Si, Mari Borao was born to dance
September 21, 2003 | 12:00am
The summer heat wave raged over Europe. The temperature in Madrid registered a record 44 degrees at high noon. But Mari Borao, humming a familiar tune of eras past as the same old memorable song played softly in the background, is unperturbed.
Stepping out into his spacious veranda filled with lush plants and flowers in full bloom of his penthouse piso of a period building in the heart of the capital city with a spectacular view of the surroundings where neighbors are all friends, Mari brought out the last of the seemingly never-ending trays of chorizos y jamones, quesos y bocarones, vinos y otras bebidas.
"Sin duda, the weather today has been excruciating," he declares. "But being a son of the tropics, having lived in the Philippines more than prepared me for all this," he smiles.
Born in Makati, raised in San Juan and a product of San Beda College from grade school to undergrad, Mari moved to Spain "a generation ago." But I have never lost touched with the Philippines. "Many of my Madrid-based friends, with whom I get together regularly, are from our islands," he claims. "Whenever possible, I always get actively involved with the many activities of the Philippine Embassy and the community. And guess what?" he continues. "Friends who reside in either Manila, Cebu or Bacolod and several more who have migrated to other countries somehow – and I appreciate them for it – get in touch with me whenever they visit Spain. So there you are – the linkages, the connections, the affinities, the relationships – it‘s so unreal. There’s nothing like it in the world."
After being with the airline TWA for 20 years, he opted for an early retirement and currently leads a leisurely la buena vida traveling to all corners of the globe with extended stopovers in Manila and the provinces, only pursuing the activities he loves most – reading books and journals, listening to music and watching old films, fiestas with friends and tasting different cuisines... and dancing.
Born to dance and the life of every party, Mari is still remembered with great fondness and admiration as one of the main stars – are you ready for this – of the popular once-upon-a-time-television show – Dancetime with Chito where the latest dance steps were introduced and where the newest dance craze began.
PHILIPPINE STAR: What do you remember most of your first trip abroad?
MARI BORAO: My very first trip to Hong Kong in 1963 was truly an eye-opener. Initially, everything seemed so strange and yet I soon noticed everything was very familiar.
What won’t you leave home without?
My favorite stampitas of our Lord and his Blessed Mother tucked within my passport holder. A book - preferably the latest best-seller.
Who is your ideal traveling companion?
With the fear of sounding arogante, I would have to say myself. Good old me. I schedule my trips the way I want it to be – no compromises of any kind at all whatsoever. I then set the pace and just go. I love to cover a lot of ground and I simply don’t ever stop. I immerse with the locals, live their life, share in their blessings.
Name your favorite city abroad.
Que pregunta mas deficil. Let’s see, I am torn between New York and San Francisco, Rome and Paris, Madrid and . . . see, didn’t I warn you?
What is the first thing you do upon checking in at a hotel?
I head straight to the bathroom and like a seasoned inspector I go over things very meticulously.
Let’s talk favorites now. What’s your favorite restaurant?
It’s a toss-up between the House of Nanking in San Francisco and the Good Earth in Manila. But my preferred cuisine es la comida Filipina. I kid you not!
Favorite museum?
Sin duda it has to be the Quai d’ Orsay in Paris.
Favorite hotel?
La Mamounia in Marrakesh. I consider it the most elegant hotel in the world. I was once a guest of the general manager y te digo the service was absolutely impeccable and flawless.
Favorite resort?
How can I forget Pansukian Resort in Siargao situated in an idyllic island. It is a slice of paradise.
Favorite landmark, building and park?
Michaelangelo’s David in Florence stirs me, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco moves me and the Yellowstone National Park inspires me.
Favorite musical?
Nothing beats 42th Street. I hate to count the number of times I have seen it. It is the perfect example of an excellent musical – great songs with first rate singers, outstanding choreography with first class dancers and that’s only for starters. I could go on and on and on.
Favorite store?
Gumps, the one-of-a-kind department store with style. I adore everything about it and I love everything in it. A visit to San Francisco is not complete without a stopover look-and-see at Gumps. It’s almost a ritual.
Describe your most memorable trip.
The horrifying trip on the mighty Amazon River on a moonless night without a single star in the sky. Soon we found ourselves in the middle of a devastating storm and the water transformed like an open sea in torment. I was terrified. Just talking about it still gives me goose bumps and surely makes my hair stand on end. But speaking of a more pleasant memorable trip, I must include the evening I was invited to attend the Hollywood Oscars in 1986, and boy, were there stars!
What is the strangest thing you have done on a trip?
Not the strangest thing perhaps but siguramente the most daring – bungee jumping in New Zealand and Costa Rica and sky diving in Las Vegas. It was terrific but I must admit I was scared to death.
What do you miss most when you’re away from home?
My music. I wake up listening to it and when I’m home, it’s on the entire day and night. My MGM musical films on tapes. I invite some friends and together we view the good old movies of Esther Williams, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Cyd Charrise, Gene Kelly and many other great singers and dancers.
Who would you like to bump into – dead or alive – during your travel?
Mother Teresa and just listen intently to what she has to say.
Name an event anywhere in the world you would like to participate in?
Should there be an activity that involves, say, swimming with dolphins, I’ll surely sign up on the spot.
If you could enforce one law to the fullest, what would it be?
The law on the violation of human rights.
What are your pasalubongs – inbound and outbound?
Inbound – chorizos, turrones y colonias de España.
Outbound – Philippine crafts and delicacies such as pastillas de leche, haleja de manga, manga buro and cans and cans of Sarsi Cola.
Name a city you have never been to but would like to visit someday?
Lhasa in Tibet. Friends say it is spiritually exotic while others claim it is exotically spiritual. Whatever it is, I can’t wait to do Tibet.
Name a country you wish to explore?
It’s not a country but a group of islands – the Galapagos in Ecuador. There is nothing like it. It’s unique, it’s distinct, it’s incomparable.
If you could be transported anywhere in the world right now, where would you like to be?
In Bora-Bora in the South Pacific where everything is so beautiful and peaceful.
Looking back at your travels abroad, what would you say is your biggest regret?
First, not traveling to Calcutta in India to visit Mother Teresa. Second, skipping Tibet when I was in Kathmandu, Nepal, a neighboring border-sharing nation.
What is your favorite spot in the Philippines?
Let’s zero it down to Boracay and Lagen Island in Palawan.
If you could reside anywhere in the world aside from the Philippines, where would it be?
Madrid, Spain and here I am!
Stepping out into his spacious veranda filled with lush plants and flowers in full bloom of his penthouse piso of a period building in the heart of the capital city with a spectacular view of the surroundings where neighbors are all friends, Mari brought out the last of the seemingly never-ending trays of chorizos y jamones, quesos y bocarones, vinos y otras bebidas.
"Sin duda, the weather today has been excruciating," he declares. "But being a son of the tropics, having lived in the Philippines more than prepared me for all this," he smiles.
Born in Makati, raised in San Juan and a product of San Beda College from grade school to undergrad, Mari moved to Spain "a generation ago." But I have never lost touched with the Philippines. "Many of my Madrid-based friends, with whom I get together regularly, are from our islands," he claims. "Whenever possible, I always get actively involved with the many activities of the Philippine Embassy and the community. And guess what?" he continues. "Friends who reside in either Manila, Cebu or Bacolod and several more who have migrated to other countries somehow – and I appreciate them for it – get in touch with me whenever they visit Spain. So there you are – the linkages, the connections, the affinities, the relationships – it‘s so unreal. There’s nothing like it in the world."
After being with the airline TWA for 20 years, he opted for an early retirement and currently leads a leisurely la buena vida traveling to all corners of the globe with extended stopovers in Manila and the provinces, only pursuing the activities he loves most – reading books and journals, listening to music and watching old films, fiestas with friends and tasting different cuisines... and dancing.
Born to dance and the life of every party, Mari is still remembered with great fondness and admiration as one of the main stars – are you ready for this – of the popular once-upon-a-time-television show – Dancetime with Chito where the latest dance steps were introduced and where the newest dance craze began.
PHILIPPINE STAR: What do you remember most of your first trip abroad?
MARI BORAO: My very first trip to Hong Kong in 1963 was truly an eye-opener. Initially, everything seemed so strange and yet I soon noticed everything was very familiar.
What won’t you leave home without?
My favorite stampitas of our Lord and his Blessed Mother tucked within my passport holder. A book - preferably the latest best-seller.
Who is your ideal traveling companion?
With the fear of sounding arogante, I would have to say myself. Good old me. I schedule my trips the way I want it to be – no compromises of any kind at all whatsoever. I then set the pace and just go. I love to cover a lot of ground and I simply don’t ever stop. I immerse with the locals, live their life, share in their blessings.
Name your favorite city abroad.
Que pregunta mas deficil. Let’s see, I am torn between New York and San Francisco, Rome and Paris, Madrid and . . . see, didn’t I warn you?
What is the first thing you do upon checking in at a hotel?
I head straight to the bathroom and like a seasoned inspector I go over things very meticulously.
Let’s talk favorites now. What’s your favorite restaurant?
It’s a toss-up between the House of Nanking in San Francisco and the Good Earth in Manila. But my preferred cuisine es la comida Filipina. I kid you not!
Favorite museum?
Sin duda it has to be the Quai d’ Orsay in Paris.
Favorite hotel?
La Mamounia in Marrakesh. I consider it the most elegant hotel in the world. I was once a guest of the general manager y te digo the service was absolutely impeccable and flawless.
Favorite resort?
How can I forget Pansukian Resort in Siargao situated in an idyllic island. It is a slice of paradise.
Favorite landmark, building and park?
Michaelangelo’s David in Florence stirs me, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco moves me and the Yellowstone National Park inspires me.
Favorite musical?
Nothing beats 42th Street. I hate to count the number of times I have seen it. It is the perfect example of an excellent musical – great songs with first rate singers, outstanding choreography with first class dancers and that’s only for starters. I could go on and on and on.
Favorite store?
Gumps, the one-of-a-kind department store with style. I adore everything about it and I love everything in it. A visit to San Francisco is not complete without a stopover look-and-see at Gumps. It’s almost a ritual.
Describe your most memorable trip.
The horrifying trip on the mighty Amazon River on a moonless night without a single star in the sky. Soon we found ourselves in the middle of a devastating storm and the water transformed like an open sea in torment. I was terrified. Just talking about it still gives me goose bumps and surely makes my hair stand on end. But speaking of a more pleasant memorable trip, I must include the evening I was invited to attend the Hollywood Oscars in 1986, and boy, were there stars!
What is the strangest thing you have done on a trip?
Not the strangest thing perhaps but siguramente the most daring – bungee jumping in New Zealand and Costa Rica and sky diving in Las Vegas. It was terrific but I must admit I was scared to death.
What do you miss most when you’re away from home?
My music. I wake up listening to it and when I’m home, it’s on the entire day and night. My MGM musical films on tapes. I invite some friends and together we view the good old movies of Esther Williams, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Cyd Charrise, Gene Kelly and many other great singers and dancers.
Who would you like to bump into – dead or alive – during your travel?
Mother Teresa and just listen intently to what she has to say.
Name an event anywhere in the world you would like to participate in?
Should there be an activity that involves, say, swimming with dolphins, I’ll surely sign up on the spot.
If you could enforce one law to the fullest, what would it be?
The law on the violation of human rights.
What are your pasalubongs – inbound and outbound?
Inbound – chorizos, turrones y colonias de España.
Outbound – Philippine crafts and delicacies such as pastillas de leche, haleja de manga, manga buro and cans and cans of Sarsi Cola.
Name a city you have never been to but would like to visit someday?
Lhasa in Tibet. Friends say it is spiritually exotic while others claim it is exotically spiritual. Whatever it is, I can’t wait to do Tibet.
Name a country you wish to explore?
It’s not a country but a group of islands – the Galapagos in Ecuador. There is nothing like it. It’s unique, it’s distinct, it’s incomparable.
If you could be transported anywhere in the world right now, where would you like to be?
In Bora-Bora in the South Pacific where everything is so beautiful and peaceful.
Looking back at your travels abroad, what would you say is your biggest regret?
First, not traveling to Calcutta in India to visit Mother Teresa. Second, skipping Tibet when I was in Kathmandu, Nepal, a neighboring border-sharing nation.
What is your favorite spot in the Philippines?
Let’s zero it down to Boracay and Lagen Island in Palawan.
If you could reside anywhere in the world aside from the Philippines, where would it be?
Madrid, Spain and here I am!
BrandSpace Articles
<
>
