Carmen Garcia’s dream trip to Jerusalem

Carmen Bayot Garcia is a walking encyclopedia on Manila. Moreso on the bygone days of the capital city.

La viuda de Manuel Garcia "que era guapo"– she with the most intriguing pair of dimples that we were warned to please notice by her good friends Corito Araneta Kalaw and Ethel Garcia – is the mother of four beautiful daughters, 20 lovely grandchildren and 10 adorable great-grandchildren.

Whisper a name, mention a street, a building or a plaza, cite an event, a happening or a celebration and la graciosa señora will unselfishly share her interesting stories like no one else can. I know. I had the pleasure of her company on the eve of Palm Sunday. I must admit she captivated me. She enriched my life.

Philippine STAR: What do you remember most of your first trip abroad?

Carmen Bayot Garcia: In 1931, when I was only 12 years old, my parents took all of us five kids – I am the middle child – on an extended trip none of us has ever forgotten. We sailed on the President Filmore – all the way to Europe. Puwedes imaginar the many exciting ports of call from Manila to Naples, the very city we got off the ship? We drove to Rome donde saludamos al Santo Papa and proceeded to Paris, our base for the next three months. From Gibraltar we boarded the luxury liner Conte Grande and crossed the Atlantic Ocean. After doing the sites of New York and the neighboring states on the American East Coast, we were finally homeward bound on the maiden voyage of the President Hoover but not before dropping anchor on several cities along the route such as San Francisco, Honolulu, Shanghai, Kobe and Hong Kong. Oh yes, did I tell you on this my first trip abroad, we did both the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal? The sensation was simply indescribable – era muy impresionante!

What won’t you leave home without?

Dos cosas; mi panuelo y mi abanico (my scarf and my fan). I am 83 years old, I can’t go far. I can’t go anywhere without my walking cane.

Other than members of your family, who would you like to be seated next to on a flight?

Mother Teresa of Calcutta who was an exceptionally extraordinary person that I’ve greatly admired for the longest period of time. I have some questions and I would love to hear her answers. But then again, I may be speechless sitting beside her. One thing for certain is that I’ll cherish and treasure my moment with her. Que Dios le bendiga!

Who are your ideal traveling companions?

Mi defunto marido y mis cuatro hijas (my late husband and four daughters). They take care of everything, and I mean everything. They are fun to be with and they simply spoil me no end.

Name your favorite city aboard.

Madrid. There is no other place like Madrid. It is where my eldest daughter Margarita, my son-in-law Jose Maria and two of my nietos Anna and Alfonso reside. Aside from being the foreign city I know best, I have beautiful memories of times spent together with my family.

What is the first thing you do upon checking in at a hotel?

I may be wrong but it seems, most if not all of my arrival times at my desired destinations are usually late at night. I immediately go to the bathroom and put on my mu-mu and try to relax.

What do you consider a must-do activity in every foreign city that you visit?

Shopping at the city’s leading stores. I am enchanted by shopping in big bazaars.

So what’s your favorite store?

El Corte Ingles and they have branches all over Spain.

What do you miss most when you’re away from home?

I must confess I miss the heartwarming services of my household helpers who have been with me for years.

What is the best travel advice you wish to share?

Don’t forget to label your suitcase discreetly on the outside and properly visible on the inside. This may be useful should one’s luggage be reported missing or lost. Always, at all times, hand carry something that will keep you warm, as the weather is so unpredictable. Lastly, this is easier said than done, travel light. Having heavy baggage could be an irritant or even perhaps spoil una vacacion grande that is on the move constantly.

Describe your most memorable trip.

Together with my brother Tony, we visited Sydney, Australia and stayed with my granddaughter Vicky and her family. Dos de mis hijas joined us and that was quite a reunion. As a bonus, my brother, who incidentally is a world traveler, was our guide and he told me that we could not have found better one! What a trip!

What is the strangest thing you have done on a trip?

The laundry.

What is the worst souvenir you have ever brought back from your travels?

A purse that appeared to be of great value but paid for rather inexpensively due to an ongoing bargain sale. The truth of the matter was when I had it checked with my trusted jeweler; the bracelet was worth less than the attractive container it came with. Y sabes que, I have no idea where it is today.

Who would you like to bump into – dead or alive – during your travel?

Nenita Bayot Chuidian, who, sad to say, has since passed away. She is my elder sister but she was more than a sister to me. Simpatiquisima, she was my constant traveling partner. It would simply be amazing to bump into her and relive the good old days.

Name an event anywhere in the world you would like to participate in?

The solemn canonization of Blessed Jose Maria Escriva, founder of the Oppus Dei on October 6, 2002 at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.

Let’s fill in the blanks. Where in the world... only in the Philippines.

"Where in the world would you be treated royally by loyal household help that stay with you for generations, only in the Philippines."

"If I had more time, I would..."

"If I had more time, I would learn how to speak French fluently."

What are your pasalubongs – inbound and outbound?

Outbound – exquisitely embroidered pieces such as placemats and other cocktail and dining sets from Auring Capistrano. These items are ideal for they do not occupy much space in the suitcase and I don’t have to worry about them. And they are beautiful.

Inbound–the always-appreciated abanicos de España.

Aside from unpacking your suitcase, what is the first thing you do upon returning home?

Take a shower, put on the most comfortable housedress and have a massage.

Name a city you have never visited but would like to someday.

I have this intense burning desire to visit Jerusalem – a feeling that I have not felt towards any other destination before.

Name a country you wish to explore.

Lo siento mucho but I wish to explore more than just a country. It’s an entire continent, the whole of South America. I don’t know much about it and I would like to learn more about South America.

What would you say is the best part of travel?

Travel brings about the great opportunity to visit family and friends residing in foreign lands and spend some time with them. Only travel makes it all possible.

What would you say then is the worst part of travel?

Walking. It honestly tires me completely. Es un cansancio.

Looking back at your travels abroad, what would you say is your biggest regret?

My biggest regret is not having been able to go on trips with all my four girls – no exception whatsoever – all at the same time together with me. I have always thought about it, even dreamt about it.

Name your favorite spot in the Philippines.

Baguio–more so in times past where and when we had a home near the summer house of the Assumption nuns within the vicinity of the Crystal Caves area.

If you could reside anywhere in the world aside from the Philippines, where would it be?

It has to be Madrid. It’s the city I feel at home most. Es la ciudad that reminds me more of home.