All-girl getaway: Why it's good for you
Alot has happened from the time we graduated from school, with work and family life taking up most of our lives. By the time you know it, you’re turning 40 years old. How does one celebrate this milestone?
Such was the case of eight friends, whose friendship started back in grade school. Michaela Ruiz Conine, Carmella Tobias Nazario, Mona Nazario Garcia, Luv Suntay Abaya, Marga Mendoza Catalan, Charisse Laus Pau have been classmates since grade 7, with Antoinette Enciso Ocampo and Katrina Singson Bala joining the group in high school. “I was the new student having transferred from a different elementary school. Mona and I were in the same class for freshman year and she decided to invite me to join her barkada for lunch. I joined the group and since the beginning I got along with all of them very well. We all have the same humor, share similar likes, dislikes and values,” shared Katrina.
Three to five years before they all turn 40 years old, this group of friends started discussing how to celebrate this momentous year. “Since there were a couple of us who lived abroad, we all agreed that we would do a big birthday trip to Europe so that all of us could be to
gether again. We agreed to set aside a little bit of money every month for us to make this happen. We felt that this would be the best opportunity to get together, us girls where our husbands would agree that we travel in one of the most romantic cities in the world….without them!” revealed Charisse.
LADIES WHO BRUNCH
Regular meetings over breakfast took place, agreeing on dates and destinations. “We made sure everyone was happy and would be available on the dates we selected. It took us a while to get there, but we did eventually. Though we talked about this trip for about 3- 5 years, it was only in the beginning of 2018 (the year we turned 40) that we actually started planning, booking flights and choosing actual destinations. Booking the flight was the easiest, choosing the destination was tough because some of us have been to places others would like to see. So the final destination of the group was not necessarily new to all of us but everyone ended up agreeing since it’s the company of friends we would be traveling with that outweighs our actual destination,” explained Michaela.
HERE THEY GO
The ladies flew out to Europe and spent seven days in Rome and Florence. “From there, two of us headed back to Manila, one went to Spain to meet her husband for their own 40th birthday celebration, and the rest of us finished off the trip in Paris,” said Michaela.
But they didn’t leave without doubts. Leaving the family, even for just a few days, can give any parent jitters. Charisse added, “Thanks to available WIFI and data connectivity, we stayed connected with our families anytime but what we observed is that at the end of the day, we would be found in separate corners of the room having video calls with our loved ones and making sure they are okay. Some of us who have toddlers had to reassure them that mommy will be back soon, but also had to promise them that mommy will call every single day.”
They also planned their trip very well, with them even changing roommates at every destination. This gave them a chance to strengthen bonds with everyone. Charisse also added, “It is helpful to have a day to day reflection on how to go about the succeeding days of the trip. This will give everyone an idea on how each is feeling and a venue to suggest a plan B just in case something new or different comes up.”
GO FOR IT!
This plan came to fruition late last year. Twenty six years of friendship and turning 40 years old makes for two great reasons to celebrate and go on an all-girl getaway. “As moms, career women, and wives, we can rarely set aside time for ourselves or time with our girlfriends. This was a once- in- a- lifetime opportunity for us to celebrate something huge, together. We weren’t going to pass up the opportunity to celebrate with a bang!" said Antoinette.