Why Suzie Moya-Benitez walked barefoot in Bangkok’s airport

They say first impressions can never be wrong. But I object – how very false.

Take Suzie Moya Benitez for example.

She started as a dancer of the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company where she participated in various world tours. She eventually became its executive director and steered the troupe to greater heights. In time she joined by marriage the illustrious Benitez family of the Philippine Women’s University, the home of the Bayanihan.

Before long they dared to declare that her entire world was Bayanihan this, Bayanihan that. People further claim that Suzie only thinks Bayanihan, and breathes Bayanihan – thanks to the daily dosage of Bayanihan tablets.

The observation is farthest from the truth. Trust me.

This hands-on you’re-my-friend kind of person for starters is loving wife to Noel, an enterprising entrepreneur and doting mom to eldest son Marco, a member of the famed Ateneo basketball team of the much-talked about UAAP Championships, only daughter Marielle, a De La Salle University soccer varsity student and a stand out in the Philippine National Soccer Team and youngest son Marton, a Southridge high schooler and the driving force of the National Capital Region Baseball champs. Is this only for starters.First impressions, anyone? Read on, I implore.

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

SUZIE MOYA BENITEZ: I remember praying all throughout the flight – all the way from Manila to Hong Kong with my two older sisters. I tagged along. But what is truly unforgettable was my first trip with the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company. The initial destination of the one-year world tour was Israel. We were all well-informed that since we only had about 15 minutes, 20 minutes at the most – to catch our connecting flight in Teheran bound for Tel Aviv, we were instructed to practically jump out of the aircraft to get ahead of any possible queues. However, during the long stretch from Bangkok, I removed my shoes to get more comfortable. Guess what? I could not slip them back on. Noticing my predicament, our tour director then, Dr. Lucrecia R. Kasilag, without any warning, grabbed my heavy overnight case, a fellow co-dancer assisted me with my handbag and I, daintily carrying my shoes in my hands, rushed out of the plane barefoot!

What won’t you leave home without?

A silver cross – a gift from a priest-friend and my cell phone. Come to think of it, I must admit, my compact powder and my lipstick.

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

Although I readily sleep throughout long flights, I would appreciate a quiet and considerate friend beside me.

Who is your ideal traveling companion?

My husband Noel and any one of my three children. They travel extremely well. Oh, how can I forget the Bayanihan boys – they take care of me without fail.

Name your favorite city abroad.

I like the excitement of a city like New York. The sites to see and marvel, the things to do and experience are almost limitless. I have, through the years, enjoyed Hong Kong – sans SARS.

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

Visit the Catholic Church nearest the hotel. And mind you, I have a series of what I call additionals. If traveling with the family, join a tour. If traveling on a study program or training conference, enroll in more possible sessions and acquire the latest relevant publications and books. If traveling with the Bayanihan now, touch base with cultural groups, watch a local, better still folkloric show and learn a native song of the country.

Let’s talk favorites now. Favorite restaurant?

Any small, quaint, charming, typical restaurant of the region with a wonderful view of the sea, mountains or the city.

Favorite museum?

I cannot single out a museum. However, I recall when I traveled around the world as a young Bayanihan dancer years ago, I was totally impressed with the Hermitage in the then Leningrad, now St. Petersburg. The entire place was absolutely awesome. I would not be surprised if, like most of the members of the dance company, I had my mouth open in disbelief during most of the viewing. A rare jewel!

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

If there is a painting or a sculpture that depicts a dance in motion, then it would be a treasure to take it home to grace our future Bayanihan home.

Favorite park?

Why is it that the mere mention of the word park, it’s the amusement parks – Disneyland, Disneyworld and Epcot – that come to mind. I guess it’s because of the shared memorable moments with the family. Noel and I have brought the children there several times and the parks never fail to give us all a thrill. We make sure that we take in the usual rides and try out the new ones. We even stay on for the beautiful evening parades and watch the impressive fireworks. Some two years ago, the management of Epcot invited the Bayanihan to perform for two weeks at their newly built world showcase in the Millennium Village. We had earlier agreed Noel and the children would follow. And they did. We had a fantastic time together. Surprisingly, the children enjoyed and loved the place as well.

Favorite musical?

The Phantom of the Opera. I have seen it thrice and somehow can’t simply seem to get enough of it. It’s a great work of art!

Favorite store?

My favorite store would be one that sells beautifully designed leather bags and shoes. And the signs on the doors and the display windows must spell rebajas, soldes, saldi, or sale. I also like wandering around or doing my rounds in the supermarkets. It is therapeutic.

What is the best travel advice you were given?

Endeavor to travel light to avoid any unpleasant surprises – call it hiccups – along the journey. Plan your wardrobe with care. Bring coordinates and only what is appropriate for the season or climate. Have a pair of good tried-and-tested walking shoes. Don’t forget to carry along some biscuits and hard candies in your bag. They make a big difference in not too ideal situations.

Describe your most memorable trip.

My most memorable trip was the US-Canada cross-country odyssey that we took as a family five years ago. My husband Noel was the careful eyes-on-the-road driver while our eldest son Marco served as his able navigator following closely a detailed road map. Our only daughter Marielle was our dedicated researcher with accurate data and information on must-see places and activities to participate in. Our youngest son Marton took care of the ever-present-never-run-out-of tempting junk food and more delicious hard-to-quit picas. My responsibility was to make certain our driver did not fall asleep. What a five! What a winning combination! We started from the American East Coast, down to the Mid West, further on to the West Coast and onward to Vancouver in Canada for a surprise extended stop-over with my mother, who was the visiting my brother who resides in the city. We thoroughly enjoyed Niagara Falls, Mount Rushmore, Yellow Stone Park, The Grand Canyon, National Teton Park, Muir Woods, Hearst Castle, Las Vegas, Disneyland, Universal, MGM – oh, the memories, they’re all rushing back to me. We dropped by the universities that accepted the applications of Marco and Marielle and attended the orientations. Marco even had lunch with the Dean of the College of Management at one university while we went around the university mall to shop. We watched Broadway shows, prayed at far-flung churches, lighted candles at shrines, had reunions with relatives, got together with old friends, checked the video and music shops, invaded the outlets and I could go on and on. When it was time to return the rented van, we prayed and thanked God for this singular blessing of togetherness and petitioned that the next family or group of friends that rents our particular van, will experience the same joy and love that we had shared with one another.

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

My friend Maritess Alava Yong and I spent one entire afternoon in the Berlin Zoo just observing a group of playful caged monkeys. It was strange yet interesting to note that after some time you tend to forget that these astonishing creatures were monkeys for they behaved so much like humans. Unbelievable!

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

While we were in Monte Carlo, we were invited to the Palace of the Grimaldis and I could not help but imagine how it would be like if I would bump into Grace Kelly. The same sensation occurred when we toured the lots of MGM and Universal Pictures and this time I thought of Audrey Hepburn. I am more than curious to find out for myself how graceful, classy and elegant they really were. The other individual on my list would be Tiger Woods, the golfing phenomenon, who is pictured to be a good student and more importantly, an excellent son.

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

Dance festivals in Europe. Through their performances, you can learn so much about the cultures and tradition of other nations. At the same time, you are given the unique opportunity to share your story as a Filipino through your own music and dances.

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

A complete ban on prohibited drugs. It has endangered and ruined lives and destroyed families.

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

"Where in the world do you get an invitation to join a meal by friendly strangers, only in the Philippines. How often does it happen that when you casually pass by an office worker or a laborer having his lunch, he always stops and says, "Kain po."

What are your pasalubongs – inbound and outbond?

Inbound – several personal goods for the family such as shoes and bags, shirts and belts, folk arts collectibles, medallions, typical souvenirs from the countries I have just been to.

Outbound – Bayanihan items such as CDs, VCDs, DVDs, postcards, shirts. I also bring bottled tuyo and daing all well wrapped up.

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

Vienna in Austria.

Name a country you wish to explore.

The many rincones of the cuidades and the interesting pueblos of Spain.

What would you say is the best part of travel?

Travel expands one’s horizons beyond belief. One can learn so much about the people of other countries, their way of life and everything that goes with it. In doing so, one genuinely appreciates being a Filipino and being proud to be so.

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

Turbulence of any intensity while on a flight. The hazzles and horrors brought about by excess luggage.

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

During my extensive tour around the world with the Bayanihan, I started to seriously collect gold charms, precious stones and dolls typical of the countries where we performed. Somehow halfway through the journey, I gave away the gold charms – don’t ask me why – to newfound friends. Today, I somewhat regret having done so as I may never have the same chance again.

What is your favorite spot in the Philippines?

It has to be our house in Tagaytay where I spend some quiet time to concentrate when I need to prepare for a lecture, write a concept paper or design a new training program. It is also where the family goes for long weekends to relax and have fun.

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

I have not thought of it, but I am sure it would be where Noel and our children would wish to live. Once my husband dreamt of a ranch house in Wyoming, while our eldest son adores New York. Our only daughter hopes of playing football in the West Coast someday. Our youngest son would go where we will all choose to be – so very like me!