Inflight October-November 2010

w w w.t heinf light .com

october - november 2010

Shopping Issue the

Short breaks

Inflight’s favorite people on their holiday boltholes

Insider’s Guide to shopping

Two top fashionistas on the best fashion haunts

Is he The One?

Alberto Lim on scrubbing up the face of tourism

Space Age dawns Huge rooms and cool gadgets at Picasso

P L U S ! E l N i d o l a un c h es Apul i t Isl a n d R es o r t

i n f l igh t // o c t obe r- nov e m be r INPLACES 32 InsandOuts

Tagaytay: Cool weather and

stunning views continue to bring in tourists

2010

36

36 Short breaks

Five of InFlight ’s favorite people talk about their personal holiday boltholes

48 Insider’s Guide to Metro Manila shopping Two top fashionistas reveal the best fashion haunts

72 InFocus

Jojie Alcantara’s General Santos

Photo by Jeffrey Sonora; Fashion styling by Waldo Villados; Hair and makeup by Aisa Fay Costo; Modeling by Jessica Paras; Model’s attire: Chambray polo by Topshop; shorts by Warehouse; sandals by VNC; accessories by Accessorize

2 InFlight I october-november 2010

Soothe your

soul

and

senses

at Boracay’s premiere luxury spa

3rd floor, East Wing,

Boracay Regency Beach Resort • Tel no. (036) 288-6111 local 426

i n f l igh t // o c t obe r- nov e m be r INFRONT 08 Editor’s Note

16

2010 30

10 InFormed

What not to miss in October and November

12 Inthenews

El Nido Resorts launches Apulit Island Resort; SEAIR group’s TripleStar Travel takes on role as Tiger Airways’ Philippine general sales agent; D’Boracay Sailing experience launches new cruises.

Plus more travel and resort news

16 InTalk

Five collectors on what gets them going, from spoons to Star Wars armor

24 InPerson

Me and My work life: Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim

24

58 InTune

Lei Chavez finds out about a fuel that could help clean up Manila’s air

INvogue 18 Intheshops

A look at classic pieces inspired by Hollywood

22 Inmybag

Celebrity stylist Ton Lao reveals his favorite travel basics

48

INGOODTIMES 28 InRoom

Picasso wows with its huge rooms and cool gadgets

30 InDulge

It can get noisy at times at Mamou, but the food is good and the setting, nicely casual, says Ces Rodriguez

28

Concept by InFlight Photo by Jeffrey Sonora Art direction by Jocas A. See Styling by Waldo Villados Hair and make up by Aisa Fay Costo Modeling by Jessica Paras Model’s attire: Model’s own; blue sleeveless knit shrug

by Trucco Location: Dahilayan, Bukidnon

4 InFlight I october-november 2010

Ed i t o r i a l

Publisher

Dornier Media International Corporation Publishing Director

Nikos Gitsis Editor-in-chief

Giselle Javison managing Editor

Monica G. De Leon Writer

MARGARITA F. FRANCISCO art & design

Art Director

Jocas A. See Editorial Inquiries

+632/ 840 2802, 849 0295; editors@theinflight.com PRESS RELEASES

press@theinflight.com C o n t r i b u t i n g p h o t o g r ap h e r s

Mike Alcid, Mario Babiera, Joel Garcia, Carlos Legaspi, Jeffrey Sonora, Daniel Soriano, Steve Tirona Contributing writers

Vicki Aldaba, Lei Chavez, Chip Childers, Freida Dario, Jan Lao, Andrea Pasion, Ces Rodriguez ad v e r t i s i n g S a l e s  m a r k e t i n g

Sales and marketing director Director

Margie Defensor Advertising Sales executive

Verna Galope Advertising Traffic and circulation assistant

WALDO J. VILLADOS Advertising Inquiries

+632/ 849 0296; ads@theinflight.com Subscription and back issues inquiries

+632/ 849 0296; subsribe@theinflight.com B o a r d o f ad v i s e r s

Seair Chairman

Iren Dornier Publishing director

Nikos Gitsis Editor

Giselle Javison Director

Delza Apostol General manager

Monica De Leon Legal Counsel

Atty. Celina Cua p h i l i pp i n e C o p y r i g h t ©

2010

Dornier Media International Corporation: Unit 402 Lao Center, 1000 Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City, Philippines Tel.: +632 840 2802 • info@theinflight.com • www.theinflight.com

6 InFlight I october-November 2010

editor’s note

pe opl e . pl ace s . adv e n t u r e s .

O

ctober marks a milestone in InFlight ’s eight years of publishing with the consolidation this year of InFlight’s publishing operations into the newly formed Dornier Media, which takes over as publisher of InFlight from Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR) and the launch of our new website www.theinflight. com in December.

In line with this, InFlight is joining mainstream publications and broadening its content in the coming issues to include lifestyle, entertainment, general interest stories, and both local and international destination stories, while keeping travel at its core.

Another welcome news is the expansion of our circulation to include not only SEAIR (www.flyseair.com) local flights and planned regional flights using the Airbus aircraft next year, but also onboard El Nido’s carrier, Island Transvoyager, Inc. or ITI, among several other major distribution channels.

ITI flies passengers to the luxury resorts of El Nido Resorts in Palawan and operates local and international private charter services. It has set a record as the only airline in the Philippines with fixed wing operator accredited by both Shell and ExxonMobil, as well as the first airline to offset its carbon emissions.

I am also happy to announce that InFlight managing editor Monica De Leon is now holding the concurrent position of general manager of Dornier Media, while Margaret Defensor, who has worked in publishing in Hong Kong and Manila, takes over as InFlight director of sales and marketing (mdefensor@ theinflight.com).

Former InFlight director of marketing and sales Delza Gochoco, InFlight’s co-founder, will be concentrating on SEAIR sister company TripleStar Travel’s operations. TripleStar (see page 12) has just been appointed as the Philippine general sales agent of Singapore budget carrier Tiger Airways.

Dornier Media’s operations include the publishing of InFlight and related titles as well as other tri-media services, including content development and website development in partnership with Libelle Creative (www.libellecreative.com) InFlight, under Dornier Media, is looking forward to happy years ahead serving you, our readers, and delivering the best content in travel and lifestyle.

giselle javison Editor, InFlight editors@theinflight.com

8 InFlight I october-november 2010

Eight years of InFlight: top left, one of our first issues, published in 2002, followed by recent editions

Your personal playground Get away from the crowds and enjoy some quality family time as Regency Lagoon brings the fun of the beach to a more private setting.

Tucked away from the crowds is this relaxing new oasis, which features its own 1,200 square meter pool.

With its lush water features and relaxing atmosphere, Regency Lagoon is your perfect family escape.

Station 2, Balabag, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan Tel. (6336) 288-2828 to 32 • Fax (6336) 288-1010 Manila Office: Tel. (632) 3537777 • Fax (632) 3537249 www.regencylagoon.com.ph • resort@regencylagoon.com.ph

What not to miss in

October & November r e p o r t b y Ma r g i e F. F r a n c i s c o

October

8

Dia Del Galeon Festival 2010 The Dia Del Galeon month-long festival commemorates the Philippines’ role in the galleon trade and features the Viaje del Galeon or Galleon travel as festival highlight, a one-week educational trip in various Philippine ports of call tracing the galleon trade route in the country, including Samar, Leyte, Bohol, Negros and northern Mindanao.

For info, call +632/ 527 2192 loc. 616; visit www.ncca.gov.ph

October October

1

John Mayer Live in Manila Catch Grammy award winner John Mayer at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds singing songs from his latest album Battle Studies, which includes “Who Says”. Mayer is known for acoustic rock, and lately, blues.

For tickets, call Ticketworld at +632/ 891 9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph

16

Co. 25 The CompanY OPM vocal group The CompanY is celebrating its 25th anniversary in the music industry with a concert at the Music Museum in Greenhills, Ortigas. Expect an eclectic mix of music genres and styles. Guest star is Jon Santos.

Musical director is Beth Martin. Writer and director is Moy Ortiz.

The CompanY has released 19 albums and received 39 music awards.

Tickets available at Ticketworld

Ongoing until November 6

Warner Brothers Pictures will release the first of two parts of the final Harry Potter motion picture “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”. The story follows Harry Potter on a quest to find and destroy Lord Voldemort’s secret to immortality – the Horcruxes. The latest installment will be released in 2D and 3D formats, the first and only from the series. It will also be released in IMAX 3D. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. Directed by David Yates.

For release dates and info, visit www.harrypotter. warnerbros.com

November

20

onwards Little Women the musical Watch out for Repertory Philippines’ staging of “Little Women”, based on Louisa May Alcott’s novel set in the 19th century on the struggles, love and triumph of the March family. Menchu Lauchenco-Yulo directs; Gerard Salonga conducts the FILharmoniKA orchestra; Joey Mendoza handles set design; Tuxqs Rutaquio, costumes; and John Batalla, lighting.

For info, call Repertory Philippines at +632/ 571 6926, 571 4941. Tickets available at Ticketworld

21

Timex Run 2010

October

30

Cream Halloween Ball Celebrate the day at CREAM, the country’s biggest and longest running Halloween costume dance party at the A-Venue Hall, Makati Avenue, Makati. Irish DJs Chris Agnelli and Robbie Nelson are at the helm. Come in your spookiest, most original and most eye catching Halloween costume and get a chance to win a Nokia phone.

For info, call Big Fish Manila at +632/ 634 8238; visit www.bigfishmanila.com

10 InFlight I october-november 2010

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

November

Pumapapel: Art in Paper The Yuchengco Museum presents Pumapapel: Art in Paper, featuring the works of Movement 8 designers Tes Pasola and Tony Gonzales, pioneer and innovators in papermaking. The exhibit includes works by printmakers Pandy Aviado and Joey Cobcobo, sculptor Impy Pilapil, and papermakers Wataru Sakuma and Asao Shimura.

The Yuchengco Museum, RCBC Plaza, Ayala corner Gil Puyat Avenues, Makati Tel: +632/ 889 1234 URL: www.yuchengcomuseum.org

November

Join the third and final race of the three-leg running event RunRio Trilogy, Timex Run 2010, at Fort Bonifacio, Global City. Coach Rio Dela Cruz will introduce the new 32km “Afroman” distance in the race, a “perfect training race” created to aid runners who usually struggle during their last 10km to complete the 42km race.

Registration is ongoing until November 18.

Visit www.runrio.com or ROX, Bonifacio High Street, Taguig

t r av e l

HOTEL S A N D RE S ORT S

a r t s A N D f as h i o n

And more!

TripleStar is Tiger Airways’ GSA

Apulit Island Resort’s cabanas are on stilts over the water, affording a stunning view of Taytay Bay

new

Resort

El Nido to Open Apulit Island Resort in December El Nido Resorts is launching the new Apulit Island Resort in Taytay, Palawan in December, its third property in Palawan.

Apulit is on an island bordered by rocky cliffs on one side and fringed by a white-sand beach. It has 50 fully furnished air-conditioned cabanas built on stilts over the waters of Taytay Bay, affording each cabana with a stunning seaview and a balcony with steps leading into the water for easy diving, swimming, and snorkelling.

The resort will offer diving, snorkeling, island hopping, kayak tours, and other eco activities.

Apulit Island Resort targets upscale families, honeymooners and frequent individual travelers, with rates starting from about P10,500 (US $210) per person per night for full board twin-sharing of a water cottage, boat transfers, tours and use of nonmotorized water sports activities.

El Nido Resorts also operates Lagen Island Resort and Miniloc Island Resort in Palawan.

Inbound travel agency TripleStar Travel and Tours has recently been appointed general sales agent (GSA) of Singapore’s budget carrier Tiger Airways in the Philippines.

As GSA, TripleStar will provide reservations, sales and marketing support for the carrier, targeting mainly Filipino travelers and businesses in its sales of airline seats.

TripleStar president and general manager Delza Gochoco said, “We are pleased to partner with Tiger Airways. With our extensive network reaching both wholesale and retail customers in the Philippines, we are well positioned to bring Tiger’s low fares to more travelers. We also look forward to establishing dedicated retail outlets for Tiger Airways.”

The agency, which has retail ticketing outlets in Manila, Makati and Cebu, will open in October a retail outlet at SM City Clark dedicated to selling Tiger Airways seats.

Tiger Airways operates daily flights to Singapore via Clark, and on October 31, will start its ManilaSingapore-Manila operations. TripleStar was spun off in 2008 from South East Asian Airlines tour desk services.

For ticket sales, call the Makati office at +632/ 849 0111; Domestic office at +632/ 851 9876; Clark office at +6345/ 499 0329; and Cebu office at +6332/ 254 9337.

www.theinflight.com is launching in December

Reservations for Apulit Island Resort starts October 1.

Call +632/ 894 5644 for more information or visit www. elnidoresorts.com

For advertising inquiries, call

+632/ 849 0296 12 InFlight I october-november 2010

r e p o r t b y Ma r g i e F . F r a n c i s c o

r e p o r t b y Ma r g i e F . F r a n c i s c o

Hotel openings Radisson Blu Hotel opens in Cebu

Deluxe room

Mahal sails to Boracay D’ Boracay Sailing Experience is now offering sailing cruises on board its 42-feet catamaran Mahal and will soon add a cruising charter from Boracay to Palawan to its list of sailings.

D’ Boracay Sailing Experience offers a range of sailing activities such as Day Sailing (from 10am-3pm for P5,000/person) and Sunset Cruise (from 4:30pm6:30pm for P3,500/person). During lean season, it offers Morning Sail (from 10am-12nn for P2,500/person).

The company also organizes activities such as birthday parties, wedding receptions, family reunions and corporate events. These services are offered for four to 20 persons for a great time sailing together.

Reservations must be made a week in advance for any sailing activity in Boracay. For more info, visit www.boracay-sailing.com or email lilyan@boracay-sailing.com.

Treetop Adventure to open two adventure attractions

For more info, visit www.radisson.com; email reservations. cebu@radisson.com; or call +6332/ 402 9900.

new

Attractions

Zoom, the first zipline in Manila, which opened in June this year, is set to open two more attractions by December.

Treetop Adventure will introduce the Parachute ride that simulates a parachute fall. The rider, securely fastened, starts off in a standing or lying face down position, and jumps off a 100ft tower. The parachute opens in less than two seconds and the jumper is locked temporarily midair, like Tom Cruise’s famous stunt in movie Mission Impossible 1. The Aero Musical ride enables riders to do an aerial dance while harnessed on a 140m cable, suspended in the air at 80ft.

Earlier launched in June is Zoom, a zipline running on a 200m, electrically controlled, motor cables. Zoom offers Superman wherein riders can fly horizontally through the periphery of Marikina River; and Silver Surfer wherein the rider is set in a standing position, fastened on a pole, and sent flying across akin to sailing.

Zoom Treetop Adventure is at Circulo Verde, Calle Industria St., Brgy. Bagumbayan, Quezon City. For more info, call +632/ 928 4595 or +63917/ 380 7571.

14 InFlight I october-november 2010

The 400-room Radisson Blu Hotel, targeted at both leisure and business travelers, has recently opened on September 27.

Located in the city’s North Reclamation Area, Radisson Blu Hotel is marketed as a destination for leisure activities, corporate events, conferences, weddings and other social gatherings. The hotel is also situated beside SM City Cebu shopping center.

The hotel has the largest outdoor free-form swimming pool in Cebu City, 10 function rooms, two ballrooms, one of which is a 1,000sqm pillar-less main ball, a spa, fitness center and an all-day dining restaurant.

Boracay Regency now open to families Boracay Regency’s Regency Lagoon, which launched in August, has abandoned its “for adults only” policy, broadening its market to include families with kids in tow.

The resort has the largest swimming pool in Boracay, measuring about 1,200sqm.

The resort is a four-story modern structure housing 120 Asian-inspired guest rooms, each with a balcony and a pool view. Guest rooms and suites on the ground floor have terraces with pool access.

Regency Lagoon is on Station 2, Boracay Island.

For reservations, call +6336/ 288 2828 or +632/ 353 7777.

Visit www.regencylagoon. com.ph.

What’s your object of desire?

In t erv ie ws by Ja n Lao Il lus t r at ion by Ma r k Dav id A . see

I’ve always been fascinated by spheres.

It all started when I saw David Bowie in the movie Labyrinth. Since then I’ve practiced contact juggling and collected spheres. Now I have over 30 different types of spheres – for contact juggling and just different types of balls. I got them from Spain, the Internet (available in Germany and the US only), from Thailand, Indonesia (Java ones and silver ones from Bali), and in Chinatown, Philippines (big versions of the anti-stress bell balls).

- JJ Ortoll Entrepreneur

My Scout Trooper (Star Wars) armor. It wasn’t something that I just bought from a store; it was something I put together from scratch. I met regularly with the fiberglass artist, looked for someone to paint, explained to the seamstress and shoemaker how the jumpsuit and the boots should look, ordered the gloves and the blaster from the US, and assembled the helmet using all kinds of things that you could find from a hardware store. It was a lot of work, plus there’s the P40,000 damage to my bank account. When I was a kid, my dad passed on his whole Star Wars collection to me, and made me promise to take care of them. After that, I began buying toys.”

- Paolo Valenciano

Singer, video editor

I would have to put my love for shoes, especially high-heels, on top of everything else. I could go through a day with a plain white shirt, a pair of denim cut-offs, but never without those “killer heels”. My shop, Glitterati, also sells shoes.

Visit www.shopglitterati.com.ph or Unit 78-C Estrella cor. Zodiac Streets, Bel-Air III, Makati, and be the first to grab our new shoe line GLAM by Glitterati.

- Nina Estacio

Fashion stylist, owner, Glitterati

More than 20 years ago, on my first US trip, my brother-in-law convinced me to pick little souvenir spoons from places we visited and that started my love affair with spoons. Now I have hundreds all over the house from my travels and from family and friends who have contributed to my collection. Each spoon tells a story of adventure, friendship and love. And it is such a joy to receive from those I barely know but have heard of my ‘Casita de las Cucharas’ (little house of spoons), my retirement cottage that has become home to my spoons.

- La-arni Aguilar

Communication management consultant

I collect unique clothes, weapons, props, armor and just about anything related to fashion. This came about because I grew up in fashion. I first got interested in medieval weapons and armor, then it grew to encompass anything unique or different. Right now I have some maces, swords, knives, claws, pocket watches, helmets, fisherman’s hats, etc. I like to collect them because I love rare things and I love to use them in my shoots.

- Raffy Tesoro Fashion designer, art director and production designer

16 InFlight I october-November 2010

i n t h e s h o ps > i n m y b a g Timeless piece: Coat, P4,895, vest, P2,295, white polo, P1,495, pants, P1,895, necktie, P595, and shoes, P3,295, all by Merger; belt, P795, and suspenders, P945, both by Topman; wayfarer sunglasses, P6,690,

by Ray Ban

“Moneypenny, let me tell you the secret of the world” - J a m e s B o n d , F r o m R u ss i a w i t h L o v e

Lights, camera, action... if you’re up for a wardrobe change, take a little inspiration from Hollywood Pho t os by Jeffr ey Sonor a

s t y l i n g b y W a l d o J . V i l l ad o s

H A IR A N D M A KE U P BY A I S A F A Y CO S TO

MO D ELING BY RONI S ILV A FOR I D E A L P EO P LE a n d M A FFY S OLER FOR RECO MO D ELING A GENCY

Timeless piece: Little black dress, price available upon request, by Barba Best to pair with: Gloves, P2,750,

by Mango; peep toe shoes, P5,900,

by Dumond

“A girl can’t read that sort of thing without her lipstick” - H o l l y G o l i g h t l y , BRE A KF A S T A T TIFF A NY ’ S

october-november 2010 I InFlight 19

inTheShops c l ass i c c u t s

“I’m gonna treat you so nice, you’re never gonna let me go” - V i v i a n W a r d , P RETTY W OM A N

Timeless piece: White polo, P2,750,

by Mango Best to pair with: Skirt, P2,750,

by Mango; belt, P1,195, by Topshop; necklace, price available upon request, by Van Der Straeten available at Firma; cuff, P4,950,

by Vida Jewelry, and ring, P5,280,

by Ottoman, both available at AC +632; peep toe shoes, P10,600,

by Dumond

20 InFlight I october-november 2010

Timeless piece: White shirt, P545,

by Topman; jeans, price available upon request, 7 for all Mankind; Chuck Taylor, P1,650,

by Converse Best to pair with: Jacket, P3,895,

by Merger

“I don’t have to explain anything to anybody” - Ca l T r as k , Eas t o f Ed e n

F o r sto r e lo cat i o n a n d c o n ta c t d eta i ls, t u r n to

o n pa g e 6 0

inMyBag

Ton L ao M y t r a v e l l is t:

I n t e r v i e w b y Ma r g i e F . F r a n c i s c o

“I’m a light packer. I usually list things to take with me and then pack everything a day before my flight” Ton Lao, a former model, is stylist for celebrities Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, Rayver Cruz, Richard and Raymond Gutierrez, and Aljur Abrenica.

He is also a fashion and print photographer, shooting for Bench, Bench Dubai, SM Men’s Wear, and local fashion magazines

1 15” MacBook Pro laptop (P94,990 or about US $1,900)

“It’s very handy for working on the photos I’ve taken”

Pho t o by Jeffr ey Sonor a

3 Bench Ginger Lemon Sandalwood body spray (P200) 4 Bench Pure Mist Facial Water (P129)) 5 Bench Fix Styling Stick (P189) 6 Bench Alcogel Liquid Hand Sanitizer for kids (P79) 7 Off! Overtime insect repellent lotion (P120) 8 Bench Alcogel Clean Wipes (P149) “It’s anti-bacterial and moisturizes the skin” 9 Wallet Especially Made for Ton Lao by TeamManila.com (P150) 10 Apple iPod Classic 120gb (P14,990) 11 Canon EOS 40D DSLR (current EOS series’ rates start at P37,950)

“Canon is known for its user-friendliness; the photos come out very clean and the color images are spot on”

12 Medicine kit (P20) 13 Brush (P75) 14 Pocketbag by HMN (P250) 15 Ben Sherman sunglasses (P6,000) ■

2 Puma tote bag by Rudolf Dassler (P7,225) “It’s a durable bag and great for casual outings or long vacations”

01 02

03 04 05

06 07 08

15

09 11

14

12

10

13

F o r sto r e lo cat i o n a n d c o n ta c t d eta i ls, t u r n to 22 InFlight I october-november 2010

o n pa g e 6 0

Lim at his DOT office in Manila

Tourism’s CHAMPION?

“I don’t like sloppiness,” says tourism secretary Alberto A. Lim. Top of his agenda is to improve tourism infrastructure and go over government spending for promotions with a fine-tooth comb In t erv ie w by Monic a De L e on

Pho t os by Stev e Tirona

G r o o m i n g b y A i sa Fa y C o s t o

The successful model that we’re looking at is Vigan. We hope it also happens in places like Iloilo, Cebu. Bohol has a lot of potential to become another Bali. Samar can be a destination, I would say, in six years’ time or longer because it’s still very virgin.

What are your hopes for Philippine tourism?

I’m hoping that we will double our visitor to 6 million and tourism receipts to US $4.5B by the end of the term of President Benigno Aquino III. And I hope our revenue will grow more than double.

How will you set about achieving these?

We will guide the local governments in their infrastructure planning and be more active in directing the infrastructure priorities in the central Philippines. We have to focus our resources first in the central Philippines because that’s where our strength is.

Boracay has a lot of catching up to do with its sanitation infrastructure to ensure its own sustainable development. Bohol needs a new airport. [The New Bohol Airport in Panglao is slated to open in 2012-2015 as per the Department of Transportation and Communication, the government office that the DOT has been partnering with for the airport’s construction project. Source: www. theboholstandard.com]. In Cebu, they have different problems like water supply, and Palawan needs a more reliable power. So those needs have to be met for the destinations to be more viable.

What are your goals this year? Your priorities?

We have to start early planning for the new gateway in Clark and for new airports in emerging destinations such as Panglao Island in Bohol. We’re also planning to use the new media a lot more, to raise the standards of tour guiding, to improve the visitor arrival experience at the NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport), to start work on Terminal 3, and to create an attraction for Manila, which is the Walled City of Intramuros. Intramuros, an icon of Philippine colonial history, needs a new plan. We have to deal with its problems – informal settlers, traffic. By the end of President Aquino’s term we should have a newly restored church, a museum of ecclesiastical art, more life in the walled city at night. We hope that this cultural tourism is spread in other places.

october-november 2010 I InFlight 25

inperson A l b e r t o A . L i m

Are you giving yourself a timeline?

I have six years to lay a solid foundation for tourism development. In the first three months of this period, we will finish the improvement of the arrival and departure experience at the NAIA Terminal 1. The bathrooms at the airport have to be improved as well as the directional signs on the roads leading to the terminal. We have to ensure that only authorized people populate the airport.

We will introduce a new brand for the Philippines within the first six months of President Aquino. And by next year the Department of Tourism will have a new website. We will have a cleaner and brighter Rizal Park.

That’s an easy one to do. Then we’re going to launch programs that can be done across the country like clean up drives in partnership with the private sector. It’s not a new program but we have to become more tourist friendly by cleaning up.

How different will your administration be from the previous ones?

We’ll scrutinize our expenditure. Our product development will be based on market needs. We’re going to try to improve promotions by spending less on traditional media and investing more on new media. We will also focus on funding projects and events that will give higher yields.

Among all the tourism secretaries, who do you admire most?

can give me suggestions on how to do things in a different way without forcing people to do things that they don’t want to do.

Joe Aspiras is often mentioned as the best. I pick Joe because he got tourism started. People credit him for being the father of Philippine tourism.

What are your work hours like?

Tourists depend on the star rating when looking for a resort.

Many find our star rating flawed. What can you say about this?

Long these early days in the new administration because there’s so much to do and people that I have to meet. I work 12, sometimes 15 hours [a day]. I catch up on my emails at home at night.

We are looking at a rating system that is internationally recognized, so that people know what to expect. But we only rate the hardware (accommodation structures and facilities), not the software (service).

What’s your view on sustainable and eco-friendly tourism?

That’s where we, the DOT, come in – recommending heavy infrastructures like sewage treatment plants. But then the local government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources both play a big role in this too.

Your major hate?

I don’t like sloppiness, I don’t like laziness.

Your major likes?

I like complete staff work. I like people who are open to new ideas, who

26 InFlight I ocotber-november 2010

Do you work weekends?

I try to go to tourism sites on weekends. I was in Batanes last weekend [as of interview]. Next weekend I’ll be in Davao. I’m hoping to be able to see Samar and Tawi-Tawi in the near future. And then I will have to go abroad to meet other APEC tourism ministers and thereafter our partners in the Japan travel trade.

Your work ethic?

Some people say I move quickly because I’ve had a lot of experience in this industry so I don’t have to go down the learning curve anymore.

When there is a contentious issue, I always look at both sides. And when things are not clear to me, I get people who are experts in the field to help make well-considered decisions. ■

ALBERTO LIM: ME AND MY TRAVELS Tell us about your best holiday in the Philippines?

I’m biased because I’ve worked in Palawan. In El Nido you have a very varied package. You can go kayaking in the lagoons, snorkeling, have a picnic lunch, go island hopping, fishing, diving, have very exotic dinners on sandbars; if you want to watch bats or rock climb you can do that too.

El Nido’s sunset

Bird watching is for special tourists.

People learn about the unique nature that we have here, the variety of coral species, a large number of endemic fish and bird species. When people travel nowadays, they look for an educational experience. They want to learn while on vacation.

Your favorite resort?

I just went to one in Batanes (Fundacion Pacita). It belongs to a friend of mine.

I like it because it’s up on a mountain.

The view is so breathtaking it’s like you’re in Brittany or in Scottland but even more beautiful to me. And I like the way they fixed the rooms. I prefer cool air to the warm. I prefer nature to the city life.

Fundacion Pacita in Batanes gets thumbs up from Lim

What are you looking forward to in other tourism destinations?

I expect some fantastic sceneries in Samar – very wild. Tawi-Tawi I expect to see some very clear waters like in Palawan, but of course even less spoilt because hardly anyone goes there.

The other site that I want to revisit is Banawe because it has one of our most precious treasures, the Banawe Rice Terraces. Like I said, I’m taking a large interest now in heritage and nature conservation. It’s what makes us unique. The meeting of East and West is a really big advantage. It makes us unique compared to other countries in Asia. Vigan is a leader when it comes to heritage conservation but there are other places that can follow like Iloilo and Bohol. There are places like Dumaguete where structures of the old colonial period are still very wellpreserved. One place that I’d like to see develop is the Puerto Galera Bay. It’s one of the most beautiful bays in the world. It will be nice if the rich families who bought properties in Puerto Galera will get together and start developing the properties they acquired. Mindoro is so close to Manila that it can become a major destination.

Of course there are places all over the Philippines where Europeans like going to because of the simple lifestyle.

Your favorite restaurant?

Again I’m biased. My cousin owns a nice restaurant Lolo Dad’s. The buffet at the Sofitel Spiral has made it an eating destination. In Serendra there’s so much variety. There are a number of eating destinations now that Manila can offer. So can Cebu.

Service is one area we can really improve on. I think resort owners pay more attention to the rooms when they should be paying equal attention to the service.

Service is very important. Service means the cuisine, assistance, the check-in, check-out. The welcome and the farewell are important.

Oysters from Lolo Dad’s

underwear for each day, slippers, cap, and a book. I have a bag ready for travel, containing all the basic items I need. If I have to stay longer, let’s say a week overseas, I just dump that bag in a bigger bag, with the additional clothes necessary.

Your biggest packing mistake?

In my last trip to Bohol, I didn’t think I’d need slippers as I would be staying in a 5-star resort. Because I inspected a PTA hotel in Balicasag Island, I had to wear the slippers supplied by our resort, which were too small for me. I developed a callous.

What do you avoid on holiday?

I don’t go on shopping vacations. If I buy anything, it’s incidental. I’m up for adventure but I don’t want to over exert and spoil a vacation. And I always look for a downtime, spending time sitting in a café, sipping a cup of coffee, watching people go by.

What do you hate about holidays?

Checking in at airports. I don’t like the tension of possible delays and missed connections, the long check-in line, the waiting for boarding. ■

What do you always take with you?

Very little. I travel light. I bring a camera. I don’t pack shoes as I plan my wardrobe around the pair I wear while travelling. Sunglasses, shirts and

Fundacion Pacita photos by Jocas A. See; Lolo Dad’s photo by Ocs Alvarez

october-november 2010 I InFlight 27

inroom > indul ge

28 InFlight I ocotber-november 2010

Master class Space age dawns at The Picasso, says David Dalton FIRST IMPRESSION. This is the first hotel I’ve stayed in for years where I can walk around the room without hitting something after two paces.

That’s what strikes you first about rooms at The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences. They’re big. The last hotel I stayed in I got out of bed in the early hours and immediately walked into a wall. Forget about unpacking – there was barely enough room to open a suitcase without injuring bystanders.

does lunch and dinner. Head chef Robert Lilja has put together a menu that just about covers all bases. There are Danish open-face sandwiches, British meat pies and sausages, and Spanish classics such as paella (Picasso’s favorite, apparently). Some of the most interesting dishes are those that take traditional Filipino cuisine and add a twist – caldebaca with goose liver terrine, laing with truffle oil, and lechon kawali with strawberry and balsamic reduction sauce.

SETTING. But then Picasso isn’t really a hotel. It’s what the marketing folk call a “serviced residence”, which means the rooms are mini-me condos, with a hob to heat your pot noodles on and a bedside dock for your iPod. There’s a kettle for coffee, a comfortable desk, the obligatory flat-screen TV, and free 24-hour WiFi. The whole Picasso thing – color coordinated floors, an art gallery – is a bit of a stretch, but it doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that The Picasso is the kind of hotel – sorry, residence – where if you haven’t got a life you don’t need to go out. I made myself coffee, trundled downstairs for free breakfast in the restaurant (delicious eggs Benedict) and then spent the day pretending to work.

ROOMS. There are five types of room.

Mine is a Madrid Studio, but bigger than most studios I’ve seen before.

There’s a small balcony overlooking the street, but because of the double glazing there’s no traffic noise.

Cocooned in here I find it easier to get work done than I do at the office.

At the top end of The Picasso range, the Picasso Suite offers two loft floors of minimalist elegance, with space enough for the whole family, presuming you can afford US $360 (about P18,000) a night. ■

Location. If you do go out you won’t have to go far. The Picasso is tucked away behind Citibank in Makati, but only a short walk or taxi-hop to Greenbelt. Next door there’s a spa called QI Wellness, offering the usual range of mud packs, massages and reflexology treatments.

The 45sqm Madrid Studio

Photo courtesy of The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences

fOOd. The free breakfast is served downstairs at the Brasserie Boheme, which is open to non-guests and also

essentials Rates start at $200++ per night, including breakfast .

The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences

119 L.P. Leviste St., Salcedo Village, Makati City, Philippines 1227 Tel: +632/ 828 4774 Fax: +632/ 828 9141 Email: reservations@picassomakati.com URL: www.picassomakati.com

october-november 2010 I InFlight 29

indulge Ma m o u

Mamou’s kitchen It scores high on personal service and the steak is not bad either, says Ces Rodriguez p h o t o s b y J o c as A . S e e

SETTING. Casual dining with mostly six to eight-seaters. Warm colors dominate, with wooden floorboards, wooden chairs in red leatherette, ever-so-slightly scratched tabletops, backlit smoked glass cupboards behind the serving counter, and butler pendant lights create a laidback vibe. Owner Malou Fores whose nickname is Mamou says the restaurant is an expanded version of her dining room at home. Mamou is a “home kitchen” that can get a little loud at times. Regulars call the waiters by their first name and the owner herself warmly works the room.

Mamou’s interior

Prime grade porterhouse steak

FOOD. There’s truffle flavored vegetable mushroom soup and tuyo salad, steamed love Maine lobster and kurobuta (Japanese black pig) sinigang or sour soup, venison curry and pancakes. The menu makes do with whatever is fresh and available. We had grana padano cheese sliced into sticks and served with fuet Catalonian salami and a saucer of honey (P295 or about US $6) for appetizer.

The combination of the aged taste of the cheese with the fattiness of the salami swirled with a sweet coating was delightful. The vegetable, mushroom and barley soup (P215) was resonant and hearty.

The piece de resistance: an 800g dry aged USDA prime grade porterhouse steak (P3,500 for the twin size, P2,800 for the 600g).

It came darkened by the grill, pre-sliced into strips. We tried all four side dishes that came with it: baked mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, corn pudding and white rice sautéed in steak fat.

Even if the steak was sent back to the kitchen for reheat (the downside of first taking photos of the food), it re-emerged still supple, pink at the center and succulent. I guessed we missed the random crunch of rock salt but that was easily remedied. The meal ended with the crispy milk (P275) two pies – a moist, chewy pecan (P180) and a refreshingly tart key lime (P145) served with whipped cream – washed down with coffee (P75) served in French presses – Benguet and a limited-supply robust and smooth Basilan.

SERVICE. Cordial, prompt, relaxed.

WHO DINES THERE. Ladies who lunch, families, close friends, repeat visitors from abroad, executive types from the offices in the area, owners of condo units located above the restaurant.

PRICE. Not cheap. But if you’re dining for two, P700 each will get you a starter or salad, a main course and a dessert. For steaks, P980 gets you a 250g wawa’s prime rib. For P1,000 each, you also get a glass of wine from Mamou’s extensive list of European wines.

VERDICT. Begs repeat visits. ■

Mamou – A Home Kitchen Unit 1C-15, G/F Serendra, Fort Bonifacio Heights, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City Tel: +632/ 856 3569, 909 5741; mobile: +63917/ 816 2668 Call to inquire serving hours; reservations are encouraged

ins & ou ts

cov er st ory

Royal Taal Inn

insider’ s guide

in focus

Pamana’s ensaladang bagnet

Taal Vista Hotel

ins & o u ts

Tagaytay escape

R e s e a r c h b y Ma r g i e F . F r a n c i s c o

Tagaytay, Just about a two-hour drive from Manila, still attracts tourists with its cool weather, the stunning view of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano, and the long stretch of fruit stalls along the road.

Stay. Owned by St. Luke’s Hospital medical director Dr. Joven Cuanang is the vacation home turned bed and breakfast Meteora, a Greek-inspired house situated on a cliff overlooking Taal Lake. The two-bedroom house is a fusion of Greek and Ilocano styles, the Greek look is reflected in the minimalist white cement finish and columns on the terrace and the Ilocano inspiration from

32 InFlight I october-november 2010

m ap i l l u s t r a t i o n b y r a n d y r . r e y

the wooden windows, doors, flooring from old Ilocos ancestral houses and San Esteban stone steps. It was meant to be Dr. Cuanang’s private retreat from the world who has decided to share its attractions with the public for pre-arranged bookings and small groups of up to 10 adults. Mobile:

483 1066; mobile: +63927/ 555 1144; url: www.royaltaal.com; email: info@royaltaal.com Formerly a lodge, the Taal Vista Hotel (Km 60, Aguinaldo Highway) has 128 guest

+63917/ 332 0217 The Royal Taal Inn (Calamba Road, Brgy. Iruhin Central) has six rooms and is

rooms, a restaurant and café, swimming pool, spa, gym, game room and an indoor children’s area. Tel: +6346/ 413 1000, +632/

•

run by a small family, offering low rates for rooms with views of the Taal Volcano and Lake. Each guest room has individual air conditioning, en suite toilet, satellite TV, and a balcony with sitting area overlooking

Taal Lake. The inn has no restaurant, but you can have breakfast on the rooftop and order snacks and sandwiches. Tel: +6346/

•

403 1000; url: www.taalvistahotel.com

• 8-Suites Tagaytay By Fat Jimmy’s (Lot 7, Ridge View Subdivision, Brgy. Iruhin) has eight suites, all chocolate themed, and each room has a cable satellite, flat screen HDTV,

advertorial

insAndOuts Ta g a y t a y

Coffee Farmhouse

Marcia Adams

One of the honey bee by-products sold at Ilog Maria store

free use of DVD from the DVD library and WiFi, mini bar and in-room safe. There’s also a spacious lobby, dining area, seminar rooms, infinity spa and a sprawling garden. Tel:

+6346/ 697 7048; url: www.8suites.com

Dine. Marcia Adams, a Tuscan-style wood-and-stone property, opened in January this year. It serves mainly Italian dishes.

Don’t forget to try owner Neil and Marcia’s homemade jams and bread baked on site.

J.P. Rizal Street, Brgy. Sikat, Alfonso, Cavite.

Mobile: +63917/ 801 1456

•

If you’re passing through the Daang Hari area from Alabang, then Buona Vita Ristorante Italiano is a must visit. Try their specialties gameberoni alla sarda (P550) or fresh king prawns with lemon, orange and cream sauce, and the bisteca alla florentina (P420), a generous cut of the New York steak grilled to perfection with shaved parmesan cheese.

Pamana (Aguinaldo Highway) is one of the most visited Filipino restaurants in Tagaytay, serving Filipino cuisine based on secret family recipes handed down to Happy Ongpauco, a third generation member of the Barrio Fiesta Restaurant clan. You can order Barrio Fiesta favorites such as crispy pata, bulalo steak and adobo rice of World Topps. Mobile: +63920/

•

856 1970

34 InFlight I october-november 2010

SEE AND DO. On your way to Tagaytay, stop

by Solenad, Nuvali to feed the koi fish in the four-hectare lake or go boat riding and enjoy the scenery of Nuvali.

The Ilog Maria store in Silang, Cavite is the place to get your taste of honey, straight from the honey bee comb. You can also buy Ilog Maria products such as lip balm, oatmeal and spearmint soap and insect repellant.

Check out the seven-hectare Flower Farm located on the cool mountains of Tagaytay during the Country Fair in May. The farm houses over 100 varieties of vibrantly colored cutflowers, plants, herbs and trees. Open from

•

•

8am to 5pm; P112 per person entrance fee. Tel: +632/ 840 3914, 815 6665/67-68 Go on a coffee tour at the Coffee Farmhouse on the outskirts of Tagaytay.

•

It’s a family farm that offers visitors a walk through rows of evergreen coffee trees, enjoying the fragrance of white coffee flowers and sight of ripe berries. A guide is on hand to explain the orchard’s coffee varieties, how coffee is farmed, the traditional tools and equipment used to process coffee and to give tips on how to make the perfect brew. Located at 23 Palumlum-Matagbak

Road, Brgy. Palumlum, Alfonso, Cavite.

Mobile: +63928/ 555 5856; url: www. thecoffeefarmhouse.wordpress.com ■

Cover Story

Short breaks

Five of Inflight’s favorite people talk about their personal holiday boltholes opening Pho t o by jeffr ey sonor a produc t Pho t os by m a r io ba bier a m ap i l l u s t r a t i o n s b y m a r l o n a . s e e

Fashion styling by Waldo J. Villados Hair and makeup by Aisa Fay Costo Modeling by Jessica Paras Model's dress by Trucco; necklace and bangle by Accessorize; wedge sandals by VNC Location: Paras' home at Dahilayan, Bukidnon

36 InFlight I october-november 2010

One of Jessica's favorite snug couches in their Dahilayan home's verandah

Dress by Dorothy Perkins; ring by Accessorize

S h o r t b r e a k s Cover Story

Jessica Paras Model, I nflight

Clockwise from top left:

Owner and interior designer, Paras Beach Resort, Camiguin Island “We have a vacation house in Dahilayan, Bukidnon, not far from where I grew up in Cagayan de Oro, in Mindanao.

There’s no sea, but the mountains are beautiful and give the house a cozy feeling. Our balcony has a full 180-degree view of Mt. Kitanglad. It gets foggy and cool up there sometimes so we can sit around the fire and drink hot chocolate.

My childhood memories are filled with living the simple life and the joys of any provincial girl. My fondest memory in the house is of the first time me and my dad lit a fire in the fireplace. It seemed to mark the beginning of that house, like a housewarming in the literal sense. The view plays a big part on how the house looks and feels, so there’s a huge balcony with sofas and lazy boys overlooking the mountains. That’s where we usually entertain.

I lounge around in my espadrille Crocs and favorite Zara denims. And I always take my iPhone – more for taking photos than talking.

When I’m away I always find myself longing to go back. You’ve never seen stars if you’ve never been to Dahilayan at night – falling and shooting stars every time. Just across from the

Volcom t-shirts; sunset view from the balcony; Jessica's favorite buys — Kerastase Nutritive Curl Definition Shampoo, Shwarzkopf Zero Frizz Conditioner, Total Effects Oil of Olay cream cleanser, Bobbi Brown Moisture Cream, and Royal Ambree cologne; iPhone; Jessica with mom Nene at Dahilayan; and espadrille Crocs

house, about several feet away, is Forest Park where you can speed away on an ATV across rocky terrains or ride a giant Zorb bubble down a hill, an exercise that usually elicits a scream.

Whenever I feel the need for some excitement, it’s right outside the door.

“Me and my family are generally beach lovers so we go as often as we can to our resort on Camiguin Island on hot summer days where it’s always a breath of fresh air, a mix of what we love, which are extreme sports and relaxing. My friends and I go to Tali Beach in Nasugbu on long weekends, a couple of hours’ drive from Manila but is a perfect ‘spur of the moment’ getaway.”

Photos by Jeffrey Sonora; iPhone photo by Apple; Jessica & mom photo courtesy of Jessica Paras

october-november 2010 I InFlight 39

Cover Story S h o r t b r e a k s

Monica De Leon Managing editor, I nflight

“I come from a huge family that adores get-togethers, noisy and fun affairs highlighted by big meals, endless talking and young kids breaking out in impromptu song and dance.

It is not unusual to see dozens of children running around, screaming, sometimes pulling each other's hair. So you can imagine how we are on holidays. It gets crazy, but no one minds the chaos. On a recent trip to Clark with 40 of my family, we stayed at Paradise Ranch eco-resort that helps provide work to the area’s aboriginal aeta community. It was Holy Week and a last minute decision took us to this resort's five-room cottage. The amenities were Spartan. We went straight for the pool, swimming, and later on joining in the resort's fish and bird feeding activity by the lake fronting our cottage. The resort is quite close to Zoocobia, an interactive zoo by Zoobic Safari. The Zoocobia was more of a mini zoo, clean and well-run, attracting kids with its hay-filled floors at the façade and exit, the chance to interact with animals, art activity area, a play ground, and a souvenir shop.

Perfect for my four young boys. You get to see a free roaming bear cat, touch the birds that are not caged, and hand-feed baby farm animals like piglets and lambs with bottled milk. We also got to ride this vehicle that runs by pull of gravity. I’d say the zoo was the star of our trip. The kids were happy so we grown-ups were happy. While being an editor for quite some time has afforded me the luxury of getting all-expense-paid trips to lavish hotels and resorts, nothing beats holidaying with my loved ones, lounging about in my comfy short and tank top, and feeling completely at home.

“My best get away from it all holiday though are my weeklong vacations to my husband’s hometown Naga City in Bicol Region.

First, I psyche myself and swear never to take work. Once in Naga, we feast on Bicol dishes like there’s no tomorrow (so I surely gain a few pounds after the visit). And there’s always the day visit to the famous wakeboarding place Camsur Watersports Complex (CWC), a 15 minute drive.”

40 InFlight I october-november 2010

Clockwise from top left: Monica with kids Miguel and Kimi, nephew Tristan, niece Zy, brother Frederico and sister Ericka at Cafe Mesa in Clark; a biography of Kurt Cobain; Lenovo netbook; Holster footwear; hobo skirt

by Calvin Klein; GM neverfull monogram by Louis Vuitton; and favorite beauty and skin care products: L'occitane Cherry Blossoms shower gel, Messy Bessy insect repellent, The Bodyshop oil body butter, and Bobbi Brown duo blush

Zoocobia and lake photos by Joseph Marasigan; Cafe Mesa photo by Sasha Marasigan

Fish and duck feeling at the lake at Paradise Ranch in Clark; below, one of the many interactive activities, camel feeding, at Zoocobia

A splendid Siquijor sunset; and below, Coco Grove's beachfront

S h o r t b r e a k s Cover Story

Clockwise from top left: Swiss Gear

by Wenger backpack; Rayban Aviators; Samsung E590; Jan napping in a hammock; My Utmost by Oswald Chambers for daily reading; Swiss knife; Champion USA cap; Reef board shorts; Macbook pro laptop

Jan Lao

Contributing writer, I nflight

“Me and my friends RJ Lacson, Joaquin Gonzalez and Lea Espiritu-Gonzalez – the latter two Australian based and were just in the country for the holidays – decided to go on a road trip from Bacolod to Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental in January 2006. We packed and took off onboard my ever-reliable green Ford pick-up truck. We arrived in Dumaguete at dawn, and while having breakfast in a diner, our (late) friend Miguel, who was in Siquijor, asked RJ if Bacolod was in any way near where he was at the moment, filming “Siquijor: Mystic Island”, an indie film. On a whim, we took a 45-minute Delta fastcraft ride from Dumaguete to Siquijor. None of us has ever been to the place and even thought of going to it. When we arrived on the island, we saw the vastness and beauty of the white beach and the lushness of the greens beyond it. The port's dock stretched out to the blue sea smack right in the middle of the island – and I actually wished it wasn't there. Also, I don't know if the thought of Siquijor's enchanting reputation added to it's uncanny beauty. We rode this colorful minijeep of the resort Coco Grove, where we were booked and where Miguel and the film’s cast and crew were staying. It's owned by a really

Siquijor photos by RJ Lacson

nice foreign lady. On the narrow hilly roads heading to the resort, we passed by lush forests, local homes, the Siquijor Church and Siquijor Belltower built in 1870, and caught sight of the pristine beaches. The resort owner and her pet parrot greeted us when we arrived. The place is one of those resorts you would love to just stay in the whole time you're there, with its tropical, natural and sustainable theme, and various plants, vines, flowers. Our cottage was the Frangipani – nice and quaint as the other cottages and pool are. The beachfront was breathtaking with cream-colored sand, azure waters, corals and fish, and awesome mini-cliff type rock formations and caves. It reminded me of the village from the movie "The Beach", only more luxurious. The staff were nice, although service was a bit lousy. Food’s okay and everything’s cheap except for the alcohol. We found out that Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston once stayed here, incognito of course, before heading off to Apo Island. And I had my solo journey around the island that brought me to the hills where I got to hang out with some of the town folks and had their local 'tuba', which I'm not sure was a good idea because when nightfall came, I had a really eerie nightmare.

Next thing I knew, I was awake in the middle of the night, and everyone’s already asleep. Was it Siquijor's voodoo or was it just my imagination, until now I don't know.”

october-november 2010 I InFlight 43

Cover Story S h o r t b r e a k s

Mica Diva Tuano

Senior copywriter, Publicis JimenezBasic A dvertising “Me and my boyfriend Marc went to The Farm in Batangas last year. It was a milestone for us as we were celebrating our first year together so it was really a memorable weekend in a great place to be reflective of the year that was. The Farm makes you really feel relaxed from the moment you step in. There is greenery and water all around you and the overall design of the spa is quite beautiful. I like the serenity it gives and how it espouses overall wellness for people who stay there. You can swim in the infinity pool, have a massage under the stars, hang out by the secret waterfall and just be lost in the labyrinth of greens.

We did yoga and ate vegan food, which was surprisingly delicious. And our suite inside The Farm felt like a private sanctuary. We even had a gate so it felt like our very own house. There was a spacious garden and an open bathroom. It was nice to come home to after a day of swimming and exercising.

“Boracay is one of my favorite getaways. It’s like being in Makati without traffic, with all the conveniences, the nightlife and the amazingly beautiful beach. There was a year when I went six times but on average I go twice a year, and usually with Marc. I stay in different places but I like the style of The Tides and its location since I’m a mallrat and a beach bum. And I almost always eat at Mañana.”

44 InFlight I october-november 2010

Clockwise from top left: Mica and boyfriend Marc Fu; newsboy hat; H&M scarf; Clarins sunblock; Longchamp tote bag; sleeping eye mask; makeup essentials: Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined mascara, Chanel lipstick in Mythic, Lamer concealer and RMK foundation; and Mica by the gate of their 'gated' cottage

Big Lagoon and spa photos by The Farm

Mica says The Farm "has greenery and water all around you... It's like being embraced tightly by nature"

El Nido Lagen Island Resort at dusk

Guada finds Batanes and its rolling terrain much like Ireland

S h o r t b r e a k s Cover Story

Clockwise from top left: Ilog Maria propolis throat spray and herbal mouthwash by Watsons; bag tag; animal print pouch bags; Leyende skin butter and Leyende conditioner; Guada's sister Gina at Lagen Resort's meditation area; Guada diving with Gina in El Nido; large brown bag; travel guidebooks

Guada Reyes

Fashion stylist, owner, One Good Eye Concepts

“I really have great memories of Lagen Resort in El Nido. My sister and I stayed there in 2002 while on a vacation break from our studies abroad. It was our first time to stay in the resort and as soon as we arrived, it was just – I don’t know how to describe it. It’s just so amazing! The whole place was heaven.

When we arrived, there was a welcome song routine from the staff, and it felt extra special because it was just for the two of us. It doesn’t really matter if you’re in a big group or a small one; they [El Nido staff] really give you this grand entrance. The service was so personal.

Every day, the staff would plan your activities for you and you’re free to change it to adapt to your specific taste. And you get to have a personal guide to tour you around the island.

I was just so fascinated by it, to be in a place where you’re surrounded by all these towering limestone cliffs on one side and the ocean on the other. And when we were about to leave, it’s like all the staff were just so nice and I had that feeling like, “Oh, it’s so sad to leave”, and my sister was like bawling in tears! The thing with Lagen Resort is that it wasn’t just the resort.

I was so taken by many other things that are

just absolutely nice. It’s like once you’re there, you’re transported to another world. It was a paradise!

“I’ve also been to Batanes for work. It’s really like Ireland. We stayed at Shanedel’s. The trip and place was unforgettable. I love Tagaytay, which is a short trip away from the city but makes a huge difference already. And I stop by Raan on Jupiter to relax, gather my thoughts away from the crowd and listen to relaxing music playing in the background.” ■

Lagen Island Resort photo by El Nido Resorts; Batanes photo by Jocas A. See

october-november 2010 I InFlight 47

Metro Manila Shopping insider’s guide to

Two top fashionistas reveal the best fashion haunts S t o r y b y L e i C h av e z p h o t o s b y D a n i e l S o r i a n o

About Our insiders

L ani Beltran

Jenni Epperson

The face behind boho-chic specialty store Nullah (www.nullahonline.com), which sells one-of-a-kind designs that don't go out of style. She likes wearable fashion that lasts and are reasonably priced. “I love going to unknown designers," she says.

Fashion columnist for national daily, Philippine Daily Inquirer, and fashion consultant to politicians and local celebrities such as TV host Angel Aquino and actress-model KC Concepcion. Epperson was president of the clothing group Linea Italia, creative director of Just Shop magazine, and was host for Lifestyle Network.

Her style? "Black, bold, and bad," she says.

Shopping photo by Christopher Bernard; blank label with string photo by Ian Cumberland; all for iStockphoto

october-november 2010 I InFlight 49

Fashion Cool Filipino designs

Bea Valdes Jenni says Bea Valdes' crystal and semi-precious stone encrusted bags and purses, embroidered glass drop necklaces, neckpieces and vests, all intricately beaded by Filipino artisans using Philippine beads and materials, have been featured in Vogue and worn by the likes of Sharon Stone, Kate Moss, and Rachel Roy. One ready made bag can fetch US $7,000 (about P350,000) but Valdes mostly makes them bespoke.

Email info@beavaldes.com; visit www.beavaldes.com

Aranaz Boutique by Amina Aranaz Bag designer Amina Aranaz-Alunan, a favorite of Jenni, uses indigenous materials to create chic and modern pieces. She made popular the oversized plastic totes with wooden and straw accents, the little “coco disco bags” and the eco-friendly natural shopping bags.

Aranaz boutique is at Powerplant Mall and at Greenbelt 5, Makati City

Model Larissa Ide donning attire from The Ramp

Shop designer brands

The Ramp Crossings Jenni says The Ramp Crossings is good for checking out young Filipino designers such as Gayle Gozum for Wildflower, Richie Ortega for United Pop, and Donna Cuna-Pita for Abrace. Clothing and accessories line currently on trend are halter jersey jumpsuits, chiffon maxi dresses and chunky accessories.

Visit The Ramp at Crossings Edsa Shangri-La Plaza, Crossings Quezon Ave., Crossings TriNoma, The Podium, and Glorietta.

Dresses start from P1,000. Visit www.crossings.com.ph Nullah Lani’s favorite store is of course her own Nullah, known for its urban bohemian products from beaded tunics, harem pants and ethnic dresses. And don't miss her line of blue denim pants and comfy beach to night-out jumpsuits. Quirky accessories range from floral wire chokers to loop earrings with bells. “I don’t get the same clothes when I restock. There’s always something new,” she says.

Nullah is at Doña Consolacion Building, 122 Jupiter St., Bel-Air, Makati; email info@nullahonline.com

50 InFlight I october-November 2010

Greenbelt Check out Prada (+632/ 752 6298), Louis Vuitton (+632/ 756 0637), Hermes (+632/ 757 8940), and Marc by Marc Jacobs (+632/ 729 9607), all at the Greenbelt area.

“They carry some of the current collection found in stores worldwide,” Jenni says.

Adora is a local store that carries international designer labels such as Jill Sander, Missonni, and Etro as well as Eastern fashion brands from China, Bangkok and Cebu. It's a favorite shop of young professionals. Fit clothes in dressing rooms with lush floor-to-ceiling velvet curtains. Prices are from P395 for a bracelet from Cebu to six-digit prices for the designer offerings. Store opens from 1pm.

Adora, Louis Vuitton, and Marc by Marc Jacobs are located at Greenbelt 5; Prada is at Greenbelt 4; while Hermes is at Greenbelt 3 Lapipeau Papadu Pepe Pue Lapipeau Papadu Pepe Pue, ran by Mandy dela Rama-Santos, carries hip European-inspired street style clothes for boys aged one to 10. “Even though my son Dylan is barely a year old, I've been hoarding Lapipeau Papadu Pepe Pue clothes. I know that he'll look cool in them!”

Lapipeau Papadu Pepe Pue is available at Rustan’s Department Stores

Model Larissa Ide photo by Jeff Sonora; styling by Waldo Villados

M e t r o Ma n i l a s h o pp i n g

insider’s guide

Calm and artistic define the interiors of Nullah

Clothes in colorful and rich materials are aplenty at Nullah

Beaded neckpiece available at Nullah

Tresorie

Vintage Restore

New Yorker

Bags

M e t r o Ma n i l a s h o pp i n g

insider’s guide

Second hand Louis Vuittons and Guccis

Tresorie Visit Ingrid Chua Go’s Tresorie, a second-hand bag shop that also features high-end authentic designer totes, clothes and accessories. She designs hip avant-garde jewelry under the label I. Benjamin. The store is open from Mondays to Saturdays, from 11:30am to 6:30pm.

Tresorie is at 2/F, Doña Consolacion Bldg. Call +632/ 890 0037 or visit www.tresorie.multiply.com

Vintage finds

New Yorker Jenni highly recommends chic New Yorker by Liz Lirag for “the most amazing collection” of luxe vintage clothes, accessories and materials. “They are experts in reworking vintage clothes and have the know-how in dry cleaning beaded, vintage, and embroidered clothes,” she says. The store is famous for one-of-a-kind beadwork and daring silhouettes that bridge vintage and contemporary styles.

The stones in the chunky neckpieces are all from the 1960s treasure trove of Liz’s mother. Prices start at P500.

The store is open from Mondays to Thursday until 8pm.

Visit the store at 1004 Arnaiz St., Makati City; tel: +632/ 844 7663

Bag restorers

Vintage Restore Vintage Restore is a high-end bag clinic owned by sisters Trisha Cruz-Cuason and Lally Cruz-Dizon, whose parents have been in the bag business for the last 20 years.

The restoration shop fixes all types of bags – from vintage to family heirlooms to signature to second-hand bags in weeks, not months. Trisha and Lally accept limited madeto-orders. They also make bespoke shoes.

Vintage Restore is at 2/F Doña Consolacion Bldg.; fax: +632/ 890 4326; email v.store@gmail.com

Kuwintas Souvenirs Arts & Artifacts

Jewelry Arnel Papa Arnel Papa is known for jewelry pieces made from indigenous materials like carabao horn, coco wood, and mother of pearls combined with brass and copper metals.

Arnel Papa’s store is at 2/F Greenbelt 5, Makati City; tel: +632/ 729 0181; email ershellcraft@yahoo.com Binondo The heart of inexpensive jewelry lies along the busy Ongpin St. in Binondo where Chinese merchants sell gold and accessories at bargain prices. Hawker stalls carry necklaces to earrings to beaded brooches. “If you happen to be in Binondo, Ongpin Street is just full of jewelry shops. I keep saying the accessories don’t have to be expensive. You can buy a brooch or something that would make your bag stand out. It just has to be different,” Lani shares.

D! Luxe

Kuwintas Souvenirs Arts & Artifacts Lani goes to Kuwintas Souvenirs Arts and Crafts by Beth Encarnacion for Filipino. The old glam shop has a diverse collection of antique neckpieces, chokers, bangles and earrings with the “dug-up” flair.

Located at #32-A Main Avenue Murphy, Cubao, Quezon City; tel: +632/ 912 0098, 363 2328

october-november 2010 I InFlight 53

insider’s guide M e t r o Ma n i l a s h o pp i n g

D! Luxe For unique fashion for her children, Lani’s two girls usually buy basic clothes from department stores and get accessories at D! Luxe, a floor away from Nullah. “The store sells bangles, rings, charm bracelets for kids,” she shares.

D! Luxe is at 2/F Doña Consolacion Bldg

Furniture Ms. Remy’s Thrift Shop Ms. Remy’s Thrift Shop has loads of hard-to-find items, glassware, furniture, and fixtures. The quaint store has antique glassware and China Remy has acquired over the years as well as vintage books for as cheap as P2 to P5 a piece. Restored vintage pieces such as typewriters and cameras are on display for its next keepers. Chic lighting fixtures and furniture are also good buys. The store is open from 9:30am to 9:30pm.

Ms. Remy’s Thrift Shop is at Cubao X (former Marikina Shoe Expo), Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City. Call +632/ 909 999-3093 or +632/ 927 227 3700

Divisoria sells low-priced wholesale goods

Papap Villanueva Papap Villanueva’s house is filled with antique furniture, some even broken and bruised for its longevity of use. From him, Lani shares that one can get a whole dining set, all different “but they’re all complementing each other.”

One-stop furniture shops For a busy mom like Jenni, her initial options for furniture shopping are one-stop shops like Dimensione (www.dimensione.com.ph), BB Italia, Minotti (www. minotti.com), and Furnitalia (www.furnitalia.com).

The stores offer all furniture for any part of the house in contemporary and modern designs.

Evangelista Street Hop around Evangelista Street, Makati, where the row of houses opened their garages to sell old fares. The furniture ranges from P3,500 to P6,000, cheaper than normal furniture shops. On sale are furniture made of fine and heavy wood, kitchen and household accessories, as well as old couches that need minimal repairs. As they say, a person’s trash is another person’s treasure.

Makati Cinema Square For vintage finds, Jenni likes scouting the basement of Makati Cinema Square where numerous walk-in shops offer antique furniture in cheap deals. MCS is open from 10am to 9pm.

Makati Cinema Square is on Chino Roces Ave. (Pasong Tamo), Makati City

54 InFlight I october-November 2010

Handicrafts Divisoria Lani usually buys textile needs in Divisoria, the center of wide-assorted low-priced wholesale goods. Dubbed the “mecca of value shopping,” P500 can go a long way in Divisoria. For embroidery, Lani asks her mother’s foundation Kababaihan ng Maynila to help her out with the weaves. On Ilaya Street, Lani usually gets gift ideas and handicrafts. Figurines and knick-knacks on Tabora Street are also good souvenirs.

Balikbayan Handicrafts Jenni says this shop is a must-visit for tourists and expats, the three-storey Balikbayan Handicrafts store has numerous indigenous Filipino goodies like hand-carved fish home accessories, wooden wind chimes, fine jusi fabrics, colorful tapestries, delicate boxes with intricate designs, and abaca slippers.

Balikbayan Handicrafts is at 1010 Antonio Aranaiz Ave., Makati City; tel: +632 893 0775-77; url: www.balikabayanhandicrafts. com

Balikbayan Handicrafts sells Philippine-made furniture and handicrafts like the throw pillows on left

Antique furniture are on sale at shops on Evangelista Street, Makati

Knick knacks sold at Ms. Remy's Thrift Shop

essentials

Everything else Quiapo Known as the “old downtown of Manila,” Quiapo is a hodgepodge of flea markets, handicraft stores, and knickknack vendors that sell all sorts of fares from scrumptious fresh spring rolls to couturier gowns and accessories. “For home accessory shopping, let’s say in Quiapo, you can get quality handicraft at less than the prices in department stores," Lani says.

Tiendesitas Tiendesitas is a Jenni favorite for Filipino products, food, accessories, furniture, even antiques and novelty items.

Tiendesitas is on Ortigas Ave. cor. E. Rodriguez Ave; tel: +632/ 6355680, 689 1068; url: www.tiendesitas.com.ph.

Tiendesitas is open from 12 noon to 12 midnight.

Department Stores Department stores like SM Malls and The Landmark are Jenni’s best options for one-stop shopping, while the “best beauty products” and other imported designer brands are at Rustan’s. “I also frequent their home section for beautiful linens, kitchenware and beddings.

Rustan's Filipinana section is amazing!”

Rustan’s is on Ayala Avenue, Makati City; tel: +632/ 813 3739, 816 1786 Rockwell Bazaar Both Lani and Jenni like Rockwell bazaars held almost every month on weekends. The bazaars showcase quirky home decor, fun fashion pieces, shoes, vintage collectibles and finger food.

Check out Power Plant Mall’s Facebook page at www. facebook.com/PowerPlantMall or call Lisa Gomez at +632/ 898 1702 loc 229 ■

How to get there SEAIR (www.flyseair.com) flies daily from from Caticlan (Boracay) and Batanes, and thrice weekly from Romblon to Manila. Other airlines like PAL, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines and Zest Air also offers daily flights to Manila from major hubs like Davao in Mindanao, Cebu in Visayas, Naga City in the Bicol region, and Palawan in Luzon. Island Transvoyager (www.itiair.com) has daily flights to Manila from El Nido in Palawan.

Getting around In Makati, SM Makati, Glorietta, The Landmark and Greenbelt are accessible by taking the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) from any station in Quezon City, Mandaluyong and San Juan to Ayala Station from where all mentioned malls can be reached by foot.

If off to Jupiter, Evangelista, Arnaiz Avenue or Makati Cinema Square (MCS), take a cab from SM Makati taxi stand near the Ayala MRT Station. Jupiter and Arnaiz are about five minutes away while MCS and Evangelista are 10 minutes away.

Powerplant Mall is accessible via the Guadalupe MRT Station, where jeepneys bound for Manila all pass by Powerplant Mall.

In Mandaluyong, the Podium is a short walk from the Ortigas MRT Station via SM Megamall (the Podium right behind Megamall). The Shaw Blvd. Station of MRT has direct access to EDSA Shangri-La Plaza.

Tiendesitas in Pasig (near Meralco Theater) is best to be reached via a cab because of its unlikely location. Ortigas.

To get to Cubao, hop off from Cubao MRT Station. From there, Farmer's Market, Gateway Mall, and the Araneta Center are easily accessible. To visit Murphy St, take a 15-minute walk from Araneta Center to SM Cubao near Ali Mall. Cubao X is at the site of the former Marikina Shoe Exchange.

In Manila, almost all the main modes of transportation stop by Quiapo, marked by the famous Quiapo Church. To reach Quiapo, take the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and get off at Carriedo Station. If you walk toward the Sta. Cruz Church, numerous jeepneys ply the Binondo and Divisoria routes. You know you're in Binondo once you see the FilipinoChinese Arc. Makati and Ortigas are bustling financial districts so the best times to go shopping while avoiding bumper-to-bumper traffic are between 10am-3pm, which are likewise best times to take the MRT. Quiapo, Binondo and Divisoria are best to visit at 7am to beat the afternoon traffic and concentration of shoppers. Best to shop in discreet attire to avoid attracting pick pockets and snatchers.

WHERE TO EAT Cubao has lots of dining options at Araneta Coliseum and in malls like Gateway, Farmer's Market, Ali Mall, and SM Cubao. At Cubao X, try Green Halo Organic Store and Café’s tarragon shake, malunggay cupcakes and siopao made of organic flour stuffed with vegetables, that surprisingly don't taste like vegetables. At night, Mogwai has underground/indie feel with cheap beer and film showings.

For authentic Chinese cuisine in Manila, President Restaurant's (tel: +632/ 746 750), bestsellers are white chicken (Hainanese chicken) and hot prawn salad. Also on offer are dim sum, noodles, and dishes cooked the way customers want it. Eng Bee Tin is know in town for hopia (Chinese rice cakes) In Makati, near Arnaiz Ave. and Evangelista areas is Amici (tel: +632/ 747 1111), a relaxed restaurant that offers homemade gelato, pasta and pizzas. Try the four cheeses pizza and the spinachi pasta. On Jupiter St., Café La Carmela has tasty chicken and pork barbeque served with authentic Visayan vinegar sinamak.

56 InFlight I october-November 2010

Café La Carmela photo by Jocas A. See

M e t r o Ma n i l a s h o pp i n g

insider’s guide

october-november 2010 I InFlight 57

L ov ing t he pl a ne t

Life’s a gas Lei Chavez finds out about a fuel that could help clean up Manila’s air 58 InFlight I october-november 2010

f you want to see the future of the Philippines’ public transport, take a trip to Biñan, Laguna where among the pastry shops and small businesses stands an edifice that processes compressed natural gas (CNG), a type of fossil fuel that can help improve the polluted and smog-filled Manila air.

With more than 100,000 jeeps and buses plying the labyrinthine streets of the capital city every day, many of them with old diesel engines, it is not surprising that Manila has the fourth most polluted air in the world.

Messy Bessy staff at work In attempts to lessen the smog and grime, the Department of Energy launched its Natural Gas Vehicle Program for Public Transport (NGVPPT) in 2004 and introduced 11 CNG buses, at the same time subsidizing the CNG price at P14 per liter. Twenty-two CNG buses are now on the streets and this will hopefully increase to 178 by 2015.

Vehicles running on CNG produce 70% fewer carbon emissions than diesel- and gasoline-run machines and 15% to 20% fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Ticket prices for CNG bus trips can be 30% less than other buses’, an advantage when you think that more than 70% of Filipinos use mass transport for getting around the city.

When the program was introduced, free rides were offered from Manila to Batangas on Mondays.

CNG-fueled buses are not new and the technology is not limited to buses.

In 1997, Honda released the Honda Civic GX, a CNG-fueled car, which met and exceeded stringent California green transport standards. Toyota launched a CNG Toyota Lift truck in 2002.

In a nutshell, CNG can fuel every existing transport system: taxis, airport shuttles, construction vehicles, garbage trucks, delivery vehicles, trains, ferries and public works vehicles. It can even fuel airplanes, one of the highest carbon contributors around. If this happens, expect ticket prices and global

warming threats to drop!

The CNG plan becomes grander.

According to Mario Marasigan of the Renewable Energy Management Bureau of the Department of Energy, they envision a “market integration and a support system” among ASEAN countries. “This will allow us to sell and buy CNG a lot cheaper,” Mario says.

Even before the Philippines ventured into the CNG industry, Indonesia and Malaysia were reducing the number of diesel-run vehicles on their city streets. China developed the

technology to create buses that are used on more than 1,000 busy streets.

A planned “CNG highway” that will connect one fueling station to another could be the catalyst for the development of economic zones, brining jobs and housing. The plan is ambitious but it is possible, with an extra push from both the government and the transport sectors.

The government is focused on CNG – and on making the program work to control harmful emissions in Manila’s streets. CNG is, after all, the cleanest form of fossil fuel available. ■

Some 22 buses are now fueled by compressed natural gas, producing 70% fewer carbon emissions than diesel- and gasoline-run vehicles

october-november 2010 I InFlight 59

Hurry!

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Where to Go for live music A hot list from cool people

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18 InFlight I oCtober-november 2010

Give your kids a break Top 10 days-out for the moppets

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december - january 2009

4 days in boronGan Hiking, caving, and surfing in Eastern Samar’s capital town

in the shops >in my bag Timeless piece: Coat, P4,895, vest, P2,295, white polo, P1,495, pants, P1,895, necktie, P595, and shoes, P3,295, all by Merger; belt, P795, and suspenders, P945, both by Topman; wayfarer sunglasses, P6,690,

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december - january issue ‘09

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• Power Mac Center 2/F, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Ayala Avenue, Makati City Tel: +632/ 729 7128

“i’m a light packer. i usually list things to take with me and then pack everything a day before my flight” Ton Lao, a former model, is stylist for celebrities Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, Rayver Cruz, Richard and Raymond Gutierrez, and Aljur Abrenica.

He is also a fashion and print photographer, shooting for Bench, Bench Dubai, SM Men’s Wear, and local fashion magazines

1 15” MacBook Pro laptop (P94,990 or about US $1,900) “It’s very handy for working on the photos I’ve taken”

3 4 5 6 7 8

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Bench Ginger Lemon Sandalwood body spray (P200) Bench Pure Mist Facial Water (P129)) Bench Fix Styling Stick (P189) Bench Alcogel Liquid Hand Sanitizer for kids (P79) Off! Overtime insect repellent lotion (P120) Bench Alcogel Clean Wipes (P149) “It’s anti-bacterial and moisturizes the skin”

9 Wallet Especially Made for Ton Lao by TeamManila.com (P150) 10 Apple iPod Classic 120gb (P14,990) 11 Canon EOS 40D DSLR (current EOS series’ rates start at P37,950) “Canon is known for its user-friendliness; the photos come out very clean and the color images are spot on”

12 Medicine kit (P20) 13 Brush (P75) 14 Pocketbag by HMN (P250) 15 Ben Sherman sunglasses (P6,000) ■

2 Puma tote bag by Rudolf Dassler (P7,225) “It’s a durable bag and great for casual outings or long vacations”

01 02

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on page 60

22 InFlight I OCTOBER-NOvEMBER 2010

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To subscribe or buy back issues, call

+632/ 8490296 Email: subscription@theinflight.com 60 SEAIR InFlight

I december - january 2009

(For Off! Overtime insect repellent lotion, medicine kit, brush) SM Mall of Asia, SM Central Business Park Bay Blvd., Bay City, Pasay City Tel: +632/ 831 3340

• Team Manila Lifestyle 2/F, Powerplant Mall, Archaeology Section, Rockwell Drive, Estrella St. Makati City Tel: +632/ 899 1570

• Topman & Topshop 3/F, The Podium, 18 ADB Ave., Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City Tel.: +632 631 1049

Top photo by Jeffrey Sonora Fashion styling by Waldo Villados Hair and makeup by Aisa Fay Costo Modeling by Jessica Paras Model’s dress: Dorothy Perkins

october-november 2010 I InFlight

61

AirlinePage

Jet airplane landing at sunset photo by Stephen Strathdee/ iStockphoto

SEAIR iti news route map

october-november 2010 I InFlight 63

AirlinePage

SEAIR

Close connections to Asia's great destinations At a time when travel seems all too harried and service impersonal, Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR), the Philippines' premier leisure airline and one of the oldest carriers operating in the country today, offers passengers quality, convenience, and personal service to the regions' most beautiful destinations.

It flies to the beach destination of Boracay, home to the finest white sand beaches this side of the planet, departing from Manila and Cebu; to the recently appointed gateway city, Clark, in Pampanga; to the northernmost idyllic destination

History 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 19-seater 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 Manila-Busuanga-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.’

64 InFlight I october-november 2010

of Batanes, famous for its unspoilt, pastoral landscape; and to Romblon, home to some of the most beautiful marine sanctuaries and virgin beaches in Asia.

SEAIR, founded by pilots Iren Dornier, grandson of aviation legend and pioneer Claudius Dornier, Nikos Gitsis, and Tomas Lopez, has been operating for 15 years in the Philippines, with an eye to providing world-standard domestic and international airline and aviation-related services.

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.

2009 SEAIR was given the People's Choice Seal of Excellence Award for Most Outstanding Airline.

2010 SEAIR was awarded Gold Brand by the Gold Brands Council Philippines for brand image appeal and trust and market acceptance.

Operations SEAIR operates about 18 flights daily from Manila to Caticlan during peak season and 10 flights daily off peak.

It also operates flights from Cebu to Caticlan three times weekly. Other SEAIR destinations include Clark, Batanes and Romblon.

• 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 jetprops in the world.

Specifications Make: Dornier Powerplant: PW 119B Length: 21.28 m (69 ft 10 in) Wing Span: 20.98 m (68 ft 10 in) Height: 7.23 m (23 ft 9 in) Seating Capacity: 32 + 3 crew Number of planes: 4 Max Take-off Weight: 13,990 kgs (30,843 lbs) Speed: 325 knots

• Dornier 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

• FALCON 10 Specifications Make: FALCON 10 Powerplant: 2x Garett TFE 731-1-2-1c on engine, 14.65 kN (3,230lbf) thrust each Length: 13.86 m (45 ft 5.75 in) Wing Span: 13.08 m (42 ft 11 in) Height: 4.61m (15ft 1.5 in) Seating Capacity: 7 + 2 crew Max Take-off Weight: 18,740 kgs Speed: MACH + .85 Max Range: 1700 Nautical Miles Ceiling: 45,000 ft Inflight Entertainment: VCR Video; Flight Watch; Satellite Phone

Services TripleStar Travel and Tours - 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 +632/ 843 7308; email 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 +632/ 849 0200; email charters@flyseair.com Cargo We ensure a safe, secure and reliable delivery of your freight and parcel. For inquiries, call +632/ 851 5555; email cargo@flyseair.com Basic Facts and Figures • South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) is

a pioneer in Philippine aviation. Since 1995, it has 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 6 prime destinations nationwide, with the most convenient and most number of flights and connections to Caticlan (Boracay).

• Employs over 200 people ready to provide excellent service to our passengers.

• With fleet made up of four Dornier 328s and six LET 410 UVP-E aircraft for use in scheduled and chartered flights. october-november 2010 I InFlight 65

AirlinePage

ITI

Close connections to Asia's best kept secret Island Transvoyager, Inc. (ITI), the official air-carrier of El Nido Resorts, flies guests daily between Manila and the island paradise of El Nido in Palawan, known for having one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, for its beautiful beaches, stunning limestone cliffs, and clear waters.

History ITI was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on October 2, 2002 and was granted permission to operate by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) on November 25, 2002. In December, ITI was granted an Air Carrier Operating Certificate by the Air Transporation Office (ATO).

On March 26, 2003, ITI bought its second Dornier aircraft from Uniair Airlines Taiwan, ferried from Kaoshiung, Taiwan and landed at the Clark Airfield in Pampanga. In an effort to help the environment, ITI supported the Watershed Rehabilitation Treeplanting program of the municipality of El Nido, signing a Memorandum of Agreement with El Nido’s local government unit in September 2008.

Its third Dornier aircraft was acquired in May 2010 after acquiring it from Sita Air of Nepal.

ITI is also engaged in air taxi services and air charter operations using the 19-seater Dornier 228-212 aircraft. It is committed to protecting the environment and conserving the natural resources and beauty of El Nido and is the first airline to establish a program to offset carbon emissions in 2008.

ruggedness. The aircraft is ideal for carrying both passengers and cargo.

Capt. Henry B. Panares (PN) ret.

Specifications Make: Dornier Powerplant: 2 X 583 W (776 SHP) Garrett TPE-331-5A-252D Length: 16.56m (54 ft 4 in) Wing Span: 16.97m (55 ft 7 in) Height: 4.86 m (15 ft 9 in) Seating Capacity: 19 + 2 crew Max Speed: 432 km/h Max Range: 1,730 km Ceiling: 29,600 ft

Mr. Ernie E. Bautista

Company Mission and the people behind ITI The ITI Team is totally focused on realizing its vision “To be an excellent aviation company that will satisfy the needs of our customer in a safe, reliable, and cost effective manner, therefore ensuring our viability and profitability.”

• General Manager

Operations ITI operates three times daily from Manila to El Nido using three Dornier 228-212 aircrafts.

The DO 228 is renowned for its reliability, versatility, economy and 66 InFlight I october-november 2010

Mr. Raoul S. Pérez • Chief Pilot

Capt. Angel G. Syjuco • Maintenance Manager

Col. Antonio A. Villaverde (PAF) ret.

• Quality Assurance Chief Inspector

• El Nido Airport Manager • Flight Safety Officer

F/O Jimmy Z. Guansing • Manila Terminal Manager

Ms. Maris F. Macahilig Services ITI accepts both local and international charter flights. All flights are handled and dispatched by licensed flight dispatchers and aircraft and maintenance documents are closely monitored to meet Air Transportation Office requirements. For more information, call +632/ 851 5667 Basic facts and figures ITI is the only aviation company in the country with the only fixed wing operator accredited by both Shell and ExxonMobil.

In 2004 and 2005, it has received back to back Certificates of Recognition from the Air Transportation Office for implementing its aviation safety program.

In 2009, ITI received a “Three Years Goal Zero” safety award from Shell.

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AirlinePage

News

Roz Savage in El Nido

SEAIR resumes flights to Palawan SEAIR is resuming flights to Palawan, operating on December 1 to Taytay and El Nido in Northern Palawan, two of the country's prime tourist destinations.

Taytay is the gateway to Apulit Island Resort while flights to El Nido service Lagen Island Resort and Miniloc Island Resort.

The flights will be operated in partnership with Ten Knots Development Corporation, owner of El Nido Resorts.

Like its two sister resorts in El Nido, Apulit Island Resort boasts of an unspoilt environment with a beautiful expansive white sand beach, a wealth of wildlife and colorful marine life and scenic landscapes. The resort has a total of 50 water cottages equipped with intercom, hot/cold shower, and bath amenities. Constructed in traditional Filipino architectural style, the cottages are built on stilts, perched above the sea with an unobstructed view of Taytay Bay, surrounding islands and dramatic limestone cliffs.

For inquiries, call +632/ 849 0100. For packages, call SEAIR Leisure Escape Packages at +632/ 843 7308. For more on El Nido Resorts, visit www.elnidoresorts.com.

SEAIR now flies daily to Batanes SEAIR increases its flights to Batanes to daily, from five times a week, up till November this year.

Batanes, the only place in the Philippines that experiences four seasons, with autumn from September to November, winter from December to February, spring from March to May, and summer from June to August, has a pastoral setting and a more laid-back way of life found attractive by both local and foreign tourists.

SEAIR ‘Batanes autumn’ rates start at P2,835++ per way.

To book, visit www.flyseair.com or call +632/ 849 0100.

For packages, call SEAIR Leisure Escape Packages at +632/ 843 7308. Join SEAIR Facebook Fan Page for updates on promos.

Imnajbu photo by Oggie Ramos

Roz Savage, the first woman to row solo across the Pacific Ocean, was invited by El Nido Resorts last July 30-August 5 to talk about her experience as she courageously crossed the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

“It’s the first time that I stayed in an eco-resort,” Savage said during a press conference held at the Island Transvoyager Hangar on Andrews Avenue, Domestic Airport.

“El Nido is just so nice, especially the staff. I feel so well taken cared of.” Together with El Nido owner Vince Perez, Savage went kayaking to explore El Nido's Big Lagoon and was able to spot a baby shark that was no more than 18 inches long.

Asked what got her started on the idea of rowing the Atlantic, she said it began on that one day when she wrote two versions of her own obituary, one based on her former life and the other based on how she wanted to live it. “Just do it! It is worth doing it,” she said. “Once you start talking about it, everything else just follows and everything happens the way it’s supposed to be. The biggest surprise, I think, was realizing that my dream can actually come true at this point.”

What about future plans?

“Probably next year I’ll row across the Indian Ocean and then in 2012, I’ll do the homecoming row, from US to the UK,” she said.

For more info on Roz Savage, visit www.rozsavage.com. For more on ITI, visit www.itiair.com.

october-november 2010 I InFlight 67

AirlinePage

Route Map BASCO, BATANES

SEAIR reservations Laoag

makati Ticketing Office Tel. +632 849.0100 Sales Office Tel. +6302 849.0201 to 18

+6302 849.0219

La Union

Philippine Sea Baguio

Luzon

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

Baler CLARK, ANGELES MANILA

SM Clark office Headquarters DMIA, Hangar 7224 Tel. +6343 499.0258 +6343 499.0259 Fax +6343 499.0329

Philippines

Marinduque MINDORO

Cebu Ticketing Office Tel. +6332 341.4879

Tablas, Romblon

Busuanga Boracay

Sales Office Tel. +6332 254.9337

+6332 255.0801

South China Sea

Daet

CATICLAN

SAMAR Masbate Borongan

Visayas

PANAY

EL NIDO

TAYTAY

Iloilo CEBU

Boracay Caticlan Airport Tel. +6336 288.7360

+6336 288.7272 Fax +6336 288.7163

PALAWAN

Siargao NEGROS

Puerto Princesa

Camiguin

Cagayan de Oro

ITI CONTACT INFO Tel. +632 851.6664

+632 851.5674

+632 851.5667

Mindanao

Balabac

Sulu Sea

Cotabato

Jolo SABAH

Davao

Zamboanga

Kota Kinabalu

BRUNEI

Pagadian

General Santos

Tawi-Tawi

Southeast Asian Airlines, Inc. (SEAIR)

Malaysia SARAWAK

Borneo

68 InFlight I october-november 2010

Celebes Sea

Island TransVoyager, Inc. (ITI)

Jojie’s General Santos Big Fish: Photographer Jojie Alcantara captured this proud moment at the General Santos Fishport Complex of a local fisherman carrying his day’s catch of one of two large opahs, also known as moonfish or dayana tuna, all of 74 kilos, and priced at P6,660 or P90 a kilo at the GenSan market. It was Christmas and the catch couldn’t have come at a better time.

In January 2010, Alcantara won the grand prize from Betterphoto.com for this same photo she named “Fish Be With You”.

She is also a writer for Sun Star Davao’s lifestyle and travel column.

-- Margie F. Francisco For more of Alcantara’s work, visit www.witerary.com

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Lens: 15mm Aperture: F/4.5 Shutter speed: 1/320 sec ISO Speed: 1600

72 InFlight I october-November 2010

to Boracay

Photo by Jay Alonzo

The small guide for the big trip

Our InFlight guide to boracay has a 78-page resort listings, featuring some of the hottest resorts and hippest hang-outs, plus a valuable insider’s guide to where to eat, where to go, and what to do on the island. Packed with intelligent information, it’s not small where it matters.

B u y a c o p y n o w ! C a l l + 6 3 2 / 8 4 9 0 2 9 5 t o 9 6 o r o r d e r o n l i n e a t w w w . F l y S e a i r. c o m