pick his mind and hear his thoughts about food and cooking. I actually met him in person once, when a friend and I were traveling in Modena, Italy. We passed by his restaurant and took a photo of it (we’re big fans of him) and he was outside! So we asked if we can take a photo with him, and he was very friendly and down to earth.

7. You, unfortunately have been condemned to die, but fortunately, you get to have any meal in the world before you go. What is your menu?

Lobster with garlic butter.

8. If you could trade places with anyone right now, for a week, who would it be and why?

It would be interesting to trade places with an apprentice to a chef or a baker. There’s a lot to learn even with just a week to watch and be taught by a master of his craft.

9. What is the best present you ever received?

Metaphorically speaking, my parents gave me wings and the freedom to use it. They let me explore different hobbies and experiences, they supported my curiosity for learning, and they let me make mistakes so I can learn from them.

10. If you could meet a famous or not so famous person, who would that be and why?

I’d love to meet Bear Grylls! I’ve read his books and seen his shows and I probably could listen to him all day talking about his experiences and adventures. Many people don’t like his shows because they’re scripted and set up. That may be true, but it doesn’t change the fact that he had done so many interesting things in his life. I’d love to hear his thoughts not only on why he does what he does, but how he thinks during crucial and dangerous situations that he has gotten into several times throughout his adventures.

11. How old should a person start traveling?

As soon as the desire for it comes, and he/she has the means for it

12. What is your best experience in traveling/living in the Philippines?

After bursting my Metro Manila bubble and having the opportunity to travel to many corners of the Philippines, I was happy to experience the pure and unadulterated kindness and hospitality of fellow Filipinos that everyone was talking about. Once, I and a couple of grad school classmates were in a tiny island north of Catanduanes for a fieldwork class, the sun was at its peak without a cloud in sight. We were tired, thirsty, and hungry and looking for a place to sit in the shade and eat our packed lunch. We saw a small hut and asked the people if we could sit there while we eat – not only did they say yes but they also offered us to join them for lunch and shared with us their freshly grilled catch-of-the-day! They filled our water bottles and let us rest and recover before we continue our fieldwork tasks.

13. In one sentence, how would you like people to remember you?

A happy person!