The past three months felt like our lives were put on a standstill; the things we once held close seemed out of reach — forms of recreation we’ve gotten used to turned into a distant memory and longing. Eating out turned into food deliveries, gym memberships turned to at-home workouts, but how do you bring traveling at home?

As calls for social distancing and staying at home became loud and clear, so did our travel plans come into a halt. It’s not just our personal desire to explore and be connected to others that’s affected; businesses and local communities were struggling even more. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely changed the travel industry just when it hit its peak.

But now, it’s time to look forward and to be reminded of why we travel. This Independence Day, Grid Magazine released a tribute to travelers and communities, “It’s time to reexamine the way we travel so that we can have a positive impact,” Francisco Guerrero, GRID’s Executive Editor, shared.

“We wanted to create a film that looks both back and forward. Looking forward, we are going to look back on what we’ve always done: Small stories in a big way. We want to tell stories about Filipinos, about activists, scientists, runners, farmers… We are going to go back to communities. And it’s no longer just about growth, it’s also about recovery.”