Why We Built Topudz
Why We Built TopBudz
We've been those travelers.
The ones bouncing between party hostels where sleep is a myth and sterile hotels that feel like airports. Somewhere along the backpacker trail through Moalboal, we realized what was missing from the accommodation scene: a place that honored both sides of adventure travel.
The adrenaline rush of swimming with sardines at sunrise. And the deep exhale in a quiet garden afterward.
The social buzz of swapping stories with fellow travelers. And the solo peace when you need to recharge.
The village pulse of bars and restaurants. And the garden sanctuary when you're done.
So we built TopBudz in the greenery just steps from Panagsama Beach. Close enough that you're 2-3 minutes from the famous sardine run, dive shops, restaurants, bars—the whole Moalboal scene. Far enough that when you close your room door, you hear birds instead of bass.
But here's what makes TopBudz truly different: our people.
This isn't just about clean rooms and garden views (though we've got those). It's about actually caring how your day went. Suggesting the canyoneering guide who won't rush you. Knowing which restaurant has the best fresh catch. Being there with advice when you need it, and giving you space when you don't.
This isn't for everyone. If you want beer pong tournaments at 3am, there are other hostels in Moalboal for that. But if you've outgrown the chaos while still craving the adventure? If you want to meet fellow travelers without sacrificing actual sleep? If you believe the best adventures start with rest?
Welcome to TopBudz. Welcome home.
Meet Your Hosts
Angel & Jhong: The Adventure Couple Behind Your Garden Sanctuary
Before TopBudz, there was a farm. A bike skatepark in Talisay, Cebu. Years of chasing waves, skating concrete, mountaineering peaks across Asia, and collecting stories (and tattoos) from every adventure. Angel and Jhong aren't your typical hostel owners—they're a couple who lived the backpacker life hard, managed a music bar, and eventually realized Moalboal was calling them to create something different.
They built Topbudz from what they learned on the road: that the best hostels aren't run by corporations, but by people who actually get it. People who've slept in questionable dorm beds, who know the difference between a good dive operator and a sketchy one, who understand that sometimes you need the chaos and sometimes you desperately need the garden.
Angel is the warmth you feel the moment you arrive—the reason guests say "kindest host we've ever met." A Moalboal native with art-inspired tattoos and a traveler's soul, she remembers your name, your story, and whether you prefer morning sardine runs or lazy afternoons in the hammock.
Jhong is the problem-solver with a music background and adventure stories for days. He'll fix your WiFi, arrange your motorbike rental, recommend the canyoneering guide who won't rush you, and probably end up swapping travel tales with you at the outdoor bar. Former music bar manager turned hostel host—he knows how to create the vibe.
These days, they've traded extreme sports for a slightly mellower pace (but they'll still outsurf you). What hasn't changed? Their belief that the best travel experiences come from genuine connections, honest recommendations, and a place where you can be both wild and rested.
"We built TopBudz as the hostel we wish existed when we were backpacking—where adventurers are welcomed by adventurers, and rest is as sacred as the rush."
— Angel & Jhong
Come Stay with Us
Join the TopBudz Story
Book your stay and discover why guests don't just remember Topbudz—they remember Angel, Jhong, and the team that made their Moalboal adventure unforgettable.
