PAULA, in fact, considers her trip to Boracay last year as the best summer of her life. She was with her family, but she bumped into so many of her non-showbiz friends-it was all just absolute heaven. "To think, I am not really a water person, but I loved the beach," confesses Paula. "Ang gusto ko lang, magpa-massage sa beach - lying on the sand, in the shade, listening to the waves and the wind."
In the same vacation, Paula and the family also took boat rides ro neighboring islands where their lunch would be the fish they catch. There would be people on the island who would tell you the best way to cook the fish and -yikes-whether it is edible to begin with. "I caught one na parang arwana na satin white ang kulay," recalls Paula. "But it was too beautiful, I just put it back in the water." She pauses before admitting, "Actually, lahat naman nung nahuli naming fish, pinakawalan lang naming kasi nakaka-awa."
This year, Paula plans to do exactly the same thing she did last year."But maybe this time with barkada naman. I loved Boracay so much kasi eh," she says. "ang daming tao, but it's alright. It's masaya pa rin and you feel safe at night. You can walk by yourself and there's always something interesting to see or someone to meet. Before you know it, buong beach na pala yung nilakad mo - ilang kilometro ba yun? Hindi rin ako artista - and that's what I like."
DESIREE'S best summer ever was also a trip to a beach in Ozamis last year. She was there for a show in the mayor to a day on a private beach that was actually an island that can only be reached by boat. "Panalo!" Des exclaims. It's the most beautiful beach I've ever seen. Super pinong white sand yung beach. Perfect siya. The only thing wrong with it was - one day lang kami doon. As in: bitin na bitin!
At the beach, Des swims, snorkels, sits in the sand, and suns her skin. "Ay puro S," Des points out. "Dagdagan pa nain ng S -starfish! I also collected starfish!" She stresses though that it's all in the past tense-"collected." That's because she once brought home several starfish - some were even blue and some red. "Eh dapat pala, you preserve them in, like, formalin. Kaya hayun, nangamoy lang sa bahay. Better to just leave the starfish sa beach.
If she could have a full month off, and money's no object, des would love to go cruising in the Bahamas. "O di ba, beach pa rin," she smiles.
JODI'S most unforgettable summer was also at the beach last year. She was with her whole family, including her Lola. They went to a beach in La Union, and on the way, they passed manaoag. "I loved it coz buo kami (the family) and I really got to relax," says Jodi. "Relaxing for me is doing absolutely nothing. Yung magbibilad lang ako sa araw. I also went swimming. I really love the water."
This year, Jodi reveals that the Pangako sa 'Yo family is planning a trip to the beach. "Kaming lahat sa show, we are so bonded talaga. We are so close-kaya naman kahit bakasyon, tingnan mo, gusto naming magkakasama pa rin kami. So, sana matuloy."
If the plan does not push through, Jodi plans to go to Boracay. "Because I've never been there," sha says. "And also because, I am a very, very moody person. As in hanep ang mga mood-swings ko. One night, super party girl ako, the next morning, baka gusto ko mapag-isa ako." This is why she needs a place that can handle both extremes of the mood swing - a place like Boracay where she can party mag muni-muni.
KAYE says all the summers in her life are memorable but the one that she wants she wants to repeat, and that really makes her smile when she recalls it, is the one she and her cousins spent in Tagaytay. "Kami-kami lang kasing magpi-pinsan, walang adults. Yung nireserve na room naming for four people lang yata, pero pagdating ng gabi at nagsidatingan na yung iba, mga 12 na yata kami! At ang aming favorite activity - takutan! Multo-multuhan! Para kaming mga bata. Ang saya-saya namin."
When they ran out of food, Especially if it's in the middle of the night, they would just rush to the nearest 7-11 and buy, not nutritious meals, but junk food. They were always running out of ice, so when they asked for ice for the nth time from the hotel, the group had to use Kaye's "face value." Says Kaye, "Kasi daw pagbibigyan ako kasi artista. Talagang gamitin daw ako? Ha-ha-ha." This year, Kaye just might head for the beach. "Magre-relax lang ako," she says. "Doon ako sa sand, sa ilalim ng stars...Stars ha! Ibig sabihin sa gabi! Walang araw at baka lalo akong maging...tan!" Since all these girls are some of the busiest, most in-demand stars today, Kaye, Paula, Jodi, and Des have accepted the fact that they may not be able to go on their dream vacations this year. They do however, have, "mini-vacations" in their daily routine places where they can unwind and feel good, even for just half a day.
Kaye gets relaxed when she is in her room.
Paula goes to the spa every chance she gets. "Talagang adik ako sa masahe," Paula laughs. "The best yung: I go to the gym, tapos cold plunge, Jacuzzi, shower, full-body massage, facial. Haay, I can live in the spa talaga."
Jodi loves being at home or being the house of close friends. "Basta I can be myself," she says.
Des says, "Ako, sa Friday's yung sa may ABS. As in: stockholder na yata ako doon. But I feel so at home there. I get relaxed and magaan - no matter how stressed and pagod I am."