Out of all the people in the world, Jessica Lee might seem, at least on paper, an unlikely person one would think would be a champion of Filipino culture. Born in South Korea, Lee started in the idol industry as a member of HIGHTEEN before they debuted and as a contestant on the survival show Idol School in 2017. But even if she is Korean by blood, Lee holds the Philippines in her heart as if she were a Filipino herself.
She spent a good portion of her childhood in the country for school and has resided here full-time since 2022. Lee shares her many adventures around the country through her YouTube channel that has over 1.84 million subscribers and counting. When some foreign content creators exaggerate when talking about the Philippines, Lee has remained sincere in showcasing Philippine culture through her YouTube channel. It’s this love for her adoptive home that inspired the Korean content creator’s latest and arguably biggest pursuit yet: to visit all 82 provinces in the Philippines.
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How the Probinsya Series Came to Be
Jessica Lee is no stranger to exploring and immersing herself in the many facets of Philippine culture and life. One of her most popular YouTube series, Trabaho, saw Lee try her hand at various occupations across the country-jobs that often require manual labor and are either relegated to the sidelines or ignored by the wider public but are critical in keeping society running. From farmer to taho vendor, Lee did so wholeheartedly, and this openness to learn more about the Philippines and its culture, along with her warm personality, made for an easy connection with her audience.
Aside from that, she also has her food-focused Paborito series where Lee finds, tries, reviews, and mukbangs her favorite Filipino food and restaurants. But in 2026, she took that appreciation for the country to the next level with the introduction of the Probinsya series last March. In it, she’s on a mission to travel to all 82 provinces in the Philippines, from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi and everywhere in between. “In many ways, Trabaho naturally led me to Probinsya,” Lee tells MEGA Asia. “While filming different professions, I found myself traveling to places I had never visited before, and I realized there were so many more stories beyond the specific job I was there to feature.”
Each destination also isn’t just a quick visit, as every stop consists of Lee staying for at least 24 hours excluding travel time and, more notably, only traveling to each province either by driving herself or going by boat. Lee will only consider travel by plane when necessary. “Flying would certainly make things easier, but I think I would lose a big part of what I actually want this series to document.”
It’s one thing to visit every province in the Philippines, but for the content creator, she wants to make each trip count. “I had always wanted to create a proper travel series, and over time, that curiosity grew into the idea of exploring every province—not just as destinations, but through the people, communities, and experiences that make each one different.”
For Lee, the journey and the many stories one can encounter along the way are just as important as the destination, which is why she styled Probinsya as one continuous journey rather than a series of separate trips. “I felt that was the best way to truly understand the scale of the Philippines,” she explains. “By staying on the road, I get to see how one province gradually changes into another—the landscapes, roads, languages, food, and even the pace of life. The long drives, ferry crossings, and difficult travel days are all part of the experience.”
Understandably, pulling this off is not easy. Each trip and the logistics behind it require extensive research, planning, and preparation, and most of it is done by Lee alone with just a handful of people helping her at a time. But this dedication is part of the course for the content creator who takes on challenges as opportunities for discovery and exploration. So, what then does one do when they have at least 24 hours to spend in a new province? For Lee, it’s a bucket list where personal goals meet careful research.
“Some are experiences that have been on my personal bucket list after living in the Philippines for many years, while others come from weeks or even months of research before each trip.” For provinces popular with the wider public, Lee makes it a point to include the more underrated spots and activities on her list to highlight to the audience things she feels deserve as much attention. “I intentionally try to look beyond the usual tourist spots and find experiences, people, or stories that viewers may not have seen as often. At the same time, I still want each episode to feel representative of the province, so I try to balance what is iconic with what is lesser known.”
Jessica Lee and Her Love of the Philippines
So far, Lee is currently 17 episodes in the Probinsya series, with many more episodes to film and provinces to visit in the pipeline. But even with under a quarter of the way through, the experience has been an eye-opener for the YouTuber. “More than anything, it has made me realize just how much bigger and more diverse the Philippines is than I had imagined,” she shares. “Even provinces right next to each other can feel completely different in terms of landscape, culture, food, history, and everyday life. There are also so many things that are difficult to understand through research alone until you actually go there and experience them yourself. Every province makes me feel like there is still so much more to learn.”
It’s an ambitious endeavor to say the least, but even with the demands that social media algorithms require, Lee is in no hurry to finish the series and isn’t rushing to get each episode out as fast as possible. She sees Probinsya as a long-term series that will run well into 2027, and is acting accordingly. “I try to remind myself that this is a long-term project, so I can’t treat every day like a sprint. I still struggle with balancing the physical side of traveling with researching, filming, and editing everything, but I’ve become much more conscious about resting when I need to and not forcing everything to go exactly according to plan.”
Probinsya isn’t just content for Lee to publish. It was born from a genuine love for and of the Philippines, and that is what continues to fuel her on her many journeys. “What keeps me motivated is knowing that every trip gives me something completely new to learn and document. Even on difficult days, meeting people who are passionate about what they do usually reminds me why I started the project in the first place.”
This appreciation extends to how some of the series’ episodes also serve as fundraisers that support select local charities and NGOs from the episode’s province. In the same way Lee learns about Philippine culture in her videos, she uses her content to enlighten viewers about things they might not have known about the country and give back at the same time.
“The Philippines itself is already so vast, and every province introduces me to people living completely different lives from mine, often in circumstances I had never really thought about before. Seeing people work hard and build meaningful lives wherever they are has also been very inspiring to me personally. It constantly reminds me to appreciate what I have, stay curious, and work harder in my own life. I think traveling has taught me that some of the most valuable lessons are the ones you learn simply by stepping into someone else’s world for a while.”
The Importance of Being in the Moment
Much has been said about Lee’s wholehearted appreciation for the Philippines, but it should be said that that appreciation is mainly done through analog experiences. From food to travel, Lee puts herself out there to do things, and sometimes, it’s the spontaneity of being in the moment that brings the best memories.
“When you actually go somewhere, talk to people, try something with your own hands, or put yourself in an unfamiliar situation, there are so many things you could never fully plan. Some of my favorite moments in the series have actually come from things that weren’t on the itinerary at all. I enjoy that sense of being fully present and allowing the experience to unfold naturally, because those moments usually teach me much more than something I already knew exactly what to expect from.”
In a time when the internet has turned travel and adventure into pov vlogs and digital tours via a swipe on the phone, Lee is making the case that it’s still important for people to go out and experience things in person. “As our lives become increasingly surrounded by social media, AI, and an endless amount of digital content, firsthand experiences are something that can’t really be replaced. There is a very different kind of understanding that comes from physically being somewhere, speaking to someone face-to-face, or learning how to do something yourself.”
Oddly enough, as life becomes more convenient in the digital age, the more it is necessary to do things that require effort, or at least participate in activities that make you feel in the moment and outside the hyper-curated social media bubble. “I think those experiences keep us grounded and allow us to see life from a much wider perspective. For me, the lessons I gain from actually experiencing something are almost always deeper than what I could learn from simply reading or watching it online.”
Ultimately, as Lee continues working on her Probinsya series, she isn’t just aiming for the views and engagement. This is a personal project for Lee, one that is driven by a genuine passion to showcase the best of the country.
“I hope both Filipinos and people from around the world come away with a deeper appreciation for the Philippines. It is an incredibly diverse country, but I think even people who live here don’t always realize just how much exists beyond the places they are already familiar with. I hope the series makes people a little more curious—not only about where they can travel, but also about the people, cultures, histories, and ways of life that exist across the country. If it encourages someone to look at the Philippines with a broader perspective, that would already mean a lot to me.”
And as for people who prioritize international travel over exploring the Philippines, Lee sees where they are coming from, but also implores them to consider giving their own country a chance. “I completely understand why people choose to travel abroad, and I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. Depending on the destination, traveling within the Philippines can sometimes even be more expensive or less accessible than going overseas, so I understand the practical side of that choice as well.”
She continues, “I also think there is an enormous world to explore within the Philippines beyond Manila—or even beyond your own hometown or province. There are experiences, cultures, landscapes, and traditions here that you simply cannot find anywhere else. So while I would never say people should stop traveling abroad, I do hope Probinsya—and other local travel content—encourages more people to give domestic travel a chance, too.” If Jessica Lee could, it shouldn’t be too hard for Filipinos to give their own country a shot, too.
The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Featured Image and Photos: JESSICA LEE (via Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions
Jessica Lee is a Korean former K-pop trainee and YouTuber with over 1.84 million subscribers who has lived in the Philippines full-time since 2022. She creates travel, food, and culture content, including her ongoing Probinsya series.
Probinsya is Jessica Lee’s YouTube series documenting her goal to visit all 82 provinces of the Philippines, staying at least 24 hours in each and traveling only by driving or boat rather than flying.
As of the interview, Jessica Lee is 17 episodes into the Probinsya series, with many more provinces still planned. She expects the long-term project to run well into 2027.
Yes. Some Probinsya episodes serve as fundraisers supporting select local charities and NGOs based in the featured province, combining cultural documentation with direct community support.
Before Probinsya, Lee created Trabaho, where she tried various Filipino occupations like farming and taho vending, and Paborito, a food series where she finds, tries, and reviews her favorite Filipino food and restaurants.
