A Filipino-American nurse from Orlando, Florida, has achieved a milestone never before accomplished by any Filipino man — completing visits to all 193 United Nations member countries.
On September 14, 2025, Glen Antolin Dalisay, 45, made history when he landed in Cape Verde, the final destination in a journey that began more than a decade ago. His last leg took him through Seychelles, Madagascar, and Comoros, reflecting his passion for solo adventures and fascination with beaches, culture, and remote destinations.
A first-generation immigrant who grew up in the United States, Dalisay said his father’s encouragement and his own persistence helped him reach this extraordinary goal. His love for travel began early — at just four years old — when he first traveled to Canada. That trip sparked a lifelong curiosity about the world that would eventually inspire him to see every country on the planet.
His record-setting achievement has been officially verified by NomadMania, the world’s leading travel verification authority, and recognized by Filipino World Travelers (FWT), a global community celebrating Filipinos who reach major travel milestones. With this feat, Dalisay becomes the first Filipino male to join the elite circle of world travelers who have visited all UN member nations.
He now joins an illustrious list of Filipino trailblazers that includes Odette Aquitania Ricasa, Luisa Yu, and Kach Medina Umandap—the first Filipinas to complete visits to all 193 countries. These women were honored by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier this year for bringing pride to the Philippines through their achievements in global exploration.
Across his decade-long journey, Dalisay’s experiences have ranged from thrilling to transformative. He ran the Damascus Marathon in Syria, bungee jumped over Victoria Falls, and traversed West Africa for eight months by land, camping each night under the stars. He has also skydived in Namibia, swum with humpback whales in Tonga, and received a traditional tattoo from Whang-Od in the Philippines.
One of his most meaningful milestones was reaching Angel Falls in Venezuela, a trip that took two years of effort just to secure a visa. “It was one of the hardest to plan but the most rewarding to witness,” he said.
Now holding multiple degrees, including a Ph.D. in Nursing Education, Dalisay believes that travel has been his greatest form of education. Every destination, he said, taught him something new about resilience, empathy, and the beauty of human connection. For him, this global journey was not just about crossing borders—it was about proving that with perseverance, even the most ambitious dreams can come true.
