MANILA, Philippines โ For most people, walking is an ordinary act. For Lito de Veterbo, itโs a statement.
In 147 days, De Veterbo โ known among hikers as Mr. LNT or Mr. Leave No Trace โ crossed the entire Philippine archipelago on foot, from Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte to Glan, Sarangani. The journey spanned about 2,300 kilometers, making him the first Filipino to set a Guinness World Record for the fastest crossing of the Philippines on foot.
But beyond the world record, De Veterboโs walk was a pilgrimage for the planet โ a campaign to prove that caring for nature begins with every step we take.
A journey with purpose
De Veterbo began his trek on February 9, 2025, at Maira-ira Point, the northernmost tip of Luzon. He reached Tinaca Point in Glan, Sarangani, on July 6, 2025 โ dusty, lean, and sunburned, but carrying a renewed faith in the Filipinoโs capacity to walk lightly on this earth.
โEvery kilometer was a lesson in humility,โ he said in an interview after finishing the trek. โYou see how beautiful the country is, and you realize how fragile itโs become.โ
Throughout his journey, De Veterbo stuck to a strict Leave No Trace discipline โ no bottled water, no litter, no unnecessary consumption. He carried a reusable water container, reused gear, and made sure that every campsite he left was cleaner than when he found it.
Along the way, he stopped in towns and schools to conduct free workshops on responsible outdoor ethics. His mantra: โDonโt just climb mountains; protect them.โ
The man behind the miles
A native of Manila, De Veterbo is a veteran mountaineer and outdoor educator. He trained under the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, earning his Level II instructor certification. In the local hiking community, heโs recognized for his deep environmental advocacy and practical teaching style โ mixing science, humor, and personal experience to connect with audiences.
He launched Walk Philippines, an initiative promoting walking as an act of both mobility and mindfulness. Before the record-breaking traverse, he had already completed a full circumnavigation of Marinduque in 2023, walking through six towns in four days. That expedition, too, was documented and done entirely waste-free.
His latest trek โ Luzon to Mindanao on foot โ amplified that message nationwide.
Lessons from the road
De Veterboโs route took him through rugged mountain passes, narrow highways, and crowded barangay roads. He faced storms in Bicol, heat waves in Samar, and knee pain through parts of Mindanao.
The hardest part, for him, was not the distance. Staying disciplined matter โ keeping faith that small steps, done consistently, can lead to something big.
That idea resonates deeply in a country where environmental degradation and urban neglect often feel too vast to tackle. De Veterbo insists that climate action and sustainability donโt always need huge budgets or grand projects.
โIt can start with walking โ walking instead of driving, walking to see whatโs wrong with your community, walking to remind yourself that this is the only Earth we have.โ
Walking for the next generation
Since completing his record trek, schools, LGUs, and mountaineering groups across the country invited De Veterbo to speak. His goal is to train more โLNT Ambassadorsโ โ local guides, students, and trekkers who will carry the Leave No Trace principles into their own communities.
He also advocates for walkable and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, saying the design for cities must be for people, not just for cars.
โEvery time we make space for walking,โ he said, โwe make space for life.โ
One step at a time
Lito de Veterboโs odyssey across the Philippines may have ended, but his walk continues โ this time through classrooms, barangay halls, and mountaineering forums.
To him, walking is more than exercise or adventure. Itโs a quiet revolution.
No one canโt preach care for creation while leaving trash behind. One has to walk the talk โ literally. And De Veterbo did that.
Editorโs Note: Lito de Veterboโs Guinness-recognized โFastest Crossing of the Philippines on Footโ was verified in July 2025. He continues his advocacy through Walk Philippines and the Leave No Trace Philippines Network.
About The Author
