A WELCOME CHANGE OF PACE
Tootsy Echauz-Angara and Senator Sonny Angara, through a serendipitous turn of events, changed their travel plans and discovered a luxurious, dreamlike getaway in beautiful Boracay—a surprise that proved to be more than pleasant
AT NEARLY SIX in the evening, the Angara household is still bustling. Apart from the interview and photo shoot in progress, the senator’s staff members are still around, polishing details to cap off the day’s work, and the children have just arrived from school. A visibly tanned young lady who resembles Sonny quite a lot, greets her mother, Tootsy, with a peck on the cheek before one of the help whisks her away into the rooms. When things quiet down a bit and there is time for conversation over dinner, Sonny and Tootsy speak of one of their favorite family getaways: Asya Premier Suites in Boracay.
“We like the beach, especially with the kids because it’s not busy. It’s a calm environment. We get to bond because there’s not much to do, you can chill and just relax. You can sit down, talk, read, and enjoy each other’s company,” Tootsy shares. The beach vibe soothes the Angaras: the blue skies; clear, blue waters; fine, white sand; and the gentle breeze all help make their family sojourns unforgettable and most delightful.
Sonny and Tootsy were jetsetters even before getting hitched. They’ve been to the colorful beaches in Bali and the serene shorelines of Thailand. The couple have also traveled to some of the world’s major cities, with Tokyo being one of their favorites. Sonny points out, “Traveling in Asia, in general, is great, because you can do luxury travel without spending a ‘luxury price.’”
If one takes the time to scrutinize and appreciate the Angaras’ lovely home, it would be quite noticeable that apart from artworks, it is full of souvenirs from their travels. “We make it a point to pack light. We always end up taking stuff home with us—and we always bring home food.” True enough, the senator and his wife are sharing their recent haul with the staffers and the team. The colorfully wrapped sweet morsels from another recent travel within the country are shared with the guests. Tootsy, who confesses to enjoying street food or food court fare in the various destinations they’ve visited, also adds that they collect souvenirs all in the spirit of curiosity and fun. “We also go for the touristy-stuff. The snow globes, the bobble heads, the landmark replicas, all that.”
For the couple, travel has always been a way for them to know each other and at the same time, find a balm that would soothe the wear and tear caused by their busy lifestyle. It was almost like a necessity, something that would feed the soul. “I was in law school, working my way to becoming a lawyer and Tootsy was already working, but we really made time to travel,” the senator recalls. “I think it’s because we both work so hard, traveling
has become our escape. It’s something we feel that we need and it’s all worth it.”
The Angaras travel as much as they can, as much as their very hectic schedules allow. Tootsy and Sonny find time to travel together at least twice a year. When they go with the children, they always plan trips during school breaks, just so they can catch up and bond. Asya is a very special destination for the kids. “We could not get them out of the water!” Tootsy gushes. “They didn’t care if they all got so dark! They just wanted to swim.”
Their first trip to Asya Premier Suites Boracay in 2011 was a happy accident. The luxury resort was still new. “We were supposed to go to Hawaii. But the day before the trip, I looked at my son’s visa and saw that it was expired! We thought it was good for 10 years, but it was only for five. So we had to cancel. My aunt promised to get us a good replacement and recommended Asya. When we got there, we were blown away. We all thought it was much better than Hawaii! We spent Christmas there and it was wonderful. Since then, Asya has become one of the Angara family’s favorite local destinations. “We’d love to be back there soon!” she adds.
Sonny adds how Asya Premier Suites Boracay is on a par with many luxury destinations abroad. “It’s fantastic. The design is topnotch modern Asian. It’s a wonderful beach resort with the perfect beach houses.
The tiles and the fixtures were all very beautiful and high quality. The furniture was great—they did not spare any expense. It’s very private. It’s very restful and calming. For a few days, you can enjoy that lifestyle.” Asya prides itself on its lavish tropical atmosphere. Its world-class amenities, combined with the natural beauty of the blue horizon, fine sand, and colors of the sunset, make it a prime holiday destination in the country. It is no wonder the Angaras have fallen in love with the place, welcoming the soothing change of pace it offers.
As it gets deeper into the evening and the Angara household grows quieter (the senator’s staff members are all given refreshments and dinner), Tootsy excuses herself for a bit to prepare for a get-together with some friends, and the senator confides that to keep healthy, he is about to play some basketball.
One of the insights shared by the lady of the house illuminates the entire point of traveling. “I realized that travel makes you appreciate life more. When you’re away from home, you appreciate where you’re from and the life that you have there. Also, as you stay in a place, you realize that you pick up the best traits of where you are. It’s like you take the best attributes of the place with you once you return home.” Indeed, the calmness of Asya has stuck with the family. Having visited such a place has given them some well-needed levity and unhurriedness.