Following in the footsteps of Bill Bensley
My father Vincent used to say, “To each man, his own madness.”
My mother Milagros would gently remind me, “Choose a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
I followed these two truths to the letter. As I grew up, these became my compass, and I would not trade the life they led me to for any other.
I must confess that I took 25 years to travel across the world, but I needed only 10 months to create my book 60 Dream Holidays Around the World. The last stage of my project reached a bottleneck because I was unable to locate a suitable cover artwork. Nothing felt quite right—until I fell in love with InterContinental Da Nang in Vietnam. The moment I saw it, I decided on my final choice. It became my cover page.
In that photograph, my journey finally made sense. The world created a map that connected all my past locations through a view of the blue ocean which showed my position between two elegant structures and colorful blossoms. The painting demonstrated how viewpoint development resulted in a complete understanding of life which presented itself as perfect existence.
When I was young, I first showed my natural talent for understanding new worlds which contained amazing possibilities. Disney enchanted me. I felt great joy watching the character of Willy Wonka in the film. Through The Wizard of Oz, Harry Potter, and Alice in Wonderland, I discovered imaginary worlds, which could materialize all my aspirations.
The adulation I had for the creator of such properties heightened when I had the special opportunity to meet award-winning architect Bill Bensley, who serves as the ultimate embodiment of whimsical design together with his stylish architectural creations.
On his advance birthday, I had the joy of gifting him with my newly published book, along with small pieces of home from the Philippines—Coconut Sula liqueur, Mango Rum, colorful capiz plates, and mango chocolates—offered with gratitude and affection.
I experienced a quiet feeling of blessing inside his exceptional office which he maintained in Bangkok, the city known as the “Land of Smiles and Angels.”
I immediately experienced his three qualities of kindness and humor and compassion. I experienced silent delight when he slowly turned the pages of my book and read out loud a special poem I had written for him. I thought I would read the poem myself but I was delighted when he proceeded to read it with so much heart and expression.
All his design work, which includes maverick hotels and resorts and various spaces, represents everything he has ever wished to achieve. His company operates more than 200 hotels and resorts throughout the world which maintain unique designs for each location.
I have been fortunate to experience several of his creations, which each left a distinct imprint on my soul. The latest one I visited was InterContinental Khao Yai in Thailand, which is a 19-hectare magical forest where vintage trains have been transformed into luxurious sanctuaries.
Over time, it has become celebrated not only for its creativity and luxury but also for sustainability practices, including repurposing materials (like railcars) and vintage things, GM Bertrand Van Hauw shared.
Capella Hanoi presents itself as an elegant theater space, which displays its artistic design through its restaurant area where we held a birthday celebration for my dear niece Alex Dayrit who was surrounded by artistic beauty and warm hospitality. The Siam in Bangkok provides a silent atmosphere that shows respect for its historic objects and everlasting aesthetic value, which allows visitors to experience the past through its quiet historical displays.
JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay is a whimsical, storybook resort designed by Bill Bensley as a fictional 19th-century university. Each building represents a different “faculty,” giving the resort a playful, imaginative soul. Set along a pristine beach, it blends pastel charm with French colonial elegance.
Four Seasons Chiang Mai presents a peaceful rural environment which creates a magical atmosphere at dawn when visitors can almost see fairies bathing in the rice fields. The Oberoi Agravilas hotel presents its dedicated atmosphere through each of its rooms which provide guests with sacred views of the magnificent Taj Mahal.
The Slate exists in Phuket as a transformed tin mine, which shows its industrial past through its creative design elements that merge with traditional elements of the area. Yen Tu exists as a mountain sanctuary which protects its spiritual heritage through its sacred space which allows people to pray and reflect.
Hotel de la Coupole in Sapa creates a dreamlike experience that combines French design elements with Asian cultural.
All these hotels and resorts share one thing in common—they were all designed by my all-time favorite, Harvard-bred, award-winning architect and designer par excellence; a painter, sustainability maverick, and true gentleman with the kindest heart: Bill Bensley.
Through these worlds, I rediscovered my original joy, which stems from my passion for storytelling and my capacity to imagine and my appreciation of beauty.
Fairy tales do come true—in the world of Bill Bensley, they still do.
***
To know more about Bill Bensley’s work and updates, visit bensley.com or follow @billbensley on Instagram.
