A foreigner falling in love with the Philippines is no longer surprising. The most common reasons why they do include our trademark hospitality, exciting cuisine, one-of-a-kind island adventures and, for many who come from the west, our hot and humid weather.

But for American YouTube celebrity Carson Moody — also known by the names Caloy and “Bisayang Hilaw” in the digital world — his love for this country grew from time spent with locals outside the capital of Metro Manila. Time spent with natives and provincial communities where he learned and embraced the Philippines’ rich culture, including the different languages and dialects across 7,461 islands.