w w w.inf light.ph
december 2011
Festive Cheer
Top 10 things to do in Manila at Christmas PLUS 3 Days in Macau Tips to explore the old quarters and the glitzy district
www.inflight.ph
e di t o r ial
executive Editor Editor-In-Chief managing EDITOR Art Director Writer
Inside inflight | december | 2011
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Nikos Gitsis Giselle Javison Monica De Leon Jocas See Margarita Francisco
04 in the news Roque wins inflight.ph Luxe Holiday Promo prize PLUS! Boracay’s Aria Cucina Italia to open in Manila 04 Cale ndar What not to miss in December
C o n t r ib u t ing p h o t o g r ap h e r s
Jay Alonzo, Mario Babiera, Ferdz Decena, Joel Garcia, Ken Go, Oggie Ramos, Jeffrey Sonora, Daniel Soriano, Steve Tirona
06 In My Bag Green advocate Reena Francisco shares the ugly and funny moments of her Boracay travel
C o n t r ib u t ing w r i t e r s
Romelda Ascutia, Lei Chavez, Freida Dario, Ferdz Decena, Marian Hernandez, Catherine Kirchhoff, Jan Lao, Ces Rodriguez, Mari-an Santos
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12 In Pe rson Me and my travels Chris Tiu, basketball player
A d v e r t ising S al e s and M a r k e t ing
Sales and marketing director account executive Ad traffic & circulation assistant media representative
Margie Defensor Kathleen Joy Parayno Kris Diane Sario Joyce Ann Moros
14 cove r s tory: Top 10 things to do at Christmas From ballroom dancing to a horse-drawn carriage tour of Intramuros, Lei Chavez tells us how to enjoy festive Manila
P u blis h ing
publisher Publishing director
Dornier Media Nikos Gitsis
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B o a r d o f A d v is e r s
Seair chairman Publishing director Editorial director Director General manager Legal counsel
08 In Room Resort review: Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel Hotel feature: One Tagaytay Place Hotel
Iren Dornier Nikos Gitsis Giselle Javison Delza Apostol Monica De Leon Atty. Celina Cua
21 INFLIGHT Guide s 3 Days in Macau: Venture beyond the gaming tables and explore Macau’s old and new quarters, says Narzalina Lim PLUS! Destination guides to the Philippines and neighboring countries Airline Guides: All you need to know about leisure airlines South East Asian Airlines and Island Transvoyager
Inquiries
Editorial: +632/ 553 7976; Email: editors@inflight.ph; Press releases: press@inflight.ph Advertising: +632/ 553 7978; Email: ads@inflight.ph Subscription and Archive: Email: subscribe@inflight.ph p h ilippin e C o p y r ig h t © 2 0 1 1
Dornier Media International 4F, Lerose Building, 832 Edades Street corner Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City, Philippines Telefax: +632/ 840 2802 • Email: editors@inflight.ph
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Cover credits Photo by Jay Alonzo Art direction by Jocas See Styling by waldo villados Hair and makeup by Benjie Angeles for Mary Kay Philippines Modeling by Ace Del Rosario, Jan Lao, Sam Marasigan, Ruzzette Rodolfo and Julian Sese Location: Opus Restaurant and Lounge, Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila, Pasay City december 2011
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INTheNews t r av e l | l i f e s t y l e | h o t e l s & r e s o r t s | a r t s & fa s h i o n | a n d m o r e
Calendar
What not to miss in december
2-11 The Sleeping Beauty
Roque wins inflight.ph Luxe Holiday Promo prize Collection division head Raul Roman Roque of Bulacan won Inflight.ph’s Luxury Holiday for Two to Boracay promo. Roque was picked via a computer generated raffle system by Dornier Media International Corporation’s general manager Monica De Leon, witnessed by Department of Trade and Industry’s representative Joselito Asusano on October 27, 2011 at Dornier Media’s office in Makati City. Roque received his gift bag containing gift certificates for two roundtrip airfare to Boracay from South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR), a two-night accommodation at Punta Rosa Boutique Hotel, a Zuzuni Boracay dinner for two and a spa treatment for two at Kai Spa Regency Boracay. ■ Watch out for similar promos at www.inflight.ph.
Boracay’s Aria Cucina Italia to Open in Manila Boracay Island’s Aria Cusina Italia is opening a branch in Bonifacio High Street, in Metro Manila in December. The new restaurant, also called Aria Cucina Italia, will offer the same authentic Italian cuisine served in Boracay, but with a few additions to the menu. Aria Manila promises to have a chic, city-style decor, and two separate dining areas, one in an airconditioned room and the other al fresco. ■ For more information on Aria, call the Boracay branch at +6336/ 288 5573
Aria’s Capricciosa pizza
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The Sleeping Beauty is back this festive season with Ballet Philippines award winning ballerina Candice Adea dancing the lead role, partnered by international guest artist Nobuo Fujino, a former principal dancer of Hong Kong Ballet. The Manila Symphony Orchestra performs live under the baton of Maestro Jeffrey Solares. Ballet Master Victor Ursabia is restaging this grand ballet, presented by Ballet Philippines in collaboration with St. Hannibal Multi-level School Foundation. Call Ticketworld at +632/ 891 9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph for tickets
9 Brown Bag Vintage and Crafts Market
Brown Bag Vintage and Crafts Market, an artisan market selling eco-friendly fashion items and organic food, is not only a good place for foodies, but also those wanting unique gift items for Christmas. The market opens 4pm to 11pm at the Filipinas Heritage Library, Ayala Triangle, Makati City (in front of Manila Peninsula). For more information, call +63915/ 848 0420
10 Giant Lantern Festival 2011
Get into the Christmas spirit and join Pampanga’s Ligligan Parul or the Giant Lantern Festival, featuring 20-foot lanterns, illuminated by up to 5,000 light bulbs. CNN described the festival as one of the most outrageous in the world. For more information, visit www. cityofsanfernando.gov.ph
R eport b y M argie F ra n cisco
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Reena Francisco (right) with friends Timmy Cruz(left) and Chit Juan(center) enjoying the night breeze in Boracay
INVogue
In My Bag
Travelling with a Preacher
Reena Francisco with ECHOstore partner Chit Juan in Boracay
Green advocate Reena Francisco shares the ugly and funny moments of her Boracay travel
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Turn to
page 32 for store contact info
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| InFlight | december 2011
I n ter v ie w b y M argie F ra n cisco P r o d u ct sh o ts b y D an Y u sa y H a r ve y
“I have been to Boracay several times but in one particular trip, a business partner and I had to go to Kalibo for a day for business and we got back really late. The hotel boat couldn’t fetch us so we had to take the public boat and bus. It was the first time I took a public boat and bus. On the way to the island there was this preacher who terrorized us with prayer and doom; it was such a horrifying and funny experience. We had to endure 20 minutes of verbal harassment. “This was a one-off experience. Boracay is my reality break, a momentary escape, my recharging pause. During the Holy Week in 2008, my friends and I were the first official batch of guests at the opening of Discovery Shores. We were pampered. Everything was perfect. The staff were on a heavenly yourwish-is-my-command mode. The guests were equally beautiful and the management was wonderful.” Things I take when I travel: 1 La Bagagerie handbag (rates from P5,000) 2 Paulo Coelho books (P245-P275) 3 Persol sunglasses (www.persol.com) 4 Spanish fan (P180) 5 Prada cosmetic pouch (rates from P10,000-P13,500), Acqua Di Parma Colonia (P3,486), Echostore Body Basics antibac hand sanitizer (P99), Clarins sunblock (P2,550) 6 Bobbi Brown pressed powder (P1,900), Bobbi Brown travel makeup kit (2,000), Burt’s Bees Lip Balm (P325)
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For more ideas on travel gear and essentials, visit www.inflight.ph
INRoom hotels and resorts
Fort I l o c a n di a R e sort Ho t el
Ilocos Stopover
Fort Ilocandia is a good base for enjoying Pagudpud’s sand dunes and beaches, says MariAn Santos
FIRST IMPRESSIONS. Walking into the the brick edifice that is Fort Ilocandia is like stepping back in time. This grand old hotel was opened back in the glory days of the Marcoses some 30 years ago, when then Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos declared it opened to much fanfare, ordering van-loads of journalists to come and see the proud hotel of Ilocos. These days, the hotel does not seem to have lost its lustre. It was refurbished in early 2000. The two-storey hotel’s property covers 77 hectares, amid sand dunes and a pine forest, with a 2km beach facing the South China Sea.
Presidential suite
WE LIKE. The old-world charm, the range of activities, and the possibility of bumping into a celebrity anytime. Not So Keen. The décor borders more on the old world style which may not be to everyone’s liking.
Location. Only 10 minutes away from Laoag International Airport, the hotel is a good base for leisure and business travellers, and a convenient point for tours to city attractions such as Paoay, Laoag’s museums and Pagudpud. It is 10 minutes away from the Fort Ilocandia Golf and Country Club.
VERDICT. A convenient base for exploring the sand dunes and beaches of Pagudpud in Ilocos. ■
Essentials
Rates start at P 5,600 for Standard Twin, P9,600 for Deluxe, P13,200 for the Sea View Suite and P15,400 for the Sunset Suite. Tel: +6377/ 670 9001 to 19 Url: www.fortilocandia.com.ph
ROOMS. The spacious rooms, located at Building A and B, have private balconies. There are 290 airconditioned rooms with cable TV, hot and cold shower and bath. Some suites have internet connection and jacuzzis. FOOD. Try the dim sum, noodles, and roasts from Red 8 restaurant, Ilocano dishes bagnet (deep fried pork) and pinakbet (sauteed vegetables) from Palms Bar, and hot tea from Cafe Ilocandia.
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The grand reception, lit up by huge chandeliers is, as they say, “Imeldific,” referring to the former Philippine First Lady
HOW TO GET THERE There are daily Partas (+632/ 725 6300) bus trips from to Laoag from Manila. Land trips take about 7-10 hours. There are also daily flights from Manila to Laoag. An airport shuttle can take you to Fort Ilocandia in just 10 minutes.
Photos courtesy of fort ilocandia
Hotel Feature
One Tagay tay Pl ace Hotel
A Weekend Break
One Tagaytay Place Hotel is perfect for weekend breaks, says Catherine Kirchoff Deluxe double room
FIRST IMPRESSIONS. We found One Tagaytay resort’s lobby packed with guests from all ages. Lots of groups and families are at the hotel for the weekend. Despite the crowd, a staff found her way to those who just arrived to serve welcome drinks.
is a local fish. Kesong puti is the local goat’s cheese). Bulalo is one of the bestsellers. WE LIKE. The quiet and the fresh mountain air, and good service. Not So Keen. The crowd at high season. But this can’t be helped.
Location. Located in Barrio Sungay on Tagaytay-Talisay Road, One Tagaytay is accessible from Manila via the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and Aguinaldo Highway, and is a few minutes’ drive to Taal Volcano view deck, People’s Park in the Sky, and Picnic Grove. Tagaytay is said to be the other summer capital of the Philippines — apart from Baguio, that is — with its cool weather year round.
VERDICT. If you want a quiet respite, this isn’t for you. The hotel caters to groups so the mood is mostly festive. ■
Essentials
Barrio Sungay, Tagaytay City Tel: +632/ 584 4111, 584 4156, +6346/ 483 0111 Email: e.sales@onetagaytayplace.com Url: www.onetagaytayplace.com
ROOMS. All have free WiFi, 100% cotton duvet cover, balcony and other modcons. Penthouse suites have a dining and pantry area, iPod dock and bathtub. Premiere Suites have a view of Taal Lake. FOOD. Azalea restaurant offers standard dishes with a local twist. Try the Tawilis pizza with Kesong Puti, Spanish Style Tawilis Pasta (Tawilis
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Azalea Restaurant
HOW TO GET THERE Hire a car and driver from Carfield (tel: +632/ 853 5331)
T
ime flies when you’re having fun – at work or at play, alone or with family. And having fun at the solace of your room means a lot of things to different people on different occasions.
But on any vacation, sleep is just as important as fun. It is the body’s requisite as much as the brain’s need. One of the most commonly known sleep
Microtel Hotels knows best.
&
Resorts
All of nine Microtel Hotels & Resorts in the country offer
From the modern furnishings, warm atmosphere and clockwork outstanding service, there is paradise in every Microtel room. But the best five-star feature is Microtel’s famous chiropractor bed, the only item that is directly sourced from the USA. Check in at any Microtel hotel across
Lying down in one of these chiropractic beds gives personalized control of the structural body support you need. It decreases surface pressure and improves body posture that helps relieve lower back and neck pains, headaches, and even reduces high blood pressure. These features of Microtel’s chiropractic beds stabilize the sleep zone of the body, providing the needed comfort and support for a more restful sleep. The only downside of having too much fun with luxuriating on Microtel’s chiropractic bed is that, it makes a large part of you wish that you never had to get up again or too soon! Because once you sleep on the chiropractic bed’s mattress, you’ll surely be ready for full day of work or recreation after an assured good night’s sleep.
Good Night’s Sleep facts is that people spend approximately a third of their lives asleep! You can’t have fun when your brain wants to shut down instead, so like it or not, you’ll need all the sleep you can get. Thing is, most hotels promise luxury and fall short on serving a guest’s need for a good night’s sleep. Good thing
first-class sense in the funat-rest guest services area department. To a weary traveller or to a no-nonsense vacationer, this is the ultimate.
the country and you’ll get to spend your night on the ultimately satisfying comfort of this USA-approved health and wellness bed.
With a Microtel experience at Baguio, Batangas, Boracay, Cabanatuan, Cavite, Davao, Mall of Asia, Puerto Princesa or Tarlac, you can expect more than a good night’s sleep; you can expect a stay that’s a cut above all the rest.
Microtel is an international chain of hotels under Wyndham Hotel Group. All Microtels in the Philippines are managed by Microtel Development Corp., the hospitality arm of Phinma Group For more information, call (02) 899 7171 or log on to w w w . m i c r o t e l p h i l i p p i n e s . c o m
mrdo 110911
More than a
For fun and comfort, Microtel Hotels & Resorts is ahead of its time. Of course it’s their in-room decor, warm interiors and friendly staff; but it’s more about its commitment to your general sense of well-being.
INPerson
Me and My Travels: Chris Tiu, Basketball Player Intervie w by Lei Chave z
photo by philip sison
What kind of discipline does your sport require? No going out during tournaments. I try to catch up with family and friends during the off season. What’s your most important job these days? My stint as the appointed captain of the Smart Gilas Philippine national team. The ultimate goal is to make it to the Olympics, which unfortunately we missed out on. Do you still have time for vacations? I love vacations. I go mostly on short trips. I fly a lot. Last year we went to practically every country in preparation for various international competitions. I also travel abroad when I want to watch concerts or to relax and have a holiday with my family. Where do you normally go on vacation? I go to Boracay once or twice a year during the off-peak season. I like to visit Vancouver for the best Chinese cuisine. I eat and sleep, enjoy nature. It’s a wonderful place to live in. They also have fine Japanese food. If I want a vacation from work and to party and unwind, I go to Shanghai and Singapore. Shanghai is very cosmopolitan and I have friends there. My favorite club is M1nt Club (www.m1ntglobal.com/club-shanghai). There’s also VUE Bar (+8621/ 6393 1234) at the Hyatt, over at the Bund. And the Shanghai skyline is really beautiful. In Singapore, I like Ku Dé Ta (www.kudeta.com.sg). In Boracay, I only stay at Discovery Shores (www.discoveryshoresboracay.com) where I get pampered. There are restaurants we frequent in D’Mall area for barbecue. There’s Cyma, Aria. There’s also Kasbah (www.kasbahboracay.com), a Moroccan restaurant beside Discovery Shores that I love. What do you take with you on your travels? I take my iPod, my books, my rosary and gym clothes. What’s your favorite foreign and local destination? Locally, Tagaytay Highlands. They have a golf course and I love golf. I love eating at the Highlands Steakhouse and China Palace.
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Name a place you’d like to visit. Palawan. What’s your idea of paradise? All I want is food, a good hotel or resort, good service, privacy, nice view, and security. What’s your favorite outdoor activity aside from basketball? I love golf and jet skiing. Your next destination will be… Davao. There’s a store opening in Adidas and I’m one of the endorsers. Since I’m there, I might as well enjoy the city, the nightlife, the beaches. I’m gonna do the white water rafting again. I hear there’s a zipline so I’m going to try it. Name 3 restaurants you’d recommend people to try. Antonio’s (www. antoniosrestuarant.ph) for breakfast. I like their corned beef. And Highlands Steakhouse (Tel: +6346/ 483 0818). I also like to hangout at the Peninsula Manila’s The Lobby (www.peninsula.com/Manila) with the orchestra playing. What are your plans for 2012? It depends on whether I’d still want to stay in the National team or if they’d want to keep me. There’s no major national competition from January to May. So maybe I’ll focus more on media and my TV shows.
Chris Tiu or Christopher Alandy is a Filipino professional basketball player, playing for the Smart Gilas team. He hosts GMA 7’s Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and occasionally models. He is also barangay councilor of Bgry. Urdaneta in Makati City. He holds a degree in Management Engineering and Applied Mathematics from the Ateneo de Manila University.
David and Goliath: Chris versus NBA All Star’s Kevin Durant
Cover Story
Things Top To do at Christmas Stuck for things to do this festive season? When in Manila, do as the Manilans do, says Lei Chavez
01
Viva la musica!
Love live music? Jazz lovers can troop to Tap Room Bar, an old English-inspired bar at the newly-refurbished Manila Hotel. Open from 10am to 2am, Tap Room Bar features jazz artists like Teddy Montelibano, Sandra Viray, and Cookie Chua. There’s also Martini’s at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for jazz, blues, and easy-listening; and M Café’s Sunday Jazz Brunch. Manila Hotel, One Rizal Park, Manila; Tel: +632/ 527 0011; www.manila-hotel.com.ph. Martini’s, Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati City. M’ Café is at G/F Ayala Museum, Makati Avenue cor. Dela Rosa St., Makati; Tel: +632/ 757 3000/6000.
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02
Breakfast the Filipino way
Breakfast after midnight mass is a Philippine tradition. You’ll find vendors outside the church, selling traditional Filipino delicacies like puto bumbong and bibingka rice cakes. Café Adriatico or Chef Laudico’s Bistro Filipino offers proper sit-down breakfast. And don’t forget to order the tsokolate eh, a thick cacao chocolate drink. Café Adriatico Premiere Tel: +632/ 738 8220; Email: ljcrestaurants.com.ph/cafe-adriatico/. Bistro Filipino Tel: +632/ 856 0634 or 0541; Mobile: +63917/ 800 CHEF (2433); Email: cheflaudico@ yahoo.com; www.cheflaudico.com.ph/bistro.
r i g h t pag e P h oto b y j ay a lo n zo
Lo cat i o n : O p u s R e s tau r a n t & Lo u n g e
Cover Story
Manila Cathedral
m a n i l a cat h e d r a l P h oto by o g g i e r a m o s
Cover Story
Manila Bay sunset cruise
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Book a Manila Bay Sunset cruise
A Manila experience is incomplete without enjoying the Manila Bay sunset. Book a one-hour sunset cruise dinner (P550) onboard one of Sun Cruises’ cruise ferry M/V Spirit of Manila. The cruise can accommodate 50 diners and serves plated meals and drinks with a duo serenading guests. Sun Cruises runs Manila Bay Cruises everyday, with three sailings, the first departing at 4:30pm. For more information, call +632/ 527 5555 or 831 8140; www. corregidorphilippines.com/mbc.html.
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sunset cruise Photo by hermes singson
Experience local theatre at midnight mass
Get up at the crack of dawn and attend the Misa de Gallo (Rooster’s mass) at 4am or the midnight mass at 11pm on Christmas eve. It’s nothing new but if you choose the right church to go to, you might just find a beautiful example of Philippine theatre. Most churches re-enact the nativity, with great special effects, and in some big churches the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra provides the music. Midnight mass starts on December 16 through 23, culminating on Christmas eve. Go to the San Agustin Church, the Manila Cathedral, and the Sanctuario de San Antonio, the latter showing a reenactment of St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary’s journey to Bethlehem to give birth to the child Jesus. Manila Cathedral Tel: +632/ 527 3093; San Agustin Church Tel: +632/ 527 2746; Sanctuario de San Antonio Tel: +632/ 843 8830.
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Sip cocktails by the bay
You can never get enough of the Manila Bay sunset. After a day Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila’s Sunset Bar is perhaps one of the best places along the bay to have a drink and watch the sun go down. Cultural dances and songs are performed every Friday and Saturday at 7pm. Another good place to salute the sunset is at the Manila Yacht Club’s Clubhouse Veranda, which offers cocktails until 10pm. Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, CCP Complex Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City; Tel +632/ 551 5555 or +632/ 551 5610; Email: room.reservations@ sofitelmanila.com; www.sofitel.com. For more information on the Manila Yacht Club, visit www. manilayachtclub.com.ph.
december 2011
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Cover Story
Ayala Museum
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Visit a museum, yes, we’re not kidding
Ayala Museum is a must-visit. We promise you you won’t be bored. Opened in 1967, the museum has 60 handcrafted dioramas of Philippine history, an exquisite boat gallery, ethnographic cultural finds, and a wall dedicated to the famous People Power Revolution of 1986 that toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos. It also features a collection from three Filipino artists: Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo, and Fernando Zobel. Ayala Museum is at Makati Ave. corner De La Rosa St., Makati City; Tel: +632/ 757 7117 to 21 local 10 and 35, +632/ 757 3589; Email: museum_inquiry@ ayalamuseum.org; www.ayalamuseum.org
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07
Experience Hispanic Philippines at Intramuros
One of the more enjoyable ways to pass the time is to ride a kalesa or horse-drawn carriage to tour Intramuros, the walled city of Manila that served as a Spanish garrison, and the only place in Manila where most of the Spanish Colonial buildings are still intact. A ride at the kalesa costs P400 per person, which includes a stop-over for picture taking and a historical commentary by your carriage driver. The kalesa trip would usually start from the Manila Cathedral passing by the ruins of the Ateneo de Manila, the Cuartel de Santa Lucia, Fort Santiago and other universities and colleges inside the Walled City. Horse-drawn kalesas are numerous in Intramuros, particularly in the park in front of the Manila Cathedral. For more information, check www. intramuros.ph or call the Intramuros Administration’s Visitors Center at +632/ 527 2961.
08
Book a spa treatment
You’ll miss half of your life if you fail to try some of Manila’s best spa treatments. The Peninsula Spa at the Manila Pen’s signature massage gets you a two-hour pampering by two therapists working on Eastern and Western Fusion of deep tissue techniques. The hidden Olympia Spa in Somerset Serviced Residences, right next to the Pen, is a gem of a spa, specializing on a treatment combining Swedish and Shiatsu, giving you long strokes and thumb pressures designed to ease muscle tension. The Peninsula Spa tel: +632/ 887 2888 ext. 687071; Olympia Spa tel: +632/ 750 0323.
Kalesa ride at Fort Santiago
09
Go ballroom dancing!
Dance the night on Wednesdays to the music of chacha, swing, and tango at the Conway’s Bar at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. It’s the same hotel where the best ballroom dancers annually converge and compete. To learn the basics of ballroom dancing, simply ask the attendants for your personal instructors. Shangri-La is located at Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue, Makati City; Tel: +632/ 813 8888; www. shangri-la.com.
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Watch a play or an outdoor cultural presentation
Folk dance groups perform weekly at the Cultural Center of the Philippines grounds as
fort santiago Photo by joel garcia
Christmas nears. The free cultural presentation called Filipiniana Sunsets can be seen at CCP’s North Promenade from 6pm to 7pm. If you prefer an indoor play, the PETA Theater is staging two plays in their current season: Haring Lear, a Tagalog retelling of Shakespeare’s King Lear; and the hit musical Care Divas.
m a p i l lu s t r at i o n by m a r k dav i d s e e
For more information on Filipiniana Sunsets, call CCP Dance Division at +632/ 832 1125 local 1602. PETA, No.5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City, Metro Manila; Email: mpr@petatheater.com or peta@ petatheater.com; Tel: +632/ 725 6244, 410 0821-22, +63917/ 576 5400; Visit www.petatheater.com. ■
december 2011
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City Guides
B ata n e s // C ebu // C l a r k // M a n i l a // Hong kong // m ac au // Si ng a p or e // Ho t el di r ec t ory // promo t ions
Updated Every Issue
p22 Insider's guide Macau
p26 Destination guides
p30 Airline guides
Neo-classical building in Macau
m a p i l lu s t r at i o n s by m a r lo n s e e
december 2011
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InFlight City Guides Insider’s guide
Three Days in Macau
Clockwise from top left, this spread: Mount Fortress, the Bella at the Venetian Macau, mast climbing at Macau Tower, Grand Prix Museum, and Ruins of St. Paul
Venture beyond the gaming tables, and explore Macau's old quarters and its new, glitzier parts, says our insider guide Narzalina Lim Reporting by Romelda Ascutia
About Our insider
M
acau today is on overdrive, fast expanding its land area of 29.5sqm by reclaiming land to build more tourist attractions. Narzalina Lim talks to InFlight on how best to enjoy your three-day stay in this vibrant enclave. Day 1: A walking tour through history Start at the Historic Centre of Macau in the main peninsula. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has more than 20 historic buildings and is the oldest, most complete and most consolidated arrangement of European architectural legacy in a Chinese territory today. A must-visit is Mount Fortress. Located atop a hill, the fortress gives a panoramic view of the city. The Ruins of St. Paul features what’s left of the burned church and college — the carved stone façade and the grand staircase. What’s great about Macau is it is pedestrianfriendly, says Lim. If you get tired from all that walking, “you can just sit down and have coffee or a drink, or shop and browse.” This particular part of Macau is for specialty shopping and dining. You can buy reasonably
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Narzalina Lim is the general manager of the Macau Government Tourist Office in the Philippines for the past 13 years. Lim also runs a tourism consultancy firm. She was the Philippines' tourism secretary in 1992.
priced Chinese arts and crafts, and restaurants usually serve generations old family recipes. Day 2: Exploring Cotai Strip Macau’s two outlying islands — Taipa and Coloane — are linked to the main peninsula by bridges and to each other by a causeway that extends into the Cotai Strip, a casino and tourism project that is a smaller version of the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. The strip has three integrated resorts, each with hotels and leisure centers. The most popular resort and the first to be built is Venetian Macao (www.venetianmacao. com), a 980,000sqm casino resort fashioned
after The Venetian in Las Vegas. Book a gondola ride by the canal at St. Mark’s Square, suggests Lim, and get "serenaded by Filipinos who have golden voices.” The City of Dreams (www.cityofdreamsmacau. com), another integrated resort, has four towers, and is home of the country's most popular theatrical show, “The House of Dancing Water,” says Lim. Launched in September 2010, the show is performed in a stage pool containing 3.7 million gallons of water housed in a special-purpose theater. (Visit www. thehouseofdancingwater.com/en/) The third resort in the Cotai Strip is Galaxy Macau (www.galaxymacau.com/en/) that includes
InFlight City Guides
the Galaxy Hotel, Hotel Okura Macau, and the Banyan Tree Macau. Popular at Galaxy Hotel is its 4,000-square-meter outdoor wave pool with 1.5-meter-high simulated waves. Banyan Tree Macau hotel (www.banyantree.com) has excellent spa services. Hotel Okura (www.hotelokuramacau. com) is known for its Japanese cuisine, unobtrusive service and kimono-clad staff. Day 3: The delights of Outer Harbour For families, the Macau Science Center can give a dose of science education and fun, the interactive way. The Macau Cultural Centre has a 1,200seat grand auditorium for major musical and
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theatrical events. There is also the Handover Gifts Museum of Macau that displays handover presents offered in celebration of the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region. The Macau Tower provides magnificent panoramic views of Macau and much of the Pearl River Delta from the observation deck and revolving restaurant. You can walk around the tower rim or bungee jump from the 68th floor. At the Grand Prix Museum, “you can take the simulator and feel what it’s like to be doing the circuit,” says Lim. The Outer Harbour is the most urbanized part of Macau. “What’s nice about it is that it’s
safe to walk at night ... You can just walk from your hotel to the main attractions,” says Lim. ■
Essentials
Macau is about two hours by plane from Disosdado Macapagal International Airport. From Clark, SEAIR operates five flights a week to Macau. Visit www.flyseair.com. For tour packages, visit www.macautourism. gov.mo. Philippine passport holders do not need a visa to enter Macau.
The cliffs of Viang, just 20 minutes from the airport
Owners and Drivers Association (BATODA) at +63906/ 697 0679 or +63929/ 703 8404. Rate within Basco proper is at P25. itbayat island
Where to eat
batan island
sabtang island
Country code: +63 Area code: 78 Currency: Philippine Peso (P1 = about US $43)
From the airport • Car Hire: For car and van rentals, contact Ivatanya c/o Batanes Cultural Travel Agency (BCTA). The hire costs P1,500 per day. For more information, call BCTA at +63999/ 553 2804 or email ccivatanya@yahoo.com. • Tricycle: Tricycles can be found along Lizardo Street, Barangay Kayhuvukan in Basco. You can also call the 24-hour service of Basco Tricycle
• Therese Coffee Shop serves Ivatan dishes. Try their perfectly grilled cow ribs. Tel: +63916/ 114 2632 and +6921/ 404 0567. • Brandon’s Restaurant serves sandwiches and fruit shakes and some Ivatan specialties. Located along National Road and Abad Street. • Casa Napoli’s Pizza or Pasta serves good Clark homemade pizzas and pasta dishes. Tel: +63917/ 512 5345.
Where to stay • Batanes Resort is nestled atop a hill, facing the South China Sea. A typical cottage here has two rooms with ensuite bathroom, airconditioning, and hot water. Rates are about P1,000 a night. Tel: +63917/ 522 1258 • Batanes Seaside Lodge and Restaurant. This 12-room lodge is popular for celebrities. There is TV, free WiFi, aircon, and hot shower. Rates start from P1,200. Tel: +63921/ 229 0120 orBATAAN +63915/ 940 4823 • Fundacion Pacita Batanes Nature Lodge is a boutique hotel perched on top of a hill and has
Cebu
TARLAC
PAMPANGA
had good reviews. Rates start at P4,860, inclusive of set breakfast, roundtrip airport transfers and a three-hour cultural heritage tour. (www. BULACAN fundacionpacita.ph). Tel: +6327/ 290 2402 • For more on places to stay in Batanes, visit www. inflight.ph
Golden Cowrie
Where to eat • Anzani is highly-rated restaurant that served affordables European food. Tel: +6332/ 233 4054 • CNT Lechon serves the best lechon or roast pig in Cebu City. Tel: +6332/ 254 6641 • Golden Cowrie for Filipino food and Cebuano dishes. Tel: +6332/ 233 4243
bantayan island
cebu island
CHINA
HONG KONG
mactan island
Where to stay
• Cebu City Marriott Hotel features 278 rooms
and 23 suites equipped with aircon, cable TV, mini bar, high-speed internet access, and with luxurious beddings. Country code: +63 Tel: +6332/ 411 5800 Area code: 32 URL: www.marriott.com Currency: Philippine Peso (P1 = about US $43) • Marco Polo Plaza Cebu mixes Western comforts and Asian hospitality, comprised of 329 guest rooms (some with a view of the mountain or From the airport sea) and suites. • Car Hire: Call any of Cebu Trip Rent-a-Car's Tel: +6332/ 253 1111 24-hour numbers +6332/ 262 4697 or +63917/ URL: www.marcopoloplazacebu.com 320 5688. • Taxi: Metered taxis are lined up outside the • Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino has 561 MALAYSIA arrivals' terminal. Fares down town to the city rooms with two casino floors open 24 hours. proper are about P150. Tel: +6332/ 232 9000
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InFlight
| december 2011 SINGAPORE
URL: www.waterfronthotels.com.ph Nightlife • Formo is a resto-lounge frequented by Cebu’s young professionals. Tel: +6332/ 420 7070 or 236 7700 • Vudu is the place for after-dinner drinks and dancing. URL: www.vudu.com.ph
photo by jocas a. see
Batanes
photo by oggie ramos
InFlight City Guides
photo by erick liongoren
Clark • Jeep: Public jeepneys are available outside the airport. Rates start at P8. clark
Where to eat
• Pampanga's capital, San Fernando, just 20 minutes from Clark, is home to Everybody's Cafe
serving local dishes. • Angeles City is the birthplace of sisig (chopped grilled pork cheeks) and make sure you taste the original at Aling Lucing's. Call +6345/ 888 2317 or +63918/ 212 6461. pampanga
Where to stay
• Mimosa Resort. Situated in a 175-hectare
Country code: +63 Area code: 45 Currency: Philippine Peso (P1 = about US $43)
From the airport • Car Hire: MLS VIP Rent A Car has daily rates from P800. Call +6345/ 892 6216 or +63918/ 906 7265. • Taxi: Taxi stands are located in the arrival halls of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) and the fare is metered.
CHINA
landscaped property, Mimosa offers both standard hotel rooms and villas. Rates start at P6,600 per night. Tel.: +6345/ 599 7000 • Montevista Villas has 125 villas. A standard villa has two rooms, living room, lanai area, a modern pantry, guestroom and a spacious master's bedroom with ensuite bathroom. Rates start from P7,260. Tel: +6345/ 599 7000 • Holiday Inn Clark. A local favorite, the Holiday Inn has air-conditioned rooms and WiFi. Private garden villas are also available for families and groups. Tel: +6345/ 599 8000
HONG KONG
MACAU
Aling Lucing's sisig
Things to do • One of the activities in Clark is horseback riding at El Kabayo Riding Stables. • For P3,000, tourists can enjoy a dip at the Puning Hot Spring. • Omni Aviation offers Mount Pinatubo Sky Tours overflying Mt. Pinatubo for P5,000 per person in a 10-seater RP-C8832 aircraft. Tel: +6345/ 892 6664 or 599 5524 • If you're a high-roller or just looking for some fun, the Clark area has several casinos including Casino Filipino Angeles, Casino Filipino Mimosa, Fontana Casino and Hotel Stotsenberg's Casablanca Casino. For more information, call the tourism office at +6345/ 599 2854
InFlight City Guides
Hong Kong china
hong kong
Country code: +852 Currency: HK Dollar (US $1 = HKD 8)
From the airport
• Train: The MTR (Mass Transit Railway)-operated
Airport Expresscan get you to Kowloon in just 21 minutes and Hong Kong Island in 24 minutes. It also operates a complimentary shuttle bus service from the stations to most major hotels. The platform is located within the terminal building, connected to the Arrivals Hall, and is clearly signed. Return fare is HKD 160 (Kowloon) or HKD 180 (Hong Kong). It is also possible to purchase
Macau
Where to stay
• Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong. Located in
Central near the major business landmarks that’s an ideal place to stay if visiting for shopping. With 501 guestrooms, 67 of which are suites, all
Where to eat • Wong Chi Kei (Tel: +853/ 2805 1331) for its traditional hand-made noodles and shrimp roe noodles. • Margaret’s Café a Nata (Tel: +853/ 2871 0032) for its egg tarts. • Camoes (Tel: +853/ 2872 8818) for authentic Portuguese food. • Restaurante A Lorcha (Tel: +853/ 2831 3195) for good Portuguese cuisine. Ideal for large groups.
macau
Country code: +853 Currency: Macau Pataca (US $1 = 8 MOP)
From the airport • Taxi: The charge is MOP13 at flag down for the first 1.5km and then MOP1 for each subsequent 180m. To get a taxi by phone, call tel. +853/ 2893 9939 or +853/ 2851 9519. • Bus: Public buses run daily from 7am to midnight, with fares costing MOP2.50 for travel within the Macau peninsula, MOP3.30 for travel to Taipa, and MOP4 to MOP5 for travel to Colôane.
InFlight
Where to eat • Yung Kee is a local favorite and has been awarded a Michelin star in 2010. Famous are its roast meats, especially the goose, seafood and dim sum. Address: 32-40 Wellington St., Central Tel: +852/ 2522 1624 • Ajisen Ramen serves affordable and satisfying noodle soup and curries and bento boxes served in a traditional Japanese setting, with over 30 outlets across Hong Kong. Address: Shop 5, 4/F, Langham Place, 8 Argyle St., Mong Kok, Kowloon Tel: +852/ 3514 4396
overlooking Victoria Harbour and the surrounding cityscape. Operates 10 restaurants and bars, including the Michelin-starred Pierre and the threestorey Mandarin Spa. Rates start from HKD 7,600. Address: 5 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong Tel: +852/ 2522 0111 URL: www.mandarinoriental.com/hongkong • The Peninsula Hong Kong. Hong Kong's grand old dame that features rooms with high ceilings and classical proportions, all spelling luxury. Rates start from HKD 4,160. Tel: +852/ 2920 2888 Visit www.peninsula.com/Hong_Kong • Park Lane Hong Kong offers 805 fully equipped guestrooms and suites with the view of the famed Victoria Harbour and Park ideal for business and leisure travellers alike. Rates start from HKD 2,470. Tel: +852/ 2293 8888 URL: www.parklane.com.hk • W Hong Kong has 393 rooms and specialty suites featuring interesting infusions of wood, fire, earth, metal and water and modcons in each room. Rates start from HKD 3,300. Address: 1 Austin Road West Kowloon Station Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Tel: +852 3717 2222 URL: www.whotels.com/HongKong
MACAU china
28 |
tickets that include unlimited use of the MTR for three days, which are very good value for money. • Taxi: Upon arrival, make your way to the Taxi Station via the left-hand ramp outside the Arrivals Hall. Taxis are color-coded but red taxis will travel to most areas, including Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula. An approximate taxi fare to Central is HKD 290 and to Tsim Sha Tsui is HKD 230.
| december 2011
Where to stay • Venetian. A 40-storey 70sqm hotel and casino resort with 3,000 suites, each with separate bedroom and living area canopy-draped beds, and Italian marble bathrooms with separate bath and shower. Rates start from MOP 12,900. Call +853/ 2882 882 for reservations. • Hotel Lisboa. A convenient hotel with 1,000 rooms and suites that are richly decorated and furnished. Most rooms offer a magnificent view of the South China Sea and Macau landmarks. Rates start from MOP 880 to MOP 4,100. Call +853/ 2888 3888. • Pousada De Sao Tiago Macau. 12 luxurious fully equipped spacious suites each with a balcony overlooking the Inner Harbour of Macau and
the Pearl River Delta, with bathroom that has rainforest shower, steam room and TV. Rates start from MOP 2,600 to MOP 4,500. Call +853/ 2837 8111. Nightlife • Go to The Docks, a string of sidewalk cafes and bars lining Avenida Dr. Sun Yat-sen near the Kun Iam Statue. • A great place to watch the sun go down is 180 Lounge and Grill in the Macau Tower (Tel: +853/ 8988 8659). Shopping
• Largo do Senado Square sells overruns and
seconds from Macau's many garment factories. You can pick up Chinese jackets here cheaper than those sold in Hong Kong. • A weekly outdoor market is held Sundays from 11am to 8pm in Taipa Village, selling traditional crafts, souvenirs, clothing, toys, and food. • In Coloane Village, check out Asian Artefacts, 9 Rua dos Negociantes (Tel. +853/ 2888 1022), which sells restored antique furniture from North China and other Asian countries. Macau Government Tourist For info on tours, call +853/ 2831 5566
Singapore • Bus: A trip will cost you between 60 cents and SG$ 1.20. Buy a copy of TransitLink Guide available at most bookstores for a comprehensive guide on bus time-tables, routes and fares, sold at SG$ 1.50. • Taxi: A taxi stand is located outside the departure hall of the airport. A taxi from the airport to the city has a SG$ 3 surcharge but there is no surcharge when you travel from city to the airport. A trip from Changi airport to the city costs about SG$ 13, excluding surcharge.
Where to eat
• 49 Katong Laksa. For authentic Peranakan
Country code: +65 Currency: SG Dollar (US $1 = about 1.30 SGD)
From the airport Getting around Singapore on foot is a pleasant and hassle-free way of seeing the center of the city, but when you want to venture slightly farther or dart between different districts, then a bus or train is the fastest and most economical option. • Car Hire: San’s Tours and Car Rentals charges daily rates between SG$ 100 and SG$ 150. Call +65/ 6734 9922.
w w w.inf light.ph
Wild North
Sand, sky, and sea in rugged ilocos
specialty Laksa. Tel: +65/ 6344 5101 • Jumbo Seafood. Known for its black pepper beef short ribs, sweet and sour prawns, and Yangshou fried rice. Tel: +65/ 6442 3435 Where to stay • The Scarlet Hotel Singapore is an 80-room “lavish” hotel set in a four hectare property at the center of Singapore, close to the Thian Hock Keng Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple, and Raffles Place. It’s designed in modern Moulin Rouge style. Room rates start from SG$ 320. Tel: +65 6511 3303
New Majestic Hotel
URL: www.scarlethotelsingapore.com • New Majestic Hotel offers 30 exclusive and unique rooms that incorporate the 1920's style with being state of the art, with modern luxurious amenities. Rates start at SG$ 260. Address: 31-37 Bukit Pasoh Road, Chinatown Tel: +65/ 6511 4700 URL: www.newmajestichotel.com • Wanderlust is a left-field and totally experimental boutique hotel set to draw madcap voyagers and curious travellers to its doorstep. Located in Little India, the hotel has four thematic levels with 29 rooms created by award winning Singapore designers. Rates start at SG$ 220. Address: 2 Dickson Road Tel: +65 6396 3322 URL: www.wanderlusthotel.com
april - M ay 2011
Singapore Fling
Crazy sales and high-tech parks at the lion City
Surf’s Up
Go loco over Zambales’ perfect waves
Glug, Glug, Glug
Top 5 happy hour bars
Missed an issue? Subscribe now! Call: +632/ 840 2802 or email: subscribe@inflight.ph
AirlineGuide Airbus 319
SEAIR (Low Cost) Destinations • Singapore • Hong Kong • Macau • Bangkok (Thailand)
Fleet • 2 Airbus A-319
Booking and Ticketing • Book online at www.flyseair.com or www.tigerairways.com • Clark: Unit 166, SM City CSEZ, Clarkfield, Pampanga Tel: +6343/ 499 0258-59 • Makati: Unit 202 La O' Center Building, 1000 Arnaiz Avenue (formerly Pasay Road) corner Makati Avenue, Makati City Tel: +632/ 849 0111
Dornier 328
South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR Domestic Islands) Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR), a premier leisure airline, is the second oldest airline in the Philippines. SEAIR was founded in 1995 by Capt. Iren Dornier, Capt. Nikos Gitsis, and Tomas Lopez, starting operations from Manila to Rodriguez and Busuanga, Palawan. In 1996, it started the Caticlan route, servicing Boracay bound passengers. To date, SEAIR has the longest history of flights to Caticlan for 16 years. The airline also helped develop Batanes into a major tourist destination. SEAIR now flies to prime tourist destinations such as Caticlan (Boracay), Clark, Batanes, El Nido (Palawan) and Tablas (Romblon), as well as to regional routes Singapore, Hongkong, Macau and Bangkok in Thailand.
Destinations • Clark • Caticlan (Boracay) • Manila • Basco (Batanes) • Tablas (Romblon) • El Nido (Palawan) • Singapore • Hongkong • Macau • Bangkok (Thailand)
Fleet • 4 Dornier 328 • 1 LET 410 UVP-E • 2 Airbus A-319
Booking and Ticketing • Book online at www.flyseair.com • Makati: Unit 202 La O' Center Building, 1000 Arnaiz Avenue (formerly Pasay Road) corner Makati Avenue, Makati City Tel: +632/ 849 0100 • Cebu: SEAIR Cebu Office, YMCA Building, Jones Avenue, Cebu City Tel: +6332/ 341 4879
30
| InFlight | december 2011
Dornier 228
Island Transvoyager (ITI) Island Transvoyager, Inc. (ITI) is the airline that operates to prime tourist destinations El Nido and Taytay, both in Palawan, offering as much as daily flights from Manila. ITI is the official carrier of the upmarket El Nido Resorts that operates three resorts in El Nido and one in Taytay. Both El Nido and Taytay are known for having stunning limestone cliffs, white sandy beaches, and highly diverse eco systems. ITI is also engaged in air taxi services and air charter operations using the 19-seater Dornier 228-212 aircraft. It is committed to protecting the environment and conserving the natural resources and beauty of El Nido, and is the first airline to establish a program to offset carbon emissions in 2008.
Destinations • El Nido (Palawan) • Taytay (Palawan)
Fleet • 3 Dornier 228
Booking and Ticketing • ITI Hangar No. 5-03-127, Andrews Avenue (near PAL Medical Center), Domestic Airport, Pasay City Tel: +632/ 851 5664, 851 5674, 851 5667 Email: info@itiair.com URL: www.itiair.com
CHINA
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
BHUTAN
PAL
CHINA
SEAIR (Low Cost)
JA
REPUBLIC OF KOREA REPUBLIC OF TAIWAN
HONG KONG
BANGLADESH
MACAU
MYANMAR
LAOS PHILIPPINE SEA
LUZON
PHILIPPINES CLARK, ANGELES
SOUTH CHINA SEA
THAILAND
MANILA
VIETNAM BANGKOK
VISAYAS
CAMBODIA SULU SEA
MINDANAO
ANKA CELEBES SEA
BRUNEI
TAIWAN SINGAPORE
HONG KONG
KONG
AR
NEI
TAIWAN
MALAYSIA
Basco
SEAIR Route Map
ITI Route Map
BATANES
LAOS
INDONESIA PHILIPPINE SEA
PHILIPPINE SEA
SOUTH CHINA SEA
PHILIPPINES
LUZON
Clark, Angeles
SOUTH CHINA SEA
PHILIPPINES EAST TIMOR
LUZON MANILA
MANILA
THAILAND Tablas Island
VIETNAM VISAYAS
ROMBLON
VISAYAS
Caticlan AKLAN
El Nido
El Nido
CAMBODIA
Taytay
PALAWAN
PALAWAN
SULU SEA
SULU SEA
MINDANAO
MINDANAO
AUSTRA CELEBES SEA
CELEBES SEA
BRUNEI
december 2011
| InFlight | 31
INdex For Cover
Carlotta Call +63917/ 753 7674 for orders Parfois G/F, Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Makati City Tel: +632/ 501 3180 The Ramp Crossings (Faith.Hope.Love, Possibility, Mundo) 2/F, Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Makati City Tel: +632/ 819 1466 to 67
s t o re dire c t o r y
For INVogue
Beauty Bar 1F, Powerplant Mall, Lopez Drive, Rockwell, Makati City Tel: +632/ 898 2042
2
In My Bag
3
4
Turn to
Rustan’s Ayala Center, Ayala Avenue, Makati City Tel: +632/ 813 3739 loc. 225
Reena Francisco with ECHOstore partner Chit Juan in Boracay
green advocate Reena Francisco shares the ugly and funny moments of her Boracay travel
Institut Clarins 3F, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati City Tel: +632/ 817 8414
Prada Unit 104A, Greenbelt 4, Ayala Center, Makati City Tel: +632/ 757 6298
Reena Francisco (right) with friends Timmy Cruz(left) and Chit Juan(center) enjoying the night breeze in Boracay
Travelling with a Preacher
EchoStore GF, Serendra Piazza, McKinley Parkway, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel: +632/ 901 3485
La Bagagerie 3F, Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila, Newport City, Pasay City Tel: +632/ 659 8378
1
Invogue
page 30 for store contact info
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InFlight
| DECEmBEr 2011
IntervIew by MargIe FrancIsco P r o d u c t s h ot s b y da n y u s ay h a r v e y
“I have been To boracay several times but in one particular trip, a business partner and I had to go to Kalibo for a day for business and we got back really late. The hotel boat couldn’t fetch us so we had to take the public boat and bus. It was the first time I took a public boat and bus. On the way to the island there was this preacher who terrorized us with prayer and doom; it was such a horrifying and funny experience. We had to endure 20 minutes of verbal harassment. “This was a one-off experience. Boracay is my reality break, a momentary escape, my recharging pause. During the Holy Week in 2008, my friends and I were the first official batch of guests at the opening of Discovery Shores. We were pampered. Everything was perfect. The staff were on a heavenly yourwish-is-my-command mode. The guests were equally beautiful and the management was wonderful.” ThIngs I Take when I Travel: 1 La Bagagerie handbag (rates from P5,000) 2 Paulo Coelho books (P245-P275) 3 Persol sunglasses (www.persol.com) 4 Spanish fan (P180) 5 Prada cosmetic pouch (rates from P10,000-P13,500), Acqua Di Parma Colonia (P3,486), Echostore Body Basics antibac hand sanitizer (P99), Clarins sunblock (P2,550) 6 Bobbi Brown pressed powder (P1,900), Bobbi Brown travel makeup kit (2,000), Burt’s Bees Lip Balm (P325)
5
6
For more ideas on travel gear and essentials, visit www.inflight.ph
InFlight Classifieds
CLASSiFIEDS
For more information: Call: +632 840 2802 or 553 7978 Email: ksario@inflight.ph
december 2011
| InFlight | 33
All That Buzz InFlight launches Guide to Island Weddings Wedding Isle, InFlight magazine’s first wedding supplement, was launched recently at the Luzon ballroom of Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila. The launch, a whole day event called Walk the Isle, included a wedding fashion show and a wedding suppliers exhibit organized by top hotels and resorts in the country. The supplement guide features expert input and advice on island weddings — and everything you need to plan that dream wedding of a lifetime — given by the country’s pioneer in events and wedding coordination, Rita Neri, Wedding Isle’s launch editor. Event highlights included a bridal undergarment fashion show by Wacoal and a bridal fashion show by top designers Frederick Peralta and Frankie De Leon, featuring their newest collection of wedding gowns fit for island weddings, with hair and makeup by Victor Ortega. Walk the Isle also featured booths from resorts and hotels like Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Friday’s Boracay, Nigi Nigi Too Beach Resort, The Tides/Epic Boracay, El Nido Resorts, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, Pontefino Hotel & Residences to wedding suppliers including Rita Neri Event Planners, Flowers and Events by Teddy Manuel, Frederick Peralta Fashion Design and Frankie De Leon Couture, Wacoal and Eurobev Corporation. Other exhibitors were Century Properties, Megaworld Corporation and Suntrust. Wedding Isle is a joint project of InFlight magazine (www. inflight.ph), South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR), renowned wedding coordinator Rita Neri and Rita Neri Event Planners (RNEP), and Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila. ■
Walk the Isle ribbon cutting. From left, SEAIR’s COO Patrick Tan, Malay’s mayor Hon. John Yap, DOT Undersecretary Lulu Jaleco, and Hotel Sofitel’s marketing director Chanelle Garvey
This and opposite, the event’s fashion show
Event planner Rita Neri and SEAIR’s Patrick Tan
Sofitel’s Luzon ballroom, venue of InFlight’s Walk the Isle event
From left: InFlight managing editor Monica De Leon, designer Frankie De Leon, InFlight sales and marketing director Margie Defensor, and InFlight staff writer Margie Francisco
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InFlight
| december 2011
Photos by choi elciario
Feature
Opus lounge entrance is dominated by a massive chrome sculpture
Opus Restaurant and Lounge
Onyx Bar and Wine Room
Opus turns 1!
Get ready for Über Disko and Saturday Night Fever as Opus celebrates its first year this December Opus Restaurant and Lounge, located at Resorts World Manila, is celebrating its first year anniversary on December 7 with month-long calendar of special events. This December, Mondays are INDUSTRY NIGHT, targeting the corporate crowd, to be hosted by Stephen Ku. Tuesdays are themed RETRO LOVE, with DJs DJ Boyet Almazan as Teddy Dario playing 70s, 80s and 90s music. Ivan Zalameda hosts BELLA nights on Wednesdays, an evening dedicated to Manila’s most beautiful ladies. GROOVE-themed Thursday is when Marco De Guzman and Jason Soong host nights of
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InFlight
| december 2011
Indie/Electro/House music. ÜBER DISKO on Fridays, spearheaded by GP Reyes and Manolet Dario, is all about dancing the night away. And Saturdays is called LEGENDARY, hosted by Louie Ysmael with Karl Ty spinning the best floor-fillers loved throughout the years. ■ Opus is at 2nd level, Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila. For reservations and inquiries, call +63917/ 874 7738 or email info@ opusmanila.com. For special events, call +63917/ 550 9999 or email events@opusmanila.com.
P h o t o s CO U RTESY O F O P U S RESTA U RA N T & LO U N G E
february-March 2011
| InFlight | 37
i n f l ig h t p romotio n s
Festive “Trees of Hope” and a Christmas serenade at the Pen The Peninsula Hotel Manila is celebrating Christmas this year with its Peninsula Trees of Hope charity project and a special performance by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra at the hotel’s grand lobby. The Trees of Hope charity has on sale at the hotel lobby Christmas ornaments. Part of the proceeds of the sale will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation Philippines, a charity that aims to fulfill the wishes of terminally ill children. On December 3, The Peninsula is also launching “Celebrations: 28 Years of Christmas Concert at the Pen,” with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra serenading the crowd with Christmas songs. The hotel’s restaurants will serve Christmas Eve buffet dinners, a Christmas Day gala ball and dinner, New Year’s Eve gala ball and dinner, and New Year’s Day breakfast buffets. The hotel’s New Year’s Package for superior rooms and suites priced from P7,000 and P15,000 respectively includes daily breakfast at Escolta for two, complimentary extra bed, a special gift on New Year’s Eve, 20% discount at the hotel’s restaurants (except on New Year’s Eve) and complimentary Club access for all suite bookings. Booking is ongoing and valid until end of December this year. Visit www.peninsula.com/manila or call +632/ 887 2888 or 810 3456.
A Celebratory facelift at 75 years
After 75 years, The Aristocrat – a well-loved Philippine brand, laying claim as “the home of the best chicken barbecue in town” – is launching a marketing campaign that will see a new branding, including a new logo, and a refurbishment program of its original branch on the corner of Roxas Boulevard and San Andres Street in Manila. The renovation will cover all its other 11 branches. Aristocrat president Priscila Reyes-Pacheco said the company aims not only to strengthen its brand locally and widen its appeal to a younger market, but also to open Aristocrat branches overseas, aiming to introduce the same Filipino cuisine to the international market. For Aristocrat meal catering and parties, call +632/ 524 7671 or 521 8147.
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InFlight
| december 2011
Newly opened business hotel in Cebu City offers luxe amenities 12-storey boutique hotel, Harolds Hotel, which opened in Cebu City last February, is primary a business hotel but provides personalized service, luxury and privacy. Close to Cebu’s business district and major landmarks, Harolds’ guestrooms boasts a memory foam bed, wide work desk, free internet access, 32-inch cable TV, electronic safe, phone with voice mail access, coffee/tea set-up, coffee maker, iron with pressing board and hair dryer. What’s more, the rooms are spacious and the doors are made sound proof. The hotel has 36 superior rooms, 45 deluxe rooms and nine deluxe suites, all designed to be at par with international standards. Harolds also has H Café and Bread & Co. where guests can have meals, and a roofdeck bar that provides a panoramic view of city’s skyline while sipping cocktails. Harolds Hotel is at Gorordo Avenue corner Rosal Street, Lahug, Cebu City. For inquiries, call +6332/ 505 7777 or email info@haroldshotel.com.
Travel safe with Travelon Travelon’s anti-theft bags is promising to “make travel easier” with its slash-proof features, lockable zippers, and its RFID technology. So why slash proof? Apparently, it has chain link panels covering most parts of the bag and the straps. A new feature, the Radio-frequency identification or RFID, blocks the identification and tracking of your important cards, such as credit card, driver’s licence, and ATM CARD. All you need to do is stick the electronic tag to your card to block anyone from reading it. James Bond should be proud. The Anti-theft products include waist packs with an organizer and external cellular phone pocket, cards and passport cases, document organizers and wallets that block RFID, ID and passport holders for easy handling at airports, travel bags, and messenger bags that have removable LED light. Travelon is available in selected The Travel Club Stores nationwide. The Primer Group of Companies, Asia’s next retail giant, is the exclusive distributor of Travelon in the Philippines.
VMV launches holiday collection
Mandala Spa & Villas Boracay, World Travel Award Philippines’ leading resort again
This festive season, VMV is selling gift skintificates ranging from SuperSkin/ Cosmeceutical Facials to Grand Passage Facials, gift packages for men and women such as the “For All Ye Merry Gentlemen,” Holiday on Eyes, holiday duo containing Reeverything Eye Serum and VMV’s Ooh-LaLash! Volumizing Mascara, and Yule Love the Bubbles!, VMV’s bathing “dew” in a fancy box. For a limited time only, VMV is offering a hand-stitched felt stocking ornament free with each purchase of a VMV product miniature, priced from P150. Visit VMV at 2/F Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Makati City. URL: www.vmvhypoallergenics.com.ph.
MANDALA SPA & VILLAS Boracay has bagged its fourth World Travel Award (WTA) as the Philippines’ Leading Resort. This is the fifth award from WTA that Mandala Spa & Villas has received in a span of four years. Jove Schrottmann, Mandala Spa & Villas Resort Manager and son of the spa-resort’s cofounder and owner Dieter Schrottmann, who has been rejuvenating the famed wellness resort since his return from Switzerland, received the statuette WTA trophy. The younger Schrottmann, inspired by his father’s vision and legacy of Mandala, hopes to share the wellness institution’s soulful healing touch by inducing a healthy spirit to its guests and employees and continuing to provide the highest quality of service in the wellness and hospitality industry. Visit www.mandalaspa.co; email reservations@ mandalaspa.com; or call +6336/ 288 5857-58.
december 2011
| InFlight | 39
Boracay