turista trails

With Metro Manila feeling the brunt of heavy traffic on multiple fronts, the neighboring province of Rizal has suddenly become an attractive alternative for staycations, vacations, and special events. Just at its fringe is the accessible Antipolo City which I consider to be an ideal location for a female friend's upcoming prenuptial pictorial. As a favor, I hied off with another friend to a newly-opened lodging called LeBlanc Hotel and Resort to check if it has the appropriate facilities that the bride and groom need for their night before the wedding ceremony.

LeBlanc Hotel and Resort is located at a tree-thronged side of the city where traffic is bearable and the air is still incredibly fresh. It's just a stroll away from the newly-rehabilitated Hinulugang Taktak Falls which makes the area less frenetic than the rest of the city. From its roof deck special event venue called Sky Garden, guests can have a whiff of serenity with expansive views of nearby hills and more trees. The hotel's location is perfect for last-minute wedding ceremony preparations and it fulfills the fantasy of a cozy but upscale ambiance that my female friend wants for her last night as a single woman and wife-to-be.

The Junior Suite

Our dinner table at The Bistro

The hotel swimming pool

Buffet breakfast at The Bistro

Here are three excellent reasons why LeBlanc Hotel and Resort is an ideal venue for your special event in Antipolo City:

1. Spacious Bridal Suite

The hotel's 70-square meter Premier Suite and 40-square meter Junior Suite are both spacious and perfect as bridal rooms. Since they're connecting rooms, guests can book them both and combine the serene and romantic spaces as one.

The Premier Suite

The Premier Suite and Junior Suite can be booked as connecting rooms

The Junior Suite

The Premier Suite's bathroom with bathtub and shower

The Premier Suite alone is impressive in terms of space. It has a living room with its own flat screen TV, day bed, spacious closet for wardrobe change, a full body mirror and dedicated bathroom. Its bedroom is assigned a king-sized bed, its own flat screen TV and a work desk with mirror. It's actually a corner space of the hotel's third floor which is generously installed with a couple of ceiling-to-floor glass windows. It has its own bathroom with a bathtub and shower.

The Junior Suite is almost as big and has a queen-sized bed. It also has the same impressive glass windows for unobstructed views of the busy street outside.

Both rooms share the chic minimalism and upscale design of the whole hotel from the modern working desk chair, easy-to-access closet to the bedrooms' ambient lighting. They are truly ideal for a bridal suite or overnight stay for a large group of guests.

Bathtub time in the middle of the day

The Premier Suite's living room

2. Excellent Meals At The Bistro

Leblanc Hotel's F&B facility is called The Bistro and it's what guests will initially see after check-in at the front desk. The restaurant is seamlessly connected to the hotel lobby, making dining an inviting activity to do even if you're just a walk-in visitor and has no intention of booking an overnight stay.

For guests of the hotel, especially for the bride and groom's company, The Bistro can be a fascinating prelude to a traditional wedding because its interiors are whitewashed. Its aesthetic exudes purity and effectively highlights the Filipino-Asian dishes that are available in its menu.

Rib-eye Steak

Kani Cheese Tempura

For our dinner's appetizer, my friend and I tried the Kani Cheese Tempura (Php180) which is a set of crabsticks and cheese deep-fried tempura. We also sampled the highly recommended Kevin's Burger (Php220) which is a one-fourth lb. beef patty with bacon and special garlic aioli mustard sauce. It was served with tasty crispy string potato fries, a fancy complement to the burger.

To continue our meal, we had the restaurant's top-rated main dish -- the Rib-eye Steak (Php1,200). The Bistro's version is always a 21-day aged US prime rib-eye steak that's well balanced in grade and marbling. The flavor and texture of the cut during our dinner was juicy and tender, respectively. It was served with fries but dining guests can request for either garlic rice or mashed potato. It's something that someone can reward himself with after a successfully closed deal or if someone's just on a sinful cheat day.

Rib-eye Salpicao

Kani Cheese Tempura

Kevin's Burger

Okonomiyaki

To up the dining ante, we also had the restaurant's Rib-eye Salpicao (Php500), an all-around potent dish that always reminds me of a friend of mine who once settled in Spain.

Of course, our meal had to find the balance via an offbeat menu entry in the form of a savory pancake called Okonomiyaki (Php200). The interesting vegetable dish from Japan contains a variety of ingredients that include eggs, shredded cabbage, bacon and other stuff. The dish is definitely a perfect break after indulging on beef for more than fifteen minutes.

General Tso's Pasta

Omelette station at the hotel's buffet breakfast

Our buffet breakfast plate

Rib-eye Salpicao

For buffet breakfast (room rate-inclusive) the next day, we had the same quality of cooked dishes. The buffet spread was decent. It included a couple of dishes along with garlic fried rice, omelette, fruits, bread and cereal in the roster. For brunch before our check-out, we also had the restaurant's famous spicy Asian-style pasta called General Tso's (Php320). It's something that spicy food aficionados will love even if Antipolo is not known as a destination for related dishes.

Walk-in visitors can try the restaurant's Buffet Breakfast for Php350 per head or they can opt for any of the All-Day Breakfast available (Tapa, Spicy Tocino, Chicken Longganisa, etc.).

3. Chic Swimming Pool and Poolside

LeBlanc's swimming pool is located at a secluded part of the property that's facing a lot of trees for natural views of the city. It's as chic and modern as the whole design of the hotel, making one's soak pleasurable any time of the day. It's also where a bride and groom's prenup photo shoot can extend from the guest room.

The swimming pool at night

Relaxing at the poolside

With my Contributing Photographer and friend, Josua Chan

The pool is distinctively divided for adults and kids, but are both designed to be in one continuous swath. It has changing rooms for male and female guests at the poolside and towels are readily available at the front desk.

All in all, LeBlanc Hotel and Resort has satisfied all the requirements that my female friend -- a future bride -- pointed out to me for her upcoming prenuptial photo shoot and pre-wedding stay. She will soon definitely contact one of the hotel's Events and Banquet Coordinators for her special event and I can only be excited in anticipation for that wonderful occasion.

Photography by Josua Chan and Karl Acepcion

Josua Chan is a Manila-based freelance photographer. He works in the TELCO industry and spends his free time growing fruits and vegetables in his small farm in Batangas.

LeBlanc Hotel and Resort

Official website of LeBlanc Hotel and Resort
Official Facebook fan page of LeBlanc Hotel and Resort

Address: 3 Taktak Rd., Antipolo, Rizal
Phone: (02) 509 1840
Mobile: +63 917-504-7086
Email: reservations@leblanc.com.ph

Magalang is known for its heliograph towers, a vintage tool of communication in the time of the Spaniards. It's also where colonial houses attract long lost loved ones to see each other for reunions. And because it's blessed to have ubiquitous views of Mount Arayat, several resorts here have successfully maintained operations in the past decade. With the addition of the newly-opened Nauvoo Farm Resort, this town of Pampanga is also likely to lure more nature-loving travelers for quick getaways than ever before. It's no more than two hours by bus (EDSA to Marquee Mall) and jeepney (from Marquee Mall to Magalang town proper) from Metro Manila anyway. Just add a 15-minute tricycle ride from the town proper and you're there!

Nauv-what?

If the mention of "nauvoo" sounds a bit foreign to you, then you're likely not familiar with Hebrew because it's a word in that language which refers to what's beautiful as mentioned in the bible, particularly in the book of Isaiah (52:7): "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"

Resort grounds

View of Mount Arayat from the swimming pool

The view of the swimming pool from the poolside bar

The function hall

A balikbayan couple from Nevada decided to make the 4.5-hectare mango tree plantation their cozy place of retirement a few years ago. Discovering that the property they have now called their new home looked and felt idyllic, they named it after the Hebrew word. It is, after all, what they consider as God's gift to people like them who endured being hardworking Filipinos in the US for many years and came out fulfilled with two well-rounded sons. They soon transformed the area into a farm resort where they're now also growing coffee beans.

Made for Nature Lovers By Nature Lovers

Nature lovers will love the ideal blend of the mango tree-thronged space, modern swimming pool with a spectacular view of Mount Arayat on a good day and a garden area that's installed with a native gazebo. Here, it's easy to take it slow and keep deadlines away. Kids can be playful at the swing while the adults can sing their hearts out at the videoke (for rent at Php700 only). After dinner, those with the predilection for a nightcap can grab a glass of drink at the poolside bar and just relax at one of the comfy recliners.

The front porch of our booked villa

Our booked villa called Rosal

Overnight with friends

Villas To Book

The farm resort currently has four air-conditioned villas for overnight stays with one villa called Sampaguita that's good for four guests while the rest -- Rosal, Ilang-Ilang, and Cadena de Amor -- are ideal for large groups. All villas have a refrigerator, flat screen TV, bathroom and assigned bath essentials that include towels for the poolside and shower. Electric fans are also available inside the lodgings just in case guests prefer to use them instead of the AC in different times of the day.

The dorm-style villa called Rosal was where I recently stayed with seven of my friends for a weekend vacation in the province. It's good for 12 guests at Php12,000 per night (with free breakfast) as it's decently outfitted with six bunk beds, making the stay basically Php1,000 per head only.

The lounge area of our booked villa

Meals at Nauvoo Farm Resort (dinner and breakfast)

The resort management, though, allows the booking of a group for less than the desired number of guests per villa like in our case. This means that the rate per head will still be Php1,000, but the total cost will just depend on the total number of guests.

Highly Recommended Villa

I highly recommend this accommodation for those who need to gather a large number of people for less the cost. Surprisingly, the villa is more visually appealing inside as it combines modern and rustic designs with the use of upscale materials in its flooring and bathroom fixtures and native materials for its ceiling and capiz window panels. There's even a living room space for lounging on a wooden sofa set and a quaint front porch for more idle time of relaxation. All in all, the lodging felt homely.

The view of Mount Arayat at the resort on a good day

Snack by the pool

Poolside restrooms

The Ilang-Ilang villa is the biggest in the property and it can accommodate a total of 14 guests because aside from its assigned bunk beds, it's also outfitted with a couple of queen-sized beds and one single bed. The last villa called Cadena de Amor is as big as the one we stayed in which means that it can also accommodate 12 guests.

Resort Facilities

Since our group is a mix of guys and girls, we thought that we'd have a difficult time queuing for the one large bathroom in our villa. It turned out that the resort has plenty of decent bathrooms (shower and toilet) that are designated in two strategic places in the property.

I actually preferred using the bathroom near the function hall as it's as modern as the one inside the villas but it's more accessible from the pool. This meant that I didn't have to walk all over our booked lodging's floor all wet which is actually a pet-peeve of mine.

Recline and relax at the poolside

The function hall is next to the swimming pool

The pool at night

Exclusive Booking and Day Tour

The whole resort can be booked exclusively for Php40,000 and guests can have access to all the property's facilities, including the kitchen and function hall aside from the lodgings and swimming pool. The rate is ideal for 40 guests.

Should you opt to visit the resort on a whim without making any reservation for an overnight stay, you can pay the entrance fee of Php200 on-site and enjoy the fee-inclusive access to the swimming pool during the day. You can even bring your own food or grill supplies on site.

Special Event Packages

For special events, the resort has a table and chair-filled function hall where event guests have access to the swimming pool and the hall's barbecue grill. Interested parties can choose from the Daytime Event Package (8:00am-4:00pm at Php8,000), Nighttime Event Package (5:00pm-11:00pm at Php10,000) or All-Day Event Package (8:00am-11:00pm at Php15,000).

A moment in Magalang with friends and the owners of the resort (see their blogs at the end of this article)

Hearty breakfast

My favorite memories at the resort would have to be my nighttime and daytime soaks at the pool with friends and the hearty breakfast. It was amazing that in all of those instances, I was always gazing at the silhouette of the nearby Mount Arayat. It's true what our old folks say about mountains -- that being around them is almost always enthralling regardless of the time of the day.

Indeed, Nauvoo Farm Resort is beautiful. More than that, it's where connections with friends and loved ones are nurtured beyond words.

How To Get There By Commute From Metro Manila:

• Board a Dagupan-bound Five Star Bus in Cubao, Quezon City (EDSA) for Php120+. Get off at Marquee Mall which is roughly an hour's ride.
• At Marquee Mall, board a Magalang-bound jeepney for Php20 and get off at the corner across Jollibee at the town proper where the tricycle terminal is.
• Board a tricycle for Brgy. Ayala where the resort is (Special Fare: Php100).

For more reviews about this resort, visit the travel blogs of my friends: Lagaw Travelogue, Lonely Travelogue, Project Gora, Escape Manila, Galaero Escape Travels and Traveling Light.

Nauvoo Farm Resort

Official website of Nauvoo Farm Resort
Official Facebook fan page of Nauvoo Farm Resort

Address: Orchard Village, Brgy Ayala, Magalang, Pampanga, Philippines
Mobile: (Globe) 0917-467-4620; (Smart) 0928-672-0863
Email: info@nauvoo.com.ph

More than having relaxing views of Mount Arayat, Magalang has a couple of imposing remnants of its colonial past. Two of 10 heliograph towers or solar telegraphs still stand in the town where they were once used as an important tool of communication by the Spaniards. The other ones were erected in Mabalacat in Pampanga and Concepcion in Tarlac.

Declared as Important Cultural Properties

The structures can be found in Brgy. Sta. Cruz and Brgy. San Isidro with the former being in a more well-preserved condition. The latter is located at the property of the Caryana Monastery. In 2016, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) declared both structures as Important Cultural Properties (ICP) along with the municipal hall and San Bartolome Parish Church.

Seeing The Tower Up Close

During my overnight stay at the newly-opened Nauvoo Farm Resort, I had the chance to see the tower in Brgy. Sta. Cruz. It's approximately 65 feet in height and is just a stroll away from a major thoroughfare like a typical street arch. As a matter of fact, the street where it stands now was constructed around it like it's an island on a mini-rotonda.

Courtesy of Magalang Tourism Arts & Culture Office

I was on my way to Brgy. Ayala where my booked resort is located, but I insisted that my tricycle driver make a necessary stopover in the area from the town's Plaza de la Libertad. The young driver seemed oblivious of the attraction that I mentioned to him until one of the older drivers approached him and mentioned about the "torre sa bukana ng kalsada" or the tower at the street opening in English.

Torre Heliografico Explained

A succedent to the heliotrope, the heliograph is an optical communication device. It's mounted on a tower and designed to send wireless messages by means of flashes of sunlight. The flashes are signals produced by momentarily pivoting a mirror. The resulting signal can travel long distances and needs to be transmitted from a high spot to another distant station because of the earth's curvature.

Also known as Torre Heliografico, the two 20-meter high military communication towers were constructed by Spanish soldiers in the late 19th century, but the one in Brgy. Sta. Cruz has a chance to be declared as a National Cultural Treasure (NCT) because of its well-preserved state according to Magalang Tourism Officer, Ryan Miranda.

Located in Brgy. Sta. Cruz

According to Joel Pabustan Mallari of Katatagan Inc., the communication stations are unique to each other. Made of fine red bricks and stones of pumiceous rocks and volcanic tuff, they are an attraction in themselves after being exposed to the elements, including minor quakes, for more than a century.

There were other similar towers that the locals recall to have existed in the town, but they were believed to be mere smoke outlets or for other random purposes which meant that they were not given the right attention enough to be preserved.

Special thanks to Ryan Miranda of Magalang Tourism Office

How To Get To The Tower In Brgy. Sta. Cruz From Metro Manila:

• Board a Dagupan-bound Five Star Bus in Cubao, Quezon City (EDSA) for Php120+. Get off at Marquee Mall which is roughly an hour's ride.
• At Marquee Mall, board a Magalang-bound jeepney for Php20 and get off at the corner across Jollibee at the town proper where the tricycle terminal is next to the Plaza de la Libertad.
• Board a tricycle for Brgy. Sta. Cruz where the tower is (5-minute ride).

Year after year, Discovery Shores Boracay has been proving itself to be the Philippines’ best luxury resort as it is consistently being recognized all over the world. The property’s sincerity in fulfilling its promise to always deliver a distinct brand of service has earned them another accolade to be proud of as it was recently named to the 2017 Travel + Leisure ‘World’s Best Awards’.

Made for the purpose of delighting guests with unique and memorable experiences, Discovery Shores Boracay ranked 7th in the Top Best Resort Hotels in Southeast Asia. The T+L World’s Best Awards survey was based on ratings from travellers all over the world and focused on service, location, facilities, food and overall value. An independent Filipino brand, the resort is the only Philippine property on the list and shared the prestigious recognition alongside top resorts hailing from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, among others.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Discovery Shores Boracay is known for its stunning location, authentic Filipino hospitality, and excellent brand of service fondly called “Service That’s All Heart.” It is also a dining destination through Sands and Indigo Restaurants– both serving a delightful menu of satisfying local and international dishes. The resort is also home to Terra Wellness Spa, a world-class spa that assures guests with ultimate rejuvenation and relaxation.

Two Bedroom Premier

Junior Suite

Two Bedroom Suite Living Room

Discovery Shores Boracay has recently been chosen as the Favorite Beach Resort Hotel by The People’s Choice Awards 2017 and received numerous recognitions from TripAdvisor such as the 2017 Traveller’s Choice Awards and Certificate of Excellence. It is also nominated in the 2017 World Luxury Hotel Awards under the following categories: Luxury Wedding Destination, Luxury Island Resort and Luxury Family Resort.

Discovery Shores Boracay shares this achievement with The Discovery Leisure Company Inc.—the management company behind the distinguished Discovery brand of properties (Discovery Suites, Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay, Discovery Primea and Club Paradise Palawan) and its owning company, Discovery World Corporation.

Indigo Restaurant

Sands Restaurant

Private dinner by the beach

For inquiries and reservations, contact Discovery Shores Boracay at (+63 2) 720.8888 / (63 36) 288.4500, email reservations@dsb.discovery.com.ph or visit DiscoveryShoresBoracay.com.

As a kid who regularly tagged along with my mom to her hometown in Infanta, I'm quite familiar with the amusing bus ride to this coastal town in Quezon Province. The then nine-hour commute was always crowded and sweltering. By the time we'd reach the municipality of Real, our faces would always be drizzled with dirt road dust like they were the delicacy called espasol. Along the way, deep in the highly vegetated Sierra Madre, our faces would feel damp from all the elements.

Since it was not an air-conditioned ride, protruding stems and leaves would often slap our faces next to the window, jolting us out of our sleep. Interestingly, I always got fascinated by how exotic everything looked from my puny vista. Never mind the scary daytime trips when I had to bear with views of the bus' wheels struggling to miss the cliff. For some bizarre reason, I always fantasized about getting stranded in the stopover and having to find my way through the dense forest.

Exploring General Nakar

Fast-forward to 2016, the bus commute is now reduced to just three hours as a result of the dirt road being paved. I also finally ventured on foot into a few portions of this vast mountain range in mainland Luzon. Accompanying a volunteer for the Save The Sierra Madre Network Alliance (SSMNA), I hiked past a trail bifurcation twice in General Nakar's Barangay Pagsangahan to reach the emerald green Tutulakan River. I was also fortunate to visit a couple of Dumagat tribe settlements -- one that's remote in Barangay Umiray's Maktang via Dinggalan and another in Masanga that's accessible via Infanta. Both were challenging to reach for someone sheltered like me. I never thought that my desire to fulfill a morbid fantasy could overtake my clumsiness and introduce me instead to an ascetic understanding of nature.

Tutulakan River

A Dumagat at the thorny Baniladan Beach

Masanga Cove

Knowing The Dumagat Tribe

The Sierra Madre compelled me from afar and soon converted my restraint. It enticed me to shake off inhibitions, leading me to imbibe how the Dumagat natives perceive the forest and their culture. They are called as such not because they're without a home.

A portmanteau of their native word "duma" which refers to being naked and the Tagalog word "gubat" which is forest in English, their identity reveals exactly where they belong. As a speck of the rest of the Philippines' Indigenous People (IP), they constantly move around the same mountains. It's where they live, after all, practicing a fascinating biodegradable civilization.

Dumagat crossing the Baniladan Beach

The pier in General Nakar

A gathering of Dumagat tribe members in Maktang Beach

Dumagat tribe members aboard a balsa in Tutulakan River

Maktang overlooking the Pacific Ocean

The Inhabitants and The Inhabited

In fact, a natural forest is perceived differently by most members of this tribe living in the thick woodlands of the mountain range. Unlike how urban dwellers understand the term, they know it to be more than just tree plantations. For them, it's an ecosystem of different tree species sustaining varied plants and animal life. It's a life chain that seamlessly connects the inhabitants and the inhabited. One can't survive without the other as even the Christian bible tells of man being given the dominion over God's creation (Genesis 1:26-30).

To the rest of the Filipinos living nearby, the Sierra Madre is more than a natural citadel that tames typhoons. It holds watersheds that supply drinking water to city dwellers and irrigate farms. It's pertinent that soil erosion and siltation of such areas do not occur to avoid impairing aquatic life and coastal landscapes. Any threat to the watersheds like deforestation and illegal development projects being peddled under the guise of "special-use zones" can even result in urban flooding.

The coast of Maktang

Lulumnan Beach

Scaling the Tibulsot in Baniladan Beach

An early morning angler in Masanga

Masanga Cove on low tide

The Case of The Dam Project

This is why the tribesmen representing the Dumagat are opposing the P18.7-billion New Centennial Water Source (NCWS) dam project that the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) has been pushing for to be constructed in Kaliwa River. At stake to be be submerged are the mountain village of Pagsahangan in General Nakar, a 9,700-hectare watershed, and nearby towns. Bound to be displaced are about 1,460 families.

First Line of Protection

If anything, the Dumagat natives can best monitor their terrain. It's their ancestral domain after all. As forest dwellers, they are the best park rangers that the country can count on. They are the first ones to identify threats and the most reasonable ones to relay them to authorities. Since their livelihood depends on the forest, they can be the first line of protection from nefarious activities like illegal logging, land-grabbing, and small-scale mining.

Lulumnan Beach

Having a quick soak at Lulumnan Beach

The Dumagat seafood diet in Masanga

Masanga Cove

An angler in Masanga

The Forest Cover We Have

With the Sierra Madre representing 40% of the total forest cover in the country, any decrease in the proportion can be considered life-altering. According to studies done by the SSMNA, the forest cover is now at 23% low. The country needs it to be at 54%. To achieve it, the SSMNA supports the conservation and protection of the mountain range, plus alternative livelihood for the Dumagat like eco-tourism.

I'm yet to see the Sierra Madre denuded on a massive scale, but I don't even have to imagine it to know the disastrous effects of misdemeanors committed in pockets of the mountain range. The unfortunate time when the mighty Agos River overflowed in 2004 was enough proof of how decade-long deforestation could kill people and disrupt a way of life.

Maktang

Where young Dumagat kids cliff-dive in Lulumnan Beach

A Dumagat resting in Baniladan Beach

The surf-worthy Maktang Beach

Masanga Cove

A Dumagat on a seafood hunt at the coast of Maktang

Briefly resting from my hike in Maktang

It's every Christmas season when the 13th month pay and bonuses are released to hardworking Filipino workers who hustle and do the daily grind all throughout the year. It's also the time when these same people schedule their vacations -- whether solo or with loved ones -- to slow down time and relax with the notion that the next year is just around the corner. Festooned with childlike excitement, they temporarily leave their urban cocoons and embrace the annual year-end revelry.

Unfortunately for most of them, booking hotels and resorts also become a dreaded work in itself. It's when they aimlessly face the computer searching for where to spend their hard-earned money on. If not blowing it all on some random destination that nowhere looks and feels like a holiday getaway, they sometimes beat the vacation deadline and end up booking whatever's available online. The result can only be a forgettable retreat that they wished didn't happen to begin with.

For everybody's convenience, I've compiled eight essential holiday destinations in mainland Luzon that I've tested for myself in the past five years of travel blogging. They're all worthy of leaving your comfort zones for. They usually have a cold climate all throughout the year, but they all definitely feel chilly every December. The holiday weather even persists in these parts even every start of the new year. Divided in two categories -- popular and cool alternatives, they're destinations that you're likely to wake up to with a piping hot coffee in the morning.

4 Popular Destinations
If the following destinations bore you to death, please scroll down further to view my other recommendations that I consider as four cool alternatives:

1. Baguio City, Benguet

What's in store: For as long as our parent's parents can remember seeing a pine tree, Baguio City has always been a preferred getaway to celebrate the Christmas season. It doesn't cease to amaze new travelers and the holiday nostalgia is always popular with repeat visitors.

Baguio City proper

Baguio City Public Market

View of Baguio City from Camp John Hay

Choco-late De Batirol

Classic attractions to visit include Camp John Hay, The Bell House and Amphitheater, Burnham Park, Mines View Park, and dining destinations like various restaurants along the Session Road and the charming Choco-late De Batirol.

Which lodging to book:Baguio GM Apartel, Peredo's Lodging House or Microtel By Wyndham-Baguio
For those on a tight budget, the affordable Baguio GM Apartel can work. If you want to splurge a little on a no-frills stay that's still luxurious, the reliable Microtel By Wyndham-Baguio is highly recommended. If you want to have an authentic stay in a century-old highland home, try the historic Peredo's Lodging House.

2. Tagaytay City, Cavite

What's in store:Tagaytay City is blessed to have a combo of a terrific climate and enthralling Taal Lake views. Some prefer to enjoy golfing at the Tagaytay Highlands, but the sought-after activity here as a result of the terrain is going on a food trip which always culminates with drinking a hot beverage at a cliff-side cafe that offers views of the distant Taal Volcano. For most tourists, they simply want to cuddle next to a loved one on a comfy bed that overlooks the same vista.

Taal Lake view from Tagaytay City

Tagaytay Highlands at night

Tagaytay Highlands

View of Tagaytay from Tagaytay Highlands

Which lodging to book:Casa Alegria
There are a lot of hotels to choose from, but Casa Alegria is perfect for those on a mid-range budget as an overnight stay allows for an access to a well-designed guestroom that shows a stunning view of Taal Lake and a swimming pool that shares the same panorama.

3. Sagada, Mountain Province

What's in store: Sagada, as a destination, is just one facet of how this trip to Mountain Province can be a great holiday vacation. Cliche as it may seem, the journey to it is part of its irresistible lure. From your car or commute, you can start gazing at wonderful views of cliff-side vegetable farms and rice fields that can make your whole trip quite memorable.

Sagada town proper

Dap-ay at Rock Inn and Cafe; Photo courtesy of RockInnSagada.com

Hiking at the Rock Inn and Cafe property

Rock Inn and Cafe's orange orchard and rock formation; Photo courtesy of RockInnSagada.com

Once in Sagada, you will need to register at the Municipal Tourist Information Center and pay the necessary Environmental Fee. Your receipt will be checked upon entering caves and other tourist areas.

Which lodging to book:Rock Inn and Cafe
When I visited Sagada, I hardly had to leave Rock Inn and Cafe because it offered me a piece of what the highland destination has in all its nine-hectare entirety.

It has a dap-ay, a set of stone slabs where guests can enjoy a bonfire at night. It also has a restaurant where lingering in odd times of the day can be worth one's while. Guests can also enjoy orange-picking at the orchard. It's surrounded by a pine forest that makes you forget that there even exists a civilization outside of the property.

4. Tanay, Rizal

What's in store: It's remarkable how you can be in Rizal's Cogeo where it's usually as hot as Metro Manila and be minutes away in Tanay where it's suddenly chilly. As a matter of fact, it's where a sea of clouds can be viewed in select areas. Pine trees can also be seen covering a part of this town's Sierra Madre which makes travelers in Metro Manila choose this destination over having to spend almost half a day's travel to Baguio City.

View of Momarco Resort in the morning

Sierra Madre view from Sierra Madre Resort

Regina Rica

Bikers love to spend stopovers at the Sierra Madre Resort to see a different side of the sprawling mountain range. Catholic pilgrims often visit Regina Rica for refreshing views of the same terrain. Almost always, there's a rainbow spotted in these parts of the town which can be great for photos.

Which lodging to book:Momarco Resort
Momarco Resort has various types of lodgings for different guests. You can choose a hotel guestroom or a secluded casita. Large groups can even book a whole house for privacy.

4 Cool Alternatives

1. Orani, Bataan

What's in store: It's a bit odd how travelers always pass through Orani to reach the province's various historical attractions and never get to its part where it's as chilly as Baguio or Tagaytay. This side of Bataan can be found in the village called Tala where most hikers for Mount Natib commence their rugged adventure of the Bataan Natural Park. It's here where it can be foggy in the morning and in the afternoon. What many don't know is that it's just roughly a couple of hours away from Metro Manila.

View of the Bataan Natural Park from Vista Tala Resort and Recreational Park; Photography by Josua Chan

Hiking the Pinagbutasan Trail of Orani; Photography by Josua Chan

Vista Tala Resort and Recreational Park; Photography by Josua Chan

A foggy morning at the Pinagbutasan Trail; Photography by Josua Chan

Which lodging to book:Vista Tala Resort and Recreational Park
Vista Tala Resort and Recreational Park is located at the jump-off point of Bataan Natural Park hikers. Its unique location offers guests wonderful views of Orani's highly vegetated forest from its well-appointed guestrooms and cliff-side swimming pool.

2. Tayabas City, Quezon Province

What's in store: Where Mount Banahaw can be viewed, it's almost always certain that the place can also have its share of its unpredictable weather conditions. This makes Tayabas City equally unpredictable. It can be balmy in the morning and suddenly chilly, to the point of being breezy, in the afternoon. If anything, the city is ripe for relaxing getaways that can rival Baguio and Tagaytay. Two historical attractions to visit are the age-old Tayabas Basilica and the stone-arched gem that's Malagonlong Bridge.

Graceland Estates and Country Club

Tayabas Basilica

Deer farm in Tayabas City

Graceland Estates and Country Club

Which lodging to book:Graceland Estate and Country Club
This 22-hectare property is probably where the city can look and feel the most like it's Christmas time. For one thing, Graceland Estates and Country Club has a deer farm. Here, the climate is as cold and rainbows can be spotted in the morning or early afternoon after a brief drizzle.

3. Nasugbu, Batangas

What's in store:Nasugbu is comfortably the easiest destination to visit when you're in chilly Tagaytay because it's just at the border of Cavite where the latter is. Simply tackle the Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway to reach this equally chilly destination which can be foggy all throughout the day from October to January. A reasonable attraction to visit when you're here is the charming Caleruega Church where a lot of romantic weddings and solemn retreats are held.

View of Nasugbu from Caleruega Church

Misty morning at Chateau Royale

Chateau Royale Park Resort

Which lodging to book:Chateau Royale Nature Park Resort
It's at Chateau Royale Nature Park Resort where you can have misty mornings and foggy nights. In the middle of the day when the sun is up, you can opt to hie off to its sprawling wave pool where there's a swath of beach sand for a poolside.

4. Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

What's in store:Pagudpud is famous for its cerulean beaches. What not many tourists know is that further up this Ilocos Norte town's so-called Pico De Loro Norte, the surroundings can be foggy in the early morning and late afternoon.

Pannzian Beach

Pico De Loro Norte

Pagudpud Beach

Which lodging to book: Pannzian Beach Resort
At the foot of Pico De Loro Norte in Barangay Pancian is where Pannzian Beach Resort is located. It's just 30 minutes by bus from the border of Cagayan and approximately 45 minutes from the municipality center of Pagudpud. Aside from access to a swath of Pagudpud Beach, guests are given the freedom to read a book or simply lounge around because of the absence of mobile phone signal, Wi-Fi access, radios and television sets.

Have you now decided where you'll be this coming Christmas season?
Check out more travel recommendations just in case.

At the Tagaytay Highlands

Discovery Primea Makati

The Discovery Leisure Company is thrilled to announce that its two signature hotels, Discovery Shores Boracay and Discovery Primea Makati, made it to the shortlist of the Condé Nast Johansens 2018 Awards for Excellence. Fans of the two well-loved hotels have one last chance to vote until October 19, 2017, Thursday.

The world-renowned Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence was created to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across their recommended hotels and resorts, and is a trusted mark of quality recognized by travelers and hospitality professionals alike.

“We are deeply honored to be part of the shortlist of Condé Nast Johansens 2018 Awards for Excellence,” said Jun Parreño, Chief Operating Officer of The Discovery Leisure Company. “This is not just a milestone for our Group, but for the country as well as we make waves in the tourism industry. We humbly ask for your votes. Together, let’s make the Philippines proud.”

Discovery Shores Boracay

How To Vote?

Vote here for Discovery Shores Boracay under the Best for Families category.
Vote here for Discovery Primea Makati as Best Urban Hotel.

Shortlist voting will close on Thursday, 19 October 2017.

About The Discovery Leisure Company, Inc.

The Discovery Leisure Company, Inc. is a Filipino hospitality group that manages a collection of hotels and resorts in exquisite locations around the Philippines. Its distinctive destinations inspire authentic experiences for every traveler, from Discovery Suites Ortigas, Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay, Discovery Shores Boracay, Club Paradise in Coron, Palawan, to the newly-opened Discovery Primea Makati. The Discovery Leisure Company, Inc.’s portfolio of award-winning properties is known worldwide for its signature Filipino hospitality, marked by genuine and personalized “Service That’s All Heart.”

With established operations in the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, AirAsia is the only airline that directly services all 10 ASEAN countries. In fact, AirAsia Group carried 13.4 million people within ASEAN last 2016 and it continues to deliver only the best service and widest connectivity according to AirAsia Philippines (AAP) CEO Captain Dexter Comendador. Proof of this pursuit is its announcement that it will start servicing flights from Manila to Bali and Jakarta in Indonesia and to Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam.

AirAsia Philippines CEO Captain Dexter Comendador

All-In Fares Starting October 19, 2017

To celebrate the expansion of AirAsia's ASEAN connectivity, all-in promo fares are available from as low as Php2,590 starting October 19, 2017 until October 22, 2017 for travel period on November 17, 2017 to April 30, 2018 for Ho Chi Minh City. AirAsia starts flying to Jakarta on January 9, 2018 and to Bali on January 19, 2018. You can book your flights at airasia.com and also available via AirAsia's mobile app or visit its partner travel agents.

ASEAN Connectivity

"It is an exciting time for all of us in the Philippines as we continue to bring the country closer to our neighbouring cities within the ASEAN region and beyond via AirAsia's inter-ASEAN connectivity and massive network," Captain Commendador said.

Flying AirAsia

First time to fly? There are sights to see even on your way to your destination like this one aboard AirAsia.

AirAsia's Manila-Denpasar/Bali (IATA CODE: DPS) and Manila-Jakarta (IATA CODE: CGK) will operate daily starting January in 2018 while Manila-Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon (IATA CODE: SGN) will commence on November 17 with flights every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.

More About AirAsia Philippines

AAP currently operates a fleet of 17 aircraft with domestic and international flights out of hubs in Manila, Cebu, and Kalibo. The airline operates several flights to and from Manila, Davao, Cebu, Kalibo, Caticlan (Boracay), Tacloban, Tagbilaran (Bohol), Puerto Princesa (Palawan), Clark and Iloilo in the Philippines with international flights to and from Shanghai, Taipei, Incheon (Seoul), Hong Kong, Macau, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Guangzhou, Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore.

Awarded the World's Best Low Cost Carrier for nine consecutive years running by Skytrax since 2009 to 2017, AAP is part of the AirAsia Group.

Be updated with AirAsia's latest promotions and activities via Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Book your flight.

Sprawling across Laguna and Quezon Province, Mount Banahaw easily changes the moods of towns that lie next to it. This includes the bucolic scenery in Lucban where I recently had an overnight vacation with six friends. A sight of the mountain's silhouette at Samkara Restaurant and Garden Resort easily disarmed me of any unnecessary blues that I might have brought with me from Metro Manila. It's just two hours away but, here, everything looked and felt different. Genteel structures obstructing the skyline were nowhere to be seen. Instead, attractive coconut trees and farming fields dominated the views. Most of all, it was always breezy.

It's of little wonder why hospitality expert Agnes Luna chose to transform the property from a private family hideaway into a fully operational resort and restaurant. Something so attractive couldn't be left to be appreciated by just a few people. Since formally opening in 2015, it has already catered to numerous local and foreign tourists who have made repeat visits because of its accessibility in this side of mainland Luzon. Visitors don't need to make boat transfers to experience a worthwhile retreat and there's a van in Alabang's Festival Mall that regularly leaves for Lucban where the property is located.

At the foot of Mount Banahaw with travel blogger friends

The Mayaw Room

Great for families

Countryside ambiance

Still not sure how to enjoy a visit of Samkara Restaurant and Garden Resort? Check out the following three reasons that can prove it to be worth your while:

1. Delicious Dining In The Middle of Nowhere

Samkara Restaurant and Garden Resort's location at the border of Lucban makes it highly accessible to both Majayjay and Lucban residents. This makes this spot in Barangay Igang a delicious one for dining out with loved ones. Surprisingly, locals regularly take the time off at least once or twice a week from their usual home-cooked meals to enjoy Chef Levy's stellar dishes.

The souvenir shop and restaurant

Pancit

Pepperoni Pizza

Turon

Diners can order traditional Quezon Province favorites like the hardinera and Lucban longganisa or choose from a panoply of international dishes. Regardless of the order, though, one's lunch or dinner usually becomes extra-special because of the refreshing views of nature. The restaurant's dining area is cleverly designed to showcase vistas of the neighboring rice fields and coconut trees.

Since the property is located along the scenic Lucban-Majayjay Road, more and more travelers from Metro Manila and the rest of Laguna are starting to find it as a top choice for delicious stopovers, especially with its ample parking space.

Extension of the main restaurant

Bamboo Rice

Suso Sa Gata

Bangus a la Pobre

2. Charming Venue For Intimate Special Events

If you're looking for a pleasant space for your upcoming special event, look no further. Samkara has special event facilities to cater to a decent number of participants. The charming scenery at the property is conducive for intimate meetings, seminars, and banquets.

Enjoying our idle time at the natural pool (fresh spring water from Mount Banahaw)

The resort at night

It's actually easy to book a venue anywhere, but one that can naturally ease the nerves and even transform a typical event into a memorable one is hard to come by. The scenic journey alone to this spot in Lucban is worth the trip, so booking an event at Samkara is an easy choice.

3. Relaxing Countryside Vacations

Foreign tourists are usually the ones who gravitate towards a rustic vacation where the countryside scenery of the Philippines can be best experienced because it's what they don't have back home. However, it's also becoming evident to the staff of Samkara that a lot of Filipinos also love the native ambiance of kubo-style guestrooms, Ifugao-inspired huts and "batis" pool maybe because it's something that they no longer get to see in the modern cities where they are based.

The Ugma Room that's great for a large group of guests

The Ugma Room even has a daybed and a couple of private verandas

The lovely Mayaw Room that's romantic for couples

The Mayoyao Ifugao Family Hut which has an open living room at the base

Inside the Mayoyao Ifugao Family Hut

Guests can stay at a variety of lodgings like the Ugma that's great for a large group and the Mayoyao Ifugao Family Hut that's great for 4 to 6 guests. Couples or small families can opt for either the native Kalawili or the semi-modern Mayaw which both have a private veranda.

For someone who has stayed at Samkara more than once, I can honestly say that the best part of the overnight stay is the breakfast. In the morning, the place doesn't just look different. It also somehow affects the first meal of the day in that the latter becomes quite delicious because the scenery is refreshing and everything looks so crisp and colorful.

Breakfast with my travel blogger friends

Tinapa Rice

All-meat Lucban Longganisa

Fried Biya

Children or kiddie guests are often the ones who are fascinated by the day tours (free use of the pool and a rate-inclusive lunch and afternoon snack for Php400; kiddie rate at Php200) because they get to see ducks or fish for fresh tilapia at the property.

Starting this October, their sense of fascination will be heightened by the opening of the resort's latest attraction -- the Santa House, an amusing space where they can take photos next to an array of attractive holiday displays, toys, and knick-knacks. It's something that the owner of the resort is determined to keep as a tradition every year in preparation for Christmas, especially with the whole town proper of Lucban also into an annual decorative spectacle that's called Paskong Payas.

A newly-installed Christmas manger near the restaurant

The Santa House

Toys and displays at the Santa House

Ducks can be seen at the resort

An attractive destination such as Samkara Restaurant and Garden Resort is not common in the Philippines. And it shouldn't be because it's where you're supposed to temporarily forget your urban worries and determine what's precious in your own version of life.

Book your stay.

Photography by Aubrey Gacer and Karl Acepcion

Aubrey Gacer is a Manila-based freelance photographer. Check out his work at Gacer Photography.

Samkara Restaurant and Garden Resort

Official website of Samkara Restaurant and Garden Resort

Address: Sitio Malinao, Brgy. Igang, Lucban, Quezon Province, Philippines
Mobile: 0917-674-2693 or 0947-922-0081
Email: reservations@samkara.ph
Manila Sales Office: 5309 East Asia Drive, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Philippines
Mobile: 0916-469-6276

Artist Pepot Atienza in Lucban

When you're in Lucban and it's not time for the Pahiyas Festival or the Paskong Payas (held every December), you have no excuse to be amused. The atelier of artist Joffrey Zamora Atienza, a.k.a. Pepot Atienza, can be an interesting side trip to your day-long sashaying in this Quezon Province town that's festooned by colorful kiping and native knick-knacks two months of the year. It's one thing to be impressed by the locals' handiwork and it's another thing to visit an artist's studio where creativity is on steroids all throughout the year.

Always A Doll Moment

A University of Santo Tomas graduate, Pepot is currently making waves in the children's book industry as an illustrator. His colorful work -- a contrivance of a smorgasbord of clay sculptures, doll reinforcements, and other household junk rendered in digital composites -- can be seen in bookstores nationwide.

One such book is the award-winning "Malong: The Magic Cloth". Penned by Mary Ann Ordinario-Floresta, the book tells of growing up in Mindanao where a cloth that's perceived to be magical turns into a hammock, a mosquito net, a war-time bag for essentials, a dressing room and a prayer mat, among others.

Pepot's work in progress -- Cindy's 365 Bags and More

The guestroom with Pepot Atienza's painting on the wall

The entrance to Pepot's atelier

Inside Pepot's atelier

From Atimonan To Lucban

The Atimonan-native recently moved in at a cozy spot behind the 5-hectare pilgrimage site called Kamay Ni Hesusin Brgy. Tinamnan. According to him, making Lucban his new base was an easy decision because of its climate and surroundings. The house rests on a tree-thronged hilly terrain that's also cleverly landscaped with different kinds of plants. He's planning of having it available for tourists' overnight stays soon since it's complete with an adorable front porch, living room, well-equipped kitchen and guestroom. A nearby hill in the same property can even be a great camping site.

The house is currently where he stays when he's engaged on his work at the studio that's conveniently located below the property. As with any typical artist, the workroom is designed to let in natural light that's filtered by a row of vegetation for creative inspiration.

The charming front porch of the property

Pepot with his creations

Malong: The Magic Cloth

Off-Center Perspective

After quitting his corporate job, Pepot started dabbling with watercolor to express his point-of-view that's usually about lucid dreams and out-of-this-world creatures. Or at least that's how I see some of his artworks that are displayed at the studio and on a wall of the guestroom. He probably got it from growing up at a coastal town where sea breeze has an enigmatic effect on one's sense of imagination. In any case, he has an off-center perspective of the world and it seems to be doing him good now that he's bent on pursuing clay as an art medium.

Art Shop Promoting Lucban

Some of his time is spent producing creative souvenirs for his online shop that's aptly called Pepot Art Shop. Its best-sellers are mostly items that promote anything about Lucban from mugs, shirts to bags. You can check the shop's featured items here.

This guestroom will soon be available to tourists

The lovely pathway to the house

The potential camp site for guests

First Solo Exhibit

You can catch "Imahika", his first month-long solo exhibit, at the Lucban Art Gallery that's located at the Escuela Pia Bldg. from November 11, 2017 to December 11, 2017. The gallery is open from Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.

How To Get There:

• Via Alabang, board a Lucban-bound van at the Festival Mall. Get off at the town proper.
• Board any tricycle for Brgy. Tinamnan, specifically the road behind Kamay Ni Hesus. The gated property is located at the beginning of the dirt road.

With fellow travel bloggers showing off items by Pepot Art Shop

Photography by Aubrey Gacer and Karl Acepcion

Aubrey Gacer is a Manila-based freelance photographer. Check out his work at Gacer Photography.

Pepot Art Shop

Email: pepotartshop@gmail.com
Mobile: (042) 540-1761

Casual travel is about the freedom to move about. It doesn't require a rigid itinerary. It lets you be carefree with your activities and with what you wear while you experience them. It's about the ability to pair stuff on a whim. For such trips in chic hotels and other destinations in the Philippines, I'm so into Pull&Bear's stylish but affordable shoes and shorts.

Beyond the status quo of how a traveler needs to look like, Pull&Bear (P&B) is a brand that has endured the dizzying trends of fashion. From being a newbie player in 1991 to having cornered the casual getup market in top cities worldwide in 2017, it has certainly made a great impression on me. This is why for the past year, whenever I was in the mood to splurge on a new pair of sneakers or pair of denim shorts, I ignored the more popular brands in malls and lingered in P&B's DIY-style store at SM Megamall.

The P&B store in Mandaluyong City is anything but intimidating for a frequent traveler like me. It features different kinds of materials that are normally associated with DIY or construction sites. The ambiance is as chill as its pinewood, painted concrete, and renovated textures. It's definitely created for today's social media age and community of constant selfies.

Sneakers with broguing

Photo courtesy of Pull&Bear.com

My old pair of P&B canvas shoes

My Pull&Bear Stuff

1. Blue Sneakers with Broguing

I always love a pair of shoes with broguing or decorative perforations. It adds an appealing detail to a simple design like the pair of blue sneakers that I'm currently using for casual travel. It's eye-catching but not too flamboyant for my contemporary taste.

My P&B sneakers are made of leather with the sole being made of vulcanized rubber. The lining is 90% cotton and 10% polyurethane which makes it both comfortable and practical in keeping water out. The wear resistance is amazing as I've tested because the overall design is rendered with waterproofness, insulation, and breathability. It also has considerable second-hand value and a potential energy source when donated for recycling. Most of all, it's easy to clean with a damp cloth.

I also loved my old pair of plimsolls or canvas shoes from P&B which I pushed to its limits in 2016. I didn't hesitate using them at the beach (just because they're also called sand shoes) and in the highlands of Benguet. I have since laid it to rest after much overuse.

Outdoors in Benguet

Indoors with my pair of Pull&Bear sneakers

Shorts and shoes by Pull&Bear

2. Bermuda Shorts

Growing up skinny, I almost stayed away from wearing shorts until I finally gained enough weight as a young professional. P&B's bermuda shorts is, perhaps, the only line that I liked wearing after being seen by my friends in one too many thrift shop quality shorts. They probably ignored my lack of fashion sense for wearing a lot of the latter because I managed to compensate that inadequacy for pairing my old pairs with sleek-looking polo and statement shirts.

My new pair of P&B bermuda shorts is definitely my favorite among my other pairs. If anything, its seams are a clear standout for being a few inches up my knees which can be easily unflattering for someone like me who isn't necessarily proportionate in built. Thankfully, it fits me just fine.

How about you? Which Pull&Bear stuff do you have in your closet?

For more info about Pull&Bear, check out its official websitehere.

If the ancient Laguna Copperplate Inscription is to be believed, Lucban is formerly part of an older expanse called Kasumuran that also covers the neighboring towns of Majayjay and Nagcarlan. Much is yet to be debated about this information, but what's certain is that the more-than-400-year-old town is famous worldwide for its flamboyant tradition -- the Pahiyas Festival. The colorful revelry pretty much sums up what this side of Quezon Province is about -- a colorful thanksgiving to a bountiful harvest. The annual festival marks the local scenery with much influence that it now has an offshoot festival -- the Paskong Payas.

Lucban is no more than three hours away from Metro Manila and is also quite accessible from the Bicol Region that it has become a favorite stopover by travelers on a long road trip. All in all, this relaxing destination at the foot of Mount Banahaw is guaranteed to always be worth a visit.

After having visited it four times since 2015, I can attest that making a dash through just a few activities is not enough to have a genuine whiff of what the town is about. To ensure that you will really enjoy your stopover, overnight stay or long vacation here, I listed down 10 exciting things to do that are usually not in other people's top 10s:

Paskong Payas

1) Celebrate the Paskong Payas Festival

The Paskong Payas Festival started only in 2016 as an offshoot of the famous Pahiyas Festival. This means that it's also about a colorful thanksgiving of sorts but it's celebrated in December to coincide with the Christmas season. As a result, the mood is one of holiday cheer and the public decorations are an interesting mesh of nature's bounty and Christmas.

This is a great way to take a stroll through the narrow streets of the town because residents would be visible either at their doors and windows of their houses or right in the middle of the road, depending on the state of their home's decoration. Some can be seen weaving leaves into an intricate mat or matching colors of kiping to form patterns. The whole town suddenly becomes one big living room on a holiday hustle anywhere you look.

Read more about Paskong Payas.

Pancit Habhab

Making the Longganisang Lucban at the town proper; Photography by Aubrey Gacer

Longganisang Lucban at Samkara Restaurant and Garden Resort

2) Go On a Food Trip of Pancit Habhab and Longganisang Lucban

Locals here can't go hungry because they'll always have a full stomach after mindlessly snacking on pancit habhab for only Php10. And you get to try it for yourself when you visit the town proper. A strip of eateries are located just outside of Lucban Church and it's where the delicious break takes it course from ordering the pancit, receiving it on a piece of banana leaf to drizzling cane vinegar on the whole shebang. The delicious culmination is when you burp for satisfaction. For it to happen, though, you'll need to bury your face on the whole noodle dish and directly eat off of it with your mouth sans the use of fork or chopsticks.

In the same vicinity, you can also spot a lot of nondescript stores that sell Longganisang Lucban. Most of the stores are also in the same locations where they make the garlicky treat, so you'll probably see two or three locals exposed or behind humble dividers stuffing casings with meat mixture and forming them into links. Some make them in hefty forms wherein pork fat is as much part of it as lean meat. However, the smaller longganisa are really the tastier ones because they're just pure meat.

The view of the Saint Louis of Toulouse Parish Church from the Lucban Tourism Office

Inside the Saint Louis of Toulouse Parish Church

Saint Louis of Toulouse Parish Church

3) Visit the Saint Louis of Toulouse Parish Church and Lucban Tourism Office

After your food trip, you can conveniently stroll in the same vicinity to see the impressive baroque architecture of the Saint Louis of Toulouse Parish Church. Made of cement and lime, the elaborate facade of the structure looks glorious from any angle. Its shape at the top is flawlessly echoed by its arched windows which gives the impression of clouds or the feel of heaven on earth.

Just next to the church is the Lucban Tourism Office where you can inquire with tourism officials or any staff on duty about the town and where else to go that you have not considered in your itinerary.

The old Lucban Cemetery Chapel

4) See the Ruins of the Old Lucban Cemetery Chapel

Fond of old ruins? Most houses in Lucban are already modern, but it has an old cemetery chapel that's still standing. It was built in the late 1700s on top of a hill that overlooks the town. Featuring a twin belfry, the mortuary church can still be seen past rows of graves and is a great reminder of the town's old scenery.

Lucban Municipal Museum

5) Make a Side Trip to the Lucban Municipal Museum

The Lucban Municipal Museum just opened two years ago at one of the oldest structures in the town, but its collection is nothing like its young age. At the historic Gusaling Escuelapia, the museum houses anything old and remarkable that have been donated by the residents like a vintage kalamay stirrer, a metal pan, and notable World War II relics. It's accentuated at the center by a well-preserved trombone used by a long-departed local musician named Laureano Racelis Elma of the Banahaw Band (Banda Banahaw).

From time to time, a part of the venue (specifically the hallway to the museum floor) also shows solo and group exhibits of the town's various artists.

Lucban-based artist Pepot Atienza at his atelier

Pepot Atienza's creations; Photography by Aubrey Gacer

Inside the atelier of artist Pepot Atienza; Photography by Aubrey Gacer

6) Be Inspired at Pepot Art Shop

If you happen to have caught a glimpse of a solo exhibit by artist Pepot Atienza at the Escuela Pia's Lucban Municipal Museum, you may also be interested to know where his art works are conceptualized and brought to life.

Look no further than Pepot's atelier that's just behind the famous pilgrimage site called Kamay Ni Hesus in Lucban. The art studio is located in the same rustic home where the artist is currently staying whenever he's on work mode with his dreamlike creations of tortured and whimsical dolls. The clay sculptures have been featured in a popular children's book and he's currently working on another book's illustration. The site is also where he gets his inspirations for Pepot Art Shop's souvenir items that mostly promote the town's festival and various local trends.

Read more about Pepot Atienza.

Kamay Ni Hesus

7) Reflect at Kamay Ni Hesus

What's known as a pilgrimate site, Kamay Ni Hesus is where tourists -- religious or not -- flock to for a chance at meditation or a no-fuss break. It's a great alternative to visiting the town plaza since the 5-hectare property is a lot bigger to explore. It even has an attraction called Noah's Ark which also serves as the structure for the park's accommodation, function hall, and restaurant. An overnight stay costs Php800 per head and the rate comes with free breakfast.

Malinaw Spring Resort

8) Swim at the Fresh Malinaw Spring Resort for Php10

If you're just on a day tour and you want to make it count, you can make a quick side trip in Barangay Igang where a mountain spring water is known to be flowing straight from Mount Banahaw. Called Malinaw Spring Resort, this roadside attraction is right next to a bridge that connects Lucban to Majayjay. For Php10 only, you can take a refreshing dip and ease your nerves of all the exhausting touring that you've been doing the whole day.

A guestroom at Samkara Restaurant and Garden Resort; Photography by Aubrey Gacer

Dining at the restaurant of Samkara

The poolside of Samkara Restaurant and Garden Resort

9) Stay at the Relaxing Samkara Restaurant and Garden Resort

If you're after real Lucban hospitality, an overnight stay at Samkara Restaurant and Garden Resort should be in order. The property is also in Barangay Igang and just right across Malinaw Spring Resort. Here, guests are given access to a well landscaped garden that's surrounded by coconut trees and accentuated by a relaxing view of rice fields. The rustic lodgings and natural pool are also a dream to experience since they exude a distinct countryside charm that no longer exists in the bustling town proper. Most of all, food is divine at its restaurant which is also open to walk-in visitors.

Read more about Samkara Restaurant and Garden Resort.

Samkara Restaurant and Garden Resort dwarfed by a view of Mount Banahaw

10) View Mount Banahaw from the Town's Rice Fields

Lucban shares a view of Mount Banahaw with its neighboring towns, making the weather here a bit unpredictable any day of the year. This means that it can drizzle in the morning and be balmy by brunch. As a result, a view of the mountain's silhouette is something that's also unpredictable. Fortunately, the vegetated part of Samkara Restaurant and Garden Resort's property (beyond its natural pool where a path leads to the rice field expanse) allows for fantastic views of the natural attraction on a pleasant day.

Are you ready to visit Lucban? Book a stay.

As a long-time resident of Pasig City, I was overjoyed when I found out that a new lechon belly restaurant called Belly Good Boneless Lechon Belly (BGBLB) has finally opened near the city proper in late 2016. It took me a few more months to visit the area where it's located -- the Hampton Gardens Arcade in Barangay Maybunga -- but that first visit soon became almost a weekly one. I just couldn't get enough of the restaurant's succulent oven-roasted pork belly and its crackling crispy skin. Lechon belly has become part of my diet since then.

Hooray For 1 Belly Good Year!

Owners Andrei and Cha Sarmiento are celebrating the first anniversary of their new business venture. It's only been a year but the overwhelming response from local diners has been great according to the married couple. The ambiance is a cross between upscale and casual because of the dining area's industrial-meets-chic details. Don't look for anything native like a bamboo chandelier or an ultra rustic seat to remind you of how roast pork was promoted in the '80s. In this age of selfies and Instagram-worthy flat lay shots, the interiors of BGBLB is anything but dated.

Sizzling Squid

From Grandma's Kitchen To His Own Kitchen

After being at the helm of numerous experimental businesses, Andrei finally ventured into his passion which is cooking. He did grow up assisting his grandmother at the kitchen as a kid on special occasions, so fulfilling his dream of working in his own kitchen as an adult just felt inevitable.

There was a time when the long C. Raymundo Ave. in Pasig City looked like a no man's land for being inundated with factories and warehouses. The sight is totally opposite today when both sides of the road are constantly bustling with commercial activities with the presence of restaurants, groceries, bakeries and condominiums. The site of the complex where BGBLB is located can't be more attractive as a venue for Andrei's oven-roasted creations.

Bellychon

Andrei Sarmiento of Belly Good Boneless Lechon Belly

Seafood Marinara Pasta

Tuna Basil Pasta

Streamlined Menu

He has managed to keep the menu streamlined with stellar lechon belly-centric dishes and only introduced this November a couple of new seafood dishes to match the discriminating taste of their patrons along with the Salted Egg Shrimp, Fresh Lumpia, and the Kapampangan-favorite Gising-gising.

If you've dined more than once at the restaurant, chances are you've requested for pasta. Fortunately this month, BGBLB has the mild-tasting Tuna Basil and Seafood Marinara, two pasta dishes that can definitely compliment a table filled with roasted pork orders.

Barbecue Ribs with Potato Salad

Kare-karechon (right)

Bellychon Options

For those who haven't tried BGBLB, the lechon belly called Bellychon can be ordered solo for only Php165. And that's with a serving of steamed white rice and red iced tea already! It's served with atchara and lechon sauce. You can upgrade the rice to Bellychon Rice which is both delicious and healthy for having a turmeric mix.

If you're on a date, you can opt for the Php210-worth Bellychon Duo, a hefty plate of oven-roasted pork belly that's good for two people. Simply order rice to add to it and you're set to enjoy your meal. Other variants include the Family (4 to 5 persons) for Php410, the Barkada (8 to 9 persons) for Php800, the Party (roughly 2 kilos for 15 persons) for Php1,600 and the Feast (full slab for 30 persons) for Php2,800.

Sizzling Squid

More Favorites

BGBLB favorites also include the Kare-karechon, a bowl of "bellychon" slices in homemade peanut sauce and served with eggplant, beans and cabbage. It also comes with bagoong and can satisfy two to three persons for only Php275.

Based on my dining experience at BGBLB, other standout orders are the Barbecue Ribs that's served with a complimenting Potato Salad and the potent-tasting Sizzling Squid that's topped with garlic confit and served on a plate of BGBLB's signature soy mix.

Deliveries and Special Events

For deliveries of the Bellychon variants, simply call the mobile number at the end of this article. For exclusive events, you can book the whole restaurant for a consumable rate.

There's really no point leaving Pasig City for the nearest mall if you're in the mood for a sinful meal. And if you're just outside the city, Belly Good Boneless Lechon Belly is definitely one roast-errific reason why you need to close the fridge at least once a week and simply order what can make you smile.

Photography by Aubrey Gacer and Karl Acepcion

Aubrey Gacer is a Manila-based freelance photographer. Check out his work at Gacer Photography.

Belly Good Boneless Lechon Belly

Official Facebook fan page of Belly Good Boneless Lechon Belly

Address: Unit 208 Hampton Gardens Arcade, C. Raymundo Ave., Brgy. Maybunga, Pasig City
Mobile: 0917-542-0130

Chef Fara in action

A new Mexican cuisine-inspired food stall is making foodies crazy (in a good way) in Pasig City and at its helm is a chef who used to work for Nobu Manila. Co-owned by Chef Fara Pakdamanian, La Loca Mexican Cantina is not your ordinary taco and burrito nook. If anything, it serves a hefty tray of nachos that's a big hit with diners who love to share the treat over a bucket of beer. Ironically, the fiesta-style nachos can be had in a food court setting at Tiendesitas' Food Village in Brgy. Ugong.

Concert and Dining Hall

In the middle of the large dining arena that transforms into a concert hall on special nights, the stall stands out for serving authentic quesadillas, tacos, nachos and burritos. It's easy to understand why foodies from nearby offices, exclusive villages, and locals from Brgy. Rosario love to linger in the large dining space. They simply appreciate the community atmosphere here.

Rice Platter (Cajun Chicken)

Burritos

Quesadillas

Tex-Mex For Pinoys

Chef Fara's take on the cuisine is pretty close to what's authentic in Mexico for having a mélange of distinct flavors from tangy, savory to a kick of spiciness (a level that any sweet-loving food Filipino can tolerate). It's Tex-Mex designed for the Pinoy palate.

From Secluded To Mainstream

I first dined at the original venue of La Loca Mexican Cantina at The Main Park, a relatively new food park at a secluded residential area of Pasig City. It was there where Chef Fara amazed me with his hefty and inventive taco bucket that could tame anybody's hunger pangs for hours.

Nachos

Now that the stall is on a more mainstream location, I'm confident that more Mexican-cuisine lovers can indulge on his streamlined roster of Soft Taco (Flour Tortilla, cabbage, pico de gallo, cheddar cheese, signature La Loca sauce and tomato salsa), Burrito (Flour tortilla, Mexican rice, cabbage, pico de gallo, signature La Loca sauce, tomato salsa and camote chips), Rice Platter (Mexican rice, pico de gallo, cabbage, signature La Loca sauce, tomato salsa and jar of lemonade) and Quesadilla (Flour tortilla, caramelized onion, cheedar and mozzarella cheese, signature La Loca sauce, tomato salsa and camote chips).

All treats are available as Cajun Chicken and Pulled Beef options with the Quesadilla being available also as Cheese & Caramelized Onion in addition to the chicken and beef options.

Soft Opening Promo

For the stall's soft opening, customers can get a free bucket of six beer bottles for every order of the Pica Platter (Option 1: Overloaded Nachos; Option 2: Mix Platter of Chili Taquitos, Cheese & Onion Quesadillas and Nachos).

Check Out A Short Video of La Loca Mexican Cantina:

Visit La Loca Mexican Cantina soon and taste what's crazy-delicious in this side of Pasig City!

Photography and Videography by Aubrey Gacer

Aubrey Gacer is a Manila-based freelance photographer. Check out his work at Gacer Photography.

La Loca Mexican Cantina

Official Facebook fan page of La Loca Mexican Cantina

Location: Food Village, Tiendesitas, Brgy. Ugong, Pasig City, Philippines
Food Village Schedule: 11:00am-12:00am
Email: lalocamexican@gmail.com

Planning A Staycation in Pasig City Soon?

Book your next stay in Pasig City. Check out this list of hotels.

(L-R) Jac David Pimentel-Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila and Maria Teresa Josefa Cruz (3rd from Left) Dusit Thani Manila tied together for the Outstanding Sales and Marketing Manager, Christine Urbanozo – Ibarreta, HSMA President and Director of Sales and Marketing of Golden Phoenix Hotel Manila, The Marketing Team of Acua Verde Beach Resort: A Pet Friendly Gem in Laiya- Winner of Marketing Campaign of the Year led by Tess Samaniego, Amie Villena – The Bellevue Resort, winner of Outstanding Sales and Marketing Leader award, Rose Libongco- VIRTUS Chair,Margarita Munsayac-HSMA Chair and VP for Sales and Marketing Bluewater Resorts,Marvin Nisperos- Estigoy, VP for Sales – Business Mirror, Carmela Bocanegra, HSMA Director for Public Relations and VP for Sales & Marketing Chroma Hospitality Inc. and Jaymart Lorenzo – Quest Hotel and Conference Center Clark, winner of Outstanding Sales and Marketing Associate

Holding their trophies that symbolize triumph and honor, the winners of the Hotel Sales & Marketing Association’s recently-concluded 3rd Virtus Awards 2017 proudly posed for photos. The elegant trophies were specially designed by noted artist Joey Ong, a twice grand prize winner of the Art Association of the Philippines. This year's winners were formally announced in a Gala Dinner last October 23 at the Mayuree Ballroom, Dusit Thani Manila.

Tracing The Roots

Organized in 1979 from the informal gatherings of Metro Manila's top hotel directors of sales and marketing, the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) is in the noble pursuit of providing hotel sales and marketing professionals with the necessary tools, insights and expertise to move their brand and serve as essential entities in the ever-evolving hotels and resorts industry.

The Birth of The Virtus Awards

Under immediate past president and current chairperson, Margarita F. Munsayac, the Virtus Awards was launched in 2015 to recognize excellence among sales and marketing practitioners in the hotel and resort industry. The multi-category competition offers a unique platform among hotel sales and marketing professionals in the Philippines to convey stories of excellence and success that resonate well beyond their sphere of influence. It is designed to shift paradigms in hospitality excellence.

Know more about the Virtus Awards.

The Virtus Awards

Official website of The Virtus Awards

(L-R) Midori Clark Hotel GM-Mr. Vic Chan, Midori Clark Casino GM-Mr. Manny Aure, Aqua Planet GM - Mr. Rafael Suarez, Mr. James Lee of Eagle Sky and OVBD Shift Manager Ms. Kim Lansang during the Christmas tree Lighting Ceremony

As the yuletide season approaches, Midori Clark Hotel and Casino launched the second leg of the Corporate Social Responsibility Program - Angels’ Dream 2017 along with the Giant Christmas tree Lighting Ceremony held last Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at its hotel lobby.

This ceremony kicks off the start of the month-long run of this year’s Angels’ Dream and the celebration of the Making Spirits Bright hotel festivities.

During the launch, some of the 600 Aeta kids who were the beneficiaries of this year’s movement joined the celebration and showcased their talents by featuring their indigenous songs and dances which entertained the guests and sponsors of the event.

One of the highlights of the event was the hanging of wish cards, wherein kids hung up their wishes onto the Hotel’s Christmas tree. These symbolize that these wishes and dreams of the little youngsters can be fulfilled by the heaven-sent or the partners of the breakthrough. A few days before Christmas, the little angel’s dream will come true. Santa Claus will come a little bit early as the gift giving ceremony will take place on December 15, 2017.

“With the tagline "Be a Blessing by Giving", Angels’ Dream 2017 aims to beat the 2016 record by fulfilling the wishes of 600 Aeta kids. We are encouraging our guests and business partners to sponsor a child's wish. All together we can make Christmas even brighter, more meaningful and something that always leaves a jolly mark in the heart,” says GM Vic Chan.

Highlighting the event was the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony which was spearheaded by the Midori Clark Hotel and Casino’s Top Management - Mr. Vic Chan the Hotel General Manager, Mr. Manny Aure the Casino General Manager together with its subsidiaries Mr. Rafael Suarez, the Aqua Planet Manager, OVBD Shift Manager Ms. Kim Lansang and Mr. James Lee of Eagle Sky.

Certificates of Appreciation were also awarded by the participating schools to Midori Clark Hotel and Casino executives and some fruits, vegetables and root crops were also given by Aeta Kids as a gesture of gratitude.

After the launch, company representatives will be visiting schools in Sitio Babo, Sapang Bato, Sitio Haduan, Sitio Monicayo, Marcos and Macapagal Village for a series of weeks to provide some program, early treats and get wishes of the other Aeta kids.

The Angels’ Dream 2017 is in partnership with BBI Foundation, Aqua Planet, OVBD and Eagle Sky.

Support the breakthrough, help us in making spirits bright and be a blessing by giving this Christmas! We've got many great ways for you to do. You may approach the Front Desk Team or contact us at +63 45 308-8888/ +63 917-653-6666 or email marketing@midorihotel.com.

Midori Clark Hotel and Casino is located along C.M. Recto Avenue, Clark Freeport Zone, Philippines.

Get updated about Midori Clark Hotel and Casino:

Facebook: @midoriclarkhotel

Instagram: @midorihotelcasino

Twitter: @midoriclark

Know more about Midori Clark Hotel and Casino.

AirAsia loves ASEAN livery on AirAsia's AirbusA320 was officially presented today in celebration of ASEAN50

AirAsia has launched AirAsia Loves ASEAN, a series of initiatives focused on education, talent development and the economy to celebrate 50 years of ASEAN.

The initiatives comprise the AirAsia ASEAN University Partnership, ASEAN Entrepreneurs Day, ASEAN Journalists Camp and Allstars Exchange Programme.

Through the university partnership, AirAsia will give tertiary students from across the region the opportunity to intern in various capacities with the airline, with a chance to secure full-time employment upon graduation.

ASEAN Entrepreneurs Day will reinforce AirAsia’s commitment to ASEAN entrepreneurs by providing them with a forum to learn from the best startups in the region and a platform to develop and market their businesses, starting with Indonesian actor, host and VJ Daniel Mananta’s “Damn! I Love Indonesia” brand.

Dr. AKP Mochtan, deputy secretary general of ASEAN and (R) AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes pour champagne to formally present AirAsia's plane bearing I Love ASEAN livery to mark ASEAN's golden jubilee in Manila; Photography by Chuck Dreyfus

To encourage better reporting on ASEAN, AirAsia will host the ASEAN Journalists Camp, a workshop for journalists that will build a greater understanding of ASEAN’s brand of regionalism, how the organisation works, social, development and integration issues as well as sustainable, community-based tourism.

Lastly, AirAsia Allstars will get the chance to experience working and living in other ASEAN countries through the Allstars Exchange Programme, which aims to foster cultural exchange at a working and personal level.

AirAsia Loves ASEAN was launched at event held at the Philippine Air Force Headquarters at Villamor Air Base in Metro Manila, the Philippines on November 14, 2017 that was attended by ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Dr AKP Mochtan, Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Dato' Razlan Abdul Rashid, Philippine Congressman Cesar V Sarmiento, Philippine Assistant Secretary of Tourism Daniel Mercado, Philippine Assistant Secretary of Trade Abdulgani Macatoman, Indonesian Director of Aviation Security M Nasir Usman, PAF Commanding General Lt.Gen. Galileo Kintanar, well as AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes and other members of the AirAsia management.

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes; Photography by Chuck Dreyfus

At the launch, AirAsia also unveiled an “I Love ASEAN” aircraft livery showcasing designs inspired by textiles, architecture, art and nature from all 10 ASEAN nations - batik cetak from Malaysia, poom khao bin from Thailand, ulos Batak from Indonesia, tapis from the Philippines, trống đồng from Vietnam, kbach pka Chan from Cambodia, Lao phouthai from Laos, chate from Myanmar, jongsarat Brunei from Brunei, and Vanished da Miss Joaquim from Singapore.

All AirAsia aircraft based in the region will now also feature the ASEAN flag, in addition to their national flags.

AirAsia GroupCEO Tony Fernandes said, “We owe our success to ASEAN. As a truly ASEAN airline, we want to bring the people across the region closer together in line with the amazing work ASEAN has done over the past 50 years. AirAsia Loves ASEAN is just the first of many initiatives we have planned to give back to the region that, together with our continued promotion of ASEAN destinations through our branding and marketing efforts, will be able to help bridge communities and economies as ASEAN moves towards even greater integration and mutual understanding.”

For the latest updates, please follow AirAsia on Twitter and Facebook.

Finally, a relaxing stay at the Mall of Asia Complex this holiday season and the coming new year is possible under one roof. Golden Phoenix Hotel Manila proudly opened to its guests its new wellness facility and cafe. What's more, these last two months of 2017 will be lit in traditional revelry with the presence of its newly-dressed Christmas tree at the lobby. Whether you're in Metro Manila for a quick layover or a long vacation, you'll definitely feel at home for the holidays.

Golden Phoenix Hotel Manila is known among its traveling patrons as a reliable lodging in Pasay City because of its well-appointed rooms and endearing staff. Since it opened a few years ago, it has been a favorite home-away-from-home for foreign and local tourists in Metro Manila.

A view of the hotel from the MOA Arena

Endearing staff

Comfy bed for hotel guests

Well-appointed guestroom

Swimming pool at the 7th floor

Phoenix Wellness Lounge

This 2017, the formidable triumvirate of Vine Aesthetics, Wonderful Bliss Spa, and Phoenix Nail Spa is accessible to guests at the hotel's new Phoenix Wellness Lounge. The variety of pampering services available include manicure and pedicure, relaxing whole body massage packages, and a wide selection of aesthetic skin care medical treatments. It's open from Mondays to Sundays and guests can also schedule an in-room massage should they want to be pampered past the facility's standard hours of operation.

Phoenix Wellness Lounge's massage space

Phoenix Wellness Lounge

In-room massage

The spa offers Swedish Massage, Shiatsu Massage, the combo of Swedish and Shiatsu, Foot Massage, Hot Stone and Body Scrub with Massage. Also available is a nail-shaping, non-living cuticle removal, cleansing, massage and solid color nail polish package that's aptly called "Treat Me Like A Queen" for only Php370.

Female guests can also find the "Make An Entrance Pedicure" service interesting. It's only for Php450 and it focuses on the toes with a quick soak, nail-shaping and buffing, lotion massage and polish. It's designed for an appointment between regular pedicures for generally well-maintained feet.

Other services are the manicure and hand spa combo called "Divalicious" (Php650), the manicure, pedicure, foot spa and algae wrap combo called "Glam Goddess" (Php1,050), the manicure, pedicure, foot spa and seaweed wrap combo called "Cool Breeze" (Php1,050), the "Glamorous" package that includes manicure, pedicure and hand paraffin or foot paraffin, the spa manicure and spa pedicure combo called "In The Mood Spa" (Php1,350) and the manicure, pedicure, detox ball and foot reflex combo called "Royal Highness" (Php1,450).

Phoenix Wellness Lounge

Ground UP Café

Since the hotel's guests are also known to take their cuppa seriously, Ground UP Café is officially opened daily this November to serve hot and cold coffee concoction and beverages. Also available at the new cafe are sweets and pastries to compliment one's drink from sun up to lights out. Located at the second floor of the property, it's bound to make guests' idle moments memorable with every sip of something delicious.

New Hotel Lobby Art

Also this year, hotel patrons will be treated to a new front desk stunner. Commissioned for the hotel, the wall mounted art depicting a sarimanok, the Maranao's legendary bird, can now be seen upon check-in or check-out. This art work by Jhon Gorme definitely makes staying at Golden Phoenix Hotel Manila a bit more familiar and grounded.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Ground UP Cafe

The newly-opened Ground UP Cafe at the 2nd floor

Jhon Gorme's work of art at the hotel lobby

The Inspiration Behind The Christmas Tree Design

As for the hotel's new Christmas tree that was unveiled for this holiday season, guests can now be greeted with its presence upon check-in at the lobby. According to Golden Phoenix Hotel Manila's Director of Sales and Marketing, Christine Ann Ibarreta, it was artist Michael Buble's version of the song "Holly, Jolly Christmas" that served as inspiration for the tree's design concept. Using three dominant colors for the 10-foot tree, they managed to capture the spirit of such a holly, jolly special occasion that's annually celebrated by Christians worldwide.

White represents purity and peace. Red symbolizes the blood of Jesus when he was crucified on the cross of Calvary. Red also symbolizes his teaching of love which is unconditional. And since red is a bright color, the tree is also designed to exude joy. In Christianity, the color green signifies the eternal life of Jesus Christ. All in all, Christmas heralds the birth of Christ in a very difficult circumstance. After all the hardships, the message of Jesus surviving and continuing to be the only Way, Truth, and Life is expected to come across the display.

The lighting ceremony of the hotel's Christmas tree

Spacious bathroom for guests

Sunset-viewing near the hotel

Watch The Tree-Lighting Ceremony:

Make your next Metro Manila layover or staycation a memorable one. Be at home for the holidays at the Golden Phoenix Hotel Manila.

Golden Phoenix Hotel Manila

Official website of Golden Phoenix Hotel Manila

Address: Oceanaire Bldg., CBP D. Macapagal,, Sunrise Drive, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Phone: +63 2 683 2888
Mobile: +639176104744
Email: reservations@goldenphoenixhotelmanila.com

Tagaytay can be so overrated sometimes especially if you're in the loop about the existence of similar breathtaking Taal Lake view in another location like Batangas. Roughly a couple of hours away from Metro Manila in this southern Luzon province is Mataasnakahoy, a breezy 16-village town that covers a part of the 65,000-hectare Taal Volcano Protected Landscape. Here, a multi-themed attraction called La Virginia Hotel and Resort has lured different types of tourists for years. The 8-hectare getaway is both relaxing and exciting. It's a must-visit whether you're traveling as a family or as a large group of work colleagues on a team-building schedule.

Where there's a volcano nearby, the overall vibe can always be one of sheer excitement. I can truly attest to this as I've visited a few places in the Philippines, like Albay and Sorsogon, where all the same elements are present and the same can be said of them. It's like everything is left to chance and everybody has learned to accept surprises for life's random gift that they are. As a result, the food tastes much better and interactions are more profound. With the tranquil Taal Lake at a distance, any overnight stay here can become quite memorable.

The view of the resort from the Tree House

The Tiki Pool next to the resort castle

Waking up in the morning to this refreshing view of Batangas

The view of the resort castle from the Tree House

I stayed at La Virginia Hotel and Resort in 2015 and I've longed to revisit it since. Thankfully, this 2017, I managed to bring with me six more travelers who have chosen to set aside their weekend in November for a memorable experience of the property. With different travel sensibilities and work background, we all determined that this Batangas attraction has five unique traits that make it worth remembering:

1. Breathtaking Views of Taal Lake

Not many people know that the enigmatic Taal Lake holds remnants of four pre-Hispanic towns. Depending on the time of the day, the lake looks enthralling or it comes off as a faint wisp of a view that falls off the disc of your eye when you're anywhere up a cliff-side in Mataasnakahoy. At La Virginia Hotel and Resort, it's usually something in between. It's just there to behold and a calming guarantee that nature is yours to appreciate regardless of the weather.

Taal Lake view from the hotel

The view of the nearby Taal Lake from the archery grounds

Booked at one of the Ifugao Houses of the resort, we were able to conveniently gaze at the lake from our lodging's private terrace. And from atop the property's popular Tree House, the expanse of the whole natural attraction can be viewed with less obstruction. On a clear day, the distant Tagaytay City can even be visible.

This 2018, guests can expect to enjoy having a cuppa at its yet-to-be-opened cliff-side cafe where a view of the lake can be priceless.

2. A Variety of Lodgings To Book

Since not all guests are the same, the resort also has different types of lodgings for booking. As a matter of fact, there are more than 15 types of air-conditioned accommodations to choose from.

The Pagoda House (Php27,000) is usually preferred by a large group of guests who love to walk out of their booked lodging and go straight to a private pool. The resort's hotel rooms are also popular for being modern and near the property's restaurant and sought-after infinity pool.

The hotel

Ifugao House

Inside the Ifugao House

Row House

Cabana Rooms

If you're intrepid enough, you can book an Ifugao House (Php5,000) like we did and get the chance to be in the middle of everything in the area where you can have access to most of the resort's top facilities because it's smack dab at the center.

One of the best lodgings to try are the rustic Cabana Rooms (Php2,000) because they're right next to the resort's newest swimming pool.

3. 8 Swimming Pools To Try

With an area and location that can rival any large resort in mainland Luzon, La Virginia Hotel and Resort is not short on swimming pools. In fact, it prides itself with a total of 8 of them in different locations scattered at the property.

Kids can enjoy afternoon soaks with adults at the Tiki Pool, Dolphin Kiddie Pool, Fruity Pool or Pesina de Flores. Or they can be accompanied at the kid-friendly Frog Kiddie Pool. Adults can appreciate the Infinity Pool and the new Cabana Pool for being expansive and intimate, respectively. As for the Pagoda Pool, it can be exclusively enjoyed by those booked at the Pagoda House.

Infinity Pool

Fruity Pool for kids

A part of the Tiki Pool for adults

The Tiki Pool: My favorite pool at the resort

My personal favorite for a fantasy dip is the Tiki Pool because it's located at the uppermost terrain of the resort where there's a splendid view of the whole property on one side and an interesting view of a castle on another. From the edge of the pool, one can also see the stretch of the nearby Taal Lake.

4. A Lot Fun Activities To Enjoy

Aside from the presence of numerous swimming pools, there's also no shortage of activities to enjoy.

The amusing activity that I personally loved to have tried way back in 2015 was the two-way zipline ride (Php300 per head; Php400 per head with photo) wherein I managed to hover like a drone over the resort's different facilities while harnessed and connected to the zipline. For my revisit though, I had my co-travelers enjoy it out for themselves while I had a hoot watching from below.

Jerny of TheJerny.com reaching the top of the wall

Roland attempting to climb the wall

Archery

Zipline Ride

A couple of guys from my group also tried wall climbing (Php100 per head) where they managed to have a wonderful view of Taal Lake from atop the wall. The activity definitely tested their endurance and gave them a sense of accomplishment knowing that they didn't give up until they reached the top.

As for my female co-travelers, they enjoyed and performed well at archery (30 minutes for Php250; 1 hour for Php450) maybe because ladies tend to have a great sense of focus although the guys also enjoyed taking turns at this activity.

Watch A Short Video of Wall Climbing at the Resort:

5. Delicious Meals At The Resort Diner

Since no getaway is complete without delicious meals, we made sure to not bring our own food (as the resort allows this) and, instead, rely on the expertise of the resort's restaurant. It's where guests also have their complimentary breakfasts, but we managed to take our dinner and lunch also at this facility to our satisfaction. Grilling our own food can be fun, but we were only booked on an overnight stay so we preferred spending more time in experiencing the resort's different attractions rather than lose track of time preparing our meals.

Delicious meals at the resort diner

With bloggers of TheJerny.com, DemsAngeles.com, and Rizanoia.com

Hearty breakfast of Lechon Kawali

To our amazement, La Virginia Diner's dishes didn't disappoint. I loved the assortment of chicken dishes available, the Bulalo (Beef Marrow Stew), and the Sinigang Sa Miso (Salmon Tamarind Miso Soup).

For those looking for a special event venue, this Batangas resort is also sought-after in this side of Mataasnakahoy for having different types of function halls and facilities. Its Hotel Function Hall (Php40,000) alone can accommodate 250 guests and is perfect for seminars and wedding receptions.

Buddha View Deck

With Jerny and Mary Jane of TheJerny.com

Should you intend to visit the resort soon, check out this direction and commute guide.

La Virginia Hotel and Resort

Official website of La Virginia Hotel and Resort

Address: Brgy. Manggahan, Mataasnakahoy, Batangas, Philippines
Phone: (043) 774-9445 and (043) 774-9483
Email: lavirginiaresort@yahoo.com
Day Tour: 8:00am - 9:30pm
Overnight: 2:00pm - 12:00pm
Manila Sales Office:
(632) 743-2047 (Voice)
(632) 743-2021 (Voice)
(632) 732-7994 (Voice)
(632) 732-8838 (Voice)
(632) 414-9014 (Fax)

The Korean craze has long been in the Philippines way before Sandara Park even graced our local TV sets. Koreans are now not just everywhere in the country -- particularly in Boracay, Puerto Galera and Baguio City. They are also fast being eclipsed by their own culture. In a quiet village at the border of Pateros and Pasig City between Brgy. San Joaquin and C5, 1223 Grill is proof that Korean cuisine is already accepted in the local neighborhood scene.

1223 Grill (pronounced as twelve-twenty-three) is home to Samgyupsal in this side of Metro Manila. The popular Korean meat dish consists of non-marinated pork strips that are cooked on a grill, charred to perfection, dabbed with ssamjang (Korean barbecue sauce) or dipped into it and wrapped in lettuce with Korean side vegetables and kimchi.

Grilling the pork slices

The interiors of 1223 Grill

Samgyupsal ingredients

Pop It In Your Mouth

The whole shebang is consumed altogether like a sushi (popped in the mouth; some bite off of it which can be a bit messy), depending on the portioned size that you created it into. In other words, it's ritualistic and makes you eat less even if the restaurant has it in unlimited ingredients that include the pork slices, side veggies, and kimchi. The soup and cups of rice are also unlimited.

For only ₱299, this unlimited order of Samgyupsal makes it quite affordable compared to other restaurants that offer it at ₱350 or more than ₱400.

Enter and take a seat

Paul, a co-owner of 1223 Grill

Drinks are not included in the unlimited order

Not Included In The Unlimited Order

At this small K-joint that's located at the ground floor of a building along F. Angeles St., the unlimited Samgyupsal doesn't include the lettuce which serves as the actual wrap (the first batch is free though). It's also necessary to order drinks which are not part of the unlimited order.

Something About Ssamjang

One of the unique ingredients of the whole wrap is the ssamjang which is wrap paste in Korean. It's actually seasoned fermented soybean paste. Think of it like a barbecue sauce or salsa to your taco. It's that essential as it makes the whole wrap truly Korean. If anything, it enhances the treat with a mix of salty and spicy-sweet flavors. It's where you dip the pork slices in along with the sesame oil before enclosing them in your lettuce wrap.

Kimchi and other side vegetables

Pork slices, the star of Samgyupsal

Making the wrap

Healthy Wrap

The act of grilling the pork on your dining table alone takes your mind off the conventional way of dining which usually results in overeating. Here, you eat just enough and at the right pace. What's more, the grilled pork is low in fat content and is complimented by the healthy ingredients of the wrap. This makes Samgyupsal a healthy alternative to the traditional buffet. Unlike the latter, this one doesn't make you feel guilty after you're done.

Easy Steps To Enjoy Samgyupsal

First, make sure to have all the ingredients served by the waiter on your table. Have the waiter turn on the grill and start to put the pork slices one by one for cooking. Once the pork slices have been cooked (this takes about 5 to 10 minutes), prepare them in one plate. You'll notice the amount of fat content removed from the pork which can be encouraging for those who are on a diet but want to enjoy something delicious.

Step 1: Grill the pork slices

Step 2: Let it cook itself

Step 3: Prepare the cooked pork slices and proceed to Step 4 -- making the wrap

Commence making your wrap by forming your lettuce piece (scissors are provided if you don't want to tear out the veggies with your hand). Put your preferred side vegetables, including kimchi, on your lettuce wrap. Add your cooked slice of pork then close the wrap. Pop it in your mouth and your first taste is done. Proceed to repeat.

It's advisable that you need to cook your next batch of pork slices while you're consuming your wraps so as to save time. However, make sure to consume everything because no leftovers, sharing, and takeout are allowed for this unlimited order.

Japchae

Wind down with soju

Wind Down With Japchae and Soju

To wind down your meal, you can order the stir-fried glass noodles and vegetables called Japchae. It's sweet and savory, a fitting compliment to your unlimited Samgyupsal order. Finish with a bottle of a Korean distilled beverage called soju and you're good to go.

Watch A Short Video About 1223 Grill:

How To Get There:

From C5 Via a Private Vehicle

• Take a right turn to Kalayaan Ave. (the one in the direction of San Joaquin) and go straight to San Guillermo Ave. past J.P. Rizal Ext.

• Turn right to F. Angeles St. where 1223 Grill is located (right side of the street).

From SM Megamall Via FX

• Ride a Pembo-bound FX. Get off at the corner of J.P. Rizal Ext. past C5.
• Cross the road and walk two blocks till you reach the corner of F. Angeles St.
• Enter F. Angeles St. and walk till you reach the building where the restaurant is (ground floor; right side of the street).

From Pasig City Proper Via Commute

• Ride the Pasig-San Joaquin jeepney and get off at San Joaquin.

• Ride a tricycle for Buting and get off at the corner of F. Angeles St. (the 3rd street to your left before reaching C5 along the Kalayaan-San Guillermo Avenue). Walk along F. Angeles St. or have your tricycle ply along it until you reach the building where the restaurant is.

Note: Take this similar direction for private vehicles.

F. Angeles St. where 1223 Grill is located

Photography by Aubrey Gacer and Karl Acepcion

Aubrey Gacer is a Manila-based freelance photographer. Check out his work at Gacer Photography.

1223 Grill

Official Facebook fan page of 1223 Grill

Address: 1223 Unit 1A, F.Angeles St. Brgy. Buting, Pasig City

Phone: 0906-220-6843

Hours of Operation:

Monday to Thursday (Weekdays) 2:00pm to 12:00am

Friday to Sunday (Weekends) 2:00pm to 1:00am

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