Smile february 2015

M AG A Z I N E F O R C E B U PAC I F I C

Into the Wild REESE WITHERSPOON HITS THE ADVENTURE TRAIL

Polka-dot pumpkins on the pier THE STRANGE ALLURE OF JAPAN'S ART ISLANDS

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FEBRUARY 2015

From the chief

ANOTHER FIRST

In a month’s time, Cebu Pacific Airlines turns 19 years old. While we’re already feeling nostalgic about all the firsts we’ve recorded as an airline — our first aircraft, our first long-haul flight — we’re also very excited and hopeful about what lies ahead. It has been an amazing journey so far, filled with challenges to learn from and triumphs to celebrate.

As our latest milestone approaches, we’re happy to share another first with all our passengers: the Cebu Pacific mobile app is now available for iPhone and Android devices. The app introduces a new level of convenience for our passengers — you can now book tickets at anytime, purchase your baggage allowance and check in for your flight using only your mobile device. For more on what you can do with our new app, and to read other news from the airline, turn to page 120.

As is often the case when birthdays roll around, our thoughts have recently turned to self-improvement. Needless to say it’s a daunting task but the entire Cebu Pacific family, driven by the singular purpose of providing even better service, is as one in this cause. There’s still so much more we hope to learn and achieve, and with your support, we’re confident that we’ll get there in the near future.

Happy travels to all of you.

Lance Gokongwei CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Editorial

Advertising

Editor Tara F.T. Sering Art Director Marlon Espino Deputy Editor Kat Z. Mateo Sub-Editor Ross Wallace Photo Editor Jenny Peñas Production Manager Helen Uy Punzalan Contributing Editors Maya O Calica, Tata Mapa, Nikka Sarthou-Lainez (Trip Journal) Chief Sub-Editor Jonathan Evans Design Director Peter Stephens Editorial Director Alexandra Karplus Group Editorial Director Andrew Humphreys

Group Publisher Mohan Gopal Associate Publisher Bong Dy-Liacco Senior Brand Manager Andrew Lugtu Brand Managers Nastassja Lacsamana, Sheena Ong, Blessing Dizon Commercial Director David Bloomfield Tel: +65 6324 2386 Email: smile@ink-global.com

M AG A Z I N E F O R C E B U PAC I F I C

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FEBRUARY 2015

Ink Managing Director Hamish McDougall Chief Finance Officer Jim Campbell Chief Executives Michael Keating and Simon Leslie

Into the Wild REESE WITHERSPOON HITS THE ADVENTURE TRAIL

Polka-dot pumpkins on the pier THE STRANGE ALLURE OF JAPAN'S ART ISLANDS

SMILE is published on behalf of Cebu Pacific Air by Ink Publishing Pte Ltd • 51 Changi Business Park Central 2, The Signature #04-11A/12, Singapore 486066 • tel: +65 6324 2386 • fax: +65 6491 5261 • www.ink-global.com • www.cebusmile.com MCI (P) 176/06/2014 All articles and photographs published herein are created by the authors and photographers at their own discretion and do not necessarily represent the views of the airline. All material is strictly copyrighted and all rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. All prices and data are correct at the time of publication.

This month’s cover Photographer Lester V Ledesma Art Director Marlon Espino Photo Editor Jenny Peñas Calligraphy Clarissa Ines Hair and Make-up Artist Joe Padilla Stylist Jof Sering Models Greta Trazo

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Editor’s note

MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL

AGUSAN DEL SUR

ZAMBOANGA

BUKIDNON

LANAO DEL NORTE LANAO DEL SUR

NORTH COTABATO

Going the distance It was a bit of a trek to get to Lanao del Norte — touchdown in Ozamiz City, where we all piled into a van, the van rolled onto a barge and the barge sailed across the channel to Tubod, the provincial capital — but, as you’ll soon see, it was well worth the effort.

There isn’t much readily available travel literature on Lanao and so we arrived knowing little of the region’s attractions. After three days of basking in the warm hospitality of our hosts, of exploring countryside terrain almost completely untouched by mass tourism and of learning new things about a very different culture, we all left with something priceless: a deeper understanding of a land and its people, and a feeling of having been enriched by a one-of-a-kind experience.

It’s a common refrain among avid travelers that going the distance, with a curious mind and a few extra shirts, is sure to take us down surprising paths. So this month, we’re all about opting for the deliberate detour in search of such psychic rewards.

Beyond Osaka, Patty Tumang explores islands that are a near-perfect marriage of art and nature (page 57). The islands of Naoshima and Teshima are flush with eye-catching creations by some of the most innovative artists and architects of our time.

Meanwhile, outside of Jakarta in the hills of Bogor, Edgar Alan Zeta-Yap finds himself strapped to a paraglider and screaming in fear and excitement (page 62). Finally, far from the usual Philippine destinations, Kristine Fonacier explores the jewellike landscapes of Lanao del Norte (page 44).

We’ve not forgotten that February is popularly known as the month of love, so there’s no time like the present to book a trip to an out-of-the-way locale, if for no other reason than to show ourselves some love.

Happy travels,

ARE WE FRIENDS YET? We can promise you a lot of benefits — follow us on Smile Magazine for Cebu Pacific, and SmileCebuPac to get first dibs on promos and updates on contests.

smilemag

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Shooting the cover story Super f delicio resh and us cra b for lu nch Taking five at Tinago Falls with some of the locals, in between photo-taking sessions

Hitting the local produce market in Lala

el Lanao d ht Team rehearsal g u ca e W ss final dre Norte’s ulog 2015 in S re fo e b

Stylist Jof fell in love the colorful malong

With the amazing dancers and musicians who had only two days to prepare for their performance

Up at 4am and ready and shooting two hours later Waterfalls, raft, model — all you need for a fab cov er

kids Chilling out with the at the port of Tubod

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There were 16 of us in this small motorboat that chugged along for about half an hour to Barangay Darumawang Bucana

with

Our crew this issue

Lester V Ledesma Photographer For this issue shot our cover and cover feature. Best part of the trip? “The Maranao village of Matungao. Having traveled through Indonesia and Malaysia, I could see all the culinary and cultural connections — from the baulu cakes to the dance steps. So fascinating.”

THIS MONTH’S MVPS

We couldn’t have done our Lanao shoot without the valuable support of these guys

Kristine Fonacier Writer For this issue Kristine (at left) discovered Lanao’s hidden charms. Best part of shooting on location in Lanao? “Listening in on the good-natured heckling — first of the fishermen on the pier and then of the dancers in Matungao. Heckling is universal and it knows no borders!”

Ireneo Dimpas Drove us all around the province for three whole days. Daily call times were 4am, well before daybreak, and “Jun”, as he sometimes likes to be called, was always bright and cheerful.

Patricia Tumang Writer For this issue explored two quiet and arty islands outside of Osaka. What kind of art installation would you like to see on a Philippine island? “It would be amazing to see Filipina contemporary sculptor Agnes Arellano recreate a large-scale Haliya Bathing, a sculpture of the Bicolano moon goddess.”

Edgar Alan Zeta-Yap Writer For this issue ventured out of Jakarta and, to his surprise, ended up paragliding over the hills of Bogor. Is paragliding the scariest thing you’ve done so far? “Not really — I’ve gone spelunking in a pitchblack cave with tarantulas in Iloilo!”

Felipe Pagaran We spotted his colorful jeepney by the roadside and he gamely lent it to us for an early-morning shoot the next day. He was also quite nice about the fact that we had it driven off the road, where its tires dug deep into the soft mud, to get a better shot. Sorry, Felipe, and big thanks!

Aries Ginon Ruben V. Nepales Writer For this issue talked about Wild things with Hollywood darling Reese Witherspoon.

What’s the wildest thing you’ve done?

“Just thinking about it makes me break into a wicked smile at this very moment — but this is a family magazine so...”

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First he helped carry some of our stuff down the 434 steps to Tinago Falls, then he pulled the raft back and forth for pictures. Like the rest of his family, the resident guide has long been a guardian of the enchanting waterfalls.

Explore Lanao del Norte

p30

Paradise regained

Natural born thrillers

We head to Northern Mindanao to get a sense of Lanao del Norte’s revival

Escape Jakarta and explore the great West Java outdoors in Bogor

p44

p62

This month in Smile

p57

p23

Picture perfect

Just the way you like it

Enjoy an arty getaway on the Japanese islands of Naoshima and Teshima

Make your own pizza, cookie and burger

REESE WITHERSPOON TALKS ABOUT WILD, ACTING AND RAISING HER KIDS

p25

Discover marsala Check out a few of the ways you can wear Pantone’s color of the year

Find out where to buy these

PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES (PICTURE PERFECT)

Wait, there's more...

Trip journal, p77

Airline news, p119

Hungry?, p124

Heading for any of the 28 international or 33 Philippine destinations on the Cebu Pacific network? Get some recommendations from the locals.

Read the latest news from the airline and get updates on destinations and routes. Plus, find out about the latest seat promotions and score great deals.

Check out the onboard menu for the latest food and beverage offerings.

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the buzz

How to wear the color of the year, p. 25

THE LATEST NEWS, SOME COOL REVIEWS AND A FEW USEFUL TIPS FOR NAVIGATING THE NETWORK

GONG SHEEP FA CAI! In Singapore, visit Chinatown to check out the light-up and catch live performances by lion-dance troupes or head to the Floating Platform at Marina Bay to see the giant lanterns and partake of yummy CNY treats.

In Hong Kong, soak up the atmosphere at the flower markets or bet on a horse race. Then, on the evening of February 19, join the locals as they head out for the annual night

parade. Do the same the following night to catch the fireworks display.

Keep in mind though that most establishments in these cities will be closed on New Year’s Day so plan accordingly.

More exciting events on the next page >

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

On February 19, Chinese people everywhere will usher in the Year of the Wood Sheep. So bust out your best red outfit and join one of the many New Year’s celebrations network-wide.

Visit a temple fair in Beijing to shop for trinkets and try some local snacks.

In Shanghai, head down to a temple and ring a bell for good luck. If you’re in Guangzhou, be sure to check out the Spring Festival Flower Fair.

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WOOHOO join the fun

Chingay Parade SINGAPORE FEBRUARY 27 TO 28 With “We love SG” as its theme, this year’s Chingay Parade celebrates Singapore’s 50th year. It’s touted as the biggest Chingay yet, with about 11,000 performers taking part.

F1 Pit Building; www.sistic. com.sg

Vivid Valentine RED ISN’T THE ONLY HUE YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE IN THE MONTH OF LOVE. HERE ARE SOME COLORFUL FESTIVALS TO CHECK OUT

Panagbenga Flower Festival BAGUIO CITY FROM FEBRUARY 1 Head to the Philippines’ summer capital for its annual flower extravaganza.

The street-dancing parade on February 28 and the grand float parade on March 1 are must-sees. panagbengaflowerfestival. com

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Thaipusam SINGAPORE AND KUALA LUMPUR FEBRUARY 3 Each year, Tamil communities celebrate Thaipusam, where they pray and give thanks to the Hindu god Lord Murugan.

Experience the festivities in Singapore’s Little India or at Batu Caves in Selangor, Malaysia.

19th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival CLARK FEBRUARY 12 TO 15 Aside from hot-air balloons, marvel at aerial acrobatics, paragliding and skydiving events at the 19th run of this festival. www.philballoonfest.net

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VIETNAM FEBRUARY 19 Tet marks the start of the New Year and the beginning of spring. Be sure to try some banh chung (steamed rice cakes) and check out the flower market at Nguyen Hue in Saigon.

LORD MURUGAN IS THE HINDU GOD OF WAR AND VICTORY.

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES & CORBIS

Tet Nguyen Dan

WHOA!

must-see events

Hit the road FOLLOW THESE ACTS AS THEY PERFORM AROUND THE CEBU PACIFIC NETWORK

The boys are here!

Across the network ONE DIRECTION: ON THE ROAD AGAIN TOUR STARTS FEBRUARY 7 Fans of 1D in this part of the world are set to see their long-cherished dream come true. The quintet launches a series of shows in Sydney on February 7 and wraps things up in Dubai on April 4. www.ontheroadagain1d.com

Manila TYCHO: AWAKE WORLD TOUR FEBRUARY 3 Electronic musician Tycho wraps up the Asian leg of his world tour in Manila. Groove to his music live at The Theater at Solaire Resort & Casino. www.ticketworld.com.ph

Across the network MICHAEL BUBLÉ: TO BE LOVED TOUR FROM FEBRUARY 4 The Grammy Awardwinning singer continues his world tour with stops in Seoul, Tokyo and Dubai. www.michaelbuble.com/tour

Across the network CHRISTINA PERRI: HEAD OR HEART TOUR STARTS FEBRUARY 25 The “Jar of Hearts” singer performs at the Dubai Jazz Festival on February 25 before heading off to Singapore, Taipei, Manila, KL, Jakarta and Seoul. www.christinaperri.com/tour

ON STAGE MANILA Arbol de Fuego OPENS FEBRUARY 20 PETA THEATER CENTER PETA’s adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard is set in 1970s Negros Occidental. Features Cherie Gil, Jake Macapagal and Angeli Bayani. www.ticketworld.com.ph

Manhid: The Pinoy Superhero Musical OPENS FEBRUARY 20 CCP MAIN THEATER Ballet-dancing superheroes try to save a society stricken with kamanhiran (apathy) in this dancerock musical presented by Ballet Philippines. Features music by Eraserheads. www.ballet.ph

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AAAHH

Clockwise: The Henry Manila was originally a family compound; The Henry’s pool; a dining area and room at the Luneta Hotel; the Luneta Hotel is an example of French Renaissance architecture

hotels we love

TEXT BY TATA MAPA; PHOTOS OF LUNETA HOTEL COURTESY OF COCONUTS MANILA (HTTP://MANILA.COCONUTS.CO) / ANSON YU

The Luneta Hotel first opened in 1918

Old World charm BOOK A STAY WHERE YOU’LL GET A SENSE OF HISTORY AROUND EVERY CORNER Two of Manila’s newest hotels are actually old ones.

They’re back thanks to a growing awareness of and respect for the past.

The Luneta Hotel, which stands on T.M. Kalaw St in Ermita, across from historic Rizal Park, was built in 1918.

In its heyday, the hotel was an elegant place of respite for visiting dignitaries and the homegrown elite. The hotel closed down in 1987 but a recent refurbishment has brought it back to its former splendor. The Luneta reopened its doors in June

of last year and this six-story hotel now proudly stands as a Historical Landmark.

A mere glimpse of the hotel’s graceful façade and its stately lobby’s gilded accents is enough to turn back the clock. Meanwhile, its 27 boutique-style rooms offer a taste of genteel living, albeit with all the modern luxuries. The Luneta Hotel also boasts a rooftop cocktail bar, sunset views of Manila Bay and a menu at Café Yano that was inspired by the hotel’s original dishes. What’s more, some of the rooms

offer views from Europeanstyle balconies.

Across town in Pasay City is The Henry Manila, which serves up a dose of serenity amid the hubbub of the inner city. Originally a family compound built around a sprawling garden, The Henry gives guests a taste of what life was like in the mid-20th century. Adding to its charm is the fact that each of the former private residences on

@

the property has been kept intact, so a stay at the hotel is a bit like being welcomed into an elegantly appointed home.

Designed and preserved by renowned interior and furniture designer Eric Paras, the rooms at The Henry Manila feature mid-century modern furnishings alongside all the latest amenities. At The Henry, guests enjoy the best of both worlds: the old and the new.

HEAD TO WWW.LUNETAHOTEL.COM AND WWW.THEHENRYHOTEL.COM TO BOOK YOUR STAY. www.cebusmile.com / 19

WOOHOO! new hot spot

Yep, those tiny dots are guests at the Marina Bay Sands

View to a thrill RECIPE FOR A HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY: OYSTERS, COCKTAILS, A COZY ROOFTOP You’re in Singapore and you’re out to impress that special someone. Head over to Southbridge, tucked away on one end of scenic Boat Quay, and happily tick all the boxes on your Valentine’s Day checklist.

AWESOME LOCATION Perched on the rooftop of an otherwise nondescript serviced apartment building, Southbridge is a little tricky to find. But the fact that it’s well away from the area’s neon lights and tourist jumble ups its charm considerably. Southbridge is small enough to be cozy and the alfresco setup makes for an abundance of breathing space. Even on busy nights, it never feels uncomfortably tight.

Plus, the view is tough to beat: iconic Singapore landmarks all in one unbroken vista — Boat Quay’s riverside shophouses,

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the CBD’s gleaming high-rises, the engineering marvel that is the Marina Bay Sands, the timetested Fullerton Hotel and the Asian Civilisations Museum.

COOL THIRST QUENCHERS Any place with a “craftsman creed” for cocktail making shows due respect for the bar arts and the staff ’s expertise is on full display. The cocktails here are produced using small-batch spirits, homemade infusions and fresh fruits. Mixes run the whole range, from mild and fruity to punchy and spicy.

TASTY SMALL PLATES There’s a lot to fill you up at Southbridge: the small plates range from lobster rolls and tuna tataki to truffles, smoked pancetta and (for meat lovers) Wagyu beef sliders. But the

genuine stars of the bites menu are the oyster dishes.

They’re served with a selection of sauces ranging from ponzo and yuzu, and chilli, garlic and calamansi to mint, cucumber and vermouth. Discerning diners can also make selections

i

from the hot oyster menu, which features oysters with cheese and uni sabayon, oysters with avruga caviar, and oysters with bacon and cheese.

For more information or to find out about special offers, visit www.southbridge.sg

SOUTHBRIDGE 5/F, 80 BOAT QUAY, SINGAPORE, TEL: +65 6536 5818

yum!

DIY dishes

Just the way you like it

TEXT BY TATA MAPA; PHOTO BY MYLENE CHUNG (SCOUT'S HONOR)

TRY YOUR HAND AT BEING YOUR OWN CHEF WITH THESE COOL, CREATIVE CONCEPTS THAT ARE TAILOR-MADE TO WOW YOUR TASTE BUDS

MAKE YOUR OWN PIZZA Where: Project Pie Check www.facebook.com/ projectpiephilippines for a list of branches Think pizza with all your favorite toppings in a personal portion, so every customer gets exactly what he or she wants.

How to play chef STEP 1: Choose your base: red sauce or olive oil.

STEP 2: Choose your toppings.

Favorites include mozzarella, ricotta, feta and parmesan cheese, pepperoni, bacon, chicken and meatballs. Try offbeat offerings like fresh roasted broccoli, fresh herbs and mushrooms and artichokes. Overwhelmed? Project Pie staff members are ready, willing and able to help you decide and they’ll top your pizza with just the right balance of ingredients.

STEP 3: Your artisan pizza goes into the oven and in a few minutes your custom-made creation emerges, piping hot and ready to be enjoyed.

CRAFT YOUR OWN COOKIE Where: Scout’s Honor Hole in the Wall, 4/F, Century City Mall, Cnr of Kalayaan Ave and Salamanca St, Makati City From wunderkind pastry chef Miko Aspiras comes the world’s only makeyour-own-cookie stop.

How to play chef STEP 1: Choose one of the six dough options: basic chewy cookie, double chocolate fudge, molasses oatmeal, vegan, peanut butter or herbed shortbread.

STEP 2: Choose three toppings from the list of 20 options, including chocolate chips, roasted macadamias, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Kit Kat, candied bacon, cheese and pastillas.

STEP 3: Pick your swirl (either peanut butter or Nutella) and sit tight as a Scout’s Honor staffer bakes your cookie to perfection. While you wait, check out the selection of flavored milks to find the perfect cookies-and-milk combination.

BUILD YOUR OWN BURGER Where: 8 Cuts Burger Blends Branches at UP Town Center, SM Megamall, Trinoma, Power Plant Mall and Serendra Start by choosing one of the five meat-blend options for your patty. The number eight refers to the eight cuts of beef that are used to make the beef blends.

How to play chef STEP 1: Choose from among the different meat-blend choices, which include the Ox Blend patty, with an intense, umami flavor (it’s a combination of flank, oxtail and rib eye), the Big Game patty, made from hanger and brisket and The Steak Cut with sirloin and chuck. All are made from 100% US beef.

STEP 2: Choose your fixings from among a wide array of mouth-watering cheeses and other toppings.

STEP 3: Sit back and look forward to your juicy, hand-crafted burger.

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yey!

it's shopping time

Discover marsala

ARM CANDY Display the time in style with this watch by Kudos.

S$78; marketplace.zalora.sg

HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO WORK PANTONE’S COLOR OF THE YEAR INTO YOUR LOOK

ROUGE LIPS Keep your lips soft with this all-natural lip balm.

Human Nature 100% natural tinted lip balm in flame tree; PHP89.75; humanheartnature.com

SNEAK IT IN Stay fit and on trend with a pair of Nike Internationalist sneakers.

S$105; www. zalora.sg

GET SHADY Stay cool when the sun is blazing with a baseball cap and a pair of sunglasses.

Cap by Zephiires, S$65 at marketplace.zalora. sg; Ray-Ban Chris Velvet sunglasses, PHP8,100; www.zalora.com.ph and SM Department Stores

POLISH UP Update your look instantly by dabbing OPI’s Lost on Lombard on your nails. S$14.40; www.alexislinksgroup.com

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MARSALA IS NAMED AFTER THE WINE PRODUCED IN THE REGION AROUND MARSALA, A CITY IN SICILY, ITALY.

JUST FOR SINGLE LADIES (AND GUYS) If you’re newly single or have been for awhile, we guarantee you’ll LOL at Witty Will Save The World Co.’s “Relaks, Puso Lang ‘Yan, Malayo sa Bituka” Planner 2015. This fun planner (the name

translates as “Relax, it’s just the heart, far from the intestines”) features quirky illustrations, monthly love horoscopes, love trivia and even tips on how to get over someone.

Available for PHP520 at

Fully Booked, Bratpack, Quirks (www.quirksph. com) and Invitation House. Or order by sending an SMS to +63 906 465 2191.

www.facebook.com/ wittywillsavetheworld

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oooh

breakup books

Deputy editor Kat and photo editor Jenny highly recommend this one!

Get over it BROKENHEARTED? TAKE YOUR MIND OFF THE PAIN BY PICKING UP ONE OF THESE LOST LOVE-THEMED TITLES

THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE HER

BY JUNOT DIAZ This collection of short stories explores the heartbreaking effects of infidelity.

Reading this can be cathartic, whether you’re the cheater or the one cheated on.

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THE BREAKUP BIBLE

BY RACHEL SUSSMAN Ladies, if you need real help getting over your breakup, grab this book. The author will walk you through her three-phase healing process.

TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS

BY CHERYL STRAYED Before Cheryl Strayed penned Wild, she handed out brutally honest life and love advice on the literary website The Rumpus.

Read this when you’re ready to be shaken out of the rut you’re in.

BOOKS AVAILABLE AT BOOKS KINOKUNIYA. 4/F, NGEE ANN CITY SHOPPING CENTRE, SINGAPORE; WWW.KINOKUNIYA.COM.SG

SH*T MY DAD SAYS

BY JUSTIN HALPERN When Justin Halpern got dumped by his girlfriend, he moved back to his parents’ house. He then began Tweeting his father’s rude yet hilarious comments. This book contains some of the funniest quotes from Justin’s dad and the stories behind them.

It’s an easy read that’s guaranteed to make you laugh out loud.

HIGH FIDELITY

BY NICK HORNBY Misery loves company so grab a copy of this book and hang out with its main character, Rob Fleming. He’s just been dumped by his girlfriend and he isn’t too pleased about it. (He refuses to include it in his top five breakups of all time.) Read about how Rob tries to make sense of his new reality. You might just learn a thing or two.

...OR WATCH A MOVIE WILD FEBRUARY 5 If you haven’t read the book (you should!), then at least catch the film about Cheryl Strayed’s 1,600km hike along the Pacific Crest Trail in the western US. Stars Reese Witherspoon.

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UNBROKEN FEBRUARY 5 Based on Laura Hillenbrand’s book of the same name, this film follows the incredible life of Olympic athlete and war hero Louis Zamperini. Angelina Jolie directs.

BOOKS PHOTO BY JENNY PEÑAS

These two films will inspire and empower you

THESE AWESOME PEOPLE REALLY KNOW THEIR STUFF — HEAR IT STRAIGHT FROM THEM

STAR TREKKER In Wild, Reese Witherspoon plays Cheryl Strayed, whose epic solo hike spawned a book.

If she was to choose a real-life hiking buddy, it’d be Eleanor Roosevelt. “She was so smart, witty and said such incredible things. She had great perspective and was involved with so much change in the US. We probably have no idea how much she knew. I think it would be really cool to go on a hike with her. Elvis (Presley) would be cool, too. He was cute and super talented.”

PHOTO BY CLICK PHOTOS

Turn the page for more from Reese >

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HOT TOPIC

chatfest with Hollywood stars

Walk of life REESE WITHERSPOON DISCUSSES HER EVOLUTION AS AN ACTOR, THE PERILS OF FILM STARDOM AND THE JOY SHE TAKES IN HER STILL-GROWING FAMILY “Am I a wild girl?” Reese Witherspoon repeats a question playfully posed to her by a reporter during a group interview at a Beverly Hills hotel. She stars in Wild, a film adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s 2012 memoir, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, which chronicles the 1,100mile solo hike the author undertook following her mother’s death. “Probably not,” Witherspoon replies.

“Well, I like being in the wild.”

It’s certainly been a wild ride so far for the actress, whose raw performance as Strayed has drawn critical

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praise while at the same time generating awards buzz. Here, Witherspoon shares a few thoughts on her journey.

You have nude scenes and do a lot of mature stuff in Wild. It probably took a lot of bravery on your part.

Were you worried about your fans’ reaction?

My fans have grown up. The women who were 20 years old when they saw Legally Blonde are now 35. They have children.

The men and women who went to see Walk the Line 10 years ago have had life experiences and want to evolve with the artists who make movies.

So my audience has evolved.

I’ve been very lucky to be able to put myself in a place where I can take these risks as an actor.

No one is saying, “Oh, this is horrible. Please get out of here and just go make another Legally Blonde.” People have been wonderful about it and they really appreciate that I took a chance.

The other thing that I think was important was that I had to explain the graphic sexuality and themes to my daughter. I had to explain to her what is in the film because she hasn’t seen the movie yet. I said, “I had to make a choice because Cheryl was brave enough to tell all parts of her story, not just the

parts that were easy to read or that make her look good or make us like her.”

Cheryl tries to overcome her fears by going into the wild. How do you cope with your fears?

Half of being an actor is doing challenging things that make you afraid. The movies that make you afraid, that are hard to make and that are absolutely no fun usually turn out to be the best movies. The ones that you’re not totally scared of, where you and everyone else making them are having a really super good time, are usually pieces of crap. I’ve made both.

Reese with her kids Deacon, Tennesee James and Ava

In your personal life, are you also good at facing your fears?

Yeah, I’ve had to overcome a lot of fear. It’s interesting too because I was a fearless child.

You get older and you get a bit more cautious, especially when you have kids. It’s a different thing to tackle now. You worry about them so much.

How are your kids and how have they adapted to their baby brother?

The kids are getting older. Ava is 15 and Deacon is 11 (both are from her first marriage to actor Ryan Philippe). They love their baby brother (Tennessee James, 2, Reese’s son with second husband Jim Toth). It’s really sweet to see them in new roles in their lives, as mentors and older siblings. The baby rules the roost. He talks all day long. He’s very bossy. We all just do whatever he says.

He’s great. It’s been really fun. It’s great to see your older kids become caregivers. It’s much easier because when I had Ava, I was 22. I didn’t have any help. My mother lived in a different state. It was much harder. Now, I feel like I have a second mother – Ava helps with babysitting and giving him baths. It makes it much easier.

Is your daughter interested in becoming an actress?

“...I was fearless as a child.

You get a bit older and you get a bit more cautious, especially when you have kids” She has no interest in being an actress. None so far. She doesn’t know yet what she wants to be but she definitely doesn’t want to be an actress — for now.

What do you do to relax?

I like to drink chai tea, this whole specific thing — chai tea latte with soy milk and a shot of espresso.

TEXT BY RUBEN V. NEPALES; PHOTO BY CORBIS (INSET)

How do you cope with the challenges of being a public person?

I’ve had my own set of problems that have been public and not public. It’s about that moment when you realize that no one’s coming to save you.

You’re going to have to save yourself. We’ve all experienced it — we realize we’re alone in this world. No relationship, baby or child is going to fix your life. No mother or father is going to fix your problems.

Part of what’s really helpful for me is reading a book like Cheryl’s. It was really a lifechanging book for me. The book expressed ideas that I thought but couldn’t articulate.

So much of it is finding inner strength.

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WANDER LUST

At The Louvre Pyramid in Paris

travel like a pro

Foto Me session outside Musée d’Orsay Berlin

The swans at Versailles

Tonette writing on the Berlin Wall

Adventures for two FILMMAKERS ANTOINETTE JADAONE AND DAN VILLEGAS DEVISE ITINERARIES TO MATCH THEIR TASTES AND STYLE When traveling, filmmakers Dan Villegas and Antoinette Jadaone tend to check out spots that feature in their favorite movies. “We love going to iconic, real-life film sets and we’re like giddy teenagers,” Antoinette says.

“We went to the Amélie café and the St.-Étienne-du-Mont steps where Gil (Owen Wilson) would wait for the Peugeot in Midnight in Paris.”

However, Dan and Antoinette, who won Best Director and Best Screenplay, respectively, for English Only, Please at the recent Metro Manila Film Festival, admit they have different travel styles. “Dan is very organized and OC (obsessive

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compulsive), so I learned from him how to make a detailed, per-hour itinerary. Even if we don’t follow it to a T, at least we’re guided by the same schedule,” says Antoinette, who’s also the Palanca awardwinning writer-director of That Thing Called Tadhana, which comes out this month.

Dan, her producer on the film, agrees. “Tonette is more of the ‘bahala na si Batman’ (anything goes) type. We’ll always end up at the destination but as with every guy, the solution is this: the girlfriend is always right,” he says with a laugh.

They do share a little in common: the itinerary typically includes a “food trip” and “the usual tourist attractions”.

This approach has paid off.

“When we saw Van Gogh’s Starry Night at The Musée d’Orsay, we just stared at it for a long time. We didn’t talk,” Antoinette says. “It felt so surreal, that what we had seen only in postcards and books was right in front of us.

It was awesome that we were feeling the same way about this painting. We were both attracted to it.”

Dan looks back especially fondly on an experience they had during a Paris trip: “We were at the Trocadero, with the perfect view of the Eiffel Tower. Then it lit up. It was a kind of I-only-see-this-inmovies moment. It was winter, which made the experience

more romantic. It was like the ending of a romantic comedy.”

Their next stop? Berlin, where Dan is set to study cinematography under a weeklong film scholarship program, then Spain. “We need to take a rest and a vacation every once in a while. Working in the film industry is no walk in the park (we made seven films — four together — last year), so we need to take a break before we dive right back into shooting,” Antoinette says.

They always do plenty of prep for their trips.

Turn the page for Dan and Tonette's tips >

WANDER LUST

Cool in Berlin

Taking a break at a fast-food outlet in Berlin

About to ride the train in Berlin Hanging out in Paris

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DON’T KEEP ALL OF YOUR MONEY IN ONE PLACE Put money in your wallet, some in your luggage, some in your pocket and some in your bag’s side pockets. That way, if you get robbed, which happened to me in the Paris Metro, you’ll still have some cash on hand.

TEXT AND INTERVIEW BY CHARMAINE BAYLON

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BE ORGANIZED YET SPONTANEOUS Dan and I are so different in this respect so we have to compromise. What we do is, we make a schedule but when we see something interesting along the way that’s not in our itinerary, we still go. After all, it’s not like Quiapo. It’s not a jeepney-ride away.

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TRY A ROMANTIC SPOT Audrey Hepburn was right: Paris is always a good idea.

Especially when you’re with someone whose hand you want to hold, pa-sway-sway pa.

Two-fie at the Eiffel Tower

Ready, set, action!

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SCRIMP ON THE ACCOMMODATIONS SO YOU CAN SPEND BIG ON OTHER THINGS We love to eat so we never scrimp on food when we’re traveling. After all, we’ll be out the whole day. So we just get a room with a comfortable bed and clean bathrooms and we’re good! The money we save by opting for modest accommodations, we spend on more romantic dinners.

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DOWNLOAD THE SKYSCANNER APP It’s the best way to find the cheapest flights! You may be surprised to see that Paris round-trip tickets can go for as little as PHP37,000. I found a flight from Paris to Berlin via Skyscanner that allowed for a 12-hour layover in Vienna. This is what gave me the chance to spend a little time in Vienna.

Bitin (not enough) but it’s better than being stuck in the airport for three hours, right?

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GET A LOCAL’S PERSPECTIVE We love lodging rental site Airbnb! Your host can give you insider tips on how to experience the city you’re visiting. We stayed at an Airbnb house in Paris for two days and bunked with a friend for the rest of the time. Every day, our host would give us tips and suggest an itinerary for the day.

She even provided us with a guidebook that we used as we toured Versailles.

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FIND SOMEONE IN THE CITY WHO’S WILLING TO SHOW YOU AROUND We were so lucky that a friend took us around Paris and showed us where the best night spots and bargains could be found. She was also the one who showed us where Amélie’s café was and that spot from Midnight in Paris. She told us she was very happy to speak Filipino again.

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DON’T SWEAT IT IF YOU GET LOST

We got lost in Prague but we enjoyed it! I have no sense of direction so it was Dan navigating with a map. We still lost our way but we were able to see the off-the-beaten-track places that only lost lovers can discover — by accident!

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JUST KEEP TRAVELING TOGETHER You’ll learn a lot about your partner by traveling together.

It’s always nice to see the world with the one you love.

Destinations become a little more romantic, your smiles in pictures become a little wider and holding hands while walking is nicer. You’ll be happy to know that your partner-in-crime is not just for Manila (or wherever you’re based) but that he’s got your back everywhere you go.

You’ll fight, yes. But you’ll go home together. That’s what’s important.

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IN THE studio...

with Neri & Hu

Think outside the box

TEXT AND INTERVIEW BY CHARMAINE BAYLON; PHOTOS BY ANDREW ROWAT AND PEDRO PEGENAUTE

AWARD-WINNING DESIGNERS LYNDON NERI AND ROSSANA HU APPROACH TRAVEL WITH PURPOSE AND STYLE

There’s a chance you’ve already seen the work of Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu, the founding partners of Neri & Hu Design and Research Office and Design Republic in Shanghai.

By blending the old with the new and making innovative use of space and materials, the US Interior Design Hall of Famers and their team designed the Le Meridien Hotel in Zhengzhou, China, the Pedder Red flagship store in Hong Kong, Cluny House in Singapore and, in Shanghai, The Waterhouse At South Bund boutique hotel and the 88 Yuqing Road “Black Box” office building. Aside from architecture and interiors, they also offer master planning, branding and product design.

Clockwise: Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu; Design Republic Design Commune; Jian sofa for Gandia Blasco; The Waterhouse At South Bund boutique hotel; The Emperor Light for Moooi

Their latest laurel: sharing the distinction of being named as Maison&Objet Asia’s 2015 Designer of the Year. From March 10 to 13, Maison&Objet Asia is set to showcase top décor and interior design brands at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore. Lyndon and Rossana will serve as keynote speakers at the event’s Interior Design & Lifestyle Summit on March 11.

“We felt humbled, but we continued working,” Lyndon says of their immediate reaction to the news. The pair has a lot on their plate: Lyndon says they’re focusing on “a slew of projects in Shanghai, Beijing, London, Lisbon, Kuala

Lumpur, Singapore, Rio, Seoul, Sydney, Hong Kong and other cities in China.” Nonetheless, he and Rossana took the time to tell Smile about their influences and reveal a few of their favorite hot spots, which may inspire you to make ambitious travel plans of your own this year.

When you look back on 2014, which moments and milestones stand out most?

Without the past, there’s no future, so yes, we’re constantly looking back for guidance on our future endeavors, even if we’re not getting any awards.

There’s no one milestone or project that stands out but we’re grateful for the many

clients, collaborators and talented staff members who believe in us.

So what are you two working on now?

We’re currently working on the Bow Street Boutique Hotel and Museum in Covent Garden, London, a project we won three years ago in an international competition.

We’re also starting to design the Contemporary Art Museum in Kuala Lumpur, a new seven-story building with hotel and retail for LVMH

Learn more about Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu >

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IN THE studio...

From left: The “Black Box”; Le Meridien Zhengzhou; Xi’An Westin Museum Hotel; Below: Sedan chair for ClassiCon

Work has taken you places.

What are your favorite destinations? How has traveling affected your design outlook and style?

We love Kyoto for its sense of place and scale, Rome for its architectural history, Barcelona for the food, New York for its urban intensity and Paris for the romance. We’re interested in being travelers as opposed to just being tourists.

What about Shanghai?

What are some of your main sources of design and architectural inspiration?

David Chipperfield’s renovation of the Rockbund Art Museum is fantastic. László Hudec’s Wukang Mansion (formerly the Normandie Apartments) just around the corner from our office highlights a strong

@

dichotomy: it’s a building that’s both monumental and domestic. The Design Republic Design Commune is a great place to see the latest modern furniture and accessories, and at the same time enjoy Jason Atherton’s restaurant, The Commune Social. The Waterhouse At South Bund, a 19-room boutique hotel we designed four years ago, is another favorite.

Any favorite local hangouts?

Farine by Franck Pecol is the best bakery in town and also happens to be a place we designed. Lei Garden at IAPM Mall has good dim sum and great Cantonese dishes.

Jesse is hands down the best Shanghainese restaurant in town. Mercato, a casual Italian restaurant that we designed for Jean-Georges Vongerichten on the Bund continues to create a lot of buzz and hype even after two years. We also like to stroll around the French Concession, meandering past the local lane houses and through the antique market.

In what ways do you think design can heighten an experience and fulfill its purpose?

It’s imperative that we celebrate and explore the everyday, the ordinary and the mundane. By

FOR MORE ON THE WORK OF NERI & HU, VISIT EN.NERIANDHU.COM

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creating a platform everyone can understand, you can slowly guide them on a journey that will ultimately elevate them and take their knowledge to another level. This is just as true for clients as it is for colleagues, professionals and students.

You were born in the Philippines while Rossana was born in Taiwan. What are your memories of these countries? How have your backgrounds helped you to become the designers you are today?

Rossana has beautiful memories of her storybook childhood in Kaohsiung, a major municipality in south-western Taiwan. She was given a lot of support.

Life was simple and never chaotic. When I think about the Philippines, what I remember most are the amazing, almost pristine beaches and the vibrant, creative communities in

Cebu, coupled with the sweet mangoes and the rich aromatic flavour of lechon. Filipinos are extremely warm and hospitable.

Both of us learned while growing up in different places, being educated in the United States and now practicing in China that the world is complex and multi-faceted. It can’t and shouldn’t be viewed in a onedimensional, myopic way.

Why do you think your partnership works so well?

I’m more of a creator and Rossana is more of a critic so this combination works very well. We also have very similar pedagogical ideas and aesthetic sensibilities.

What are you looking forward to most in the coming year?

Above all, spending more time with our three children and having more time to think.

PHOTOS BY DERRYCK MENERE AND PEDRO PEGENAUTE

and Dacra in Miami, and the central, multi-purpose The Hub Performance & Exhibition Center in Shanghai for Shui On Land. We’re also working on a house for an acclaimed film director in Brazil, a seven-story, high-end residential tower in Shanghai’s French concession, new restaurants for celebrity chef Jason Atherton in Sydney and London, a new retail expansion for Selfridges in London and Das Haus for IMM Cologne in Germany.

features PHOTO BY LESTER V LEDESMA. ON GRETA; DRESS BY COTTON ON; ACCESSORIES BY TEEPEE. FOR STORE LISTINGS, GO TO WWW.CEBUSMILE.COM

WE’VE GATHERED STORIES FROM ACROSS THE NETWORK TO INSPIRE YOUR NEXT TRIP

month, we heed our own travel advice and GET OUT This head to unlikely destinations. First stop: Lanao Norte. Improvising our itinerary on the fly THERE del was a big part of the fun, but what made it truly memorable was the sheer number of surprises along the way, like this impromptu boat ride.

Looking for an adventure?

Go out, way out there >

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Way Way o utothere ut there

Paradise regained Lanao del Norte, largely ignored by tourists for decades, has now thrown its doors open to curious visitors, who are in for a pleasant surprise

BY KRISTINE FONACIER PHOTOS BY LESTER V. LEDESMA

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Way o ut there

W

hy go to Lanao?

To visit this part of Northern Mindanao is to travel without expectations. Or, more accurately, to find each and every expectation that you do have turned on its ear.

Lanao has been very much off the tourist radar for decades, due in large part to the region’s complicated history. Like many of its neighbors in Mindanao, Lanao continues to suffer from an image problem that has — for better or worse — kept the vast majority of travelers away. This has also meant, however, that the region has been spared the effects of the trampling hordes and thus remains a largely untouched frontier.

Truth be told, Lanao isn’t one place, but two — or even three or four, depending on how you look at it.

“Lanao” comes from the word ranao, which means “lake”, and sure enough, Lake Lanao remains the spiritual, if not the geographic, center of it all. The lake is located in Lanao del Sur, which is within the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and is arguably the better known of the two provinces that were until 1959 jointly known as Lanao. However, on this day we’re headed to Lanao del Norte, which is politically and culturally distinct from Lanao del Sur. (There is, additionally, Iligan City, which is part of Lanao del Norte geographically but not in practice, as it has a separate government.)

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Clockwise: walking with stilts at Cathedral Falls; commuter boats in Darumawang Bucana; transport options along the National Highway; special rice with turmeric served in Matungao; at the local produce market.

Facing page: Tinago Falls

Lanao del Norte boasts beautiful, rugged terrain that includes coastal areas, mountains and vast plains.

As you might expect, it’s somewhat sparsely populated, with about 608,000 people spread over an area of nearly 3,400km2, not counting Iligan. Though Lanao del Sur is smaller in terms of both population and land area, it’s Lanao del Norte’s neighbor to the south that tends to shape popular perceptions of the region as a whole.

Though members of the Maranao ethnic group still make up a significant proportion of the region’s population — nearly a third — the majority of residents are Christian. And so, given that the region encompasses both the urbanized area of Iligan (and, a little farther on, Cagayan de Oro) to

Way o ut there

COLORED DRESS (ON GRETA) BY COTTON ON; ALL ACCESSORIES BY TEEPEE. FOR STORES, VISIT WWW.CEBUSMILE.COM

Clockwise: in the ricefields of Lala; delicious seafood; a dance on the many ways of wearing a malong; a cool coffee spot near Tubod pier; local rice pastries in Barangay Kapatagan

the north and the Muslim Malaydominated city of Marawi to the south, Lanao del Norte is a pleasant middle ground, a melting pot where visitors can get a taste of both worlds — and witness how peaceful development can transform both a land and its people.

Young Lanao rising Lanao del Norte is a political curiosity.

Located on the border between Northern Mindanao and the ARMM, Lanao del Norte is the only province in the Philippines where a Christian majority is ruled by a Muslim governor.

The young governor is himself a symbol of modern Lanao del Norte: the firstgeneration scion of a family formed via inter-marriage between the politically influential Quibranza and Dimaporo

clans, he represents the unification of the two cultures. And he’s not alone in his willingness to open his mind to new possibilities; well-traveled young Lanao residents are starting to introduce new ideas at home after returning from sojourns abroad.

There’s motocross, for one. Among the facilities at the Mindanao Civic Center is a stadium that houses what may be the nation’s largest motocross track. Part of efforts to boost sports

Well-traveled young Lanao residents are starting to introduce new ideas at home 47

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tourism in the region, the stadium is the venue for international-caliber competitions organized by the provincial government. The annual invitational even draws the motocross elite from across the globe.

Elsewhere, the more cosmopolitan side of youth culture is beginning to show up in unexpected places, too. While Tubod, Lanao del Norte’s capital, remains bereft of shopping centres and chain restaurants, the hottest spots in town are Andrew’s, which makes a pretty good pizza, and its brand spanking new sister restaurant, Brew Bros. Coffee, which proudly serves Northern Mindanao coffee and looks as sleek and hip as anything you’re likely to find on Pinterest.

Way o ut there

Clockwise: Tinago Falls; sunset in Tubod; market day in Lala

Smile weekened in Lanao SATURDAY 8AM: We arrive at Labo airport in Ozamiz City. From there, it’s a 20- to 30-minute ride by barge to Tubod, the capital of Lanao del Norte.

The hotel of choice in Lanao is the government-run Mindanao Civic Center in Tubod (tel: +63 63 341 4003; rooms from PHP850/night), which boasts an impressive range of facilities.

TOPS AND COLORED SHORTS BY TEEPEE.

NOON: We head out to one of the many floating villages in Lanao del Norte for a look at the homes of local fishermen, which are built above the water. Like its counterparts in Cambodia, Brunei and other parts of South-East Asia, Lanao’s floating villages are still very much in use today. There are many such villages in the province, but our trip to the prosperous barangay of Darumawang Bucana in the municipality of Lala requires a particularly scenic 45-minute boat ride that gives us a chance to marvel at the coastline. Lunch comes in the form of the day’s catch: shrimp, served in every way imaginable.

3PM: Back in town, we make a quick stop at the public market in Lala for fruits and vegetables. Lanao del Norte is very proud of its bananas, of which there are 52 local varieties. It even celebrates the harvest with the Sagingan Festival in October. Also worth stocking up on: the incredibly fragrant Mindanao kaffir limes.

4PM: We make a pit stop at the MCC Stadium, among the largest in the region and host to the International Motocross Series,

which attracts international competitors to the province (Lanao del Norte is well on its way to becoming known as the country’s motocross capital). During our visit, there was no motocross festival but we did manage to catch the final dress rehearsal for Lanao del Norte’s entry in the big Sinulog Festival in Cebu.

6PM: We do as the locals do and head to Balay ni Lola Coyang in Tubod for a family-style dinner, set in a charming old house just down the street from the port.

SUNDAY 9AM: We head off to Tinago Falls in Linamon, the most famous of Lanao del Norte’s many waterfalls. There’s an entrance on the Iligan side, but entry from Linamon is preferred for its scenic, well-maintained pathway. Its famously challenging 434 steps down is less daunting than it sounds and the sight of the falls is well worth the sweat.

NOON: Matungao isn’t all that far from Tinago, but our visit to this Maranao municipality feels a bit like venturing into another country entirely. One of just a handful of areas with a Maranao majority, Matungao is the ideal place to go if

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you’re keen to learn about Mindanao Muslim culture.

4PM: It’s Sunday, so we make the short trip to Dapit Alim in Kolambugan, a uniquely designed Catholic mountaintop retreat that also serves up memorable views of Panguil Bay. Spread across 5.5ha at the peak of Mt Malindang, this “place of healing” is the ideal location in which to reflect, pray or hear Mass — there’s an outdoor altar that must be seen to be believed.

5PM: We squeeze in a quick visit to Cathedral Falls, one of 20 or so waterfalls in Lanao. This one is smaller than Tinago but also much quieter.

7PM: We unwind with the visit to the surprisingly cosmopolitan Brew Bros. coffee shop in Tubod, near the port. The coffee beans used here are sourced from various parts of Northern Mindanao, including Bukidnon, which produces some of the country’s best Arabica beans. We decide to have an early dinner but choose to stay at our table, which has a stellar view of the bay.

We place an order from the shop’s sister eatery, Andrew’s Pizza.

Way o ut there

Dancers in Matungao teach the Smile team a few moves for the singkil, an epic Maranao courtship dance

Chasing waterfalls Though it’s home to urban amenities, Lanao del Norte is primarily an outdoor destination, with natural attractions that are even better for the fact they’ve seen so few visitors.

While it’s Iligan that lays claim to the title of “Land of Majestic Waterfalls”, Lanao del Norte has so many eyecatching cascades that the local people seem to have lost track of the exact number. Some say there are 18 sets of falls, others claim 20 or more; the official tourist brochure lists just four.

What’s more, no one seems to agree on their names and locations.

One website will tell you to head to Cathedral Falls in Barangay (Brgy) Cathedral Falls. But ask a local to take you there and you’re almost certain to end up at Brgy Waterfalls,

Kapatagan. There are no waterfalls in Brgy Cathedral Falls, we’re told, the confusion having arisen after the old village was divided in two — Brgy Cathedral Falls kept the name, but Brgy Waterfalls kept the falls. Some of Brgy Waterfalls’ more vocal residents insist that the place should be renamed.

Their suggestion? Waterfalls Falls in Brgy Waterfalls.

Be that as it may, Lanao del Norte sees very few visitors from outside the region. Cathedral Falls (aka Waterfalls Falls) is largely frequented by barangay locals, who swim in its outer pools and whose children play in the muddy flats on its fringes. Save for a bridge over the stream, there are no man-made structures to sully its natural beauty.

The largest and most popular of the waterfalls in Lanao del Norte, Tinago 51

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Quick facts Region: Northern Mindanao (Region X) Capital: Tubod Area: 3,346.57 km2 (1,292.12 mi2) Population (2010): 607,917 Municipalities: 22 Barangays: 462 Districts: 1st and 2nd Districts of Lanao del Norte

Falls in Linamon, has been developed, albeit with a light hand. Located on the outer fringes of Lanao del Norte, Tinago can be reached only by descending 434 steps built into heavily wooded foothills. The reward for this

Way o ut there

Gratitude for sea and land, all year round

Lanao del Norte is known as the “Land of Beauty and Bounty” and its people celebrate the blessings of the land and of the sea throughout the year.

locals the chance to give thanks for the town’s signature product. Expect alimango motifs on street dancers during the parade and a contest to find the largest alimango.

KINHASON FESTIVAL (JANUARY 16) This harvest festival in Bacolod municipality celebrates the gifts of the sea; dancers are dressed in colorful costumes decorated with seashells known locally as kinhason.

HUGYAW SA KADAGATAN (APRIL 25) The municipality of Kauswagan gives thanks for its abundant marine resources with a fluvial parade and street dancing.

NANGKAAN FESTIVAL (FEBRUARY 27) Maigo town celebrates its most famous product, the jackfruit, along with its charter day.

ALIMANGOHAN FESTIVAL (MARCH 22) Everything is crab-themed at this event, which marks both the Araw ng Lala foundation day and offers the

effort is the awesome sight of white mountain spring water thundering into a crystal-clear pool that mists over when the wind blows. While there are, somewhat regrettably, cement tables and huts on the fringes of the falls, Tinago still puts nature front and center. It still feels, well, tagô — hidden from the crowds.

the honors for best lechon. (They’re all winners, in our book.)

SAGAYAN FESTIVAL (JULY 2) This province-wide festival is held to commemorate the legend of Datu Bantugan, hero of the Maranao epic Darangen. Expect colorful performances of the epic, which dramatize the datu’s battles.

NIYOGAN FESTIVAL (MAY 23) In Magsaysay, the signature product is coconut. On this day, dancers dressed in coconut-themed costumes venture into the streets to celebrate the harvest.

KAHUMAYAN FESTIVAL (JULY 5) This feast is held in Kapatagan to celebrate the typically abundant rice harvest.

LECHONAN FESTIVAL (JUNE 10) It would be funny if the municipality were called Baboy, but make no mistake, the delicious Lechonan Festival is held in Baroy, where each of the 23 barangays aim to win

SAGINGAN FESTIVAL (OCTOBER 17) The capital city of Tubod goes bananas for its most abundant fruit. There’s street dancing, a trade fair and even a Miss Sagingan competition.

How cool is that?

ethnic groups that posed the strongest resistance to Christianization. The Christian-Muslim divide is still discernible to this day in many areas of Mindanao,” he writes. “This is not the case in Lanao del Norte.”

Municipalities like Tubod and Lala, Lanao del Norte’s commercial districts, are indistinguishable from many other

The history taught in schools reveals that the Maranao lived inland, on the shores of Lake Lanao. Meanwhile, the Christian settlers lived on the coast, “unable to penetrate the interior,” or so Enrico Miguel Subido tells readers in his coffee table book Frontier of Peace. “The Maranao were one of the 53

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Way o ut there

During kanduri, men and women eat separately; heart-rest at Dapit Alim; marang, a tropical fruit; students perform a warrior dance

towns in the Philippines. That is to say, the Muslim Maranao are so well integrated into the community that the first-time visitor might miss the roadside diners selling halal food or the mosque in the rice fields.

But for those looking to get acquainted with Maranao culture, the quickest way to do so is to arrange a trip to the Maranao municipalities of Lanao del Norte. The province is home to several Maranao settlements but we accepted an invitation from the mayor of Matungao to visit this charming municipality in the province’s southeast. The word “matungao,” the mayor told us in a letter, means “cool”, a reference to the beautiful weather Matungao experiences year-round (“We have Tagaytay weather,” she told us later as she welcomed us.)

As promised, the gracious hospitality of the Maranao was on full display from the moment we hit town. Clearly,

they’d pulled out all the stops: local officials were all decked out in formal Maranao garb, performance troupes were on hand to treat us to traditional dances and what seemed like the entire populace had turned out for the communal thanksgiving feast, known as kanduri.

We were draped in formal malong and taught how to twist and tie it ceremonially around our waists and over our arms. “If you’re wondering whether these are our everyday clothes…” one of the mayor’s staffers told us with a smile, referring to the metallic sheen and intricate embroidery characteristic of her clothes and those of her fellow officials.

“Yes, they are! We still wear malong every day, just a more casual version.”

Everyone seemed to be in a terrific mood, grateful for the chance to dress up, celebrate the arrival of visitors and show off the best of their culture.

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To an onlooker from outside the region, it would’ve made for an odd tableau: residents good-naturedly heckling from the sidelines as the performers did their thing; the mayor leaning over to indulge our requests for a selfie or two; a dancer struggling to maintain the stoic elegance required of traditional Maranao performers. But the breezy, downto-earth quality of the place and its people only added to the appeal.

Ultimately, to travel to Lanao del Norte is to be reminded of why we travel in the first place: in hopes of being surprised or, better yet, having our preconceptions shattered in the best way possible.

Cebu Pacific flies to Ozamiz City from Manila. It’s approximately 30 minutes by ferry to Tubod, Lanao del Norte. www.cebupacificair.com

Out of Osaka

Picture perfect

YAYOI KUSAMA "PUMPKIN" PHOTO: MITSUE NAGASE

Home to the Art House Project and museums that seamlessly blend nature and contemporary art, the Benesse Art Site Naoshima makes for an ideal, off-the-beaten-path getaway from Osaka.

Patricia Tumang lays out a weekend itinerary around the islands of Naoshima and Teshima

I

n Japan’s Kagawa Prefecture, the islands of Naoshima and Teshima have emerged in recent years as havens of contemporary art. These unlikely “art islands” form the core of the Setouchi Triennale, which began in 2010 with the aim of introducing visitors to the art and culture that makes these islands in the Seto Inland Sea so vibrant and unique.

Imagine viewing Claude Monet’s Water Lilies in a subterranean gallery while wearing slippers. Yes, the Chichu Art Museum on the island of Naoshima requires visitors to remove their shoes and wear slippers to avoid scuffing the white floors. No photography is allowed and entry is limited to a handful of

people at a time. As with entering a temple, the cardinal rule is silence.

Though sunlight falls from the ceiling, you’re bathed in the ethereal glow of Monet’s water lilies. It’s awe-inspiring.

A similar feeling is evoked in the cavernous, droplet-shaped museum on the nearby island of Teshima, a 30-minute ferry ride from Naoshima, where you can spend the morning meditating. The openings in the curvilinear ceiling let in the sun and rain, and the play of light and shadow is ever changing.

For the past three decades, Soichiro Fukutake, the executive advisor of Benesse Holdings and chairman of the Fukutake Foundation, has sought to 57

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revitalize the islands through art. The effort began when his father created the Naoshima International Camping Ground in the late 1980s. Over the years, and through collaborations with a range of artists and architects (most notably Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando), Fukutake has become a frontrunner in the promotion of contemporary art and architecture in Japan.

Naoshima and Teshima can be explored in the course of a weekend away from Osaka (if you have more time, a third island, Inujima, offers similarly spectacular art). They’re a welcome alternative to Tokyo’s frenetic pace and Kyoto’s temple overload.

First of the festivals

Saturday 8AM From Osaka’s ShinOsaka station, take a bullet train bound for Okayama and then transfer to Uno Port either by Ryobi Express bus or via the JR Uno Line.

Depending on your route, travel can take up to three hours, so plan accordingly because missing a train could put a dent in your schedule.

11.30AM The first sight that greets you at the ferry landing in Miyanoura Port is a sculpted giant red pumpkin

by Yayoi Kusama, the avantgarde Japanese artist known for her love of polka dots and nets. Simply called Red Pumpkin, the sculpture has holes that allow sunlight to reflect more dots inside.

11AM Arrive at Uno Port, the gateway to the art islands in the Seto Inland Sea. Hop on a ferry bound for Miyanoura Port in Naoshima to spend the afternoon exploring Benesse Art Site Naoshima, a complex of art museums, installations and related projects.

Travel writer Pico Iyer on the art islands: “The coolest thing I’ve seen in my 24 years of living in Japan”

11.45AM Take a walk through town and stop for a quick bite at Yamamoto Udon Shop, right beside the island co-op. Have your lunch at the bar and watch fresh udon noodles being made by hand.

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12.30PM Hop on the Naoshima Town bus to Tsutsuji-so, the last stop.

The bus runs infrequently so be sure to request a map and schedule at the Tourist Information Center. It’s inside the Marine Station at Naoshima Ferry Terminal.

Stay at Tsutsujiso Lodge and spend the night in a stylish pao (a Mongolian yurt) or in a camper trailer right by the beach. The cost is upwards of ¥2,800 (PHP1,000). Up for a splurge? Try the swanky Benesse House; prices start at ¥32,076 (about PHP 12,000).

PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES (MAIN); INSETS(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT): BENESSE HOUSE PHOTO: TADASU YAMAMOTO, TPG, CHICHU ART MUSEUM PHOTO: MITSUO MATSUOKA, LEE UFAN ‘RELATUM-SILENCE’ (2010) PHOTO:TADASU YAMAMOTO, NIKI DE SAINT PHALLE "LE BANC" PHOTO: OSAMU WATANABE, JAMES TURRELL ‘OPEN SKY’ 2004 PHOTO: FUJITSUKA MITSUMASA

First Out of of theOsaka festivals

5PM Take a sunset selfie beside Yayoi Kusama’s Pumpkin, a huge yellow sculpture with black polka dots that sits serenely on a secluded pier.

1PM Walk up the winding road leading to Chichu Art Museum and take a moment to admire the picturesque pond with its water lilies.

Designed by Tadao Ando, this underground museum was built into a hill along the island’s coastline and showcases work by the likes of Claude Monet, Walter De Maria and James Turrell in minimalist, concrete galleries. Be sure to catch the night program, which takes place around sunset and features Turrell’s Open Sky installation (you’ll need to reserve a ticket beforehand).

3PM Check out the semiunderground Lee Ufan Museum, also designed

by Ando, which features several key works by the titular artist. Take a moment to drink in the spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and the sea.

4PM On the way to Benesse House Museum, you’ll pass several outdoor installations created by contemporary artists. Some are on the beach and others are scattered across the grounds. Benesse House Museum boasts one of Japan’s largest private collections of Western art (including works by Jasper Johns, David Hockney and Richard Long). Grab a cup of coffee or tea at the museum café (open until 5pm).

5.30PM Make your way back to Chichu Art Museum for the night program. As the sun dips below the horizon, marvel at the changes in color and mood when viewing Turrell’s Open Sky. 7PM Feast on a two-course barbecue dinner on the beach back at Tsutsujiso Lodge. The menu is seasonal and typically includes a range of fresh seafood and grilled meat.

Landscape on Naoshima.

(Facing page, from left): Benesse House Museum; Yayoi Kusama’s Red Pumpkin; Chichu Art Museum; (Above, from left) Lee Ufan Museum; Niki de Saint Phalle’s Le Banc; James Turrell’s Open Sky

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First of the festivals

Sunday 8.30AM Hop on the island bus to Miyanoura Port and take the 9.20am ferry to Ieura Port on Teshima, a quaint art island with a world-class museum designed by Japanese architect Ryue Nishizawa and artist Rei Naito.

10AM Zip past rice paddies and brave the seaside cliffs on an electric bike that propels riders up Teshima’s winding hills. Head to Teshima Art Museum, which overlooks terraced rice fields. Be one with nature as raindrops and light surround you in the museum’s cavelike dome.

11AM Pedal your way to Christian Boltanski’s Les Archives du Cœur near Karato Port on the other side of the island. In a dark room, explore an aural archive of heartbeats from around the world as a bulb flickers in tune to each. For ¥1,540 (PHP583), you can even record your own heartbeat to add to the collection.

designed by architect Koichi Futatsomata, has no sign but serves exquisitely presented bento lunches featuring seasonal produce and fresh seafood sourced locally.

Enjoy your meal outdoors on the covered deck and take in the sea views.

NOON Though many recommend having lunch at Shima Kitchen, a restaurant designed by architect Ryo Abe, a more scenic option is the white-barn structure on the right side of the road as you bike back to Ieura Port.

This restaurant on the sea,

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1PM Before heading back to Naoshima, stop by Il Vento, a café decked out in psychedelic colors and geometric patterns. It’s actually an art installation

by German artist Tobias Rehberger entitled Was du liebst, bringt dich auch zum weinen. If you buy a cup of coffee, you can enter for free.

PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES (MAIN); INSETS(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT): CHRISTIAN BOLTANSKI “LES ARCHIVES DU COEUR" PHOTO: KUGE YASUHIDE, TESHIMA ART MUSEUM PHOTO: KEN'ICHI SUZUKI, ART HOUSE PROJECT “KADOYA” PHOTO: NORIHIRO UENO, SHINRO OHTAKE NAOSHIMA BATH “I♥湯” PHOTO:OSAMU WATANABE

First Out of of theOsaka festivals

1.30PM Take the ferry back to Miyanoura Port on Naoshima and transfer to the Naoshima Town bus bound for Honmura Port (Nokyo-mae stop). It’s home to the ANDO MUSEUM and the Art House Project.

The latter consists of seven sites where empty houses and a shrine have been transformed into art.

Included is a work by Ando called Minamidera that showcases an installation

by Turrell. As the houses

Naoshima Bath “I Love YU”, an unusual sento (public bathhouse) featuring funky pop art.

are scattered throughout a residential area, the focus is less on the blending of nature and art than on how art is an integral part of everyday life. Tickets are available at Honmura Lounge & Archive.

4.30PM Right next door to Naoshima Bath, enjoy a craft beer (or two) at Shioya Diner, a kitschy rock ’n’ rollthemed restaurant adorned with retro furniture and vintage Americana.

3.30PM Take the Naoshima Town bus back to Miyanoura Port and head straight to

Cebu Pacific flies to Osaka from Manila. www.cebupacificair.com

5PM Before taking the ferry back to Uno Port and embarking on the three-hour journey back to Osaka, stop by the 007 Museum by the Marine Station. The museum, filled with James Bond posters and memorabilia, commemorates the 007 novel The Man with the Red Tattoo by Raymond Benson, part of which is set in Naoshima. Grab a free fan on your way out as a souvenir of your epic weekend of art.

Eye-catching Teshima vista.

(Facing page, from left): Les Archives du Coeur by Christian Boltanski; Teshima Art Museum; Kadoya, one of the Art House Project venues in Honmura; inside Naoshima Bath “I Love YU”.

For more information, visit www. benesse-artiste.jp/en/

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NATURAL BORN THRILLERS From tandem paragliding to rainforest trekking, easy-to-reach Bogor, just an hour by train from Jakarta, dishes up a healthy dose of the wild side. Edgar Alan Zeta-Yap hikes, climbs and flies in the great West Java outdoors

Beyo nd Jakarta

Writer Edgar Alan Zeta-Yap, in the wild

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Beyo nd Jakarta

Clockwise: Taking flight over the hills of Bogor; view from on high; gearing up; rest stop near the launch pad

My heartbeat was so loud that I half expected my pre-flight instructor to tell me he could hear it. Once the cold metal buckles of the body harness were firmly fastened and I was suited up like a superhero, my chest swelled with courage. However, my confidence crumbled as soon as the instructor began giving me a final briefing.

“Just walk…” he said, his voice trailing off. “And run?” I asked, hoping for more substantial instructions.

Clear, substantial instructions are just the sort of thing you’d need if you were, as I was at that moment, standing on a cliff edge, the mountain mists below.

“Yah, run, can also, sure, ” he mumbled.

From the sidelines, a couple of friends I’d made earlier in my trip began yelling: “See you in Bandung!”

That morning, we’d decided to look on as a few brave souls in tandem paragliders launched themselves from a mountaintop. Not long after I’d resolved to give it a go, my palms began sweating. Soon, with my pilot strapped behind me, I was racing towards

oblivion. After a few seconds of walking and running — not to mention yelling — we took to the skies.

Caught in a sudden updraft, our bright orange paraglider quickly gained altitude. We soared 200m above Puncak Pass, a popular highland resort area located 80km south of Jakarta.

The highway my friends and I had traveled along earlier looked like a ribbon of asphalt running past vast tea plantations set on the fertile slopes of two nearby volcanos. I felt utterly

We soared 200m above Puncak Pass, a popular highland resort area located 80km south of Jakarta 65

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liberated from Jakarta’s infamous traffic jams.

As soon as we landed in a grassy clearing, the call to afternoon prayer rang out from a nearby mosque. We had been airborne for no more than 10 minutes but it felt like an hour. My feet were back on terra firma, but my heart remained soaring high above.

Who’d have expected a trip to the tea plantations to end up delivering such an adrenaline rush?

Beyo nd Jakarta

Clockwise from above, left: field hands; Bogor Botanical Gardens; yellow orchids; rafflesia patma

FLOWER POWER Linked to Jakarta by rail, Bogor sits at the center of the regency that shares its name. It’s best known as the home of one of the world’s oldest and largest botanical gardens and for its notoriously wet weather (it’s nicknamed the “City of Rain” for good reason). Home to tea estates and two national parks, Bogor regency is the ideal destination for a day trip or weekend getaway. After spending a few days in the seething Indonesian capital, I made my way out of Jalan Jaksa, the popular backpacker haunt, and hopped on the next commuter train south to this relatively laid-back region.

I began my trip on a relaxed note, strolling around its verdant heart: Kebun Raya Bogor (Bogor Botanical Gardens), which is just a few minutes

on foot from the train station. Bogor’s answer to New York City’s Central Park, this 87ha tropical green space is a true oasis, free from the buzz of motorcycles and angkots (minibuses).

Occupying a man-made forest dating back to the 15th-century Sunda Kingdom, the gardens were established by the Dutch East India Company in 1744 and re-landscaped by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles from 1811 to 1815, during the British occupation of the Dutch East Indies. In 1862, Kebun Raya Cibodas (Cibodas Botanical Gardens) was established by Dutch botanists as an annex within present-day Mount Gede Pangrango National Park, 45km from the city.

I spent the entire afternoon wandering Bogor’s gardens, which contain more than 15,000 species of 67

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trees and plants, including a 60m-tall, century-old pohon raja (tualang tree), a Mexican garden of spiny cacti and succulents and greenhouses containing more than 3,000 orchid species. Also here are some of the world’s rarest and largest blooms, like rafflesia patma and the spectacular but foul-smelling titan arum, aptly called bunga bangkai or “corpse flower” in Bahasa Indonesia.

Later, I wandered over to the garden’s north-west corner via the gardens’s exterior perimeter to admire the Istana Bogor (presidential palace).

It was established as a rural retreat for Dutch governors and rebuilt in 1856 after suffering severe damage in an earthquake caused by the eruption of Mount Salak. The magnificent lawn fronting the palace serves as a pasture for hundreds of spotted deer, whose ancestors were brought in from mainland Asia in the early 19th century to serve as the quarry of sport hunters.

Evidently, at least a few of them managed to evade their intended fate.

As the day drew to a close, I joined a few families gathered near the perimeter fence who were happily feeding the deer water spinach purchased from a sidewalk vendor.

Beyo nd Jakarta

Clockwise: Deer on the grounds of Istana Bogor; West Javan gibbon; green forest lizard; colorful grasshopper

A JUNGLE OUT THERE My garden stroll was the perfect warm up for more hiking. The following day, a friend named Taufan arranged a visit to one of the national parks outside the city. Two of his mountaineer pals, Anto and Andhina, shuttled us on their motorbikes to the trailhead in Cidahu village, located in the neighboring regency of Sukabumi.

The trail is fairly easy, taking hikers through dense jungle to Kawah Ratu, the low-lying volcanic crater of Mount Salak. It’s one of two peaks that make up Mount Halimun Salak National Park.

Covering more than 400km2, the park is the largest remaining primary lowland forest in Java, a refuge for endangered species such as the West Javan gibbon, Javan lutung (a type of monkey) and Javan leopard.

Trained in jungle survival, Andhina showed us edible wild plants along the way. She broke off the moist and fleshy stem of a pink-flowered begonia growing along the trail. “It tastes just like belimbing,” she said, using the Malay word for star fruit. I peeled the stem and popped it in my mouth, savoring its sour taste.

After hiking for three hours at a leisurely pace, the whiff of sulfur from a gurgling mud hole signaled the start of our descent to the crater. We stopped at a spot overlooking the barren valley

to prepare our lunch of grilled-cheese sandwiches and mie goreng, which Andhina served “jungle-style” — with a sprinkling of edible ferns. The freshly picked greens perfectly complemented the spicy and flavorful fried noodles.

Our simple feast on the volcano was a delightful surprise.

After the hike, I felt truly relaxed. We were back on the highway, motoring towards the city, when Taufan pointed skywards. “Look! Paragliders!” he exclaimed. So much for relaxation.

Cebu Pacific flies to Jakarta from Manila. www.cebupacificair.com 68

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Getting there Bogor City is an hour by train from Gondangdia Station in Jakarta or two hours by DAMRI bus from SoekarnoHatta International Airport.

To reach destinations outside the city center, catch a ride on an angkot (minibus) or rent a car with a driver. For further assistance, visit the Bogor Tourist Information Centre (tel: +62 878 7351 7368) at Taman Topi, near Bogor Train Station. Open daily from 9am to 7pm.

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directory LISTINGS AND PARTNER PROMOTIONS

HOPE FLOATS Photo shared by reader Edilberto Magpayo “I saw this kid while on the Baywalk in Puerto Princesa. He was using an improvised boat made from sacks filled with polystyrene foam. His paddle was fashioned out of a wooden stick and a scrap of plywood. He smiled when I asked if I could take his photo. I took it as a ‘yes’.”

SNAP & WIN!

Send an amazing travel photo and your story together with your full name and contact details to smile.snapshot@ink-global.com for a chance to win PHP3,000 worth of Ever Bilena products.

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Directory A jewel of a hotel With Koronadal emerging as a preferred destination for tourists and investors, the launch of FB Hotel and Convention Center in the capital of South Cotabato is exciting news. The very first deluxe hotel in Koronadal, which is popularly known as “Marbel”, FB Hotel and Convention Center on Alunan Avenue is strategically located within one of the city’s most vibrant commercial and business districts. It’s close to malls and places of worship. The spanking new property features 51 rooms varying in size from 28m2 to 40m2. All are equipped with modern amenities such as cable channel-ready LED TVs and AV equipment. Another major highlight of the hotel is Berlin Café, an all-day-dining restaurant that serves local and international fare to up to 100 guests at a time. fbhotel.com.ph

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Dress up your suitcase in a LOQI luggage cover. Made from 85% polyester and 15% spandex, these flexible, German-made sheaths stretch over your bag to give it an instant makeover. With a material strength of 310gsm, each is thick enough to protect your bag’s outer shell. With designs inspired by the world’s greatest cities, chic patterns and quirky illustrations, there’s a LOQI luggage cover for travelers of every personality. LOQI Luggage Cover, PHP1,450 (medium) and PHP1,750 (large). Available at Urbanize Gateway & Shangrila; Pochi by P+G Design, Megafashion Hall, Megamall; The Travel Club Stores; Tripologie and Fashion Rack NAIA Terminal 3.

Whether you’re frustrated with post-acne dark spots or hyperpigmentation, here’s something to get your skin in the clear.

Mores White Booster is a daily moisturizer that also works as a night cream to target those pesky dark spots. This intensive whitening and collagen booster employs the latest Double Phytocell Technology from Plant Stem Cell to strengthen your skin barrier and protect epidermal skin cells from environmental stress. Enjoy Mores White Boosters promotion — quote ‘MoresxCP’ to enjoy a 10% discount on Mores White Booster.

Tel: +65 8369 4881; info@bebeblanc.com.sg, www.bebeblanc.com.sg 73

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Directory

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Serenitea has just opened its doors in Davao City. The innovative tea room that took Manila by storm now serves its range of freshly brewed teas, milk teas, fruiteas and ice-cream teas to residents of the Durian capital of the Philippines.

Drop by for a refreshing tea break at Serenitea, Victoria Plaza Complex, JP Laurel Ave., Bajada, Davao City. www.iloveserenitea.com

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Knead a business idea?

Invest in vending massage chairs. That’s the bright idea behind Positive Living Station’s business model. Operating in many malls, the company offers a service (instant massages for mall-goers) and sells massage chairs. To date, Positive Living Station has 14 company-owned outlets at SM Malls across Luzon and six franchisees in Luzon and Mindanao. The secrets to its success? Affordable services and the vending massage chairs themselves, says Joshua Yong, Positive Living Station’s head of operations. As one of the major players in the vending massage-chair sector, the company continues to dominate the market on the strength of its dedication to quality and a unique business concept. “We’re the only corporation and the pioneer in the Philippines offering franchises for the vending massage chair-kiosk business,” Yong says. His business is a member of the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) and the Filipino International Franchise Association (FIFA).

Yong foresees penetrating the Visayan market next year, with outlets set to open in Davao, Cebu and other major cities across the country. “If everything goes smoothly, in two years maybe we can explore the international market.”

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trip journal GUIDES TO CEBU PACIFIC DESTINATIONS

DOMESTIC

INTERNATIONAL

Our local guides offer some handy ideas on how to enjoy each of Cebu Pacific’s 32 destinations within the Philippines

Check out what to do, what to see, what to eat and where to go in Cebu Pacific’s 28 international destinations

PHOTO BY CORBIS

Spot a geisha! Turn to page 85 for guides to Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka

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international trip journal

Bandar Seri Begawan

Sydney

Area code +61 (2) Touchdown Kingsford Smith International Airport Get to town via taxi, train

For a luxurious stay, try the Four Seasons Hotel, located near Circular Quay and The Rocks. Ride a ferry from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay and have lunch at Doyles on the Beach restaurant for the best seafood and fish and chips in town, complemented by panoramic views of Sydney Harbour.

Area code +673 Touchdown Brunei International Airport Get to town via taxi, bus, hotel shuttle

Check in at Traders Inn on Jalan Gadong, which is near the airport.

At night, head to Taman Selera, where you’ll find hawker stalls that offer fresh seafood prepared to your specifications. Be sure to visit the Royal Regalia Building.

Ara Fatima C. Algar assistant professor

Maricris Espinosa web content producer

DID YOU KNOW?

STARTING FEBRUARY 13, THERE WILL BE CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS AT DARLING HARBOUR'S CHINESE GARDEN OF FRIENDSHIP IN SYDNEY.

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international trip journal

Siem Reap

Beijing Bird's Nest Stadium

Area code +855 (63) Touchdown Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport Get to town via tuk-tuk, hotel shuttle, taxi

Stay at La Villa Coloniale, a romantic, French-colonial boutique hotel tucked away on a quiet road close to the temples. Hire a tuk-tuk and visit the smaller temples: Banteay Srei (aka the pink temple), Beng Mealea and Banteay Samré.

Area code +86 (10) Touchdown Beijing Capital International Airport Get to town via taxi, train, hotel shuttle

Sample Peking duck in five separate dishes at Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant (Wangfujing St).

Go to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Ride the open cable car going up, then take the toboggan ride back down. Shop at the Silk Market in Xiushui Dongjie, Chaoyangmen District.

Monica B. Santiago educator / personality development program director

DID YOU KNOW?

Melanie Prado-Tumampos senior marketing manager

THE BIRD'S NEST STADIUM — THE MAIN STADIUM USED IN THE 2008 BEIJING OLYMPICS — WAS DESIGNED BY A TEAM OF SWISS AND CHINESE ARCHITECTS.

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international trip journal

Guangzhou

Area code +86 (20) Touchdown Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Get to town via shuttle bus, taxi

Check out Chimelong Xiangjiang Safari Park, the biggest animal theme park in Asia, and then catch the Chimelong International Circus, a 90-minute show. Shop ’til you drop in the commercial area of Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street, which ends at Shifu Road.

Shanghai

Area code +86 (21) Touchdown Shanghai Pudong International Airport Transport from airport taxi, maglev, bus, hotel service

The best way to get to town from the airport is via Metro Line 2, stopping at Longyang Road Station and transferring to the Maglev Train; it’s convenient and a time saver. Visit Yongkang Lu for drinks at night and to experience the energy of Shanghai.

Jocelyn Chan Kue founder and business director of NetBooster

Jojie Alcantara travel photojournalist

DID YOU KNOW?

MAGLEV IS AN ABBREVIATION FOR MAGNETIC LEVITATION, A MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION USING ELECTROMAGNETS.

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international trip journal

Xiamen

Hong Kong

Macau

Ride a gondola at The Venetian Area code +86 (592) Touchdown Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Get to town via Airport shuttle bus, public bus, taxi

Head to Haicang District and cycle along coastal Haicang Avenue and Haicang Lake. The district has a public bike-sharing system. Biking is free for the first hour and is only CNY1 (PHP7) per hour after that. If you have time, visit Gulangyu Island, aka Piano Island.

Area code +852 Touchdown Hong Kong International Airport Get to town via bus, MTR, taxi

Hop on the double-decker city bus for a glimpse of Hong Kong ’s top sites. Buy an Octopus Card at the airport for ease of travel around the city and in parts of the mainland. Grab a quick bite at Eat Together, a restaurant chain with branches citywide.

Shop to your heart ’s content in Mongkok.

Area code +853 Touchdown Macau International Airport Get to town via bus, taxi

Go on a sightseeing tour and experience the fusion of ChinesePortuguese culture. It’s easy to forget you’re in Asia when walking the city’s streets. Make a point of visiting St Dominic’s Square and the Ruins of St Paul’s.

Clayton Wood

Liz Reyes

Francis Gonzaga

web developer / photographer

entrepreneur

DID YOU KNOW?

managing partner — TrueLogic Online Solutions, Inc.

MACAU BUSINESSMAN STANLEY HO WAS INSPIRED TO BUILD MACAU TOWER AFTER HE VISITED AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND’S SKY TOWER.

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international trip journal

Bali

Jakarta

Area code +62 (36) Touchdown Ngurah Rai International Airport Get to town via taxi

Area code +62 (21) Touchdown Jakarta (SoekarnoHatta) International Airport Get to town via bus, shuttle car, taxi

Book a pool villa at Astana Kunti in Seminyak.

Have brunch at Sea Circus or sample the local fare at Made’s Warung. Head out to Uluwatu to catch the sunset and the surfers. If you have more time, head to Ubud for a dose of art and culture.

You can shop for pasalubong there, too.

Stay at The Hermitage (Jln Cilacap, Menteng), a luxurious hotel housed in a colonial building in Central Jakarta.

Dine at Tugu Kunstkring Paleis in Menteng, a semi fine-dining restaurant that serves Indonesian cuisine.

Get your caffeine fix at Giyanti Coffee Roastery.

Kim Pelayo

Vira Zoelfikar travel writer / co-owner of indohoy.com

financial advisor

DID YOU KNOW?

INDONESIA IS AMONG THE WORLD’S TOP FIVE LEADING PRODUCERS AND EXPORTERS OF COFFEE.

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international trip journal

Tokyo

Nagoya

Osaka Osaka Castle

Area code +81 (3) Touchdown Narita International Airport Get to town via Narita Express (N’EX train)

Area code +81 (52) Touchdown Chubu Centrair International Airport Get to town via train (Meitetsu Airport Line and μSKY), bus, taxi and rental car

Area code +81 (6) Touchdown Kansai International Airport Get to town via taxi, train, bus

Visit Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum and make your own cup noodles.

For a history fix, visit the famous Meiji Shrine in Shibuya. It’s the capital’s largest Shinto shrine.

And check out the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno.

Explore Nagoya by taking the Me-guru Tour.

See the autumn leaves at Nagoya Higashiyama Zoo, the Botanical Gardens and Nagoya Castle. For good eats, try Nagoya-meshi for Nagoya Cochin chicken, misonikomi (noodles in miso broth) and curry udon.

Book a room at either Frasier Residence Nankai or Hotel Trusty Shinsaibashi. Try delicious Japanese dishes like okonomiyaki (savory pancake) at Fugetsu, ramen at Ippudo and sushi at Daiki Suisan Sushi-GoRound.

Christina Lauder B. Advincula

Ana Leah D. Young

Dennis Lim

student / senior writer

housewife

online video specialist

DID YOU KNOW?

THE NAVITIME JAPAN TRAVEL APP WILL HELP YOU NAVIGATE TOKYO’S EXTENSIVE RAILWAY NETWORK. IT’S AVAILABLE FOR IOS AND ANDROID PHONES.

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international trip journal

Seoul

Busan

Kuwait Kuwait Towers

Area code +82 (2) Touchdown Incheon International Airport Get to town via AREX (train), limousine bus, taxi

Area code +82 (51) Touchdown Gimhae Busan International Airport Get to town via train, taxi, bus

Area code +965 Touchdown Kuwait International Airport Get to town via taxi, bus

Stay at Nine Tree Hotel, which is located in the shopping district of Myeongdong. Take time to visit the city’s most famous landmarks: Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace, Changgyeong Palace, Deoksu Palace and Jongmyo, Korea’s oldest royal shrine. There are English-speaking tour guides at all of these places.

Visit Gamcheon Cultural Village, a colorful place also known as “Santorini of the East” and “Lego Village”. Go to Gwangbokdong Food Street and sample local dishes like bibim dangmyeon (cellophane noodles). Head to Jagalchi Fish Market, where you can dine on and purchase fresh seafood.

Stay at Holiday Inn Kuwait (kuwait-hi.com) on Al Blajat St, Salmiyah.

Sample Arabic cuisine at Mais Alghanim on Arabian Gulf Street. Check out Entertainment City, Kuwait’s main amusement park, located in Doha on the Gulf. Go shopping at 360 Mall, The Avenues Mall and Al-Hamra Tower Mall.

Mai Ilagan

Fatima S. Idul employee

Andie Andros

entrepreneur

DID YOU KNOW?

planning engineer

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT KOREA IS IN THE SPRING, AT THE ONSET OF CHERRY-BLOSSOM SEASON, WHICH RUNS FROM LATE MARCH TO MID APRIL.

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international trip journal

Kuala Lumpur

Kota Kinabalu

Singapore Marina Bay Sands

Area code +60 (3) Touchdown Kuala Lumpur International Airport Get to town via train, bus, taxi

Head to Jalan Alor and sample local fare like nasi lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk) or roti canai (flatbread) paired with teh tarik (pulled milk tea). Schedule visits to the Petronas Twin Towers, Batu Caves, Thean Hou Temple and Merdeka Square. Got more time? Take a trip to Putrajaya to see Putra Mosque.

Jefrey Ann R. Sapilan-Mallari

Area code +60 (88) Touchdown Kota Kinabalu International Airport Get to town via bus, taxi

Aside from climbing Mount Kinabalu, a visit to the Mari Mari Cultural Village (marimariculturalvillage. com) is worth your while.

You can also go to Lok Kawi Wildlife Park (www. lokkawiwildlifepark.com), or go on an island-hopping tour at Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.

Area code +65 Touchdown Singapore Changi International Airport Get to town via MRT, bus, taxi

Try sumptuous seafood dishes like crab claypot bee hoon at Mellben Seafood. Enjoy a night out at the bars of Emerald Hill on Orchard Road. It’s a strip of heritage buildings converted into bars. Grab a beer and dance to live music or wind down with a glass of wine.

Jun De Guzman

Lualhati Perez

businessman

tourism consultant

entrepreneur

DID YOU KNOW?

YOU CAN TOUR KUALA LUMPUR FOR FREE BY RIDING THE GO KL CITY BUS. WWW.GOKL.COM.MY

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international trip journal

Dammam

Riyadh

Area code +966 (11) Touchdown King Khaled International Airport Get to town via taxi, bus, rental car

Area code +966 (13) Touchdown Dammam King Fahd International Airport Get to town via taxi, bus (if you’re on a tour package)

Get comfortable at Radisson Blu Riyadh. Its restaurant, Brasserie on Four, serves a breakfast buffet where guests can savor global fusion and Pan-Arabian fare.

Najd Village Restaurant also serves traditional Saudi Arabian cuisine. Visit Ad’Diriyah and go on a desert safari at the Red Sand Dunes.

Dammam is halloudie (halal foodie) heaven!

There are plenty of dining options but your best bet is to go where the locals eat. Visit Tarut Castle, an island east of Qatif. Check out King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Recreation Park and King Fahad Park.

Boris Buenavista business systems analyst

Irene Benitez nurse

DID YOU KNOW?

TWO OF ISLAM'S HOLIEST SHRINES, MECCA AND MEDINA, ARE BOTH LOCATED IN SAUDI ARABIA.

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international trip journal

Bangkok

Phuket

Area code +66 (2) Touchdown Suvarnabhumi International Airport Get to town via taxi, train

Area code +66 (76) Touchdown Phuket International Airport Get to town via taxi, tuk-tuk, van, bus

Savor delicious pad thai and try the ubiquitous mango sticky rice, which you can buy from street vendors or at Chatuchak Market. If you have more time, experience an elephant ride in Ayutthaya or go for a dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya River.

Hire a tour guide for the day and explore the island. Check out Promthep Cape, the Big Buddha, Wat Chalong and the colonial buildings in the old city center.

Alternatively, go on an island-hopping tour or just head to the beach and relax.

Amy O. Palisoc

Jerome Velasquez

VP for corporate planning

group head — field operations

DID YOU KNOW?

AYUTTHAYA SERVED AS THE CAPITAL OF SIAM FOR 417 YEARS. AT ITS PEAK, IT HAD A POPULATION OF MORE THAN 1 MILLION.

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international trip journal

Taipei

YOUR HOME

BY THE UNDERGROUND RIVER.

Dubai

DALUYON BEACH AND MOUNTAIN RESORT SABANG BEACH, BRGY. CABAYUGAN, PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN

HAPPY VALENTINE’S

Area code +886 (2) Touchdown Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Get to town via bus, taxi, Taiwan High Speed Railway (THSR)

Go to Danshui and try the wide range of street food, from grilled squid to a 2ft high icecream cone. Enjoy a 360˚ view of the city from Taipei 101. If time permits, go to Yangmingshan National Park, about an hour from the city, to see the beautiful gardens.

Area code +971 Touchdown Dubai International Airport Get to town via taxi, metro, bus

Check out the Dubai Mall Fountain and Light Show, which happens every night at intervals; a great photo opportunity awaits. For gastronomic discoveries, head to Madinat Souk and Souk Al Bahar.

Jude R. Gabriel

T: ++6 633..48 48.4 .433 33.6 .633779 F:: ++6 F 63.

3.48 48.443344..1111774 M::+6 M +63.

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3.91 9177..82 826 826 6..99 998 899

marketing executive

Noel L. Aguado landscape designer

DID YOU KNOW?

SKI DUBAI AT THE EMIRATES MALL IS THE THIRD LARGEST INDOOR SKI SLOPE IN THE WORLD AT 400M. IT BOASTS 6,000 TONS OF SNOW.

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www.daluyonbeachandmountainresort.com inquire@daluyonresort.com

international trip journal

Hanoi

Ho Chi Minh City

Area code +84 (4) Touchdown Noi Bai International Airport Get to town via airport taxi, hotel service

Area code +84 (8) Touchdown Tan Son Nhat International Airport Get to town via taxi

There are plenty of accommodation options in the Old Quarter.

Check in at Hanoi Central Backpackers (16 Ly Quoc Su St), which is a good place to meet other travelers. In the early evening, hit the streets and join the locals as they enjoy nuoc (drinks).

Stay at the Signature Hotel (Nguyen Thai Binh St), which is just a few blocks from Ben Thanh Market and a block from “antique street.”

Try Vietnamese dishes at Cục Gạch Quán, which serves coconut juice with kangkong stalks as straws!

Joseph Ian Macalino

Mylene Dolonius

backpacker / blogger

CEO

DID YOU KNOW?

THE FLAG OF VIETNAM WAS FIRST USED IN A REVOLT AGAINST THE FRENCH IN 1945. THE RED REPRESENTS REVOLUTION AND THE STAR STANDS FOR THE FIVE MAIN CLASSES IN VIETNAMESE SOCIETY.

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philippines trip journal

Cauayan

Laoag

Area code 78 Touchdown Cauayan Airport Get to town via tricycle, bus, jeepney

Area code 77 Touchdown Laoag International Airport Get to town via Sirib bus, tricycle, jeepney, pre-arranged rental van, hotel shuttle

Take a side trip to Ilagan Sanctuary, where you can ride a thrilling zipline. Other attractions include a mini zoo, botanical garden and butterfly sanctuary. Back in Cauayan City, make sure to sample the crispy lechon at Ramos Lechon and the pork bicol express at Kusina Kawayan.

Enjoy Ilocano dishes like crispy bagnet and empanada (a meat pie filled with local sausage and egg).

Take a tour of Ilocos Norte and kick back on Pagudpud’s beaches, trek to Kabigan Falls or ride a 4x4 at the La Paz Sand Dunes. Got more time? Head to Vigan and stroll along Calle Crisologo.

Camille Antoinette B. Ramos

Rommel L. Valenzuela history teacher / tour coordinator

student

DID YOU KNOW?

PAOAY CHURCH FEATURES EARTHQUAKE BAROQUESTYLE ARCHITECTURE.

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CAUAYAN IMAGE: SAMUEL DE LEON; LAOAG IMAGE: LESTER LEDESMA

Paoay Church

philippines trip journal

Manila

Clark

MANILA & CLARK IMAGES: LESTER LEDESMA

Area code 2 Touchdown Ninoy Aquino International Airport Get to town via taxi

Stroll through Rizal Park then head to the nearby National Museum. To get a good grasp of Filipino culture, book a three-hour walking tour of Intramuros with Carlos Celdran.

Eat at 100 Revolving Restaurant, whose owner is local culinary icon Jessie Sincioco.

Tuguegarao

Area code 45 Touchdown Clark International (Diosdado Macapagal) Airport Get to town via bus, airport shuttle, jeepney

Go wakeboarding in Deca Wake Park Clark or enjoy a day at Alviera Sandbox in Porac, where you can brave the roller coaster zipline or try wall climbing.

While in Porac, you should also go hiking at Miyamit Falls. Back in Clark, dine at Koko Buri and sample its yummy chunky clam soup.

Visit the newly renovated St Peter’s Metropolitan Cathedral in the heart of the city.

Check out Callao Caves in Peñablaca and the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat.

Hang out at Barako Boy Coffee Shop. Try the garlic longganisa and carabeef.

Kiwee Reyes businesswoman

Nica Gopez Maan Pamaran

Area code 78 Touchdown Tuguegarao Airport Get to town via tricycle

web developer

journalist

DID YOU KNOW?

THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE OF ST PETER'S METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL IN TUGUEGARAO WAS COMPLETED IN 1768.

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NAGA IMAGE: RAYMOND CALACDAY; LEGAZPI IMAGE: LESTER LEDESMA

Naga

Virac

Legazpi

Area code 54 Touchdown Naga Airport Get to town via taxi, hotel shuttle, van, jeepney, tricycle

Area code 52 Touchdown Virac Airport Get to town via tricycle, hotel shuttle, UV Express, rental car/van

Area code 52 Touchdown Legazpi Airport Get to town via taxi, tricycle, jeepney

Hop from one resto to another along Magsaysay Avenue. Try Filipino favorites like crispy pata and kare-kare at Bob Marlin or western eats like baby back ribs at Bigg’s Diner. Visit historical landmarks and cultural attractions such as the Plaza Quince Martires and San Francisco Church.

Go fishing at Kuripdas Lagoon & Beach Resort, trekking at Hicming Falls or surfing in Puraran, Baras.

Satisfy your hunger at Café de Au with its binalot meals and freshly brewed coffee or try the seafood dishes at Seabreeze Restaurant. Both are on Salvación Street.

For authentic Bicolano cuisine, SibidSibid Food Park is the place to go. It’s a small, fisherman-inspired eatery that serves buko sinigang, lato (seaweed), seafood kare-kare and more. Get a good view of the Mayon Volcano at Mayon Skyline View Deck, also known as Mayon Rest House.

Ada R. Arcilla government employee

Mariefe Maralit

Sonnie A. Ramos

corporate foundation executive director / tourism officer

CPA / professor

EXPERIENCE A LIFE UNCOMMON

The Residences at Commonwealth by Century

www.commonwealthbycentury.com

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philippines trip journal

Area code 48 Touchdown Puerto Princesa International Airport Get to town via tricycle, multicab, van

Try the fireflywatching tour at the Iwahig River or swim with the whale sharks (seasonal: April to July only) at Honda Bay. For a five-star experience, stay at Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa. Book a water villa; the rates are lower than the average rates for water villas in Palawan.

Busuanga

San Jose

Area code 48 Touchdown Francisco B. Reyes (Busuanga) Airport Get to town via van, hotel shuttle

Visit famed Kayangan Lake to go for a dip.

Got more time? Visit Calauit Safari Park, where you can feed the giraffes, take photos with the Calamian deer and scope out the zebras among other things. For customized souvenir shirts, check out Hilltop Printshoppe on the National Highway.

White House Safari Lodge is a five-minute tricycle ride from the airport and is right on the beach. Aroma Café serves the best breakfasts in the area; order the boneless bangus or another rice-andfried-egg meal. Got more time? Head to Apo Reef.

Mark Chino Pantua

Michelle Tiotangco Kimpearl Licup

Area code 43 Touchdown San Jose Airport Get to town via tricycle

entrepreneur / hotelier

sales and marketing manager / businesswoman

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social media consultant

PUERTO PRINCESA IMAGE: LESTER LEDESMA; BUSUANGE IMAGE: AL LINSANGAN; SAN JOSE IMAGE: GEORGE CABIG

Puerto Princesa

philippines trip journal

Bacolod

Area code 33 Touchdown Iloilo International Airport Get to town via taxi, van

Go Hotels has clean rooms.

Rates are affordable and the location is superb: it’s right beside Robinson’s Iloilo. Try a genuine local specialty at Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy, branches of which are found in most malls and at La Paz Market. Beyond that, Deco’s serves good batchoy and puto.

Area code 34 Touchdown Bacolod-Silay Airport Get to town via shuttle van, taxi

Check in at Avenue Suites, a boutique hotel on Lacson Street. Don’t leave the city without eating at Bob’s Restaurant, Bacolod’s pride for delicious Filipino cuisine. No visit would be complete without posing for a photo with the ruins as the backdrop. For sweet-tooth cravings, drop by Calea.

Romel M. Torre banker / travel blogger

Genee Guy manager, Galilei Ristorante Italiano

DID YOU KNOW?

ILOILO WAS ONCE CALLED IRONG-IRONG IN HONOR OF THE BORNEAN DATU PAIBURONG, ITS RULER.

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ILOILO AND BACOLOD IMAGES: LESTER LEDESMA

Iloilo

philippines trip journal

Kalibo

Roxas

Area code 36 Touchdown Godofredo P. Ramos (Caticlan) Airport Get to town via tricycle to Caticlan Jetty Port then boat to Boracay Island

Area code 36 Touchdown Kalibo International Airport Get to town via tricycle, shuttle/van, bus, jeepney

Aside from chilling out, try driving an ATV to Mt Luho, cliff diving at Ariel’s Point and parasailing. Join the Boracay PubCrawl to party and meet new friends. Want a snack? Try the calamansi muffin at Real Coffee & Tea Café. For affordable meals, head to D’Mall market.

Sample local fare at Saylo Cuisine, RML Manokan Haus Kamayan or Niño’s Ihaw-Ihaw. Visit Bakhawan Eco-Park, where you can give the mangrove woodworm delicacy known as tamilok a try. Staying longer? Take a side trip to Hurom-Hurom Cold Spring.

Area code 36 Touchdown Roxas City Airport Get to town via tricycle, taxi

Kapis Mansions Hotel (www. kapismansions. com) on Banica Road has elegantly designed rooms. Take a stroll along the beach, which is just five to 10 minutes from the city proper. Explore the restaurants on the boulevard, where you can enjoy all manner of seafood.

Alix Reyes Aileen Vedad

Al Patrick E. Deocampo

business consultant

nurse / sales coordinator

entrepreneur / lifestyle and travel blogger

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KALIBO & ROXAS IMAGES: LESTER LEDESMA

Caticlan

philippines trip journal

Cebu

Tacloban

Area code 32 Touchdown Mactan-Cebu International Airport Get to town via taxi, multi-cab, van

Stay at either Abaca Boutique Resort or ShangriLa Mactan Resort & Spa. Rent a boat for island-hopping and ask the boatmen to take you to Olango Island for lunch.

Make sure to get all your beach essentials at Cabana in Banilad Town Center. In the city, go to Maya for dinner and late-night mojitos. Try the fish tacos and lechon kawali.

Area code 78 Touchdown Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport Get to town via taxi, tricycle, jeepney

Savor freshly grilled goodness at Ocho Seafood Grill or get a taste of local fare at Sanzibar. Walk along San Juanico Bridge and visit Sto. Niño Shrine.

Got more time? Check out other beaches in Leyte such as Tanauan, Baybay and Kuting Reef.

Irene Chiu lawyer

KD Syiaco-Tiu

DID YOU KNOW?

THE ISLAND OF CEBU STRETCHES 225KM FROM NORTH TO SOUTH.

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CEBU IMAGE: LESTER LEDESMA

entrepreneur

philippines trip journal

Dumaguete

Area code 35 Touchdown Dumaguete (Sibulan) Airport Get to town via van, tricycle, taxi

Be sure to dine at Lab-as Restaurant, which serves top-drawer seafood and delicious Dumaguete express. Don’t miss snorkeling with the sea turtles off Apo Island.

The island, which is a short ferry ride from the city, is home to a stellar marine sanctuary.

Tagbilaran

Area code 38 Touchdown Tagbilaran Airport Get to town via tricycle, van, hotel shuttle

Eat at Bohol Bee Farm Resort and Restaurant and treat yourself to healthy and organic food. Enjoy a lunch or dinner cruise on the Loboc River, a tour of the Chocolate Hills and a visit to the Tarsier Conservation Area. Bring home some Peanut Kisses and kalamay (a sticky rice treat).

Tandag

Area code 86 Touchdown Tandag City Airport Get to town via tricycle

Stay at Shacene Pension House and Restaurant, where room rates start at 550 per night. Hit Tandag Boulevard to sample freshly grilled seafood.

Head to Cagwait White Beach, which is less than 30 minutes from the city, or to the Britania Group of Islands in San Agustin.

Rochelle Tan Arnie Misajon

corporate pilot

Glen Santillan

TANDAG IMAGE: LESTER LEDESMA

COO, DevKinetics Inc.

DID YOU KNOW?

freelance HR consultant / travel blogger

TOUCHING AND LOUD NOISE CAN TRAUMATIZE A TARSIER AND MAY CAUSE THEM TO COMMIT SUICIDE.

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Ozamiz

OZAMIZ & ZAMBOANGA IMAGES: LESTER LEDESMA; PAGADIAN IMAGE: EDGAR ALAN ZETA YAP

Area code 88 Touchdown Ozamiz Airport (Labo Airport) Get to town via motorcycle

Pagadian

Zamboanga

Area code 62 Touchdown Pagadian Domestic Airport Get to town via tricycle

Either check in at the highend Executive Hotel on Gallardo Street or the Palace Hotel on Rizal Avenue for budgetfriendly accommodations.

Visit Cotta Shrine near the pier and say a prayer as you light a candle for your intentions.

Relax at Alindahaw Lakeview Resort. Take a boat ride to Dao Dao Island, which is within easy reach of the city, where you can go for a quick swim or have a picnic by the beach. Satisfy your hunger at Big J’s Grill on Rizal Avenue.

Edna C. Calope

Ma. Roma L. Foo

travel agency sales manager

mompreneur

Area code 62 Touchdown Zamboanga International Airport Get to town via jeepney, taxi, motorcycle

Dine at Alavar’s Seafood Restaurant and try a local favorite, curacha in alavar sauce. During the day, check out Fort Pilar, an open-air shrine. Got more time? Go island-hopping and scuba diving at Great Sta. Cruz Island, which is famous for its pink sand beach.

Dan Lloyd N. Obice social media analyst

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DAVAO IMAGE: LESTER LEDESMA; DIPOLOG IMAGE: SAMUEL DE LEON

Davao

Dipolog

Area code 82 Touchdown Francisco Bangoy (Davao) International Airport Get to town via taxi, bus, van, jeepney

Area code 65 Touchdown Dipolog Airport Get to town via tricycle, hotel van

Sample local fare at Lachi’s Sans Rival atbp on Ruby Street, Marfori Heights. Check out the night market on Roxas Avenue, where you can sample street foods and shop for ukay-ukay (second-hand) items. Take a side trip to Samal Island and spend a day at the beach. Stay overnight at Chemas by the Sea.

Eat at Chlisy Resto-Café or head to Chapters Book Café, where you can read, drink milk tea or just hang out. Shop at Dipolog Pasalubong Center and take home a couple of bottles of the famous Montaño Sardines.

Cokee Pino registered nurse

Jayvic Lacaya law student / businessman

DID YOU KNOW?

DAVAO HAS AN ORDINANCE UNDER WHICH SMOKING IS PROHIBITED IN PUBLIC UTILITY VEHICLES, GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND SELECTED ESTABLISHMENTS.

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philippines trip journal

General Santos

COTABATO IMAGE: SAMUEL DE LEON; GENERAL SANTOS IMAGE: LESTER LEDESMA; TAWI-TAWI IMAGE: EDGAR ALAN ZETA YAP

Cotabato

Tawi-Tawi

Area code 64 Touchdown Awang (Cotabato) Airport Get to town via jeepney, multicab, tricycle

Area code 83 Touchdown General Santos International Airport Get to town via taxi, multicab, hotel shuttle

Area code 68 Touchdown Sanga-Sanga Airport Get to town via tricycle

Visit the Grand Mosque in Kalanganan, the nation’s newest and biggest mosque, which was donated by Sultan Bolkiah of Brunei. Enjoy the cool air at Padang-Padang Adventure Park in Parang, Maguindanao, just about 30 minutes from the city. Be sure to try the zipline.

Explore Kalaja Cave and take a dip in its natural pool. Visit Bunga Spring at Kalaha Karsts Land or head to Malakong Gorge, which is perfect for boulder and rock climbing. When hunger strikes, head to Antipolo Barbecue Station (Aparente St, City Heights) for some pork or chicken barbecue.

Rent a motorbike and drive along the coast to soak up the scenery. Feast your eyes on Bongao Peak from the Sanga-Sanga Bridge. If you’re into diving, explore the Japanese kamikaze plane wreck.

Alia Raida Arumpac

Ian Ray Garcia

planning officer, RPDO-ARMM

travel writer

DID YOU KNOW?

Suyen Halipa student / backpacker

EACH DAY, AN ESTIMATED 300 METRIC TONS OF FISH IS UNLOADED AT THE GENERAL SANTOS FISH PORT COMPLEX.

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Cagayan de Oro

Area code 88 Touchdown Camiguin Airport Get to town via multicab, motorcycle, habal-habal

Paras Beach Resort has a pool that’s the perfect place to soak in a breathtaking Camiguin sunset. From there, the famous White Island is just a five-minute boat ride away. Be sure to sample fresh sea urchins; they’re just 2030 each!

Aileen Aleta-Caasi event organizer / wedding planner

Area code 88 Touchdown Laguindingan International Airport Get to town via taxi, jeepney, motorela, shuttle

Don’t leave CDO without experiencing white-water rafting.

Contact Bugsay River Rafting at tel: +63 88 850 1580 or 917 328 4729 for an unforgettable adventure.

Shopping for pasalubong?

Vjandep has delicious pastel that you can take home.

Alain Caasi wedding videographer

DID YOU KNOW?

AT 240KM2, CAMIGUIN IS THE SECOND SMALLEST ISLAND IN THE PHILIPPINES.

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CAMIGUIN & CAGAYAN DE ORO IMAGES: LESTER LEDESMA

Camiguin

philippines trip journal

Siargao

Area code 85 Touchdown Bancasi Airport Get to town via van, tricycle

Surigao

Area code 86 Touchdown Sayak Airport Get to town via habal-habal, hotel shuttle

Y Hotel, which is located on the city’s main boulevard, is a new property with a youthful vibe. The average rate is 1,000 per night for a single. Breakfast is included. Got more time?

Head to the Agusan Marsh, which is less than two hours from Butuan.

Feel right at home at Jing’s Place Homestay ( jingsplace.com), where the rooms are affordable and the rates negotiable depending on the length of your stay. Don’t miss surfing at Cloud 9. A surfing lesson costs 500 per hour, which includes surfboard rental and instructor’s fee.

Andrea Alfelor Macaventa

Marco Paulo Diala

communications officer

web developer

DID YOU KNOW?

Area code 86 Touchdown Surigao Airport Get to town via multicab, tricycle

Choose a seaview room at Hotel Tavern Surigao (hoteltavern.com).

Check out the unique Mabua Pebble Beach, just 30 minutes from the city center, whose shoreline is littered with pebbles and stones of all shapes and sizes.

Jana Vicente government employee

THE MUNICIPALITY OF GENERAL LUNA IN SIARGAO WAS NAMED AFTER GENERAL ANTONIO LUNA.

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BUTUAN IMAGE: SAMUEL DE LEON; SURIGAO IMAGE: LESTER LEDESMA

Butuan

SINGAPORE / MARCH 10-13, 2015 SANDS EXPO AND CONVENTION CENTER MARINA BAY SANDS SINGAPORE

LET YOUR INSPIRATION GROW IN ASIA WWW.MAISON-OBJET.COM

INFO@SAFISALONS.FR

SAFI ASIA PTE, A SAFI “SALONS FRANÇAIS ET INTERNATIONAUX” SUBSIDIARY. SAFI IS A SUBSIDIARY OF ATELIERS D’ART DE FRANCE AND REED EXPOSITIONS FRANCE / TRADE ONLY DESIGN © BE-POLES - IMAGE © GREG SEVAZ

airline news UPDATES FROM CEBU PACIFIC AIR

LOOK FORWARD TO LOWER FARES Cebu Pacific Air removed fuel surcharges on all flights on January 9, in line with decreasing fuel prices worldwide.

Head to www.cebupacificair.com to book your flights.

Turn the page for more news from Cebu Pacific >

Fly on an Airbus A330 this year!

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airline news

App, app and away You can now book and check in for your Cebu Pacific flight using your iPhone thanks to the new Cebu Pacific Mobile App. Choose from Cebu Pacific and Tigerair Philippines flights and book one-way or round-trip tickets for up to 14 guests. You can also use the app to purchase your baggage allowance and select your seats.

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Visa and Mastercard are the only modes of payment accepted.

The app lets you check in for your flights from 72 to four hours prior to departure for international destinations and up to two hours ahead if you’re flying domestic. If you don’t select a seat, a free seat will be assigned to you at the end of the check-in process. You’ll then receive your boarding pass, which can be sent to you via e-mail or saved as an image in your phone for printing. Download the free Cebu Pacific Mobile App from the App Store today! Coming soon on Google Play.

latest street-smart styles from both international and local brands. If you’re eager to get off the beaten track, head to Tiong Bahru, where you’ll find bookshops selling both classic and hard-to-find titles, vintage stores set in converted traditional pre-war houses and quaint cafés.

Already feeling the summer heat? Take refuge in the two cooled conservatories

HAVE A RED DOT SUMMER Head to Singapore this summer! Usher in the Year of the Sheep with non-stop revelry at River Hongbao at Marina Bay’s iconic Floating Platform. Soak up the unique vibe of Singapore’s multicultural heritage at the colorful Chingay Parade.

Foodies can feast on a wide

array of gourmet delights from Michelin-starred restaurants alongside local flavours with a modern twist from top home-grown bistros and novelty cafés.

Fashionistas are in for a treat when they visit Orchard Road, Singapore’s prime shopping strip, home to the

PHOTO BY SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD

Hassle-free check-in Check in online or via the self-service kiosks at the airport and avoid the lines at the counters.

Web check-in may be done through the Manage Booking section at www.cebupacificair. com from 48 to four hours before your flight. Seats are automatically assigned to web check-in guests at no charge.

Those who wish to select seats may do so for a minimal fee

head to the boarding gate at least 30 minutes before their flight, while those with check-in bags must be at the bag-drop counter at least 45 minutes ahead of time.

International passengers, with or without check-in baggage, should proceed to the bag-drop counter for verification of travel documents at least 45 minutes before flight time.

ranging from PHP100 to PHP200. Meanwhile, self check-in kiosks are available at most Philippine airports.

Self check-in may be done from four hours to one hour before your flight. Those checking in through the self check-in kiosks at the airport may select their seats for free.

Domestic passengers with no check-in bags should 121

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at Gardens by the Bay and marvel at their gorgeous floral displays. Capture memories using the interactive photo stations at Alive Museum or walk the red carpet with iconic stars such as Madonna, Michael Jackson and Beyoncé at Madame Tussauds Singapore.

For even more suggestions on things to do, visit www.

YourSingapore.com/PH

PLAN YOUR TRIPS From February 13-15, head to the SMX Convention Center to check out the deals at the PTAA Travel & Tour Expo, the Philippines’ biggest travel and tourism event. Find Cebu Pacific at booth nos. 225-234 Ground Floor Hall 2 Entrance, Isle H beside the DOT Pavilion. www.ptaa. org.ph

Where to next

Asia Beijing KUWAIT

Middle East

Incheon

KOREA

JAPAN Narita

Busan

Osaka Nagoya

Dammam Dubai Riyadh Shanghai SAUDI ARABIA

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES OMAN

CHINA

Taipei

Xiamen

VIETNAM

Guangzhou Macau

TAIWAN

Hong Kong

Hanoi

CLARK

THAILAND

MANILA

CAMBODIA

THE PHILIPPINES

Siem Reap

Bangkok

KALIBO Ho Chi Minh City

CEBU ILOILO

VIETNAM Phuket Kota Kinabalu

MALAYSIA

Bandar Seri Begawan

BRUNEI

Kuala Lumpur

SINGAPORE Singapore

INDONESIA Jakarta

MAP LEGEND

Denpasar

Cebu Pacific hub City with Airport Cebu Pacific Flight Cebu Pacific New Flight Operated by both Cebu Pacific and Tiger Philippines (DG)

Sydney

Australia 122

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Laoag

Tuguegarao

Cauayan

The Philippines CLARK MANILA

Naga

Virac

Legazpi

San Jose Busuanga

Caticlan KALIBO Roxas Tacloban

ILOILO

Bacolod CEBU

Tagbilaran

Surigao

Puerto Princesa

Siargao

Camiguin

Dumaguete

Tandag Butuan

Cagayan de Oro

Dipolog Ozamiz Pagadian

Cotabato

DAVAO

Zamboanga

General Santos

Tawi-Tawi

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Onboard treats

Hot meals Available only on international flights

ON SHORT-HAUL FLIGHTS PHP350 each

Chicken Inasal

Beef Teriyaki

Baked Mac

Grilled slices of chicken marinated in a special mixture of calamansi, pepper, vinegar and annatto. Best paired with pickled green papaya (achara) and soy sauce.

Beef strips grilled in a glaze of soy sauce, sake and sugar. Topped with toasted sesame seeds.

Penne pasta cooked al dente, tossed with a special sauce made up of tomatoes, ground beef and chicken ham. Topped with melted cheese.

Paired with parmesan breadsticks.

ON LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS PHP500 each with dessert

Korean Sweet & Spicy Chicken

Beef Pastel

Pasta Marinara

Breaded chicken coated with a special blend of sweet and spicy sauce.

Beef cubes with mushrooms, potatoes and carrots, cooked in a rich, creamy sauce.

Penne pasta tossed in flavorful marinara sauce.

Topped with parmesan cheese. Paired with parmesan breadsticks.

FILIPINO classics Beef Caldereta

Bistek Tagalog

Filipino-style beef stew in a rich tomato sauce, with carrots and potatoes.

Beef strips cooked in a medley of soy sauce, calamansi and onions.

Chicken Adobo

Chicken Barbecue

A Filipino staple simmered in a balanced mix of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic and peppercorns.

Chicken chunks cooked in a savory barbecue sauce.

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SAVORY snacks Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Sandwich PHP180

Eat fresh!

Fresh sandwich made with sliced grilled chicken, bell peppers and tomatoes in a tangy pesto sauce.

Ham & Cheese Croissant PHP100 Our light, flaky croissant with slices of ham and cheese is sure to satisfy your cravings!

Tuna Roll PHP100 Creamy tuna enveloped in soft bread and topped with chopped parsley.

Chicken Asado Pan de Ulam PHP100 A Filipino favorite, this soft bun is filled with chicken asado cooked Kapampangan style.

Pizza Supreme Roll PHP100 Soft bun filled with bacon, mushroom, cream cheese and pepperoni sauce and topped with toasted sesame seeds.

SWEET treats

QUICK bites

Cheese Roll PHP100

Nova PHP60

Cheese-filled soft bread frosted with creamed butter sugar.

Mini Choco Chip Cookies PHP100 Bite-size chocolate chip cookies

HEARTY meals Nissin Cup Noodles PHP100 (seafood/beef/chicken) Shin/Clay Pot Ramyun Big Bowl PHP150

!

Caution: Our cup noodles are served with piping hot water.

Please be extra careful when having them.

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Chippy PHP60 Piattos PHP60 Dried Mangoes PHP200

Onboard treats

Drinks

HOT drinks Twinings Hot Teas PHP70 NEW (English breakfast/jasmine green tea/ chamomile & spearmint) Café Mocha PHP100 Creamy Dark Chocolate PHP100 Brewed Coffee PHP100 Great Taste White Coffee PHP50

COLD drinks Mineral Water PHP50 Chuckie Chocolate Milk Drink PHP60 Vitamilk Soy Milk PHP60 Minute Maid Pulpy Juice PHP60 (orange) C2 Flavored Green Tea PHP50 (apple/lemon) Canned Soda PHP60 (Pepsi/Pepsi Max/7-Up/ Mountain Dew NEW ) Mogu Mogu PHP60 (lychee/coconut) Gatorade PHP60 (red/blue) Nyogi PHP60 NEW (Pure Coconut Water)

ALCOHOLIC drinks Yellow Tail Wines PHP200 (chardonnay/shiraz/merlot) Asahi Super Dry Beer PHP150 San Miguel Beer PHP130 (pale pilsen/light)

PLEASE NOTE: • Items may vary depending on the route • Subject to available stock • Goods sold are not refundable • We accept foreign currency — please ask the cabin crew.

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Travel essentials

Onboard merchandise

All is Well Inflight Calm Kit PHP420

NEW

NEW

NEW Destinations Shirts PHP400

NEW Feet Warmers Low cut PHP150 Ankle PHP170 Mid-calf PHP200

Destinations Hoodie PHP999

De-stress Travel Kit PHP200 NEW NEW NEW Packing Cube Set PHP380

CEB Fun Blanket PHP350

Hold-All Duffel Bag PHP350

GoLite Luggage Scale PHP490

CEB Siesta Kit PHP280

CEB Stuffed Toy PHP350

A320 Die-Cast Plane PHP550

CEB Cup & Cover PHP250

Lagu Beach Blanket PHP999 Sand repellent

Parachute Backpack PHP500 Other designs available

NEW

NEW Cebu Pacific & Smart Bro Fun Data SIM PHP500 Available on all international flights bound for the Philippines

Chasing Wanderlust Philippine Scratch-Off Map PHP995

Wandersky Luggage Cover PHP1,200 Other designs available; international flights only

*Every pair comes with a soft case

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TRAVEL HARDCORE

For those who take traveling very seriously. By Manix Abrera

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Century Properties has created some of the most desired residential projects in Philippine real estate history. In the joyous spirit of this holiday season, we are giving you what is truly the best gift for you and your family.

For the first time ever, Century will be offering its new signature Easy to Own Program!

Our new Easy to Own a Century Home Program allows you to pay even lower monthly amortizations, you can move in quicker, and have your choice of availing of a bank loan or our new in-house financing with terms of up to 15 years.

It has never been this easy to own a Century home!

Call us today and avail of this limited offer so that you may give your family unlimited joy for generations to come.

Trump Tower Philippines – Makati City For as low as P136K* per month

The Milano Residences Interior Design by Versace Home – Makati City For as low as P50K* per month

Acqua Livingstone Interior Design by MissoniHome – Mandaluyong City For as low as P27K* per month

Acqua Private Residences – Mandaluyong City For as low as P25K* per month

The Residences at Commonwealth – Quezon City For as low as P52K** per month

Azure Urban Resort Residences – Paranaque City For as low as P29K* per month

For more information, contact:

www.century-properties/easy-to-own (63) 917-5555-274 • ask@century-properties.com *Indicative monthly payment for a 1BR unit **Indicative monthly payment for a 2BR unit Authorized to sell by HLURB: Trump Tower Philippines LTS No. 26183, Milano Residences LTS No. 25038, Acqua Niagara LTS No. 25631, Acqua Sutherland LTS No. 26132, Acqua Detiffoss LTS No. 26229, Acqua Livingstone LTS No. 26972, Azure Positano LTS No. 26378 , Azure Miami LTS No. 26379, Commonwealth Osmeña West LTS No. 28528.