Several years years ago, the small tokador in background was home to two picture frames—one with photo of Ara and then-beau Jomari Yllana; the other the photo of Ara when she was two years old. The door behind her (partly hidden) opens up to her private spotless comfort room.

This walk-in closet was originally one of three bedrooms in the house. Ara attached it to the master bedroom and converted it into dressing room. Ara is a very organized person, and her clothes are arranged in very clear categories: formal dresses, colored T-shirts, denim pants. Her shoes are kept in their original boxes and labeled.

The dining room was a new addition to the house when Ara renovated a few years back, "Hindi siya room dati," Ara explains. "Bale pagpasok mo sa sala, dining [area] na agad. Masikip. So, nagpaalam ako sa [Ayala Land] management na magpapa-extend ako. Ganon kasi dito, hindi ka basta puwedeng gumalaw kahit sa iyo pa ang bahay. Pati design ia-approve pa nila. Dati, ‘yang part na ‘yan labas na, part na ng garden." Thus, she was able to extend the kitchen and sink area. "Kasi, sabi ko, aanhin ko malaking lote, masikip naman and bahay ko. Di, lumuwag, di ba?"

Originally, Ara wanted an open-air Jacuzzi on this spot, but changed her mind soon enough. Instead, she placed a fountain, which is best viewed at night when all the garden lights are on. Ara shares, "Alam n'yo ang babait ng kapitbahay ko dito. Noong first time kong nanalo ng award [sa MMFF] for 'Mano Po,' pinadalhan nila ako ng malaking card na nakapirma lahat sila doon. ‘Tapos, may mga messages sila na: ‘We're proud of you,' ‘Keep it up...' Ang sweet, sobra."

The house is proudly hers. She declined to say the full amount she paid for it, but admitted that the home extensions cost her P1.5 million. Just two weeks before this pictorial in 2003, she had the huge glass panels you see here changed from clear to tinted. Although, we must say that the results are great!

The guest room's black-and-white concept is Ara's. "Kasi noong bata pa ako, mga 14 to 15 [years old], ganyan talga ang dream room ko," explains the homeowner. "Siyempre, iba na ngayon. Pa-princess effect na ako, girl na girl. Pero sabi ko, why not make one dito sa bahay na ito? Para hindi monotonous."

Ara's 200 plus square-meter house stands on a 363 square-meter property. "Bale noong nabili ko ito, lupa pa lang," Ara tells us. "Noong nag-down [payment] ako, saka pa lang ginawa ang bahay. Ganoon ang system dito. Tapos, more or less pare-pareho ang itsura sa labas. Alam ko, isa ako sa pinaka-unang nakakuha dito. Phase 1 ito, e." Her neighbors, she says approvingly, are "mga lawyers...may isang mayor ng province, may general."

Ara has and her colletion of at least 200 perfume bottles! "Pero karamihan naman, dati ko pa nabili," she says. "Magmula nang mapunta ang isip ko sa bahay, nahinto na ako sa pagbili ng pabango." Among her favorites then are Annick Goutal, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Nini Ricci.

Ara calls this room, which is opposite the living room, "the gallery." The off-white shelf holds her acting trophies, neatly named photographs of herself and her loved ones, numerous photo albums, and volumes of magazine clippings, plus some of her favorite books (The Secret Language of Destiny and The Secret Language of Birthdays). To the left is a captivating French-style love seat.

This secretaire, a made-to-order piece, now stands as the living room's main accessory. It contains her angel collection. "And dami pa rin kasing nagbibigay sa akin," she says of the winged figurines. When closed, the upper door panels serve as mirrors.

Ara's interior decorator, Cynthia Almario of Ivy and Associates, helped her with the all overall look. Says Ara: "Bale ang ginawa nila, halimbawa itong sofa, pinapapili muna nila ako ng design, ‘tapos, papipiliin naman nila ako ng tela, ‘tapos ng kulay, saka nila gagawing ‘yong pieces. Kaya more or less, lahat ng gamit dito pasadya." Yellow and gold are Ara's colors of choice. "Kasama daw kasi sa lucky color ko ang light yellow," she smiles.

Ara's bedroom on the second floor has floral-upholstered walls with matching drapes. It is done what she calls "Victorian California romantic style." Her queen-sized bed—with its sumptuous white linen and lace, seven gigantic pillows and two small ones—add to the extremely feminine feel of the room. "Kasi pag nandito ako, talagang pahinga ang habol ko," she says. "'Yong blinds, talagang laging nakababa ‘yan para kahit umaga na, mukhang gabi pa rin. Saka kung mapapansin n'yo, wala akong TV dito. Kasi 'pag meron, hindi rin ako mapapahinga. Music lang ang meron ako dito. Nagpapatugtog ako ng mga Enya.. isa pa, bawal ang maingay sa neighborhood na ito."

A view of the living room from the second floor. Ara, a believer in feng shui, calls this her lucky house! She recall that when she transferred to this house in 2000, several projects came her way, including an acting award for Mano Po.