Late October of 2025, we got a call from Jerwin “Spanky” Santos (@kumanderkobra669), telling us, “Hey, a friend of mine from the US is here in the Philippines right now, planning to skate around spots. Let’s shoot something” *in Tagalog*. So we met on the first spot in Malate, along with John “Nik” Santos (@illaphino.entertainment), and filmed around.

Of course, we are down!!– Well, not only because it’s a Filipino custom to accommodate our visitor/s properly and make them feel at home, but also because we are stoked about it. The homie who will be dropping with us is Jimmy Larsen, or known as OffGridSkater (@offgridskater).

He has been traveling around the world for a long time now, trying to skate anywhere, from deserts to abandoned spots, known spots to the most unusual ones he can find, combining it with storytelling and adventure, and embodying the idea that the world is our skatepark.

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The Philippines, as the first stop

He told us his plan for the entire journey of traveling around the world, and it will take him about 2-4 years, but changes can happen too, based on him; that’s how every adventure works – you’ll never know what’s next. But for now, he planned to start it in the Philippines.

"I chose the Philippines...because I've always been fascinated with the country, and also it was the closest point to start my journey from Los Angeles... I could have started in Japan but, idk, I'd rather come to the Philippines. Seems a lot more raw and real." Jimmy responds when asked why to start here.

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Love for Skateboarding

Skateboarding will always connect us. That’s what Jimmy and I know for sure, and with the internet & social media’s advantage today, it can get even easier to connect with your friends and everyone. Jimmy and Jerwin both connected on the internet because of their similarities in their styles and how they skate– both as creative skaters. And what’s more better way to bond with that: create something– a Back-to-Back Skate Video, filmed by John Santos!

"I think my favorite part about skating is finding a spot, or making a spot [skateable]...that's what skateboarding is all about, it's just expressing yourself through [skating] architecture and through making and building a spot. DIY skating all the way."

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New home.

Jimmy’s stay in the Philippines lasted for a month (‘cos that’s the only allowable time for VISA? haha). He was able to visit places around Manila, ate a balut, learned to say “p*tangina” hahaha, experienced the traffic, had a batuk/traditional tattoo in Buscalan, travelled down to Siargao, and visited Palaboy Skate Camp in Daanbantayan, Cebu, along with one of the legendary skaters here in the Philippines who helped so much on the foundation of the new generation of skaters, Jack Nonato (@jacknonato).

"The skate culture and energy in the Philippines is like no other... There's so much heart. Out of all the places that I've skated I'd have to say that the Filipinos are definitely coming off. I definitely see some major Pros coming out of here in the next couple years... they're also humble, and just so grateful to be able to be on a board."

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We got a chance to hang out again at an event in Makati before his flight to another country, Indonesia, and he said one thing: “I’ll definitely go back and skate here again!”