TRAVEL+LIFESTYLE OCTOBER 2013 MABUHAY OCTOBER 2013
www.philippineairlines.com
ABU DHABI: FABULOUS AND DAZZLING
Abu Dhabi
ISSN 0217-6998
10
fabulous and dazzling
NEW DESTINATION: LONDON | SHANGHAI’S SECRETS | BACOLOD’S ECO-AGRI FARMS
PARIS SHINES AT
AZURE
THE
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aris Hilton is radiant. Her sparkle sets hearts on fire and her shine is true and spectacular, most especially when she is by the shore. It is at the beach where she finds her balance, her sanctuary, her release – whether taking a dip in the cool waters, lounging on powdery white sand, sipping afternoon cocktails, bronzing her lovely skin, or grooving to the beats at the beachside bar. Century Properties brings all that Paris loves about the world’s best beaches to the Azure: the country’s first and only masterplanned urban residential community with a man-made beach and the exciting Paris Beach Club. Paris sure knows how to light it up – and now so can you! For a home in paradise right in the heart of the city, look no further than the Azure. Because as Paris knows, there’s nothing else like it in the world.
azure.com.ph THE AZURE is located on SLEX (West Service Road) between the Bicutan and Sucat Exits, directly adjacent to SM Bicutan – about a 15 minute drive to Alabang in the south, and 10 minutes to Makati in the north via the expanded skyway.
Azure Urban Resort Residences is being developed by Century Limitless Corporation, a member of the Century Properties Group. The design of the beach club by Paris Hilton does not in any way change the name of the project. In no way is Azure or Century related to Hilton Hotels Worldwide.
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DAVID FOWLER has called Shanghai home for seven years. He is a former New Yorker and Los Angelino who loves the electric energy of Shanghai’s global lifestyle. Creative Director and owner of HYBRID Creative Communications, a boutique visual marketing agency specializing in video, motion graphics, and web platforms, David also sidelines as and in-demand voice over artist and freelance journalist. David loves the Philippines, which he visits often via PAL. On page 34, he gives us insider knowledge on Shanghai’s latest lifestyle spots.
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48
| Your Home on the Ground
Just in time for PAL’s maiden flights to major destinations in the Middle East and Europe, the Mabuhay Lounge gets a very refreshing
48
| Great Expectations in London
52
| The Wizards of Oz
makeover.
26
| The Epitome of Tropical Chic
30
| An Affair to Remember
56
Tessa Prieto-Valdes shares with us what’s in store during this month’s Red Cross Charity
| Shanghai’s Secrets
Filipino-Chinese Kevin Tsai writes about his impressions on his first visit to his grandparents’
| Abu Dhabi Rolling
Green is in, say the locals, so it’s no wonder that they’re running for the greenest city in the
| On the Road to Wellness
66
| Bulusan Takes You to a New High
70
| Into the Blue
ancestral town.
42
| Going Green in Vancouver
60
It’s no secret that this is China’s glamour capital. Find out the locals’ secret spots when it comes
| There’s Something about Xiamen
Canadian photojournalist Flash Parker shows us
As PAL launches its maiden flight to Abu Dhabi this month, Cristina Fernandes lists down the exciting events that you should watch out for this season.
Known for its hectares of sugarcane plantations, Negros Occidental is now becoming an emerging destination for eco-agri tourism, reports Bebol J. Carreon.
How about a volcano for your next trekking site? It’s no easy feat climbing Sorsogon’s Mount Bulusan, but the views are well worth it!
Dumaguete-based Sonia SyGaco takes us around the captivating bodies of water around Negros Oriental.
SectionS
I I 10 I What’s Up
06 President’s Note 08 Editor’s Note
I I 20 I Milestones
I I 79 I PAL Pages
12 Travel Log
74 The Lighter Side
16 In the News
78 Last Frame
on the cover
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Marvel at this architectural masterpiece when you visit Abu Dhabi this season during its exciting line-up of events. Photo courtesy of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority 4 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
Born in Vancouver, and a recent transplant to Manila, DEVON WONG adores the uncertainty of travel and eating her way through new cities. A video producer by trade, Devon has documented her passions and interests for the likes of the David Suzuki Foundation, Schema Magazine, and Rappler. From hitchhiking across Morocco to watching the ball drop in New York’s Times Square, Devon lives her life in the pursuit of a good story. On page 56, Devon shares how her city transforms itself into one of the world’s most eco-friendly cities. www.devonwong.com
world by year 2020.
to food, shopping, and nightlife.
38
London, here we come! PAL will soon fly to this European favorite so let’s check out the places we shouldn’t miss.
around the hippest district in Toronto.
Glenn Gale gives us a peek into Raffles Hotel Singapore’s fabled past.
Ball.
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52
MARIA SPEIGHT was born and raised in England but caught the travel bug at 17, and spent the next few years traveling, living, and working abroad. Now in her twenties, she lives in North London with her partner and travels vicariously through writing for www. lifestyleplanet.org. She spends the rest of her time teaching ballet, raising her beautiful son, and blogging about inspirational women at sosheis.wordpress.com. On page 52, Mia shows us around the beautiful city of London. Growing up in the small town of Tabaco, Albay, PAOLA CERIOLA gets to have front seats to see Mount Mayon’s perfection every day. This inspired her to become an environmental advocate. She was a Junior Producer for Green Living, a show on sustainable urban lifestyle, and a sports show called GAMEPLAN. She is currently an Editorial Associate for TeamAsia, a strategic marketing communications firm. On page 66, Ola traverses one of the Philippines’ active volcanoes, Mount Bulusan, and shows us the view up there.
ERRATUM
The photo of Pink Manila Hostel on last month’s issue (page 28) was taken by David Bjergso of Nifty Pictures Makati.
PRESIDENT’S NOTE
Marhaba, Abu Dhabi This month, Philippine Airlines notches return to one of its most important markets – the Middle East. Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, is our first destination in this dynamic region. Then, over the next two months, PAL and PAL Express will open five more points in three Arabian Gulf countries as we ramp up our network expansion. PAL is no stranger to Abu Dhabi, having flown to the emirate from 1992 to 1997. But the flag carrier’s roots in the Middle East stretch back even longer – 66 years ago – to May 4, 1947, when a propeller-powered Douglas DC-4 touched down in Cairo. The Egyptian capital was then a key technical stop on PAL’s transcontinental route from Manila to Europe. In 1979, PAL began service to Bahrain, marking the emergence of the Middle East not merely as a service point for PAL aircraft bound for Europe but as a fullfledged market in itself for travelers to and from the region. In particular, the growing Filipino community in the region ensured that the Middle East would be important for PAL’s operations. And now, we are back – this time, for good. We are doing so with a renewed purpose and a revamped product that best suits the large Filipino market there as well as foreign patrons. We are deploying our newest long-range aircraft, the Airbus A330-300 High Gross Weight model, featuring a comfortable, bi-class cabin of 39 seats in Premium Economy and 375 in Economy. This gives you the benefit of choosing a service that fits your requirements – an advantage you don’t enjoy on traditional budget airlines. Of course, no matter how modern our equipment is, it’s the personal touch that ultimately matters. And here, PAL’s signature in-flight service remains our best asset. From our restyled menu that features a variety of Filipino and international cuisines to the caring and attentive service of our cabin crew, only PAL can convey the warmth of Filipino hospitality from the moment you step aboard to landing at your destination. If you’re flying to any of our 30 international points, I invite you to experience PAL’s renowned service to our newest destination, Abu Dhabi. And if you’re flying to or from Abu Dhabi on board our new-generation A330-300s, let me welcome you with a hearty marhaba!
Ramon S. Ang
President & Chief Operating Officer Philippine Airlines
EDITOR’S NOTE
PAL’s Middle East Flights Get Positive Response
P
Photo by Justin Ventura
hilippine Airlines launches this month its flights to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and I checked the Internet to find out how these new PAL flights are being received. One site—gulfnews.com—reported overwhelmingly good responses. Gulf-based Filipino expatriates posted comments like “the rates are so cheap compared to other airlines”, “added boost to tourism”, “we can go home (Philippines) regularly at a much cheaper rate,” and another says it all: “competition is great.” That part about tourism also holds true and it works both ways—boosting theirs and ours.
Vo l . 3 5 , N o . 1 0 , O c t o b e r 2 0 1 3
EDITORIAL
Charles C. Chante sImeon s. Ventura, Jr. lynette lee Corporal Jomar r. GalVeZ nyx s. martIneZ Jane Ira h. InquImboy anna CeCIlIa l. GoleZ rodel d. ambas alyanna G. sIson pIa r. oCampo
Publisher Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Art Director Senior Copy Editor Editorial Coordinators Copy Editor Graphic Designers Creative Consultant
PhILIPPInE AIRLInEs
luCIo C. tan Chairman and Chief Executive Officer ramon s. anG President and Chief Operating Officer
EAsTGATE PUBLIshInG CORPORATIOn
Chairman of the Board Vice-Chairman President Vice-President, Operations Operations Manager Advertising Manager Marketing Communications Manager maan F. nItura Account Manager nerIe sIlVestre-Correa Accounting Officer leah l. reGalIZa Executive Assistants stephanIe C. oentoro lorIe m. FernandeZ Business Services Consultant eFren C. CaraG Legal Counsel Manila, Phils. Charles C. Chante luIs b. quIsumbInG sImeon s. Ventura Jr. sammy l. Chan KIm G. Ventura louIe d.s. Gamboa Jane Ira h. InquImboy
NEW DESTINATIONS, NEW SIGHTS The largest chandelier over the largest carpet found at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi (LEFT); the good ol’ double-decker bus in London (RIGHT)
Abu Dhabi is the richest of the UAE’s seven emirates and it has been creating fabulous attractions that only a place as super wealthy as it can splurge. Take a look at our cover, which is the interior of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. The chandelier dangling from the ceiling is the world’s largest with a height of a five-storey building, and it’s made of Swarovski crystals (about 40,000 pieces) and 40 kilograms of 24-carat gold. The wool carpet underneath is likewise the largest in the world, which covers 5,700 square meters (wow! this is more than half a hectare of carpet). This mosque is the third largest in the world and is mostly made of marble imported from Italy and took 11 years to build at a cost of about US$545 million. Besides its dazzling architecture, what’s nice about this mosque, also known as the “Mosque of the Flowers” because of its floral theme, is it allows non-Muslims to enter except on Friday mornings. This mosque is such a modern marvel that National Geographic recently did a TV feature on it entitled “Mega Mosque.” By the way, in this issue we have a teaser article on London as a way of letting you know that PAL will be flying soon to this well-loved city this coming November. Well, how about that? You can spend Christmas in London on a direct flight from PAL with no more stopovers. Time to chart your travel plans for Europe.
Simeon S. Ventura, Jr. Editor-in-chief
For comments and suggestions, you can email me at jventura@eastgatepublishing.com.
8 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
EASTGATE WEBSITE: www.eastgatepublishing.com MABUHAY FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/MabuhayMagazine MABUHAY TWITTER: @mabuhaymagazine PAL WEBSITE: www.philippineairlines.com MOBILE SITE: www.philippineairlines.mobi FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/flyPAL TWITTER: www.twitter.com/flyPAL Mabuhay Magazine is published monthly for Philippine Airlines by Eastgate Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2013 by Philippine Airlines. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any manner without the permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in this magazine are the writers’ and not necessarily endorsed by Philippine Airlines or Eastgate Publishing Corporation. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject advertising and editorial material. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and artwork will not be returned unless accompanied by self-addressed, stamped envelopes. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Address all correspondence to: Mabuhay Magazine, Eastgate Publishing Corp., Rm. 704 Prestige Tower Condominium, F. Ortigas Jr. Road., Ortigas Center, Pasig City. 1605; Tel: (+632) 635-7348, 635-9067, 633-4004 to 09; Fax (+632) 635-9221; E - mail: info@eastgatepublishing.com; Mabuhay is authorized in the Philippines under PCFM Cr No. 388. Color separated and printed in the Philippines by THE HOUSE PRINTERS. For inquiries on advertising, please e-mail adsales@eastgatepublishing.com or call (trunkline) +632 633 4004 loc. 14 or 15 and (direct line) +632 635 7882.
ADvERTIsInG REPREsEnTATIvEs
HONG KONG/CHINA EASTERN INFLIGHT MAGAZINE PRODUCTIONS Rita Chow Tel: (852) 2823 1080 Fax: (852) 2352 6204 E-mail: rita@cinmedia.com JAPAN ADVERTISING COMMUNICATIONS, INC. Akiyoshi Ojima Tel: 81-(0) 3 3261 4591 E-mail: ojima@media-jac.co.jp KOREA JES MEDIA, INC. Young-Seoh Chinn Tel: (822) 481 3411/3 Fax: (822) 481 3414 E-mail: jesmedia@unitel.co.kr AUSTRALIA FREE SPORTS PRESS Peter Anderson Tel: (612) 9789 5003 Fax: (612) 9789 5004 E-mail: peterando3@ gmail.com SWITZERLAND IMM INFLIGHT MEDIA MARKETING Marcel Wernli Tel: (+41) 061-319 9090 Fax: (+41) 061-319 9095 Website: www.inflight-media.ch E-mail: inflight-media@swissonline.ch USA LEE & STEEL INC. Michael Lee Tel: (203) 445 8900 Fax: (203) 445 1885 E-mail: medialee@aol.com UAE DESTINy MEDIA Aleem Aziz Tel: (9714) 297 6978 Fax: (9714) 297 6988 E-mail: mediaone@emirates.net.ae UK MAJOR MEDIA David Hammond Tel: + 44 020 8467 8884 Fax: + 44 020 8467 5558 E-mail: majormedi@btopenworld.com We, at Philippine Airlines, are happy to have you on board. Please sit back and relax, and allow us to make your flight enjoyable. For your own safety and convenience, please observe the regulations listed on the back pages. “Mabuhay” is a Filipino verb in the form of a command: “Live!” It is also a wish: “May you live!” Whoever says it wishes you the great gift of a long and full life. It is both a blessing and a lusty cheer. “Mabuhay” (ma-boo-high) is such a large word that it lends itself to a wide number of secondary uses: Welcome, Congratulations, Thanks, Godspeed, Hello, Good Luck, Cheers, Posit, Sante, Viva, Kambei, Aloha, and many other expressions of goodwill. All these are a part of life, but it is the gift of life that makes them possible. “Mabuhay,” in other words, is an invocation and a celebration of life itself.
WHAT’S UP
Magic and mayhem are in the air this month, with spectacular stage shows, festivals, and art exhibits! Ke$ha
PHILIPPINES
KE$HA LIVE IN MANILA OCTOBER 24 SMART ARANETA COLISEUM, QUEZON CITY
The party doesn’t start ’til she walks in. Ke$ha is coming to the Philippines for one wild night! As part of her Warrior Tour, this is Ke$ha’s first time in the country and she’s ready to perform all your fave hits: “Tik Tok,” “Blah Blah Blah,” “We R Who We R,” and many more! www.ticketnet.com.ph
DOHA
RELICS OCTOBER 10 ALRIWAQ DOHA
Starting October, the largest and most comprehensive work of contemporary artist Damien Hirst will be on display in Doha. Hirst’s “Relics” will include both iconic and previously unseen pieces that explore the complex relationship between art, life, and death. www. damienhirst.com.
Damien Hirst
USA RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA OCTOBER 9 RESORTS WORLD MANILA, PASAY CITY
MANILART OCTOBER 9 SM AURA PREMIER, BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY
The country’s hottest contemporary art fair is on its fifth year. Exhibitions from the country’s finest galleries, workshops, and forums are set to be showcased at this definitive art event that celebrates icons, new talent, and advances art appreciation. www.manilart.com
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ABU DHABI WAKE PARK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL OCTOBER 10–12 AL FORSAN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS RESORT
Witness more than 200 wakeboarders competing in the final leg of the World Wakeboard Association’s (WWA) Wake Park World Championships. The competition will be staged at Al Forsan’s futuristic water cable park system, which has been dubbed “one of the world’s most amazing cable facilities” by the WWA. www.thewwa.com
San Francisco’s annual literary festival is celebrated all throughout the Bay Area, with discussions set in museums, theaters, and even barbers shops, inviting authors and literary enthusiasts from all over the country and abroad. Beer and books make a perfect pair to cap off this festival with the three-hour literary pub crawl in San Francisco’s Mission District. www.litquake.org
SINGAPORE RACE THE DEAD OCTOBER 26 AND 27 TANJONG BEACH WALK, SENTOSA ISLAND
Race for your life as Tanjong Beach will be teeming with flesh-eating “zombies” ready to hunt down the slowest joggers. This 5 km race will not only challenge you to beat these nightmarish creatures, but will also put your agility to the test with its tricky obstacle course. www.racethedead.sg
RPHOTO Courtesy of Eva Rinaldi/Wikimedia Commons (Rihanna)
Starting this October, the Newport Performing Arts Theater will bring to life one of the most beloved fairytales of all time: Cinderella. Featuring the original music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cinderella stars Christian Bautista as the prince and Karylle as the titular princess. www.ticketworld.com.ph
LITQUAKE OCTOBER 11–19 SAN FRANCISCO
T
R
A
V
E
L
L
O
G
ThE BEsT of EvEry sTaTion in Boracay
Garaje Eco Bar
Philippines' First Eco Bar The City of Smiles has one more thing to smile about with the opening of Garaje Eco Bar. This local innovation in Bacolod City fuses a cool nightlife with being eco-sustainable by using recycled materials for its interiors. Here, you’ll see old bus seats turned into benches, sewing machines into tables, and soda cases into seats. Their drinks are equally inventive, such as the signature bottled (700 mL) cocktail, Linteani, a drink cleverly named after the local phrase, “linti ini nga martini!” or “damn strong martini!” And if you’re brave enough, have a shot of Mi Ultimo Adios. Garaje is the brainchild of Manuel Yulo Barandiaran and Vicky Zayco Garcia, who are both from the hospitality and food and beverage industry. www.facebook.com/garaje.ecobar
12 12 II Mabuhay Mabuhay Magazine Magazine II July October 2013 2013
Photo BY Francisco Guerrero (TOP)
Along Boracay’s four-kilometer stretch of white sand, The District has picked the perfect spot. This upscale boutique resort is centrally located near D’Mall in Station 2 where the island’s main action is. Instantly recognizable by its façade of floor-to-ceiling glass windows, its thick walls are designed to keep away noise from disturbing quality time with your fluffy sheets and pillows. Location aside, the staff are attentive and helpful—from assuring that your beach beds give you the best spot under the sun to assisting with seamless airport transfers. It’s no wonder the resort was recently nominated in the 2013 AsiaRooms Hotel Awards (an online ranking of the best hotels from Asia, Australia, and New Zealand) under the “Best Beach Hotels” category. www.thedistrictboracay.com – With reports from Rachel teotico
TRAVEL LOG
Coffee Meetings Made extraordinary The well-loved Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf once again delivers extraordinary experiences with its latest innovation and unique dining concept, the 26th St. Bistro by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Compared to regular CBTL branches, 26th St. Bistro distinguishes itself with a larger and more comfortable dining area, specially designed with a more upscale tone. Its most outstanding feature is the expanded range of menu items, complete with breakfast, lunch, and dinner selections, to delicious desserts and all-day snacks. What’s more, the signature coffee and tea offerings are supplemented by a variety of beverages, including imported wines and beers. Some of its bestsellers include the portobello mushroom ciabatta, Toblerone pancakes with salted caramel, and the pannacotta sampler that comes in vanilla, Earl Grey, and espresso. With branches in 5th Ave. corner 26th St., Bonifacio Global City, and at the East Wing of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City.
Coolest Place to Be — Mövenpick Cebu Foreign visitors and local residents are flocking to the new Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu, drawn by its sexy, hip, and fun vibes. All eventually end up at their Ibiza Beach Club, which is hard to ignore with its chic outdoor deck where you can sip a cocktail and chill out with their international DJ Tony M who has played with the likes of Kaskade, Groove Armada, and Andy Cadwell. Best way to enjoy all this cool ambiance is to try their centerpiece meal—the famous Brazilian churrasco. This is a food marathon with 14 courses of meat and seafood barbecued with their own creation of Brazilian marinades and spices that are skewed one tasty morsel after another on a sword. This eat-all-you-can meal with salad is only Php 2,000. Add another Php 500 and you can have endless refills of the award-winning Manny O wines. To fully enjoy these treats, best you work out a good appetite at their pool or their gym. www.moevenpick-hotels.com 14 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
Feels like home
le Petite Camille: Big on Flavor The ambiance in Le Petite Camille is comfortable yet elegant, an ideal establishment for a quiet weekday get together or a relaxed meal with clients. The beautifully varied menu is neatly categorized for easy picking. The imperial rolls are stuffed with pork, mushrooms, taro, crushed peanuts, rice vermicelli, and La Petite Camille’s signature sauce. It’s sweet, salty, and altogether delicious. Adding lightness and crunch to the meal is the pomelo salad: sweet chunks of pomelo mixed with cabbage, Thai basil, pickled carrots, radish, caramelized onions, and crushed peanuts with special sauce. For meat lovers, the aromatic and robust-flavored Vietnamese pork barbecue is for you. It’s fork-tender, with generous douses of lemon grass evident in this wellcomposed meal. Complementing this dish is the special rice in clay pot; slow-cooked jasmine rice topped with prawns, chicken, Chinese chorizo, onions, mushroom, and La Petite Camille’s signature clay pot sauce. With plenty of lip smacking eats, this is a foodie’s paradise. Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City – Ernest Gala
Freshness in a Bottle French perfumer Francis Kurkdjian has carefully chosen the finest raw materials to create a scent of contrasts: lemons from Calabria, mandarins from Sicily, and tonka beans from Brazil. Aqua Vitae is fresh despite the heat of its spicy top note. The dazzling sun that shines through it is known as hedione, which has jasmine notes. It is then carried by guaiac wood, which casts a spell and guarantees to stay in your memory.
Looking for an alternative to the typical hotel chain or hostel? Try Alcoves, apartment-style accommodations that combine upmarket location, efficiency, and security with the personalized feel of staying over at a friend’s place. The clean and comfortable rooms feature touches of Asian design, in addition to modern amenities like fast and free Wi-Fi. Its owners, three well-travelled siblings, are as praised as the rooms themselves. Filling in multiple roles from reservation agents to hosts, they assist on virtually everything: from recommending good places to eat in nearby Greenbelt mall to walking with you and making sure you don’t get lost on the way to your business meeting. As many guests have discovered, Alcoves is more than a place to rest your head—it’s also where you’ll make your first friends in the city. www.alcoves.ph – Annabelle Marquez
A PoP oF Color, A DAsh oF Fun The Fall/Winter 2013 color collection of Swedish audio brand Urbanears aims to add an element of fantasy to your every day listening experience. Each new color in this collection is playful, unusual, and bent towards the eccentric. Stand out from the crowd in these three brand new shades of lilac, cobalt, and clover. URBANEARS Concept Store, 3/F The Podium, Ortigas Center
not Your ordinary Burger A popular hangout for lunch and dinner, Garage 88 is serving up ultra tasty appetizers, delicious pastas, and wholesome burgers, all in generous portions. But the star attraction is the ostrich menu, a gastronomic indulgence worth the experience. Some of its notable dishes are the ostrich steak in red wine sauce, ostrich burger in cheese, spaghetti with ostrich meatballs, and ostrich tapa with garlic rice and egg. Ostrich meat is considered healthier and boasts clean, smooth flavors with tender, moist meat that will play with your palate. Garage 88 is cooking up a storm, which only a few manage to do best. With branches in Bonifacio Global City and Greenhills Shopping Center. www.garage-88.com – Ernest Gala
Fashion Forward Stuart Weitzman opens its flagship boutique in the Philippines at SM Aura Premier mall. A luxury brand built upon the idea of creating a beautifully constructed shoe, founder and designer Stuart Weitzman’s main objective has always been to merge fashion and function. His stylish designer shoes are adored by celebrities and shoppers around the globe. Known for his sexy stilettos and evening sandal designs, Stuart Weitzman store at SM Aura Premier offers the full collection. www.philippineairlines.com I 15
IN THE NEWS Our ISlaNdS
The FirsT Filipino aT The Finish line “The world’s toughest race” has been conquered by Filipino-American Benjamin Gaetos. The grueling, 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon is a foot race from California’s Death Valley to Mount Whitney. Gaetos, 56, finished with a time of 44 hours, eight minutes, and seven seconds. He was one of the 96 participants to qualify for this extreme run. Gaetos came in 64th while a 39-year-old from Portugal came in first.
Bayanihan dances again To The Top For the second time, the Bayanihan Dance Company took home the Grand Prize at the 14th World Folklore Festival held in Istanbul, Turkey. Besting 19 other countries this year, including Greece, Russia, and Mexico, Bayanihan began joining international dance competitions in 2002 and has since garnered seven grand prize awards.
16 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
VeTeran Filipino acTor Bags Korean Film FesT award Noted Filipino actor Joel Torre bagged the Best Actor award at the 17th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (IFFF) held in South Korea for his role as an experienced contract killer in the film On the Job. Directed by Erik Matti, the gritty crime thriller also received the Jury’s Choice Prize at the IFFF.
record-shaTTering hand washing Leave it to Filipinos to break some of the world’s quirkiest records. Just last August, 2,132 women gathered to hand wash a 1,200-meter-long fabric, breaking a Guinness World Record for the most number of people hand washing fabric simultaneously. The previous record-holder was Vietnam.
roxas BouleVard redeVelopmenT One of the country’s most historic thoroughfares will soon get a facelift. The Departments of Tourism and of Public Works and Highways revealed joint plans to transform the iconic boulevard into an 8-kilometer complex of paved walkways, bike lanes, and a commercial strip by 2015. “This is not just a beautification project,” said Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez. “This program will reestablish the importance of Manila as a capital city and enhance the value of property all over the district that it crosses.”
IN THE NEWS BEST OF THE BEST
JapaN
philippiNes
World’s Strangest Desserts
Best Swim-Up Hotel Bars
ausTRalia
World’s Most Unusual Cocktails
WoRlD’s sTRaNGesT DesseRTs
WoRlD’s MosT uNusual CoCkTails
JapaN’s WeiRDesT CoNCepT Cafes
NiTRoGeN iCe CReaM, isCReaMisT, MaNila, philippiNes 2. CheRpuMple, los aNGeles, usa 3. GReeN DyseNTeRy, MoDeRN ToileT, Taipei, TaiWaN 4. ais kaCaNG, MaxWell RoaD haWkeR CeNTeR, siNGapoRe 5. Devil’s TRes leChes, CheGo, los aNGeles, usa
1.
DouG laMiNG’s MaRGaRiTa, RabbiT hole baR, syDNey, ausTRalia 2. CaMel Milk CoCkTail, The RiTz-CaRlToN abu Dhabi, abu Dhabi 3. eaRl GRey CaviaR MaRTiNi, QuiNaRy, hoNG koNG 4. GuNpoWDeR ploT, zeTa baR, syDNey, ausTRalia 5. DiaMoNDs aRe foReveR, skyvieW baR, abu Dhabi
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
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Source: www.cntraveler.com
WaTChes GeT sMaRT WiTh saMsuNG Samsung has unveiled its Galaxy Gear smartwatch, which it will launch this month. The device has a 1.63-inch screen, a 1.9 megapixel camera on the watchband, 4GB of storage space, and several apps including Snapchat. The smarwatch, which will be compatible with the Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy Note 2 and 3 among others, will include voice command for checking messages and making calls.
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Neko Café, Tokyo, JapaN Mahika MaNo, Tokyo, JapaN MasaMiChi kaTayaMa, Tokyo, JapaN Robo Café, osaka, JapaN Café/Day, NuMazu-shi, JapaN
Source: www.flavorwire.com
Source: www.cnn.com
iNDia puTs aN eND To shaRk fiNNiNG In terms of number of sharks caught each year, India ranks second, and in an effort to save endangered shark species in the nation’s waters, the country’s Environmental Minister announced new legislation that would make it illegal to possess or sell shark fins. Fishermen found to have harvested shark fins will face tough penalties, including up to seven years imprisonment. The demand for shark fins comes primarily from China, where it is the prime ingredient for shark fin soup.
heRCule poiRoT lives! Evidence clearly suggests that Agatha Christie passed away in 1974, but good news for fans of the mystery novelist, a new Hercule Poirot book will be published in 2014. The fictional Belgian detective is one of Christie’s most famous characters, having appeared in 33 novels and portrayed on the screen numerous times by several actors over the years. The latest caper will be written by Sophie Hannah, a British mystery novelist.
ToTally TwisTed Themed ResTauRanTs
Take a bite, if you dare, of the “World’s Most Caloric Burger” according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The nurses (waitresses) will take your prescription (order) from their menu of “Single” to “Quadruple Bypass” burgers, which consists of four half-pound patties, eight slices of cheese, and 16 slices of bacon. www.heartattackgrill.com
ARABIAN ROCK, TOKYO, JAPAN
Summon your genie-costumed servers by rubbing the lamp at the door when you wish to dine at this Aladdin-themed restaurant. Once inside, you’ll be surrounded by plush cushions, Persian rugs, hookahs, and a basket of golden eggs on your table. www.japan-tourist-guide. com/arabian-rock-restaurant.php
NINJA, TOKYO, JAPAN
If you can find your way into this ninja hideout, you’ll be treated with delicious sushi and perhaps a trick from an illusionist. Once you get through the maze-like cave, past some treasure chests and a secret bridge, the staff will serve you with utmost agility and caution. But worry not, the only thing that will be assassinated here is your hunger. www.ninjaakasaka.com
Bambu Indah, Bali, Indonesia
HOBBIT HOusE, MANIlA, PHIlIPPINEs
In the early 1970s, Tolkien geek Jim Turner opened the first Hobbit House in Manila and the spot remains popular today (as well as its branch on Boracay Island). The restaurant proudly claims to have “the smallest waiters in the world” with its staff of Filipino midgets. It may not be politically correct or accurate, but diners and servers alike are ever enthusiastic in this one-of-a-kind Middle Earth setting. www. hobbithousemanila.com
MODERN TOIlET, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
Can you stomach this restaurant’s dishes served on urinals? Tiled floors, showerheads, toilets for seats, glass-topped bathroom sinks as tables— yes, you’re in a restaurant! Visiting Modern Toilet is a delightful dare for any tourist, who might want to try gratin in miniature bathtubs or, of course, swirled chocolate ice cream. www.moderntoilet.com
IllusTRATION BY Isabel Hernandez
HEART ATTACK GRIll, lAs vEGAs, uNITED sTATEs
on The web
WWW.WORKAWAY.INFO
Volunteer to do good as you travel. Sign up at Workaway, where a fair exchange is promoted between budget travelers, language learners, and culture seekers.
HAvE A BREAK, HAvE AN ANDROID KITKAT? Continuing with its theme of sweets, the next version of Android will be called Android KitKat. Google has partnered up with KitKat for a promotion wherein you can find useful codes inside KitKat wrappers for Google Play app store credits and chances to win Google Nexus tablets. The usually green Android mascot will, this time around, be made out of the chocolate wafer treats.
GAMERs, MARKs YOuR CAlENDARs Come November, Sony and Microsoft will release the latest versions of their respective videogame consoles. The PlayStation 4 is set for release in North America on November 15, and on November 29 for Europe and Latin America. Meanwhile, the Xbox One will be available on November 22 in 13 markets including the United States, Canada, and Australia. Some of the latest features of the Xbox One include voice command and cloud storage, while the PS4’s newest edge will allow users to share gameplay progress on social media, as well as broadcast it live.
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Book the best deal from hotels by letting them bid for you! Add your travel plans to this site and watch as hotels compete for your stay.
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Secure the perfect vacation rental with over 570,000 choices. Or if you’ve got a gorgeous piece of property, share it with trusted travelers here.
WWW.TRIPWATCHER.COM
Get alerts on airfare drops for your next trip as this site sends you via email, Facebook, or Twitter the best bargain in real time! www.philippineairlines.com I 19
MILESTONES
THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF From October 23 to 24, 1944, the largest naval battle in history took place in the waters near the islands of Leyte, Samar, and Luzon. This epic World War II encounter involved 216 U.S. warships and 64 Japanese ships and resulted in the destruction of Musashi, one of the largest Japanese battleships ever built. This was also the first battle where the Japanese carried out kamikaze attacks. The combined forces of the United States and Australia defeated the Imperial Japanese Navy fleet.
FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS OCTOBER 8, 1985
Peter Gene Hernandez, better known by his stage name Bruno Mars, was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to a Filipino mother and Puerto Rican father. His debut album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, featured number-one singles like “Just the Way You Are,” “Grenade,” and “The Lazy Song.”
OCTOBER 29, 1910
Antonio Velasquez, dubbed as the Father of Philippine Comics, was born in Paco, Manila. He pioneered cartoon advertising and his comic strip, “Kenkoy” poked fun at Philippine current events.
OCTOBER 9, 1940
John Lennon was born in Liverpool, England. He’s one of the four members of most commercially successful rock group of all time, The Beatles. He was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
OCTOBER 26, 1881
Pablo Picasso, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, was born in Malaga, Spain. Picasso is noted for co-founding the Cubist Movement and coinventing collage.
OCTOBER 28, 1955
Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, was born in Seattle, Washington. Gates became a billionaire by age 31, after co-founding Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975. Microsoft today is the world’s largest software maker and one of world’s most valuable companies.
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INTERNATIONAL OCTOBER 27, 1904
LOCAL OCTOBER 14, 1943
Under the Japanese-sponsored republic, Jose P. Laurel Sr. became the Philippines’ president during World War II. Laurel was instructed by Commonwealth President Manuel Quezon to remain in Manila as he went into exile. Laurel remained president until Japan’s surrender to the United States in 1945.
OCTOBER 20, 1944
On this day, General Douglas MacArthur fulfilled his “I shall return” promise when he landed in Palo, Leyte. Accompanied by Commonwealth President Sergio Osmeña and Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, McArthur headed the largest U.S. fleet of warships to reclaim the Philippines from Japanese occupation.
OCTOBER 21, 1964
Amateur boxer Anthony Villanueva won a silver medal in the featherweight division at the Tokyo Olympics. Soviet Union’s Stanislav Stephaskin lost in the bout to Villanueva, whose father was also a bronze medalist at the 1932 Berlin Olympics.
The first underground and underwater rail system in the world, the New York City subway, began operations, running from City Hall to West 145th Street.
OCTOBER 30, 1938
Actor Orson Welles and the Mercury Players dramatized The War of the Worlds on radio and inadvertently caused millions of Americans to panic. The story depicted a Martian attack on New Jersey and the script’s use of radio news bulletins had much of the audience believe it to be real.
OCTOBER 21, 1879 Thomas Edison successfully tested an electric incandescent lamp with a carbonized filament at his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, keeping it lit for over 13 hours.
FASHION
HERE COMES THE SUN
This jewelry collection inspired by sunflowers leaves KARA SANTIAGO mesmerized—and inspired.
A
symbol of happiness and joy, lost, and whatever the culture, there is the sunflower has permeated no language barrier that can bring down our culture from generations this universal message of a reassuring over. From being the favorite embrace. To immortalize this sunny silhouette, subject of realist artists in their canvass creations to being used as the imagery of Harry Winston offers a wide array of rebirth in mainstream cinema, this flower exquisite designs in their 2013 Sunflower has definitely found its place in the hearts collection. Elegant motifs pave the way for a contemporary line of daytime of many. jewels that include necklaces, earrings, The sunflower is native to the bracelets, and rings. Each masterpiece Americas. It is characterized by its features a round, brilliant diamond center iconic inflorescence, whose shape stone, meticulously greatly resembles framed by a halo the sun (hence, of eight smaller its name). This diamonds. This flower is actually design results a composite to a threereceptacle of dimensional bloom a multitude of of remarkable buds—meaning, brilliance: a symbol a single stemmed of perfection and sunflower is undeniable grace. actually made Dating back to the 1950s in the If one is looking of a hundred archival sketches of the jewelry design for the perfect individual flowers powerhouse, the sunflower motif follows a renowned Harry Winston aesthetic of companion in clumped together! marrying nature’s beauty with the world’s exploring what This amazing fact most exquisite diamonds. else is in store for boasts not only of them outside the its genetic wonder, comforts of the place they call home, but also its various uses apart from being this set of timeless jewelry is a definite just a decorative element. source of inspiration for anyone to In the 2003 film Under the Tuscan pursue more of their Sun, sunflowers were used to depict adventures, and more of the transformation that Diane Lane’s the wonders they have character found in the solace of Tuscany. long been yearning to Across cultures, the sunflower is also explore. n given as a sign of hope and moving forward, usually providing an uplifting Harry Winston is located comfort for those who receive this special at the Ground Floor of present. Without a doubt, the sunflower Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, is a global reminder that not all hope is Makati City.
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MADE FOR THE STARS: Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman dons a Harry Winston Sunflower bracelet.
WHAT’S NEW
a Warm WelCome: The sitting area of the new lounge reflects the new positioning of PAL as a “home in the sky” by incorporating warm and contemporary touches.
YOUR HOME ON THE GROUND iSaBel l. TemPlo reveals the new look of Philippine Airlines’ International Mabuhay Lounge.
Y
ou’re a long way from home. You’ve just gotten off the plane after a red-eye flight, and not surprisingly, the thought of waiting at the departure terminal for your next flight doesn’t exactly thrill you. You just want to sink into a comfy chair, and have a cup of freshly brewed coffee or a glass of wine, or something to fill your tummy. Sound familiar? Airports weren’t exactly built with comfort in mind, so airport lounges are a Godsend. Mabuhay Class Elite, Premier Elite, Million Milers, and Business Class passengers will be glad to know that the Philippine Airlines’ new International Mabuhay Lounge at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)
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Terminal 2 is now set to rival the best of the world’s airport lounges.
PAL is the only local airline with an international airport lounge. Other Mabuhay Lounges can be found in the airports of Bacolod-Silay, Cebu, Davao, General Santos, and Iloilo; as well as San Francisco.
a haven The Mabuhay Lounge is a 520-square meter haven for travelers to relax and avoid
the stress associated with airports. Step into the lounge from the airport’s hustle and bustle, and you’ll immediately feel the difference. You’ll get a warm PAL welcome at the reception area, where the airline’s sunburst motif is replicated on the ceiling. A storage area for coats and bags is to the left. Tucked away to the right is the minitheater, which is designed in the spirit of PAL’s onboard entertainment, “Flights of Fancy.” Its plush bucket seats, fabric-padded walls and ceiling, and dim lights give it a real cinema feel. Footstools let you stretch out and nap, if you want to. A window decal of an old PAL plane screens provides shade and adds a touch of history—after all, PAL is Asia’s first airline. The dining area seats 80 persons and
A NEW LOOK: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) Warren Foster-Brown, founder of FBEYE International; reception area with storage space; buffet area; bar and dining areas
features a built-in buffet, a dessert station, a sandwich bar, a beverage station, and a bar. A long high table with a playful variety of droplights has become a natural favorite among passengers traveling solo. At the far end of the lounge is the living area and library, which accommodates 42 people. Tables come with their own built-in outlet, so you can plug in your laptop and check your email. Or immerse yourself in a good book. Restrooms are clean and well appointed. A shower room with dressing area allows weary passengers to freshen up between flights. MAKEOvEr PAL wanted the lounge to reflect their positioning of being a “home in the sky.” For the design of the interiors, they called in Warren Foster-Brown, managing director of FBEYE International. He describes the new look of the lounge as “warm and kind of contemporary, but in a timeless way.” This is the first makeover for PAL’s international lounge since the airline made the Centennial Terminal its home in the late 1990s. It complements all the changes PAL has been going through and putting in place in recent months. “Everything now has a new look and feel,” says Foster-Brown, “and we wanted to do that on the ground as well.” But the makeover translates to not just the interiors—it’s in the service as well. PAL has worked
closely with the San Miguel Purefoods Company, Inc. to come up with a menu of light but satisfying meals, including PAL’s signature arroz caldo. The food is prepared right in the Mabuhay Lounge’s kitchen facilities. There’s a wide choice of beverages, too. You can grab a bottled drink at the beverage station, or order wine or PAL’s very own blend of coffee from Gourmet Farms at the bar. ‘YOur hOME ON thE grOuNd’ Little touches throughout the Mabuhay Lounge reflect the care and thought that went into designing the space: Timber strips in the dining area. The gray granite flooring retained from the original lounge. Task lighting in the library. LED lights. iPod docking stations. And rounded edges in the furniture to make the lounge child-friendly. Foster-Brown says the best airport lounges he has seen around the world all look rich and inviting. “And that’s what we wanted to portray here in the Mabuhay Lounge.” Business Class passengers pay a premium for exclusivity and comfort— and they’ll find just that in the lounge. Foster-Brown says, “It’s what any global traveler would expect of a lounge. And more.” Tedious, stressful waits at the departure terminal are now a thing of the past. If PAL is your home in the sky, the Mabuhay Lounge is now your home on the ground. n
Warren Foster-Brown has been called the “agent provocateur of luxury hospitality interiors.” Originally from London, he has been working in Asia for more than a decade. He has designed for Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, among others. In 2005, he established FBEYE International, and in 2009, he received the “2009 Wave of the Future” Award, selected by editors of Hospitality Design Magazine. Aside from designing the lounge interior, FosterBrown designed the furniture and the carpet— which is an abstract replication of the view of the landscape from the air. He and his team also worked closely with local suppliers for the lighting and construction requirements. This is the first time FBEYE International has designed a space related to the aviation industry. FosterBrown hopes it will bring him closer to realizing his dream of designing the interiors for a private jet or passenger aircraft.
www.philippineairlines.com I 25
LANDMARKS
IF ONLY WALLS COULD TALK: Just imagine the world’s greatest authors—Rudyard Kipling, Ernest Hemingway and Alfred Hitchcock—strolling the halls of this legendary establishment and you’ll understand why the Raffles Hotel has been elevated to such an iconic status.
THE EPITOME OF TROPICAL CHIC GLENN GALE dishes the lowdown on Singapore’s most iconic property: the Raffles Hotel.
T
hey were two giants of English literature, but Rudyard Kipling and W. Somerset Maughan had very differing views of the Raffles Hotel—that iconic 126-year-old hospitality establishment in Singapore, which with its colonnaded verandahs, lush courtyards, and teak appointments, oozes tropical chic. Granted, the Raffles was just a tenbedroom hostelry when Kipling dropped by in 1889, just two years after it opened for business, and declared: “Feed at Raffles but sleep at Hotel de L’Europe”—then its only competitor. Indeed, even in those far-off colonial days the Raffles had established a reputation for serving the best cuisine east of the Suez, and Kipling wrote of having enjoyed his meal so much that he later “crept
26 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
back there to eat six different chutneys with one curry.” Maughan, on the other hand, was a lot less ambiguous. Following the first of several visits in the 1930s, he eulogized: “Raffles stands for all the fables of the exotic East.” Fast forward to 2012 and this time a royal testimonial conveyed by no less than Prince William when he checked into the Raffles with wife Kate. Even as the turbaned and liveried Sikh doorman Narajan Singh opened the limo door to welcome the royal couple, an eager William was already pointing out that his grandmother who had stayed at the Raffles some decades earlier had fond memories of the place and told him he would really enjoy his stay there. While Queen Elizabeth II is perhaps the
hotel’s most illustrious royal guest, the Raffles has been home to every variety of royalty— whether European, Middle Eastern, Asian, or merely Hollywood. Add to the lineup the presidents, prime ministers, corporate titans, and showbiz celebrities who have been in the spotlight for the past 100 years and you will find that many of them have stayed one time or another at the Raffles. Their visits are chronicled in photographs that take up both walls of a long corridor in the hotel’s upper floor. As one walks through that corridor, with its wooden paneling and gleaming brass details, every floorboard seems to creek with history. But the Raffles experience is there to be enjoyed by both royalty and commoner alike. And even the most vehement critic of the
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LANDMARKS excesses of the British Empire is sure to one of them to spearhead promotional go wobbly at the knees as he pulls up tours abroad. In this ambassadorial long wicker chair in an airy palm-laced role, Narajan has traveled to England, courtyard with a Singapore Sling close France, Germany, Canada, and the United States. He was also on hand at hand. For there is something about the to bring a touch of Raffles color to the colonial grandeur and informal charm proceedings when the luxury brand of the Raffles that is disarming as it opened in Manila last year. “As an ambassador for the Raffles, I is infectious. When legendary (and equally tempestuous) Oscar-winning am aware that I represent not just the Hollywood star Ava Gardner was hotel but its long history and traditions,” staying there, she was approached says Narajan. “There was one time somewhat scarily in the lobby by two when I had to go to Las Vegas by myself young British soldiers who asked for an to receive an award on the behalf of autograph. “Why boys,” she is said to the hotel. And even there people were have cooed, “I will do more than that. aware of the history of Raffles and were interested to talk to Here’s a kiss.” me about it.” It’s not just the Interestingly, the rich and famous who Did You Know? white-walled Raffles are attracted to the complex that now Raffles. As doorman occupies an entire Narajan points out, a block flanked by visit to Raffles (which four prominent since 1989 has enjoyed thoroughfares and gazetted status as a spread over almost historic monument) 28,000 square meters and a picture with is formulated exactly the doorman in his ThIrTy-year-old FIlIpIno like it was in 1915, splendid Gieves & barman randolph FedelIsIo VelasIo has InVenTed eIghT when the quartet of Hawkes–tailored new cockTaIls named aFTer Armenian brothers white uniform is an each oF The counTrIes where The raFFles hoTel bearing the family essential part of most has a presence, IncludIng a name Sarkies decided visitors’ itinerary in phIlIppIne slIng. to expand their Singapore. “Nearly every morning two busloads original modest hostelry which—in of Japanese tourists will pull up on a canny business move—they named the street outside the hotel and they after Sir Stamford Raffles, Singapore’s will all troop up to the entrance to founding British governor. Today, after a major refurbishment pose with the doorman,” says Narjan adding: “sometimes they even show completed in 1991, the 103 all-suite me a picture of a relative who had been Raffles is a monument to a glorious here some years back and had a picture past, but operating very much in the modern-day high-end hospitality arena. taken with me.” Fifty-year-old Narajan has been a tall Its “personality suites” commemorate and dignified presence at the white- the Sarkies and Sir Stamford Raffles, walled entrance of the Raffles for 22 with two spacious suites also named years. He is one of three Sikh doormen after Maughan and Kipling. And remember the Hotel de employed by the hotel, the other two being brothers Sarjit Singh and Swaran L’Europe that Kipling suggested as an Pal Singh—the latter even having a alternative billet to the Raffles? It closed cameo role in the Hollywood movie for business many decades ago, but its Paradise Road alongside Glenn Close name lives on through a suite that the Raffles has named after its long defunct and Cate Blanchett. Such is the trio’s impact that the rival. Now, how cool is that! n Singapore Tourism Board often borrows
Under Licensing Agreement
ROYAL TREATMENT: Doorman Narajan Singh welcomes the Duchess of Cambridge (TOP). The elegant British colonial architecture (BOTTOM) exudes an air of relaxed charm.
PAL and PAL Express fly between Manila and Singapore daily. For more information, call PAL reservations office at (+632) 855 8888 or visit www.philippineairlines.com, and PAL Express reservations at (+632) 855 9000.
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CHARITY BALL
WORLD-CLASS COUTURE : In last year’s Red Charity Gala, the gorgeous creations of Cebuano designer Cary Santiago were the highlights of the event.
AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER
O
ctober is the month filled with annual charity balls and fashion galas. Now on its fifth year, the Red Charity Gala is an evening of elegance and sophistication as it highlights Philippine fashion at its finest. The Red Charity Gala is held annually at the prestigious Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. The fundraising event attracts a glittering guest list of the country’s elite and celebrities, as well as donors keen to contribute to the Philippine National Red Cross, Assumption HS 81 Foundation, and various other charities. Philanthropic beauty Kaye Tinga
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and I are co-chairs of this social gala. We always aim to come up with a winning combination of outstanding fashion, fabulous food, flowing wine and champagne, generous friends, and, best of all, lots and lots for charity. To raise awareness of the charity’s good work around the country, this exclusive event shares with its guests the different projects and assistance rendered to the needy, especially in those areas hit by recent calamities. Several generous table buyers have supported us every year and the charitable set is getting larger. Adding fun and laughter
ALL PHOTOS BY Marty R. Ilagan
TESSA PRIETO-VALDES dishes what’s in store during this year’s Red Charity Gala.
CHARITY BALL
UNITED FOR ONE CAUSE: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) Andy Vasquez-Prada, Cong. Freddie and Kaye Tinga with pretty daughters Kylie and Kerry; Miguel Pastor and Ben Chan of Bench; the author with Cary Santiago and Kaye Tinga
to the dinner gala is a not-so-silent auction that eventologist Tim Yap and I host. The additional funds raised at the auction truly help more people in need. This October, champagne will be flowing, thanks to Piper-Heidsieck Brut and Remy Martin VSOP cognac. There’s nothing like a bit of bubbly to get guests to become more relaxed and become even more generous. Many sponsors support the Red Charity Gala year after year. These major sponsors include Smart Infinity, the PLDT-Smart Foundation, Megaworld, Sun Life Financial, Samsung, SMDC, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, and Preview Magazine. For the past two years, Philippine Airlines has also been a generous supporter. The Gala is a night to celebrate the impressive talent of a featured fashion designer. In the past, we have showcased the collections of Rajo Laurel, Dennis Lustico, Furne One, Michael Cinco, and Cary Santiago. The photos of Michael Cinco’s gowns from the 2011 Gala should be evidence enough of the high quality of the featured designers. This year, we are presenting the stunning designs of Dubai-based Filipino designer Ezra Santos. The production is always a chance to see the vision of creative director Ariel Lozada at work. Each year, he comes up with fashion angles and surprising dramatic accents, all of which keep the show fresh and exciting. Ariel’s production team includes event head Maggie Gineta, stylist Noel Manapat, makeup maven Patrick Rosas, and PR guru Edd Fuentes. The team, of course, is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, as an entire cast of supporters is behind the entire show. A gastronomic feast is always a highlight of the event, as the Shangri-La comes up with new dishes to pique the crowd’s taste buds. The table décor is never amiss, as the Robert Blancaflor Group takes care of floral arrangements. Wonderful goodies from Villa del Conte chocolates and Luxe by Goldilocks are among the giveaways that guests have come to expect from the fun evening. Indeed with so many top talents from 32 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
different aspects of entertaining cooperating on the event, the Red Charity Gala is always a must on the social calendar. This year’s black-tie event will be yet the most fascinating yet. Opening cocktails will be held at the Shangri-La Makati’s Upper Lobby. The pre-dinner affair will be a chance to unveil the latest designer scent of Bench. Bench king Ben Chan has chosen Ezra Santos as the name of his brand’s latest fragrance offering. Each guest will be given a Bench gift and will therefore be one of the first consumers to enjoy the sweet scent. It will truly be a night for Ezra, as his outstanding creations will then be the highlight of the fashion show after the dinner. Ezra has painstakingly designed a number of pieces for the show, which will truly be a glitz and glam event. Ezra got his start at the Slim’s Fashion and Arts School, now run by owners and siblings Sandy and Mark Higgins. From those early beginnings, he made his way to the Middle East, and he now makes global fashion waves from Dubai. Indeed, when fashion and charity go together, magic happens and suddenly it’s a better world for many in need. n Follow @tessavaldes on Twitter or visit www. tessaprietovaldes.com.
FILIPINO PRIDE The showcase in This year’s red chariTy Gala is dubai-based Filipino desiGner ezra sanTos. his works can be seen aT www. ezraFashion desiGn.com.
URBAN SCENE GOT SPUNK? Stock up on the latest edgy and casual pieces from this Scandinavian brand, Monki.
SHANGHAI’S SECRETS You think you know everything about Shanghai? Thing again. DAVID FOWLER lists the city’s hippest, most happening spots. 34 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
W
elcome to Shanghai. Forget the past, the tried, and true. Hit the fast-forward button to discover an insiders’ guide to Shanghai’s chicest shopping, secret nightspots, and delish dining away from the tourist crowds. China’s undisputed megalopolis has it all; you just have to know where to look. Here’s a few of our favorites, from cutting-edge fashion, sophisticated cocktail culture, to a world-class restaurant scene— all with a uniquely Shanghai twist.
SHOPPING SCENE
MONKI (Global Harbour Shopping Center, No. 3300 Zhongshan North Road) Take a twirl around Monki— the sassy, new street-smart sister brand to fast-fashion house H&M. Shanghai’s first-ever Monki store is now open with an innovative retail concept that imagines the shop as a fantasy undersea garden with eyepopping surprises at every turn. Like H&M, new arrival collections are fun, funky, and a perfect fit for budding fashionistas. Think retroesque Scandinavian fashion meets Asian pop with cosmopolitan edge. Must-haves include colorful graphic leggings, bold black-andwhite prints on everything from tees to knits to jackets to bags, boy boots for girls, beyond trendy accessories, and to-die-for eyewear. SPIN (360 Kangding Road, near Shaanxi North Road; +86 21 6279-2545) Bring back authentic gifts: real porcelain china from China. All handmade in China’s historic porcelain capital, Jingdezhen in Jiangxi Province, Spin designs are all decidedly modern, minimalistic with a zen quality, and elegant yet subtle. In one word, exquisite. Browse its two-story loft-like showroom to find everything from serving platters, floor-length vases, and coffee cups, to traditional tea sets of the most contemporary designs. All designs are boxed in wood or cardboard carrying cases and tied with yellow silk ribbons. NICOLE ZHANG (Showroom: Room 303, Building 5, 831 Jiangning Road, +86 21 60319430; by appointment only) Fashion designer Nicole Zhang is a true Shanghai original. Having worked previously for luxury brands Dior, Prada, and Miu Miu, Nicole now designs for her eponymous label, Nicole Zhang. Her Fall/Winter 2013 collection presents a surprising and refreshingly urban take on classic 1950s silhouettes, including A-line
overcoats in slightly transparent high-tech materials, mid-calf length pencil skirts, sleeveless dresses in sumptuous Italian knits, and funky big blue fur coats and wraps. This designer knows exactly what today’s Asian “it” girl wants. Pretty soon, so will the rest of the world. FEIYUE SNEAKERS, CULTURE MATTERS (No. 2, Lane 47, ChangLe Road, near Chengdu Road; +86 21 53839640) First introduced in Shanghai in 1920, this vintage brand (which is Mandarin for “flying forward”) has been reborn and gone completely global. From Paris to New York, hipsters, alternative types, and style divas are all mad for FeiYue’s über hip designs. These lightweight canvas sneakers are comfy but give off that I’m-too-cool-for-school vibe. In Paris, they can cost €90; in Shanghai, you can pick up a pair of these Chinese originals for as little as $10. Available in more than 50 styles, they can be found in many independent shoe shops around Shanghai, but for the best selection and English service, step on over to Culture Matters.
A classic Feiyue Lo costs only about US$10 in Shanghai.
Nicole Zhang’s designs marry style and wearability seamlessly.
RESTAURANTS
THE PLUMP OYSTER (No. 301, Taikang Terrace, Lane 171 Jianguo Zhong Road; +86 21 5418-3175) Perched atop Taikang Terrace, a new addition to the famous alleyways of arts and shopping neighborhood Tianzifang, is the proud home to Shanghai’s best although somewhat hidden oyster house. Ultra-fresh varieties from Canada, the United States, France, Australia,
A set lunch of quiche and salad at Le Cafe des Stagiaires.
www.philippineairlines.com I 35
URBAN SCENE
WHEN EVENING FALLS: Enjoy the nightly music of DJ Arjen Frank at Craft and sip some cool cocktails (BELOW) from Yuan.
South Africa, and other global ports not only make the menu boast the biggest oyster selection but also the most pristine. Order by the piece, the dozen, or do an around-theworld platter. Beyond oysters, a well-rounded menu is organized around categories of “Taste” (appetizers, salads, and small dishes), “Feast” (main courses including New Zealand lamb chops and Australian rib-eye), “Share” (antipasto, cheese plates, and caviar), and “Sweet” (deserts). YONGKANG ROAD (between Xianyang and Jiashan Roads) This block-long stretch of Yongkang Road is Shanghai’s newest popular destination for relaxed mostly casual dining. Also an unpretentious place to see and be seen. As the sun sets, people from all walks of life converge on the sidewalks and in the street for real happy hours. Here, models mix with moms pushing strollers, artists, and scooter riders share drinks and bites with afterwork professionals. Feeling a bit French? Le Café des Stagiaires is the epicenter of the Yongkang scene and serves up classic bistro fare with one of Shanghai’s most affordable wine lists. Next door, Revolution Cocktail by Urban Ban mixes communist kitsch with generous pours for those indulging a more liquid diet. Across the street, Sliders (Australian parlance for mini-burgers) offers multiple beers on tap to wash down plate after plate of the best little bite-size burgers in town. Up and down the block choices include sushi bars, Italian joints, an authentic Irish pub, wine and coffee bars, dessert shops, and, of course, Chinese cuisine. 36 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
COCKTAILS AND NIGHTLIFE
YUAN (17-2 XiangYang North Road, near ChangLe Road) There is no place in the world quite like Yuan, arguably the most perfect Chinese cocktail bar ever. Husband and wife owners Vance and Stephy have created a truly magical space of vintage Chinese trappings where world-class cocktails are hand-crafted one at a time. Fusing traditional Chinese liquors, herbs, and fruits to reinterpret classic Western drinks, these all-original concoctions set a new standard in cocktail mixology. Try the Shaoxing Chivalry, a twist on the Manhattan. Instead of bourbon, 12-year-old Scotch is infused with red dates while a Shaoxing wine reduction with wolfberry substitutes for sweet vermouth. Other creative mixes include the use of Changbaishan Ginseng, Chongming Wine, and other uniquely Chinese ingredients. Those in the know flock here seven nights a week to sample more than 300 different spirits behind the bar all expertly mixed by award-winning bartenders. CRAFT (Donghu Hotel South Wing, 7 Donghu Road) Hidden down an alley and up the back stairs, Craft has a speakeasy flair that makes arriving itself fun. Once inside, friendly bartenders mix, shake, and stir countless brands of vodka into party-perfect drinks. Martinis, check. Cosmos, check. Party shots, check. But owner/partner and DJ Arjen Frank is the true craftsman here, with a nightly music mix that keeps this downtown crowd up on their feet all night long.
DR BAR (House 15, North Block Xintiandi, Lane 181, Taicang Road) Everyone goes to Xintiandi. But nestled in a secret corner of Shanghai’s first gentrified old neighborhood turned outdoor shopping and dining mall is Dr Bar. Need a respite away from the crowds? Slip inside this small and intimate bar where all the bartenders are local beauties, the drinks are tall, the mixes strong, and where city sounds and stresses quietly drift away. n
PAL flies between Manila and Shanghai daily. For more information, call PAL reservations office at (+632) 855 8888 or visit www. philippineairlines.com.
SIGHTSEEING
Retracing his heritage, KEVIN TSAI takes us on an exciting and sumptuous trip to one of China’s most underrrated cities.
W
hat I was mostly looking forward to in this trip was getting intimately in touch with my heritage. Instead, my attention was veered by the fact that Xiamen defied my expectations of a modern Chinese city. Unlike other urban jungles of China, in Xiamen visitors can definitely feel a relaxed vibe and see the city’s evident commitment to the preservation of the environment, culture, and art. By Chinese standards Xiamen is small; hence, its popular tourist spots are conveniently located in proximity to each other. Enjoy a nostalgic walk back to your college days and admire the beautiful architecture within the campus of Xiamen University (XiaDa as locals like to call it). Immediately outside its south gate, you will find Nanputuo Temple where Buddhist devotees come to offer prayers. From here, you will begin to notice that natural landscapes of mountains and beaches are within reach from just about anywhere in this city.
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For shoppers, Zhongshan Road is Xiamen’s infamous pedestrian shopping district, much similar to Shanghai’s seemingly endless Nanjing Road but perhaps with a noticeable difference: the former has snack food (xiaochi, literally “little eats”) stalls at every corner for you to sample while deciding on making that purchase. Across the street is the jetty for the 10-minute ferry ride going to Gulangyu (Drum Wave) Island. With China’s defeat to Britain in the First Opium War, Xiamen became one of China’s five treaty ports forcibly opened to foreign traders. In Gulangyu affluent Western and Japanese settlers eventually constructed their consulates, mansions, and churches. Today, be prepared to join thousands of domestic Chinese tourists who recognize Gulangyu as an immensely popular vacation landmark. Here, you can buy a “passport” notebook that contains a list of the island’s various retail shops and cafés. Why you can even have it stamped just like a real passport! A brief walk from the wharf takes you to Lujiang
Traveler Tip
There are fewer foreigners in Xiamen than in Beijing or Shanghai, so having your hotel’s business card with their address is recommended when taking taxis. English is not widely spoken; rather, the Minnan or Hokkien language is.
PHOTO BY Richard Shaw
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT XIAMEN
PRIZED POSSESSIONS: With a picturesque location beside Xiamen University and a river, the Nanputuo Temple is one of Xiamen’s famous landmarks. Inside, there is a pavilion that stores several images of Buddha, holy scriptures, and valuable works of art.
FASHION & STYLE SIGHTSEEING
EVERYDAY SCENES: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) Xiamen Violet Cloudland Hotel; Nanputuo Temple; xiao long bao
Harborview Hotel’s aptly named Ocean View Restaurant, the locals’ acclaimed Chinese restaurant of choice. Relish views of the ocean overlooking Gulangyu Island while partaking in sumptuous dimsum, as well as an assortment of fresh seafood dishes Xiamen is known for. After a fulfilling meal, finish off the day with a relaxing cup of coffee at not just any old coffee shop. Starbucks fans will be delighted to learn that at four stories high, Xiamen’s first and China’s biggest branch of the international coffeeshop chain is surprisingly located here along Lujiang Road, which caters primarily to the shiploads of tourists who embark and disembark from the ferry at any given time. When it’s time to retire for the night, consider staying at Zengcuoan, Xiamen’s B&B/tourist inns district, where you can find affordable yet cozy accommodations for as low as RMB100 (Php715) per room per night.
Needless to say, the cost of living and commodities are also budget-friendly. Local diners offer huge servings at RMB8–12 (Php55–85) for set meals, which can be good for sharing. The city likewise has a very inexpensive yet efficient transportation system with most bus routes at just RMB1 (Php7), although bus stop signs are written in Chinese. Cabs are cheaper than in major Chinese cities and instead of a metro system, Xiamen has the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) that basically involves select buses making use of exclusive highways, thereby avoiding traffic. Underrated and affordable as Xiamen currently is, it isn’t quite as international on certain standards yet, which is why we can only expect more to come from this ever-growing quick getaway. To others like myself who identify as Filipino-Chinese, it is quite difficult to find another city in the world we could readily be familiar with, prior to discovering Xiamen. I don’t
PAL flies between Manila and Xiamen daily. For more information, call PAL reservations office at (+632) 855 8888 or visit www.philippineairlines.com. 40 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
High-end: Opened in 2012, Kempinski Hotel Xiamen is the tallest building in all of Fujian Province and a new landmark building in Xiamen. Established in 1897 in Berlin, Kempinski is Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group with over 70 five-star hotels worldwide. Budget: Various B&Bs and inns (mostly familyowned businesses) popular among domestic tourists at Zengcuoan, Siming. Prices range from RMB100 (Php715) and up (Xiamen Violet Cloudland Hotel, Xiamen Sunshine Holiday Inn)
PHOTOS BY Kevin Tsai (TOP AND BOTTOM LEFT); Richard Shaw (RIGHT & OPPOSITE PAGE)
Stay
suppose we could easily get homesick with many Philippine brands like SM and Bench reminding us of home, thanks to the taipans who probably wanted to have a connection to their ancestral land in a more grandiose fashion. It also helps that the same language (Hokkien) is spoken here extensively. And just like that, Xiamen turns from being an underrated travel destination to a new home away from home. n Postscript: The author’s main motivation in taking this trip was to visit his late paternal grandparents’ birthplace, Gulangyu Island.
Sidetrip
Kinmen Island, a territory controlled by Taiwan, is either a 30-minute or 60-minute ferry ride away from one of Xiamen’s international ferry terminals. Marked by its war-torn past during China’s Civil War, today interest in Kinmen’s military history drives tourists to visit the island. In addition to having a couple hundred New Taiwan Dollars, remember to also prepare your reentry visa back to Xiamen.
A PEEK TO THE PAST: Gulangyu Island is a relatively untouched part of Xiamen as seen in the prevalence of European architecture and various shops selling prized antiques.
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NEW DESTINATION
ABU DHABI ROLLING
BUILT FOR SPEED: The Yas Marina Circuit is the venue of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 1 - 3. The F1 track is 5.55-kilometerlong and has 21 challenging turns. Now, imagine the incredible speed of the cars trying to beat the lap time of 1 minute and 40 seconds. 42 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
PHOTO COURTESY OF Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management
No longer second fiddle to little brother Dubai, Abu Dhabi is fast becoming the Gulf’s most exciting destination. CHRISTINA FERNANDES writes.
IN THE SCENE: This season, Abu Dhabi is where all the action is (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): the Abu Dhabi Film Festival; Abu Dhabi Art; and F1 Grand Prix
I
n the race to make a name for itself as an international tourist destination, Abu Dhabi has not only begun building world-class waterparks, museums, and other venues; it has also been playing host to an increasing array of high-profile events. Most likely to come to many people’s minds, even nonmotor-sports enthusiasts, is the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, being held this year from November 1 to 3 at its usual venue, the Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island. As part of the races, there are a whole array of planned fringe events, including concerts by Jay Z, Muse, Depeche Mode, and Amr Diab, as well as U.S. singer Ciara and Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf. The Yasalam Festival, which also accompanies the F1 Grand Prix, is held each year at the Abu Dhabi Corniche and this
time around features concerts including a free Pinoy Party with Gary Valenciano and Vina Morales on October 31, as well as other beachfront gigs by Beat Antenna, Bull Funk Zoo, and Chronicles of Khan. “Get Driver Fit,” a free fitness program running from September 15 until November 3 as part of the F1 festivities at both the Abu Dhabi Corniche and the Yas Marina Circuit, offers free workouts including yoga, pilates, zumba, cycling, and running. Although by far the biggest, the F1 is certainly not the only sports event to hit Abu Dhabi in the coming months. There is also the Wake Park World Championship on October 10– 12, the FIFA U-17 World Cup from October 17 to November 8, the Shotgun World Cup Final on October 21–30, and the Mubaldala World Tennis Championship on December 26–28.
SHOP
The souks and malls of Abu Dhabi offer plenty of souvenirs for visitors to take home, especially during events held for National Day in December. Arabian coffee pots and cups, a symbol of local hospitality, are a favorite, as are prayer beads in different colors, pashmina shawls in many variations, and wood carvings in the form of dhows, falconry equipment, and canes (which are used by men in traditional Emirati dances). Gourmet souvenirs such as camel milk chocolate, endless varieties of dates, and well-priced spices are also a popular choice. The Sougha initiative, aimed at reviving ancient Emirati weaving traditions and empowering women across the country to create woven handicrafts to earn money for themselves, is a great place for souvenirs. There is an outlet located at the Abu Dhabi Central Market, which offers colorful, hand-woven items such as iPad, laptop, and mobile phone covers, pillows, handbags, purses, table runners, and embroidered bracelets.
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NEW DESTINATION
Stills Bar and Brasserie (Crown Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island; +971 2 656-3053) offers contemporary European cuisine, garden seating, and a 26-meter long bar. Golden Sheraa Restaurant (Khalifa Street, Al Markaziya; +971 2 6277204) is an affordable and family-friendly Lebanese seafood restaurant. Pars Palace (Al Khalidiya, just behind Corniche Towers; +971 2 681-8600), is a hidden gem tucked away in a backstreet that offers excellent Persian fare.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE: No matter what your interests are, you’ll have a grand time in Abu Dhabi’s exciting lineup of events (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): Creamfields 2013 to be held at the du Arena; Zayed Heritage Carnival festivities; Al Dhafra Camel Festival.
Stars and glitz will dazzle the UAE’s capital during the seventh Abu Dhabi Film Festival from October 24 to November 2. The 10-day program of Arab and international cinema is complemented by red carpet premieres and other events. Moviegoers are given the chance to speak to filmmakers during question-andanswer sessions following many of the screenings. Slightly more highbrow but no less glamorous, the fifth edition of Abu Dhabi Art sees the world’s top galleries, artists, collectors, and visitors come together for three days of art, talks, and performances at the Saadiyat Cultural District on Saadiyat Island on November 20–23. Nevertheless, you can always see one of UAE’s greatest architectural masterpieces regardless of the season: The Sheikh Zayed Mosque. The UAE National Day on December 2 is celebrated annually at locations around the city. The
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Zayed Heritage Carnival at Al Wathba is especially exciting, featuring not only the fairly standard camel race, heritage village, handicrafts, and folkloric performances, but even a camel milking contest. For those willing to travel about an hour south of Abu Dhabi to Madinat Zayed in the Western Region, the Al Dhafra Camel Festival held in December is a spectacular display of almost 30,000 camels, including a camel beauty pageant and auctions amidst the picturesque desert landscape. Firmly back in the now, Creamfields Abu Dhabi 2013, one of the world’s leading dance festivals, will draw the crowds to the du Arena on Yas Island on December 13. Sometimes quirky, sometimes over the top, but never boring, Abu Dhabi’s social calendar should have something on offer for most tastes. n
PAL flies between Manila and Abu Dhabi daily starting October 1. For more information, call PAL reservations office at (+632) 855 8888 or visit www.philippineairlines.com.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (RIGHT & BOTTOM LEFT)
Dine
CELEBRATIONS
CHEERS TO OCTOBER
MIGUEL K.O. drinks up to this month’s Oktoberfest happenings. MANILA On October 18 and 19, Sofitel Philippine Plaza will play host to the German Club’s 75th Oktoberfest anniversary in Manila. Not only will Sofitel live up to their luxurious spread of great eats, music by the Bavarian Sound Express is expected to put the festival in full swing. Leading local beer company San Miguel Brewery is also raising their glasses this year with an exciting line-up of events so visit sanmiguelbeer.com.ph for updates. LONDON Kennington Park will play parking lot to a massive truck loaded with 28,000 liters of beer for three whole weekends beginning September 19 to commemorate the Oktoberfest festivities (www.londonoktoberfest.co.uk). Alongside the truck, a tent fit to hold a small army will also be propped up for festival goers to sit, and sip on big frothy ones. Entrance to the event is free, though it’s advisable to book a package online to ensure a place at the table. HONG KONG Hong Kong’s hotels are your best bet at a bite at the Oktoberfest festivities. Brewfests are annually held at celebrated hotels such as the Marco Polo, the Sky City Marriott, and the Hyatt Regency. Since these guys know just how to pamper their guests, authentic Bavarian dishes will be served in abundance. Erdinger beer is also known to throw one of the hottest parties on the island—freeflowing beer as their tempting come-hither.
AUSTRALIA While big companies around the world sponsor Oktoberfest festivities, Brisbane’s yearly celebration (www.oktoberfestbrisbane. com.au) is headed by two Australian-German families. For two weekends in October, the RNA Showgrounds is transformed into an almost-authentic Bavarian village. Stand at the very center, soak in the atmosphere and you’ll get a pretty clear picture of how the Germans like to party. One of the best parts is the family tent, where a traditional Bavarian band, yodelers, dancers, and bell ringers give kids a peek into German culture. SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco’s Oktoberfest by the Bay (www.oktoberfestbythebay.com), took place right on Pier 48. Hosted by the United German American Society (UGAS), this year marked the 124th anniversary of German Day in the Bay Area. Like most Oktoberfest festivals, there was eating, and plenty of drinking, but there was also dancing—and this is what the guys behind the UGAS thrive on. n
Hydrate. Yeah you’ve heard it before, but did you actually listen? Rehydrating your body is the golden rule of nursing that nasty hangover. Eat. Most people are under the impression that eating something like bread will soak up the alcohol in your system. On the contrary, complex carbohydrates help boost your blood sugar back to normal. Sleep. Getting drunk the night before certainly causes you to lose sleep, so getting some the day after makes a lot of sense.
46 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013 September 2013
ILLUSTRATION BY Claudine Delfin
S
ome time in the early 1800s, promotion for Bavarian agriculture stepped forth in the form of an agricultural show. The show progressed into a full-blown festival some years later—its dates even being advanced because the end of September harnessed warmer climate. Then came the marriage of Prince Ludwig to Therese of SaxeHildburghausen, queen of Bavaria. Their union sparked the first Oktoberfest parade. It’s a nice little story bounded by almost Disney-like proportions, but Forbes offers a different take on the Oktoberfest origin. According to Forbes writer Tim Worstall, the Bavarians figured a way to use bottom fermenting yeast, rather than the thencommon top brewing technique, to make delightful beer. However, this brew can only be made during chilly weather. Hence Bavarians of the old days consumed their old beer all summer, wait for the chilly breeze to arrive, then make good brew using the better technique. What follows is a two-weeklong drunken celebration to countdown the arrival of good beer. Whichever the reason is, beer is still beer, and it’s a reason on its own to toast to. While Germany may not be a stone’s throw away from everyone, we round up a couple of other places that will try to fit the bill— lederhosen aplenty.
NEW DESTINATION
EYE SEE YOU: Whether it’s day or night, a ride in the London Eye will give you arguably the best views of the city. With a height of 135 meters from the top, you’ll be able to see as far as 40 kilometers—look closely and you just might see the Windsor Castle!
GREAT EXPECTATIONS IN LONDON
L
ondon is home to over 8 million citizens, more than any other European capital, and over 300 languages can be heard on its streets. This melting pot of culture and lifestyle makes London a unique metropolis compared to those on mainland Europe; hence, not to be missed for the serious traveler. Visitors to the capital flock year round to Buckingham Palace where the flag is raised to indicate if Queen Elizabeth II is in residence and you can catch the ceremonial changing of the guard. At the Houses of Parliament where the Prime Minister and the government work, you can watch political debates under the shadow of Big Ben, the famous clock tower. London is one of the greenest capitals in the world, with 11,000 acres of green, open spaces, some of which are whole attractions in themselves. Hampstead Heath sprawls invitingly next to celebrity-
48 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
laden homes, boutiques, and cafés, and Regent’s Park adjoins London Zoo, a popular visit for families, nestling near Camden Town with some of the best live music in London. London’s galleries and museums are world class, many with free entry. Visit Trafalgar Square (with the plinth showcasing contemporary art), then pop into the National Gallery and the adjacent National Portrait Gallery. You could spend several days enjoying the eclectic Southbank area, containing the London Eye, the British Film Institute, and Tate Britain art gallery, among many attractions. The Wellcome Collection is a little gem near travel hub Euston hosting a schedule of fascinating exhibitions. Don’t be tempted by cheap souvenir offerings in tourist carts and small stores. Instead, visit Hamleys (www.hamleys.com) on Regent Street, considered “the world’s best toy shop for 250 years”; Harrods (www.harrods.com) in Knightsbridge for luxury; and Selfridges
PHOTO BY Daniel Allen
MARIA SPEIGHT says that whether you are seeking postcard traditions of teacups and red post boxes, a multicultural foodie tour, or a trendy art scene, this city on the River Thames will provide.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF London on View (LEFT & TOP RIGHT)
GEMS OF THE CITY: (CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT) The Tower Bridge; Trafalgar Square; a set at the Harry Potter World
(www.selfridges.com) in the shopping heaven of Oxford Street for gifts and souvenirs. Around 13 million theater-goers visit the West End to see a show every year. With 39 theaters, the most popular shows are musicals including Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre and The Phantom of the Opera running since 1986 at Her Majesty’s Theatre. Nonmusical aficionados will find plenty too, including War Horse at the New London Theatre. Book ahead if you can, but last-minute tickets are sometimes available at the box office before curtains up. Families will also love the more commercial attractions in London. Get shivers down your spine at the London Dungeons (www.thedungeons.com) or be spell-bound by Harry Potter World (www. wbstudiotour.co.uk), a coach trip away in leafy Watford. If you were hoping to meet some London celebrities, world-famous wax museum Madame Tussaud’s (www.madametussauds.com/London) is your haunt. Avoid the ridiculously long queues and book ahead. London has accommodation to suit every taste and budget. Travelodge (www.travelodge.co.uk) provides a cheerful chain of family- and budget-friendly hotels
GOOD T O
KNOW
throughout. For luxury, the Metropolitan by COMO, London (www.comohotels.com/metropolitanlondon) graces Park Lane with Japanese-Peruvian restaurant Nobu and the COMO Shambala Spa. For concept rooms or a self-contained apartment right in the thick of it, the Hoxton (www.hoxtonhotels.com) is in vibrant Shoreditch. Shunning tales about warm beer, you can’t see London without visiting a pub. The Prince Albert (www.theprincealfred.com) in Maida Vale is in the traditional style of a pub, or for something a bit more unusual with your tipple, Bar Kick (www.cafekick. co.uk) in Shoreditch has 10 football tables over two floors, and for delicious cocktails and incredible views from the 32nd floor visit Paramount (www. paramount.uk.net/restaurant-bar/) on Oxford Street. In multicultural London, there is no need to limit yourself to the traditional fish and chips. However, if you do fancy some British staples, don’t waste your time with cheap pub fare. Somewhere like the Fish and Chip Shop (www.thefishandchipshop.uk.com) on Upper Street, Islington or Square Pie (www. squarepie.com) in Spitalfields serves upmarket versions. Curry is warmly referred to as Britain’s
• Queuing could be Britain’s favorite pastime. You may get the odd push-andshove on public transport, but this results in raised eyebrows and loud tuts, so don’t. • Buy an Oyster card from any station for the cheapest travel on the excellent public transport.
• British pubs and cafés do not offer table service. Find a table and head to the bar to order. • Carry an umbrella or a cheap rainproof poncho. Even on the warmest day, a shower could happen at any time.
Traveling in London
SCENIC CABLE CAR RIDE Attraction in itself, connecting the North and South of the River Thames. www. emiratesairline.co.uk GETTING AROUND Information on tickets and journey planners for all public transport. www.tfl.gov.uk
PAL will fly between Manila and London five times weekly starting November 4, 2013. For more information, call PAL reservations office at (+632) 855 8888 or visit www.philippineairlines.com www.philippineairlines.com I 49
NEW DESTINATION
ROUTEMASTER BUSES The iconic red double-decker bus from 1954 came back into production in 2012.
LONDON BRIDGE It really did fall down, as the famous nursery rhyme sings, and was rebuilt several times.
ABBEY ROAD The Beatles’ famous album cover road crossing can be crossed in Maida Vale.
THE SHARD With its glass design, it is the tallest building in Western Europe and redefined the London skyline.
DRINK, EAT, BE MERRY: (FROM TOP RIGHT) A dish of Salamagundy from Dinner by Heston Blumenthal; kids enjoying a glass of butter beer at Harry Potter World; a typical full English restaurant and tea room
national dish, and Brick Lane (www.visitbricklane.org), also known as Curry Lane, is the place to go to enjoy one. Celebrity chef restaurants abound, with Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa (www.barbecoa.com) in St. Paul’s and Gordon Ramsay’s York and Albany (www.gordonramsay.com/yorkandalbany) in Camden. For hundreds-of-years-old English recipes, Dinner (www. dinnerbyheston.com) in Knightsbridge by Heston Blumenthal was ninth in the San Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards 2012. Venture off the beaten track with a 15-minute tube journey from 50 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
central London to Haringey’s Green Lanes, a busy thoroughfare punctuated with authentic Turkish restaurants. In fact, the variety of taste offered up in London mirrors what London is to those who live and visit it every year: edgy and smooth, traditional and contemporary, British and international. To say there is something for everyone here is not the whole truth, for even travelers who know what they’re looking for will be charmed and surprised at the city that is London. n
PHOTOS BY London on View (TOP LEFT & BOTTOM)
LONDON IS KNOWN FOR...
DINE & DRINK GOING LOCAL: Settle into a high-backed stool at the Dakota Tavern bar for some country fun.
THE WIZARDS OF OZ
I’
m not in Kansas anymore, but I’m not barnstorming L. Frank Baum’s wonderful world of Oz, either. Toronto’s version of Oz, codified as the stretch of Ossington Avenue that runs from Dundas Street in the north to Queen Street in the south, wasn’t considered much of a destination a few years ago. Not that Oz was particularly dangerous or unsavory—it just didn’t have much to offer the intrepid traveler. It lacked the Victorian charm of Cabbagetown, the glam of Yorkville, and the pomp and circumstance of the Distillery District. Reborn out of the ashes of the global financial crisis, Oz has been staking a claim as a destination for artists, artisans, chefs, mixologists, burlesque dancers, and hipsters in disguise as they move their operations into the old auto garages, biker joints, and karaoke lounges that line the strip. Oz’s slow gentrification has given rise to Toronto’s first shabby chic paradise, a unique enclave far removed from the tourist trail. 52 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
Ossington has become the spirited soul of Western Toronto, a great place to park your broomstick, whether you’re new to Toronto or have known this part of town’s secrets for a while. I’ve made a habit of claiming a bit of real estate in the Drake Hotel’s cozy lounge on Thursday afternoons, laying blank storyboards and notebooks out on the table, and pretending to work. Somehow, the sushi menu always ends up on the top of the pile, and a Paper Plane cocktail appears out of nowhere. The fresh libation spurs my imagination, but it’s not my work I’m drawn to; I decide to hit the road, and see what kind of trouble I can stir up. I’m always prepared to do whatever I need to do to ensure I have fun in Oz, even if that means getting an ill-advised tattoo, growing a moustache, or decking myself out in denim from head to toe. I call in on the Wizards of Ink at Imperial Tattoo in an effort to pass myself off as a local, and I end up on the other side of the needle from Ronan Gibney, one of the biggest names in Canadian ink.
ALL PHOTOS Flash Parker
FLASH PARKER dishes what’s hot in Toronto’s hippest neighborhood.
WORKS OF ART (CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT) Amsterdam brews are on tap throughout Oz, but for seasonal and cask-conditioned specialties, head to the brewery itself. Ronan Gibney, Imperial Tattoo’s “Wizard of Ink,” works on a client. The Group of Seven Chefs prepping a dinner feast at Bellwoods.
Ronan gives me a brief history of Oz: “There were more auto garages than art galleries here when we moved in,” and informs me that I won’t have to go full hipster to enjoy a day out on Ossington Avenue. “Oz has a laid-back vibe,” Ronan says. “It has a reputation as a place where eccentric artytypes work and play, but it’s also one of the few places in town where you can come and hang out without having to cut through the pretense with a knife.” The folks I meet on the block echo Ronan’s sentiment. Mike Clark, the Head Brewer at Bellwoods Brewery, thinks Ossington’s reputation as a hipster paradise is exaggerated. “I think this part of town has a casual, cool vibe that attracts people with certain sensibilities,” Mike tells me. “That doesn’t mean we’re any more or less hipster than anywhere else, but we’re certainly not as stuffy as other parts of the city.” Mike and I raise our glasses and make a toast in the name of Oz, hopeful that a tornado isn’t about to drop a house on our heads and ruin my adventure. My guide turns Oz inside out so that you can focus on more important elements of your trip, like deciding between the grilled Spanish octopus or the Sicilian gnocchi tapa from Fishbar, and whether a pink cowboy
hat and snakeskin boots will get you noticed at the Dakota Tavern. People like to say there’s no place like home, but those folks have never clicked their heels and sipped a Wizard Wolf session ale in the Land of Oz.
to as flagship beer as you’ll find at Bellwoods, but everything that comes out of the workshop is delicious. Imperial Tattoo (www.imperialtattoos. com)
Ronan Gibney’s shop is a shrine to the craft. He’ll send you home with a souvenir you’ll never forget. Sweaty Betty’s (13 Ossington Ave.; +1 416 535-6861)
GETTING THERE Take the subway to Ossington Station (address: 883 Bloor Street West) then head south a few blocks. Those traveling east and west can make use of the street car service that runs along Queen Street.
Gruff and gritty with a smile, Oz’s iconic red-walled bar is an enduring emblem of resilience. Emporium by I Miss You (63 Ossington Ave.; +1 416 916-7021)
Home of real vintage treasures, and not Value Village salvageable. I swear I saw a grizzly head.
Bellwoods Brewery (www.
Dakota Tavern (www.thedakotatavern.
bellwoodsbrewery.com)
com)
Wild craft brews and seasonal eats feature at Toronto’s boldest brew pub. The spring/summer patio is sensational. The Witchshark Imperial India Pale Ale is as close
Subterranean saloon. The best live country music venue in the city. Guns, John Denver, and mounted skulls. ’Nuff said. Come on Sunday afternoon from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for www.philippineairlines.com I 53
DINE & DRINK Housed in an 1889 Victorian masterpiece, this is Toronto’s indie art scene epicenter. Its first two floors serve as exhibition space, while each of the 37 rooms was designed by a local artist. Chef Michael G. Smith has transformed the Melody Bar into one of the city’s unforgettable drink-and-dine destinations.
lemak and fried sea bream round out a deceptively simple menu.
The Drake (www.thedrakehotel.
(www.wesmisener.com)
ca)
Local fashion designer Wes Misner’s Minimalism pop-up clothing boutique is spotted from time to time in Oz’s Trinity Bellwoods Park. Each article is hand crafted in Canada, and part of a limited series.
A.R.T. Bike Gallery (www. twitter.com/arbikegallery)
More than just a retail outpost catering to pedalheads, it’s also a shrine to things that roll on two wheels. Minimalism by Wes Misner
A microcosm of all things chic, Drake features revolving art exhibitions, award-winning cocktails on the Sky-Yard patio, and 19 whimsically bespoke rooms. Pilot Coffee Roasters (www.
NOT YOUR USUAL SERVING: Putting the finishing touches on a funky dish at Bellwoods (TOP). Bright light and open spaces at Pilot Coffee Roasters (BOTTOM)
PAL flies between Manila and Toronto thrice a week. For more information, call PAL reservations office at (+632) 855 8888 or visit www.philippineairlines.com.
pilotcoffeeroasters.com)
Black Sheep Pop-Up Co.
A coffee lover’s dream, this converted garage is bright and inviting year-round, with a casual, rummagesale atmosphere, featuring plenty of space to sit with the morning paper and scarf a buttery scone. Get on the waiting list for the cold drip coffee, a bevvy that takes more than six hours to reach your morning mug.
(www.blacksheepco.ca)
The Bluegrass Brunch.
Golden Turtle does a brilliant interpretation of a Hanoi hawker stall. Try the satay pho and banhxeo pancakes. Don’t be surprised if you’re hustled out the door with a fist full of spring rolls to make room for a Canadian celeb.
Fishbar (www.fishbar.ca) The casual tapas-style menu is executed with whimsical precision. The Oyster Pogo may be one of the most interesting things you ever put in your mouth, while one mouthful of lobster mac and cheese will make you feel like a spoiled little kid.
Golden Turtle (125 Ossington Ave.; +1 416 531-1601)
Reposado (www.reposadobar.
Hawker Bar (www.hawkerbar.
com)
com)
Cozy, intimate, with sensational margaritas and solid tapas. Very chill, and very fun. Check out the garden patio.
Singaporean streetfood roots and upmarket application define Hawker Bar. Origami wallpaper, iced liquor bottles, fish sauce tins, and menus handwritten on cardboard add to the ambiance, while the laksa
The Gladstone (www. gladstonehotel.com)
54 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
Chef Shahir Massoud’s innovative fine-dining experience brings upmarket snackables to unique locations throughout the city. Check the web for upcoming destinations. Rock Lobster Food Co. (www.rocklobsterfood.com)
Some pop-ups are so popular that they carve a bit of permanent space for themselves. Such is the case with Rock Lobster Food Co., now occupying digs in Oz. All lobster, all the time, at prices that can’t be beat. Amsterdam Brewery (www. amsterdambeer.com)
Not a traditional popup, Amsterdam is one of Toronto’s oldest independent breweries, and just moved into a fancy new facility— but you’ll find these guys at special events all over the city, offering tremendous specialty and seasonal brews. Tempest Imperial Stout is one of my all-time favorites. n
ECO TRENDS
GREENEST OF THEM ALL: With its dynamic eco-friendly activities, Vancouver truly has what it takes to be the world’s greenest city by year 2020. Seasonal fruits are always in abundance in the different farmers markets around town (BOTTOM).
GOING GREEN IN VANCOUVER
F
rom the deep mossy hues of the Stanley Park rainforest, to the splashes of bright lime bicycle helmets streaking across West 4th, the color most associated with Vancouver is hard to miss. “Going green” is what every local official wants tourists to associate with this classically west coast city. And, no, it’s not just the money they hope you’ll spend on an overpriced, ethically sourced latte, it’s the local government’s bid to be the “greenest city in the world” by taking Vancouver’s environmental reputation international. With a naturally blessed, incomparable mountain-to-beach backdrop, Vancouver’s abundance of outdoor activities is an easy sell. But beyond soaking up sunrays on English Bay or thrashing around a fresh layer of snow atop Grouse Mountain, it’s Vancouver’s culture of environmental consciousness that is truly something to behold. Green initiatives are blossoming in every shade across the city. From taking a bicycle jaunt down one of Vancouver’s newest opened bike lanes, to exploring an urban dairy farm (www.avalondairy.com) and taste-testing organic chocolate milk, there’s plenty of ways for tourists to take part in Vancouver’s newest ecofriendly
PHOTOS COURTESY OF Tourism Vancouver (TOP); Joni Jules (BOTTOM)
Boasting such a gorgeous backdrop of sea and sky, it’s no wonder that Vancouver has been keeping itself one of the greenest cities in the world. DEVON WONG tells us more about the eco-revolution taking place in her city.
56 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
P. 000 Vancouver.indd 56
9/18/13 5:32 PM
SEEING GREEN: (FROM TOP) Grouse Mountain’s Eye of the Wind; inside the Eye of the Wind; Farmers Market
PHOTOS COURTESY OF Grouse Mountain (TOP & MIDDLE)
craze at less expense to both the environment and their budgets. So start planning your trip and leave your mark on the city— without the carbon footprint! TO MARKET, TO MARKET While heading to the nearest farmers market is already a weekend staple for Vancouver locals to connect with food producers and “meet their makers,” it’s a unique way for tourists to get a literal taste of this “eat local” phenomenon. Whether you’re attempting the 100-mile diet, or simply seeking the juiciest organic tomatoes, it’s an easy and free activity, fun for families and foodies alike, to take in the best of local food fare. Head down with the family, people watch for the afternoon, taste test artisan cheeses, and count the number of recyclable tote bags you spot in the crowds. Find out the nearest farmers’
market to you, and watch out for special events to make your trip extra memorable (eatlocal.org/ events.html). IT’S A WIND-WIN Boasting the world’s first and only wind turbine with an elevator-accessible viewing station, the Eye of the Wind atop Grouse Mountain offers tourists the perfect photo vantage point (www. grousemountain.com). Take in the breathtaking 360-degree views of Vancouver’s entire lower mainland. It’s a true bird’s eye view of what local conservation efforts are striving for: a balance of the natural and urban through new technologies. PEDAL PUSHING With more and more bike lanes and rental shops sprouting up across the city, cycling your way through Vancouver’s urban www.philippineairlines.com I 57
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ECO TRENDS
GREEN TIPS TO GO There are more than miniature totem poles and maple syrup flasks to take home as a bit of Canadian culture. Take cues from the locals and recreate your own bit of Vancouver wherever your next destination!
A LIFE LESS PLASTIC
Vancouverites are finding more and more ways to go plastic-free. After all, a single plastic bag can take a thousand years to degrade. Always keep a reusable shopping bag handy for those unexpected purchases, a reusable water bottle to refill around town (or a glass mason jar for extra ecochic points!), and a spare cutlery set for meals on the go. Skip the straw whenever you can.
HOME GROWN
It’s hard to miss Vancouver’s love affair with urban farming, and while backyard chickens might not be for everyone, there’s no harm in starting your own little herb garden at home. Bring new spice to your diet and interiors by considering kitchen-counter planters for fresh herbs perfect for a dash of added flavor or garnish. Not sure where to start? The folks at Art Knapp (www.artknapps.ca/) will help you discover the green thumb you never knew you had!
COUNT YOUR CARBON
Calculating your carbon footprint is an insightful exercise to gauge your daily environmental impact (www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator1.html). Turning off electronics while they’re not in use is just one simple way of saving the environment (and a few bucks from your electricity bill). And then start calculating how you’ll plan your next green getaway! Avoid relying on gadgets for climate control. Dressing in layers is a must for every practical Vancouverite. After all, you never know if it’s going to rain or shine (or both!). Earn “green” bonus points for picking up some ecofriendly fashion at local boutique, twigg&hottie (twiggandhottie. com/). SUSTAINABLE LIVING: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) Turkey Sausage Hash from Forage; group cycling through Stanley Park; English Bay Beach at sunset
attractions is a tried-and-tested way for tourists to take in the sights. Stanley Park is an easy and scenic path for novice cyclists where you’ll enjoy sea, beach, mountain, and forest views in a singular ride. For those who like to ride in company, join the monthly Critical Mass rides (vancouvercm.blogspot.com/) on the last Friday of every month, where hoards of bicycle enthusiasts take to the streets in an organized spin around town. GARDEN GASTRONOMY One of the newest additions to Vancouver’s growing trend of sustainable restaurants is Forage (www.foragevancouver.com). As its name suggests, the culinary team behind Forage aims for 80 percent of its menu list to be locally sourced and abides by the Ocean Wise guide to sustainable seafood (www.oceanwise.ca/). With the natural
bounty of British Columbia as your backyard and a price point that claims to be the “antithesis of fine dining,” it’s not hard to imagine the exciting blend of west coast flavors that its chef, Chris Whittaker, conjures up in his kitchen. GREEN GIFTING If you’re second-guessing whether those Canadian flag key chains are going to end up collecting dust on your desk, look no further than the Giving Gifts boutique (www.givinggifts.ca/) for gifts that are both fair trade and ecofriendly. You’ll find something useful and ecochic for all your friends back home, and feel good about guilt-free gifting that doesn’t hurt the environment. Don’t forget to pick up a cute reusable shopping bag to carry all your purchases! n
PAL flies between Manila and Vancouver daily. For more information, call PAL reservations office at (+632) 855 8888 or visit www.philippineairlines.com. 58 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
PHOTOS COURTESY OF Welbert Choi (TOP LEFT); Tourism Vancouver (BOTTOM LEFT & TOP RIGHT)
LAYER UP
ECOTOURISM
ON THE ROAD TO WELLNESS
BIODYNAMIC ARCHITECTURE: Green activist Rusty Bi単as designed this balay bato (stone house) to have a home that interacts harmoniously with nature. The house utilizes solar energy and the beams are earthquake-resistant, while the moss growing on the columns turns the house green during the rainy season and brown during summer. 60 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
ALL PHOTOS BY Pierre-Emmanuel Michel
Negros Occidental rises to become the eco-agri-tourism destination to watch in the Philippines, reports BEBOL J. CARREON.
A SWEET WELCOME: At Peñalosa Farms (ABOVE), visitors will be greeted with a delightful spread of traditional Ilonggo delicacies (LEFT).
I
n Negros Occidental, agriculture is the lifeblood of its people. Food, therefore, is an important part of Negrense life. This makes a great formula for a thriving eco-agritourism industry. And the province is doing exactly just that, as it is moving beyond being the Philippines’ “Sugar Capital” to a leading spot in the sustainable tourism map. From Bacolod, head north to the city of Victorias to Peñalosa Farms, a certified agri-institute. Along the 45-minute drive you’ll pass by hectares upon hectares of sugarcane haciendas. Owner Ramon Peñalosa and his family warmly greet guests with a spread of native delicacies: cuchinta, ibos, suman (sticky rice cakes in various shapes), and locally grown mangoes. Being the land of sugar, after all, Negrenses always charm guests with crazy sweet food. Ramon, a witty speaker, conducts educational tours on integrated
farming and “agripreneurship.” He’ll take you through a stroll along ponds teeming with papyrus plants and koi, lush vegetable and herb plots, vertical gardens using ingenious receptacles, and a surprisingly stink-free pen of probiotic swine. Towering over the property is Balay-Balay (househouse), a four-story guesthouse that makes wise use of salvaged wood, upcycled beer bottles, and bus windows. At the end of the visit, Ramon shall have convinced you that there is money in organic farming and there shouldn’t be any reason for a Filipino to ever grow hungry in this land. At the outskirts of Bacolod is RU Eco-Agri and May’s Organic Garden. Here, the manufacture of farming equipment meets organic agriculture practices in a setting designed for recreation. A guided tour offers demos of the innovative farm machinery invented by Ramon
PAL flies between Manila and Bacolod five times daily. For more information, call PAL reservations office at (+632) 855 8888 or visit www.philippineairlines.com. www.philippineairlines.com I 61
ECOTOURISM
Uy. Visitors can enjoy the garden’s other recreational facilities: a pool, playground, horseback-riding trails, and paddleboat rides on the pond. Go fishing, harvest your own vegetables at a “pick and pay” area, and have a picnic. Purchase pasalubongs of the best piaya (flaky, unleavened bread filled with muscovado sugar) in town, homemade mozzarella cheese, organic coffee, muscovado and coco sugar, lemongrass oils, and citronella bug sprays. The next day, travel a little over an hour to the cool mountain town of Don Salvador Benedicto. The route is scenic with views of rice terraces, rolling hills, and pine trees. The ride, smooth because of the wellpaved winding roads, except for a brief bumpy jaunt into Rapha Valley, promises to be the “destiny to wellness.” The welcome offering of owners Dr. Albert and Marilou Jo begins at a quaint hut, with citronellainfused cold towels, followed by refreshments of black puto (rice cake) with cashew-herb cheese, the oxymoronic bloodless dinuguan (pig’s blood stew without blood), and carrot juice. Dr. Jo, a physician and natural healing advocate, will be your personal guide. Believing in Hippocrates’ “Let food be thy medicine,” he has planted the property’s sloping terrains with all sorts of edible flowers and curative plants. You will not only learn about the
medicinal properties of oregano, stevia, lemongrass, and turmeric, you’re also encouraged to pluck, smell, and taste all these. With his engaging smile, Dr. Jo challenges you to rethink ideas about raw food. This gets tested in a vegetarian lunch whose ingredients were freshly harvested (although a crusty fish fillet may appease the nonvegetarians). Cap your eco-agri-tour right in Bacolod at Balay Bato (stone house). Rusty Biñas, a developmental worker and green activist, is so finely attuned to ecology and the environment that the home he built is testament to this singular passion. Using biodynamic architecture, stones, pebbles, rocks, and boulders bring the house to life, and the natural elements of air, water, light, land, and life interact harmoniously. Balay Bato, located at a far end of a gated subdivision, is earnestly an open house. It does not have fences or walls, not even a roof over a bath. It uses solar energy and maximizes daylight and fresh air. Mountainvine curtains protect the house from sun and rain, while moss gives it a natural color, turning the house green during the rainy season and brown in summer. Rusty hopes his home will inspire everyone to live in harmony with nature and to protect and manage it sustainably. n
ALL NEGRENSE, ALL NAtURAL: Rapha Valley is just one of the special farm tour destinations that combines Negrense hospitality with sustainable tourism.
Rapha Valley, Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental Its lectured walking tours (pre-arranged only) cost Php500 per person for a minimum 15 persons, and includes welcome snacks and lunch. Prepare to spend at least 6 hours, including travel. www. raphavalley.com
Balay Bato, Marapara Heights, Bacolod City It also serves as headquarters of the environmental watchdog Green Alert. +63919 5912869
FOR MORE iNFORMAtiON ON NEGrOs OccIdENtAl’s EcOAGrI-tOurs, vIsIt www.tOurIsm. NEGrOs-Occ.GOv. Ph Or cONtAct thEm thrOuGh tOurIsm_NEGOcc@ yAhOO.cOm ANd +63918 5173563.
CONTACT INFO RU Eco-Agri and May’s Organic Garden, Pahanocoy, Bacolod City Entrance fee of Php100 for adults (Php50 for children aged 12 and below). An organic restaurant serves meals (Php350+) and is open until 4 pm (dinner can be pre-arranged). B&B accommodations start at Php1,500. +6334 444-1337 62 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
Peñalosa Farms, Victorias, Negros Occidental An entrance fee of Php100 is collected, which includes a welcome drink and guided lecture-tour (3-4 hours). Add Php300 for a farm-grown lunch. +6334 399-2847
FOLKTALE
WHY THE SKY IS HIGH their condition came the custom of holding feasts, when the men would rest from their labors. One day, one of the chiefs, Abing by name, held a feast. Many people came to enjoy it. A sayao or native war-dance was given in honor of the men belonging to the chief, and it was acted by men brandishing spears. While acting, one of the actors who was so drunk tried to show his skill, but forgot that the sky was so low. When he darted his spear, he happened to pierce the sky, and one of the gods was wounded. This angered God the Father: so he raised the sky as we have it today far from the earth. n
THE MYTHS Philippine Folk Literature by Damiana L. Eugenio Published by the University of the Philippines Press, 2001. Paperback, 513 pages. University of the Philippines Press, E. de los Santos St., University of the Philippines Campus; (+632) 928 2558; up.press@gmail.com; www.uppress.com.ph
LOCAL LINGO: Hiligaynon is the local language of the Filipinos from the Western Visayas.
64 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
ILLUSTRATION BY Benjamin Abesamis
I
(Hiligaynon)
n the olden days the sky was low—so low that it could be reached by a stick of ordinary length. The people in those days said that God had created the sky in such a way that he could hear his people when they called to him. In turn, God could send his blessings to earth as soon as men needed them. Because of this close connection between God and his subjects, the people were well-provided for and they did not need to work. Whenever they wanted to eat, they could simply call God. Before their request was even made the food would be on the table. But after the expulsion of Adam and Eve, God made men work for their own living. With this change in
NATURE & ADVENTURE
ROCK STEADY: Bulusan has erupted 15 times since 1885 and is the fourth most active volcano in the Philippines, making this mountain terrain extra challenging.
BULUSAN TAKES YOU TO A NEW HIGH
H
urry up before the dragon wakes up again. Mount Bulusan, an active volcano that has erupted four times in the past seven years (its last one was on June 2011), has for now retired to a deep slumber. And in June of last year, the volcano reopened its hiking trails to welcome thrill-seekers who dare to challenge its terrain. Mount Bulusan is located in its namesake, the town of Bulusan in Sorsogon, which is some 122 kilometers away from Legazpi City’s airport. There are several ways to get to Bulusan from Legazpi City, but perhaps the most convenient is renting a GT Express van (Php5,000 whole day, round-trip) from Albay’s capital. However, for those who prefer to get immersed in the local scene, then taking a jeepney ride from Legazpi to Bulusan town proper (either the Gubat and Irosin route) is the way to go. 66 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
Keep an eye on the natural backdrop along the Gubat route, which offers a magnificent view of the mountains on one side and the pristine waters of the Pacific Ocean on the other. If you choose the Irosin route, you’ll have the chance to see and take pictures of Spanish ancestral houses along Maharlika Highway in the municipality of Juban. As you arrive at the Bulusan town proper, you may rent a tricycle (Php150) that will take you up the Bulusan Volcano National Park. Nestled at the bosom of Mount Bulusan, about 340 meters above sea level, is Bulusan Lake. Surrounded by thick vegetation, the lake offers a quick snapshot of the richness of the National Park’s biodiversity. The 16.4-hectare park is home to the Bulusan Lake Aqua-Adventure, where you can find an array of fun activities: aqua-cycling (Php250), kayaking (Php100), canoeing (Php500), or boating (Php600). Less
Sidetrips 1. Rizal Beach Gubat, Sorsogon
2. Parish of St. Joseph (Coral Church of Barcelona) Barcelona, Sorsogon 3. Nagsipit and Namuat Falls Casiguran, Sorsogon
Under Licensing Agreement
PAL Express flies between Manila and Legazpi 10 times weekly. For more information, call PAL reservations office at (+632) 855 8888 or visit www.philippineairlines.com
PHOTO Courtesy of Philip Bartilet
If you’re ready for a fun and challenging outdoor adventure, follow PAOLA G. CERIOLA as she traverses the majestic Mount Bulusan.
ready, steady, go: From a leisurely canoe ride (TOP & LOWER LEFT) to some intense river crossing (RIGHT), there are plenty of ways to immerse yourself in Bulusan’s biodiversity.
Stay
1. sta. Clara Inn Pangpang, Sorsogon City; www.santaclaraparkhotel. com 2. Hot spring resort San Binon, Irosin, Sorsogon 3. rizal, Beach resort Rizal, Gubat, Sorsogon
68 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
adventurous ones can opt for the hour-long, guided Lake Trekking (Php150), where a guide takes you around the lake. For the nature lover always ready to take on a new challenge, Bulusan Lake is just the appetizer. Bulusan Vulcaneering’s unique adventure offers an opportunity to experience Three Lakes in a Climb. Bulusan Lake serves as the drop-off point for climbers, an already elaborate sneak peek on what is in store as they traverse the mountain trail. From the base, you will climb three hours to reach the second lake, the 940-meter-high Lake Aguingay. The trail is adorned by all kinds of plants, from exotic flowers to luminous mosses, which you may have only imagined to exist in films. On a good day, birds flutter and skip around from one branch to another. And if you’re gentle (and quiet) enough, you can get a good look and marvel at these rare birds. You can pitch a tent at the lakeside of Aguingay for an overnight stay. The fun doesn’t stop here, though. On a clear weather, look up at an infinite blanket of stars. To complete your stargazing experience, it’s best to rent a telescope (Php1,500) before the climb. In the morning, you need to climb for another three hours to reach the summit—the Black Bird’s Lake, sitting atop an altitude of 1,650 meters. This is
the actual crater of Mount Bulusan and continues to spew hot steam, a clear sign that the volcano is active. And if you look around you, the beautiful Mount Mayon looms at a distance. The summit also gives you a 360-degree view of the six towns surrounding Mount Bulusan. Standing at more than a thousand meters higher than anyone else in the periphery, this picture-perfect moment makes the long climb worth it. If you’re not too keen on traversing Mount Bulusan the long way, you can always take a “shorter” though not necessarily the easy way. If you’re up for it, Bulusan Volcano Natural Park is a venue for one of the country’s best trail runs, with Skyrunning being one of its unique offerings. It is dubbed as one of the best in Asia because it gives runners a complete adventure as they start off at the beach, cross rivers, run across plains, and climb a mountain. You may opt for the 3-km (Php150), 5-km (Php200), 10-km (Php250), or the 21-km (Php300) race. Who knew that the silent town of Bulusan is a place for unforgettable escapades? The perfect marriage of nature and adventure makes it a hidden gem for local ecotourism. As the dragon continues to hibernate, experience its thrilling trails before it stirs once again. n
PHotos By Paola Ceriola (TOP & LOWER LEFT); Philip Bartilet (LOWER RIGHT)
NATURE & ADVENTURE
布卢桑带您勇闯新高 NAGA CITY
若您想进行一场好玩又充满挑战性的户外探险,就 跟随PAOLA G. CERIOLA攀越雄伟的布卢桑山吧!
LEGAZPI CITY
布卢桑火山已于去年重新开放,欢迎那些敢于挑战其地势的探 险家前来一游。 位于索索贡省境内的布卢桑距离吕宋岛南部的黎牙实比市约1
BU LU SA N
个小时的车程,取决于所乘坐的交通工具。游客可选择租用GT Express 货车,全日来回费用5000比索。若想沿途体验当地的 风土人情,可乘货车到索索贡市,然后再转搭吉普车。接着选
路线景观。
择古巴特与伊罗辛之间的路线,从市区前往布卢桑镇。
从山底攀登至第二个湖- Aguingay湖(940 mASL)需耗3个小时。
布卢桑湖坐落在布卢桑山内,面积达16.4 公顷,是布卢桑湖水
登山客可在Aguingay湖边搭棚过夜,隔天一早再耗3小时攀至最
上冒险地,为游客提供几项好玩有趣的活动:水上自行车(250
高峰-黑鸟湖 (1,650 mASL)-布卢桑山的火山口。那里仍继续喷
比索)、划独木舟(100比索)、皮划艇(500比索)或划船
出热蒸汽,显示该火山依然活跃。
(600比索)。此外,游客也可选择徒步探索布卢桑湖,一小时
布卢桑火山天然公园提供独特的山地越野跑,是国内最佳的跑
的旅程收费150比索。
道之一,同时也在亚洲享有名气,因为可让跑步者体验全方位
热爱大自然的人都钟情于新挑战,布卢桑湖只是开胃菜而
冒险,从沙滩出发、渡河、穿越平原然后登山。
已。Bulusan Vulcaneering提供一项别具一格的探险活动,游
谁晓得索索贡省的布卢桑寂静小镇是个令人难忘的世外桃源?
客有机会在攀登的旅途中目睹三湖的风采。布卢桑湖是首站出
结合了大自然美景与刺激冒险玩意,让这地方成为了国内生态
发地,登山客在穿越山道的当儿就可先睹远眺整个攀登行程的
旅游的一个隐藏亮点。n
www.philippineairlines.com I 69
ISLAND ATTRACTIONS
UNDER THE SEA: A wealth of creatures abound here. You’ll find dolphins in Bais City (ABOVE) and some colorful critters such as this clown frogfish (RIGHT) in Dauin.
INTO THE BLUE
D
ivers and swimming enthusiasts from all over, fly in and head straight to the countryside of Dauin, some 15 kilometers or a 20-minute drive south of Dumaguete City. A mecca for muck diving (scuba diving in sandy areas, rocky headlands where corals reefs are found, or in wreck sites), Dauin has been voted by Sport Diver, the official magazine of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), as the best muck dive site in Southeast Asia in 2009. Professional diver Harold Biglete and owner of Harold Diving Center says that Dauin is
70 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
famous for a car wreck and a sandy bottom slope where divers can do beach entry or boat entry. The wealth beneath the waters of Dauin District II creates an endless attraction for divers and sea lovers to explore the treasures of unusual marine life—from hairy frogfish and octopuses, to neon nudibranchs, lionfish, and scorpion fish. You can also request your boatman to take you to the waters surrounding Apo Island, which is famous for snorkeling, scuba, or deep sea diving. After diving, travelers can hop over to the adjacent town of
PHOTOS BY Erwin Lim (TOP); Jun V. Lao (BOTTOM)
SONIA B. SYGACO explores the waters around Negros Oriental.
ISLAND ATTRACTIONS
Zamboanguita, some 28 km south of Dumaguete, to enjoy its Malatapay Wednesday flea market. Here, local farmers bring back the tradition of trading and haggling for agricultural products and animals. A hearty meal by the seaside with the backdrop of the rambunctious local traders will surely add a local flavor. Before dusk approaches, don’t miss the solitude of the seaside town of Siaton, where a dozen boats and yachts take refuge at Tambobo Bay. Take in the magnificent scenery as you check in to Antulang Beach Resort. The 10-hectare property is perched on a cliff, which offers probably the best views of the Sulu Sea. Almost an hour away from Antulang, a steep drive to Lake Balanan will let you see a glimpse of the simplicity of rural life. Tourists can dine at Lake Balanan Resort’s restaurant and then later paddle along the lake. Up north from Dumaguete, there are even more options for the intrepid traveler. Take a tour to the crater lakes of Balinsasayao, Negros Oriental’s national park situated 1,000 feet above sea level in the town of Sibulan. Guests can swim,
Under Licensing Agreement
canoe, and fish along the waters. In Bais City, you can catch the merriment of dolphins. Travelers just have to schedule an early trip and be in Tañon Strait between 6 and 8 a.m. to witness the playful marine mammals. Lunch can be taken in the boat or on the sandbar called Sumapao Shoal. Take note that the municipality of Manjuyod requires an early booking for the cottage. It is estimated that the sandbar may have a total strip area of 600 hectares including the area beneath it. During low tide, tourists can see the land stretch but as water rises the cottages are afloat. Heading back to Dumaguete, you can marvel the gaudy costumes of the street dancers parading for the Buglasan Festival. This October’s festivity demonstrates the solidarity among the Negros Oriental’s 19 municipalities and six cities. To appreciate the “agricultural endeavors” of each settlement, a village of native houses located along E.J. Blanco Street showcases handicrafts and native delicacies. The week-long Buglasan Festival will enable guests to appreciate a different cultural perspective of Negros Oriental. n
Elements National Singing Song Writing Camp
This November, businessman Junjun Sy opens the Elements National Singing Songwriting Camp at the Bahura Resort in Dauin and in Dumaguete for gifted young musicians from all over the country. The camp will be graced by Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and legions of talented musicians like Gary Valenciano, Gary Granada, Louie Ocampo, Noel Cabangon, Jim Paredes, Joey Ayala, Jay Durias, Jungee Mercado, and Gabby Alipe, among others. elementsmusiccamp.com.ph/
PAL Express flies between Manila and Dumaguete 11 times weekly. For more information, call PAL Express reservations at (+632) 855 9000 or visit www.philippineairlines.com or www.flypalexpress.com.
72 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
PHOTOS BY Annabelle Lee-Adriano (LEFT); Denniz Futalan (RIGHT)
HAVE A BREAK: From a scenic respite along Tambobo Bay (LEFT) to the fun atmosphere during Buglasan Festival (RIGHT) this month, you’ll feel truly refreshed in Negros Oriental.
The magic hour at Antulang Just an hour’s drive south of bustling Dumaguete, Antulang Beach Resort in Siaton is a world away in temperament. Spread out over 10 lush hectares atop sheer cliffs overlooking the placid sea, Antulang’s pool villas and suites command one of the most sublime vistas anywhere in the country. But wander down to the isolated beach and long stretchs of white sand, peppered with natural rock formations, await. At twilight, the panorama that unfolds from the presidential suite, dramatically perched atop a huge boulder, is simply breathtaking. That, helped by the gentle lapping of the waves, is an invitation to sweet slumber and unhurried dreams in perhaps the most enchanting resort in the Visayas. www.antulang.com - Celia Soliman
Local Flavors
Kalikaf in Robinsons Mall serves organic dishes. Try their refreshing take on kilawin (local ceviche). Don’t miss mouthwatering pastries at Sans Rival Bistro along the Boulevard. Captain Ribbers Restaurant located along Silliman Avenue is dubbed as the best bar and grill in town. Take a seat and taste sumptuous Chinese cuisine at the Orient Cove Restaurant of Essencia Hotel in Real Street.
www.philippineairlines.com I 73
THE LIGHTER SIDE
Your Friendly, Neighborhood Artisan Coffee Shop Third-wave artisan coffee shops are slowly popping up all over the metro, but Magnum Opus in BF Homes Parañaque City, deserves your extra attention. With an ever-changing lineup featuring local micro-roasters and guest roasters from all over the world, it also serves as a neighborhood hub, with home bakers providing the pastries, and budding artists some interesting artwork. If you’re a hardcore coffee enthusiast, try the Piccolo latte, while the Belgian heartbreaker will simply captivate anyone’s sweet tooth. Pair any of these with their food offerings, like their take on the Monte Cristo sandwich. Sit down with a book or chat with a stranger, and you’ve got a perfect afternoon. Fans of the popular British series Doctor Who will be delighted to discover that Magnum Opus has the Doctor’s time-traveling spaceship, the TARDIS (yes, it is bigger on the inside). www.facebook.com/MagnumOpusFineCoffees
COFFEE REVOLUTION: Magnum Opus is an example of third wave coffee, which is a movement that aspires for the highest form of culinary appreciation of coffee. This involves improvements from the growing of beans, trading, roasting, to brewing.
74 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
THE LIGHTER SIDE
Make Your Own Pizza The pizza of your dreams is ready to come alive at Project Pie Manila. Their first branch outside the United States, Project Pie put you in control of your toppings. Pick red or white sauce for your 12-inch pie, choose a cheese, and select among 29 other toppings—or pile them all in if you want! From savory to sweet (try a dessert pizza with bananas and Nutella), there’s no stopping your imagination here when it comes to designing the perfect pizza. www.projectpie.com
Good Vibes with Brown Belly For every woman who loves that rush of endorphins after a good workout, whether she finds it in the middle of a Vinyasa class or after a long run outdoors, Brown Belly Yoga is here for you. This totally Filipino brand realizes the female fitness buff’s needs with their ultra cool designs. The Brown Belly Yoga line includes pieces in unique prints, bright colors, and versatile styles that can take you from mat to surfboard or from studio to sea. Working out a sweat has never been this stylish. www.facebook.com/brownbellymanila
C L I C K
CLOTHES ON FILM
PIXLR
CURIOUS
FORVO
WWW.CLOTHESONFILM.COM
WWW.PIXLR.COM
WWW.CURIOUS.COM
WWW.FORVO.COM
Film buffs and fashion gurus, there’s more to costuming in movies than meets they eye, and this website examines identity and clothes on the silver screen.
76 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
It’s not Photoshop, but it does the job and even has a similar interface. You can get your advanced graphic editing skills on, or simply choose fun and funky filters to enhance any photo.
Upload a video here if you’re itching to share your knowledge, or choose from among the many, pre-approved videos featuring lessons and discussions on everything under the sun.
One of TIME’s 50 Best Websites of 2013, this community will educate you on the proper pronunciation of the most difficult of words with their voting system that eliminates inaccuracies and anomalies.
Revisiting Mabini Art: Its Significance on the Development of Philippine Visual Arts OLIVER QUINGCO II AND KLAUS W. HARTUNG TRANSWING ART GALLERY
Php750 ($17.08)
Witches and Wizards, All Aboard! Grab your cloaks, wands, and a bottle of sunblock—it’s time to take the magic to the high seas! Whimsic Alley, in association with Princess Cruises, will host its first annual Wizard Cruise on November 27. The four-night Coastal Cruise aboard the Golden Princess will depart from Los Angeles, with surprises awaiting Harry Potter fans at every turn. “We’ve found that part of what makes the experience fun is the element of surprise, so we don’t like to give away too much information ahead of time,” said Event Coordinator Belinda Ervin. Whimsic Alley is a premier L.A. destination for all your magical needs (wands, quills, hats, and more) and wizarding meetings and exhibits. The price of the cruise starts at US$650 per person and includes food, lodging, entertainment, and activities. www.facebook.com/whimsicalley
Mabini Street was Manila’s postwar art district. Seen as a den of notable artists in its heyday, it has shaped its way into the local consciousness with an art form that has both the conservative strokes of the old and the subversive styles of the new. In this book, Mabini is not just seen as a street within the Philippine capital. Instead, it is celebrated as an art form deserving of recognition in the local and international art scene. – Ignatius Gan
THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE
Neil Gaiman HarperCollins Php495 ($11.27)
L I S T E N
IDentIkIt
Out of the Floodways and into Your Homes Independent HHHH Identikit has been making noise in the local underground scene for several years now, and the band’s self-produced full-length debut, Out of the Floodgates and into Your Homes, perfectly captures the quintet’s collective strengths and influences and blends them into a compelling 14-track noise-pop showcase. Fuzzy guitars and layers of synthesizers assault the listener’s eardrums on tracks like “Weird Just Friends,” “Skeptics,” and “Tiny Fractures,” but never drown out singer Sandy Buladaco’s delicate vocals. On the lovely “Peach,” she simply shines. – Jason Caballa
LOVE STINKS: WORDS OF REDEMPTION (AND RAGE) FOR BREAK-UPS, REJECTIONS, AND BROKEN HEARTS
Adams Media Corp. Php502 ($11.43)
TORTURED ARTISTS
Christopher Zara and Robbie Lee Adams Media Corp. Php670 ($15.25)
Available at the band’s shows. Go to www.facebook. com/weareidentikit for info. www.philippineairlines.com I 77
LAST FRAME
THE CITY OF SMILES Bacolod, Negros Occidental
The MassKara Festival, whose name is a portmanteau of “mass” (a multitude of people) and “cara” (Spanish for “face”), continues to lift the Negrense spirit as it began in the 1980s when the province was in a period of crisis. The festivities will run for three days and two nights from October 18 - 20. And this time, wearing a mask is must! Rob Pinzon captures the parade of colorful faces as they make their way through the streets of the capital city of Bacolod, which celebrates its 75th Diamond Jubilee this year.
GIVE US YOUR BEST SHOT Mabuhay is accepting high-resolution (at least 300 dpi) digital photos of interesting people, places, and things from around the world. Send your entries to info@eastgatepublishing.com. 78 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
ASIA’S FIRST AIRLINE
Philippine Airlines—Asia’s first airline—is the flag carrier of the Republic of the Philippines and the pioneer airline of the country, with a 72-year history steeped in tradition and modernity. PAL first took to the skies on March 15, 1941, with a small twin-engine Beech Model 18 airplane flying 212 kilometers from Makati, near Manila, to Baguio in the northern Philippines, carrying a full load of five passengers. Upon the outbreak of World War II on December 8, 1941, PAL’s two Beech 18s were pressed into military service, flying missions to evacuate American pilots to Australia. Both were destroyed in battle. Post-war operations resumed on February 14, 1946. On July 31, 1946, a PAL-chartered DC-4 took off from Makati carrying American servicemen home to Oakland, California. The 41-hour journey across the Pacific, with stops in Guam, Wake, Kwajalein, and Honolulu, made PAL the first Asian airline to cross the vast ocean. On May 3, 1947, PAL opened a route to Rome and Madrid, later extended to London, becoming the first Southeast Asian airline to fly to Europe. Over the next three decades, its international route network ranged from Asia to Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America, establishing PAL as one of the world’s leading carriers of that era. PAL keeps in step with advancements in aircraft technology, regularly acquiring the latest aircraft to maintain a young, modern fleet. From DC-3s that served as its workhorse in the 1940s and 1950s, Vicker Viscount turbo-props and Fokker F-27s were added to the fleet in the 1960s. In 1966, BAC 1-11 aircraft introduced pure-jet service in the domestic sector and in 1974, the McDonnell Douglas DC-10— PAL’s first wide-body aircraft—went into service on the trans-Pacific route. It was succeeded as PAL’s flagship in 1979 by the Boeing
747-200, which featured “Skybeds” paired with First Class seats on its upper deck—a first in the industry. Upgrades to the long-range fleet included the Boeing 747-400 in 1993, the Airbus 340-300 in 1997, and the Boeing 777-300ER in 2009. On April 20, 2012, PAL welcomed a strategic investor into the company—San Miguel Corporation, the Philippines’ largest conglomerate, significantly boosting the flag carrier’s immediate and long-term prospects. Recharged, PAL embarked on a bold growth strategy anchored on fleet modernization, network expansion, and service innovations. On August 28, 2012, it placed a firm order for 54 new-generation Airbus aircraft comprising 44 short-range A321-200 and 10 long-range A330-300 High Gross Weight jets—the largest single aircraft purchase in Philippine aviation history. The following month, ten more A300-300 HGW aircraft were added to the order. Deliveries commenced in August 2013 and will continue until 2019. Complementing the new equipment, PAL has unveiled a brisk network expansion for 2013, covering 11 new destinations across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, plus one domestic point. These are Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Guangzhou, China; Darwin, Brisbane, and Perth in Australia; Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates; Doha, Qatar; Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam in Saudi Arabia; and Basco, Batanes, in the Philippines. PAL is also planning a return to Europe before the end of 2013, with London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Rome, and Madrid as probable destinations. In its eighth decade, with a new investor on board and a bold vision to chart its path, Philippine Airlines can look back at a proud legacy of service to the nation and beyond to a future where it will soar once more as a major global network carrier. n
OUR FLEET
A319-100 NO. OF AIRCRAFT busINess CLAss eCONOmy CLAss
: : :
4 8 passengers 126 passengers
: : :
12 12 passengers 144 passengers
A330-300 NO. OF AIRCRAFT busINess CLAss eCONOmy CLAss
B747-400 : : :
8 42 passengers 260 passengers
: : :
7 44 passengers 220 passengers
NO. OF AIRCRAFT busINess CLAss eCONOmy CLAss
: : :
4 42 passengers 383 passengers
: : :
5 42 passengers 328 passengers
A320-200 NO. OF AIRCRAFT busINess CLAss eCONOmy CLAss
B777-300ER
A340-300 NO. OF AIRCRAFT busINess CLAss eCONOmy CLAss
A321-200 NO. OF AIRCRAFT busINess CLAss
: :
2 12 passengers
PRemIum eCONOmy CLAss eCONOmy CLAss
: :
18 passengers 169 passengers
80 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
NO. OF AIRCRAFT busINess CLAss eCONOmy CLAss
WELCOME ABOARD kits are provided for long-haul flights. Junior Jetsetter Activity kits featuring well-loved cartoon characters are given to children aged 2–11 flying on flights bound for the USA, Canada, Australia, and the Middle East.
hAnd luggAge. Passengers are permitted one cabin bag each. The hand luggage should not weigh more than 7 kg, and the combined length, width, and height dimension must not exceed 115 cm or 45 inches in total. Personal items such as laptop computers, handbag, camera, and infants’ food and carrying basket may be carried separately. eleCtrOniC deviCes. These must be turned off completely while walking to/from the aircraft, during take-off, approach, and landing. Non-transmitting electronic equipment and those without any accessories that would transmit/ receive radio signals, such as laptop computers (without Wi-Fi and wireless peripheral devices) and CD/DVD/MP3 players, may be used during flight and ground stops. deep vein thrOmBOsis (dvt). This is a condition in which a blood clot forms in the deep veins in the lower extremities. Risk factors of DVT include prolonged immobility, obesity, smoking, taking birth control pills,
pregnancy, and inherited blood-clotting disorders. Circulation can be improved by practicing simple exercises while seated. sAfety On BOArd. During takeoff and landing, ensure that seat back is in upright position, the tray tables securely folded, hand luggage stowed, and seatbelt securely fastened (to ensure uninterrupted rest, kindly fasten seatbelts during the entire flight even if the seatbelt sign is off). Life vests are placed beneath your seat or in/under your armrest. In the event of sudden drop in cabin pressure, oxygen masks will automatically drop in front of the passenger. Smoking, including artificial cigarettes, is strictly forbidden at all times on all PAL flights.
fOOd And BeverAge. Philippine Airlines is pleased to serve on all international flights complimentary in-flight meals ranging from traditional Filipino dishes to favorite international cuisines. Drinks are available, featuring a variety of refreshments depending on the route. Alcoholic drinks are served only to passengers aged 18 years and older (21 years on sectors to and from the USA). Government regulation prohibits consumption of alcoholic beverages brought from outside or purchased on board. The cabin crew reserves the right not to serve alcoholic drinks if the situation so warrants. Alcoholic drinks are not available on domestic flights. Passengers with special dietary needs may order special meals when they book their flight. For more information, call our service hotline (+632) 8558888 or log in to www. philippineairlines.com. n
in-flight Amenities. Toiletries (handwash, mouthwash, lotion, and cologne available inside the cabin lavatories) and medicine for minor discomforts are available. Pillows and blankets are available upon request or can be found on the seat on all international flights. Overnight
SERVICE GUIDE Online BOOking. Our online booking features a fully automated facility that allows travelers to decide quickly when it is most convenient and cheapest to fly. For more information, please visit us at www.philippineairlines.com. AirpOrt CheCk-in. PAL offers “early bird” advanced check-in service in select airports to avoid rush during peak check-in hours. Senior citizens traveling with up to two companions and passengers with NO CHECK-IN BAGGAGE on PAL flights departing Manila may avail themselves of the express check-in service at designated counters. AirpOrt lOunges. PAL has Mabuhay Lounges in Manila, Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, General Santos City, and San Francisco. Mabuhay Class passengers, as well as Mabuhay Miles Million Miler, Premier Elite, and Elite members, can unwind, dine, and freshen up in these lounges before boarding their flights. PAL has contracted the services of airport lounge operators in other interna82 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
tional stations to offer the same amenities to said passengers. rhush (rApid hAndling Of urgent shipment). This is the fastest way to ship cargo domestically and overseas. An airport-to-airport service that has the highest priority in cargo, guaranteed space, fast and quick acceptance and release time, and money-back guarantee (conditions apply). For more information, please call PAL Cargo Sales and Reservation in Manila at (+632) 8313061, 8795879, 8340362, or 8533059, or any PAL office in your area. ChOiCe eCOnOmy seAt surChArge. We are pleased to announce that passengers may purchase a choice economy seat. These seats are positioned at the bulkhead and exit rows to provide the widest legroom possible on this class of service. Seats may be reserved upon ticketing. Confirmation will be done at the airport to comply with the Philippine Civil Air Regulations. Fees are collected upon check-in and may vary per destination.
fOrwArd eCOnOmy seAt surChArge. For your easy and priority disembarkation, you can get forward seats located in the front rows of the economy zone except exit rows or bulk head seats area which shall remain Choice Economy Seat. This will also ensure that families and groups are seated together. These preferred forward seating that are applicable for flights between USA/Canada and Manila may be reserved subject to applicable Forward Economy Seat Surcharge (FESS). mABuhAy miles freQuent flyer prOgrAm. Travel the world with Philippine Airlines and enjoy a host of privileges that add up to miles of difference. Open to anyone aged 2 and above, the Mabuhay Miles Frequent Flyer Program is designed to deliver to you the best rewards and privileges. And as you move up to higher elite levels, more travel privileges await you. For details, visit www.mabuhaymiles.com or visit any PAL office. n
TOUCHDOWN MANILA
advantage of “happy hour” drink promos at bars and pubs, dance up a storm at clubs and street parties, or cap an exhilarating night with a calming cappuccino at the corner café. Hotspots not to be missed are bohemian Malate in Manila, cosmopolitan Fort in Taguig, upscale Ayala and Rockwell Centers in Makati, trendy Libis and Timog districts in Quezon City, and chill out in the south Paranaque and Alabang areas.
COASTAL BEAUTY: The province of Palawan has many more natural attractions beyond the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Puerto Princesa Underground River, such as this beautiful beach in Sabang.
PHILIPPINES AT A GLANCE
Official Name: Republika ng Pilipinas/ Republic of the Philippines Capital: Manila Official Languages: Filipino, English Land Area: 1115,830 sq mi/300,000 sq km Climate: Hot Dry Season: March–May Rainy Season: June–November Cool Dry Season: December–February Temperature Range: 21°C (70°F) to 32°C (90°F) Currency: Philippine peso (Php) PHILIPPINE JEWELS. One of the New 7 Wonders of Nature can be found in Palawan, Philippines. It is the Puerto Princesa Underground River. The Conus gloriamaris or “Glory of the Seas cone” is the rarest and most expensive seashell in the world and can be found in the Philippines. Boracay, an island located at the northwestern tip of Panay, has some of the world’s best beaches, with sugary-white, powdery sand that never burns your feet no matter how hot the day gets.
RELIgION. Approximately 90% of Filipinos are Christians: about 80% belong to the Roman Catholic Church while 10% belong to other Christian denominations. Between 5% and 10% of the population are Muslim, most of whom live in parts of Mindanao, Palawan, and the Sulu Archipelago—an area known as Bangsamoro or the Moro region. SHOPPINg. The Philippines is fast becoming a shopping haven, yielding great bargains if you know what to look for and where. Divisoria Flea Market in downtown Manila is the place to go for cheap and tight-budget shopping. The country’s upscale malls carry international brands and can be found within the area of the Makati Central Business District. Handicraft stores can be found all over the country, selling export-quality products like native baskets, hand-woven fabrics, fine jewelry, and home accessories. NIgHTLIfE. Metropolitan Manila is considered a pleasure-seeker’s paradise, with an array of nighttime activities, from the soothing to the sinful. you can listen to whatever music you fancy from the country’s popular bands and singers, take
TRANSPORTATION. PAL flies between Manila and 32 cities and towns throughout the country. Public transportation such as taxis, buses, jeepneys, and motorized tricycles are available in major cities. The train services are provided by three main railway networks that serve different areas of Metro Manila and parts of Luzon: the Manila Light Rail Transit System (LRT), the Manila Metro Rail Transit System (MRT), and the Philippine National Railways (PNR). International car rental companies provide chauffeured or selfdriven limousine service. Large groups may hire medium-sized passengers vans or tourist coaches. fOOD. Filipino food may puzzle the first-time eater. Philippine history is largely responsible for this complex mix of cuisine from the Chinese traders who introduced their culinary influence to Castilian and Mexican cooking brought by the Spanish colonizers. The Americans brought the convenience of fast food meal while other Asian cuisines from the Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese started to emerge as well. Famous Filipino dishes include lechón (whole roasted pig), longganisa (Philippine sausage), tapa (cured beef), torta (omelette), adobo (chicken and/ or pork braised in garlic, vinegar, oil, and soy sauce), kaldereta (meat stewed in tomato sauce), mechado (larded beef in soy and tomato sauce), puchero (beef and plantains in tomato sauce), afritada (chicken and/or pork with vegetables simmered in tomato sauce), kare-kare (oxtail and vegetables cooked in peanut sauce), crispy pata (deepfried pig’s leg), hamonado (pork braised in pineapple sauce), sinigang (meat or seafood in sour broth), pancit (noodles), and lumpia (fresh or fried spring rolls). n
AIRLINE PARTNERS To serve you better, Philippine Airlines broadened its route network through Codesharing with its Airline Partners, offering you more destinations worldwide. PAL sells the flight sector operated by the Airline Partner. When traveling on any of PAL’s Codeshare flights, Mabuhay Miles members enjoy certain privileges. The privileges listed in the tables below are applicable provided ticket sales and reservations are under PAL’s seat allocation and upon presentation of the Mabuhay Miles membership card.
SECTOR
PRIVILEGES
AIRLINE PARTNERS
SECTOR
PRIVILEGES
AIRLINE PARTNERS
CEBU–HONG KONG
nH
Cathay Pacific
MANILA–DOHAvv
unHl
Qatar Airways
MANILA–ABU DHABIvv
unHl
Etihad Airways
MANILA–DUBAIvv
nHl
Emirates
MANILA–BAHRAINvv
unHl
Gulf Air
MANILA–KUALA LAMPURvv
nHl
Malaysia Airlines
NOTE: PRESENTATION OF MILLION MILER’S MEMBERSHIP CARD IS REQUIRED TO AVAIL OF ETIHAD PRIVILEGES. LEGEND: u LOUNGE ACCESS n MABUHAy MILES MILAGE ACCRUAL H EXCESS BAGGAGE BENEFITS l TRANSFER SERVICE BETWEEN NAIA TERMINAL 1 & 2vv
ELITE, PREMIER ELITE, AND MILLION MILER MEMBERS, MILLION MILER MEMBERS, MILLION MILER MEMBERS PLUS 1 TRAVELING COMPANION
www.philippineairlines.com I 83
DOMESTIC ROUTES Basco / Bacolod / Busuanga / Butuan / Cagayan de Oro / Calbayog / Catarman / Caticlan / Cebu / Cotabato / Davao / Dipolog /Dumaguete / General Santos / Iloilo / Jolo / Kalibo / Laoag / Legazpi / Manila / Masbate/ Naga / Ozamiz / Puerto Princesa / Roxas / Surigao / Tacloban / Tagbilaran / Tawi-Tawi / Tuguegarao / Zamboanga
BASCO
LAOAG TUGUEGARAO
MANILA
NAGA LEGAZPI CATARMAN CATICLAN
MASBATE
BUSUANGA KALIBO
ILOILO CITY
BAHRAIN
CALBAYOG CITY
DOHA
DUBAI ABU DHABI
ROXAS CITY TACLOBAN CITY
AFRICA
BACOLOD CITY
CEBU
PUERTO PRINCESA DUMAGUETE CITY
TAGBILARAN CITY
SURIGAO CITY BUTUAN
DIPOLOG CITY
CAGAYAN DE ORO OZAMIZ
ZAMBOANGA CITY
JOLO
TAWI TAWI
84 I Mabuhay Magazine I August October2013 2013
COTABATO CITY DAVAO
GENERAL SANTOS
I N D I A N
O C E A N
INTERNATIONAL ROUTES Abu Dhabi / Bahrain / Bali / Bangkok / Beijing / Busan / Brisbane / Darwin / Doha / Dubai / Fukuoka / Guam / Guangzhou / Ho Chi Minh / Honolulu / Hong Kong / Jakarta/ Kuala Lumpur / Los Angeles / Macau / Manila / Melbourne / Nagoya / Osaka / San Francisco / Seoul / Shanghai / Singapore / Sydney / Taipei / Tokyo / Toronto / Vancouver / Xiamen
ASIA NORTH AMERICA VANCOUVER TORONTO BEIJING
SAN FRANCISCO
SEOUL TOKYO-NARITA NAGOYA OSAKA FUKUOKA
BUSAN SHANGHAI
LOS ANGELES
XIAMEN GUANGZHOU
HONOLULU HONGKONG TAIPEI
MACAU
PHILIPPINES MANILA
BANGKOK HO CHI MINH
GUAM
PAC I F I C
O C E A N
CEBU KUALA LUMPUR SINGAPORE
JAKARTA BALI DARWIN
AUSTRALIA
BRISBANE SYDNEY
MELBOURNE
LEGEND PAL Flights PAL Codeshare Flights
www.philippineairlines.com I 85
FLIGHT FACTS Facts and figures about our flights and schedules. Distances and flight times may vary due to weather conditions, flight path changes, and the type of aircraft utilized. FLIGHT TIME refers to the time from when the aircraft engines start up before take-off, until the aircraft comes to a halt after landing. MM MILES refers to flight miles earned when travelling on Fiesta (Economy) Class, as adopted from the IATA standards.
DOMESTIC ROUTES & S ECTO RS
MM MI LE S
INTERNATIONAL
FL IGH T TIM E
RESERVATIONS
MANILA
ROUTES & S E C TO R S
MM M IL E S
F L IG H T T IM E
R E SE RVAT IO NS
MANILA
Bacolod Basco Busuanga Butuan
489
1:10 1:45 1:05 1:30
Cagayan de Oro
486
1:30
298 413
Calbayog
1:15
Catarman
1:15
Caticlan
1:10
Cebu
349
1:15
Cotabato Davao
552 597
1:30 1:45
Dipolog Dumaguete
438 390
1:30 1:15
General Santos
647
1:45
Iloilo
280
1:05
Jolo (from Zamboanga) Kalibo
93 250
0:40 0:55
Laoag Legazpi Masbate Naga Ozamiz
257 250 230
0:55 0:55 1:15 0:50 1:25
Puerto Princesa Roxas Surigao
364 311
1:15 0:55 1:40
Tacloban Tagbilaran
352 387
1:10 1:10
203
1:00
530
1:00 1:30
478
Tawi-Tawi (from Zamboanga) Tuguegarao Zamboanga
(034) 433-3045 (0919) 511-2797 (085) 226-5118 / 4777 (085) 341-5156 (088) 857-2294 / 95 (088) 857-2688 (088) 858-8863 (055) 209-2885 (055) 533-8885 (055) 209-9228 (055) 251-8996 (055) 500-9886 (036) 288-7536 (036) 288-7538 (036) 288-7539 (032) 340-0191 (032) 234-2713 (064) 431-0136 (082) 233-0284 (082) 232-8010 (082) 234-0073 (082) 221-5513 (082) 225-0990 (065) 212-2355 / 2356 (035) 225-4266 (035) 226-1301 (083) 552-1235 / 36 (083) 552-5282 (083) 553-3943 (033) 333-0003 (033) 320-4893 (036) 262-3260 (036) 262-1261 (077) 670-8533 (052) 481-0780 (054) 473-2277 (088) 521-5565 (088) 521-0462 (048) 433-4565 (036) 621-0244 (086) 231-9680 (086) 826-8589 (053) 321-2213 (038) 412-2232 (038) 411-4226
(078) 844-9238 (062) 991-5800 (062) 993-0488
Abu Dhabi Bahrain Bangkok Beijing Busan
4,352 4,580
9:00 9:58
1,368 1,797
3:15 4:25
1,515
3:45
Brisbane (via Darwin) Darwin Doha Dubai Fukuoka Guam Guangzhou Ho Chi Minh Hong Kong Honolulu Jakarta
3,591 1,967 4,528 4,294 1,445 1,596 791 1,002 712 5,296 1,732
8:15 4:25 8:15 8:45 3:30 3:40 2:15 2:30 2:00 10:15 6:15
Kuala Lumpur Los Angeles Macau Melbourne Nagoya Osaka San Francisco Seoul Shanghai Singapore Sydney Taipei Tokyo Toronto (via Vancouver) Vancouver Xiamen
7,290 723 3,927 1,741 1,651 6,978 1,624 1,152 1,476 3,883 731 1,879 8,228 6,560 714
3:40 12:30 1:55 8:00 4:00 3:55 12:00 4:00 3:10 3:35 10:50 2:00 4:15 16:10 12:05 2:10
1,060 1,884 2,024
2:40 4:25 4:40
00971 2 6351700 00973-17225650 extension 213 (662) 633-5713 / 14 (8610) 6510 2991 / 2992 / 2993 (8251) 466-0333 (8251) 464-7890
(974) 4433-7302 (9714) 316-6632 (8192) 292-1627 (671) 632-1615 / 17 / 19 (848) 832-872105 (852) 230-19350 / 51 1-800-635-8653 (6221) 300-15757 (6221) 936-1612 / 613 (603) 2141 0767 1-800-435-9725 (853) 2835-5770 (613) 965-02188 (8152) 588-7131 (816) 6444-2541 1-800-435-9725 (0082) 1544-1717 (8621) 6279-8765 (65) 6336-1611 (612) 927-92020 (8862) 250-67255 (813) 5157-4362 1-800-435-9725 1-800-435-9725 (86592) 239-4729 / 30 /65
CEBU Hong Kong Seoul Tokyo
(852) 2301-9300 (0082)-1544-1717 (813) 5157-4362
RESERvATIONS, TOuR PAckAGES, MAbuhAy MILES AND FLIGhT INFORMATION PhILIPPINES: Manila (632) 8558888 Cebu (6332) 3400191
uS/cANADA: 1 (800) I FLY PAL or 1 (800) 4359725
For more information, visit www.philippineairlines.com
FLIGHT TRANSFERS IN MANILA PASSENGERS FROM THE USA, CANADA, OR TOKYO-NARITA WITH CONNECTING FLIGHT TO CEBU, DAVAO, OR LAOAG (FOR CHECK THROUGH PASSENGERS ONLY): 1. Disembark from plane and go through Immigration check. 2. Proceed to PAL Domestic Terminal (via escalator or elevator at Arrival Lobby). 3. Pay terminal fee of Php200 at the Domestic Terminal. 4. Proceed to the assigned gate for your connecting flight. Passengers for international destinations are advised to check with airport or tourist counters (+632 8322964) for the departure fees, which may change without prior notice. PAL PASSENGERS’ DESTINATIONS
25 %
22 %
18 %
Southeast Asia/ Guam/ New Delhi
USA/Canada
Japan
86 I Mabuhay Magazine I October 2013
PASSENGERS FROM ANY OF PAL’S INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS BOUND FOR ANY DOMESTIC STATION. 1. Disembark from plane and proceed to the Transfer Desk to check in for your connecting flight. 2. Go through Immigration check. 3. Proceed to Baggage Claim Area. 4. Proceed to the Special Customs Examination Counter for clearance. 5. Return baggage to the PAL staff at the baggage area for reloading. 6. Proceed to PAL Domestic Terminal 2 (via escalator or elevator at the Arrival Lobby) for flights to Bacolod, Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Iloilo, Laoag, Tagbilaran and Kalibo (PAL) or; 7. NAIA Terminal 3 for flights to Butuan, Busuanga, Cagayan de Oro, Calbayog, Catarman, Caticlan, Cotabato, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Legazpi, Masbate, Naga, Ozamis, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, Surigao, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, Zamboanga, and Kalibo (PAL Express). Pay terminal fee of Php200 at the Domestic Terminal. 8. Proceed to the assigned gate for your connecting flight.
8
YOUR INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
Flights Fancy of
COnTEnTS | USER GUIDE
personal control unit Whatever the destination, Philippine Airlines offers our Business and Economy Class passengers an exciting world of entertainment at their fingertips. Sit back, relax, and enjoy our entertainment system.
I
89 MOVIES Man of Steel Now You See Me
releasing/stowing your controller
I
91 MOVIE LIBRARY White House Down World War Z
I
92 MOVIE SCHEDULE Business Class Economy Class
I
93 CD'S Richard Poon – Legends Santana – 1969
interactive mode Flights of Fancy is your inflight entertainment companion that gives you access to a fanciful selection of movies, TV, radio, games and a host of useful features sure to keep you enter tained during your flight. To access, use the touchscreen function or your handset.
I
94 MUSIC Filipino Pop Best of 70s & 80s
I
88
Flights of Fancy
96 TV, GAMES, IPAD Inbound / Outbound / AVOD Movies / CD's / TV / Games
MOVIES
MAINSCREEN
MAN OF STEEL
MONSTERS uNIVERSITY
STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS
NOw YOu SEE ME
THE LONE RANGER
THE HEAT
Stars Henry Cavill Amy Adams Michael Shannon Director Zack Snyder Action 143 mins Rated PG-13
Stars Billy Crystal John Goodman Steve Buscemi Director Dan Scanlon Family 104 mins Rated GP
Stars Jesse Eisenberg Mark Ruffalo Woody Harrelson Director Louis Leterrier Crime, Thriller 115 mins Rated PG-13
Stars Chris Pine Zachary Quinto Zoe Saldana Director J.J. Abrams Action 132 mins Rated PG-13
Stars Melissa McCarthy Sandra Bullock Tony Hale Director Paul Feig Family 117 mins Rated R
Stars Johnny Depp Armie Hammer William Fichtner Director Gore Verbinski Drama 149 mins Rated PG-13
A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers. He journeys to discover where he came from and what he has to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation.
A look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at Monsters University—when they weren't necessarily the best of friends.
An FBI agent and an Interpol detective track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money.
After the crew of the Enterprise find a force of terror from within their own organisation, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a oneman weapon of mass destruction.
Uptight FBI agent Sarah Ashburn is paired with testy cop Shannon Mullins in order to take down a ruthless drug lord. The hitch: neither woman has ever had a partner—or a friend for that matter.
Native American warrior Tonto recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid, a man of the law, into a legend of justice.
PERSONAL CINEMA
42
BEFORE MIDNIGHT
EPIC
FAST AND FuRIOuS 6
IRON MAN 3
Stars Chadwick Boseman Harrison Ford Nicole Beharie Director Brian Helgeland Drama 128 mins Rated PG-13
Stars Ethan Hawke Julie Delpy Seamus Davey-Fitzpatric Director Richard Linklater Comedy 109 mins Rated R
Stars Colin Farrell Josh Hutcherson Beyoncé Knowles Director Chris Wedge Adventure 102 mins Rated PG
Stars Vin Diesel Paul Walker Dwayne Johnson Director Justin Lin Adventure 130 mins Rated PG-13
Stars Robert Downey Jr. Gwyneth Paltrow Don Cheadle Director Shane Black Action 130 mins Rated PG-13
The story of two men — the great Jackie Robinson and legendary Brooklyn Dodgers GM, Branch Rickey — whose brave stand against prejudice forever changed the world by changing the game of baseball.
We meet Jesse and Celine nine years on in Greece. Almost two decades have passed since their first meeting on that train bound for Vienna.
A teenager finds herself transported to a deep forest setting where a battle between the forces of good and evil is taking place
Hobbs has Dom and Brian reassemble their crew in order to take down a mastermind who commands an organisation of mercenary drivers across 12 countries. Payment? Full pardons for them all.
When Tony Stark's world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.
Flights of Fancy
89
MOVIES jack thE GIaNt SlaYEr
mud
OblIVION
thE cOmPaNY YOu kEEP
thE GrEat GatSbY
Stars Nicholas Hoult Stanley Tucci Ewan McGregor Director Bryan Singer Adventure 115 mins Rated PG-13
Stars Matthew McConaughey Tye Sheridan R. Witherspoon Director Jeff Nichols Drama 130 mins Rated PG-13
Stars Tom Cruise Morgan Freeman Olga Kurylenko Director Joe Kosinski Action 124 mins Rated PG-13
Stars Robert Redford Nick Nolte Stanley Tucci Director Robert Redford Thriller 121 mins Rated R
Stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire Director Baz Luhrmann Drama 143 mins Rated PG-13
An ancient war between humans and a race of giants is reignited when Jack, a young farmhand fighting for a kingdom and the love of a princess, opens a gateway between the two worlds.
Mud is an adventure about two boys, Ellis and his friend Neckbone, who find a man named Mud hiding out on an island in the Mississippi.
Tom Cruise stars as a veteran soldier who's banished to the surface of a post-apocalyptic Earth and tasked with repairing ships that hunt down the aliens who destroyed our planet.
A wanted man and former member of the revolutionary militant group the Weather Underground goes on the run after a journalist outs him in this political thriller.
A Midwestern war veteran finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbor.
SINENG PINOY
thE INcrEdIblE burt wONdErStONE
thE INtErNShIP
whItE hOuSE dOwN
wOrld war z
It takES a maN aNd a wOmaN
Stars Steve Carell Steve Buscemi Olivia Wilde Director Don Scardino Comedy 100 mins Rated PG-13
Stars Rose Byrne Owen Wilson Vince Vaughn Director Shawn Levy Comedy 119 mins Rated PG-13
Stars Channing Tatum Jamie Foxx Maggie Gyllenhaal Director Roland Emmerich Action 131 mins Rated PG-13
Stars Brad Pitt Mireille Enos Daniella Kertesz Director Marc Forster Action 116 mins Rated R
Stars John Lloyd Cruz Sarah Geronimo Director Cathy Garcia-Molina Comedy 120 mins Rated G
Superstar magicians Burt Wonderstone and Anton Marvelton have ruled the Las Vegas strip for years, but lately, the duo's greatest deception is their public friendship.
Two salesmen whose careers have been torpedoed by the digital age find their way into a coveted internship at Google.
While on a tour of the White House with his young daughter, a Capitol policeman springs into action to save his child and protect the president from a heavily armed group of paramilitary invaders.
United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to destroy humanity itself.
The film follows the life of Miggy and Laida after their break-up which occurred after the events in the second film.
90
Flights of Fancy
AppAlOOsA | R Zac Efron, Blythe Danner, Taylor Schilling
DAReDeVil | PG-13 Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Colin Farrell
FAsT AnD FURiOUs 6 | PG-13 Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson
Kiss Kiss bAng bAng | R Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan
Rise OF The plAneT OF The Apes | PG-13 James Franco, Andy Serkis, Freida Pinto
The A-TeAM | PG-13 Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson
The lOne RAngeR | PG-13 Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, William Fichtner
UnKnOWn | PG-13 Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones
WhiTe hOUse DOWn | PG-13 Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal
WORlD WAR Z | PG-13 Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz
Adventure gUlliVeR’s TRAVels | PG Jack Black, Emily Blunt, Billy Connolly
inDepenDence DAY | PG-13 Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman
iROn MAn 3 | PG-13 Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle
JUMpeR | PG-13 Samuel L. Jackson, Hayden Christensen, Rachel Bilson
MAn OF sTeel | PG-13 Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon
ObliViOn | PG-13 Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko
sTAR TReK: inTO DARKness | PG-13 Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoé Saldana
X-Men: FiRsT clAss | PG-13 James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence
FeVeR piTch | PG-13 Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon, Lenny Clarke
FlippeD | PG Rebecca DeMornay, Madeline Carroll, Callan McAulife
JOhn TUcKeR MUsT Die | PG-13 Jesse Metcalfe, Sophia Bush, Arielle Kebbel
One Fine DAY | PG Michelle Pfeiffer, George Clooney, Mae Whitman
siDeWAYs | R Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen
The sisTeRhOOD OF TRAVeling pAnTs 2 | PG-13 Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively
Romance TWO WeeKs nOTice | PG-13 Sandra Bullock, Hugh Grant, Alicia Witt
WATeR FOR elephAnTs | PG-13 Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, C. Waltz
Drama 42 | PG-13 Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie
All AbOUT eVe | NR Bette Davis, George Sanders, Marilyn Monroe
AUgUsT RUsh | R
Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers
bee seAsOn | PG-13 Richard Gere, Juliette Binoche, Flora Cross
cRAZY heART | R Colin Farrell, Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal
DeceMbeR bOYs | PG-13 Daniel Radcliffe, Teresa Palmer, Lee Cormie
eVeRYThing is illUMinATeD | PG-13 Elijah Wood, Eugene Hutz, Boris Leskin
gOODFellAs | R Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Ray Liotta
heReAFTeR | PG-13 Matt Damon, Bryce Dallas Howard, Cecile De France
inTeRVieW WiTh The VAMpiRe | R Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas
J. eDgAR | R Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts
l.A. cOnFiDenTiAl | R Kevin Spacey, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger
MARgAReT | R Anna Paquin, Matt Damon, Mark Ruffalo
MARThA MARcY MAY MARlene | R John Hawkes, Elizabeth Olsen, Sarah Paulson
MUD | PG-13 Matthew McConaughey, Tye Sheridan, R. Witherspoon
pRiDe AnD glORY | R Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Jon Voight
The DescenDAnTs | PG-13 George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller
The gReAT gATsbY | PG-13 Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire
The secReT liFe OF bees | PG-13 Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson
The shAWshAnK ReDeMpTiOn | R Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton
TiTAnic | PG-13 Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio
WAg The DOg | R Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Anne Heche
WAlK The line | PG-13 Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Patrick
AbOUT schMiDT | PG-13 Jack Nicholson, Kathy Bates, Hope Davis
Ace VenTURA: peT DeTecTiVe | PG-13 Jim Carrey, Courteney Cox, Sean Young
AnAlYZe ThAT | R Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal, Lisa Kudrow
beeTle JUice | PG Winona Ryder, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton
DATe nighT | PG-13 Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg
geT sMART | PG-13 Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson
hORRible bOsses | R Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell
pleAsAnTVille | PG-13 Tobey Maguire, Jeff Daniels, Joan Allen McAulife
The DUKes OF hAZZARD | PG-13 Seann William Scott, Johnny Knoxville, Jessica Simpson
The heAT | R Melissa McCarthy, Sandra Bullock, Tony Hale
The inTeRnship | R Rose Byrne, John Goodman, Vince Vaughn
WORKing giRl | R Harrison Ford, Melanie Griffith, Sigourney Weaver
Yes MAn | PG-13 Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper
DR. seUss hORTOn heARs A WhO | G Jim Carrey, Steve Carrell, Carol Burnett
epic | PG Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson, Beyoncé Knowles
RiO | PG Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, George Lopez
RObOTs | PG Ewan McGregor, Halle Berry, Greg Kinnear
beFORe MiDnighT | PG-13 Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatric
Comedy
Animation Aliens in The ATTic | PG Ashley Tisdale, Carter Jenkins, Austin Robert Butler MOnsTeRs UniVeRsiTY | GP Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi
hAppY FeeT 2 | PG Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brad Pitt
Thriller A peRFecT MURDeR | R Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, Viggo Mortensen
blAcK sWAn | PG-13 Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel
chROnicle | PG-13 Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kelly, Alex Russell
in TiMe | PG-13 Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy
RUnAWAY JURY | PG-13 John Cusack, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman
The cOMpAnY YOU Keep | R Robert Redford, Nick Nolte, Stanley Tucci
The RiTe | PG-13 Anthony Hopkins, Colin O'Donoghue, Ciaran Hinds
UnsTOppAble | PG-13 Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson
nOW YOU see Me| PG-13 Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson
iT TAKes A MAn AnD A WOMAn | G John Lloyd Cruz, Sarah Geronimo
KAilAngAn KO’Y iKAW | G Regine Velasquez, Robin Padilla, Rufa Mae Quinto
Richie Rich | PG Macaulay Culkin, Johnathan Hyde, Edward Herrmann
ThUnDeRsTRUcK | PG Kevin Durant, Taylor Gray, James Belushi
Filipino 24/7 in lOVe | PG-13 Bea Alonzo, Gerald Anderson, Kathryn Bernardo
A MOMenT in TiMe | G Coco Martin, Julia Montes
DAhil bA sA KAnYA | PG Aga Muhlach, Mikee Cojuangco, Onemig Bondoc
KiMMY DORA AnD The TeMple OF KiYeMe | PG-13
sisTeRAKAs | PG-13 Ai-Ai de las Alas, Vice Ganda, Kris Aquino
The MisTRess | PG-13 Bea Alonzo, John Lloyd Cruz
MARMADUKe | PG Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Emma Stone, Kiefer Sutherland WheRe The WilD Things ARe | PG Max Records, Mark Ruffalo, Catherine Keener
nAncY DReW | PG Emma Roberts, Tate Donovan, Max Thieriot
Eugene Domingo, Dingdong Dantes, Zanjoe Marudo
Family DUMA | PG Alexander Michaletos, Eamonn Walker, Campbell Scott We bOUghT A ZOO | PG Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson
Musical The sOUnD OF MUsic | GP Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, E. Parker
Flights of Fancy
91
MOVIE LIBRARY
X-Men | PG-13 Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen
Action
92
92
Flights of Fancy
A340
1/2
A330
1/2 3/4
7
5/6
1/2
1/2 3/4
7/8 17
3/4
A340
A330
7
7/8 17
3/4
1/2
1/2 3/4
5/6
A340
A330
7
7/8 17
P
AIRSHOW
White House Down
Short Films Short Films
White House Down
The Heat
AIRSHOW
White House Down
Short Films Short Films
White House Down
P
P
P
P
Now You See Me
AIRSHOW
White House Down
Short Films Short Films
3/4
5/6
Now You See Me White House Down P
1/2
1/2 3/4
AIRSHOW
P
P
A340
7/8 17
White House Down
Short Films Short Films
White House Down
The Heat
Kimmy Dora & The Temple Of Kiyeme
The Mistress
Sisterakas 24/7 In Love
A Moment In Time Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw
It Takes A Man And A Woman
Epic
Before Midnight Iron Man 3
Monsters University Fast and Furious 6
Star Trek: Into Darkness
Kimmy Dora & The Temple Of Kiyeme
The Mistress
Sisterakas 24/7 In Love
A Moment In Time Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw
A320 / A319*
BANGKOK, JAKARTA
It Takes A Man And A Woman
Epic
Before Midnight Iron Man 3
Monsters University Fast and Furious 6
Kimmy Dora & The Temple Of Kiyeme
A320 / A319* Star Trek: Into Darkness
KOREA
It Takes A Man And A Woman
Monsters University Fast and Furious 6 Before Midnight Iron Man 3 Epic
A Moment In Time Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw Sisterakas 24/7 In Love The Mistress
A320 / A319*
GUAM, JAPAN
A320 (classic)
AIRSHOW Now You See Me Short Films AIRSHOW
Kimmy Dora & The Temple Of Kiyeme
Epic It Takes A Man And A Woman
The Mistress
Sisterakas 24/7 In Love
A Moment In Time Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw
A320 / A319*
Before Midnight Iron Man 3
Monsters University Fast and Furious 6
Star Trek: Into Darkness
(RP-C8168)
(RP-C8168)
(RP-C8168)
(RP-C8168)
AIRSHOW
Man Of Steel World War Z P Short Films Short Films World War Z P
A330 / A340 / B747
AIRSHOW
The Lone Ranger World War Z P Short Films Short Films World War Z P
A330 / A340 / B747
AIRSHOW
World War Z P
Short Films Short Films
Man Of Steel World War Z P
A330 / A340 / B747
AIRSHOW
Man Of Steel World War Z P Short Films Short Films World War Z P
A330 / A340 / B747
The Lone Ranger Man Of Steel Short Films Before Midnight P Jack The Giant Slayer P World War Z P It Takes A Man And A Woman AIRSHOW
AUSTRALIA, HONOLULU
Star Trek: Into Darkness
P
P
INBOUND MANILA
Man Of Steel The Lone Ranger Short Films Before Midnight P Jack The Giant Slayer P World War Z P It Takes A Man And A Woman Monsters University AIRSHOW
US MAINLAND, CANADA
INDONESIA*, MAINLAND CHINA*, SINGAPORE
AIRSHOW Now You See Me Short Films AIRSHOW
A320 (classic)
AIRSHOW Now You See Me Short Films AIRSHOW
A320 (classic)
AIRSHOW Now You See Me Short Films AIRSHOW
A320 (classic)
Now You See Me Short Films The Heat White House Down P Fast And Furious 6 P The Incredible Burt Wonderstone The Heat AIRSHOW
AIRSHOW
The Heat Now You See Me Short Films White House Down P Fast And Furious 6 P The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Star Trek: Into Darkness
A330
7
5/6
5/6 7
3/4
1/2 3/4 5/6 7/8 9/10 11/12 13/14 17
1/2
3/4
A340
A330
1/2 3/4 5/6 7/8 9/10 11/12 13/14 15/16 17
A340
OUTBOUND MANILA
BUSINESS CLASS
A320 (classic)
AIRSHOW The Lone Ranger Short Films AIRSHOW
A320 (classic)
AIRSHOW The Lone Ranger Short Films AIRSHOW
A320 (classic)
AIRSHOW The Lone Ranger Short Films AIRSHOW
A320 (classic)
AIRSHOW The Lone Ranger Short Films AIRSHOW
A340
A340
AIRSHOW
AIRSHOW 1st showing Now You See Me 2nd showing Short Films AIRSHOW
A340
AIRSHOW 1st showing Now You See Me 2nd showing Short Films AIRSHOW
A340
AIRSHOW Man Of Steel Short Films AIRSHOW
Short Films
Wipeout- Showdown At The Wipeout Saloon
A320 / A319*
AIRSHOW The Lone Ranger Short Films AIRSHOW
BANGKOK, JAKARTA
Short Films
Wipeout- Showdown At The Wipeout Saloon
A320 / A319*
KOREA
Short Films
AIRSHOW Man Of Steel Short Films AIRSHOW
AIRSHOW Now You See Me Short Films AIRSHOW
A320 (classic)
Short Films
Wipeout- Showdown At The Wipeout Saloon
A320 / A319*
AIRSHOW Man Of Steel Short Films AIRSHOW
INDONESIA*, MAINLAND CHINA*, SINGAPORE
AIRSHOW Now You See Me Short Films AIRSHOW
A320 (classic)
AIRSHOW Now You See Me Short Films AIRSHOW
A320 (classic)
A320 / A319* Wipeout- Showdown At The Wipeout Saloon
AIRSHOW The Lone Ranger Short Films AIRSHOW
A320 (classic)
AIRSHOW The Lone Ranger Short Films AIRSHOW
A320 (classic)
AIRSHOW The Lone Ranger Short Films AIRSHOW
A320 (classic)
AIRSHOW The Lone Ranger Short Films AIRSHOW
A320 (classic)
AIRSHOW The Lone Ranger Man Of Steel Short Films It Takes A Man And A Woman AIRSHOW
AUSTRALIA, HONOLULU
GUAM, JAPAN A320 / A319*
SuburgatoryHomecoming Short Films
A320 / A319*
SuburgatoryHomecoming Short Films
A320 / A319*
SuburgatoryHomecoming Short Films
A320 / A319*
SuburgatoryHomecoming Short Films
INBOUND MANILA
AIRSHOW Man Of Steel The Lone Ranger Short Films It Takes A Man And A Woman Monsters University AIRSHOW
US MAINLAND, CANADA
P PTV only * Digital IFE-equipped aircraft: RP-C8600 to RP-C8615
* Via Singapore * Except Xiamen
Movie titles and channel assignments are subject to change without prior notice. Only short films will be shown on the following sectors: Manila – Hong Kong – Manila, Manila – Macau – Manila, Manila – Taipei – Manila, Manila – Xiamen – Manila, Vancouver – Las Vegas – Vancouver and Singapore – Jakarta – Singapore
AIRSHOW 1st showing The Heat 2nd showing Short Films AIRSHOW
A320 (classic)
AIRSHOW Now You See Me Short Films AIRSHOW
AIRSHOW Now You See Me Short Films The Heat
AIRSHOW
AIRSHOW The Heat Now You See Me Short Films Star Trek: Into Darkness
AIRSHOW 1st showing The Heat 2nd showing Short Films AIRSHOW
A330 A340
A330
A330
A330
1st showing 2nd showing 3rd showing 4th showing
A330
1st showing 2nd showing 3rd showing 4th showing 5th showing
A340
OUTBOUND MANILA
ECONOMY CLASS
SCHEDULE
Believe Justin Bieber nAtive One Republic
BlOwn AwAy Carrie Underwood OverexpOsed Maroon 5
BlUrred lines Robin Thicke red Taylor Swift
demi Demi Lovato tAke me hOme One Direction
trespAssing Adam Lambert
UnApOlOgetic Rihanna
UnOrthOdOx JUkeBOx Bruno Mars
Up All night One Direction
All gOOd Nina
pUre Opm clAssics Sarah Geronimo
dJp Daniel Padilla
First clAss Christian Bautista
legends Richard Poon
mArtin nieverA 3d tAtlOng dekAdA Martin Nievera
tUlOy And BiyAhe Noel Cabangon
cnBlUe ReBLUE
FOr the lOved Rene Liu
gOOd shOw Show Luo
stOries UntOld JJ Lin
lOve plAce Nishino Kana
sUper JUniOr vOl. 6 Sexy, Free & Single
it’s All ABOUt lOve (stOry editiOn) Jam Hsiao
kidz BOp 22 Various Artists
kidz BOp 23 Various Artists
kidz BOp 24 Various Artists
nOw thAt's whAt i cAll disney Various Artist
pArAdise chill OUt lOUnge, vOl. 3 Various Artists
the very Best OF cAFé del mAr Various Artists
esprit de FOUr Fourplay
impressiOns Chris Botti
inspirAtiOn (A triBUte tO nAt king cOle) George Benson
the BlUe rOOm Madeleine Peyroux
scenes FrOm my liFe Michael Young
101 Depeche Mode
1969 Santana
ABBey rOAd The Beatles
Bee gees greAtest Bee Gees
greAtest hits 1970-1986 The Kinks
killing me sOFtly Roberta Flack
prince FrOm AnOther plAnet Elvis Presley
sOme girls The Rolling Stones
the deFinitive cOllectiOn ABBA
disney newsies the mUsicAl Various Artists
glee: the mUsic presents gleAse Various Artists
clAssic Fm hAll OF FAme 2 Various Artists
leAd with yOUr heArt The Tenors
FiFty shAdes OF grey: the clAssicAl AlBUm Various Artists
the UltimAte cOllectiOn Luciano Pavarotti
lOOking FOr myselF Usher the 20/20 experience Justin Timberlake
FILIPINO
ASIAN
KIDS shAke it Up: live 2 dAnce (mUsic FrOm the disney chAnnel series) Various Artists
CHILL OUT
JAZZ
ALL TIME FAVES
OST/MUSICAL
CLASSICAL
* For full cabin AVOD
wAter night Eric Whitacre
* Available in B747 (RP-C7471 / RP-C7472 / RP-C7473 / RP-C7475) and B777
Flights of Fancy
93
CDS
POP
MUSIC
3 FILIPINO POP The Flame Six Part Invention
TWo STepS BehInD Six Part Invention
Buko Jireh Lim
haploS Alden Richards
ThIS Song IS For You Erik Santos
I WIll Be here For You Kaligta
ChInITo Yeng Constantino
aYoko na Marvin Ong
lorD paTaWaD Bassilyo
SalamaT Sa pananakIT mo J Rice
meron Ba Barbie Forteza
rIghT nexT To me Kimpoy Feliciano
lIpaT BahaY Rico Blanco
gaYuma (FeaT. ThYro & JerIko aguIlar) Abra
Tanong Young JV
BumalIk ka na Sa 'kIn Silent Sanctuary
aSkal Jose And Wally
Don'T run aWaY David Archuleta
Sa'Yo na lang ako Karylle
DahIl mahal na mahal kITa Vice Ganda
CarouSel Bamboo
naSa IYo na ang lahaT (aCouSTIC) Daniel Padilla
kung 'DI man Ney Dimaculangan
4 PINOY FAVORITES Sana maulIT mulI Regine Velasquez
IkaW na ang Bahala (panalangIn) Aiza Seguerra
paano Pilita Corrales
kahapon aT pag-IBIg Asin
SuDDenlY IT'S magIC (From "SuDDenlY IT'S magIC") Erik Santos & Angeline Quinto
When I Fall In love Nonoy Zuniga Duet W/Regine Velasquez
Saan DaraTIng ang umaga Raymond Lauchengco
Sa DIYoS lamang Sampaguita
TuWIng umuulan aT kapIlIng ka Basil Valdez
anak Freddie Aguilar
DI ko kaIlangan Florante
Saan ako nagkamalI Tillie Moreno
Dukha Judas
lolo JoSe Coritha
hIram Zsa Zsa Padilla
kung SakalIng IIBIg mulI Rey Valera
Don'T SaY gooDBYe Eddie Peregrina
BlurreD lIneS (FeaT. T.I. & pharrell) Robin Thicke
moTorWaY Little Boots
reallY Don'T Care (FeaT. Cher lloYD) Demi Lovato
When You reallY loveD Someone Agnetha Fältskog
keep on WalkIng Gabrielle Aplin
love lIke ThIS Kodaline
everYThIng She WanTS Saint Raymond
one DaY Caro Emerald
ThaT gIrl Justin Timberlake
So gooD To me Chris Malinchak
prIDe Leanne Mitchell
everYThIng haS ChangeD (FeaT. eD Sheeran) Taylor Swift
paper Doll John Mayer
BeauTY Queen Foxes
leT her go Passenger
Dear DarlIn' Olly Murs
ThIS IS WhaT IT FeelS lIke (FeaT. Trevor guThrIe) Armin Van Buuren
heY porSChe Nelly
alIve Empire Of The Sun
DaDalhIn Regine Velasquez IkaW ang pangarap Piolo Pascual IkaW ang akIng pangarap Sarah Geronimo
pamInSan-mInSan Richard Reynoso
5 HITLINE
The oTher SIDe Jason Derulo geT luCkY (raDIo eDIT) [FeaT. pharrell WIllIamS] Daft Punk
You ChangeD (FeaT. BeYonCé & mIChelle) Kelly Rowland
Save me Bo Bruce
6 BEST OF 70s & 80s WoulDn'T IT Be nICe The Beach Boys
I Can'T Turn You looSe Otis Redding
a meSSage To You ruDY (FeaT. rICo) The Specials
hearT oF glaSS Blondie
Don'T STop BelIevIn' Journey
The gIrl oF mY BeST FrIenD Elvis Presley
BroWn eYeD gIrl Van Morrison
BuFFalo SolDIer Bob Marley
Who'S ZoomIn' Who? Aretha Franklin
The lIon SleepS TonIghT Tight Fit
The TWIST Chubby Checker
WalkIng The Dog The Rolling Stones
ShoWDoWn Electric Light Orchestra
I See a BoaT on The rIver (7" verSIon) Boney M.
everY lITTle ThIng She DoeS IS magIC The Police
WhaT BeComeS oF The Broken hearTeD Jimmy Ruffin
long lIve roCk (lIve) The Who
ThaT'S The WaY (I lIke IT) K.C. & The Sunshine Band
roSanna (SIngle verSIon) Toto
WITh or WIThouT You U2
Son oF a preaCher man Dusty Springfield
The Song remaInS The Same Led Zeppelin
I Feel love Donna Summer
Don'T STop me noW Queen
agaInST all oDDS (Take a look aT me noW) Phil Collins
You've goT The love Florence + The Machine
CoSmIC love Florence + The Machine
gIrl WITh one eYe Florence + The Machine
mY BoY BuIlDS CoFFInS Florence + The Machine
never leT me go Florence + The Machine
Dog DaYS are over Florence + The Machine
BIrD Song Florence + The Machine
Take Care (BBC lIve aT maIDa vale) Florence + The Machine
STrangeneSS anD Charm Florence + The Machine
are You hurTIng The one You love? Florence + The Machine
Shake IT ouT Florence + The Machine
no lIghT, no lIghT (mTv unpluggeD, 2012) Florence + The Machine
BreaTh oF lIFe Florence + The Machine
onlY IF For a nIghT Florence + The Machine
Shake IT ouT (aCouSTIC) Florence + The Machine
I'm noT CallIng You a lIar Florence + The Machine
BeTWeen TWo lungS Florence + The Machine
SWImmIng Florence + The Machine
lover To lover (CeremonIalS Tour verSIon) Florence + The Machine
SpeCTrum (SaY mY name) [CalvIn harrIS remIx] Florence + The Machine
Take FIve (lIve) The Dave Brubeck Quartet
QuICkSIlver Julia Hülsmann Quartet
mY maIn Thang Nils Landgren Funk Unit
WanDer anD ColoSSuS Kit Downes
FuTure reFleCTIon Gerald Clayton
I ThoughT aBouT You Eliane Elias
IT Don'T mean a ThIng (IF IT aIn'T goT ThaT SWIng) Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington
unCle green The Hi-Fly Orchestra
hurmIZ Pat Metheny
ST. louIS gal Cécile Mclorin Salvant
You BeTTer noT go To College Bob James & David Sanborn
gooDnIghT Irene (WITh mIChael WollnY & mIChel BenITa) Vincent Peirani
7 SPOTLIgHT
raBBIT hearT (raISe IT up) Florence + The Machine SpeCTrum Florence + The Machine
DrummIng Florence + The Machine
8 JAZZ CLUB
unForgeTTaBle (FeaT. WYnTon marSalIS) George Benson STarS Fell on alaBama (lIve) Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock & Jack Dejohnette
94
Flights of Fancy
kIller Joe Quincy Jones gooDBYe Liane Carroll
The FolkS Who lIve on The hIll Joshua Redman
I DIDn'T knoW WhaT TIme IT WaS (FeaT. Don ThompSon) George Shearing
MUSIC
9 TINSELTOWN What are You GoinG to Do When You are not SavinG the WorlD? Hans Zimmer
clouD atlaS openinG title Tom Tykwer
Girl FroM the north countrY Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash
MY Dear FroDo Howard Shore
a real hero College & Electric Youth
Star trek Main theMe Michael Giacchino
Ma-Ma'S requieM Paul Leonard-Morgan
one DaY More Les Misérables Cast
the Man coMeS arounD James Wilsey
recoGnizer Daft Punk
YounG anD BeautiFul (Dh orcheStral verSion) Lana Del Rey
oBlivion (Feat. SuSanne SunDFør) M83
JuraSSic park John Williams
happY Pharrell Williams
SearchinG For clueS Marco Beltrami
SoMerSaultS in SprinG Friends Of Gemini
rachel'S SonG Vangelis
victor'S theMe Jacob Groth
MonSterS univerSitY Randy Newman
revelationS Nathan Johnson
Main title (the GoDFather Waltz) Nino Rota
10 FLITE LITE love theMe FroM "roMeo & Juliet" Earl Klugh & George Benson
ain't no SunShine Boney James
noBoDY knoWS Richard Elliot
You are the SunShine oF MY liFe Kim Waters
i reMeMBer When Brian Simpson
iMaGine Ken Navarro
Dock oF the BaY Dwight Sills, Kirk Whalum, Larry Kimpel, Russ Ferrante, Sean Mccurley & Walter Rodriguez
GeorGia on MY MinD live) Gerald Albright
paraDiSe (inStruMental verSion) Gavin Mikhail
JuSt the WaY You are The Piano Guys
unForGettaBle Boston Pops Orchestra & John Williams
With or Without You 2Cellos
tearS in heaven Joshua Redman
nothinG elSe MatterS Scott D. Davis
requieM MaSS in D Minor, k. 626: vii. lacriMoSa David Parry, London Philharmonic Choir & London Philhrmonic Orchestra
SYMphonY no. 3, 'SinFonia eSpanSiva' FS. 60 (op. 27): iii. alleGretto un poco Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Herbert Blomstedt, Kirsten Schultz & Peter Rasmussen
SYMphonY no. 9 in D Minor, op. 125, "choral": oDe an Die FreuDe London Philharmonic Orchestra, David Parry, London Philharmonic Choir & The London Chorus
JeSuS BleiBet Meine FreuDe, BWv 147 (JeSu JoY oF Man'S DeSirinG) Edward Higginbottom, New College Choir, Oxford & Capricorn Ensemble
concerto For violin anD orcheStra no. 1 in G Minor, op. 26: ii. aDaGio (openinG) Yehudi Menuhin
GolDBerG variationS, BWv 988: no. 1, aria Konstantin Lifschitz
SpieGel iM SpieGel (chillout excerpt) Martin Roscoe & Tasmin Little
le Sacre Du printeMp, pt. i "l'aDoration De la terre": v. ronDeS printanièreS (SprinG rounDS) Sir Simon Rattle & Berliner Philharmoniker
requieM in D Minor, op. 48: in paraDiSuM Tenebrae & LSO Chamber Ensemble
cavalleria ruSticana: interMezzo FroM cavalleria ruSticana Philharmonia Orchestra
peer GYnt Suite no. 1, op. 46: MorninG MooD London Philharmonic Orchestra & David Parry
the JourneY hoMe Tim Bowman the look oF love Peter White
kiSS FroM a roSe Giorgio Rovati rock With You Chuck Loeb & Walter Beasley
11 CLASSIC COLLECTION clarinet concerto in a MaJor, k. 622: aDaGio Alexander Grigorov & Vienna Chamber Orchestra Bolero (Short verSion) New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein & Maurice Ravel Má vlaSt (MY countrY): vltava [the MolDau] BeGinninG Boston Symphony Orchestra & Rafael Kubelik
Suite For cello Solo no. 1 in G, BWv 1007: ii. alleManDe Nobuko Imai
1812 overture, op. 49: Finale Israel Philharmonic Orchestra & Zubin Mehta
piano Sonata no. 14 (quaSi una FantaSia) in c Sharp Minor, op. 27, no. 2 "MoonliGht": i. aDaGio SoStenuto London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Georg Solti
SYMphonY no. 9 in e Minor, op. 95, B. 178: ii. larGo (openinG) - ''FroM the neW WorlD'' London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras & Angela Tennick concerto no. 21 in c MaJor For piano anD orcheStra, k. 467 - "elvira MaDiGan": ii. anDante Dubravka Tomšič & Radio Symphony Orchestra canon anD GiGue, For 3 violinS & continuo in D MaJor, t. 337 canon in D MaJor English Chamber Orchestra & Raymond Leppard
12 JAMMIN’ IN JAPAN hanDY Man Perfume
preServeD roSeS T.M.Revolution X Nana Mizuki
Go!!! (naruto 4th openinG theMe) F.L.O.W
JuMp! Dorothy Little Happy
coMe Back to Me Crystal Kay
SatSukiaMe Beni
toniGht Kim Hyun Joong
preServeD roSeS T.M.Revolution X Nana Mizuki
hakuShu kaSSai utaaWaSe Supercell
Force Superfly
paSSion Hikaru Utada
rollin'Girl (Feat. hatSune Miku) Wowaka
MonochroMe kiSS Daizystripper
hello! Megumi Nakajima
laSt love Rihwa
croSSinG FielD Lisa
touch oF DeStinY Seiko Matsuda
SuGar ruSh Akb48
innocence Eir Aoi
hoShinoFuruYoruni Scandal
永遠の今 Tomomi Ukumori
kiSS You (kiSS Mix) Daizystripper
不應該勇敢 ("美味的想念"片尾 曲) Wincci Soo
囂張 Ellen Joyce Loo
我會在你身邊 Miu Chu & Bii
one Shot JJ Lin
loSt love Yisa Yu
unexpecteD Penny Tai
tiMe to SaY GooDBYe (Feat. Sharon kWan) David Tao
13 ORIENT EXPRESS 傷心的人別聽慢歌 (貫徹快樂) Mayday
主旋律 Eason Chan
親愛的路人 Rene Liu
Mr. Bo Jay Chou
Still lonelY Tiger Huang
不一樣的朋友 (Feat. luan-tan-axianG) Jia Jia
Me & u A-Fu Teng Still Got Me Yen-J
歹逗陣 Jody Chiang & Ella Chen
BB88 Khalil Fong aM i the one You love Johnny Bug Chen 方向 Michelle Chen
proMiSe You Jam Hsiao Be YourSelF Olivia Ong
14 SEOUL GROOVES Give it to Me Sistar
너 하나야 (onlY You) 4men
BaD GirlS Lee Hyori
ocean oF liGht Nell
오르골 orGel Shinee
너 하나야 (onlY You) 4men
nuMBer 1 Togeworl
You ShoulDn’t have tolD Me aBout love Lim Heonil
컬러링 colorrinG Lim Kim 미친연애 (BaD Girl) [Feat.e-SenS] Bumkey
첫사랑 (FirSt love) After School
i Dance (Feat. 유빈 Yu Bin oF 원더걸스 WonDer GirlS) Ivy
떠나지마 (Don't leave Me alone) T-Ara
하루 (haru) Super Junior MY love Lee Seung Chul
넌 너무 야해 (the WaY You Make Me Melt) [Feat. GeekS] Sistar 한번만 안아줘 (huG Me once) Girl's Day 스모키걸 SMokeY Girl Mblaq 키다리 아저씨 (DaDDY lonG leGS) Secret What'S Your naMe? 4minute
SWeetY Girl U-Kiss 회복이 급해 (return) [Feat. hareeM & hotoo] 2bic 봄봄봄 BoM BoM BoM Roy Kim SeconD conFeSSion Btob 흔들리고 있어 (ShakinG heart) C-Clown
Flights of Fancy
95
TELEVISION GAMES
FOR AVOD* AsiAn Air sAfAri Bali, Laoag, Delhi, Jakarta
Glee Very Glee Christmas
Glee A Night Of Neglect
WiPeOUT Showdown At The Wipeout Saloon
A CHilDHOOD PrOMise Beijing And Beyond
sUBUrGATOry Homecoming
jUsT fOr lAUGHs Season 12, Episode 8
Glee Original Song
* Additional titles available on Digital IFEequipped aircraft with AVOD
OUTBOUND Glee Born This Way
iNBOUND sPOrTs QUesT Hans Rey Philippines
FOR FUll CABiN AVOD* THALES I5000 (BOEING 747-400S)
PANASONIC EX2 (BOEING 777-300S)
infliGHT TeTris
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infliGHT sUDOkU
invAsiOn
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CAveMAn
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27 Dresses Runtime: 111 mins
irOn MAn 3 Runtime: 130 mins
rise Of THe PlAneT Of THe APes Runtime: 105 mins
sTAr Trek: inTO DArkness Runtime: 132 mins
TiTAniC Runtime: 194 mins
BefOre MiDniGHT Runtime: 109 mins
iT TAkes A MAn AnD A WOMAn Runtime: 120 mins
WAlk THe line Runtime: 120 mins
MOnsTers UniversiTy Runtime: 104 mins
sHerlOCk HOlMes: A GAMe Of sHADOWs Runtime: 129 mins
THe DesCenDAnTs Runtime: 115 mins
fAsT AnD fUriOUs 6 Runtime: 130 mins
THe GreAT GATsBy Runtime: 143 mins
X-Men OriGins: WOlverine Runtime: 107 mins
leGenDs Richard Poon
reD Taylor Swift
THe sPiriT inDesTrUCTiBle Nelly Furtado
liGHTHeArTeD OPM The Company
sAnTAnA (1969) Santana
THe TenOrs The Tenors
MArTin nieverA 3D TATlOnG DekADA Martin Nievera
sOUlfUl ACOUsTiC Mymp
THe UlTiMATe COlleCTiOn Luciano Pavarotti
MOzArT: PrUssiAn QUArTeTs Emerson String Quartet
sTOries UnTOlD Jj Lin
THe UlTiMATe COlleCTiOn The Kinks
nATive Onerepublic
TAke Me HOMe One Direction
UnAPOlOGeTiC Rhianna
nOW THAT's WHAT i CAll Disney Various Artists
THe 20/20 eXPerienCe Justin Timberlake
UnOrTHODOX jUkeBOX Bruno Mars
mOVies
CDs 101 Depeche Mode All GOOD Nina BeGin David Archuleta Believe Justin Bieber
IPAD
BlUrreD lines Robin Thicke
DeMi Demi Lovato DjP AlBUM Daniel Padilla fOr THe lOveD Rene Liu Here i AM Kelly Rowland i'll TAke CAre Of yOU Richard Poon
BOrn TO Die Lana Del Rey
insPirATiOn (A TriBUTe TO nAT kinG COle) George Benson
CereMOniAls Florence The Machine
kiDz BOP 23 Kidz Bop Kids
Only HUMAn Jed Madela
THe BesT Of 25 yeArs Sting
WOrlD WiTHOUT fOrM Nat Birchall
ClAssiC fM HAll Of fAMe 2013 Various Artists
kiDz BOP 24 Various Artists
OUTBOUnD Christian Bautista
THe BlUe rOOM Madeleine Peyroux
yOUr lOve Marie Digby / Minus One
CnBlUe Reblue
killinG Me sOfTly Roberta Flack
OvereXPOseD Maroon 5
THe MUsiC PresenTs GleAse Glee
DAnCe AGAin Jennifer Lopez
kiss Carly Rae Jepsen
PUsH AnD sHOve No Doubt
THe sOUl sessiOns Joss Stone
666 PArk AvenUe
GlOBe Trekker
sPOrTs QUesT
THe lOOney TUnes sHOW
ArresTeD DevelOPMenT
HArT Of DiXie
sUBUrGATOry
THe MenTAlisT
BATMAn: THe BrAve AnD THe BOlD
MODern fAMily
syM-BiOniC TiTAn
THUnDerCATs
CHUCk
POliTiCAl AniMAls
TeAM UMizOOMi
WHO DO yOU THink yOU Are
DOn’T sTOP Believin’: everyMAn’s jOUrney
revOlUTiOn
THe leAGUe
AnGry BirDs
AnGry BirDs riO
BAD PiGGies
BOGGle
CUT THe rOPe
DOODle jUMP
frUiT ninjA
jeTPACk jOyriDe
kinGDOM rUsH
MOnOPOly
PAC-MAn
PlAnTs vs. zOMBies
sCrABBle
TeMPle rUn
TeXT TWisT 2
TiGer WOODs PGA TOUr 12
Tiny WinGs
TriviAl PUrsUiT
TeleVisiON
gAmes CHess PreMiUM HD
WHere’s My WATer?
* Available in B747 (RP-C7471 / RP-C7472 / RP-C7473 / RP-C7475) and B777
96
Flights of Fancy