The place to be

Hollywood and the rest of the world welcome TomKat’s (Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes) firstborn, a girl whom they named Suri. The name, according to reports, is of Hebrew origin but some say it’s a new addition to the Hebrew lexicon. The fabulous pair has been closely watched by global media both mainstream and unconventional paparazzi. With the arrival of TomKitten (Suri), life for the couple will surely be more frenzied.

Tom, a follower of Scientology, was earlier reported to have remarked that he would eat his newborn baby’s placenta. Later, he backed off. Was he serious? Was he joking? Eating of placenta is common among mammals and in some human cultures. They say placenta is being used as beautifying element for one’s skin, like mud pack applied on your face. Had Tom been a Waray, he would have been banished to far away caves because eating placenta would make him a certified aswang.

Would Suri love to have an aswang for a father? Is Tom spaced-out? Tom, before Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz and Katie Holmes, visited the country to shoot Born on the Fourth of July directed by Oliver Stone. I actually saw him in person and he could be the best-looking aswang in this planet!

I am a lousy godfather though I have more than 50 godchildren. But I can be Suri’s godfather. And Suri would surely be in on a daily feast! She would be surrounded by the beautiful gay people. She will be the muse! And since her father’s and my religion are poles apart, I would bring her to Baclaran and during Lent I would bring her to where penitents are scourged and crucified. I will also bring her to Boracay. There were talks in the past that Tom actually visited Boracay.

I just came from Boracay. I was supposed to be in Palawan but we had to change plans. It is a yearly ritual I usually reserve for myself and my family. It’s not every day that my family is complete. Nanay is most of the time in Borongan attending to her constituents. Coming to Manila for her is not a vacation. It’s still work because she would usually make follow-ups on official papers.

We look forward to being together. In Boracay, we had so much fun. We communed with the sand, sun, water, wind and prayed by the sea. Upon arrival, we checked in at the Sand Castles The Apartments. The beautiful Sand Castles apartments overlook the ocean. Its amenities are comparable to five-star hotels in Manila. We stayed in one of the deluxe apartments (actually there are seven beautifully-furnished units called Aeta, Tagbanua, Ibaloi, Kankanay, Maranaw, Mandaya and Hanunu’o).

Sand Castles The Apartments is a signature property. Each apartment is fully-furnished with Japanese style bedroom furnishings, cable TV with DVD, Internet access, well-equipped kitchen, Balinese-style shower and large balcony.

Sand Castles The Apartments is under the aegis of Tribal Holdings Phils. And for those who crave for action and fun, there is Tribal Adventure Tours. For its daily tours, guests can go snorkeling, beach hopping, picnic around Boracay, sea kayaking or river kayaking. The photojournalist in you can join a photo journalism expedition held once or twice a year for six to 12 days around the country. Greg Hutchinson will lead the way together with some internationally acclaimed photographers to record the cultural, social and economic facets of the country.

I did not have the chance to do any of these. Boracay was teeming with people – most of them from busy-crazy Manila. But I do understand why. Aside from the beaches, Boracay is populated with beautiful, nice people. You forget there is a world called Manila where rats and cats make love and war. But the next time I visit Boracay, I’ll be more adventurous. I would go mountain climbing, kayaking or snorkeling. Because the only "adventure" that I have done so far in Boracay is ride banana boats where the most fun part is when you fall! The lovely part though is, you fall into one of the most pristine, blue waters on the face of the earth.