For these beautiful, strong and successful women, what happened during a trip to Botswana simply couldn’t just stay in Botswana. Rather, it stayed in their hearts, where it grew into an even more meaningful friendship — the kind that they now carry with them anytime, anywhere.
By JOSE PAOLO S. DELA CRUZ
In a society that is somewhat accustomed to pitting women against each other, there’s always that sense of curiosity (and to some extent, disbelief) when one sees self-made women simply getting along — as they emanate a combined power that is admired and adored by the public, and, at times, even scrutinized from the safe distance of a screen.
But for social media superstar Small Laude, award-winning broadcast journalist Karen Davila, and education advocate and network executive Tootsy Angara, the glitter and glare of the spotlight end where real life begins. And this is where the magic happens.
Out of Africa
In 2023, Karen, Small and Tootsy, along with their respective families, flew to Botswana for a four-day African migration adventure and came home with the friendship of a lifetime.
“You know, we just clicked! When we were in Botswana, everything was so easy and just went smoothly,” recalls Small. “I’ve known Karen for a long time already and we’re very close. But Tootsy was a new friend back then. But my gosh, I just fell in love with her.”
And the feeling was definitely mutual. “One thing about Botswana is that there was no Wi-Fi, so there were a lot of meaningful conversations that happened, not just between us three, but also with our families together,” says Tootsy. “It’s different when you bond as a whole family with other families, and still feel like you don’t mind spending your days together.”
Karen, who has known both women for decades now, says that this very “sense of family” is what cemented their friendship in Botswana.
“As a mother who has a special child, I’m always very happy to see that my child feels at home when we travel as a group. And from the onset I’ve seen how Small and Tootsy love David,” she says. “The more I fell in love with these two when I saw how their kids treated David. Ambabait nila (They’re so kind)! When you have a special child, you want to see how your friend’s kids make an effort, because it’s a conscious effort.”
The fact that their husbands — Education Secretary Sonny Angara, businessman Philip Laude and corporate affairs executive DJ Sta. Ana — clicked, is also a boon to the friendship. “You know, Sonny’s so funny and DJ is so quiet. Phil is in the middle. But altogether, it can really result to nonstop laughter for all of us,” says Tootsy.
With that, the “Botswana Gang,” as their chat group is called, was born. And mind you, it’s not exclusive to three ladies on the PeopleAsia cover, but to all 16 of them who went on the trip — husbands, sons and daughters included.
For the love of friendship
Despite being glammed up for the cameras, Tootsy, Karen and Small had no qualms about holding the hair dryers for each other to get that wind effect on their hair as they took turns posing for their portraits. Indeed, they bring out the best in each other, not just in photo shoots, but especially on days that prove to be more challenging than others.
For one must remember that while these women may live very charmed lives, they, too, are no strangers to tough times. And it is in those rare, but very real moments of vulnerability that their friendship shows what it’s made of.
“From before and even now, Karen is always there. Every time I need her. Wherever she is, whether she’s abroad or in the US, or doing TV Patrol, she’s there,” says Small. “I’ll call her. ‘Hello, Karen. You have to listen to me,’ and she’ll say, ‘Dear, I’m on TV Patrol in the middle of the news!’”
Instead of hanging up, though, Karen would let Small talk anyway and respond to her in between commercial breaks. Talk about multitasking!
Karen, on the other hand, thanks Small to this day for having the courage to tell her that David may have autism — and for helping her find suitable treatments for him. “In times of trouble, I cry. And I cry a lot! Then I pray and talk to my best friends. I mean, it’s really therapy,” she says.
Having known each other for more than 20 years now, Small recalls the first time she met Karen. The first time I met her, I said, oh my gosh, I will click with this person. She talks like 99 words per minute! And then one time we were, arguing, Karen told me, ‘You, you know what? No one tires me but you. We’re like four people talking!’
Then, there’s the calming force in this triumvirate.
“St. Tootsy or Tootsy Rolls, as I call her!” Small says in jest, before adding. “We’re so lucky to have Tootsy with us, because she has no mean bone at all! She’s really kindhearted and understanding. You will not hear any negative word from her. I think that she always looks at the brighter side of the person or of any situation.”
Karen agrees wholeheartedly. “I think that’s the magic. As they say, birds of the same feather flock together. And parents say, who you choose as friends become the biggest influence in your life. It’s true. If you have a kindhearted friend, you learn to be kindhearted yourself. If you have a nurturing friend, you learn love. And vice versa.”
“Karen even told me, ‘Dear, kailangan maging close tayo kay Tootsy [we have to be close to Tootsy] so her kindness would rub off on us!” Small says with a chuckle.
While she knows that her friends will never be too busy for her, Tootsy, on the other hand, handles the tough times quite differently. “I go silent. Meaning, I really meditate and pray and pray. And I ask the Lord, what are you trying to tell me? If something happens to you, what do I have to do? What do I have to change? Amen? Amen!” she says.
Tootsy and Karen have also sailed on the same uncertain waters at one point in their lives, when their home network, ABS-CBN, lost its franchise in 2020. “The closure of ABS was life-defining for many people. We may have many friends, but not all of them understood that the closure broke our hearts.”
Through good times or bad, through thick or thin, in public and especially in private, the ladies of the “Botswana Gang” prove that a friend in deed is the only friend you’ll ever need — and that is exactly what Small, Karen and Tootsy are to each other!
Art direction by DEXTER FRANCIS DE VERA
Styling by ROKO ARCEO
Makeup by CARELL GARCIA (for Small), NIZEL REDUTA assisted by MK DE DIOS (for Karen and Tootsy)
Hair by ROWENA SONIDO (for Small), NICOLE ELIZALDE (for Karen), JOVIC PANGAN (for Tootsy)
Shot on location at the CHAIRMAN’S VILLA, SOLAIRE RESORT
Special thanks to JOY WASSMER and LIANNE GARCIANO
