Livin’ la vida buena in Boracay BY ISAH V. REDBORACAY - If some of us think Boracay is overrated, overexposed, overcrowded, and too hedonistic for comfort, you’d be surprised there are still those who think of it as one of the best places in this planet to spend a much-needed respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life in the concrete jungles of Makati and Ortigas Centre in Pasig and Mandaluyong.
Donita Rose is one. Yes, Donita, the former MTV VJ who is now blissfully settled with Eric Villarama, an information technology wizard working in Singapore, and mother to five-year-old son Joshua Paul, is hosting a travel magazine special titled Boracay ‘007.
“This is something out of the ordinary,” the still pretty Donita told us over lunch at Chili’s on Tomas Morato in Quezon City. “It is a documentary but not of the serious kind. We did some crazy stuff here to make it interesting to the audience.”
The show, by the way, is not going to be seen by Filipinos in the Philippines, but by Filipinos living abroad who, perhaps, have never heard of or been to Boracay in their lives. It will be telecast on ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel where it is available worldwide.
How did she get involved in a travel show?
A few months ago, Boracay Beach Club (in Station 1) main man Ariel Abriam had a notion of doing a TV special completely dedicated to the paradise island. His partner Koy Rivera said “hmmmm...” and called on two other buddies, Alvin Anson and Cyril Lorenzana. Koy later asked Angeli Valenciano what she thought of the idea and she answered with “Let’s put this on TFC and get Donita Rose to host!”
The four gentlemen who got together for this one-of-a-kind TV special call themselves Moguls.
Boracay ‘007 is essentially a travel magazine show on which Donita (the main host) invites some friends (model and Hit FM 99.5 DJ Tracy Abad, Magic 89.9 DJ Joey Agustin, and Koy) to come and spend some time in Boracay.
It is almost like a how-to-show. It tells the audience how to go to the island from Manila via Caticlan; where to take a pump-boat to the island; and how to live la vida loca en la isla.
Alvin Anson, an actor now based in Los Angeles, is the island partymeister. The hosts show where the viewers can stay (featuring the unique characteristics of the individual hotel). The audience gets information on where to eat (from exotic street foods to the fine dining restaurants).
Donita Rose is one. Yes, Donita, the former MTV VJ who is now blissfully settled with Eric Villarama, an information technology wizard working in Singapore, and mother to five-year-old son Joshua Paul, is hosting a travel magazine special titled Boracay ‘007.
“This is something out of the ordinary,” the still pretty Donita told us over lunch at Chili’s on Tomas Morato in Quezon City. “It is a documentary but not of the serious kind. We did some crazy stuff here to make it interesting to the audience.”
The show, by the way, is not going to be seen by Filipinos in the Philippines, but by Filipinos living abroad who, perhaps, have never heard of or been to Boracay in their lives. It will be telecast on ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel where it is available worldwide.
How did she get involved in a travel show?
A few months ago, Boracay Beach Club (in Station 1) main man Ariel Abriam had a notion of doing a TV special completely dedicated to the paradise island. His partner Koy Rivera said “hmmmm...” and called on two other buddies, Alvin Anson and Cyril Lorenzana. Koy later asked Angeli Valenciano what she thought of the idea and she answered with “Let’s put this on TFC and get Donita Rose to host!”
The four gentlemen who got together for this one-of-a-kind TV special call themselves Moguls.
Boracay ‘007 is essentially a travel magazine show on which Donita (the main host) invites some friends (model and Hit FM 99.5 DJ Tracy Abad, Magic 89.9 DJ Joey Agustin, and Koy) to come and spend some time in Boracay.
It is almost like a how-to-show. It tells the audience how to go to the island from Manila via Caticlan; where to take a pump-boat to the island; and how to live la vida loca en la isla.
Alvin Anson, an actor now based in Los Angeles, is the island partymeister. The hosts show where the viewers can stay (featuring the unique characteristics of the individual hotel). The audience gets information on where to eat (from exotic street foods to the fine dining restaurants).
The group then parties the night away at the choicest happening places, from sunset happy hour chill-out to the hottest dance grooves. They relax through massages on the beach. They have tons of fun doing a variety of available water sports and land-based trail activities.
The many facets of the island are discovered and experienced through the eyes of the hosts as they tie the show together on board a 70-ft. yacht and cruise the Boracay skyline with a helicopter. (It is the first time audiences can view an aerial shot of Boracay taken from a chopper.)
Manila Genesis Entertainment partnered up with the Moguls in this endeavor. It seemed only fitting with Alvin and Koy being two of the artists represented by them. Koy and Cyril shared directorial duties with the latter also doing the editing.
Manila Genesis Entertainment partnered up with the Moguls in this endeavor. It seemed only fitting with Alvin and Koy being two of the artists represented by them. Koy and Cyril shared directorial duties with the latter also doing the editing.
Original music was done by Minco Fabregas and the fun writing penned by Jackie Castillejo. Commander Ariel Abriam (US Navy, retired) provided all the fun stuff and gave everyone moral support by saying “yehey!” all the time. Mayor Ceciron Cawaling was also very generous in his support of the show.
Donita is very excited over the project. “This is one way of promoting Boracay not only to Filipinos abroad but also to foreigners who have not visited the island,” she says.
This was actually the first time Donita spent so much time on the island. Prior to the project, she had spent no more than three days in Boracay. Nowadays, you can hardly get her out of the place. She has since been lovingly adopted by the residents and is now considered a Boracaynon. The island has left her perpetually blooming. She is currently helping the Moguls think and come up with more shows to do on the island. Can anybody blame her?
(Boracay ‘007 (part 1), your guide to a dreamy lifestyle, will be airing May 27, Sunday on TFC at 11 a.m. in North America and Asia-Pacific, 11:15 a.m. in the Middle East, and 11:45 a.m. in Europe. In each region’s local time.
Donita is very excited over the project. “This is one way of promoting Boracay not only to Filipinos abroad but also to foreigners who have not visited the island,” she says.
This was actually the first time Donita spent so much time on the island. Prior to the project, she had spent no more than three days in Boracay. Nowadays, you can hardly get her out of the place. She has since been lovingly adopted by the residents and is now considered a Boracaynon. The island has left her perpetually blooming. She is currently helping the Moguls think and come up with more shows to do on the island. Can anybody blame her?
(Boracay ‘007 (part 1), your guide to a dreamy lifestyle, will be airing May 27, Sunday on TFC at 11 a.m. in North America and Asia-Pacific, 11:15 a.m. in the Middle East, and 11:45 a.m. in Europe. In each region’s local time.
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