south e ast asian airlines on - board maga zine
october - november 2009
The supernatural 10 eerie places from Aklan to Siquijor Visiting an old dame A stay at the 100-year-old Baguio Country Club Baguio Still cool after all these years Real Bite Enjoy genuine burritos and top tequila at Bolero
www.seair-inflight.com • www.flyseair.com
To dive for Ta k i n g
t h e
p lu n g e
i n
B o r ac ay
Th e D o r n i e r M u s e u m o p e n s i n F r i e d r i c h s c h a f e n , G e r m a n y
i n f l i g h t // o c t o b e r - n ov e m b e r 2 0 0 9
44
IN PLACES 41 InsandOuts Revisiting Baguio
44 To dive for
Taking the plunge in Boracay
60 Tales of the unknown 10 Eerie places from Aklan to Siquijor
96 InFocus
Allan Barredo’s Pangasinan
Diving suit by Aquamundo; swimsuit by Pink Belter by Lizle Hilario; Location: Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa’s beach
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i n f l i g h t // o c t o b e r - n ov e m b e r 2 0 0 9 IN FRONT 09 Editor’s Note
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33
10 InFormed
What not to miss in October and November
12 Inthenews
The Dornier Museum is now open in Friedrichschafen, Germany; Asya Premier Suites to open in Boracay in October; Astoria Boracay sets November opening; Two Seasons Coron resort on target for 2012 opening
16 InTalk
Where to go for recessionista shopping
27 InTune
Food hero Mara Pardo de Tavera on opening Makati’s organic market
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30 InPerson
Me and My Holidays: Rovilson Fernandez
IN vogue 19 Intheshops
Local products from carabao horn salad servers to handwoven baskets
24 Inmybag
Makeup artist Barbi Chan’s travel list
IN GOOD TIMES 33 InRoom Chip Childers finds charm and modern-day comforts at 100-year-old Baguio Country Club Plus Boracay Mandarin
38
38 InDulge Enjoy genuine burritos and premium tequila at Bolero
PLUS: seair News / People / Guide
Concept by SEAIR InFlight Photo by Ken Go Art direction by Jocas A. See Styling by Monica De Leon Scuba attire and gear by Aquamundo Makeup by Rocky Orejola Modeling by Theresa Marie Fenger for IM Agency Location: Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa’s beach
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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, Parc Cruz, Ferdz Decena, Roberto S. Francisco, Erik Liongoren, Ken Go, Wacky Gochoco, Carlos Legaspi, Oggie Ramos, Daniel Soriano, Gutsy Tuason, Shawn Yao 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
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administration and finance officer
ARTHUR VALENCIA
Advertising Traffic assistant
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inf lightads@f lyseair.com editorial board
Publisher
South East Asian Airlines Seair Chairman
Iren Dornier Seair Director
Nikos Gitsis InFlight Editor
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Bernard Bandonell philippine Copyright©20 08
South East Asian Airlines, Inc. SEAIR InFlight Magazine: Units 304, 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
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editor’s note
people. places. a dv entur es.
and Caticlan.
s a child I sometimes spent holidays with my mother in my aunt’s farmhouse in Antique, on the west coast of Panay Island, just a few hours away from Iloilo
InFlight Model Theresa Fenger on Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa’s private beach. Below, writer Chip Childers on a recent trip to Baguio for some ghost hunting
I remember the house had a huge kitchen, a stone oven, and an equally huge wooden table where my 12 cousins and I had our meals away from the adults, who dined in a separate grown-up room. I remember the breakfast table was often filled with freshly baked pandesal, perfect little loaves of bread piled high on top of each other, more than enough, I thought, to feed the whole town. But then my aunt did feed the whole town because she was the local baker. We used this to great advantage. Mornings heralded great pandesal fights in the kitchen, warm buns flying everywhere. A great waste, but great fun. My cousins seemed to lead the kind of idyllic country lifestyle we city folks envied. Days were spent on the beach, or harvesting nuts or mangoes, or snoozing in the shade of some convenient tree. Night time was another matter. Some may see it as superstitious mumbo-jumbo, but in common with many other Filipinos my cousins believed in – and often talked about – the dreaded aswangs and how they roamed the streets at night. An aswang is a creature of Filpino folklore, part witch and part vampire, and in the dark streets of provincial towns it’s easy to believe they might just be out there. Antique is known as the home of witches and vampires. This was long ago and might sound a little bit silly now. But in the unspoiled, rural communities of our childhood, vampires and tales of the unexpected by candlelight were enough to scare most of us half to death. In this issue of InFlight, celebrating Halloween, we retell some of the country’s tales of the unexpected and the supernatural (See pages 60 to 75), touching on ghosts, sorcerers and peculiarly Filipino demons and banshees such as aswangs, kapres and dwendes. These stories still form part of the fabric of Filipino lives and my home town, Antique, makes it on to our list of the country’s most eerie places. Our cover story pages 44 to 57 brings us down to earth with a dive. Contributing writer Catherine Calderon accepted the challenge of learning to dive in Boracay with PADI dive outfit Sea World. Her story of the ups and downs of learning makes for interesting reading. Diving opens up a whole new world and if you haven’t already taken the plunge, you’ll want to after reading this.
giselle javison Editor editors@flyseair.com
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What not to miss in
October & November Reporting by Margie F. Francisco
October
October
October
Lisa @ 25
Katy Perry: Live in Manila
Cinemanila Film Festival 2009
Katy Perry, known for her hit singles “Hot N Cold” and “I Kissed a Girl”, which gave her nominations for the MTV Video Award, is coming to Manila to perform live at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds. Boys Like Girls will also perform. Tickets are available at Ticketworld. Call +632/ 891 9999 or visit www. ticketworld.com.ph
See the best of Filipino films at the Cinemanila Film Festival, to be held at the Fort Bonifacio Global City from October 15. This year’s festival will include the launch of the Machinima Film Festival, featuring animated films, produced using artificial intelligence and digital puppetry. For more information, call +632/ 392 7935 or visit www.cinemanila.org.ph
2-4
October
1-12
Zamboanga Hermosa Festival 2009 If you haven’t been to a Philippine Fiesta, why not visit Zamboanga this October? The city is holding the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival from October 1 to 12. The festival includes nightly cultural shows, trade fair and exhibit, a golf cup, beauty contest and the Regatta de Zamboanga, the oldest running boat race, using traditional colorful vintas of the southern Philippines. For more information, call the City Tourism Office at +6362/ 992 3007
Prima ballerina Lisa MacujaElizalde marks her silver year this year as a professional dancer with a performance of her repertoire in Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Giselle, La Bayadere, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Le Corsaire, La Fille Mal Gardee, Coppelia, La Sylphide, Romeo and Juliet, Les Sylphides, Carmen Pineapple Poll, El Amor Brujo, Serenade, and the role of CioCio San in the world premiere of Thomas Pazik’s Madame Butterfly. The show will be held at the Aliw Theater, CCP Complex in Pasay City. Tickets are available at Ticketworld
3
15-25
October
November
Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational Surfing Competition 2009
Laidback Luke… the “Thrilla from Manila”
21-27
Siargao island in Surigao del Norte takes center stage starting October 21 as 48 of the world’s best surfers compete for a US $20,000 prize pool at the Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational. There will be two days of competition, with participants surfing across a seven-day event window. Some of the surfers invited to the event are Bruce Irons (Hawaii), Owen Wright (Australia), Jadson Andre (Brazil), and last year’s champion, Filipino Editho “Piso” Alcala. For more information, visit www.billabong.com
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November
14
Sweeney Todd Repertory Philippines presents “Sweeney Todd”. Set in 18th century London, “Sweeney Todd” follows the dreary tale of a master barber exiled by a corrupt judge to Australia. Sweeney returns to London with vengeance on his mind, and a deadly, sharp razor in his hands. Audie Gemora is Sweeney Todd and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Mrs Lovett. The show will run until December at OnStage, Greenbelt 1. For tickets, call Repertory Philippines at +632/ 887 0710 or visit www.repertory-philippines. com
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Filipino DJ Laidback Luke is back at the Embassy Superclub to set the dance floor rocking at an event tagged as the “Thrilla from Manila”. Luke has collaborated with international talents such as DJs David Guetta, Tiesto, and recording artists Kanye West, John Legend and Black Eyed Peas, and is the only Filipino to make it to the UK DJ Magazine’s Top 100 DJ List. Tickets are available at Embassy, Cafeteria and selected Folded & Hung outlets. For table reservations, call +63920/ 938 9005. For more information, call +632/ 897 2472 or 895 7471. Visit www.drivenmanila.com or www.eventscapemanila.com
November
27-29
2009 Philippine Kayaking Series Join the fun at the CebuBohol Kayak Crossing, Kayak Philippines’ third and final leg in a kayaking series that took off in Mactan, Cebu, crossing the waters of Getafe, Bohol. Kayakers and spectators in flotillas and tourist boats will get the chance to island hop, passing by various municipalities for lunch and dinner and overnight stays until they reach the finish line in Panglao Island, Bohol. For more information or inquiries, visit www.kayakphilippines. com or call +632/ 468 7091 or 872 5478
must Visit
Dornier Museum: A marvel of design “I’m fascinated by the view from above. Combining the past with the present formed the basis for our initial drafts, from which arose the metaphor of the runway turn-off” - Prof. Markus Allmann, Allmann Sattler Wappner Architekten
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t r av e l
HOTEL S AND RE S ORT S
The Dornier Museum, a showcase for the Dornier Company’s numerous historical aircraft and aeronautical collection and mementos, opened in Friedrichschafen, Germany, the birthplace of the Dornier Company, on July 24. Museum founder Silvius Dornier, son of aeronautics pioneer Claude Dornier and father of Southeast Asian Airlines’ chairman Iren Dornier, together with project manager Cornelius Dornier, opened the stateof-the-art museum, an architectural marvel in itself. The museum’s ground floor plan is shaped like a hangar and represents a runway turn-off from the Friedrichschafen Airport. The museum occupies a 3,000sqm
a r t s AND fa s h i o n
area, divided into two parts: the Hangar, which displays numerous historical aircraft, including legendary classics such as the Do27, the Do Merkur and the Do31 vertical takeoff craft and the Museumsbox, which appears to hover above the foyer, presenting a rich collection of videos, voice records and digitalized newspapers that have linked the name Dornier to the aeronautic history for more than 100 years. A section in the museum called Journey into space features part of an original space lab and a walkthrough solar system that enables visitors to feel like they can almost touch the stars, thanks to projection screens on all four walls. The museum also has a restaurant with a terrace, museum shop, cinema, exhibitions for children and children’s play area. The Dornier Museum, besides
A nd mor e!
adding another stellar architectural landmark in Germany, does not just preserve and document aviation pioneer Claude Dornier’s achievements in aviation and the Dornier Company’s major innovations in the fields of environmental, defence and medical engineering. It brings a century of exciting aeronautic history into vivid focus. The museum’s architecture is by Allmann Sattler Wappner Architekten and lighting design by James Turell.
The Dornier Museum partners are Daimler AG, EADS, ESA and Lufthansa Technik. The Dornier Museum Friedrichschafen is located at Claude-Dornier-Platz 1, 88046 Friedrichschafen, Germany. Visit www.dorniermuseum.de.
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what’s New
Asya Premier Suites opens in NOVEMBER Asya Boracay is opening Asya Premier Suites in Boracay in November. The new resort will have 16 premiere suites and four presidential casitas. Each 110 square meter suite includes a living room and dining area, lanai and garden area, a spacious bedroom complete with LCD television, DVD player, iPod dock, iHome, alarm clock, internet access, a luxurious toilet and bath, NDD/IDD telephone service, coffeemaker, in-room safety box,
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and mini bar. The list goes on. All four presidential casitas will offer the same amenities plus a private wading pool. Asya Boracay is owned and operated by Playa Asya Resort. Asya Premier Suites is the second property managed by the group in Boracay.
To book Asya Premier Suites, visit 3F 818 Building, 818 Pasay Road, Makati City or call +632/ 893 5276 or 892 0138.
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-- Margie F. Francisco
Beach Bling check it Out
Astoria Boracay opens in November The former Boracay Gold Crowne in Station 1, Boracay will reopen as Astoria Boracay in November after undergoing refurbishment. The beachfront property will offer nine premier rooms, 14 superior rooms and 16 standard rooms, each with air-conditioning, cable LCD TV, hot and cold shower, refrigerator, in-room safe, coffee and tea service and bathroom. Interior design is by Ivy and Cynthia Almario together with leading architectural firm Gallego Architects, headed by architect Ed Gallego. The hotel has café restaurant service, modern water-filtration system, free wi-fi, a 22m swimming pool, and hip al fresco coffee shop, which features fusion cuisine. Astoria Boracay is owned and operated by Astoria Plaza Hotel and managed by Genesis Hotels and Resorts Corporation.
For bookings and reservations, call +632/ 687 1111 loc. 8024 or email rsvn@ astoriaboracay.com. -- Margie F. Francisco
Jelly sandals by Australian brand Holster is the latest addition to beach blings these days. The sandals are advertised as antimicrobial, odor resistant, washable, non-marking and vegan friendly.
Retails from P1,600-P2,300 at www.holsterfashion.ph. -- Monica De Leon
Halloween Look This witching season, get the look right with Mac’s Style Black lipwear (Suggested retail price (SRP) is P900 and P1,150), eyeshadows (SRP P1,000), eyeliners (SRP P1,100), and nail lacquers (SRP P610). Try its Zoom Fast Black Lash for thick and long mascara (SRP P780); and DSquared, a make-up collection for that disheveled, dangerously sexy look with dark colors for the eye, nudes and neutrals for the cheeks, and light colors for the lips. In November, Mac introduces the Magic Mirth and Mischief!, a collection of fantasy colors of pinks, violets, golds and nudes with some sparkle and shimmer, perfect for the holidays.
Call Mac Rustans at +632/ 812 8265.
Posh Coron resort Two Seasons groundbreaks on August 8
-- Monica De Leon
Two Seasons Coron, a 34-room resort scheduled to open in 2012 on Malaroyroy Peninsula, off the northern tip of Bulalacao Island in Coron, held its groundbreaking ceremony on August 8. The resort will be built on a 16-hectare property on Malaroyroy, offering about 200m of white-sand beach on the west side and on the east side, still another beach fringed with mangroves and offering a breathtaking view of neighboring islands. When finished, the resort will have a restaurant, beach bar, a conference room, gym, spa, day care center, watersports center, swimming pool and other recreational facilities. Owner John Peñaloza, with the help of architect Geoffred Dee Tan, will take charge of the resort’s design, expected to be minimalist, mixing modern and native materials. Palawan governor Joel T. Reyes, Coron SB members, Bulalacao barangay officials and and resort owner Steve Tajanlangit attended the groundbreaking event.
For more information on Two Seasons Coron, visit www.twoseasonsboracay. com. -- Monica De Leon
Cinderfella Mineralize Black with Silver Pearl of the Style Black Collection, and Blood Red Clean Deep Berry of the DSquared Collection
Where do you go for recessionista shopping? Stylists and the fashion forward reveal their favorite sales and discount shops. Jan Lao reports Illustration by randy r. rey
During these hard times we should all the more support our local retailers as well as the Filipino talent. We have a handful of retail brands that produce stylish and quality merchandise such as Bench, F&H, Bayo, and SM Department Store. For the more adventurous ones there are second-hand shops (ukay-ukay) at the basement of Makati Cinema Square and one on Gil Puyat (near Makati Med). These ukay shops both have air-con, parking space; and the clothes sold are already divided per category so it’s not stressful.
Illustration W: 4.1562 in x H: 4.125 in
- Corine Alegre
Fashion stylist for ALLURE
One should check out ukay-ukay and other thrift stores with legit vintage items like the ones at Cubao X. Also, for generic stuff, department stores like SM serve as great substitutes for high-end retail boutiques. Keep an eye out for sales local designers have every so often with markdowns of up to 70%.
- Bea Constantino
Fashion stylist
I like going to bazaars. Another good place to go to is Cubao Expo. They really have cool and unique stuff (Fartsy, short for ‘fashionably-artsy’). Felicity at Shangri-La Plaza Mall has the best accessories. And visit www.fofashion.net for good good bags!
- Anya Alova
Visual merchandiser
Indulgence is finding small treasures with big value in places like Archeaology at Power Plant Mall, Cubao X, exporters’ showrooms, and last days at trade fairs, where a lot of samples are on public sale. And visit Showroom 453 (Tel: +632920/ 938 1286) where you can buy all the fashion items you don’t need. Still, they’re guaranteed to make you happy.
- Noel Manapat
Stylist
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Recession or not we always love a good bargain. I usually go to the mall and check out sales. High street labels from chains Zara, Topshop, Warehouse, Dorothy Perkins, and Mango are always current with global trends. Rockwell, Podium and Cubao Expo have a good area showcasing young Filipino designers. Visit bazaars on weekends especially during Christmas season at The Intercon or Cuenca Park in Ayala Alabang. The American Womens Bazaar is held every first Wednesday of the month, if I’m not mistaken, at the World Trade. Check out Makati Cinema Square and Evangelista for home decor or department stores like SM and Homestore. Check out the latest mags for inspiration. You can find anything anywhere. Just mix it up with your well loved pieces, sentimental bric-a-brac and you’re good to go! Lastly, you can always check out my store Casa Amarilla (email: casaamarilla@mydestiny.net) in Guadalupe Viejo in Makati for unique gift ideas. These are items I’ve personally collected from my travels. For Pinoy folk art memorabilia, visit La Monja Loca in Intramuros.
- Astrud Crisologo
Casa Amarilla store owner
i n t h e sh op s >i n my bag
Home-made home Local products are hugging the global design scene, from carabao horn salad servers to handwoven baskets
Photos by Carlos LegaSpi Styling by Paige Martin, Janet dela Fuente and Monica De Leon
Metal cat from Batangas, P7,000; half dough vase made of coco shell, sea shells and mother of pearl, P7,500; Cathy vase laminated rattan, all from MC Home Depot
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inTheShops
Home-m a de home
Bone white open leaf vase, P1,500; stingray candle holder, P5,500; napkin holder with capiz shell inlay, P843.75/set, all from Creative Pilipinas
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Green onyx mortar and pestle from Romblon
Carabao horn salad tosser, P937.50; kamagong salad server, P843.75; kamagong cheeseboard P937.50, all from MC Home Depot
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inTheShops
Home-m a de home
Handwoven baskets from Palawan, available at Palawan Center; pi単a weave table runner produced from Palawan by Tepi単a
For store location and contact details, turn to
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on page 76
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inMyBag
My travel list: Barbi Chan Interview by Margie F. Francisco Photo by Carlos LegaSpi
Barbi Chan is the chief make up artist of Maybelline New York. She is the first Asian make up artist to sign a contract with the international brand and has worked on the looks of models for shoots appearing in the Philippine editions of Cosmopolitan, FHM, 01 Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, Preview, Metro, Mega, Meg and Candy. 02
03 04
05
06
10 11 09 08 07
12
1 Gucci tote bag (P34,000) 2 Shanghai Tang Sunglasses (P5,990) 3 Finesse Hairspray (P230) 4 Sony Playstation Portable (P11,998) 5 Body Shop Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes (P395) 6 Kiehls Lip Balm (P650) 7 Apple 120GB iPod Classic (P14,990) 8 Maybelline Cat Eyes Mascara (P429) 9 Maybelline Watershine Lipstick (P349) 10 Bebe Young Care Soft Hand Cream 11 Body Shop Energizing Face Spray (P695) 12 Canon Ixus 80IS (P17,950) For store location and contact details, turn to
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on page 76
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
Food hero
Some 15 years ago, Mara Pardo de Tavera opened an organic market in a city in love with junk food. Has she changed the way we think about food? Margie Francisco reports photos by oggie ramos
Organic rambutan: From the traditional organic farms direct to the consumers at the organic market in Makati
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inTune
Food hero
Mara Pardo de Tavera is testament to the fact that one person can help change the way a nation thinks about its food.
Back in 1994, she opened one of the first, if not the first, organic markets in the country at Greenbelt Park in Makati. The concept was so alien that some of her family and friends doubted the sanity of the venture. Jaime Zobel de Ayala, a family friend, promised Pardo de Tavera a corner in the Greenbelt area to help her out. Local farmers from Northern Luzon also committed to the project, supplying the organic produce. At the time of the market’s opening, going organic, or choosing to eat food untainted by chemicals and preservatives, was still very much a middle class concept. Our ancestors, particularly those in the Cordilleras, had, for years, been farming and eating organically, but somehow we lost this connection to food. The word organic was not used then, but the methods used in farms in Northern Luzon adhered to the natural or non-chemical way of growing food, a practice that has nearly died with the advent of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In contrast, the more developed markets in Europe and the US, restarted their love affair with organic food and a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. This thinking has not quite taken hold in the Philipippines and those who frequented the organic market were mainly Pardo de Tavera’s friends, trendy or new-age types, middle class consumers, and those who have gone the extreme way, using organic food to heal cancers. Pardo de Tavera recalls she started with only about 20 customers. She and her group
of organic farmers knew it was an uphill battle to educate and grow the market in a country known for its love affair with junk food. The open-air organic market in Greenbelt started with four tables filled with organically grown fruit and vegetables. There were good days and bad days. “Opening the organic market is like throwing a stone in the pond,” said Pardo de Tavera “The ripples of that action get wider and wider.” Reintroducing the local market to organic food was a personal quest for Pardo de Tavera. Having lived in Europe and in New York for eight years, she was used to the easy availability of organic food. When she came back to Manila in 1989 she realized that to get her organic food, she had to actively seek it out. “I have always been into organic food,” Pardo de Tavera says. She grew up seeing her grandmother grow her own herbs and vegetables in their garden. Having a doctor for a mother also helped her become mindful of bacteria and how this affects food. Organically grown produce is acknowledged to have 100 per cent nutritional value compared to the 30-40 per cent nutritional value of conventionally-grown food. Another attractive aspect of buying from the organic market is you buy direct from the farmers and get fresher produce. Pardo de Tavera further explains that to go organic is vital not only for our health but also for the environment. “Going organic means conserving soil, air and water resources. It’s better because you refrain from using synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and harmful chemicals.” The organic market launched 15 years ago has now grown to include not only a newly relocated market in the Legaspi Village parking lot between the Corinthian Plaza and Legaspi Park, but also an organic food section
The busy organic Sunday market at Legazpi Village, Makati
at the the upmarket Rustan’s Supermarket in Ayala Avenue and at the Power Plant Mall in Rockwell, Makati. The presence of an organic food section at this luxury food outlet is a huge step for Pardo de Tavera and her group. The Legaspi Sunday market sees a wide variety of food from organic farms in Leyte, Samar, Cavite, Davao, Tarlac and Abra, as well as natural products such as virgin coconut oil, Japanese traditional slippers made of abaca fibers, and Dandomia unbleached cotton tshirts, aprons, mitts, and bags. According to Rosalina Tan, Pardo de Tavera’s friend and colleague from the Organic Producers Trade Association (OPTA) Philippines, an organization which offers
"To make sure that farmers adhere to the organic concept, Pardo de Tavera conducts a yearly inspection of farms to oversee the production system and harvesting" 28 SEAIR InFlight
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Where to buy organic
Organic zen rubs said to soothe and relax are now sold in the market
Healthy Options A one-stop shop selling natural products made with certified organic ingredients. Products range from breakfast cereals, soya products, natural sugar substitutes, healthy snacks, baby food, to pasta and dressing, whole grains, and natural vitamins and minerals, among others. The store also provides body care products, which do not contain any synthetic and artificial ingredients. Healthy Options has 17 stores located in Metro Manila, Pampanga, Laguna and Cebu. For more information, visit www. healthyoptions.com.ph.
Organic hemp reflexology slippers available at the organic Sunday market
training and consultancy services to farm owners who to go organic, “It was Mara who started the ball rolling by sponsoring a symposium and inviting local agri people interested in learning about organic.” She said Pardo de Tavera approached farmers in Northern Luzon and weaned them to her way of thinking that using traditional methods of farming without the use of chemicals and pesticides was not only healthier for the farmers, but was also better because the soil is better nourished, allowing for the growth of far more nutritionally superior produce. What also helped entice the farmers was the chance to take their crops directly to the consumers. To date, there are almost 500 farmers, organic practitioners, consumers, students, professionals, corporations and government officials who are members of Pardo de Tavera’s organization, 100 vendors, and 10 founding members, volunteer association in advocating organic agriculture as a way of life. Not bad, from a start-up market with only 20 consumers. Food and food products sold in the organic market do not as yet go through the organic
Farmers Market The 12,000sqm market has a good selection of local and imported vegetables and fruits, an extensive meat section, which also sells goat meat and live native chicken, and a seafood section with several counters offering fresh sushi gande tuna displayed on ice, galunggong, talakitok, lapu-lapu, and seaweeds. If you love fish, it’s always best to buy fish caught in the waters of Quezon province because waters here are more turbulent, and there is less use of dynamite fishing in the area. Healthy Options has 17 stores located in Metro Manila, Pampanga, Laguna and Cebu. For more information, visit www. healthyoptions.com.ph. certifying bodies that give the certified organic seal in the country because this will add some 10 to 40 per cent markup to the retail cost. To make sure that farmers adhere to the organic concept, Pardo de Tavera conducts a yearly inspection of farms to oversee the production system and harvesting. When asked about future plans, Pardo de Tavera sees many more organic markets opening in more areas. Having just opened one in Bacolod and another in Naga, she feels it’s time to franchise the organic market. “By franchising it, I hope that at least, every street in Manila has an organic market so people become more conscious about living the healthier way.”
If you’re interested to join the Organic Producers & Trade Association (OPTA), application forms are available at the Legaspi Sunday Market and at www.oneorganicphilippines.weebly.com. The Legaspi Sunday Market is open from 7am to 2pm. Visit www.organic.ph for more information.
EchoStore EchoStore, the brainchild of Jeannie Javelosa, Chit Juan and Reena Francisco, sells home décor, health and wellness products, beauty and personal care products that are nontoxic, biodegradable and natural, including bags that are made out of rags, newspapers, yellow pages, and other crafts made of recycled materials. Even consigners here like Ilog Maria Honeybee Farms, Z.E.N. beauty and wellness products, Holystic Haven natural skincare products, Messy Bessy cleaning solutions, and Indigo Baby follow the same all-natural/organic principle. Opened September last year, EchoStore espouses a sustainable lifestyle. EchoStore is located at G/F Serendra Piazza, McKinley Parkway, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Open daily from 11:00AM to 10:00PM. For more information, call +632/ 901 3485 or visit www.echostore.ph.
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Rovilson Fernandez is editor of men’s magazine Maxim and host of QTV’s Ang Pinaka and reality show Dare Duo. Watch out for him at AXN’s The Duke Season Two, a men’s lifestyle show that’s soon to air. Rovilson’s suit courtesy of Charles De Jesus of Paul Smith; luggage courtesy of Ben Sherman
profile
Me and my holidays:
Rovilson Fernandez Photo by Shawn Yao
Which was your best holiday in the Philippines? My fondest memories were of my visit to Dagupan, Pangasinan to attend my grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary. I was about 13 years old. My family and I stayed in our grandparents’ farm. There were rice fields as far as the eye could see, a creek at the side of the house, ponds full of milkfish, a beach just a stone’s throw away, and lots of animals. We were in heaven, living, breathing goats, pigs and cows. Sadly, some of the animals were slaughtered in front of us for the wedding feast. I haven’t touched lechon (roast pig) since then. And the best hotel you’ve stayed in? Nothing really stood out over the years. I like how the staff at the Discovery hotels chain remember your name, always smile, and strike up a genuine conversation with you. As for pure unadulterated “look how big my balls are” awesomeness, the Boracay Shangri-La. Impressive.
What do you have to have for a perfect holiday? A physical activity (hiking, kayaking, swimming, etc), a killer hotel buffet, wi-fi, a bit of sun, a bit of dancing, a bit of networking, a like-minded contact/friend living in the country I’m visiting, a country that encourages walking and has an efficient, idiot-proof mass transportation system, and an airport gift shop with tons of quirky, cheap pasalubong (present you buy from a trip). What do you always take with you? Looking back at my last 10 trips, nothing was consistent other than a set of gym clothes, jeans, Nikes, flip-flops, Immodium, Berocca and my iPhone. And an “openminded, spontaneous attitude with a dash of common sense”.
Any hideaway that you adore? Ironically enough, I’m answering this from Prague. My second time here in three years and it’s easy to fall in love with the place. Domestically, nothing beats the laid back swagger of La Union.
Any travel advice? Two phones – one with global roaming and one to use for a local SIM card. You’ll save bazillions. Always be nice to the airport people. Try to patronize the same airline as much as possible – the loyalty rewards and benefits are a godsend on those long haul flights. And “eat with reckless abandon.” You never truly experience a country until you eat their food and I don’t mean have spaghetti bolognese in Vietnam.
What are your favorite local buys? Nothing beats the weekender holiday package tours not only around the country, but around the region.
Where do you want to holiday next? Every time I try to schedule a trip to Batanes something always comes up to keep me away (usually it’s weather-related). Maybe it’s a sign.
Your biggest packing mistake? One time, I got a ton of Kiehl’s men’s products and decided to pack it in my carry-on case so I could read the labels. Well, they were all in 150ml to 200ml containers. I was forced to throw them all away. I was heart-broken and livid at the same time – but not before I slathered as much lotion, facial lotion, toner, deodorant and sunscreen on. I must’ve been the shiniest, silkiest, smoothest passenger on that flight. The worst hotel you’ve stayed in? I’ve stayed in a lot of bad hotels and I tend to forget their names but never forget the lesson – “you get what you pay for.” What do you avoid on holiday? People with no sense of adventure. And the awesome cable TV of most hotels. Once I sit on the bed and start clicking away – I’m a goner. I’m glued for hours channel surfing. What do you hate about holidays? I tend to go on vacation mode and eat a little more than I should, skip exercising, drink things I would normally pass on, spend a tad more money than allotted. Any unforgettable stint while holidaying in the Philippines? Too many to list but ghost story-telling in front of raging campfires in Baguio, Sagada and Bontoc always left a lasting impression.
Which was your worst holiday? Don’t really have a “worst holiday” moment as in every unfortunate experience I always simply say to myself, “well, that’s how things work in the Philippines,” shrug my shoulders and go find something to occupy my mind.
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inroom > indulge
book Now
A visit to an old dame Colonial architecture and modern-day comforts mix happily at the century-old Baguio Country Club, says Chip Childers Photos by ferdz decena
One of the presidential suite’s bedrooms that open out to a balcony with a view of the golf greens and the city’s pines
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inRoom
Bagu io Cou n t ry Clu b
T Location.
he Baguio Country Club is located right at the heart of the city. Spread out over a massive swath of pine forest, with both the club grounds and the 18-hole golf course stretched along the Country Club Road, between the South Drive and Potentiano Ilusorio Drive leading to Pacdal Road, with tourist attractions Teacher’s Camp, Camp John Hay and the Mansion House close by. CHARACTER. Part American colonial architecture and part modern, with new furnishings in guest rooms complimented by decorative touches using traditional fabric, pottery and carvings of the mountain tribes. Latest additions include flat screen TV and internet access. Evidence of its past glorious history is seen in old photos displayed in some of the public rooms. The BCC, which celebrated its 100th year in 2005, is part of the original master plan of the American colonial government’s hill station project. Its history mirrors that of its host city, with stints as an American R & R station and as Japanese officers’ quarters all the way to its current status as meeting grounds and playground for local and foreign tourists. The last quarter of the BCC’s jubilee was a true test of spirit. In 1990, an earthquake struck, severely damaging its structure. It was rebuilt but a massive fire gutted the entire main Clubhouse building in December 1990. In 1995, the Club reopened. Its tranquil grounds and expansive, oasis-tuckedin-the-pines setting are a welcome sight for travelers at the end of a long road trip up from Manila, or for those tired of
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navigating Baguio’s byzantine network of treeless, slow moving roads and highways. ROOMS. The rooms are a modern affair, with DSL and wi-fi, comfortable beds, and stylish track lighted objects d’art from the Cordilleras. The club has 112 deluxe rooms, each with a verandah facing the golf greens and pine trees, 15 deluxe suites, 20 plus executive/ presidential suites, and 15 standalone European-style cottages with dining and living area, kitchen, and a fireplace that comes in handy during the chilly December season. fOOd. BCC has a number of food outlets and restaurants, including the open-air Verandah, which has a view of the pine trees and the golf course, and serves continental and Filipino dishes, the ‘Par 7’, a favorite hang-out of golfers, the ‘Raisin Bread Shop’, selling homemade cakes and pastries, and the Hamada Japanese restaurant. Hamada serves authentic Japanese specialties prepared by chefs known for their “acrobatic cooking demos”. Hamada has five teppanyaki tables that can accommodate groups of up to 10 people. WE LIKE. The link to the past with its colonial architecture and historical photos, and modern-day comforts, from wi-fi access to efficient service. NOT SO KEEN. BCC is a bit removed from the tourist attractions, off-site restaurants, markets and other places visitors will probably want to check out in Baguio. This is pretty easily fixed, however, as Country Club vans are available for use by guests.
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Space to swing a cat: The presidential suite’s living area
essentials Baguio Country Club is found on Country Club Road, Baguio City. Baguio Office Tel: +6374/ 619 2050 to 64, 619 0427 or 619-6844. Manila Office Tel: +632/ 400 8387 to 89. URL: www.bcc.com.ph. Room rates start from about P4,480.00 (about US $89) for the deluxe rooms, and go up to about P16,000 for the presidential suite. BCC members get reduced rates on accommodation and all amenities.
getting there The drive to Baguio from Manila is about 250km long, and is continuous flat provincial driving until the last 50km into Baguio, where the road (Kennon Road is the most dramatic of the three roads from the lowlands, Naguillan and Marcos being the other options) climbs steeply into the mountains, rising from around 100m above sea level up to Baguio’s 1,500 meters. Car hire is about P13,000 for a chauffeured air-conditioned drive from Manila to Baguio. Book Carfield at +632/ 853 5332. A deluxe bus via Victory Liner traveling from Pasay Terminal to Baguio costs about P650 per head.
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inRoom
Bor ac ay M a n da r i n
Center court
Boracay Mandarin is right at the heart of the island’s beach scene, says Yasmin D. Arquiza Photo by daniel soriano
Location. Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel is right on the island’s main White Beach, at the center of Station 2. Only the swaying palm trees and a short strip of white sand separate you from the clear blue waters of Boracay. A short stroll will take you to D’Mall, the main shopping strip on the island. Restaurants and bars line both sides of the hotel. First Impression. It’s a huge u-shaped white concrete hotel building with a swimming pool at the center. There are 52 rooms. If you get a room on the ground floor, just take two steps from the door and you can plunge right into the infinity swimming pool. The trellis around the pool softens the harshness of concrete walls, with white blossoms dangling from a crawling vine. ROOMS. If you want to splash out, book a suite which costs from about P8,000 to get luxurious indoor and outdoor lounging areas and a view of the Sulu Sea. Higher priced suites have a private swimming pool. The Don Leon suite features a four-poster bed and paintings done by local artists. The luxurious presidential and Mandarin Grand Suites have a private whirlpool in the balcony. To get away from the hotel crowd, book the upper floors, which give you the advantage of both a sea view and insulation from noise. Room design is eclectic, mixing Filipino touches such as bamboo panel doors and capiz windows with contemporary décor. All rooms have cable television, bath tubs and granite countertops in the bathroom. There’s complimentary high-speed internet access in the rooms and wi-fi in the restaurant and reception area.
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fOOd. It’s best to order the savory Filipino dishes. Breakfast is complimentary for all the guests. The buffet table offers Filipino favorites such as longganisa (local sausage) and daing na bangus (milkfish marinated in garlic and vinegar), as well as continental staples. After breakfast, the air-conditioned Don Vito Italiano Ristorante offers an extensive menu of Asian and European cuisine. If you want to dine alfresco you can ask to be served on the terrace beside the pool. In the evenings, tables are laid out on the beachfront for island dinners and cocktails, with a selection of fresh seafood and drinks at the Bucos Bar and Grill. WE LIKE. Beach bums and party animals will find this hotel ideal as a base for partying and joining all the activities at White Beach.
essentials Visit www.boracaymandarin.com; email boracaymandarin_islandhotel@ yahoo,com; call +6336/ 288 3444 or +63918/ 800 5999. The Deluxe room ranges from P8,000-P8,800, depending on the season. Rates start at P8,900 for the Premier Sea View room, and go up to P25,000 for the Mandarin Grand Suite, with an additional charge of 10% during the super peak season. How to get there. SEAIR flies daily to Caticlan from Manila and thrice a week from Cebu. (Visit www.FlySeair.com or call +632/ 849 0100 to book a flight) SEAIR also offers convenient island transfers from the airport to Caticlan pier all the way to Cagban pier, where you can take a tricycle to the resort.
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Spend dreamy nights on this charming four-poster bed in Boracay Mandarin’s grand poolside room. Just chuck out the twisted Swan heart towels. Someone just got overly inspired
indulge
Bolero Mexican feast: Nachos, tacos, and empanadas
Bolero’s beachfront setting is a big draw
must Try
Real bite
Enjoy genuine burritos and premium tequila at Bolero, says Ces Rodriguez Photos by Mike Alcid The setting. Sun, sand and sea, and swaying palms complete the tropical setting of Mexican restaurant Bolero. Located near the Tourist Center at Station 3 in Boracay and a little removed from the hard partying crowd, Bolero is a good place to unwind at 5pm when an outdoor grill or parilla and tables and chairs are set up on the beach. The restaurant’s interior is bright, Mexican cantina-style with open arched doors. There’s soft music and the aroma of baking cheese and chicken on the grill. The food. The beef and cheese nachos with bacon bits is full of flavor (P280). Burritos, reputed to be “the real thing”, with its moist filling of grated cheese, beans, rice and steak, is also a must try (P290) and goes quite well with tequila. Also available with beef (P280), chicken (P280) and seafood (P320) and recommended
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with tequilas and margaritas. Also try Bolero’s bestselling Columbian beef empanadas (three pieces for P125 and five pieces for P225), not sweet and served with the aji, a dipping sauce made of Colombian chili, vinegar and coriander. Or order excellent crispfried pork cracklings, chicarones Columbianos (P190).
selection imported from Cuba, Jamaica, Venezuela, Colombia and Miami.
The DRINKS. Dixie Mabanta, one of the owners of Bolero, says they use real Mexican tequila for their drinks, including the premium tequila, Patron, which they serve the original Mexican way, with a side shot of sangrita, a blended mixture of fresh or juiced tomatoes, orange juice and lemon or lime juice, with a pinch of chilies or Tabasco sauce. “Premium, expensive tequilas are meant to be sipped like a fine brandy, and not downed all at once,” Mabanta said. The rum list includes a
The price. A meal for two without drinks costs from P300 to P400, and with drinks, about P800.
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Service. Warm and friendly. Who dines there. Local tourists who enjoy the bright zesty flavors and foreigners who enjoy the large servings and the authentic tipple.
Verdict. Bolero is a good place to party, family-style, enjoying familysized food portions, and downing glasses of mojitos, piña coladas, long island iced teas and frozen fresh fruit daiquiris.
Bolero is located at Station 3 near the Tourist Center. Call +6336/ 288 5119.
How can you tell a good tequila? Wine expert Juan Carlos de Terry, owner of Terry’s Selection in Makati City, says, “The tequila’s aromas must show the characteristics of the agave plant, its source. The “nose” must show pleasant and harmonic scents. The “mouth” is smooth due to some aging. No deceiving aftertaste. And the flavors must remain long and harmonious after drinking through small sips.” Patron, he said, is a good example of prime tequila and it is his personal preference. It is fermented and distilled using advanced technology and meticulous standards.
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ins & outs
c ov e r s t ory
Tomay Farms’ chicken boiled in lemongrass
Oh My Gulay!’s deep fried eggplant on crisp baguettes
insider’s gu ide
S.O.U.L. Cafe’s smoked ham slow roasted in a pit with sea salt
in focus
PNKY’s colosseo
Oh My Gulay! interior
ins&outs
Revisiting Baguio
Refurbished hotels, exciting restaurants and attractions are giving the old summer capital a new lease of life reporting by Chip Childers Photos by Ferdz Decena map illustration by marlon a. see
B
aguio, developed by the US military forces in the 1900s as a mountain retreat, has long been a favorite holiday destination for Filipinos with its year-round cool mountain air and green lung. While most visitors use the city as a pit stop on the way to Sagada and Banaue, exciting new tours, historical
sites, restaurants and hotels give strong reasons to stay.
shelves of Manila. Tomay Farms (located
EAT. When you sit down in a restaurant
serves simple dishes using herbs grown on site. Try the fish with mint, beef with rosemary or chicken boiled in lemongrass. Café By The Ruins, with its bulletpock marked walls bearing witness to WW2’s bombings, is an artists’ haunt and
on the Halsema Road in Lower Tomay, La Trinidad; +6374/ 426 7451; call ahead to book)
in Baguio, you can be sure the ingredients served are fresh, because they come from nearby farms and do not get boxed up, sitting in container trucks for the lengthy journey from Northern Luzon to the grocery
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insAndOuts
Bagu io
a favorite of local and foreign tourists. There are artworks on the walls, a stone ato (the meeting place for Igorot tribes’ elders to chew the fat), and bamboo-slatted walls. Try gado gado (Indonesian dish with tofu and peanut sauce on top of fresh greens), Aunt Cecile’s chicken adobo and chocolate rice porridge served with smoked fish. Strawberry season (from November to February) is a good time to visit to try the strawberry vinaigrette salad dressing, strawberry desserts and fresh strawberry juice. 23 Chuntug; +6374/ 446 4010; www.cafebytheruins.com.ph.
• S.O.U.L. (‘Spice Of Urban Life’) Café,
while technically not in Baguio (it’s at Camp One in Rosario, La Union, on the highway immediately before the turn up into the mountains on Kennon Road; +6372/ 712 0852), is an ideal pit stop for drivers needing
Tam-Awan Village
to recharge for their journey from Manila to Baguio. Heck, even if S.O.U.L. was in the most far-off, inconvenient location, it would still merit a pilgrimage, with dishes like osso buco (beef shank boiled and baked for four hours), kalua pork with lomi salmon (a Hawaiian recipe with smoked ham slow roasted in a pit with sea salt) and the tasty salpicao pasta, all averaging about P200 each. Wash it down with a glass of kiwi lemonade or a cup of civet cat coffee, in relaxing surroundings. Oh My Gulay!, found on the fifth floor of the La
•
Azotea Building along upper Session Road, has the ‘We got the whole Philippines in a warehouse’ layout, complete with a pirate ship kitchen, suspension bridges, koi ponds and indigenous native houses. O.M.G., run by the creative family of independent film director Kidlat Tahimik, is, as its name implies, a vegetarian affair, with solid, healthy eats at decidedly affordable prices, with all entrees between P100-P150. Try the talong parmigiana, deep fried eggplant on crisp baguettes with dazzlingly fresh and tangy pomodoro sauce and basil oil. The pasta mestizo mixes the tomato-based pomodoro sauce with cheese sauce, to impressive effect. Add to this a good selection of crepes and local drinks, such as the habit-forming dayap (citrus) ice tea. PNKY (you can call it ‘Pinky’) TravelCafé, a home furnishing shop (PNKY Collection), bed and breakfast (PNKY Home), and restaurant, serves local veggies in season and Baguio specialties. Its ‘colosseo’ is shaped like the famous Coliseum in Rome, with its red rice ‘food as architecture’ topped with beef caldereta and mozzarella cheese!
•
Before you visit, you can go on a virtual visit and flip through the menu at www.pnkyhome.com/ pnkycafe/index.html.
SHOP. Baguio has been the Cordillera’s
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Horseback riding at The Manor at Camp John Hay
Rapelling at Kennon Road
premiere crossroads for over a century now, and its stores and markets show this multicultural tapestry best, with goods from the various Igorot tribes and Ilocano wares. Shop for handwoven textiles, pottery and wood carvings. A vast majority of the nation’s vegetables, flowers and strawberries come through nearby La Trinidad on its way to Manila. The Baguio Market will astound with items not seen in any other region of the country, from fresh broccoli, local Arabica coffee, a dizzying selection of beans, red mountain rice, passion fruit, strawberries, and the best vegetables in the Philippines. Visit the Good Shepherd
•
Sisters (on #15 Gibraltar Road +6374/ 442 3865, www.goodshepherdsisters.org.ph) for the city’s best peanut brittle, strawberry candies, lengua de gato, ensaymada and many more.
SEE. Since most people making the trek up to
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Baguio want open spaces, pine trees and cool, clean mountain air, why not go back to where it all started? Visit Camp John Hay Historical
Core (www.geocities.com/johnhayhistory/ main.htm) and learn about Baguio’s roots while leisurely wandering around some of the most well preserved pine forests in the city. Plan ahead, and bring a picnic lunch and a blanket and have a memorable lunch at the century old amphitheater. The Balatoc Gold Mine Tour gives visitors glimpse into Baguio’s historical past as one of the most mineral rich areas of the country. You’ll have to don rubber boots, helmet and chapa (the pressed metal ID tag all miners wore) to go underground, riding in the miners’ locomotive train about half a kilometer into the mountain. Balatoc is located in Itogon, Benguet, about half-an-hour’s ride outside Baguio. The tour takes about two hours, costs P250 per person, and can be arranged through
•
BenCab Museum
your hotel or the Tourist Information Center at Burnham Park. Newly opened BenCab Museum, at Km 6 on Asin Road, is top of many museum goers’ ‘best museum’ lists. National Artist Benedicto Cabrera, a Baguio resident for over 30 years, has put together over seven galleries, installations and awe-inspiring architecture nestled among rice terraces and native Cordilleran houses. This may be the only art gallery you’ll ever visit that has ducks on the company payroll, and a mountain creek rushing through the property. URL: www.
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bencabmuseum.org; +6374/ 442 7165.
DO. Contact the Baguio Convention & Visitors Bureau (BCVB) for active tours, river kayaking, fishing, spelunking, horseback riding, air soft battles, river hiking, mountain biking, rappelling, mountaineering and, rock climbing. Call the BCVB at +6374/ 442 4088, or
Balatoc Gold Mine Tour
check out their website at www.visitbaguiocity. com. The Baguio Country Club is also preparing to launch new eco-adventures. Call +6374/ 619 2050 or visit www.baguiocountryclub.com.
a breathtaking view of the Cordilleras. It has eco-trails, a butterfly sanctuary, pony riding, and magnificent grounds for picnics. Country homes and log cabins will soon be available.
STAY. Tam-Awan Village, out in Pinsao (best to call +6374/ 446 2949 for directions; www.tamawanvillage.com), has seven traditional Ifugao
For more info, call +6374/ 424 0931-43 or visit www.campjohnhayhotels.com). A Microtel branch in Baguio (+6374/ 619 3333 or visit www. microtel-baguio.com) conveniently located at
and two Kalinga houses, transported from their original towns and reconstructed at Tam-Awan by traditional artisans. The Baguio Country Club has deluxe rooms and European-styled cottages, perfect for family getaways. Visit
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the top of Session Road offers clean, affordable rooms, and familiar comforts. Microtel is an international hotel chain with some 300 properties across the globe.
www.bcc.com.ph (See InRoom on pages 33 to 35). The Manor at Camp John Hay
•
on Loakan Road was developed in the 1900s by the Americans as a military reservation camp for its soldiers. Its four-storey building standing on 246 hectares of pine groves and prime land houses 180 modern rooms with
Our thanks go to Gulf Express’ Lucy Mae Cu Unjieng and James Peralta for assisting the team. Gulf Express is SEAIR’s general sales agent for northern Metro Manila. Call +632/ 726 6896 or 727 0107 for inquiries. october - november 2009 I SEAIR InFlight
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Model Theresa Fenger in Shangri-La's Boracay Resort and Spa beach, showing off the latest dive kit from Aquamundo. For gear details, see page 56
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Cover Story
To dive for
Catherine Calderon takes the plunge to learn to dive off Boracay and becomes a convert P h oto o n t his spr e ad by k e n g o P h oto s o n i n sid e pag e s by Ro b e r to s . F r a n ci s co
Art direction by Jocas A. See Styling by Monica De Leon Scuba attire and gear by Aquamundo; swimsuit by Lizle Hilario for Pink Belter Hair and makeup by Rocky Orejola Modeling by Theresa Marie Fenger for IM Agency Location: Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa’s beach
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Shangri-La Boracay's beach at sunset Photo by jocas a. see
To dive for
Cover Story
I
f you were thinking of learning to dive, party island Boracay would probably be the last on your list of places for an underwater baptism. This sun-scorched, powderwhite sand island is more your lying-in-the-sun-and-jetskiing kind of holiday place, rather than that pristine underwater kingdom to take your first plunge into the deep. Right?
InFlight writer Writer Catherine Calderon going over the dive manual on the first night of her dive tour. Below, more reading materials for the open water dive course. Opposite, ShangriLa Boracay's beach at sunset
Well, think again. Lying between the Sibuyan and Sulu Seas, just to the north of Panay Island in the Visayas, the seven-kilometer long Boracay Island is home to some 24 dive sites, many only 20 minutes away from the island’s main beach by native outrigger boats called bancas; and there is a wide range of diving available, from gentle and very pretty through to deep drop-offs and high-voltage drift-dives suitable for the more experienced divers. And if you are going on holiday with a non-diving companion, you need not feel guilty because there are lots of non-diving activities, top of which is enjoying the island’s White Beach, reputed to be one of the world’s most beautiful beaches. If you’re still not convinced, google scuba diving in Boracay and you’ll find an endless number of websites all offering scuba diving courses. The Boracay Association of Scuba Shops now has 33 members. It is also comforting to know that just recently, the Hotel Isla Resort in Cagban, Manok Manok has acquired a decompression chamber. You will hopefully not need it as a beginner, but it is evidence of the growing popularity of scuba diving as a serious sport. The best time to dive is from November until June, but good diving is available year round. I was invited by InFlight to learn to dive in Boracay in June and I quickly said yes. It is the rainy season and not
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Cover Story
To dive for
This page, from top: PADI master instructor Peter Tay briefing the writer about the parts and functions of various dive equipment. Opposite, practicing dive skills in shallow water
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really the best time to go diving due to the strong currents brought by the Habagat or southwest monsoon season, but it was too good a writing assignment to turn down. Days before arriving in Boracay I had to digest a 260page manual and an instructions DVD that PADI master instructor Peter Tay sent to me in Manila. Master Tay, as everybody calls him, was to be my trainer and dive buddy. Singapore-born Tay came to Boracay eight years ago and decided to stay and indulge in his passion for diving. He partnered with Sea World Dive Center in 2000, a PADI five star instructor development training center that opened in 1991, after seeing a potential for growing the sport. Most of his students are Asians with Filipinos accounting for a fraction of the number. But the good news is, said Tay, the number of Filipinos interested in diving is increasing. Just a few hours after arriving in Boracay at about 10am, I checked into La Carmela resort, dropped my bags, and headed straight to Sea World. Our four-day itinerary was rather tight and I was to begin my open water dive course on arrival day. After the pleasantries, our one-onone orientation started. I was not able to finish reading the manual and it showed. Tay patiently led me through the basics. About 15 minutes after the orientation, I was ready to start my confined water dive. We headed to Bulabog Beach, located on the opposite side of Boracay’s main White Beach, and about a five-minute tricycle ride away from Bulabog Road. Although White Beach was just across from Sea World’s office, the water was just too choppy for diving in the area due to Habagat. When we reached Bulabog Beach, I found a number of Asian tourists undergoing the shallow water training, taking their first dip in full diving gear. One-nil in favor of Boracay is that you get to learn your basics in shallow clear waters, instead of a clinical pool. I felt like an idiot in an absolutely tight-fitting wetsuit, a heavy tank on my back, a mask covering half my face and a regulator stuck in my mouth. I submerged in some three feet of water, practicing breathing through the regulator, controlling my buoyancy, clearing water off my mask, recovering the regulator, and taking off my gear underwater and putting it back on. Master Tay was quite strict and I had to perfect all the skills. Salt water stung my eyes and nose as I practiced clearing the water off my mask. After a few dismal attempts, I was close to quitting. It was mainly nerves.
"One-nil in favor of Boracay is that you get to learn your basics in shallow clear waters, instead of a clinical pool"
To dive for
This page and opposite: The writer, Catherine, practicing buoyancy control and basic dive skills with dive instructor Peter
Cover Story
After the practice we headed off to my first dive at Laguna de Boracay with my dive group and a Korean dive group. It was a little intimidating as I was the only novice onboard. I was quietly observing the other divers don their gear at the same time I was preparing mine, feeling like I was being led to the gallows. The boat took 10 minutes to get to the site. I glanced down the glistening emerald water and knew that we were in the deeper end of the sea. No matter how inviting the water looked, I still could not shake off a faint fear of the unknown and how I was pathetically alone in this sentiment. I watched the divers do a back flip to enter the water, panic gripping me. Our practice did not ready me for that back flip, I silently protested. But it was too late to chicken out. Our photographer, Robert Francisco, called out from the water. “Relax and lean back,” he said. Peter who was on the boat with me told me to hold on to my mask when falling into the water. I steeled myself and let my tank’s weight pull me off the boat, head first down into the deep blue. As I let go of my fear, I felt a sense of liberation. Plunging in via a back flip was disorienting but soon as I surrendered myself to the water, I felt my body do an involuntary somersault, seeing bubbles, the dark water, the sun’s rays piercing through the sea, divers and the boat above, and on reaching the surface, familiar faces through their masks. Robert led me away from the bobbing boat and the scrambling divers who were positioning to submerge. Peter, my dive instructor, appeared in the water and attended to me, making sure I was breathing properly through my regulator and that I was okay, before signaling our descent and pulling me down the water. Laguna de Boracay is a beginner’s dive, with a depth of up to 20m, ideal for a drift dive with a light current and for sighting hard and soft corals and a variety of fish from lionfish, stonefish, scorpionfish, butterfuly fish and sea squirts. We reached the bottom floor 12 meters below and we began to swim. We passed hard and soft corals and fish swimming about then we stopped at a big boulder with a cluster of corals and lots of fish. Peter took out a pack of crackers and as soon as the crumbs scattered in the water, a dazzling array of fish started feeding from his hand. Momentarily forgetting my equipment concerns I muttered “oh my God” and felt the water flood my p u n ta c o razo n P h oto by joc a s a . s e e october - november 2009 I SEAIR InFlight
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"I steeled myself and let my tank’s weight pull me off the boat, head first down into the deep blue"
To dive for
The writer diving unaided, managing her buoyancy and breathing. Just a few feet away is her instructor Peter
Cover Story
mouth. In that idiotic moment, I learned to clear my regulator and remembered to keep my mouth shut. When Peter handed me the crackers to feed the fish, I experienced pure, underwater joy and thought to myself that this was what diving’s all about. After that whistle stop fish feeding and picture taking, my underwater training continued with regulator and mask clearing, learning to let go of my regulator and sharing my buddy’s regulator – useful in an emergency – and practicing an emergency ascent, among a list of skills. By the time I got back to our hotel it was 4pm. In the evening I had to go back to Sea World for classroom lessons. The next day was day 2 and I was up early. I had four scheduled dives, two in the morning and two in the afternoon. I headed off to Coral Garden, located a few miles off Station 2 of the White Beach, for the day’s first dive. The boat travel took only about 10 minutes. This time I was more at ease in the water. We swam through different corals but there weren’t many fish to see. During the dive I had to demonstrate my acquired skills and in several instances gulped down a great deal of sea water. By the time I was back on the boat, I felt nauseated. The second dive was at Crocodile Island, located southwest of Boracay, about a 10-minute boat ride away. On the boat, seasickness was making me miserable and I was negotiating to be excused from diving but both Peter and Robert said I would feel better once I am in the water. I heeded their advice. There were four of us in the group – Peter, Robert, myself and Adrian, a divemaster from London who was on holiday. As soon as we were submerged, I started to feel better. We passed walls of corals but there were hardly any fish so we kept swimming. Then strange things started to happen. I felt my tank kept nudging to the right and that it was tilting my body so I kept straightening it using my right hand while my left hand was holding on to Peter. I felt myself tumble on the side and lost control of my swimming as I rolled in the water, clinging to Peter with both hands. I soon realized that he wasn’t swimming as well and that we were being carried by the current, unable to do anything but drift with it. When the current stopped we were in a place with walls of corals. It was rather empty with grayish corals and almost no fish in sight so we moved on, catching another current, with me tightly holding on to Peter’s vest. He had to take something out of his gear so I let go of my grip and the current pulled
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Cover Story
To dive for
This page, diving in Laguna de Boracay; and opposite, Catherine and Peter setting out for an early morning dive on day two
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me away from him. I tried to swim back towards him but realized I was even going farther away so I gave a distressed signal but Peter was several meters away. Then I felt someone grab my left arm. It was Robert. I held on to him. As it happened we were all caught in the current but this time the four of us swam close to each other. We were moving fast without having to swim and this wild underwater rapid was taking us to God knows where. Next thing I realized was that I could no longer see the bottom and there was sand percolating in the water. We finally came to a stop and I saw Peter bring out a colorful rope. He signaled for me to hold on to the rope as it shot up to the surface. There we were the four of us suspended like seahorses between the surface and the deep blue. Still holding on to the rope, I glanced several times from Peter to Adrian to Robert, trying to find out what was happening. I saw the boys alternately look at their watches and all I could hear were the gurgling sound of our breathing through the regulators. We had to make a couple of safety stops on the way to the surface to allow our body time to release the excess nitrogen. When we finally hit the surface, I saw that at the top end of the rope was a bright red balloon tube used to indicate our location to the boat man. But there was no boat. We waited on the surface for some time until someone suggested that we should start swimming to shore. And so we did. Robert saw how much I was struggling and he kept telling me to swim on my back and to keep paddling. He was in fact pulling me toward the shore. Then a boat passed but they could not stop and pick us up. Another good 10 minutes passed before the coast guard arrived, not to collect us, but to inform us that our boat was on its way. After another long wait, our boat finally arrived to my great relief. Back on the boat, our mood was somber. The weather had turned bad and we had to detour to the side of the island where the water was not too choppy. The rain started to pour and I was thankful that we were heading back. I was hungry and craving for hot coffee and was imagining a long rest in bed back at the hotel. Adrian joked that I should be elevated to advanced open water dive after our experience. I could only manage a faint smile. It was exhausting. With the hard rain, there was nearly zero visibility and Peter cancelled our afternoon dives. The next morning the sun was bright and the water sparkling. InFlight’s art director Jocas, Robert and I headed early to Sea World for the photo shoot. After donning my wetsuit and my gear, I decided to complete my dives. It was such a beautiful day for getting in the water. Peter, Adrian and I headed to Friday’s Rock, southwest of Diniwid Beach and 10 minutes north by boat. For the first time I felt confident to dive, and everything seemed easy. Fridays has good corals and there were lots of fish to see. Everything looked more colorful and alive. Adrian pointed out a lionfish and when Peter asked me to look up, I saw a big shiny fish which turned out to be a talakitok. Back on the boat Peter and Adrian asked if I enjoyed the dive. I said I had a great time and I meant it.
"We headed to Friday’s Rock, southwest of Diniwid Beach and 10 minutes north by boat. For the first time I felt confident to dive, and everything seemed easy"
n e xt p a g e : E s s e n ti a l s a n d W h e r e to t a k e t h e p l u n g e
Catherine and Peter ascending after a fun dive
essentials
New Wave Divers' telefax: +6336/ 288 5265. SEAIR is the only airline that flies directly from Manila to Caticlan. Direct flights take 35 minutes. To book, visit www.FlySeair.com or call 632/ 849 0100. SEAIR also flies from Cebu to Caticlan. The airline offers convenient transfers from Caticlan airport to Boracay pier. From the pier, Station 2 and 3 resorts, including Sea World, are only five minutes away by tricyle.
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There are hundreds of resorts from luxury to budget to choose from in Boracay. La Carmela de Boracay, our InFlight group’s host for the diving coverage, is about a five-minute walk to Sea World. Visit www.lacarmeladeboracay.com to check it out. To book, call +6336/ 288 6974, 288 5572, 288 4377, or email info@
lacarmeladeboracay.com or lcdboracay@gmail.com. Map illustration by Marlon A. See
To learn to dive, contact a PADI Dive Center in Boracay. PADI, NAUI and SSI are reputable dive agencies and it’s best to choose a school that’s accredited by either of the three. Sea World Dive Center & Resort, located at Station 2 (beachfront) Barangay Balabag Boracay Island, Malay Aklan, is a PADI accredited dive resort and a five star instructor development training center. Call +6336/ 288 3033 or hotline +63920/ 970 2728, fax +6336/ 2288 3032, or email info@seaworldboracay.com. Visit www.seaworldboracay.com. Sea World’s open water dive package (P20,000 or about US $450) includes PADI open water diver certification card, PADI open water diver manual, PADI recreational diver planner, PADI dive log book, academic training session, confined water training session, four open water dives, use of tanks and weights and full scuba diving equipment. For a one-time adventure diving, it’s better to rent the gear because it's more practical. Once you’ve done a few dives and are convinced you enjoy the sport and are willing to invest in own gear, check out Aquamundo among a list of dive shops. The shop has regular sale offers for quality items. Call +632/ 759 3040. Or check out Aquaventure stores (www.aquaventurewhitip.com). Boracay Association of Scubadiving Schools (BASS) can help you with dive-related concerns. Contact BASS president Debbie Ngo at
To dive for
Cover Story
Where to take the plunge
From easy dives to drifting with tidal currents, Boracay has it all. SeaWorld lists some of the sites to check out Dive sites for beginners Easy Dives At Laurel Island 1, one swims through a hole in the island at 5m and down to 18m, while Laurel Island 2 is a wall at 10-25m. Both of these sites have excellent hard and soft corals. Friday's Rock is a fun dive with many fish. In shore of Friday's Rock is a nice coral garden which is a 15 minute ride away. On the nearby sandy bottom are moray eels, different species of seastar, sea cucumbers and more. Crocodile Island is another good site for an easy dive, with soft corals and a large variety of reef fish. Rainy Season Dives Diving doesn't stop in the rainy season (July to November), and there are many good sites including the Laurel Islands and Crocodile Island. Also Laguna de Boracay is an easy to reach site with clams of different sizes, scorpion fish and butterfly fish. Many tropical fish maybe seen along the reef of Malabunot with slopes from 9m down to 20m. Angol Point. An excellent dive site for beginners and training dives with a starting depth of 5m and a maximum depth of 12m. The reef is covered with stony corals, leather corals, nudibranchs, anemones, seastars and sea cucumbers. It is also a favorite for night dives, a good spot for macro photography, and good for snorkelling. Balinghai has a starting depth of 8m and a maximum of 40m. The site consists of two walls running parallel to each other. The deep wall features sharks and tuna while the shallow wall is pockmarked by small holes, which house anthias, lionfish, triggerfish, bannerfish, puffers and gobies. Coral Garden. Right off the main beach and usually has calm and clear conditions. With a starting depth of 5m and a maximum of 12, it is ideal for beginners and training dives. It is a popular fishfeeding area, so expect to see sergeant majors, butterflyfish and batfish crowding around. A favorite snorkelling spot. Crocodile Island. This site has a starting depth of 5m and a maximum of 20m. From a distance, this small uninhabited island looks like the head of a crocodile. Currents can be fierce except at slack tide, which
makes for a beautiful collection of corals. It is a gently sloping wall with several canyons and caves containing a wide diversity of fish. Laurel Island. Big Laurel and Small Laurel are two separate dive sites, which are very similar and quite close to each other. Big Laurel has a tunnel swim-through filled with soft corals and nudibranchs. Both Laurels are sloping walls with healthy corals and prolific fish life. Their starting depth is 5m and maximum is 2m. Friday’s Rock. A dive at Friday’s can actually cover two dive sites: Friday’s Reef, which is 7-12m, and Friday’s Rock, which is 12-18m. This famous fish-feeding station is a large boulder, which provides photographers a chance to capture close-up shots of emperors, triggerfish, red bass, scorpionfish and surgeons. It has a starting depth of 7m and a maximum of 18m. Punta Bunga. This site is the start of a series of walls which connect to Yapak. The drop-off is filled with cubbyholes where moray eels, lionfish, groupers and triggerfish reside. Stingrays are usually seen on the sandy bottom at 24m. It has a starting depth of 9m and a maximum of 24m. Tulobhan Reef. Although it is quite shallow, a slow steady current usually allows drift diving to cover a wide area. Sea snakes are common, while sea cucumbers, eels and feather stars can be seen waving in the current, with a starting depth of 5m and a maximum of 20m.
Dive sites for experienced divers Deep Wall Dives There are four exciting dive sites off Yapak, all with deep walls that start at 30m-35m. The main attraction of Yapak I is a beautiful swim through "the Chimney." Yapak II is very popular because whitetip and and gray reef sharks and schools of tuna are often seen. Yapak III, with its 55m wall, is an ideal site for technical diving. Yapak IV, also called the "Gorgonia Drop," has a large variety of coral and regular sightings of eagle rays. Drift Dives The Channel in the Tabon Strait has strong tidal currents of considerable strength. There's also a shark cave where, if you are lucky, you will see whitetip reef sharks.
Boracay Ship Wreck The Camia II, once a steel hulled fishing vessel, was donated by a Manila Fishing Company and sunk in January 2000. It rests at the bottom of the sea at 30 meters with its wheel house at 20 meters. Ghost pipe fish, scorpion fish and schools of bat fish are commonly seen, and the hull may be explored with training. Boracay Night Dives The three main sites for night dives are Crocodile Island, the Wreck Camia II and the Beach Night Dive. At Crocodile Island by night you will see morays, large crabs and lobsters, and sometimes turtles. A night dive at the Wreck is good for encounters with sting rays, mimic octopus and scorpion fish. The Beach Night Dive offers a close view of shrimps, crabs, flounders and other bottom dwellers.
Day Trips and Safaris There are numerous possibilities for dive safaris lasting one day up to one week. The four walls on Panay Island range in depth from three meters down to 30 meters. These wall dives are ideal for both beginners and experienced divers and make a great day trip, with a barbecue lunch on the beach at Buruanga. Manigum Island, with a spectacular wall on its northern side, is a full one-day trip where visibility is excellent. Panagatan Cays, a two-day trip is a group of three small islands with deep wall sites and turtles, barracudas, schools of jacks and many sharks. Laguna de Boracay This dive site is located on the “backside” (east side) of Boracay. It has a depth of five meters and a maximum of 20 meters and is ideal for beginners and professionals alike, with a great diversity of clams, anemones, feather stars, butterflyfish, lionfish and sea squirts. The area is quite large, and almost every inch is covered with hard and soft corals.
Information on Boracay dive sites are courtesy of Sea World Boracay. Visit www. seaworldboracay.com
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insider’sguide
Tales of the Unknown
Everyone loves a ghost story and the paranormal, whether you believe them or not. Chip Childers, with the help of our insider guide, paranormal expert Frank Regis, lists 10 places to check out
About Our insider Our insider guide, paranormal expert Josef Frank Regis, is author of the book “Healing of a Soul-The Ghost Manual”, published by InterSelf Foundation in 1996. The book deals with the study of ghosts. Regis, a leadership training consultant who specializes in human development workshops (www.interself.net), has engaged in the study of physics, metaphysics, parapsychology, enneagram and natural healing. Many believe in his innate sensitivities to other worldly beings and ability to reach out to another dimension has earned him the reputation of a medium and paranormal expert. Regis has appeared in TV shows such as Magandang Gabi Bayan as a paranormal investigator.
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Laperal White House
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This page and opposite: The Dominican Hill in Baguio City, intially built as a convent and later on converted into a hotel. It’s been abandoned since the last owner passed away
Baguio
E
very place has its haunted stories and Baguio City, known for its cool climate, pine trees and green lung has its fair share. The city’s Laperal White House, located on Leonard Wood Road in Baguio, is a popular stopover point for the curious. The substantial house was built in the 1920’s by one of Baguio’s oldest clans, the Laperal family. At the height of World War II, the Japanese took over the house, using it as accommodation for its soldiers. It is said the owners of the house died in the hands of the Japanese. One of the last Laperals to live in the house was Roberto Laperal, said to have died in the house after slipping and hitting his head. There are media accounts saying the old man can still be heard walking around the house. Another story tells of an unidentified young girl sometimes spotted on the steps of the White House. The house’s infamy didn’t dissuade tycoon Lucio Tan from buying the house in 2007 and refurbishing it, but strangely enough, upon completion, the house remained unoccupied.
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Other places reputed to be haunted in Baguio include the Diplomat Hotel in Dominican Hill, White Hall at Teacher’s Camp, and Casa Vallejo at Upper Session Road. Ghostly occurrences have been reported in these places. Real or not, haunted places are hot topics for local bloggers and Baguio visitors.
Victory Liner’s deluxe buses operate daily services to Baguio from its Pasay Terminal. Baguio Country Club, which is at the forefront of marketing Baguio, is introducing adventure package tours. Call +6374/ 619 2050-64 or visit www.bcc.com.ph for more information. Laperal White House and Dominican Hill photos by Ferdz Decena
Our thanks to Baguio Country Club (BCC) general manager Anthony De Leon and assistant food and beverage manager Amboy Guevarra for the InFlight team’s stay at BCC
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Pure magic: Siquijor’s shaman says this charm, made from glass, shaped with an angel in the center, aides her in her healing ritual
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insider’sguide Siraan Hot Spring in Anini-y, Antique. The destination is not just known as home of the aswangs or bloodsuckers — whether well-founded or not — but is a favorite adventure holiday destination
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he island of Siquijor is the mystical Mecca of the Visayas, a ‘Black Magic Island’ known for the voodoo-esque traditions of its witches. Locals will not readily tell you their secrets, but it is widely known that some residents follow hundreds of years of traditional folk medicine, while others, known to be witches, allegedly practice barang or hexing. Hexing involves the use of black magic and malevolent spells to cause its victim harm. On the other hand, there are the so-called mananambal, or folk healers, who use their powers for good. They use herbs, mantras and concoctions to sort out mental disorders, harmful spells, broken relationships and insect bites and other ills. Visit the Anthropology Museum of Silliman University in Dumaguete for documents and evidence of the mananambal tradition. The Siquijor Folk Medicine Collection has artifacts used for sorcery, such as miniature wooden dolls and a miniature black coffin. Better still, visit Siquijor during the Holy Week, in time to witness the ‘Lenten Festival of Preparation’ attended by mambabarangs (black magic practitioners) from around the country who meet up to swap information and head into the forests around San Antonio town to look for talismans and crucial ingredients for potions. In a series of private ceremonies, potions are prepared in a mishmash of Christian and indigenous rituals. Check with the local government office which ritual proceedings are open to the public. Siquijor is also home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the archipelago.
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he province of Antique in Western Visayas has developed somewhat isolated from its bustling neighbors Aklan and Iloilo, and many of its folk traditions have remained intact well into the modern age. It is not difficult to find first-hand accounts of witches, spells and ‘elementals’, aswangs (bloodsuckers) or nonhuman entities, recounted with conviction. Tales of duwende (elves or dwarves) living in forests and guarding trees under threat from loggers are often heard. Sometimes described as gray little old men with one-eye, a big nose, and only one nostril, duwendes are generally considered a harbinger of good fortune to humans, unless the human has bad intentions or energies about them. Kapres, or giants, are also frequently mentioned, and even now, construction workers are loathe to cut down balete or old acacia trees for fear of angering the kapres and bringing curses upon themselves. While existing in a parallel dimension certainly makes these assorted elementals pretty hard to find at will, the foothills around Mt. Madja-as are rife with reported sightings and stories told with chilling detail and dead serious poker faces.
Accommodation is easy to find, and resorts such as Casa De La Playa (www.siquijorcasa.com) in Larena, will make even the most fruitless witch-hunts completely bearable. To reach Siquijor, easiest access is through Dumaguete, Negros, from where you can take a 45-minute fastcraft ride via Delta Fast Ferry. Call +6335/ 420 1111 or 420 0888. There are also daily flights from Manila to Dumaguete.
Pandan, Antique is about an hour-and-a-half by land from Caticlan, with usual stops on Nabas Crossing in Aklan, where there are jeepney rides to Pandan. Vans for hire are available in Caticlan for P5,500 for a four-hour travel to San Jose in Antique. Call Gerald at +63908/ 922 2824.
Photo by Che Mambong
Photo by Ezekiel Ian Constantino
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Corregidor
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t should come as no surprise that Corregidor Island, basically untouched since its re-taking by the Americans in the last months of World War II, has been described as a “city of the walking dead”. With several waves of conquest, at least 3,000 Americans and Filipinos, and 8,000 Japanese lost their lives in Corregidor, known as “The Rock”, a small nine-square-kilometer island that strategically guards the mouth of Manila Bay. It is said the souls of those who died in the extensive caves, underground hospitals, barracks and bunkers still haunt the island. Paranormal expert Frank Regis, having surveyed the area for Noli De Castro’s Magandang Gabi Bayan TV show, says that most of the spirits have ‘moved on’, but there are still many remaining. For those wanting a leisurely tour
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of the island, a nice break from the city, and perhaps a chance for a spooky encounter on the island, book a stay at Corregidor Island Hotel and Resort. For an interesting collection of stories on Corregidor, check out “Corregidor; Glory...Ghosts...and Gold”, by Milly Wood Kennedy (1971, New Underwood).
Corregidor lies about 50km off the city of Manila, and tours run regularly from the pier next to the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Visit the Sun Cruises office at Terminal A to book. You can call ahead to book at +632/ 831 8140, or visit www.corregidorphilippines.com.
Photo by Marianne Chua
The ruins at Corregidor that used to be barracks for US soldiers who fought the Japanese in World War II
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T H E Ma n ila F il m C e n t e r
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he Manila Film Center in a far corner of the Cultural Center complex on Roxas Boulevard, Manila, is often the subject of sensationalist TV shows in search of Blair Witch-type video footage. The Parthenoninspired infamous building was a project of then Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos, wife of the martial law regime dictator Ferdinand. On November 17, 1981, the film palace’s upper floor collapsed, sending an unknown number of workers – anywhere from 12 to 200 – crashing down a fresh cement pit and upright steel bars. The story goes that it was hours before some of the bodies were retrieved. The unproven story was that the bodies were ordered paved over to meet the construction deadline of the precious building and impress foreign guests. Regis describes the catacombs beneath the main building as a “veritable hell house, a giant mausoleum of wretched souls and entities”. According to Regis, his MGB TV crew encountered the ghost of a worker on the site who told them 139 people were buried in the building. These days, the building, regarded by most Filipinos as cursed, houses the “Amazing Philippine Theatre”, which stages transvestite Las Vegas acts. The theatre is run by a Korean-owned company and attracts Korean honeymooners.
Call +632/ 834 8870 for more info. The Manila Film Center is located at the CCP Complex, in the reclamation area off Roxas Boulevard. Photo by Romina Rivera
Cap i z
T
he Province of Capiz, now known as Roxas City, has a love/hate relationship with its reputation as a home to the aswangs, a kind of hard-to-define vampire/shapeshifter combo that haunt the nights. Aswangs are ordinary mortals who inherit the bloodline that enables them to transfigure into bats or a scary black dog. They also take many different forms, such as the manananggal, which reportedly splits into two, its top half flying off into the darkness to suck the blood of a human prey, and its bottom half, ready and waiting for the return of its mobile half. Natives born in so-called aswang provinces such as Antique and Capiz rely on old remedies such as garlic and secret religious mantras prayed in silence in the presence of an aswang to protect them from harm. Children are told never to show fear and never to gaze into the eyes of a suspected aswang. Smacks of the old Dracula tales? There is a little twist. If you do encounter a temporarily dismembered aswang bottom half, sprinkle the stump with salt to kill off your aswang. From 2004 to 2006, Capiz inaugurated the Aswang Festival in late October, poking fun at the province’s reputation as a hotbed of aswang activity. The Church and some government officials did not see humor in it and the festival was scrapped in July 2007. Recently a Canadian film crew travelled to Capiz to film a docu-movie called ‘Aswang: A Journey into Myth’, which shows that aswangs are still a hot topic.
Book SEAIR from Manila to Caticlan, and from Caticlan, hire a van for P3,500 (max 10 persons) to take you to Roxas City in two-and-a-half hours. Visit www.FlySeair.com to book SEAIR; call Gerald at +63908/ 922 2824 for van hire. Visit www.capiz.gov.ph for more info.
Photo by Oggie Ramos
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A chapel in Roxas City, Capiz
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The venerated Mt. Banahaw attracts all sorts of religious groupings and what psychics call “entities”
M t . B a n aha w a n d M t . Sa n C r i s t o ba l
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t. Banahaw, located in the periphery of Laguna and Quezon provinces, has long been venerated by local residents and pilgrims alike as sacred, with ties to revered spirits, deities and a plethora of worshipped and honored holy sites which include waterfalls, rocks and caves. Banahaw is an energized magnet of healing, mysticism and peaceful congregation between humans and entities of all stripes, including discarnates, elementals, with only a few isolated incidents of ‘naughty pranks’ by some denizens, often provoked by irreverent visitors. The focal point for Mount Banahaw’s aesthetic worshippers and mystic puestos (objects with particular and significant spiritual energy) lie in the caves, creeks and rock gardens in the forests surrounding Kinabuhayan. In contrast, Mt. San Cristobal, or Devil’s Mountain, two thirds up on Banahaw’s western slopes, is where the bad boys hang out, and the malevolent spirits run amok. Regis, who holds workshops at his InterSelf Foundation in the foothills of Banahaw, says, “There’s a lot of not
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nice things happening there.” Banahaw is renowned for its healing powers, and aesthetics come from near and far to give tribute to the mountain, where the air and drinking water are believed to cure a battery of illness. “The negative entities can’t exist in the high frequencies of Banahaw, so they head to the low frequencies of Cristobal,” adds Regis. Many of the mountaineers that have climbed both mountains tell of stories that corroborate that analysis. Both mountains are charged with energies, but, as Regis explains, “Cristobal is the antithesis of Banahaw. It’s like comparing a ghetto to a Buddhist temple.”
Mounts Banahaw and San Cristobal straddle the border between Quezon and Laguna Provinces, about two to three hours by overland transport from Manila to San Pablo City, where jeeps take you to Dolores and Kinabuhayan. JAC Liner has daily trips from LRT Buendia Station to Lucena Station. Travel time is about four hours.
Photo by Alexander Coroza
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insider’sguide
Surigao
T
he mountains and sprawling wilderness of Surigao, Eastern Mindanao, stretches in some parts from the seas up into towering mountains, and are said by locals to be alive with a wide variety of elementals. Mountain trekkers should keep an eye open for the tikbalang, or demon horse, or a patch-worked like being, with a horse’s head, the body of a human, but the feet of the horse, like a centaur. It is known for causing travelers to lose their way in mountainous or forested areas. Thinking of swimming in that refreshing looking creek or lake? Just beware of the balonawa, a giant fish with a red tongue and shark like
teeth, and uh…wings, that enable it to fly. It’s Darwinism gone pear-shaped. While the mysterious creatures of the forests don’t have regular visiting hours, dedicated explorers can check any one of the innumerable barangays (villages) in the rugged mountains that rise up from the coast, all the way from Surigao City down to Bislig. Ask around, and you are almost guaranteed to hear a few first hand accounts of close encounters with elementals.
Surigao is best reached by air, less than two hours’ flying time from Manila to Surigao City.
october - november 2009 I SEAIR InFlight
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Sunrise in Miag-ao, Iloilo
Iloilo
L
ike neighboring Antique and Capiz in Panay Island, Iloilo province has its share of aswang stories. Dueñas in Iloilo is reputed as the home of aswangs and its variants, the sigbens (similar to Mexico’s chupacabra, with spotty fur and large fangs) and tik-tiks (giant prowling bats or birds that suck blood from pregnant women with long proboscises. Other sources describe it as creatures that land on rooftops at night and are able to extend their tongue and pierce thatched roofs and ceiling to get to the stomach of a sleeping pregnant woman and eat the baby in the womb) are not unheard of in some parts of Iloilo such as Dumangas and
72 SEAIR InFlight
I october - november 2009
Dadiangas. A chilling trademark of the tik-tik, named for the distinctive sound it makes when it is on the prowl, is its ability to project a loud sound when it is far away and a faint one when it is close at hand. Worried? Holy water and agimats (amulets) are easily found if you ask around, and good old dependable garlic is a basic aswang repellent, and can be eaten when you’re done tramping through dark forest.
Iloilo is about an hour away by regular scheduled flights from Manila Domestic Airport. Photo by Oggie Ramos
Ta le s of t h e u nk now n
insider’sguide
B al e t e D ri v e
B
alete Drive is a street located in New Manila, Quezon City, Philippines. It is known for apparitions of a white lady and haunted houses built during the Spanish Era (1800s). New Manila has an abundance of balete trees, which, according to legend, is a favorite spot of wandering spirits and other paranormal beings. Paranormal experts believe that the white lady was raped by Japanese soldiers during the Second World War, which differs from the movie Hiwaga sa Balete Drive (Mystery on Balete Drive). Those who claim to have seen the white lady, advise motorists to avoid Balete street at night, especially if they are alone. If it is necessary to travel the route, they advise that the backseat of the car is fully occupied and that no one should look back or look in any mirrors. The apparition wears a night gown, has long hair but has no face or a face covered with blood. The intersection of Balete Drive is between Aurora Boulevard, a few blocks away from Gilmore Avenue, and Broadway Centrum.
Frank Regis’ book, Healing of a Soul – The Ghost Manual (InterSelf Foundation, 1996) examines, and in many senses, demystifies some of the reported paranormal stories of the Balete Drive area, as well as other well-known haunted hot spots.
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travel promotion
The Plunge, the country’s first canyon swing, takes the adventurous traveler to greater heights. Tourism Secretary was among the first to try this exhilarating attraction, which lets the brave rider swing like a pendulum 200 meters below, at the Danao Adventure Park in Bohol. The Department of Tourism (DOT) commends this community-initiated ecoadventure destination in the province.
Bohol gets a boost Community-based tourism in Danao
B
ohol may be best known for the famous Chocolate Hills, Loboc River, century-old churches, and the iconic tarsier, but a small town within this pristine province proves that it goes beyond the typical must-sees listed in travel guidebooks. Following its commitment to bring Philippine tourism beyond the usual destinations and attractions, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is strongly pushing for sustainable, community-based travel, increasing employment and boosting grassroots-led tourism efforts that enjoin everyone in the whole locality. Secretary Ace Durano commended the endeavors initiated by the people of Danao, appreciating what they have, and actively promoting eco-adventures in their area. “Danao is a fourth-class municipality with first-rate leadership and first-class tourism experience. Bohol’s natural beauty, matched with adventurous, creative minds, is reason enough for their huge growth potential in ecotourism.” The Danao Adventure Park, recently inaugurated on its Charter Day, offers ecothrills including the Suislide – their kilometerlong zipline, Sky Ride or cable car, and the canyon swing – dubbed The Plunge, which
launches you to do a giant swing from a drop of 200 meters below - the first in the country. “Evident here are the lessons of tourism development,” Durano shared, citing it is “important to start with the natural and cultural assets you have. You can never be what you are not; and in our country are troves of natural treasures. These blessings, coupled with local initiative and strong leadership, always spell success in terms of sustainable community-based tourism. “ From the initial investment of Php 20M, the adventure park now generates revenue of Php 1M monthly, Durano added. The adventure park boasts of scenic view of the Wahig River, mountains and rolling hills, among which is the historical Dagohoy Hill, the very spot where Francisco Dagohoy started the longest revolution against the Spaniards. Trekking, wall-climbing, rappelling, and root-climbing also await adventurous travelers, as well as kayaking, river tubing, and rock bouldering, in the river downstream. Spelunking in the mystical Kamira Cave is also a highlight. Community interaction and organic farm visits likewise invite eco-travelers to immerse in the unspoilt, undiscovered surroundings and Danao culture. “This is among the region’s best-kept secrets, holding a treasure of promise. It is
Tourism Secretary Ace Durano takes caving to the next level, as he swims underneath and explores the mystical Kamira Cave in Danao Adventure Park, recently inaugurated in time for the municipality’s charter day. The Department of Tourism (DOT) continues to support community-based tourism attractions that result to increased employment and livelihood opportunities for locals.
only natural for people to truly come back for more, and spread the good word about it,” Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions said. “We have seen the positive contribution of LGU-initiated ecotourism efforts, where the whole community benefits. Here in Danao, the agricultural produce harvested from their organic farms will supply the growing number of tourists coming to the area, along with the general employment this eco-adventure park has generated,” Jarque added. Rolando Cañizal, Director for Tourism Planning and Promotions, noted, “The Department is continuously active in tapping this huge potential in community-based tourism, unlocking unique strengths from the locals, allowing for capacity-building measures, that further translate to economic growth.”
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In the shops pages 19-22
i n t h e sh op s >i n my bag
• MC Home Depot
Home-made Home
32nd St. cor. Bonifacio Drive, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel: +632/ 818 1246 Visit: www.mchomedepot.com
Local products are hugging the global design scene, from carabao horn salad servers to handwoven baskets
Photos by Carlos legaspi styling by paige Martin, Janet dela Fuente and MoniCa de leon
Metal cat from batangas, P7,000; half dough vase made of coco shell, sea shells and mother of pearl, P7,500; Cathy vase laminated rattan, all from MC Home Depot
• Creative Pilipinas Concept & Design 168, Ortigas Ave., cor. Meralco Ave., Pasig City
• Palawan Center 2/F, 832 Araniz Ave., Makati City Tel: +632/ 894 2018 or 752 8255-57 Visit: www.palawan.ws
• Tepiña
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The Rurungan Compound, Abanico Road, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Tel: +6348/ 434 4081
In My Bag page 24
inMyBag
My travel list: BarBi Chan InTErvIEW BY Margie F. Francisco PHoTo BY carlos legaspi
• Gucci tote bag august - september 2008
siquijor’s seCrets
PLUS
river wild Dornier 328s now fly 3X a week to the beautiful northern islanD
Why fighting davao’s rapids is the best Way to spend the day
www.seair-inflight.com • www.flyseair.com
www.seair-inflight.com • www.flyseair.com
seair launches batanes flights
june - july issue ‘08
ExplorE thE NorthErN paradisE BEforE thE Crowds ComE
the
simple pleasures of daet
BEaChEs, Big wavEs, & kitEs
badjao beckons
thE sEafood, thE viEw, & thE day a British priNCE CamE to visit
cool cruise
all aBoard iN a NEw liNEr to BoraCay aNd palawaN
october - november 2008
A PLACE IN THE HEART
BATANES ON THE BRINK
south east asian airlines on-board magazine
Changing the “Last Frontier”
Palawan toP Man Joel reyes on the islanD’s facelift sorcery, healing anD beautiful beaches
south east asian airlines on-board magazine
south east asian airlines on-board magazine
Mangoes, Malongs, anD the roMance of the rio granDe
PLUS
An Afternoon with the King of ChAt,
Boy Abunda
august - september issue ‘08
Three families talk about their homes by the sea & how they changed their lives
green mission Is Boracay ready for eco-rating? 3 days in batangas A horse-ride up the rim of Taal Volcano’s crater cohiba resort boracay Apartment living, beach style PLUS
SEAIR lAunchES BoRongAn, SAmAR flIghtS
october - november issue ‘08
south e ast asian airlines on - board maga zine
december - january 2009
FeelGood Holidays
Kota Kinabalu
Sun, sea, & spa in Boracay
holidays in heaven& hell Party man Mark Reyes talks about his travels cool resorts From Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa, The Tides Boracay, to Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa
NEWS FLASH
island life Fruit bats, turtle hatchlings, and a luxury stay in Club Paradise
PLUS
SEAIR STARTS FIRST INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TO KOTA KINABALU
seair noW flies direct to boronGan, samar
december - january issue ‘09
art spark A guide to the Philippine artworld shangri-La’s rasa ria Luxury amidst nature’s reserve restaurants for two A hot list for Valentines
www.seair-inflight.com • www.flyseair.com
Where to Go for live music A hot list from cool people
www.seair-inflight.com • www.flyseair.com
www.seair-inflight.com • www.flyseair.com
Give your kids a break Top 10 days-out for the moppets 4 days in boronGan Hiking, caving, and surfing in Eastern Samar’s capital town
april - may 2009
a chef’s tour of Boracay Get the best of the island with our culinary hot list
Mountains, fireflies & a headhunting past
Plus a G u i d e t o w e l l n e s s c e n t e r s
A Green Dream Palawan
residents launch enchanting eco tours
Watc h o u t f o r s e a i r ’ s d i r e c t f l i G h t s to m a s B at e
february - march issue ‘09
02
03 04
05
06
• Canon Ixus 80IS Canon D-Zone, Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Makati City Tel: +632/ 752 7361
• Sony Playstation Portable Available at Abenson Avant
10 11 09 08 07
april - may issue ‘09
For store location and contact details, turn to
24 SEAIr InFlight I oCToBEr - novEMBEr 2009
• The Body Shop Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes Available at The Body Shop
• Bebe Young Care Soft Hand Cream Visit www.bebe.de
• Kiehls Lip Balm Kiehl’s Boutique, 1/L Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City Tel: +632/ 728 9561
• Maybelline Cat Eyes Mascara Rustan’s Department Store, Ayala Avenue, Makati City Tel: +632/ 813 3739, 816 1786, 817 1884
• Maybelline Watershine Lipstick Available at Rustan’s Department Store
• Finesse Hairspray Available at Rustan’s Department Store
to subscribe past issues from our archive, call:
+632/ 8402803 76 SEAIR InFlight
I december - january 2009
12
1 Gucci tote bag (P34,000) 2 Shanghai Tang Sunglasses (P5,990) 3 Finesse Hairspray (P230) 4 Sony Playstation Portable (P11,998) 5 Body Shop Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes (P395) 6 Kiehls Lip Balm (P650) 7 Apple 120GB iPod Classic (P14,990) 8 Maybelline Cat Eyes Mascara (P429) 9 Maybelline Watershine Lipstick (P349) 10 Bebe Young Care Soft Hand Cream 11 Body Shop Energizing Face Spray (P695) 12 Canon Ixus 80IS (P17,950)
The Body Shop, 2/L Greenbelt 4, Ayala Center, Makati City Tel: +632/ 728 0375
south e ast asian airlines on - board maga zine
february - march 2009
Barbi Chan is the chief make up artist of Maybelline New York. She is the first Asian make up artist to sign a contract with the international brand and has worked on the looks of models for shoots appearing in the Philippine editions of Cosmopolitan, FHM, 01 Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, Preview, Metro, Mega, Meg and Candy.
• The Body Shop Energizing Face Spray
sold out SOUTH E AST ASIAN AIRLINES ON - BOARd mAGA zINE
• Apple 120GB iPod Classic Abenson Avant, 2/L Greenbelt 4, Ayala Center, Makati City Tel: +632/ 758 2315
www.seair-inflight.com • www.flyseair.com
june - july 2008
3 Days in Cotabato
Gucci, 1/L Greenbelt 4, Ayala Center, Makati City Tel: +632/ 757 6291
• Shanghai Tang Sunglasses SM Department Store, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City
on page 76
96 SeaiR inFlight
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december - january 2009 I SEAIR InFlight
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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. booking a flight. www.flyseair.com; Tel. +632 849.0100 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 october - november 2009
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.
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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 +z 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.
84 SEAIR InFlight
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route map Basco, Batanes
reservations Laoag
Online reservation www.flyseair.com makati Ticketing Office Tel. +632 849.0100 Sales Office Tel. +6302 849.0201 to 18 +6302 849.0219
San Fernando La Union
Philippine Sea
Baguio
Luzon
Metro Manila Domestic Terminal Tel. +6302 851.5555 Fax +6302 891.8711
Baler CLARK, ANGELES MANILA
Philippines
Clark, Angeles City Headquarters DMIA, Hangar 7224 Tel. +6345 599.2384 Fax +6345 599.2383 Angeles Sales Office Tel. +6302 851.5555 Fax +6345 323.6713
Marinduque MINDORO
Tablas, Romblon
Busuanga
Caticlan
Boracay
Cebu Ticketing Office Tel. +6332 341.4879 Sales Office Tel. +6332 254.9337 +6332 255.0801
South China Sea
Daet
SAMAR Masbate Borongan
PANAY
El Nido
Visayas
Iloilo
Taytay
CEBU
PALAWAN
Boracay Caticlan Airport Tel. +6336 288.7360 +6336 288.7272 Fax +6336 288.7163
Puerto Princesa
Camiguin
Mindanao
Puerto Princesa 399 Rizal Avenue Extension Tel. +6348 434.5272 +6348 433.2540 Zamboanga Tel. +6362 991.2225 Mobile +63919 333.8520
Sulu Sea
Cotabato
Jolo
Malaysia
Davao
Zamboanga
Kota Kinabalu
SABAH
Cagayan de Oro
Pagadian
Balabac
BRUNEI
Siargao
NEGROS
General Santos
Tawi-Tawi
Celebes Sea
SARAWAK
Borneo Regular Route Seasonal Route
october - november 2009 I SEAIR InFlight
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people
Atty. Celina Cua Corporate and legal services director
Law and enjoyment Interview by Margie Francisco Photo by Mario Babiera
I’ve been with SEAIR since January 2007. As legal division director, I am responsible for the legal risk management of the company, compliance with regulatory requirements, including aviation and aeropolitical matters. I also manage the company’s contracts and agreements, prepare legal opinions and other legal requirements of the airline’s various departments. I am also SEAIR’s corporate secretary and part of the management team. The airline business is like many businesses rolled into one. It is both a product and a service. It also has a political side. You work like a family, like a team at SEAIR. Everyone has an open door policy. Everyone, including our president and directors, are very approachable. There's not much politics. Here, people are very friendly, very family-oriented. Even if I’m stressed out at work I don’t feel it as much because of the support I get from the SEAIR family. I feel more responsible for what I do here because of my direct contact with the people and the company. When I was working in a law firm, I wasn’t directly connected to my clients, unlike in SEAIR, where I am part of the organization. Here, I’m hands-on; whatever I do affects
the company and the people in the company. In that sense, I feel a bigger sense of responsibility. I like going out on my days off. I like eating out; I like French and Italian food. I hang out with my friends. I go to bars and clubs. I also go to the gym to be fit and healthy. I get a massage and I go shopping or watch movies. On longer breaks, I usually travel. I like cooking. I know how to cook Western, German, Chinese, Vietnamese food. I don’t really have specialties; it just depends on what I like to eat. Right now, I like experimenting on healthy food. I often go to Boracay just because I like to party there with my friends. I’d like to go to Batanes soon. I’ve seen the pictures and it’s a beautiful place. It’s something different from what we see everyday here in the city and in other destinations. I want to experience their way of living. So simple, no pretentions at all. It's really different when you love your job. You really enjoy it and it doesn't feel like work at all. Five years from now, I see myself still in the airline industry.
n ews
This photo by Oggie Ramos
Only SEAIR flies to Boracay direct via Caticlan
Daily Flights to Batanes from October 12 SEAIR is increasing its flights to Batanes from four times a week to daily starting October 12, in time for the destination's winter peak season. Located on the northernmost part of the Philippines, about 190km south of Taiwan, Batanes experiences the four seasons, including winter when the temperature drops to as low as seven degrees celsius. The destination's green pastures overlooking the sea, windmills on sprawling countryside, lighthouses guarding immaculate shorelines, and cool weather contribute to its unique beauty, sometimes compared to the Scottish highlands.
Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR), the country’s premiere leisure airline, remains the only airline operating direct flights to Caticlan, from Manila. All other airlines fly from Manila to Kalibo, Aklan, requiring land travel from Aklan to reach Caticlan. SEAIR’s direct Caticlan flights using the Dornier 328 aircraft gets passengers to their island destination in only 35 minutes, the fastest on the route. SEAIR operates both the Dornier 328 and LET 410 aircraft to Boracay, both capable of Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL). “These aircraft are the most appropriate for the small runways of Caticlan, Palawan, and other destinations where bigger commercial airlines cannot land,” said SEAIR president Avelino Zapanta. Air Traffic Control Caticlan chief supervisor Elvis Maagma said that due to seasonal weather conditions affecting Caticlan/Boracay, flights may sometimes have to be diverted to Kalibo if the wind or local rain showers result to unfavorable visibility. SEAIR has been serving Caticlan since 1995 and has the longest history of uninterrupted service to Boracay direct via Caticlan.
Fly SEAIR and rediscover the joy of flight – speed, convenience, personalized service! Go to www.FlySeair. com for the best deals or call +632/ 849 0100 for more information.
To book flights to Batanes visit www.FlySeair.com or call +632/ 849 0100. For packages call SEAIR Leisure Escape Packages at +632/ 843 7308.
SEAIR resumes direct flights to El Nido
SEAIR re-opens Boracay to Puerto Princesa flights
SEAIR is resuming direct flights from Manila to El Nido, Palawan on November 18. Flights to El Nido will be every Wednesday and Sunday, using the 19-seater LET 410 aircraft. El Nido is located on the northernmost tip of Palawan and is part of the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area, the largest marine sanctuary in the Philippines. This group of islands is a perfect destination for divers and snorkelers as well as beach- and island-hoppers with over 30 dive sites and more than 50 beaches and hidden lagoons. Aside from its diverse fauna, El Nido also showcases a striking geological wonder: limestone cliffs that were carved extensively from thick layers of coralline deposits.
In response to passenger demands, SEAIR will resume its paradise-to-paradise route from Boracay (Caticlan) to Puerto Princesa and back on October 16. October marks the start of the frenzied holiday season traffic and there had been numerous requests for the airline to resume operations on the route. The Boracay to Puerto Princesa flights allow tourists to visit these two attractive destinations without the hassle of having to go through Manila. SEAIR will fly the Boracay (Caticlan) – Puerto Princesa route every Tuesday and Friday.
You can book El Nido flights now. Visit www.FlySeair.com or call +632/ 849 0100. For packages call SEAIR Leisure Escape Packages at +632/ 843 7308.
Book now at www.FlySeair.com or call +632/ 849 0100. For packages call SEAIR Leisure Escape Packages at +632/ 843 7308. october - november 2009 I SEAIR InFlight
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involve
i n dus try n ews
events
Buy a Bulgari ring or pendant and help children Bulgari has created a special silver ring and silver pendant with an engraving of Bulgari founder Sotirio Bulgari, and inside the ring and at the back of the pendant, an engraving of Save the Children’s logo. This is in lieu of Bulgari’s way of celebrating its 125th year. Early this year, Bulgari has launched a drive that supports the “Rewrite the Future” campaign of Save the Children Foundation, the world’s largest independent organization aimed at securing and protecting children’s rights. For every ‘special edition’ pendant or ring bought at Bulgari stores, twenty per cent of the sales go to Save The Children’s “Rewrite the Future” campaign funds. The jewelry are sold at P19,500 apiece and are available at Bulgari stores worldwide until December 31, 2009. On June 4, Bulgari officially presented the other 15 pieces of high jewelry and eight high-end timepieces in Rome in a retrospective event entitled “Between Eternity and History”, still part of Bulgari’s 125th celebration by helping fund the “Rewrite the Future” campaign. On December 7, the pieces will be auctioned off in New York and proceeds will be donated to Save the Children.
For more information on the project and on Bulgari products, visit www.bulgari.com or visit Bulgari at Greenbelt 4 Mall (+632/ 728 5061 to 62) or 6750 Ayala Arcade Center (+632/ 893 3189).
92 SEAIR InFlight
I october - november 2009
promotions
Canon-Greenwich partners for Part Express Packages Canon, the country’s leading digital imaging and business solutions Products Company, partners with the country’s largest pizza chain Greenwich for the Party Express Promo beginning September until December 2009. Greenwich customer who avails a minimum bulk order of Greenwich Party Express package worth P5,000 earns a chance to win 1 out of 100 Canon PIXMA Printers to be given away. Likewise, minimum orders ranging from P20,000 and above can easily get a brand new Canon PIXMA iP1300 inkjet printer. The PIXMA printer is the perfect partner of school, home and office users in their daily document or photo printing needs.
The Tides Boracay Hotel holds first awards event The Tides, premium Boracay boutique hotel, held its first event at the Manor Superclub in Libis last July 31. The event called Awards Gathering for Outstanding Sales (AGOS) gave top honors to Direct With Hotel. Other top producer awardees were Diamond Global, Philippines Straights, El Sol and Manila Ken Shin. SEAIR and sister company Triple Star Agency were recognized for partnering with the hotel’s promos, Asiatravel.com for its aggressive promotion of the hotel, and KJL Tour Leader for being the hotel’s General Sales Agent of the Korean market for the past two years. It was a night of overflowing booze up until before midnight. The Tides’ partners Erik Cua, Stephen Ku, chef Fernando Aracama, actress Iza Calzado, Mike Cua and Juan Elizalde, Jr. were present in the event. Hosts were Karen Pamintuan and another The Tides partner Tim Yap. The Tides Boracay was 2009 Consumer Choice Award for Most Outstanding Luxury Destination Hotel and was cited by the New York Times as one of the 44 Places To Go To For 2009.
Clockwise from top right: The Tides’ marketing director Stephen Ku on closing remarks; The Tides partners Tim Yap, Chef Fernando Aracama, Iza Calzado, Erik Cua, Mike Cua, Juan Elizalde Jr. and Karen Pamintuan with Direct With Hotels’ top producer; and SEAIR InFlight’s Waldo Villados, the best dressed male of the night, with event hosts Yap and Pamintuan (second and fourth in row) and The Tides’ Norman Tamayo
For more information about The Tides Boracay, visit www. tidesboracay.com.
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Allan’s PANGASINAN This image of clouds and the horizon drenched in purple pink light was taken March this year at Cabacungan Cove, Tambobong Beach in Dasol, Pangasinan. Allan Barredo waited patiently for the sunset to light up the cumulus clouds in the east and was rewarded with this brilliant scene. Barredo’s love of the outdoors led him to photography and starting a travel blog (http://lantaw. blogspot.com) two years ago. He shoots mostly landscapes and waterscapes. He was a contributor to the local paper Manila Bulletin’s Through a Lens, Clearly and his works had been featured in IMAG Photography magazine and Outdoor Photographer website (www. outdoorphotographer.com). -- Margie F. Francisco For more of Barredo’s work, visit www.flickr.com/photos/ allanbarredo
Camera: Nikon D50 Lens: Sigma 10-20mm Aperture: F/14.0 ISO Speed: 200
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