GLOBETROTTER
BY LIZA ILARDE

Marilen P.S.Yaptangco
For the brains behind one of the top travel
agencies in the country, travel is a way of
life and can become quite a chore. Except
when it involves her family—and golf!

When we asked Marilen Yaptangco how many countries
she’s been to, she replied, “I think the question should be
how many countries I haven’t been to!” As president and
CEO since 1986 of premier travel agency The Baron Travel Corporation (which just celebrated its 40th year), Marilen goes in and out of the country at least once a month to meet with principals, negotiate deals, sign contracts, and promote the Philippines as a destination. Does she ever travel for pleasure? “Yes—to play golf!” she exclaims. Marilen is an avid golfer with a 12 handicap, and has joined many tournaments. “Next year, I look forward to going to Bintan, Indonesia and playing golf at the Ria Bintan Golf Club. It’s a private visit, but it’s also to check out good golf courses—I put up a special department in Baron just for golf tours because we get a lot of inquiries,” she adds. Another one of Marilen’s feats was being appointed the international representative of Royal Caribbean in the Philippines back in 1994, when cruising was an alien concept to most Filipinos. “But today, it’s a wonderful vacation option for our clients—imagine being able to visit several cities without having to pack and unpack your bags!” And last December 2007, Royal Caribbean introduced its Asian route—a closer and more affordable (but still first-class) alternative to its popular Mediterranean and Alaskan tours. “We have so many repeat clients because once they’ve tried cruising, they don’t want to travel any other way,” she adds.

Seems you’ve been everywhere, but what countries
haven’t you been to?
Poland, Burma, Cambodia... I know Angkor Wat is a very popular
destination, and people can’t believe I haven’t been there yet!

What’s currently on your travel wish list?
The Canadian Rockies, simply because every time I try to book a tour, it’s full—that’s how popular it is. It’s a nature tour and you go through different parks, mountains, and lakes by hiking or by motorcoach— it’s beautiful, especially in the spring.

What was the most exotic destination you’ve been to?
Muscat, Oman and Marrakesh, Morocco. Maybe because in my head, the Middle East is so alien, and I didn’t know what to expect. When you see all the Arabs, it can be quite intimidating. And it’s so hot
outside, but it’s so beautiful! Anywhere I went in the Middle East, I was half in awe.

What is your most memorable travel experience?
I always say traveling is such a huge bonding experience. Whether you like it or not, when people travel together—even if they are strangers—they have no choice but to bond. I recently went on a three-week trip to Alaska with my 18-year-old son Miguel, and at that age—well, they’re a totally different creature! We were together 24/7, so we had no choice but to bond! Sometimes we would get on each other’s nerves, but most of the time it was kwentuhan (sharing stories). It was a nice experience.

Cruising the Caribbean with her husband Alex Marilen and son Miguel at the MIT campus in Boston In Denali National Park And Preserve, Alaska.“My teenage son and I bonded here”

What is your dream trip?
I’ve already gone on my dream trip, and my dream is to do it again: to travel with my entire family, from my parents, my siblings, and their spouses, to all the children. This time, though, I want us to go on a cruise, all 21 of us. It’s a very relaxed way of traveling—you get onboard, unpack once, and choose your options. You can dine together or separately; when you get to the port, you can organize an excursion; and the ship itself is a destination, all 14 stories!

FAVORITES
Outfit to wear on the plane: Crease-free shirt, comfy pants—never a skirt because I like to curl up and sleep—and a jacket or a wrap as plane temperature can be quite cold. Closed shoes only—they’re the best thing to wear when running in airports to catch your flight—and always with socks or stockings.

Luggage: I use soft luggage. Size depends on my destination and the length of the trip. I have small luggage for overnighters, medium ones for Asian trips, and large for Europe and the US. Samsonite is my favorite brand.

Watch: Cartier Tank Française—it’s both elegant and functional.

Gadgets: Nokia E90, iPod shuffle, and my Toshiba laptop—I can’t leave home without it!

Beauty products: Aigner Refresher Mist for the plane, MAC lipstick and gloss, Johnson’s Baby Cologne Heaven. I’m not into heavy fragrances, I prefer to use a matching set of scented shower gel and body lotion.

Destinations
Hotel: Four Seasons George V Paris—we spent a week there during my honeymoon.

Resort: El Nido Lagen Island Resort in Palawan. It’s so tranquil, it’s so natural, and the service is so good. And it’s in the Philippines—it makes you proud!

Spa: Mandala Spa & Villas in Boracay. I’ve had massages all over the world, but theirs is, wow, something else! The Mandala Signature Spa starts with a soak in a tub full of milk and flower petals, and during the massage, you can feel the warmth from the therapist’s hands. I don’t know how to explain it. I’ve never had it anywhere else.

Airline: Qatar Airways. They’re always on time, and the flight attendants are so good, so courteous. When you get to Doha, business- and first-class passengers have a separate terminal as big as the CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines). Everything is so plush, there’s so much food, there are TVs, there’s Wi-Fi, you can take a shower—it’s great! I’m now a frequent flier.

Places to shop: I’m not much of a shopper, but when I’m in Sephora, it’s like, yeah… (laughs)

Tourist landmark: Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. The architecture is amazing. I’ve seen it so many times, but each time, it still takes my breath away.

Europe: Paris—not for the Eiffel Tower, but for the buildings, the quaintness of the city, the restaurants, the bars, and the French people, even if they’re so snooty! (Laughs)

Asia: Bangkok—because I play golf in Bangkok! After I play golf, I have a massage, then there’s the food and the shopping.

North America: New York because all my sisters live there. When I visit, we just stay home and bond, or have dinner in nice restaurants. And Alaska because I took a memorable land tour there with my teenage son. We saw the glaciers—they were so beautiful!

Most picturesque: The Lake Course at Spring City Golf & Lake Resort in Kunming, China