Mariter Macapagal’s longest 10 minutes in New Delhi

Through a pleasant and amiable telephone conversation, I was forewarned that the 26-year-old residence was undergoing restoration, renovation and refurbishment. Visions of disruption and disarray, images of clutter everywhere – not to mention the dust, dust and more dust – came to mind. Nothing but a disastrous mess. Everything in a chaotic bedlam. There was no other way.

But this was not the case when I dropped by for the interview one Sunday afternoon, the home of Mariter Jalandoni-Macapagal, her husband Arturo and their three grown-up children, daughter Melissa, sons Andrei and Alex.

As a matter of fact, the locale somehow reminded me of an English garden by a country lodge, somewhere in Cotsworlds, in the very heart of England, for there was organized order in such disorderly disorder, in full color with aromatic scents.

And the lady of the house who had a hand in helping make all the changes possible, was partly responsible for a demonstration of adaptability at its best.

Born of hacendero parents from the South, a product of exclusive schools both here and abroad, the belle of balls and a sensible society gal with a noble purpose, the frequent world traveler marries a presidential son, has their first born – a special child – and then life takes a turn.

She earnestly prepared for the new life ahead just like the rest of the family. She enrolled at the University of the Philippines for a Master’s Degree in Education and pursued a Doctorate in Education, Major in Educational Administration at the same institution.

Today she is actively involved in several organizations such as the Foundation for Retarded Children and the Autism Society of the Philippines. She is likewise the executive director of the Cupertino Center for Special Children, senior professor at the Graduate School of Miriam College, lectures at the Psychology Department of the Ateneo de Manila University and is a well-sought out, respected speaker on seminars on educational intervention of exceptional children and coping styles of parents of exceptional children.

The privileged Mariter Jalandoni-Macapagal has answered her life-long call with a passion.

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

MARITER JALANDONI-MACAPAGAL: My first trip abroad lasted for almost a year where I traveled half the world with a complete stranger.

She turned out to be a real friend and even taught my children in college where she is a professor of Modern Language at the Ateneo. Her name – Evelyn Soriano. But that’s getting ahead of my story. It was 1962. I had graduated from Maryknoll College some months back and had plans to take up languages in Madrid. While my Poppy was busy with business, my Mom could not travel with me as she has this phobia of planes. So the search for a lady traveling companion was on. Luckily there was someone somewhere with the same dilemma. Our travel agent who could solve all sorts of problems introduced us to each other and that was it. So off we went and enjoyed the sights of beautiful Beirut and exciting Egypt, Athens and the Greek Islands, Rome with sidetrips to towns such as Capri and finally Madrid. Several months had passed and Mom started to get lonely. You see my only other sibling is a brother. Poppy fetched me and we flew to New York. However, there were delays in the progress of his business transactions. The return trip had to be postponed. In order not to keep me so long away from Mom, arrangements were finalized for me to come home with Minnie Osmeña, a friend from way back. But guess what? There were more detours and more stopovers. I remember Washington D.C. and Honolulu. In the end, my Mom was just too glad to see me back in Manila despite my late, late return.

What won’t you leave home without?

My rosary. I have several in my small collection and I bring a not-so-valuable one just in case I lose it. This I clutch on to on flights where I constantly pray. I also take along a pocketbook to while the time. Oh yes, I have an old, old wallet that was given to me by my daughter when she was temporarily residing in Cagayan de Oro as a Jesuit volunteer. It is made of wooden material and local native cloth, artistically woven together by some members of a tribe in Mindanao. I don’t know why but I always have it with me whenever I am on a trip – every single one – and only then. Strange as it may seem, I never use it here in Manila. It is my lucky wallet for it always contains some foreign currency.

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

Would you believe Mother Teresa or the Dalai Lama. I have many, many questions. With Mother Teresa, I will ask her about spirituality and her relationship with the Lord. I have read some of the books by the Dalai Lama. So I would like to dwell on his thoughts on meditation, tranquility and life.

Who is your ideal traveling companion?

My husband, my husband. I truly enjoy being with him whenever we travel. With no pressure and no stress, he is sort of a different person altogether – almost a complete transformation. With great success, he leaves everything behind for he wants to have fun – and he does. In addition, he completely pampers me – totally. He takes care of everything – from airport check-in, to luggage handling, to planning interesting day trips. He has always been so adorable – more so on holidays.

Name your favorite city abroad?

Way on top of my long list of favorites is New York, for it has the best of everything and I mean everything. There simply is no place like it.

Let’s talk favorites now. Favorite restaurant?

For years it has been Maxims in Paris. But on a recent trip to Spain, we discovered a small restaurant in Segovia. Regretfully, the name escapes me. It will soon come back to me, I hope. It serves excellent cochinillo, the best I have ever tried.

Favorite museum?

My choices would be the Prado in Madrid and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.

And if you could take home a piece of art, which would it be?

Any of the paintings by the Spanish artist Velasquez. But if I need to zero in on only one, then it would have to be Las Meninas. I could stare at it for hours and hours. I just love it.

Favorite hotel or resort?

Since we are Marriott shareholders, members of the time sharing scheme, we usually stay at their properties. My ultimate favorite is their resort in the Hawaiian island of Kaui. You may remember it as the former Kaui Hyatt Regency. You will find several sculptures within the well-maintained gardens and more valuable art pieces at the main lobby and elsewhere. It’s like residing in a museum that is not clogged up with meaningless memorabilia, but one that has been assembled together and came to life after much thought. Do you recall the black swans gliding gracefully on the pond by the dining area? And don’t let me tell you about the service. It’s impeccably flawless.

Favorite park?

Central Park in New York. How can I ever forget the wonderful times I shared with my Poppy criss-crossing the park in the good old days.

Favorite building?

The ruins of the city of Ephesus in Turkey. My heart skipped a beat when I first saw it. It is awesome.

Favorite landmark?

The Rizal Monument by the Luneta.

Favorite musical?

Les Miserables. The story is so inspiring. The acting, the music, the production – everything, I was truly overwhelmed!

Favorite store?

Nothing like Nordstrom for me. I can find almost anything I need in there. They also have their Nordstrom Rack where bargains abound. And they are in the bigger cities all over America.

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

My house, specifically my room, most especially my bed.

What is the best travel advise you were given?

Travel light. Yes, my husband and I try to do so with one piece of luggage each. But we bring along a folding canvass bag for those just-in-case weak moments hoping to resist the pitfalls of shopping without reason. The other advise I treasure came from my mother-in-law, my Mommy Eva, the former First Lady. "Hija," she whispered, "always have a set of undegarments plus an extra blouse in your hand carry, for you will never know what lies ahead on your journey." She has been proven right on many occasions.

Have you ever traveled with your parents-in-law?

Yes to Guam in the late ’60s. Daddy DM was invited to speak before the Filipino community by one of the island’s richest Filipinos by the name of Mark Pangilinan, a fellow Kapampangan who did extremely well. The invitation was graciously extended to the rest of the family. We were six in all. There was Daddy DM, Mommy Eva with her mother Doña Irenea Macaraig, Gloria and Diosdado Jr. Arthur missed the trip due to his schedule at work. I had a great time traveling with them – nice people to say the least – though as the newest member of the family – an in-law at that – I must admit at first I was bit uneasy. But thanks to Diosdado Jr., with his good sense of humor, who kidded with me throughout the trip. Gloria was extra kind and very observant of the goings-on around us.

Describe your most memorable trip.

While visiting New Delhi, we drove early one morning to Agra to view the Taj Majal. Somewhere along the way, without any warning nor hesitation, we were abruptly stopped at gun point, at armalite point by some uniformed Indian military guards. They ordered our driver together with the personnel from the embassy to abandon our Qualis – the name popularly known for the vehicle we were on – for questioning and interrogation. It was at the height of the terrorism attacks around the world. Our imagination simply went wild. We were so nervous, so very scared, I asked myself "What if they know my identity and my relationship to the President of our country, this can surely complicate matters." However by this time we noticed that they were stopping Qualis, and only more Qualis. We were a bit relieved. After the longest 10 minutes I had to endure, they let us go. They set us free. There was an explanation to all that. We learned the following day at the embassy that earlier a boy had been kidnapped earlier and the kidnappers used a Qualis similar to ours as their getaway vehicle during the siege.

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

During my stay in Spain, I sang Dahil sa Iyo at a get-together. You see the Spanish friends have this notion that all Filipinos can and do sing. I told them that I was the exception. But that night I had no choice – so why not, all for the country. I have never done it again.

What is the worst souvenir you have brought back from a trip?

Trustingly in Portugal, we got this item, some sort of an ash tray. They claimed it was made of metal. Though silver and pewter in appearance, within weeks, it tarnished beyond help.

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

I admire Jackie Kennedy for being the good mom that she was to her two children who she successfully shielded from the media and the world. I have read most of her biographies – super lady.

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

The running of the bulls at the Fiesta of San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain.

If you could enforce one law to the fullest, what would it be?

The Golden Rule for it says it all.

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

Where in the world, did the success of People Power work not once but twice, only in the Philippines.

If I had more time, I would . . .

. . . write a book on my life with my special child and how the family copes with him, cares for him, loves him.

What are your pasalubongs – inbound and outbound?

Outbound – Philippine made things from the ashes of Pinatubo or woven native cloths – light ones and easy to bring.

Inbound – It all depends where I am coming from – typical products such as opal items from Australia.

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

Prague – we had plans on visiting the city. But somehow we’re presently doing some renovation work on the house. So a postponement was in order.

Name a country you wish to explore.

Countries in South America – Argentina comes to mind.

If you could be transported anywhere in the world right now, where would you like to be?

New York. I haven’t been to the city since 9-11 and I would like to see Ground Zero for many reasons.

What is your favorite spot in the Philippines?

Though we have a place in Punta Fuego which is relatively new, say a little more than a year, I must say this house where we have resided for the last 26 years. For destinations, I would have to admit it’s the Banaue Rice Terraces of the Ifugao Province and the Chocolate Hills of Bohol. Both sites are awesome!

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

It may sound strange but my choice is Sydney. It’s something like America some years back.