GLOBETROTTER

Sen. Loren Legarda
The country’s most popular senator reveals her favorite travel destinations, companions, and must-haves

The woman needs no introduction. But for the sake of our foreign readers who may not be familiar with the name, Loren Legarda made her public debut as a teen model in the mid-70s, then moved on to broadcasting after graduating cum laude in Broadcast Communications from the University of the Philippines. In 1998, she ran for senator and won, becoming the youngest woman senator of the country and, three years later, the first woman to be voted majority floor leader. Sen. Legarda’s position has brought her all over the country, although she would still love to visit provinces like Batanes, Quirino, and Marinduque. “All these provinces have such beautiful cultures,” she says, adding, “There’s no trip I take that I go home without something from that place, be it a barangay in Bicol or a Yakan village in Zamboanga.” But when it’s time for some R&R, she loves to take off with her two sons, Lanz, 18, and Lean, 15. “While I enjoy the usual destinations like Paris and Spain, right now I’m in this phase where I want to visit underdeveloped areas,” she reveals. “I loved the exotic feel of our recent trip to Luang Prabang, Laos. We visited the weaving villages, cruised along the Mekong, hiked up muddy hills…” Next on the agenda: Borobudur in Indonesia. “Life is too short, enjoy it,” she says. “Even though I’m already 48, I still have the curiosity and inquisitive mind of a child. There’s always something to learn from a place, no place is ever not nice.” Good advice from the good senator.

What country is on your travel wish list?
Turkey because of the history, the culture, the antiquity.

What is the most exotic place you have been to?
Morroco. I love Marrakesh, Casablanca, and Rabat. I was so entranced by their doors that I ended up buying Morrocan doors!

What is your most memorable travel experience?
One New Year’s Eve I spent in New York with my two sons. We stayed in a friend’s apartment and just watched the Times Square countdown on TV. Our dinner was catered by a dozen restaurants through takeout, so there we were in our pajamas, eating with chopsticks out of a carton box, watching the countdown on the big TV. For me, that’s happiness!

FAVORITES
Outfit to wear on the plane:
A loose, white blouse in cotton or soft linen, comfortable denim jeans, and my favorite Tod’s loafers. And I bring my shawl because the blankets are never enough—I’m always cold.

Handcarry bag: My old leather bag, which I got in Toledo back in 1994. It’s so sturdy, it’s still intact! But sometimes it’s not practical; I think I need something with wheels.

Luggage: My old, reliable Delsey soft suitcase—I have three in black, which already need to be changed!

Gadgets: Cell phone, that’s it. But because I don’t want to be monitored, I have several with different numbers. When I travel for holiday, though, I’d rather not be in communication with anyone.

Beauty products: Sunblock powder for everyday, I remove my makeup using Pond’s Cold Cream, and finish with Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2 and Dramatically Different Moisturizing  Lotion—that’s been my habit for 20 years.

Airline: I always get great, great service from Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific.

DESTINATIONS
Hotel: The last place I stayed in, La Résidence Phou Vao in Luang Prabang, Laos. It’s very homey, that’s how I like it—the decorations are warm, it’s open and airy with lots of windows. I would wake up at six every morning with the chirping of the birds and look out at the mist-covered mountains from my veranda. It was so serene.

Resort: The Aman resorts are beautiful. I’ve only been to Amanpulo but after I met the owner, I realized I have to visit the others. My sons and I are planning to go to Amanjiwo, near Borobudur, Indonesia, in December.

Spa: I like going to the spa, but I’m not a slave to it. I would still go for my old reliable masahista at home who knows all the quirks on my back.

Restaurant:We were adventurous enough to try typical Lao cuisine where you eat sticky rice with your hands and dip it in sauce. We ate at two places in Luang Prabang that served very good food: 3 Nagas Hotel’s fine-dining restaurant and a hole-in-the-wall called Tamarind.

Tourist landmark: I’ll always remember my first trip to Europe right after college when I saw the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the gondolas in Venice, and the Basilica in Rome—all the usual places that you identify with Europe.

Europe: Paris and Florence because they’re walkable cities. Salamanca because it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site—I love the old cobblestone streets. The Loire Valley, where we stayed in an old castle converted into a hotel—beautiful!

Asia: Outside of the Philippines, Siem Reap in Cambodia and Luang Prabang in Laos.

SHOPPING
What type of shopper are you? I’m an adventurous shopper. I don’t like malls or big shopping centers—they confuse me. I like small boutiques and out-of-the-way shops in narrow side streets. I love going to flea markets—you can leave me in one the whole day, just looking at things and haggling.

Favorite thing to shop for: Plates! My friends tease that I can put up my own plate store. I have all kinds and in all colors.

Favorite pasalubong from here: Not for family or friends, but for people I meet during official trips, I give my autobiography, The Story Of Loren Legarda: Her Legacy And Vision, a coffee table book, which Bing Carrion-Buck did for me.

Most expensive purchase: When we were at a hotel in Cambodia, my two sons kept fighting and I was so angry with them, I left the room and went down to the lobby. There was an exhibit of Buddhas and one caught my eye. It wasn’t ornate, just made of weathered wood, but quite pricey. But because I was so emotional, I bought it! Later on, I found out that the position of its hands meant “peace,” so it had a message.

Best bargain purchase: A lot! I’m great at haggling—I don’t just ask for half off; I ask for 70% off! My sons tell me, “I don’t think you really want to shop, you just like the challenge!”

Most unusual purchase: Hard to say, but I like to buy whatever the place is known for, usually fabrics, a carving, or an antique. I rationalize my purchases by saying I need to help the local industry, especially if it’s a poor country.

Purchase you regret the most: I never regret anything because even if I don’t get to use it, I can always give it as a gift. Anyway, I really stock up on purchases; I’ll buy a dozen of something for upcoming birthdays or weddings. —