Inflight December- January 2010 by Dornier Media

ou tn ow !

south e ast asian airlines on - board maga zine

december - january 2010

Nature unfurled

Landscape shots from across the islands

Manila, Manila!

Tour the city onboard the iconic jeepney

Rooms & the city

New breed of smaller hotels

Best for Christmas eve dinner

www.seair-inflight.com â&#x20AC;˘ www.flyseair.com

Chefs and foodies reveal their secret secrets

Spanish Highs a cult ur al tour of Viga n

s e a i r l au n c h e s f li g ht s to m a r i n d u q u e

i n f l i g h t // de c e m b e r - j a n ua ry 2 0 1 0

IN PLACES 45 InsandOuts

Masbate: Haven for manta rays and gentle giants

48 Spanish Highs A cultural tour of Vigan

62 Nature unfurled

Landscape shots from across the islands

96 InFocus

Joel Garcia’s Banaue

Diving suit by Aquamundo; swimsuit Location:bySaint PinkAugustine Belter by Lizle Parish Hilario; Church Location: grounds Shangri-La’s in Bantay, Vigan Boracay Resort & Spa’s beach

december - january 2010 I SEAIR InFlight

i n f l i g h t // de c e m b e r - j a n ua ry 2 0 1 0 IN FRONT 09 Editor’s Note

10 InFormed

What not to miss in December and January

13 Inthenews

Jeepney revival: Tour Manila on board the iconic jeepney Plus Resorts World casino and hotel complex is now open

16 InTalk

Expert choices: The best chocolates

27 InTune

Check out the latest global protests to urge world leaders to cut carbon emission

30 InPerson

Me and My Holidays: Tetchie Agbayani

IN vogue 19 Intheshops All that sparkles for Christmas

InFlight’s top 10 blings

24 Inmybag

Firma’s Ricky Toledo on his travel essentials

IN GOOD TIMES 33 InRoom Rooms and the city:

Good choices for boutique hotels and local chains

40 InDulge

Best for Christmas eve dinner:

Experts reveal their choice restaurants

PLUS: seair News / People / Guide

19 Concept by SEAIR InFlight Photo by Daniel Soriano Art direction by Jocas A. See Hair and makeup by Rocky Orejola Modeling by Janelle Olafson for W Talent Management Model’s outfit by Lito Perez of Arce Mansion Location: Arce Mansion, Vigan, Ilocos Sur

december - january 2010 I SEAIR InFlight

Editorial

Publishing Director and Executive Editor

Nikos Gitsis Editor

Giselle Javison managing Editor

Monica G. De Leon EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

MARGARITA F. FRANCISCO art & design

Art Director

Jocas A. See Editorial Production Inquiries

editors@flyseair.com

Contributing photographers

Mike Alcid, Mario Babiera, Bien Bautista, Ferdz Decena, Wacky Gochoco, Carlos Legaspi, Oggie Ramos, Daniel Soriano, Gutsy Tuason Contributing writers

Jose Marte Abueg, Vicki Aldaba, Yasmin D. Arquiza, Catherine A. Calderon, Lei Chavez Chip Childers, David Dalton, Jan Lao, Ces Rodriguez, Claude Tayag, Cris Yabes advertising Sales  marketing

Group Sales and Marketing Director

Delza Apostol Advertising Executive

Joy Gutierrez

administration and finance officer

ARTHUR VALENCIA

Advertising Traffic assistant

WALDO J. VILLADOS Advertising Inquiries

inf lightads@f lyseair.com editorial board

Publisher

South East Asian Airlines Seair Chairman

Iren Dornier Seair Director

Nikos Gitsis InFlight Editor

Giselle Javison InFlight Group Sales and Marketing Director

Delza Apostol Seair Legal Counsel

South East Asian Airlines, Inc. SEAIR InFlight Magazine: Units 304 & 306, La’O Center, 1000 Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City 1000 Philippines Tel.: +632 840 2802 (Editorial) • +632 840 2803 (Advertising) Fax: +632 840 2805 URL: www.FlySeair.com

6 SEAIR InFlight

I december - january 2010

editor’s note

people. places. a dv entur es.

or this Christmas issue, we thought it would be a good idea to take you back in time to Vigan, a UNESCO heritage site and Asia’s best preserved example of a Spanish colonial town dating back to the 16th century. It’s an interesting trip back in time when Christianity took its roots in the country.

Our cover story on page 48 to 59 names some of the best tourist stops and places to stay in Vigan. Book the room actor Tom Cruise stayed in at Villa Angela while filming Born On The Fourth of July or check into Arce Mansion, don a Spanish costume and pose for a silly photo. (See page 54 to 55) For more holiday ideas – most of these off the beaten track – our insider’s guide shows our contributing photographers’ favorite places as seen in dramatic landscape photographs shot around the islands. For food ideas, top chefs and food experts name their favorite restaurants for Christmas Eve dinner. (See page 40 to 42) “No one goes out for Christmas dinner,” said Chef J. Gamboa of El Cirkulo restaurant. He’s not far off the mark, but to those not inclined to slave over a stove, there’s no commandment that says you can’t cheat and order a traditional conchinillo to impress your guests. For the best chocolates, check out what chocolate lovers and experts say on page 16. Since this is also the time of year when we see a deluge of balikbayans (returning Filipino residents) and tourists, page 33 to 38 give an update on some of the three stars and boutique hotels to stay in in the city. For those of you thinking of holidaying in Boracay, don’t forget to get your copy of The InFlight Guide to Boracay, available online at www.FlySeair.com and SEAIR ticketing outlets. You can phone for a copy at tel: +632/ 849 0295/96. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

giselle javison Editor editors@flyseair.com

InFlight model Janelle Olafson in a Filipiniana dress designed by Lito Perez for Arce Mansion in Vigan. Below, Hotel Celeste

What not to miss in

December & January Reporting by Margie F. Francisco

December

Four Seasons Fair at Forbes Town Center

The Nutcracker

Lea Salonga… Your Songs

1-24

Pick a quality gift that won’t break the bank at this fair, featuring 40 exhibitors selling gourmet food, Christmas décor, fashion items and accessories, beauty, wellness and novelty items. The fair features several big-namebrands and sales are up to 70% less than the usual mall prices! Visit the booths at Forbes Town Center Showroom at 26th Street corner Rizal Drive, Crescent Park West District, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

3-13

Catch Ballet Philippines’ The Nutcracker, a fantasy story about a toy coming to life, fairies and dancing snowflakes. The Manila Symphony Orchestra provides the music. For tickets and other inquiries, call +632/ 551 0221 or 551 1003 or visit www.balletphilippines. org

December

11-12

15-16

Thankful

Best remembered for her performance in “Miss Saigon” on the international stage, Lea Salonga is back in a special concert, “Lea Salonga… Your Songs”. Also featured are comedienne Ai-Ai De Las Alas and singer Richard Poon. And as a treat, one fan will get the chance to sing with Salonga during the concert. Musical direction by Gerard Salonga. Directed by Bobby Garcia. PICC Plenary Hall at the CCP Complex, Pasay City. For tickets, call Ticketworld at +632/ 891 9999 or visit www.ticketworld. com.ph

The Philippine Madrigal Singers is holding a concert at the CCP to say thank you for the year past, a year that also saw their designation as UNESCO’s Artists for Peace. Their repertoire includes “O Magnum Mysterium”, “The Christmas Song/Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire”, and “12 Days of Christmas”. Tickets are available at Ticketworld

December

Pampanga tour If you need a short break from the city, go on a one-day “Kapampangan Tour”, a package tour that takes you to Betis Church, town of Bacolor, Claude Tayag’s Bale Dutung Restaurant, Pampanga specialty shops and the Ligligan Parul Festival of San Fernando. Ultimate Philippines Tours charges P4,800 per person for the tour for a minimum of 20 people. For tour reservations, email reservations@ ultimatephilippines.com or call +63917/ 329 1622

10 SEAIR InFlight

January

1-3

Disney on Ice Be prepared to be a kid again when “Disney On Ice” returns to the Araneta Coliseum for a series of performances, taking audiences on an action-packed adventure with Disney friends Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Disney princesses Snow White and Cinderella, Stitch, Disney/ Pixar’s The Incredibles and Buzz Lightyear. Produced by Feld Entertainment. For tickets, call Ticketnet at +632/ 911 5555 or visit www. ticketnet.com.ph

I december - january 2010

January

16-17

N.O.A.H (No Ordinary Aquatic Habitat)

January

9-18

Sinulog Festival 2010 If you’re anywhere near Cebu, don’t miss Cebu City’s Sinulog Festival, which features colorful street dancing to the rhythm of drums, trumpets and gongs, as well as fairs and fleamarkets. The festival’s main venue will be at Cebu City Sports Center and this year’s theme is “One Beat, One Dance, One Vision!” For more information, visit www.sinulog.ph

Trumpets presents another original musical for the whole family – N.O.A.H at the Meralco Theater. N.O.A.H retells the classic story of the Biblical patriarch and his famous ark with wit and humor. Carlo Orosa is Noah and Sheila Francisco, star of West Ends’ South Pacific, is the culinary-challenged Mrs. Noah. Directed by Audie Gemora. Tickets available at Ticketworld

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t r av e l

HOTEL S AND RE S ORT S

a r t s AND fa s h i o n

A nd mor e!

hot Tours

See Manila onboard the iconic jeepney

The Philippine iconic jeepney, a colorful tin can of a public transport, is now available for tours around Manila. Jeepney Tours Manila, operated by Hop On Hop Off, offers 10 tour packages, including an Intramuros Heritage Tour, using a 20-seater jeepney equipped with a Wow Magic Sing videoke system (equipment for live singing), duet wireless microphones, cooler. A tour guide completes the package. The Intramuros Heritage Tour takes you onboard a jeepney and shows you pre-Hispanic and Hispanic Philippines within the “Walled City”

for P2,500 per person. A spa and shopping spree tour is also on offer. The tour takes you on a shopping stop at the Greenhills Shopping Center and another stop at NEO Spa for some pampering for P4,000 per person. Out-of-town day trips are available for P6,000/person. The tour kicks off with a minimum of two persons onboard and with at least two days’ reservation.

For more information, call +632/ 638 6644 and 994 6636 or visit www. jeepneytours.com -- Margie F. Francisco

december - january 2010 I SEAIR InFlight

what’s New

Resorts World now open Resorts World, a 7.8 hectare complex, housing a 30,000sqm casino, a mall and two hotels, opened in September at Newport Boulevard, Pasay City. The two hotels in the complex include the 342-room Marriott Hotel and the 172-room Maxims Hotel, the country’s first all-suite hotel. A third hotel is being planned. The casino has more than 1,000 slot machines and more than 300 tables. There are public and VIP gaming areas, junket rooms, restaurants and bars, a business center, a spa and villas. The four-floor mall includes four high-end cinemas with 1,200 seats and a multipurpose 1,030-seat performing arts theater. Stores found in the mall include some 22 international fashion brands.

Resorts World at Manila is located at Newport Boulevard (Across NAIA Terminal 3), Newport City, Pasay. Visit www. rwmanila.com for more information.

check it Out

-- Margie F. Francisco

Largest wakeboard park opens in Davao Xtreme WAKE’S latest project, the DECA Wakeboard and Wakeskate Park, one of the largest wakeboard parks in Southeast Asia, is now open. Located in Barangay Mintal, Davao City, the park has five masts with a 30-meter cable system and a seven-hectare artificial lake. The park has a clubhouse, cottages, food shops, view parks, free wifi and a massage center. Rates for wakeboarding range from P300/hour to P700/half day to P1,000/ whole day, inclusive of free use of kneeboard, vest, helmet or slip-on wakeboard.

For more information, call +6382/ 304 6005 or visit www.decawake.com. -- Margie F. Francisco

More pepper for lunch Pepper Lunch will open its fourth branch in the Philippines in December at Greenbelt 5, Makati. The restaurant allows diners to cook their meat the way they like it – medium rare, well done, seasoned with honey brown sauce or garlic soy sauce. Each dish is served with Japanese rice and vegetables on an iron plate that heats up to 260 degrees celsius. Specialties include beef pepper rice at P198, beef teriyaki at P280, chicken teriyaki at P270, salmon & unagi at P470 and shimofuri (marbled) pepper steak at P550.

Pepper Lunch is also located at Power Plant Mall, tel: +632/ 895 3164, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, tel: +632/ 634 3231, and Alabang Town Center, tel: +632/ 856 7062. Visit www.pepperlunch.com.ph for more information. -- Margie F. Francisco

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First Hermès boutique in Manila to open in December Luxury brand Hermès is opening its first boutique in the country in December at Greenbelt 3 Mall, Makati City. The Manila boutique will carry Hermès silk scarves and other fashion accessories, leather goods, jewelry, watches, and home décor. -- Margie F. Francisco

Atlas 35 bag in officier canvas and Clémence Taurillon calfskin

ad v ert o rial

Expert choices: The best chocolates Interviews by Lei Chavez

Buddy Trinidad’s Park Avenue Desserts (+632/ 834 6636, www.parkavenuedesserts.com) – just delicious. Call ahead since all are made to order and specially prepared by award winning pastry chef Buddy Trinidad. Rolando Laudico’s Chef Laudico Chocolates (+63917/ 800 2433, www.cheflaudico.com) for pralines with a Filipino twist, like buko-lambanog (coconut-palm wine) infused white chocolate ganache dipped in semi sweet chocolate rolled in dessicated coconut, and manga-dried mango rhum ganache barako, among others. And Benoit Nicolay’s Chocolates by Benoit (www.chocolatesbybenoit.com), Belgian chocolates by a Belgian available at Terry’s

- Chef J Gamboa

Director, Les Toques Blanches Philippines Executive Chef, Cirkulo and Milkyway Restaurants

My favorite chocolate suppliers are Chef’s Nook (+632/ 724 5812) and Cook’s Kitchen (Rockwell Branch, Link Import tel: +632/ 241 8555). Their chocolates are used in some of Buon Giorno! and our personal recipes.

- Linda Floro

Buon Giorno! Café and Bistro

I love the Ecuador Chocolates of Heavenly Chocolates (+632/ 666 2208). I like the strongbodied chocolate; it is a bit intense with a smoky hint.

- Anton Diaz Food blogger

a certain kick.

I buy locally made native chocolate tablea or paste form from any local supermarket to make hot tsokolate drink with fresh carabao’s milk. Our Pampango version of this drink is with peanuts or peanut butter. In my case, I use the store-bought spicy peanuts to give it - Claude Tayag

Bale Dutung owner

Only a few shops in the Philippines create fresh, pure chocolates. Hotels (InFlight: Try the Peninsula Hotel Manila or the Mandarin Oriental Manila) make their chocolates fresh and chocolate may vary from pure cocoa to mixed with vegetable/hydrogenated fat and these may be a bit pricey. Chocolates by Benoit offers a wide range of chocolate products that uses only the highest quality chocolates from Belgium with no hydrogenated or vegetable fat.

- Benoit Nicolay

Owner, Chocolates by Benoit

I get the best chocolates from my boutique, Machiavelli Chocolatier (Rustan’s Makati, Essenses tel: +632/ 483 9854). The gourmet European chocolates we use blend well with the Asian ingredients we fuse in them. We call this “Eurasian Fusion.” The chocolates and Asian flavors balance each other very well.

- Raul Matias

Chocolatier and owner of Machiavelli Chocolatier

Where do I buy the best chocolates? I would probably go to Venezuela for that – but in the Philippines, of course there’s Heavenly Chocolates. Why? I prefer to drink my chocolate – hot and thick in the traditional Spanish style. At Heavenly Chocolates, we probably have the most exotic collection of drinking chocolates in the country, made specially from single-origin cacao beans (there’s Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Madagascar). They won’t tell you which the best chocolate is; you’ll have to choose which one suits you best. My personal favorite is Ecuador hot chocolate.

- Benjamin Pedro

Owner, Heavenly Chocolates

16 SEAIR InFlight

I december - january 2010

Chocolate Truffle Candy photo by Jeff Zavitski of Studio 48 Photography

ad v ert o rial

i n t h e sh op s >i n my bag

All that sparkles for Christmas

From glittery gold to brilliant diamonds, there’s a bling just for you. Here’s 10 of our favorites

Serpenti double row bracelet in 18kt yellow gold with alternating motherof-pearl and pavé diamond scales and head, by Bulgari

december - january 2010 I SEAIR InFlight

inTheShops

A l l t h at s pa r k l e s f or C h r i s t m a s

Pendant of bi-color green and lavender jadeite set in sterling and yellow gold, by Paul Syjuco for Firma

Monologo band ring in 18kt white gold and full pavĂŠ diamonds, by Bulgari

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Natural golden Palawan South Sea pearl set in 18 karat yellow and white gold, by Jewelmer

Perforation ring in yellow gold with amethysts and diamonds, by Kristine Dee for Firma

Optical cufflinks in 18kt white gold and black onyx, by Bulgari

Arceau Chrono Alezan Watch in steel with smooth calf strap designed by Henri d’Origny for Hermès

Assioma Chronograph in Stainless Steel and 18kt Yellow Gold Case and Brown Crocodile Leather by Bulgari

Bvlgari-Bvlgari Revamp earrings in 18kt white gold and pavé diamonds, by Bulgari

december - january 2010 I SEAIR InFlight

inTheShops

A l l t h at s pa r k l e s f or C h r i s t m a s

Bvlgari-Bvlgari Revamp bracelet in 18kt white gold and pavĂŠ diamonds, by Bulgari

The prices of the featured items in these pages are available upon request. Turn to page 78 for store directory

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inMyBag

My travel list: Ricky Toledo Interview by Margie F. Francisco PRODUCT Photo by Carlos LegaSpi

Ricky Toledo is owner of Firma and AC+632, designer jewelry and home dĂŠcor shops, which he runs with co-owner and fashion expert Chito Vijandre

1 Gucci tote bag (P34,000) 2 Classic Panama hat (P3,980) 3 Waffle towel (P1,160) 4 Oak moss scented cologne by Musgo Real, Portugal (P2,200) 5 Little Warrior all around sanitizer & cleanser by Messy Bessy (P60) 6 Leather notebook by Pinetti, Italy (P2,960)

7 Travel pen by Dallaiti, Italy (P14,990) 8 Coin wallet by Philippi, Germany (P1,080) 9 Foldable umbrella with silver skull head (P4,980) 10 Vintage sunglasses by Angelo, England (P8,300)

05 03 04

09 06

For store location and contact details, turn to

24 SEAIR InFlight

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on page 78

ad v ert o rial

A fiery sunset is an astonishing view you get from Popototan Island in Busuanga

L ov i ng t h e pl a n e t

Has the world come together yet? On October 24 this year, ordinary people held 5,248 rallies and protests spread across 181 countries, urging world leaders to drastically cut carbon emissions to save the planet. InFlight reports on the global protests photos courtesy of 350.org

Volunteers posing in front of the melting glaciers of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania hold a 350.org signage saying â&#x20AC;&#x153;act now on climate changeâ&#x20AC;?

december - january 2010 I SEAIR InFlight

inTune

350

A young boy from Bangladesh holds a 350 “Change Behavior, Not Climate” sign

By the time you read this, the Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen scheduled on December 7-18 will be taking place in earnest. The mammoth task is for the world leaders to commit to a massive cut in carbon emissions to save the world. Nothing in the history of the planet has one summit been so important. About two years ago, after news of a rapid ice melt in the Arctic and other signs of climate change occurred, leading climatologists took action, presenting studies that showed the earth could safely handle CO2 in the atmosphere of only 350 parts per million (ppm). Right now the level is at 390ppm and increasing by 2ppm a year, way too high, bearing frightening implications. The group 350.org, one of many organizations fighting to make our world leaders pay attention to the importance of cutting CO2, said 390ppm was disastrous. “It’s why ice is melting, drought is spreading, forests are dying,” it said. In the Philippines, the recent Typhoon Ondoy brought home the effects of global warming and the need for forest protection all too closely. Data from the environmental group Greenpeace showed that the typhoon dumped 334 millimeters of rain in the first six hours, the highest ever recorded rainfall in the metropolis. The previous record was 341 millimeters over a 24-hour period 42 years ago. Ondoy submerged up to 80% of the city, and covered areas that never experienced flooding before, stranding people on rooftops and bringing death and misery to rich and poor alike. Home truths are beginning to reach all corners of the world. On October 24, evidence

Highlights from the 350.org International Day of Climate Action on October 24, 2009 (clockwise, starting from top left): Cape Town, Africa 350.org march; people gathering for a 350 aerial photo as part of climate countdown in Bristol, UK; Slumdog Millionaire 350 event in Mumbai, India; students from Massey High School in Waitakere City, Aotearoa, New Zealand assemble on their field to show support for 350; massive crowds gather in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for a 350 march and rally; and hundreds took part in spelling out 350 on the steps of Sydney’s iconic Opera House

that ordinary people — not just Al Gore to Rajendra Pachauri, Nobel Peace Prize awardee for his work on global warming — realize the importance of an immediate change was clear. On this day, thousands of photos from 5,248 rallies and protests spread across 181 countries flooded into the web servers of 350. org, marking what organizers of the global warming campaign said was “clearly the most widespread day of political action in the planet’s history.” “In some sense, the global warming movement finally went global yesterday,” said 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben. “And there wasn’t a rock star or movie actor in sight — it was ordinary people rallying around a scientific data point to send the message that our leaders actually need to lead.” Petitions are still being counted on various environmental conservation websites for people to get their leaders working. Visit www.350.org, www.greenpeace.org, and www.wwf.org.

"Our mission is to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis — to create a new sense of urgency and of possibility for our planet" 28 SEAIR InFlight

I december - january 2010

Eighties sex icon Tetchie Agbayani was the first Filipina on the cover of Playboy magazine. After Playboy, she started her career as an actress, starring in several Philippine movies. Now aged 49, she is happily married and has a daughter, who is in college. She juggles family life and work as a clinical psychologist at the Ateneo de Manila University and psychology teacher at St. Joseph College in Quezon City. Watch out for her in the soon-to-air tv soap â&#x20AC;&#x153;Habang May Buhayâ&#x20AC;?

profile

Me and my holidays:

Tetchie Agbayani Interview by Monica De Leon

Which was your best holiday in the Philippines? Always at El Nido. The staff there are very attentive. I always ask to go to a deserted island and for them to pack some lunch. And so in the morning after breakfast they’d take me on a boat to this uninhabited island. You could nudebathe if you want. The last time I went to El Nido, my daughter was still a toddler. She’d have an afternoon nap on the beach, on a blanket I’d lay out under a monoblock table for some shade. While she’s sleeping, I’d get a plastic chair, carry it to the water, stick it into the sand, and sit on it with water up to my waist. One time, I convinced some musicians – a violinist and guitarist – to come with us on a boat to the small and big lagoon and play classical music. The minute they started playing, all the wild monkeys came out to see what was going on. I got off the boat and just floated in the calm water, listening to the heavenly music. But I also yearn for adventure travel, backpacking with my daughter. My honey (husband) doesn’t like to travel too much but my daughter and I share the same passion for adventure. Tell us about one adventure trip. I went to Camiguin with my daughter when she was just in grade two. We went via a Superferry and when we arrived in the island, we hired a tricycle and found this cottage at the far end of the beach and stayed the night. We toured around via a habal-habal (motorcycle). And your favorite resort? First, El Nido (Miniloc and Lagen), Palawan. Second would be – now I only end up going to Batangas for diving – Aquaventure Resort where I stay all the time because I’m at home there; everybody knows my travel arrangements and what I need. I like Fridays in Boracay. It has a nice location with a nice beach, spacious area, and excellent food and service.

Your travel essentials? My tanning lotion with SPF, my plastic bags for dirty clothes and litter, a windbreaker because it gets cold on a boat, my Glutamax (lightening soap) when I am on the beach, my soap and my after-sun lotion. Your favorite dive destination? Balicasag Island in Bohol is the best diving place; the water is so shallow for several feet and then the sea floor drops sharply and you are underwater with a wall filled with corals on one side, a myriad of fish on the other, and the deep blue. Balicasag is not popular with tourists so the amenities are simple. Your favorite local buys? When I go to Cebu, I buy all these shellcraft, mangoes, the saltless danggit (dried fish). I usually buy the local specialty food. In Dumaguete, they have wonderful skinless longganisas (local sausage). Your favorite fashion shopping stops? Usually in the Makati area – Rustans and Rockwell [Powerplant Mall]. For clothes, I particularly like Zara. I go to SM and shop at Sakaya for my costumes in my shows and plays, Shoemart or Janilyn for shoes, Aldo or Rustan’s for accessories. I also like Criselda Lontok creations. Favorite restaurant? On weekdays, Mario’s. On weekends, I go to Spices at the Pen or Umo at Dusit. Any travel advice? When I travel, I always wrap my clothes in several plastic bags. I distribute my money. I always bring medicine. I travel light. I went around Europe for three months with only two backpacks.

and often have steak from Santis, pasta, tomatoes in my cooler. I go to Batangas to dive. In Batangas we go to Sepok Island where there’s no one else. I always look for a place that’s secluded. That’s also why I like Palawan a lot. There are coves that you can have all to yourself. Tell us about how living in Boracay Island is like. I resided in Boracay from 1988 to 1992. The first time I went to Boracay, there was no electricity. There were lots of fireflies; you walk with a gasera (gas lamp); there were no tricycles so evenings were peaceful. And my favorite months there are September and October because you get sun and rain. Even if it’s stormy in Boracay, I still enjoy the place because that’s the time when everything is so quiet. When it’s raining, people tend to stay indoors but I go out in the rain, swim, and just enjoy it. Where do you want to holiday next? I want to try the boutique hotel of Happy Ongpauco in Tagaytay. (Visit www. theboutiquebnb.com) The worst hotel you’ve stayed in in the country? I was shooting in Ilocos area. I stopped over somewhere in Pangasinan or La Union in a resort by the ocean that’s owned by a Filipina, who is married to a German or a Swiss. The husband was not a nice host. Lots of dos and don’ts. The bed frame in my room was in pebble wash finish with a mattress on top. I found it strange that when I wanted to take the mattress down and sleep on the floor, he didn’t like it. What do you avoid on holiday? Crowds, drinking crowds most especially.

You love travelling with your daughter? Yes. I drive my BMW and she’s my navigator. We have our Lisa Stansfield music blaring loudly. I have my bonbon, my little burner

december - january 2010 I SEAIR InFlight

inroom > indulge

book Now

Rooms and the city

You need not choose between five-star and grotty these days. Smaller exclusive boutique hotels and local chains can be just as good. Monica De Leon checks out the new kids on the block

December - january 2010 I SEAIR InFlight

inRoom

Rooms a nd the cit y

Hotel Celeste Location. Centrally located. A short walk to the Greenbelt shopping complex with its trendy restaurants and shops and the main Makati business district. CHARACTER. Euro Chic and swanky modern. The hotel’s rooms are inspired by owner Cely Sarabia’s travels to Europe and Asia. ROOMS. The hotel, which opened in late 2008, has 30 rooms, either a suite or a deluxe room. Each is decorated differently. The room I was in was a single deluxe room with hardwood floors, white ceiling, and walls painted a light grey, except for one in metallic olive, black and red-orange vertical stripes, the background for my chocolate-colored headboard. My bed was luxuriously comfy and you can’t fault the hotel for lack of storage. There are exquisite cabinets and chest of drawers. It also ticks the gadget box. Each room has an iPod dock, a 32-inch LCD TV with satellite channels and free wifi access. And you get to borrow three dvd movies a day, free of charge. The toilet and bath is small but with everything else in this hotel, makes a design statement with handpainted gold leaves on the tangerine walls of the toilet and vanity area and a dramatic black granite sink counter. There’s a hair dryer, magnifying mirror, and there’s no scrimping when it comes to toiletries. You get L’Occitaine bodywash, shampoo, conditioner and lotion. fOOd. It’s a la carte for breakfast, with free bread and pastries, cold cuts and cheese, salad and fruits. The hotel’s restaurant CiCou specializes in French cuisine. A full course meal costs about P1,700 per person.

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WE LIKE. The rooms will not be out of place in an interior design magazine. Fabrics for cushions and bedlinens are rich in texture and color and could have easily come from a European Designers Guild brochure. Service is prompt and efficient and you get your own “personal chamberlain” to assist you during your stay. NOT SO KEEN. I can’t think of one. While this hotel is not your five-starhotel-chain-managed outfit and does not have all the facilities of a big hotel, it runs like clockwork and delivers. ESSENTIALS. Room rates start from P6,000 (about US $120).

San Lorenzo Drive cor. Arnaiz Ave., Makati City Tel.: +632/ 887 8080 URL: www.hotelceleste.ph

HOW TO GET THERE SEAIR flies daily from Caticlan to Manila, four times weekly from Batanes, thrice weekly from Tablas, and twice weekly from Cebu via Caticlan. To book, visit www.FlySeair.com or call +632/ 849 0100. From the domestic airport, Hotel Celeste and Makati Crown Regency are about 20 minutes away; City Garden is about 30 minutes away; and G Hotel is only about 15 minutes away, depending on traffic. From Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Hotel Celeste and Makati Crown Regency are about 30 minutes away; City Garden is about 40 minutes away; and G Hotel is only about 20-25 minutes away, again, depending on traffic.

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Hotel Celesteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suite room

inRoom

Rooms a nd the cit y

The executive superior room of City Garden

City Garden Hotel Makati Location. It’s right on Makati Avenue, a central location in the Makati business district. It’s a few minutes away from Rockwell Center with its posh shops, restaurants and Power Plant shopping mall. Lots of take-away shops and restaurants in the area if you tire of hotel food. The area is also good for flagging down cabs, but parking can sometimes be a problem. CHARACTER. It looks like your usual budget hotel from outside, but inside its high ceiling and glass walls let in a stream of natural light, giving the reception area an airy and lighthearted feel. The interior design is modern Asian. Most guests in this three-star, 160-room hotel are business travelers. ROOMS. Clean and cozy. I stayed at the 33sqm executive room on the Penthouse floor. It had a double bed and a single bed with crisp, clean sheets,

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wood parquet floors, beige walls, light brown furnishings, muted light, and an immaculate toilet and bath decorated with white Spanish tiles, a marble sink counter, separate bath and shower, and hot and cold water. Wi-fi access is free for corporate guests. fOOd. It’s your typical buffet for breakfast and a la carte for lunch at the second floor hotel restaurant that can seat 70 at a time, and dinner at the roofdeck rastaurant where there’s a breathtaking view of the city. Dishes served are continental and must try are fish Singapore-style with yangchow fried rice and crispy calamares with wasabi mayo dip. The restaurant’s bestsellers are its grills. Try blue marlin steak caprice and grilled tenderloin. A full course meal costs less than P1, 000 per person. WE LIKE. Housekeeping does a sparkling job of keeping the rooms clean and in

order. The rates won’t break the bank either. Location is superb. And don’t miss the room service. Both the sinigang and lechon kawali are good bets. And if you do have time, check out the gym, spa, and rooftop bar with pool. For a little hotel, this one does not do too badly. NOT SO KEEN. While the staff are warm and accommodating, it took a riveting 40 minutes for our food to get served at the restaurant considering there were few guests onboard. And the hotel has limited parking space although they offer valet service with minimum fee. ESSENTIALS. Room rates start from $64.

7870, Makati cor. Ayala Ave., Makati City Tel.: +632/ 899 1111 URL: www.citygardenhotels.com/makati

G Hotel’s deluxe room with twin beds

G Hotel Location. On Roxas Boulevard with a view of Manila Bay’s golden sunset, and a few minutes away from the shopping malls, the national landmarks including Rizal Park (Luneta), the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Walled City of Intramuros and Manila Bay. CHARACTER. The seven-storey, 50room G Hotel presents a white, modern, well-lit exterior. Inside, its public areas lean towards minimalist contemporary design using black and white and metallic, reflective surfaces like its mirrored pillars in the reception room. Two elevators lead up to the seventh floor where there’s a roof deck, a bar and a pool. All very James Bondish. ROOMS. The fifth floor was another matter. Chic and modern turned into tropical homey, with rooms like the one I stayed in pretty box standard. Mine was a 30sqm deluxe king (Room 503),

with beige walls, yellow ceiling and pin lights, wood laminate flooring, bamboo coffee table and chairs, banig or basket weave mats lining the desk drawers, and pine-colored furniture. The bed is king size with immaculate white sheets. The bathroom is in all-white granite, with a separate bathtub and shower and usual toiletries. The best feature of the room is its sliding doors that lead to a verandah with views of Roxas Boulevard and Manila Bay. I like the idea of being able to let natural light in and get some air. fOOd. Continental buffet for breakfast and a la carte for lunch and dinner, although Thursdays and Fridays offer buffet lunch. Try the java barbecued chicken, which is quite good. House specialties are boursin cheese ravioli, poached prawn fettucini, kare-kare or ox tail with vegetables in peanut sauce, Balinese fried fish and crispy pata or deep fried pork knuckle served with soy-vinegar

sauce. Non-alcoholic drinks start at P135. A whole course meal here will cost from P1,200-P1,500 per person. WE LIKE. The ground floor décor is a welcome break from the norm. The service is quite prompt and friendly. My food was served in my room in 20 minutes, exactly what the staff promised. Location is another plus. NOT SO KEEN. Room rate and food prices are a little steep. My room airconditioner chose to act up like a blow dryer. Apparently, its filter needed attention but the staff fixed this quickly. ESSENTIALS. Room rates start from P6,000.

2090, Roxas Boulvard, Malate, Manila Tel.: +632/ 525 0888 URL: www.g-hotel..com.ph

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Crown Regency’s superior room

Makati Crown Regency Hotel Location. Centrally located in the Makati business district. Across the hotel is Park Square 1, close to the Glorietta shopping malls and ShoeMart shopping center. It is also a few minutes walk to Greenbelt, another shopping area.

superior room is mostly in inoffensive beige, with dark brown furnishings. The floor is wood laminate with a small tiled area near the door. There’s a toilet and enclosed shower. Only high-speed internet access is available. Wi-fi is available in selected areas of the hotel.

CHARACTER. This 61-room hotel opened in December 2008 and is one of the newest properties of Crown Regency. It’s a four-storey modern building catering mostly to business travelers. During my stay the reception area was clogged up three times a day with luggages and guests struggling to check in and out.

fOOd. Buffet for breakfast and a la carte for lunch and dinner at Lobby Lounge on the ground floor. The restaurant seats 42. Dishes served are continental and house specialties are anything beef – beef with onions, beef rib-eye steak with herbal butter and beef with mushrooms. The seafood medley served with sautéed bell peppers, onions and stewed tomatoes is a must try. Price per dish is about P200-P500.

ROOMS. No-frills modern rooms. I was initially booked in a deluxe room, but was upgraded to a superior. The only difference between the two is that the latter has a view of the road and the commercial neighborhood. The 28sqm

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WE LIKE. The central location. Service is prompt and pleasant. It took the house electrician one minute after my phone call to arrive and sort out some power

outage. It took two minutes for a bucket of ice to arrive after I’ve requested it. The dining staff of Lobby Lounge in particular are a cheerful group, happy to chat with you. NOT SO KEEN. Some attention to detail with regard the room lay-out and function would have been good. You can’t watch TV from your bed by the window because a monolith pillar blocks it from view. There’s no notepad or pen by the bedside table. There’s a coffee-like stain on the airconditioner’s remote. And lighting in certain areas is inadequate. ESSENTIALS. Room rates start from $150.

1026 A, Arnaiz Ave., Makati City Tel.: +632/ 845 0211 15 URL: www.crownregencyhotels.com/makati

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Bistro Filipino interior

This photo by Mike Alcid

B e s t f o r C h r i s t m a s E v e d i n n e r indulge

top Choices

Best for Christmas Eve dinner We asked seven of the city’s top chefs and food experts where they go for a comforting Filipino Christmas Eve dinner or a luxurious holiday take-away. Margie Francisco reports

For me, one of the restaurants that serve traditional Filipino food and is respectful to the recipe is Dencio’s (24 E. Lopez St. near Tomas Morato, Diliman, Quezon City, Tel: +632/ 376 4771). I don’t frequent a lot of restaurants because 90 percent of my time is here in our premises. But I really like Dencio’s; I think it has the ambience of the Filipinos. You get there and it’s very relaxed. And what they do, they do well. I really like the sisig (grilled or broiled liver and head parts of pig served on a sizzling plate). It’s very authentic, very traditional. It’s my favorite dish. For meat and cheese, of course it’s Terry Selection. What we do is import at least 85 per cent of the products in the store. We bring in the cheeses and cold cuts, most of them, from Europe. I don’t have a favorite wine. For me, there are some situations that make me decide on what wine to drink. - Juan Carlos de Terry Oenologist and Terry Selection owner The best restaurants to eat Christmas Eve dinner are El Cirkulo (900 Pasay Road, Makati City, Tel: +632/ 810 2763 or 810 8735) and Bistro Filipino (Net One Building, The Fort, Taguig City, Tel: +632/ 856 0634 or 856 0541). El Cirkulo’s Chef J Gamboa serves the best sisig in Manila. It’s crispy and nicely presented. Also on the menu are lechon kawali, sinigang, and paella. Bistro Filipino at the Fort has a modern Filipino cuisine. Chef Rolando

Laudico does something with the traditional food and makes it different. I like the appetizer ubod spring rolls served in a shot glass. He also has nice prawn sinigang soup, and foie gras with adobo overload. Both restaurants have a classy ambience. If you want traditional, go to El Cirkulo. If you like to try new things and you’re open to new style of food, then Bistro Filipino’s very nice. For good meat, I go to Santis (WIC Building, 7431 Yakal Street, Makati City, Tel: +632/ 844 1154). They have everything there. For cheese, I go to Terry Selection (Bldg. B, Karivin Plaza, 2316 Pasong Tamo Ext., Makati City, Tel: +632/ 844 1816) or Santis. I like the selection of wine in Terry Selection. The prices are very reasonable. If you want to try the wine, you can drink it in the restaurant. You can get the bottle from the shelf and bring it to the restaurant, and ask the waiter to chill the wine for you. I like sauvignon blanc and chardonnay for dry white wine. - Jeroen van Straten Owner, Pepper Lunch

For Filipino cuisine, go to Chef Laudico’s Bistro Filipino. I’m sure he’ll whip up fantastic Filipino dishes for you at Christmas. I like his food in general. He has created Filipino dishes in a modern way. I like his creations, his boldness. I like how he attacks the Filipino recipes and presents them in a better way. We produce everything here at Santis. I

especially like the honey ham. It’s sweet; you decorate it with some cloves, some fruits. The Dutch edam cheese is definitely appreciated by most people. I prefer Swiss cheese because it’s tastier than Dutch cheese. It’s aged longer. For wine, definitely start with a nice prosecco. Then maybe some light pinot noir from Switzerland or Sweden to go with the ham. - Werner Berger Owner, Santis Delicatessen shops

The best restaurant to eat Christmas Eve dinner, hands down, is Via Mare (Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati City, Tel: +632/ 757 4020). It’s one of those restaurants that’s been tried and tested for two decades for their consistency in quality food and service. Via Mare offers a special Christmas dinner or can custom-make one. Must tries are the conchinillo (roast suckling pig) and seafood paella. But I’ll start it with a dozen fresh oysters and a glass of French chablis. I also love their hot pandesal (local bun), kesong puti (local white cheese made from carabao’s milk) and Chinese ham. I like the Chinese ham from Excellente or Majestic. My mother bakes this ham from Mother Earth (Pampanga) with pineapple, cloves and sugar. Marca Piña edam cheese from Holland is available at any supermarket. I like Australian shiraz for its peppery quality. It goes well specially with Chinese ham and strong flavored sausages and cheeses. - Claude Tayag Chef and owner, Bale Dutung restaurant

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indulge

Best for Chr istm as Eve dinner

Milky Way Café ‘s lechon kawali or deep-fried three-week-old suckling pig served with liver sauce. Its tasty crispythin skin is a must try

The best place to eat Christmas Eve dinner is at home. I don’t really know too many people who go to our restaurants for noche buena. Most spend it at home and a lot of people actually pick up food from our restaurants. El Cirkulo for paellas, conchinillo, slow roasted beef belly with horseradish sauce; Milky Way Café for crispy hito (deep fried catfish), lechong kawali (three-week-old suckling pig), and Milky Way halo-halo (a local dessert of tropical fruits and beans served with crushed ice, milk and sweetener). A family friend never fails to give us a Majestic ham for noche buena. Marca Piña queso de bola is a gift too. - J Gamboa Chef and owner, El Cirkulo and Milky Way Director, Les Toques Blanches Philippines The best restaurant to eat Christmas Eve dinner is the Italian-Filipino fusion restaurant Cookbook Kitchen (8 Socorro Fernandez Street, Mandaluyong City, Tel: +632/ 724 3595 or 381 5935) and Chateau Verde (63 Apacible St., University of the Philipines Campus, Diliman, Quezon City, Tel: +632/ 928 8180 or 927 3035). Cookbook Kitchen has a good family ambience, is spacious, has great service and great food. At Chateau Verde, the ambience is intimate, charming, and it has good service and good food as well. I like the adobo inspired pasta of Cookbook Kitchen, and their parmesan-crusted fish and pork chops with honey mustard sauce. At Chateau Verde, try their paella, baked clams, deep fried dessert and pesto pasta. We buy ham at the grocery then cook it differently to save time. No particular brand for ham and queso de bola. For wine, I’d go for any Chilean wine. - Thomas Adviento Owner, Cocina Juan

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The best restaurant to eat Christmas Eve dinner would be JT’s Manukan by Joel Torre (4 Granada, Valencia, Quezon City, Tel: +632/ 721 9025) and Elar’s Lechon (151 Quezon Ave. cor. Speaker Perez St., Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City, Tel: +632/ 731 7551). Perfect food for the holidays! The food is very good. That’s the type of flavoring I’m looking for from a food. It can stand on its own even without sauce. I’d recommend chicken inasal (grilled) and kansi or beef in spicey soury broth, an Ilongo delicacy (JT’s Manukan) and the lechon (Elar’s).

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I buy Majestic ham bone-in on Echague Street, Quiapo. Buy your wines at Premium Wine Exchange (G/F Smith Bell Building, 2294 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City, Tel: +632/ 812 3823) and Happy Living Fine Wine (G/F JMS Bldg. 1375 P. Ocampo Sr. Avenue, Makati City, Tel: +632/ 895 6507-08). They have the best wines. It really depends on your budget or your personal preference in wine. For entry level, I would recommend Smoking Loon Cabernet Sauvignon (Premium Wine Exchange) and Beringer Founder Estate (Happy Living). - Jeremiah Go Owner, 145° Fahrenheit

Chef J Gamboa profile & Milky Way Café’s lechon kawali photos by Jocas A. See

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ins & outs

c ov e r s t ory

insider’s gu ide

in focus

The Manta Bowl in Masbate’s Ticao Pass sees nine-meter manta rays like this congregate to feed from December to May

ins&outs

Masbate: Haven for manta rays and gentle giants Unspoiled beaches, rodeos, and stunning underwater creatures are proving a star draw for the province Research by Lei Chavez

asbate province, a group of islands between the provinces of Bicol and Samar, is famous for its manta rays, unspoilt beaches, and cattle and horse breeding. Its Rodeo Masbateño festival is held in March and sees local cowboys show off their skills. The three major

Manta ray photo by Gutsy Tuason

islands – Masbate, Ticao, and Burias – are largely undeveloped as a tourist destination, but this does not detract from its appeal. Accommodation is rather limited, but we’ve researched a few choices.

Tel: +6356/ 333 6648, +63939/ 430 1429. The Rendezvous Beach Resort in

Stay. A good beachfront hotel in the city is the Baywalk Garden Hotel. The resort has air-conditioned rooms and hot

Punta Nursery is recommended for larger groups as it has four dormitories that can accommodate 20 people in each room. Khokak Beach Resort in Cataingan at

and cold showers. The 18 rooms are not very fancy but clean and the service is good. Boulevard Extension, Masbate City,

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M a sbat e Ticao Island photo by Donnie Oco; Map illustration by Mark David A. See

insAndOuts

the south of Masbate City, owned by the Kho family of Masbate, has first class Italian-styled cabins overlooking a man-made beach. There are 10 two-storey guest houses and there are plans to build a hotel, a golf course, a wedding gazebo, shooting range, and club house. The resort, apart from its own patch of beach, has a forest for trekking, and offers visits to a ranch and an island trip to Sibugay and some small islets near it. In Ticao Island, visitors can check-in at the Ticao Island Resort in Tacdungan. For more details on Ticao Island

Resort, contact +6352/ 480 2266 and 820 1483.

Dine. Cool breeze from the bay and the freshest catch from the sea are served side by side in Chill out at the Rendezvous Beach Resort, a favorite among travelers and tourists. For local specialties, grab a table at the nearby Amperez Bar and Grill. Amerez Bar and Grill,

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Punta Nursery; Tel: +6356/ 333 2331. Joe’s Pizza in Zurbito Street is a good place to drop by if you’re looking for pizza in Masbate; while Winvels Restaurant and Port Zirteas Café in Mabini serve one of the best brews in town. Port Zirteas Café Tel: +63917/ 838 4979;

Joe’s Pizza Tel: +6356/ 333 2166; Winvels Restaurant Tel: +6356/ 333 2532, +6356/ 333 5814. If you want a different view of Masbate City, try the floating restaurant

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Ticao Island

most harmless rays in the world and are mostly found in tropical waters. They can grow up to nine meters (29.5 feet) wide and weigh around three tons (1,350kg). The pass also attracts whalesharks, hammerheads, and thresher sharks, thanks to its proximity to Donsol in Sorsogon, a famous whaleshark diving site. Whalesharks visit the island as early as November but diving season starts from February to May. For dives, contact

Marti Calleja at +6352/ 480 2266 of Dive Ticao.

that cruises Masbate Bay that offers live music.

Aroroy are famous ancient burial sites. The hills are believed to have been inhabited by the Kalanay people, an indigenous tribe in the province of Masbate. Another burial site is the Underwater Cave in Boca Engaño, where there are carved-out human caskets made from solid wood. Three lighthouses dating back to the Spanish era can also be explored. These are the Colorado Lighthouse and Bugui Point Lighthouse in Aroroy and the Jintolo Lighthouse in Jintolo Island.

SEE. Visit Bugsayon Marine Sanctuary in Dive. Ticao Pass recently became famous for its Manta Bowl, a shallow part of the pass where manta rays gather to feed and get cleaned by wrasses like remora fish from December to May. Mantas are the largest but

Brgy. B. Titong, a 50-hectare marine sanctuary, about 30 minutes by motorboat from Masbate City. A likewise nearby sanctuary is the 250-hectare Buntod Reef Sanctuary, a white sandbar in the waters of Brgy. Nursery and Brgy. Tugbo. Birdwatchers should flock to

•

Pawa Mangrove Ecosystem and Wildlife Park in Brgy. Pawa for bird sightings like the stripe-headed rhabdornises. The Matangtubig Spring in Montreal is also worth visiting as the water allegedly comes from three sources and comes out from a rock. For more information

on how to visit these sites, contact the Masbate government office at +6356/ 333 5608.

Swim. Masbate also has numerous beaches in all three islands. In Aroroy alone, tourists can choose between Aroroy Beach, Cambatang Beach, and Cangyat Beach. The beaches are white-sand and good for afternoon strolls. The fine white beach in San Isidro, Claveria stretches to four kilometers with views of coral reefs from the shore while the Ki-albay River and Beach, also in Claveria, has well-polished pebbles and a sandy bottom. Talisay Beach in Ticao Island and Cadulou Beach are good sights for swimming and sunbathing. Explore. The Limestone Hills in Kalanay,

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Trek. A trek to Catandayagan Falls in Ticao Island is also a must for adventure travelers. The water cascades from 60 feet to a lagoon where numerous species of fish thrive. The falls can be reached by motorboat. Two other falls worth mentioning are Kalanay Falls in Nabingig, a good spot for horseback riding, and Alta Vista Falls in San Fernando, Ticao Island, a unique waterfall that is about 45 feet high.

Island hop. Island hopping tours are also recommended, especially since Masbate is mostly composed of smaller islands. Drop by Sombreno Island in San Pascual, the Cagpating Island in Montreal for a panoramic view of Masbate Island, and Tinalisay Island in Burias for swimming and sunbathing. The islands in Dimasalang – Veagan, Macaraget Hamorawan and Daguit-Daguit — are spots for scuba diving and windsurfing. The white-sand beaches in Mataba-Tinigban to Napayaun Islands in Aroroy and Puting Island in Claveria are also worth a look.

For more information on the Manta Ray Conservation Program in Masbate, contact Blue Zoo Heritage Society at +632/ 899 3648.

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Cover Story

Model Theresa Fenger in Shangri-La's Boracay Resort and Spa beach, showing off the latest dive kit from Aquamundo. For gear details, see pages 56

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Vigan Heritage Village: Calle Crisologo in Vigan dates back to the 16th century and reflects the fusion of Filipino, Chinese, Spanish and European architecture. Vigan itself is the best preserved example of Spanish colonial town in Asia

Spanish highs

The beautiful old â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ilustradoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; houses of UNESCO World Heritage town Vigan offer a stunning insight into life in the Philippines under colonial rule. Ces Rodriguez takes a trip back in time P h oto s by da n i e l s o r i a n o

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S pa n i s h h ig h s

Vigan by night, lit up by old Spanish street lamps

he historic town of Vigan, the capital of of the northern province of Ilocos Sur, was once an island surrounded by three rivers – the Mestizo River on the East, the Govantes River running from the north and emptying to the South China Sea on the west, and the mighty Abra River. Historian Augusto Villalon said: “Originally, Vigan was a triangular-shaped island reached by a causeway connecting it to Bantay, a town in the Ilocos Sur mainland. The causeway still exists but the rivers have silted over and Vigan is no longer an island.” What it is, however, is “the best preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Southeast Asia,” according to UNESCO, which inscribed Vigan on its World Heritage List in 1999. The recognition put the town on the tourist map. Lying 400 kilometers northwest of Manila, it has become a favorite destination for tourists, two million of whom visited last year. It's not hard to imagine what it was like to live in this small town, built in the style of the Spanish colonizers in the 18th century – a central plaza consisting of the municipal hall on one end, and St. Paul’s Cathedral on the other, flanked by the Archbishop’s Palace, the seminary, and the Colegio de las Niñas, which today is St. Paul College. Plaza Burgos, a second plaza, lies next to the cathedral. Calle Crisologo, the main tourist drag, and one of the residential side streets radiating from the central are amazingly intact, although some of the houses and shops show the wear and tear of time. A few hundred meters long, Crisologo is the picturesque face of Vigan. Calesas, or horse-drawn carriages, the only mode of transportation allowed on the narrow street, clop across the cobbles (a recent conceit I later learn as streets weren’t cobbled during the Spanish period). Ancestral houses stand on both sides of the road, their ground levels taken over by souvenir and antique shops. There’s a hotel on the strip and a funeral home that sells coffins airbrushed with clouds, praying hands, the crucifixion and Raphael’s famous Little Angels painting.

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Map illustration by Mark David A. See

Calle Crisologo

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To dive for

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Cover Story

Syquia Mansion interior photo by Jocas A. See

Find out how the other half lives and visit the Syquia Mansion, a living museum of how the upper classes lived in the 19th century. In 1921, the mansion became home to former Philippine President Elpidio Quirino, who was married to a Syquia

Our guide, tourism officer Jo-Anne Guttierez, says a few of the old families still live on the upper floors of the old houses. They are also responsible for the upkeep of their heritage homes. Otherwise, as in the case of an impressive if crumbling three-story house on Crisologo, which JoAnne says fell into disrepair because of an unresolved family problem, the city government is empowered by law to expropriate the property. Vigan takes its heritage status seriously. Jo-Anne says the city has rejected the construction of a shopping mall, and a few of the national retail chains who’ve set up shop in the city have abided by the local government’s strict architectural provisions. There are some 200 homes identified as heritage structures in Vigan. A few of them have not just retained their bahay na bato (old brick houses) exteriors, but the grandeur of its interiors as well. Among the most impressive are the Syquia and Quema Mansions. Both homes typify the stone houses of the ilustrados in the 19th century. Ilustrados were the educated class and were composed of indios (pure Filipinos) and mestizos (Filipinos of mixed Spanish or Chinese parentage). Their houses reflected the mores and the levels of caste snobbery at the time, some of which prevail still today. While the ground floor was used as a garage for horsedrawn carriages, it was also a way for the master of the house to determine the stature of his guests and receive them accordingly. From the second floor antesala or foyer, servants would peer through a peephole fitted with a one-way mirror to see if those who came calling were even worthy to be led upstairs. If they were, guests would wait in the foyer, which overlooked a second peephole in the master’s bedroom. This way, the head of the household could instruct his servants if the guests were important enough to be shown to the living room. This social order existed among servants as well. In both the Syquia and Quema homes (and tellingly, the Archbishop’s Palace), a second corridor or boladas ringed the main living spaces. They were to be used exclusively by servants who were expected to be as invisible as possible during the course of doing their chores. Still, there was a head servant called the namamahay who had exclusive access to his masters’ private quarters. The way the rooms were laid out spoke of how Vigan’s old rich viewed their children. Girls’ rooms had a connecting door to the master bedroom – the better, it december - january 2010 I SEAIR InFlight

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highs

Clockwise from top left:

was said, for parents to ensure their virginal daughters remained virginal. Boys’ rooms, on the other hand, were in the opposite wing beside the library because boys were expected to hit the books and excel in school. Even today, the strict order of roles and social rules linger. The Syquias, for example, objected strongly when their home was renamed the Quirino Mansion to honor former president Elpidio Quirino. Though Quirino held the highest office in the land, he was seen as simply marrying into the family when he took Alicia Syquia as a bride in 1922. The Syquias are descended from wealthy galleon traders, while Quirino’s father worked as a prison warden. The mansion reverted to its original name, and the late President’s memorabilia was confined to a museum on the ground floor garage. The descendants of Vigan’s other wealthy families may have sought to expand their fortunes elsewhere, but were loath to sell their ancestral homes. In the case of the still grand, but more modest Arce Mansion, upkeep has been taken over by Lito Perez, a past president and chairman of the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines. Perez has opened Arce Mansion as a hotel for tourists who want to experience the grandeur of living in the 1890s, while sleeping in the 21st century comfort of rooms fitted with airconditioners and cable TV. The ground floor of the mansion has been converted into a modern dorm for budget travelers, with rows of charmingly mismatched beds (including simple curtained four-posters) and Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy prints on the walls. A door leads to a room bursting with historic costumes, which, for the price of the stay, you can use to play dress up and have your photo taken on the premises. There are, however, grisly reminders of the violence that marked Vigan’s past. At the Arce Mansion, on the whitewashed walls just off the ground floor dorm, a series of black and white photographs show a frame-by-frame account of an assassination attempt on Imelda Marcos in 1972 by a bolo-wielding man during a public government function. The man was shot dead, and Imelda, wife of former president and native Ilocano Ferdinand Marcos, survived. The photographer who captured the incident was one of Perez's relatives. The Burgos Museum, home of Father Jose Burgos, one of the three priests sentenced to die by garrote in 1872 on trumped-up charges of sedition, also houses a

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Arce Mansion interior photo by Jocas A. See

InFlight model Olafson at Arce mansion; the mansion's old world interior; Padre Burgos Museum and some of the museum's ethnic wood craft

p u n ta c o r a zo n P h oto by joc a s a . s e e

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S pa n i s h h ig h s

Crisologo Museum

series of paintings by Vigan-born painter Esteban Pichay Villanueva. Commissioned in 1821 by the Spanish government, they depict the slaughter of Ilocanos who were caught revolting against the government monopoly on basi, sugarcane wine. The paintings, done in naïve style, served to warn locals about the consequences of uprisings. Experts say they also mark a milestone in the development of painting in the Philippines, which was, until that point, dominated by religious subjects. Over at the Crisologo Museum, a glass case holds the bloodied clothes of former Congressman Floro Crislogo who was assassinated in 1970 while attending mass at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Photographs next to his clothes show the congressman slumped between church pews. Ironically, given the violence, it was a gesture of pure love that supposedly saved Vigan from being burned down or carpet-bombed in World War II. According to tourism guide Jo-Anne Gutierrez, the Americans were ready to bomb Vigan because it was the headquarters of the Kempeitai, the military police arm of the Japanese Imperial Army. Forced into retreat, the Japanese were set to torch the town. However, Japanese military commander Fujiro Takahashi pleaded with Father Joseph Kleikamp of the Vigan seminary to take custody of the Japanese officer’s Filipino wife and their child. The priest agreed on the condition that Takahashi spare the town. The officer agreed and fled with his troops, leaving the town intact. The following day, the townspeople spread an oversized American flag in the plaza to stop the Americans from dropping their bombs. The fortuitous (or apocryphal) turn of events may have spared many of Ilocos Sur’s Spanish-era churches as well. One of the most impressive is St. Augustine Church, the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity, Bantay, Ilocos Sur. Built in 1590, it was damaged partly in World War II and reconstructed in 1950. According to its historical plaque, the façade of the church is of “neo-gothic design mixed with pseudo Romanesque elements.” There is a belfry, open to tourists, a few hundred yards away. Like St. Paul’s Cathedral in Vigan town plaza, most bell towers were built separately to keep them away from people in case they collapsed during frequent earthquakes. Exterior buttresses, like those seen in St. Paul’s Cathedral and St. Vincent Church in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur, also served to prop up the structures. Some churches – like St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Santa Catalina, Ilocos Sur – are rife with legend. When the Spanish forces in Vigan sought further conquest, they crossed the Govantes River to a small island where they plowed inland. They came upon a spring, from which they took turns drinking, and then saw an apparition of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. The spring was said to have healing powers.

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St. Augustine Parish Church, Bantay

Catherine and Peter ascending after a fun dive

S pa n i s h h ig h s

Cover Story

Baluarte

How to get there It’s a 10-hour bus ride from Manila to Vigan so best to take the deluxe buses (P680) of Partas Bus with terminals in Pasay and Cubao, Quezon City. These buses make fewer stops.

Where to stay Vigan Plaza Hotel (www.viganplazahotel. com) is in a good location in Plaza Burgos. An ancestral home, it has been sleekly modernized while retaining the core structure of the traditional house, with an open balcony on the second floor and a wide sala-cum-lounge. Single rooms are from P2,300 per night and family dorms for six are at P7,000. The rates include breakfast. There’s cable TV, wifi and aircon. Tel: +6377/ 722 1527; Email: viganplaza@yahoo.com Villa Angela (www.villangela.com) is wellknown for being the first heritage hotel in Vigan. It has seen its share of celebrity guests, from Tom Cruise to Piolo Pascual. There are four airconditioned rooms on the second floor and two dormitories on the ground level. Rooms start at P1,800 per day (high season). If you want a good breakfast of fried eggs, rice and tapa or cured meat and the famous Vigan longganisa, make prior arrangements with the caretaker. Tel: +6377/ 722 2914; Email: info@villangela.com Grandpa’s Inn (www.grandpasinn.com) has an airconditioned Calesa Room that’s good for a family of four and features beds fashioned like traditional carriages. The rate is P2,130 per night. Standard aircon rooms for two start at P1,680 per night, and fan rooms from P896 per night. Tel: +6377/ 722 2118; Email: grandpas_inn@yahoo.com

Getting around Tricycles are plentiful and a single trip costs from P10. You can rent a tricycle for a whole day’s outing by paying a negotiable fee. Make sure you arrange it in advance. Calesa rides around town are P150 an hour.

Where to eat The empanadahan stalls at the edge of

Vigan meat pies or empanada

Mindoro Beach

the town plaza serve the famous Vigan meat pies or empanada. At P30 a pop, you get an outsize pie with a filling of Vigan’s equally famous spicy longganisa (sausage), shredded green papaya and a raw egg yolk sealed into a rice-flour dough that’s deep-fried. For added zest, drizzle cane vinegar on it. Café Leona on Calle Crisologo serves pizzas derived from traditional Ilocano dishes. The ‘Bagnet with KBL’ (P260) has toppings of cubed twice-fried pork ribs with KBL – kamatis (tomatoes), bagoong (fermented anchovies) and lasona (onions). The Pinakbet Pizza is strewn with vegetables associated with the stewed dish: eggplant, squash, patani beans, okra and string beans. Tel: +6377/ 722 2212 Kusina Felicitas inside Grandpa’s Inn serves heirloom Ilocano dishes like poqui-poqui, an omelet of grilled eggplant with bagoong (P75 and seasonal specialties like adobo nga abuos, mountain ants from the rain forests of Abra stewed in vinegar and soy sauce (available from March to June). Tel: +6377/ 637 8299

OTHER ATTRACTIONS Baluarte. An 80-hectare property of gradually sloping grounds that has a zoo, except that the animals are made more at home by making their dwellings as close as possible to their natural habitat. Attractions include Petting Zoo wherein guests can interact and feed certain animals, mini horse rides, and close interactions with 8-10 exotic animals, a show offered four times a week. Taking photos is allowed. Admission is free. Visit www.chavitsingson.net/baluarte Quema Mansion. By appointment only. Contact Vigan Tourism Office (+6377/ 722 8776) Ruby Pottery. Features burnay or earthenware jars that are handcrafted utilizing anay or fine sand and cooked in a brick and clay oven. According to National Folk Artist Fidel Go, also owner of Ruby Pottery, pagbuburnay was first introduced in Vigan in 1890 by Pedro Go, a Chinese settler from Chinkian in Fukien, China. Although now commonly used as a decorative

piece, burnay jars are actually the best in fermenting and significant for its cultural value. Burnay factories are found in Barangays VII and VIII. Mindoro Beach. Located a few kilometers west of Vigan, this beach opens out to the South China Sea. Part of a rural fishing community, the beach here is pretty basically because it’s unspoilt. The water’s clean with friendly waves, and the sand is light grey, not fine, and with occasional pebbles, but is clean and inviting. Go on a weekday when the beach is at its most serene. Day huts are available with minimal fee. Museo Nueva Segovia. Ecclesiastical art at the Archbishop’s Palace, Nueva Segovia Street, Plaza Salcedo. Open Monday through Friday from 8am to 12 noon and from 1pm to 4pm. St. Dominic De Guzman Parish Church in Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur. One of Ilocos Sur’s biggest churches, it was built in the baroque style in August 4, 1742. Diego Silang, revolutionary leader who conspired to overthrow the Spanish government, was once the bell ringer here. San Vicente Church in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur was built in the 1790s. It was named after a winged statue found inside a box entangled in fishing nets. Unlike most churches in Ilocos Sur, its twin belfries are connected to the church. St. Catherine Of Alexandria Parish Church in Santa Catalina, Ilocos Sur was said to have been built near the site where an apparition of St. Catherine manifested itself to Spanish expeditionary forces. The church has a bell made of copper and gold which was brought by the Spaniards in the 15th century.

Our thanks to Vigan mayor Eva Marie S. Medina for supporting the InFlight team’s coverage, Jo-Anne Gutierrez, RE Guerrero, and to Vigan Plaza Hotel and Villa Angela for providing accommodation for the team.

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Photos of Baluarte, Mindoro Beach and Vigan meat pies by Jocas A. See

essentials

Nature Unfurled insider’s guide

InFlight’s contributing photographers share their favorite landscape shots from across the islands. Oggie Ramos tells their stories As seen through the lenses of:

Allan Barredo • Bien Bautista • John Callahan • Erick Dantoc • I ah Isip • Jaypee Martinez • Aj Ordoñez • Ruel Pine • Oggie R amos • Gutsy T uason

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Nueva Vizcayaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s night sky Turn to page 71 for info about this photo

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Camiguin Island, Babuyan Islands B y G utsy T uason

This photograph of Camiguin Island, one of the five major islands of the Babuyan Islands, shows nature in its brilliant layers. Tuason took this shot when he was on a mission to shoot Babuyan’s 45-foot humpback whales in May 2005. Located in the Luzon Strait, north of Luzon, Babuyan is also home to virgin rainforests and beautiful beaches. Its surrounding waters is the migratory route for the humpbacks, declared protected species by the provincial government of Cagayan. If you want to increase your chances of a sighting, go anytime from November to May. Be prepared to face a 16hour travel time and to rough it out. As Tuason says, “bring everything – food, water, flashlights as there is no power supply on the island.” Where to stay: No rooms here. Arrange to stay with the locals or take a tent and camp out. How to get there: Book a one-hour domestic flight from Manila to Tuguegarao, Cagayan. Then hop on a jeepney that will take you to Aparri in two hours and from Aparri, you catch a ferry to Camiguin Island, an eight-hour sea travel. You can also get on a banca from Sta. Ana, Cagayan which cuts the sailing time to six hours.

N ueva V izcaya’s night sky B y G utsy T uason

This otherworldly landscape was taken at four in the morning from the summit of Mt. Ugo in Nueva Vizcaya, about 2,130 feet above sea level. A barren tree trunk catches the light, hundreds of stars light up the sky, and in the foreground, the clouds cloak the rice fields below in feathery haze while at the other end, the distant lights of Manila glow a burning yellow. Where to stay: Set up tent at Mt. Ugo. How to get there: Tuason suggests breaking down the trip by driving from Manila to Baguio, a five-hour trip, spending the night in Baguio, and driving the following day to Cayapa, Nueva Vizcaya, where you park your car and camp at Mt. Ugo. It’s a six-hour trek to the summit so some degree of fitness is needed.

Gutsy Tuason is a freelance photojournalist and award-winning underwater photographer. Visit www.facebook.com/scottgutsytuason

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T urtle Sanctuary, Matina Aplaya B y E rick D antoc

This two-kilometer cove in Matina Aplaya, Davao, is a turtle sanctuary, a nesting site for the critically endangered hawksbill turtles and other turtle species. Dantoc left Sampaguita Inn on Mayon Street in downtown Davao at four in the morning in time to shoot this landscape at the break of dawn. Soon as the turtles lay their eggs on the beach and bury them in the warm sand, the “Task Force Pawikan Davao” staff would move the eggs to the hatchery for safety, increasing the turtles’ survival rate to 90%. Seagulls and egrets are also regular visitors to the cove. Where to stay: Matina Aplaya is a 30-minute drive from downtown Davao City. Book the Marco Polo (+6382/ 221 0888) or Waterfront Insular Hotel (+6382/ 233 2881). Venturing to nearby Samal Island is also possible via a motorized banca. In Samal, you can stay at the Barcelo Pearl Farm (+632/ 433 7532). How to get there: Take a one-and-a-half-hour flight from Manila to Davao City. Rent a car or hire a taxi to Barangay Matina Aplaya from downtown Davao.

For more on Dantoc’s works, visit www.wanderboy. wordpress.com or www.flickr.com/photos/erickph

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Cagbalete Island, Quezon B y A llan B arredo

At low tide, this unnamed beach on a private island in Cagbalete, Mauban, Quezon, presents a unique signature — wavelike patterns on five kilometers of dry sand. “During high tide, the beach narrows to about two-three meters of sand. The seabed is so flat you can walk 500 meters out to sea and still be in waist-deep water,” says Barredo. When he took this shot, great egrets were feeding on small fish. Cagbalete is known too for its coconut crabs and crustaceans. Where to stay: No-frills cottages and tents can be booked at Villa Cleofas (www.cagbalete.com) at the northern end of the island. How to get there: From Manila, take a bus to Lucena, a three-hour trip, and then take a minibus to Mauban, Quezon, a two-hour trip. From Mauban Port, a 45-minute boat ride will take you to Cagbalete Island. There are only two boat trips daily, one at 11am and another at 4pm, subject to seat availability.

For more on Barredo’s works, visit lantaw.blogspot. com or www.flickr.com/photos/allanbarredo

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Mantigue Island, Camiguin B y O ggie R amos

Ramos is a nature freak and loves off-thebeaten paths. Having been to Camiguin thrice, he wanted to explore the less touristy places and chanced upon Mantigue Island. He took this shot of the island from the banca en route to the town of Mahinog. The morning sun was up, making the sea sparkle and the clear waters reveal the wealth of corals underneath. Mantigue has an inland forest and clear waters, home to huge table corals sheltering schools of fish. Its forest is a nesting place of migratory birds while its beach is a nesting site for turtles. The local government is in the process of restoring the island to its pristine state and relocating its residents. Camiguin province is home to seven volcanoes, beautiful beaches, cold and hot springs, and waterfalls. Where to stay: Mantigue Island is ideal for day trips. The town of Mahinog has several resorts such as Islet Beach Resort (+6388/ 387 4005). The next town, Benoni, has basic rooms at J&A Fishpen and Resort (+6388/ 387 4008). How to get there: Take a one-and-a-half hour flight from Manila to Cagayan de Oro, where you catch a bus for a two-hour ride to Balingoan port. From Balingoan, take a one-hour ferry ride to Benoni. There are bancas for hire in Mahinog or Benoni. For more info, call the Camiguin Provincial office at +6388/ 387 1097.

For more on Ramosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; works, visit www.lagalog.com or www.flickr.com/photos/oggie

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Apo R eef Natural Park B y R uel P ine

This sun, sea, and sky landscape was taken one late morning after Pine went on a tour of Apo Island in Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental. He stopped by a fishing ground outside the Apo Reef Natural Park and shot this scene. On average, a fisherman in the area catches 15 to 25 kilos of fish each boat trip. The park, with an area of 15,793 hectares, and dwarfed only by Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, lays claim to the largest atoll-like reef in the country. It is a success story in conservation, having succeeded in stopping all destructive fishing methods two years ago to give the reef time to recover. Where to stay: Pandan Island Resort (www. pandan.com) in the west coast of Occidental Mindoro is a small resort offering bungalows and dive safaris. It’s also the closest resort to Apo Reef, with travel by outrigger boat from the resort to the reef taking about 90 minutes. How to get there: It takes 125km by boat from Puerto Galera. To get to Puerto Galera, take a bus (BLTB Bus Lines, EDSA, Pasay tel: +632/ 833 5508) from Manila to Batangas port, and from Batangas port, take a banca directly to the beach of your choice.

Ruel Pine is a conservationist and photographer for WWF Philippines, covering the Donsol area in Sorsogon. To view more of his works, visit http:// pa.photoshelter.com/c/ruelpine

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Pundaquit in Z ambales B y I ah I sip

This shot was taken on the long beach fronting Pundaquit, a fishing village tucked away in Zambales, well known among trekkers and surfers for its beaches and mountain trails. Surfers catch the waves in this bay during the monsoon season while island hoppers visit for sightings of dolphins and whales. About 4km away is the neighboring Capones Island, with its beach coves lined by pine trees, more reminiscent of North America than the tropics. Facing the China Sea but sheltered by the hills, the waters of Pundaquit are calm and ideal for swimming. Sea turtles lay their eggs on the long beach from December until February. Where to stay: Pundaquit is a budget destination with inexpensive accommodation. Punta de Uian, about 1.7 km away from Pundaquit, is a wellkept and comfortable resort offering standard rooms and stone huts with terraces. Rates are from P3,400-P6,600. Tel: +6347/ 252 2692. How to get there: From Manila, San Antonio, Zambales is a three- to fourhour drive. From San Antonio, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a 20-minute ride to Pundaquit. For more info, visit www.pundaquit.com.

For more on Isipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s works, visit www.iahisip.com

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Vigan Island, El N ido B y J ohn C allahan

Snake Island, a beautiful islet that’s only visible at low tide, was photographed by Callahan using a makeshift tripod from a three-meter bamboo pole. With the camera securely fastened on top of the pole by several nylon cable ties and the self-timer set in 10 seconds, Callahan got his desired perspective and clicked away. The result is this photo of a magnificent serpentine patch of pristine sandbar with the beautiful islets of El Nido in the background. Where to stay: El Nido Miniloc and El Nido Lagen offer luxurious island accommodation. Visit www.elnidoresorts.com. Dolarog Beach Resort (www.dolarog.com) has nice cottages by the beach fronting Bacuit Archipelago. Room rates are from P3,200-P6,100 per person per night. Casa El Nido (www.casaelnido.com) is a two-storey, Spanish style, self-catering house that has a huge living area and can accommodate six for P3,000 a day. How to get there: El Nido is about an hour’s flight from Manila via SEAIR (www.FlySeair.com). Your resort can book transfers and island hopping trips.

For more on Callahan’s works, visit www.jscfoto.com, www.tropicalpix.com

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Banul Beach, Coron B y J aypee M artinez

This may be a cliché tropical shot, but Banul Beach is still very much a hidden gem. Martinez calls it “Coron’s Little Boracay,” with its fine white sand and clear waters. The only difference, he says, is that Banul has more fish than tourists. This stretch of beach is less than 150 meters, and its seabed is gradually sloping, with a fine, sandy bottom, a good place for diving and snorkeling. There are two huts and two cottages on the beach that you can use for a whole day for a fee of P100 per guest. The funds are used by Tagbanua keepers for the upkeep of the beach. A few minutes from Banul by motorized boat are the marine sanctuaries in Siete Pecados, the Twin Lagoons, and the Kayangan and Barracuda Lakes. Where to stay: No accommodation on the beach, but nearby Coron town has plenty of resorts and guest houses. Try Divelink Resort (+63918/ 926 1545 or +63917/ 858 1799). How to get there: Take about an hour’s flight from Manila to Busuanga airport. From the airport, take a jeepney to Coron Town. The journey takes one hour. You can rent an outrigger boat at the sea port near the Coron Public Market or book a diving or island hopping trip with your resort.

For more on Martinez’s, visit www.jaypeeps.multiply.com

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Club Noah cave B y B ien B autista

The curved details and bright camel hues of the Club Noah Cave in Club Noah, Taytay, Palawan, was taken by Bien Bautista in 2007 when he was on assignment for SEAIR InFlight. “It reminded me of a Picasso painting,” said Bien. “It was magical. We did not know it existed.” Taytay is located in the middle part of Palawan, sandwiched between Busuanga in the north and Puerto Princesa and El Nido in the south. And like any other area in Palawan, it’s blessed with beautiful white-sand beaches, magnificent caves, and a diverse collection of flora and fauna. The gentle dugongs or seacows are among the rare species found in the waters of Taytay. Where to stay: Flower Island Resort off the coast of Taytay, Sandoval, northeastern Palawan has native thatched cottages with airconditioned and non-airconditioned rooms. Visit www. flowerisland-resort. How to get there: Take a one-hour flight from Manila to El Nido via SEAIR. From El Nido, take a one-and-a-half hour van/jeepney ride to Batakalan, and another 30 minute ride by speedboat to Flower Island. From Flower Island, arrange for a tour to Club Noah cave, which is 30-40 minutes away by speedboat.

Bien Bautista was the Camera Club of the Philippines’ Master Photographer in 2001. To view more of his works, visit www.bienbautista.com

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Caramoan Peninsula, Camarines Sur B y A J O rdo Ñ ez

Caramoan Peninsula has towering limestone cliffs, caves, lagoons, and white-sand beaches. caves and lagoons, and white-sand beaches. The whole island was the setting for the French and Bulgarian editions of TV adventure reality series, Survivor. Shown here is the island’s Katanawan Beach, which has fine sand, crystalline waters, and a rugged coastline dominated by limestone formations. Its seabed has a mixture of powdery sand and crushed corals, great for snorkeling and diving. The nearest dive shop is in Naga City, about three-four hours away, so take your gear with you if you intend to dive. Where to stay: Pack your tent and camp out on the beach if you feel so inclined or book a stay at Gota Village Resort (www.gotavillage.com), which offers 70 airconditioned wooden cabins set in Gota, a small cove in the northwest portion of Caramoan. It has a limestone hill that separates Gota East and Gota West, two narrow but beautiful beaches. How to get there: Take a one-hour flight from Manila to Naga and rent a van headed for Nato Port in Sagnay. From the port, catch a fastcraft (10am and 1:30pm daily) to Guijalo Port in Caramoan. For more info, visit www.caramoanparadise.blogspot.com.

For more on Ordoñez’s works, visit www.aordonez.multiply.com

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seair

Vision To provide world-renowned domestic and international airline and aviationrelated services following the highest safety standards. Mission To satisfy customer needs and surpass their expectations and requirements. • To fulfill the requirements of shareholders, business partners, employees and suppliers, following ethical business practices • To foster an atmosphere of team building through commitment and dedication to employees’ welfare and to achieve the highest sense of company identity • To be a benchmark model in the application of Quality Management System in the aviation industry • Our philosophical outlook is to support environmental conservation and community empowerment through educational awareness and direct involvement Quality Policy To provide excellent, safe, and reliable air transport that exceeds customer requirements through continual improvement of the established Quality Management System. Basic Facts and Figures South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) is a pioneer in Philippine aviation. Since 1995, we have been flying passengers to some of the most beautiful destinations in the world. Consistency, quality and reliability characterize SEAIR’s operations. • Awarded “Best Airline of the Year for two consecutive years (2002 and 2003) by the Philippines’’ Consumers Excellence Award • Serves a total of 15 destinations nationwide. We fly the most number of flights to Palawan and offer the fastest and most number of connections to Boracay • Employs over 200 people ready to provide excellent service to our passengers • Our fleet is made up of four Dornier 328s and six LET 410 UVP-E aircraft for use in scheduled and chartered flights.

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Competitive Advantage EXPERIENCE. SEAIR has been a pioneer in aviation, flying foreign and local tourists to the most remote tourist destinations in the Philippines since 1995. MODERN FLEET. SEAIR operates one of the youngest fleet of aircraft in its segment in the industry. FASTEST FLIGHTS. Our state-of-the-art aircraft allow us to offer you the fastest flights in selected routes, including Caticlan (Boracay) in 35 minutes. HIGH LEVEL OF ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE SUPPORT. SEAIR is an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) authorized third-party repair station. Its services include maintenance service for airframes, power plants, avionics and aircraft interiors. INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS. We continue to innovate in customercentric products that will make traveling more fun and convenient. Other Services Leisure Escape Packages (LEP) We offer one-stop shopping for your next vacation. Hassle-free and competitively priced, our fully packaged vacations include accommodation and air fare. Call us and book now at: Tel. +632 843.7308 E-mail: packages@flyseair.com Charters Our aircraft may be chartered for special corporate and group travel. Our charter specialists will assist you in planning and arranging your special travel. For inquiries call us at: Tel. +632 849.0200 E-mail: charters@flyseair.com Cargo We ensure a safe, secure and reliable delivery of your freight and parcel. For inquiries call us at: Tel. +632 851.5555 E-mail: cargo@flyseair.com.

I december - january 2010

milestones 1995 Iren Dornier, Nikos Gitsis and Tomas Lopez founded South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) with two nineseater DO-28 airplanes flying from Manila to Caticlan, and Taytay and Busuanga in Palawan. 1996 SEAIR took delivery of its first LET410 aircraft, a 19seater Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft, ideal for the small runways of Palawan and other destinations where bigger commercial aircraft could not land. 1996 to 2003 With the success of the first LET410 aircraft operation and the commitment of SEAIR to fly on a regular basis, SEAIR gradually increased its fleet from one LET410 to nine. 1999 SEAIR embarked on a nationwide expansion program. It opened regional hubs in Cebu and

Zamboanga and became the only airline to interconnect the premier destinations in Palawan with its ManilaBusuanga-El Nido-Puerto Princesa service. 2001 to Present SEAIR established a base in Zamboanga in Mindanao. It continues to operate flights to remote Cotabato, Tawi-Tawi and Jolo. 2002 and 2003 SEAIR was awarded “Best Airline of the Year” consecutively by the Philippines largest ‘Consumers Excellence Award.’ 2003 SEAIR’s Quality Management System was certified ISO 9001:2000 compliant by the TÜV Rheinland Group. 2004 SEAIR reached the 1 million passenger mark. SEAIR also acquired its first Dornier 328, launching the “Fastest Flights to Boracay” campaign. 2006 SEAIR acquired its fourth Dornier 328. Its fleet size

allowed it to operate up to 30 flights to Caticlan daily. • SEAIR introduced its online reservations and e-ticketing system the first and only on-line system to offer e-tickets from Manila to Boracay and Busuanga. E-ticketing services later expanded to include Cebu, Clark, El Nido, and Puerto Princesa. • By December 2006, SEAIR’S transactions through its online reservations system reached a record high in Philippine e-commerce. 2007 SEAIR celebrated its 12th year in aviation, the longest running airline, next to Philippine Airlines. SEAIR now offers up to 41,000 seats a month throughout its network and flies up to 20,000 passengers to Boracay a month. 2008 SEAIR launched its first regional flight to Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia in November. SEAIR also started flights to Tablas in Romblon, Daet in Camarines Norte, Baler in Aurora, Batanes in northern Luzon and Borongan in Eastern Samar.

december - january 2010 I SEAIR InFlight

fleet

Dornier 328 The Dornier 328 is a German built, new generation aircraft with 32 passenger seats. It is one of the fastest and most advanced jetprop in the world. specifications Make: Dornier Powerplant: PW 119B Length: 21.28 m (69 ft 10 in) Wing Span: 20.98 m (68 ft 10 in) Height: 7.23 m (23 ft 9 in) Seating Capacity: 32 + 3 crew Number of planes: 4 Max Take-off Weight: 13,990 kgs (30,843 lbs) Speed: 325 knots

LET410 UVP-E The LET410 UVP-E provides first class comfort, while simultaneously servicing both paved and unpaved airstrips. In the 19-seater class, no plane is better suited for short-haul transport than this aircraft. specifications Make: LET a.s. Powerplant: WALTER M601-E Length: 14.42 m (47 ft 4 in) Wing Span: 19.98 m (65 ft 5 in) Height: 5.83 m (19 ft 2 in) Seating Capacity: 19 + 2 crew Number of planes: 6 Max Take-off Weight: 6,600 kgs (14,520 lbs) Speed: 175 knots

Do-24 ATT No airport required! Let our unique amphibian aircraft bring you and your 15 closest friends to your choice of 7,107 islands in real style. For the latest update on this spectacular aircraft and its progress around the world, visit www.do-24.com.

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FALCON 10 Make: Dornier specifications Make: FALCON 10 Powerplant: 2x Garett TFE 31-2 turbotans,

14.65 kN (3,230lbf) thrust each

Length: 13.86 m (45 ft 5.75 in) Wing Span: 13.08 m (42 ft 11 in) Height: 4.61m (15ft 1.5 in) Seating Capacity: 7 + 2 crew Max Take-off Weight: 18,740 kgs Speed: MACH + 8.5 Max Range: 1700 Nautical Miles Ceeling: 45,000 ft Inflight Entertainment: VCR Video; Flight Watch; Satellite Phone

Falcon 10 photos by Cyrene Leicht

december - january 2010 I SEAIR InFlight

r o ute map Basco, Batanes

reservations Laoag

makati Ticketing Office Tel. +632 849.0100 San Fernando La Union

Sales Office Tel. +6302 849.0201 to 18 +6302 849.0219

Philippine Sea

Baguio

Luzon

Metro Manila Domestic Terminal Tel. +6302 851.5555 Fax +6302 891.8711

Baler CLARK, ANGELES MANILA

Clark, Angeles City Headquarters DMIA, Hangar 7224 Tel. +6345 599.2384 Fax +6345 599.2383

Philippines

Marinduque MINDORO

Angeles Sales Office Tel. +6302 851.5555 Fax +6345 323.6713

Tablas, Romblon

Busuanga Boracay

Cebu Ticketing Office Tel. +6332 341.4879

South China Sea

Daet

Caticlan

Borongan

PANAY

El Nido

Visayas

Iloilo

Taytay

Sales Office Tel. +6332 254.9337 +6332 255.0801

SAMAR Masbate

CEBU

PALAWAN

Boracay Caticlan Airport Tel. +6336 288.7360 +6336 288.7272 Fax +6336 288.7163

Puerto Princesa

Camiguin

Mindanao

Zamboanga Tel. +6362 991.2225 Mobile +63919 333.8520

Sulu Sea

Cotabato

Jolo SABAH

Malaysia

Davao

Zamboanga

Kota Kinabalu

BRUNEI

Cagayan de Oro

Pagadian

Balabac

Puerto Princesa 399 Rizal Avenue Extension Tel. +6348 434.5272 +6348 433.2540

Siargao

NEGROS

General Santos

Tawi-Tawi

Celebes Sea

SARAWAK

Borneo Regular Route Seasonal Route 88 SEAIR InFlight

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pe o ple

Leo Gimena Executive assistant to the Commercial Affairs vice president

Work and religion Interview by Margie Francisco Photo by Mario Babiera

I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management at the Ateneo. Then I took my masters in Applied Business Economics Program at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P). Back in college, I liked economics and finance. I had my internship at the PLDT Student Camp where I was assigned in the business solutions division. But I was also very passionate about tourism and travel. After graduation, I decided to apply for a position in travel-related companies. SEAIR is my first job after college. I believe in SEAIR’s mission to promote and help in the development of the Philippines’ most beautiful tourist destinations. I started working at SEAIR in August 2004 as passenger sales executive. I resigned in March 2006 to go back to school and returned in November of that same year to work as executive assistant to SEAIR’s vice president for commercial affairs Patrick Tan. People call me "Little Patrick." I'm like his sidekick, his right hand man. One of the perks of the job is meeting a lot of exciting people. My most exciting encounter was with Batanes Governor Telesforo Castillejos. For me, he’s a celebrity. He’s the father of Batanes; he has all these wonderful projects for tourism; and he is a kind and humble person, like a typical Ivatan (Batanes local). Batanes is the most beautiful place in the world.

No day at SEAIR is like any other. My job covers sales, marketing, special projects. I do market research, manage route development, and represent the vp for commercial affairs in events and meetings, among other things. On average, I work eight hours a day. But I do work intensely. Leaving the office is not the end of my work. I usually go on work-related travels once every two months. In dealing with complaining passengers, you have to be like Manny Pacquaio. You have to be able to take the punches. Just listen to them. As executive assistant, I need to have good interpersonal skills to establish good relationships with agents and partners. The airline industry is very competitive. It is important to be innovative to compete better. You have to love your work. Through your work, you're able to serve God and others. We have a prayer room on the third floor of SEAIR’s offices and Greenbelt Chapel is just five minutes away. When I’m stressed, I just go there and pray. On weekends, I spend time with my family and do volunteer work to tutor grade school children. When I'm free, I attend the Feast, a spiritual enlightenment affair led by Bo Sanchez in Valle Verde every Sunday. And every Sunday afternoon, I'd play basketball with my friends.

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news

Fly SEAIR and enjoy dental and medical discounts

A view of Bellaroca, one of the most talked about resorts these days. It's set on an island in Marinduque and has been tagged the Santorini of the Philippines. Bottom photo shows a tighter scene of the all-white structure and a nice pool

SEAIR now flies to Marinduque Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR) now flies direct to Marinduque from Manila four times a week. The new route opened on October 17 with flights departing Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. The island province of Marinduque, which lies south of Quezon, east of Mindoro and north of Romblon, has unspoilt beaches and islets, underwater caves, coral reefs, and hot sulfur springs. Hospitable Marinduqueños traditionally welcome their arriving visitors with flower crowns, and songs and dances. The island is also known for its annual Moriones Festival held during the Lenten season, and is home to one of the newest premium island resorts in the Philippines, the Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa.

To book flights to Marinduque, call Triplestar Travel and Tours at +632/ 843 7308 or SEAIR at +632/ 849 0100

Tooth Fairy Dental Clinic and Metropolitan Doctors Medical Clinic (MDMC) in Boracay offer SEAIR passengers a 10% discount in dental and medical services in any of their two branches in the island. SEAIR passengers can avail of the privileges upon presentation of their boarding pass of a copy of their ticket. The Metropolitan Doctors Medical Clinic is an institution of quality medical care in the island for over 10 years, with two clinics conveniently located on the Main Road near D'Mall and Station 3, with doctors trained in prestigious training institutions in the country like the Philippine General Hospital of the University of the Philippines. MDMC is well equipped and is open 24 hours daily. Other services include doctor on call to visit patients checked in at resorts or any place in the island.

For more details and for 24-hour medical service in Boracay, call MDMC at +6336/ 288 6357 or +63918/ 926 3112. For news on SEAIR visit www.FlySeair.com

Special promo for Batanes winter SEAIR offers its online passengers a 10 per cent discount in airfare to Batanes for a limited period only. All a passenger has to do is type “ilovebataneswinter09” in the promo code field when booking online at www. FlySeair.com. This promo applies when you book anytime from December 1-25 this year for travel from December 1, 2009 to January 31, 2010. The promo is for limited seats only. Due to its proximity to Taiwan, Batanes, unlike the rest of the Philippines, has four seasons. December to January sees the weather in this northernmost part of the country drop to as low as seven degrees celcius. With green pastures overlooking the sea, historical stone houses on sprawling countryside, lighthouses guarding immaculate shorelines, and temperate weather, Batanes is often likened to Ireland and Scotland.

To book online and get discounts, visit www.FlySeair.com. For packages, call SEAIR Leisure Escape Packages at +632/ 843 7308

SEAIR now accepts ATM payments in ticketing offices SEAIR now accepts payments by automated teller machine (ATM) cards from Bancnet-member banks for bookings made at the airline’s ticketing offices. Online ATM payments will soon be available. For inquiries on ticketing office locations and other queries, call +632/ 849 0100. To buy tickets online, visit www.FlySeair.com. For packages, call SEAIR Leisure Escape Packages at +632/ 843 7308

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december - january 2010 I SEAIR InFlight

Travel directory BORACAY BLUEWAVES BEACH HOUSE Boat Station 1, Balabag Beach T (6336) 288 6544 C (+63917) 629 0189; (+63917) 819 1897; (+63922) 539 6036 www.bluwavesboracay.com BORACAY BEACH RESORT Boat Station 1 & D’Mall T (6336) 288 3208; 288 3130 F (6336) 288 5565 E nenettewindsurf@hotmail.com www.windsurfingboracay.com BORACAY REGENCY Boat Station 2, Balabag T (6336) 288-6111 to 17

Unit 5-B 5th F, W.DEEPZ Bldg., 1033 M.H del Pilar St., Ermita, Manila T (632) 523 8707 / 08 E rsvn@boracayregency.com www.boracayregency.com ESCONDIDO BEACH RESORT Balabag Beach C (+63922) 850 1161

G/F, Torre de Salcedo Bldg., 184 Salcedo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City, Philippines T (632) 489 8907; 812 4221 E namiresorts@yahoo.com.ph www.namiboracay.com PEARL OF THE PACIFIC RESORT & SPA Boat Station 1, Balabag Beach T (6336) 288 3220

R&G Tirol Bldg., 831 EDSA cor. E. Lopez Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines T (632) 926 0162; 924 4483 E info@pearlofthepacific.com www.pearlofthepacific.ph PINJALO RESORT Boracay Island T (6336) 288 3206 F (6336) 288 3478 E info@pinjalo.com; info@calypso-asia.com www.pinjalo.com SANDCASTLES THE APARTMENTS Boracay Island T (6336) 288 3207 / 3449 C (+63917) 819 3049 E info@boracaysandcastles.com www.boracaysandcastles.com www.tribaladventures.com

35 Scout Lozano St. Brgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City, Philippines T (632) 376 4535 E escondidoboracay@yahoo.com www.escondidoboracay.net

SEA WIND RESORT Boat Station 1, Balabag Beach T (6336) 288-3091 F (6336) 288-3425

LA CARMELA DE BORACAY Boat Station 2, Balabag Beach T (6336) 288 5423 / 5921 / 4376

RM. 305 R&G Tirol Bldg., 831 EDSA cor. E. Lopez Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines T (632) 416 4010; 920 7490 E seawind@prime.net.ph www.seawindresort.net

Teka cor. Kamagong Sts., San Antonio Village, Makati City, Philippines T (632) 895 8048 to 49 E info@lacarmeladeboracay.com www.lacarmeladeboracay.com LA RESERVE RESORT & RESTAURANT Balabag Beach T (6336) 288 3020 F (6336) 288 3017 E info@lareserveboracay.com www.lareserveboracay.com LE SOLEIL DE BORACAY Boat Station 2, Balabag Beach T (6336) 288 6209 to 12

G/F, PJL Corporate Center, 1782 N. Garcia cor. Candelaria Sts., Makati City T (632) 895 1777 loc. 1712, 1714, 1715 E lesoleil@pjlhullier.ph www.lesoleil.com.ph MANDALA SPA & villas Boracay Island T (6336) 288 5858 F (6336) 288 3531 www.mandalaspa.com

SPR REAL ESTATE, INC. T (6336) 288 3631 (Sales) T (6336) 288 5798 (Rental) F (6336) 288 5797 www.sprboracay.com SURFSIDE BORACAY RESORT & SPA Angol Beach T (6336) 288 5006 / 5049

17/F, Metropolitan Bldg., Mabini St., Malate, Manila, Philippines T (632) 338 6899 / 8659 E mail@boracaysurfside.com www.boracaysurfside.com TWO SEASONS BORACAY Boat Station 1 T (6336) 288 4384 to 85

Nena Bldg., 132-A. Bayani St., cor. Araneta Ave., Quezon City, Philippines T (632) 415 4652; 413 5903 E rsvn@twoseasonsboracay.com www.twoseasonsboracay.com

MICROTEL INN & SUITES Diniwid Beach T (6336) 288 4311

WALING-WALING BEACH HOTEL BORACAY Boat Station 1, Balabag Beach T (6336) 288 5555

106 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. (C-5), Brgy. Ugong, Pasig City, Philippines T (632) 671 7171 E sales@microtelphilippines.com www.microtelphilippines.com

395, Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City, Philippines T (632) 896 9456 to 58 F (632) 896 9451 E sales@waling.com www.waling.com

NAMI PRIVATE VILLAS Diniwid Beach T (6336) 288 6753 to 55

ZUZUNI BORACAY Resort & Restaurant Boat Station 1, Balabag Beach T (6336) 288 4477 E info@zuzuni.net www.zuzuni.net

RESTAURANT AND DELI ARIA D’Mall, Boracay Island T (6336) 288 5573 FISH BAR D’Mall, Boracay Island T (6336) 288 4026 HEIDILAND DELI D’Mall, Phase IV T (6336) 288 5939 OLE SPANISH TAPAS Y RESTAURANTE D’Mall, Boracay Island T (6336) 288 5573

PALAWAN CLUB PARADISE Regent Bldg., Malunggay Road, FTI Complex, Taguig City, Philippines T (632) 838 4956 to 60 F (632) 838 4465 / 4762 www.clubparadisepalawan.com EL NIDO MANILOC / LAGEN Minilioc Island & Lagen Island

Ten Knots Development Corporation 2/F Builders centre, 170 Salcedo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City, Philippines T (632) 894 5644 www.elnidoresorts.com EL RIO Y MAR Island Resort Regent Bldg., Malunggay Road, FTI Complex, Taguig City, Philippines T (632) 838 4964 www.elrioymar.com EL NIDO COVE 73 Real Street, El Nido T (632) 838 4956 to 60 F (632) 838 4465 / 4762 C (+63918) 908 1204 www.clubparadisepalawan.com LEGEND HOTEL PALAWAN Malvar St., Puerto Princesa T (6348) 433 9076 F (6348) 434 4276

60, Pioneer cor., Madison Sts., Mandaluyong City, Philippines T (632) 633 1501 www.experiencepalawan.com.ph

CAMIGUIN JOHNNY’S DIVE ‘N’ FUN Yumbing, Mambajao T (6388) 387 9588 www.johnnysdive.com SECRET COVE DIVE RESORT Mambajao T (6388) 387 9084 E info@secretcovecamiguin.net www.secretcovecamiguin.net

CEBU ALEGRE Calumboyan, Sogod Pathfinder Holdings Philippines, Inc. T (6332) 231 1198; 254 9880 (Cebu) T (632) 634 7505 to 08 (Manila) www.alegrebeachresort.com BADIAN ISLAND RESORT & SPA Cebu Capital Commercial Complex-A, N. Escario St. T (6332) 253 6452; 475 1103 F (6332) 253 3385; 475 1101 www.badianhotel.com

MARIBAGO BLUWATER BEACH RESORT Maribago, Mactan Island T (6332) 232 5411 to 14 F (6332) 492 0128 to 29

1120 Cityland-Herrera Towers, 98 Herrera cor. Valero Sts., Salcedo Village, Makati City, Philippines T (632) 817 5751 F (632) 845 0680 MICROTEL INN & SUITES Punta Engaño Road, Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island T (6382) 233 2333

106 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Brgy. Ugong, Pasig City, Philippines T (632) 671 7171 www.microtelphilippines.com PLANTATION BAY RESORT & SPA Marigondon, Mactan Island

Suite 906, National Life Insurance Bldg., Ayala Ave., Makati City, Philippines T (632) 844 5024 to 25 F (632) 844 5030 www.plantationbay.com SHANGRI-LA MACTAN Punta Engaño Road, P.O. Box 86, Lapu-Lapu City T (6332) 231 0288 F (6332) 231 1688

2/F, Makati Ave., Shopping Arcade, Shangri-la, Makati City, Philippines T (632) 818 0952 F (632) 893 8503 www.shangri-la.com WATERFRONT MACTAN 1 Salinas Drive, Lahug T (6332) 232 6888 F (6332) 232 6880

27/F, Wynsum Corporate Plaza, 22 Emerald Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Philippines T (632) 687 0888 F (632) 687 5970 www.waterfronthotels.net

DAVAO MICROTEL INN & SUITES Mamay Road, Lanang, Davao City

106 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Brgy. Ugong, Pasig City T (632) 671 7171 www.microtelphilippines.com PEARL FARM BEACH RESORT Kaputian Island, Garden City of Samal T (6382) 221 9970 to 78 F (6382) 221 9979

1504 Corporate Center, 139 Valero St., Salcedo Village, Makati City T (632) 750 1896 / 98 F (632) 750 1894 THE MARCO POLO DAVAO CM Recro St., Davao City T (6382) 221 0888 F (6382) 225 0111

3/F, Adamson center, 121 Leviste St., Salcedo Village, Makati City T (632) 893 0888 / 5719 F (632) 840 5111 www.marcopolohotels.com/davao

Camera: Canon 400D Lens: Canon 24-105L lens Aperture: F/4 Shutter speed: 1/160sec ISO Speed: 200

joel’s Banaue This photo of the famous Banaue Rice Terraces, lit up by the afternoon sun, was taken in August 2008 by Joel Garcia. To get to the best position to shoot the scenery, Garcia hiked the rugged terrains of Batad, Ifugao province, passing three mountains, and walking along paths near steep cliffs, a no mean feat considering his fear of heights. Garcia won third prize in the Ayala Westgrove Landscape Competition in 2007, the first, second, and overall grand prize in the Philippines 2007 Canon Photo Marathon, and was champion of Scott Kelby’s Worldwide Photowalk 2008 for the Manila leg. -- Margie F. Francisco For more of Garcia’s works, visit www.februarystar.multiply.com

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Va c a t i o n s a r e A l w a y s i n S e a s o n !

Marinduque

Batanes

El Nido

Boracay For holidays made convenient, call:

+632 843 7308

E - m a i l : p a c k a g e s @ f l y s e a i r. c o m U R L : w w w. f l y s e a i r. c o m

Romblon