Travel: One of best gifts parents could give to their children

What gifts can parents give their children that will last them a lifetime?

Fortune Aleta-Ledesma, consul of Monaco to the Philippines, believes that a good education and an opportunity to travel help develop “a richer, more passionate and more tolerant individual.”

“Travel, in my opinion, contributes to the development of a well-rounded individual,” says Fortune. “Not only does travel give one an opportunity to develop an aesthetic and intimate appreciation of cultures, but it also helps one develop a global world view of cultures, opinions and values far removed from our own.”

I’ve known Fortune for quite some time, meeting her at a variety of socials and parties. She is married to Rene Locsin Ledesma, president and CEO of Ledesco Development Corp. and honorary consul of Bulgaria to the Philippines. She has three children, namely Rene Jr., who is EVP of Ledesco Development Corp., Rina and Rico.

Many consider her to be one of the country’s most beautiful women. Last year, she was elevated to the Hall of Fame of Manila’s Best Dressed Awards. The Awards Search Committee, chaired by Gerry Contreras and co-chaired by Baby Fernando and Rosemarie “Baby” Arenas, included Belco Marketing chairperson Belen Lovina Ticzon-Martel and philanthropist Tereret Tambunting Liboro among the winners.

When Fortune talks of traveling, she also talks about her family, since she never travels without them.

“As my children get older and spend less time at home, I cherish our family trips abroad, because I am with my children practically 24 hours a day,” she says. “Traveling enables us to renew family bonds. Even if they are already in their 20s, I continue to hug and kiss them as if they were still five or six years old. I wouldn’t appreciate traveling as much if I weren’t with my husband and my three kids.”

In the Philippines, she singles out Tagaytay City as her favorite.

“The majestic view of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano, the cold, crisp and fresh air, the abundance of fresh fruits along the highway and its nearness to Manila make it one of my favorite destinations in the Philippines,” she says.

On the other hand, Paris is her favorite city in the world.

“I am a romantic at heart, and Paris is a city for romance,” she remarks candidly. “The scenery, the people and the landmarks just make it a wonderful city to get lost in.”

The Ledesmas have traveled extensively in North America, Western Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia. She says that she and her husband Rene now intend to visit more exotic locales around the world. They also look forward to the day when they will also be traveling, not just with their kids, but also with their children-in-law and their grandchildren.

The first time the family traveled together in one group, they went to the United States and visited Disneyland. RJ, the eldest son, was just six, while Rico was only six months old. A family picture commemorates the occasion.

“We all dressed up in period American costumes,” she says. “The family picture continues to occupy a special place in our sala. Every time I look at the picture, I end up smiling in nostalgia. In fact, every time we travel, I always make it a point to have a family picture taken, so that we can place it in the sala. You can imagine how many pictures have filled our sala.”

Fortune says their most memorable trip to Europe was a two-week stay in Spain that had them traveling around the Iberian peninsula. She says Rene wanted to spend more time in Spain. The trip happened before RJ had his first job and before Rina, the family’s only girl, entered college.

“We took a two-week tour of Spain where we visited all the historical and cultural landmarks in the country,” Fortune says. “My husband was particularly interested in visiting the town of Salamanca, which was near the town where the family derived its name, Ledesma.”

During that trip to Europe, the family also attended Easter Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Square in Rome and went on short pilgrimages to Lourdes, France and Portugal.

The family had also traveled to the Holy Land during one Holy Week.

“Fortunately, we were able to join a Filipino tour group, led by a Filipino priest, who provided commentaries and said Masses during the trip,” she adds. “We were able to visit many of the holy sites that Jesus Christ visited during his lifetime. We developed a better appreciation of the customs and practices of the Eastern Orthodox Church, of Judaism and of Islam.”

A recent trip to Boston coincided with RJ’s graduation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. On that vacation, they went on a walking tour of Boston’s historical spots, and also on a short visit to Martha’s Vineyard.

“For me, one of my favorite trips abroad was my recent visit to Monaco to attend their National Day,” she adds. “It was both a pleasure and a privilege to meet the Grimaldi family and the various ambassadors and consuls of Monaco from around the world.”

If only we can all travel like Fortune and her family. I believe the Filipino people will be endowed with the rich culture, tradition and points of view of the world.