MARIA Isabel Lopez
MANILA, Philippines–Tagaytay, too, is movie star and former beauty queen Maria Isabel Lopez’s haven when she wants a cooler climate without the hassle of a long trip.
Donsol, Sorsogon, is on her list as well, for whale shark encounters and the firefly tour at night, not to mention pili nuts.
Daughter Mara Yokohama, a surfing enthusiast, can be spotted in any of the beaches in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, Aurora and Siargao. “Anywhere with the perfect waves and no crowd. My dream getaway is being stranded on any island with my surfboard,” Yokohama told the Inquirer.
Mountains and springs
Mike Tan and Isay Alvarez prefer the mountains of the north and destinations, and Sagada in the Mountain Province more than the beach.
“If I do get a weekend off, I might go climbing with my mountaineer friends,” Tan said.
Joyce Ching is also more of the adventurous type who’d like to try Asia’s longest zipline in Bukidnon.
For Phytos Ramirez, it’s off to Cyprus to spend holidays with his family, and Puerto Galera in Mindoro this Holy Week.
Kim Rodriguez prefers the beaches down south in Virac, Catanduanes, while Andrea del Rosario, director Lore Reyes, Rachel Alejandro and Bodie Cruz have their eyes on the Balesin Island in Quezon.
For actor-director Jun Urbano, nothing beats the hot springs in Los Baños, Laguna, where he gets an all-day pampering in the hot, sulfuric spring water of Mt. Makiling. His typical summer trip includes eating sinigang na kanduli, deep-fried dalag and roasted pork chop.
“Pahinga kaunti tapos balik uli sa tubig (A bit of rest then it’s back to the water),” he said.
His father, National Artist for Film Manuel Conde, he added, was a major travel influence. “Now, my children are enjoying this, too!”
Director Louie Ignacio cited Pagsanjan, Laguna, Boracay and Coron, Palawan, as the perfect places for his kind of summer, while Arnold Reyes apologized for his picks, which he said might have become “clichés.” They are Batanes, Boracay and Calamba, Laguna.