WIRED

I TRIED.

For four days, I really, really tried to switch off from my usual wired world as I went on a short vacation in Boracay last week. (It was a sort of post-Mother’s Day break Big Sister and I hatched up for Mama.)

The night before we left, I switched on the vacation response settings in all my e-mail accounts. I had informed most of my bosses I’d be away, had advanced a column and some news stories, but you know how it is. There could be some last-minute questions or requests made, though I was pretty sure if it was anything really urgent, the bosses would know how to reach me. Otherwise, all the e-mails could wait.

I also did not bring my MacBook. I know for some people, especially in my line of work, the computer is as vital as, well, our underwear. It’s part of our everyday wardrobe. I have friends who don’t leave home without their iPad, their MacBook Air and a Kindle!

But I thought bringing the Mac would just defeat the purpose of being on vacation. I usually don’t even watch the news on TV when I’m on a holiday, just to forget for even a teensy-weensy moment that there’s mayhem ongoing in the world. There’s nothing like a vacation killer than thinking of, for instance, the incredulous and irrational arguments against the reproductive-health bill while I’m sipping my mango shake and splayed out under the sun. (For a while there I was worried I would take so many photos of our vacation, space would eventually run out on my digicam’s memory card. Not having my Mac with me would mean I couldn’t transfer my photos and refresh the camera’s memory card.)

The entire time, I used only one cell phone with my personal number, which I needed to communicate with Big Sister as we were riding separate airlines. It was also a way for us to find each other in case we’d be going on separate walks while on the island. But usually, I’d just leave the phone in my bag, so I wouldn’t be bothered by text messages nor phone calls. For quite a few years already, I’ve kept the alert on my incoming text messages switched off even in Manila. So using just one phone and not checking messages wasn’t really such a big adjustment for me.

I had the vacation all planned out. I would lie on the beach or lounge by the pool just reading a book. There was this one book I had been meaning to finish since I bought it—gasp!—in 2005. It was a collection of short stories by various well-acclaimed writers (Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Salman Rushdie, Günter Grass, Arthur Miller, John Updike, Margaret Atwood, etc.) edited by Nadine Gordimer, called Telling Tales, which was published in 2004. And it’s been on my bedside table since I bought it—just waiting to be picked up again and read. (There are four other books on my night table, in the same state of unfinished reading. Sigh.)

But as is the usual, the best laid plans always come unhinged. The bad habits will always stomp all over my good intentions.

While I did manage to finish a few short stories while I was lying in bed—not by the pool—I wasn’t able to quite get off the Internet.


I’ve been a Facebook and Twitter user for quite some time. Although I’ve managed to unplug during Sundays, even switching off my phones, I knew four days away from the social-networking sites while on vacation would be trying. Of course, I was able to go offline during the last Holy Weekend and the years before that, going online again only on Easter Monday. But being good while Jesus was dead was a powerful incentive; a vacation, not so.

So, yes, I eventually cheated. My commitment to get off cyberspace while on vacation was broken. I posted one vacation photo on Facebook, and a couple of status updates from my phone. Yes, I’m an addict and an oversharer. I should be locked up in the basement of Makati Med.

(It was easier to stay away from Twitter though, since I usually use it to monitor breaking news. But, well, Big Sister and Mama are news junkies so I had virtually little choice when it came to channels to watch at 6:30 pm or 12 midnight when we were back in our room at the resort.)

Then when I got word that our Seair flight back to Manila had been moved to an earlier schedule—thank God!—I had to use the resort’s business center and print the new e-ticket sent to my e-mail account. Needless to say, I caved in and started checking all my e-mail, then some interesting news items, and then...hay naku! It took a lot of willpower on my end to quit the session; but it was a good 10 minutes to 15 minutes before I got back to my senses and remembered that I was on vacation. I guess I had just been longing too much for the simplicity of a bygone age when all that we actually brought on vacation was just a book and a bathing suit. There were no distractions at all. In Boracay, especially in the ’80s, it was just the sun, the sea and the sand that made everyone’s vacation a blast.

Nowadays we can’t travel anywhere without our cell phones, our laptops, the cable TV—technology is everywhere these days that it’s really quite easy to just switch on, go online, and reengage with the rest of the world. Even cell-phone manufacturers now promote handsets that are Wi-Fi-ready, or HDSPA-equipped, you don’t even need to bring a laptop anymore. You can do everything on your cell phone!

And I’d be hard-pressed to think of any island resort in the country or any part of the world for that matter that is so isolated that technology hasn’t reached it yet. And even if such island existed, I’m sure I’d be online anyway making reservations to fly to it and book a room.

Maybe next time, I shouldn’t try so hard to be offline. Technology is part of who we are, it’s really useless to fight it, even while on vacation. Most hotels and resorts now offer free Wi-Fi and even the free use of computers in their business centers. Even these establishments know that offering such kinds of free services is a big come-on to guests.

When it comes to technology, resistance is futile.

(My column, Something Like Life, is published every Friday in the BusinessMirror. This piece was originally published on May 20, 2011. Photos courtesy Discovery Shores Boracay.)

Let's go on a vacation!

PAL Valentine Promo
(Press release)

Philippine holidays in 2010

USE this to plan your weekend vacays. Thanks to Ivan Henares for sharing the info.

* Feb. 22 (Mon) - EDSA Revolution Anniversary (holiday for schools only, three-day long weekend from Feb. 20 to 22)

* April 1 (Thu) - Holy Thursday

* April 2 (Fri) - Good Friday (four-day long weekend from April 1 to 4)

* April 9 (Fri) - Araw ng Kagitingan (three-day long weekend from April 9 to 11)

* May 1 (Sat) - Labor Day

* May 10 (Mon) - National Elections (three-day long weekend from May 8 to 10) GET OUT AND VOTE!!!

* June 14 (Mon) - Independence Day (three-day long weekend from June 12 to 14)

* Aug. 23 (Mon) - Ninoy Aquino Day (three-day long weekend from Aug. 21 to 23)

* Aug. 30 (Mon) - National Heroes Day (three-day long weekend from Aug. 28 to 30)

* September - Eid'l Fitr (to be announced, calculated Sept. 10, possible three-day long weekend from Sept. 10 to 12)

* Nov. 1 (Mon) - All Saints Day (three-day long weekend from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1)

* November - Eid 'l Adha (to be announced, calculated Nov. 16)

* Nov. 29 (Mon) - Bonifacio Day (three-day long weekend from Nov. 27 to 29)

* Dec. 24 (Fri) - Christmas Eve/Non-Working Holiday

* Dec. 25 (Sat) - Christmas Day

* Dec. 27 (Mon) - Rizal Day (four-day long weekend from Dec. 24 to 27)

* Dec. 31 (Fri) - New Year's Eve/Non-Working Holiday

* Jan. 1, 2011 - (Sat) New Year's Day (three-day long weekend from Dec. 31, 2010 to Jan. 2, 2011)

Surrendering to bliss

THE province of Albay in Bicol doesn’t exactly conjure images of luxury and pampering. To most people, it just means the ever-rumbling Mayon Volcano, rows of abaca plants, and a great deal of pili nut products. Oh, yes, and who can forget—the devastating typhoons that always seem to batter the area?

Surprisingly, as my friends and I arrived in Legaspi City after leaving Manila’s rain-drenched streets only an hour before, the sun was shining at its mightiest. We were later told that in this part of the country, the weather is actually the reverse of what it is in Metro Manila. So if you feel that vacation itch during the rainy season, the Bicol region is actually the best destination to escape to.

We were on our way to Misibis Bay Raintree, one of only three Philippine establishments that have made it into the Small Luxury Hotels (SLH) of the World group. SLH counts only 500 of the most exclusive establishments in the world which cater to a very discriminating clientele in terms of luxury and hospitality.

Upon our arrival at the airport, we were met by the friendly resort staff and whisked off in a van to its dock at the newly built commercial and entertainment complex, the Embarcadero at the Legaspi port. A fancy welcome of bubbling champagne and suman awaited us, while cool pleasantly scented white face towels did the trick in refreshing and energizing us for the next part of our journey.

We then boarded a fastcraft for the 30-minute ride to the lush and verdant Cagraray Island, located northeast of Legaspi. Everywhere we looked, the calm azure waters provide a delightful contrast to the sunny cloudless sky. The only visible puffs of white were from Mayon Volcano, no longer with the perfect cone, but still unparalleled in its grandeur.

Local folk dancers dressed in colorful costumes welcomed us as we made our way to the Spice Market, the resort’s main restaurant. It being the early morning, and already battling low blood-sugar levels, we eagerly wolfed down our breakfast of fried garlic rice, sunny-side up eggs, and New Look, a very meaty dried fish that we discovered on our visit last year. (It’s called New Look because the specie was only discovered in the waters of Bicol sometime in the 1960s, and has yet to be identified with any scientific name, or so a local fisheries graduate told us.) Super-addicting!

After a hearty breakfast, we were led to our beachfront villas, where a soothing foot scrub and massage awaited us. The villa I was assigned to had a commanding view of the sparkling Albay Gulf and the clear blue sky visible through floor-to-ceiling picture windows. It also had a sundeck with two lounging beds where guests could soak up the rays of the sun.

The main feature of each of the villas is, of course, the king-sized bed and fluffy goose-down pillows all wrapped in 350-thread count linen. It was so heavenly to sink into, it took much effort to get up from after a nap or a night’s rest. Imagine a stunning view of peaking waves and drifting clouds each morning, and lying in a huge comfy bed...now that’s what I call a vacation! Even when it drizzled, it was just so peaceful and serene to lie in bed, under the snug covers, neck cradled by gentle pillows, and look out those windows.

(Some of the activities you can enjoy at Misibis Bay Raintree in Albay. Photo colllage courtesy of the resort.)

The villa also had a large heated bathroom where guests can bathe using either the generic bottled bathroom amenities or L’Occitane toiletries.

Each villa is assigned a female butler, who conscientiously tidies up the room whenever the guest is out, folds clothes strewn about, hangs wet bathing suits in the outdoor clothes line, and rearranges the hand towels into their original fan shapes. Okay, truthfully, by the second day, this was freaking me out because this was way too OC for me. Personally, I’m the type who needs a little disorder in my life, but I’m sure other guests will not mind the careful attention to detail the butler gives to their room. (The butler also had an annoying habit of waking me up while I was fast asleep, which I suppose can be ascribed to the resort being just in its soft-opening phase and the staff still needing to get used to the ways of guests.)

What I did appreciate was the warm sudsy bath the butler prepared on the dot, at 6 pm, each evening. Returning to the villa from a vigorous yoga workout and soaking in that bathtub even for just 30 minutes was so divinely comforting.

Adventurous guests have lot of activities to choose from, such as jetskiing, windsurfing, skipping on the water via the banana boat ride, snorkeling, lava trekking near Mount Mayon, and doing the zip line. My pal Marianne went scuba diving just off the Misibis dock and was pleasantly surprised to have seen a manta ray with a 6-foot wingspan swim near her and her dive master. She said it was so close, it could’ve been possible for her to just reach out and touch the creature’s belly. And this was just in 30 feet of water.

If you’re not the type who wants to push up your cardiac rates while on vacation, my pals and I, for instance, had a cooking class with the resort’s chief cook, Danny Gonzales, a Batangueño who has learned to whip up feisty Bicolano dishes. We also made pili nut panna cotta under the guiding hand of Pastry Chef Edgar Encinas. (Of course, we playfully berated Chef Edgar for not preparing sugar-free desserts for diabetics and health-conscious guests.)

In the evening, one can enjoy the nightly entertainment provided by the resident lounge singers, sing yourselves hoarse at the videoke room, or just chillax watching a movie in the den. And if you can’t really tear yourself away from your busy urban life, there is a business center where you can check your e-mails, or insanely update your Facebook status detailing all your activities at the resort.

What I love about Misibis Bay Raintree is that feeling of privacy and blissful isolation, where a real vacation of doing nothing is possible. For people like me who have had enough of the chaotic rush of vacationers, the garbage on the beach, as well as the nightly noise and parties of some island resorts, Misibis is really the perfect place to get away from it all. (Originally published in the Life section of the BusinessMirror, Sept. 2009)

(More resort photos in my August blog entry.)

Vacation pics

AS I posted earlier, my gang and I went to Misibis Bay Raintree during the weekend of Aug. 21 for a little R&R. It's a gorgeous resort owned by Elizaldy Co, one of the most dynamic businessmen in Bicol and managed by the same group behind Discovery properties of the Tiu family (JTKC Group).

The resort has yet to be formally opened, but is already accepting guests. One thing great about going to Albay is that it is generally sunny down there, when our weather here in Manila is rainy. So it makes an alternative wet season destination for tourists.

Here are some photos I took of the resort:

Current travel package to Misibis starts at P13,000 inclusive of roundtrip airfare, 3D/2N accommodations, breakfast. Click here for more details. Can't wait to return there and try out more activities.

I'm baaaack!

SORRY gang, I was on vacation. I was enjoying my stay at Misibis Bay Raintree in Cagraray Island, Albay w/ my gang so much I didn't feel any urgent need to look for a computer and go online. I'll tell you about the vacation soon, and post photos too.

I have such a hangover from Albay, I keep looking out my window and imagining the Mayon Volcano. Shucks, Miggy and I were saying that if only we could find great jobs there, we'd move to Legaspi City in a heartbeat.

If you're going out of town

A LOT of people are making tracks out of the city, with a number of them going up north to Clark, Subic, and Tarlac for the Holy Weekend. A few still are unfamiliar traversing the new Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway so, in the interest of public service, I'm posting a map courtesy of the BCDA web site.

You may click and print it:


Here's the corresponding fare matrix as well. Try to have the exact fare on hand to speed up your time at the toll booths. You may click and print as well for your guidance.


Drive safely people. Enjoy yourselves but pls. remember what this entire week is really about.

An advanced Happy Easter to all!

The great summer getaway

Got this from the mail.

Mandala Spa is one of my favorite spas in the country. Its spa treatments are still unparalleled. The villas are so luxurious and even the in-house cuisine, although vegetarian, is so delicious! Mmm...those cardamon muffins are just the best!

(For inquiries, pls. call tel. no. (+63 36) 288.5858 or email: reservations@mandalaspa.com. Click here for more details.)

Dare to unplug (after you read my blog!)

WAS trying to do my work when I stumbled onto this news story about people who have decided to switch off their electronic devices for a day.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sharon Sarmiento knew it was time to unplug when she realized she was blogging in her dreams and hearing imaginary instant messages.

For Ariel Meadow Stallings, it was the hours lost while surfing the Internet that left her feeling like she had been in a drunken blackout.

Both women are part of a new grass-roots movement in which tech geeks, Internet addicts, Blackberry thumbers and compulsive IMers are deciding to wrest back control of their lives by daring to switch off -- if only for a day.

One of the most peaceful vacations I've had was in Batanes about four years ago where there was no cellphone service. So all our phones were switched off, leaving us with a few days to enjoy the province, its vistas, and its people. (But then someone temporarily went nuts trying to look for our pregnant masahista...haha.)

Since that vacation, however, I've muted the ring tone to all my messages. I find that I'm not as attached to it as I was before that Batanes vacation when every time my phone buzzed, I would immediately look at it and answer incoming texts. It just frazzled my nerves especially then, when I was still editing the Business Section of a broadsheet everyday.

At night I also switch off all my phones for an uninterrupted night's sleep. One friend asked me what if there's an emergency? I said if it's really a life and death thing, I can always be contacted on my landline.

Thing is on vacations, I can't switch off my cellphone. There was one vacation last year in Cebu I ended up surfing the Internet on my cellphone just to check out the news in Manila. It was crazy.

Since I've started working at home though, I realize that I'm online as soon as I wake up, and way past 2 am the next morning. Though I take breaks (like for meals and wee-wee), I sometimes don't switch off as I wait for important emails to come in. Not only is that increasing my electricity bill, but it's also making me too dependent on my computer and the Internet. So what I do is basically switch off on Sundays. Of course, then I veg out on the couch and watch TV all day. So I dunno if that counts as "switching off."

Anyway, this Sunday, I shall unplug everything — the cellphones, the computer, server, wifi router and maybe the TV too — the entire day. Who knows, I might take up reading a book again.

Talagang masarap!

(Family suite at Two Seasons. The extra room is to the left. It even has its own dining table and chairs inside. Photo from Two Seasons)

SO I went off to Boracay during my birthday weekend last month and stayed at Two Seasons Resort on Station 1 again. This time, Francine came along with us...how brave of her to leave little Matthew behind. I know how mothers can hardly tear themselves away from their babies so I knew she was making such a big sacrifice to be with us for for 5 days and four nights! Hay naku, I so love my sis! (And of course, I so love my Pangs also for making all of this happen! Great buddies these two.)

We stayed at one of the family rooms in the resort and it was so huge! Great place to stay if you have family or a gaggle of friends with you. Aside from the two king-sized beds, there's a separate room with its own king-sized bed as well, and its own TV, DVD player, and Ipod stereo deck (aside from the ones in the main room). And of course, I just love, love, love the big banyo! Hay, I wish all resorts give some thought on making their bathrooms big and comfortable like what we have at home.

(Crispy rack of pork with char shiu rice, photo courtesy Two Seasons)

It was super cold though when we went there so I really wasn't able to take a dip. And so guess what we ended up doing? Eat of course!

The first time the gang and I stayed at Two Seasons, we were mightily impressed with the food at barLO Resto Lounge. So some of us thought, maybe it was just a fluke. We were just lucky 'cos the resort had just opened so of course, everything was special.

But four months after, when we returned, the food was still superb. I was pretty amazed and I hardly rave over food unless I think it's really good. (Yup, many restaurants now know I don't do favorable reviews if I don't like their food, unlike other food writers who get off from being fed for free.)

Everyday, a new dish ordered on the menu didn’t fail to disappoint — each had the ability to please all senses with its superior taste, aroma, color and presentation. Our favorites include the Home-made Nachos with ground beef, jalapeños, tomato salsa, and cheese; Three Mushroom and Truffle Cream Soup; the exciting and playful salads; the Crispy Rack of Pork with Char Shiu Rice; and the Molten Chocolate Cake with Caramel Sauce and Raspberry Compote, and Pineapple Ice Cream on the side.


(Prawns Marikudo and Spaghetti al Nero)

We were also happy that the restaurant had vegetarian selections such as Spaghetti with Grilled Fresh White Cheese, Garlic, Olives & Sauce Pomodoro. All dishes may be shared and extremely reasonably-priced, which is another surprise for guests. It's just unfortunate that the kitchen closes at 11 pm so if you want to stay in and watch a movie on your DVD player, you gotta order those perfectly crispy Nachos (and beers!) early on.

While part of the fun of vacationing in Boracay is to sample the dishes at various restaurants on the island, I would be very happy and content just eating in at Two Seasons.

Feeling at home at Shang Mactan

(WIND down from your harried life with a swim in this gorgeous pool by the hotel’s ocean wing.)

CEBU has always been one of my all-time favorite destinations, simply because it gives travelers the best of both worlds—a cosmopolitan feel, yet retaining some of the vestiges of provincial seclusion.

To me, it means sumptuous food, both of the sutukil (sugba, tuwa, kilaw) and the upscale dining varieties, fabulous swimming pools and sparkling beaches, friendly always-smiling people, and splendid restful five-star accommodations.

If you’re the type who wants to get away from it all, your best bet is Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort & Spa. For picky travelers such as myself, I like the hotel because it is a self-contained refuge where even the most discriminating guest will find everything that will please her to her heart’s content. Once you check in, you won’t ever feel the need to even go to the city to see its sights because the resort in itself already provides the guest with so many experiences that will delight all her senses.

Spacious but cozy

(Relax among the cozy corners of your deluxe sea-view guest room)

THE guest rooms, first of all, are spacious and warm, with furniture that is understated and elegant—a delicate blend of local craftsmanship which Cebu furniture makers are famous for. The headboard of my bed, for example, was made of wicker, while touches on the head lamp above the bed were in banig. The simple furniture was cozy, making me feel right at home. The guest room also had a magnificent view of the sea and the inviting swimming pool below. The king-sized bed guaranteed a tranquil sleep night after night, as I was surrounded by comfy large pillows.

The grounds are well-manicured in their refreshing greenery, so a walk even just around the premises becomes a refreshing experience.

I especially enjoyed a leisurely stroll into the Chi Spa Village, which relaxes the usual tense and harried guest with the sound of gurgling waters and the aroma of calming essential oils. Sitting on 10,000 square meters, the village is nestled amid the resort’s sprawling grounds and is the first spa village carrying the luxury hotel-spa brand in the Philippines.

Later I would delight in a “Chi Journey” that included a revitalizing bath in an outdoor pool which used coconut milk mixed in the waters; an herbal steam bath that instantly decongested my nasal passages as I suffered from a sinusitis attack; an energizing Mountain Tsampa Rub; and an Aroma Vitality massage.

The Mountain Tsampa rub uses a barley paste to absorb oils and exfoliate your body of dead-skin cells. It helps revitalize the skin and prepares you for the next ritual: the massage.

The Aroma Vitality massage is a blend of Swedish and Shiatsu pressure techniques using the essential oil suited to your element. As in other Chi spas, the guest is supposed to fill up a form which tells the therapist your likes and dislikes in terms of food tastes, colors and temperature. So the essential oil used in your massage is supposed to complement your element (e.g., water, metal, earth, wood, or fire).

(Immerse yourself in Tibetan luxury at the Chi Spa Village.)

Unfortunately, the therapist assigned to me wasn’t able to give me the deeper pressure I’m used to and even said I should have gotten a male therapist instead. I thought that response was not only unprofessional but totally ignorant because, as I had pointed out to her, my therapist at Chi in Edsa Shangri-La, as well as those from the other spas I go to, are also female but completely competent to deliver the pressure I needed.

Despite the minor disappointment with the massage therapist, my overall impression of Chi Spa was of pleasant satisfaction. The spa treatment was capped by a plate of fruits and refreshing drink.

Divine dishes

IN terms of cuisine, Shang Mactan has the basic choices in terms of international dishes.

Guests have a selection of Asian dishes at Tides, which serves buffet meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It was where I enjoyed most of my meals and was impressed that it was able to deliver a varied menu for guests who were staying more than one night. Other hotels, despite their luxury tag, are not creative enough to come up with even a decent breakfast or meals that would delight a discerning guest’s food preferences. And if you’re staying at such a hotel for two or three days, eating the same fare can be annoying. Fortunately with Tides, as well as the hotel’s other restaurants, this was not the case. As with most hotels these days, the standard feature at Tides is the sashimi and sushi bar, which did not tire my palate at all, considering my love of Japanese cuisine.

I immensely enjoyed lunch at Acqua with Shang Mactan’s energetic PR girl Sharon Samarista as we caught up on the latest industry gossip in Manila. The restaurant served one of the most delectable Italian meals I have had in the longest time. It truly deserves to be called one of the best restaurants in the Philippines because it offers a modern twist to basic Italian fare, be it pasta, risotto, or your usual meat and seafood dishes.

(Sumptuous Italian fare with a modern twist at Aqua.)

Everything I ate, from the refreshing arugula salad, flavorful pumpkin soup and tender salmon, to my dessert of pana cotta in three different flavors were just divine. What’s more, the restaurant also offers vegetarian fare for health-conscious guests. The restaurant overlooks the infinity pool, which some guests may find to be an entertaining diversion, especially if those swimming have gorgeous bodies. If that isn’t your cup of tea, you can move to the other corners of the spacious restaurant for a spectacular view of the ocean.

Cowrie Cove, which overlooks the Visayan Sea, appropriately serves up seafood specialties in a buffet spread. Name it, they have it—lobsters, crabs, shrimps or prawns, lapu-lapu or the freshest catch of the day, cooked in various succulent ways. It is quite a walk from the main building and sometimes a tad difficult to navigate around due to the low lighting conditions of the restaurant. Nevertheless, the outlet gives guests a distinct Cebuano alternative to the cosmopolitan array of meat dishes in the hotel’s other restaurants.

Satisfied with the excellent quality of its restaurants (have you ever been disappointed with a Shang restaurant anyway?), I told Sharon that I intended to return to have a go of the sumptuous offerings of the Chinese restaurant Tea of Spring.

Other than the spa, the restaurants and the really awesome pools, guests can enjoy the hotel’s other conveniences, such as a business center well-stocked with foreign business and local newspapers (that’s why I got hooked again on the Asian Wall Street Journal); a gym/health club with top-of-the-line equipment; bars by the pool, the beach and at the lobby; an indoor playground, dubbed Adventure Zone, for their kids; or if they wish, they can also stage their own private singing contests—good Lord!—in the karaoke room.

But more than these pleasant diversions, what is truly endearing about Shang Mactan is its cheerful well-mannered staff. Everyone is available for any question or concern a guest may have, no matter how simple or ridiculous (I lost my way going to the spa, for example, duh). Each has a ready smile and a helping hand for guests, so it’s no wonder a lot of foreign and local tourists love staying at this resort.

It’s a hotel where guests can truly be made to feel at home.

(Published in BusinessMirror, Nov. 1, 2007. Photos courtesy Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort and Spa.)

Discover luxury on Boracay’s shores

(AS promised, here's my review of Discovery Shores, the new luxury hotel in Boracay Island. This review was published in BusinessMirror but this blog entry is the unabridged version.)

WHEN I started going to Boracay Island in the late ’80s, I would usually take an hour’s flight to Roxas City, then make a torturous two- to three-hour land trip to Kalibo, over rough roads, then on to Caticlan for another bumpy three hours. (Camera on: Thank you to the wind and the dust for my hair and makeup!)

Arriving in Caticlan, still woozy from the dizzying land trip, there were a number of pump boats which would ferry passengers to the island, although there was a bit of price haggling involved depending on the number of passengers. The pump boats would chug along the glistening sea, which sometimes splashed me in the face and my clothes, but it was fun.

The resort features a 14-meter waterfall which cascades from the rock wall separating the upper and lower clusters of suites. Here, a view of Discovery Shores from the upper clusters.

How things have changed dramatically in just under 20 years!

Pampering to the hilt

THESE days, you can hop on an Asian Spirit jet from the Manila domestic airport and be in Caticlan in less than 30 minutes, much shorter than a cab ride from my home near Visayas Avenue to The Block at SM North Edsa.

And instead of the motorized pump boat depositing passengers right in front of their hotel or resort, or at the boat station nearest it, all boats now dock or leave from the Cagban jetty port in barangay Manoc-Manoc (the southernmost tip of the island which faces Caticlan across a strait), and rates are fixed. Now, there’s order for you.

With electricity and indoor plumbing now the rule rather than the exception, a myriad of resorts has sprung up especially in the last 10 years, catering to any budget to suit any lifestyle. And still more are being built as investors cash in on the divine pleasures of the island and the fine gorgeous white beach which continues to fascinate locals and foreigners alike.

Discovery Shores, the newest of the lot, has been generating a lot of buzz since it opened in March, as it guarantees luxurious and personalized guest services from the time you leave Caticlan until you arrive at the resort, and back.

First of all, a fastcraft, covered to protect you against all the elements, picks you up at the dock of Fairways & Bluewater Resort’s lounge on Caticlan, instead of the main dock, and deposits you at the same establishment’s beach at Newcoast, on the northern tip of Boracay. From there, an air-conditioned van takes you to Discovery’s entrance along the island’s main road in just five minutes, where guest officers proceed to fuss over you and escort you to your suite.

My photo of the junior suite: lounging sofa in the background, flat-screen TV to the right, two king-sized beds in the foreground with a desk-cum-divider behind them.

Fil, a friend, and I eagerly entered our room, a junior suite on the ground floor, which was splendid with two comfortable king-sized beds as the most commanding presence inside. There were gifts on the bed, like cute teddybears and some toiletries, as well as a lovely complimentary plate with the sweetest fruits of the season on a table by the lounging sofa with lots of large comfortable pillows. There was a flat-screen TV and a DVD player on a console table near the wall. At the back of our bed was a divider-cum-desk, where we could plug in the laptop for an Internet connection; a bar, which also functioned as a divider to the vanity area with a sink; and a well-appointed shower and toilet area hidden by a heavy glass door.

Our pampering by a most attentive staff immediately began with a welcoming warm footbath, which was a terrific treat for me considering the tiring, heat-stroking walk we just had, having come from lunch at Station 2 with the sun still shining at its mightiest at 3 pm. (Long story but blame Fil for this torturous hike.)

No doubt, no expense was spared in building and creating the chic design and classy interiors of Discovery Shores. Centered on a modern tropical resort theme, this takes it to the next level of excellence under the guidance of Architect Willy V. Coscolluela and award-winning interior designer Budji Layug and partner Royal Pineda.

Ahh to sleep like a baby!

THERE are guest rooms in clusters close to the beach, while other clusters are on a natural slope, closer to the main road entrance, with fantastic views of the sea. The guest rooms on the hill are the most perfect location to view Boracay’s legendary sunsets.

A 14-meter waterfall cascades from the rock wall separating the upper and lower room clusters, spreading out into open canals that meander throughout the expansive grounds, connecting other water facilities such as the children’s pool and the main swimming pool, where we swam a few laps.

Chef David Pardo de Ayala poses for my camera as he shows off his brilliant selection of Spanish dishes.

I was told by friends who had already visited Discovery that it was quite possible not to leave one’s room anymore. I’m sure they had other things in mind, but for me it rang true, sleep-wise. With king-sized beds, linens at a comfortable 350-thread count, and large goose-down pillows, I could no longer envision resting in anything but. To say I slept like a baby would be an understatement, but I did, most pleasantly so, notwithstanding my allergic rhinitis and a raging sinusitis attack. On most nights, my congested nose would have kept me awake but in that bed, the sandman enfolded me in his arms almost immediately, not letting me go ’til the next morning.

Each evening, fabulous treats awaited us in our room, such as a bag of hair and skin products designed for sun worshippers from VMV Hypoallergenics; a L’Occitane gift pack from Rustan’s containing soap and skin balm; and even a CD with a different take on resort/vacation tunes from EMI appropriately entitled The Easy Life. Then at bedtime, there were also sweet indulgences, like small cuts of espasol and petite puto, quite a welcome alternative to chocolate truffles which luxury hotels usually proffer their guests.

Adding just the right touch to even more pleasurable pampering was a massage treat from Mandala Spa. As the spa’s branch had yet to be finished during our visit to the resort, we had to travel to the spa’s main outlet to experience the skillful hands of Mandala’s massage therapists. For my treatment, I chose the Lymph Drainage Massage, where my therapist’s gentle strokes helped me eliminate the toxins that had accumulated in my body by stimulating lymph flow. By the end of the session, I felt, well, blissed out.

Attentive staff, delightful desserts

BUT what is really endearing about Discovery is its friendly, courteous and efficient staff ever ready with a smile for guests and a warm greeting to perk up one’s day. Everyone speaks English fluently and will answer with their de riguer “Certainly!” when asked to perform a chore, or when responding to a request. No task is too small for them to carry out, even sewing the unfinished hem on a bedcover which I had bought at D’Mall, as one female attendant volunteered to do. It was like having our own personal concierge.

There are butlers by the pool or by the beach who will lay out your beach towel on your lounging bed, dust off the sand from your flip-flops, and fold your sarong or tunic setting them aside for you on a table. Immediately there is a cold face towel, an ice-filled glass of water, and a scoop of refreshing homemade ice cream offered.

As for the cuisine, I enjoyed Chef David Pardo de Ayala’s dinner specialties on our last night at the resort. With a Spanish theme in mind, there was a sublime selection of hot and cold tapas, and the chef’s Paella de Mariscos, with bounties from the sea that are common to Aklan, was quite delectable. Unfortunately, Fil and I were not able to partake of what we were told was a fabulous lunch he had earlier prepared for our other colleagues.

Of all the dishes savored during our stay, the desserts were what I relished the most. My favorite has to be the hot pepper ice cream, which was unusual yet delightful. It was a most curious taste—bold and sensual, as the burn of the cracked pepper played off the sweetness and chill of the dessert, making for an interesting counterpoint.

That being said, our stay at Discovery Shores was a luxurious thrill which I wouldn’t have any problem enjoying all over again, although next time I do hope to get a room which gives me a better view of the pool instead of guests at the business center across from us, or the staff walking to and from what appeared to be a stock room. (This was room 117, so beware.) Sure, there were blinds to shade us from all those goings-on but I would rather see through the clear windows with an unimpeded view of the gorgeous resort layout. And because the room was across the main building where some construction was still ongoing, I could hear the loud hammerings of the workers on the second floor. For its part, Discovery promises that all building work will be completed by November.

While the suites are all brilliantly designed, my quarrel was just with the layout of the vanity area. The mirror hung above a sink which was often wet, as most sinks are. There was hardly space to place one’s makeup brushes, blushes, powders and creams, thus it was kind of difficult to put my face on. Also, the shower area was only half enclosed in glass so after a bath, the floor leading to the toilet would be drenched, and we always had to mop up with a foot towel. (I am quite anal about dry bathroom floors.)

And while the butlers are a nice touch to the whole Discovery Shores experience, I think they still have to work on being unobtrusive because after a while, having one come around with something new every five or 10 minutes can be a tad annoying. Butlers should always be ready to attend to one’s needs but, at the same time, remain invisible.

Pool butlers are at the guests' beck and call.

Overall, the resort’s cuisine does need some improvement in keeping with its ultra-luxe branding. More choices for weight- and health-conscious guests would be most welcome, say sugar-free desserts, and a better breakfast spread instead of the limiting array of rather bland pork and beef choices. I’ve eaten in smaller hotels and resorts where even their egg station offered more worthy ingredients for one’s runny scrambled eggs. Truth to tell I’m not really a breakfast person but on the occasion that I do wake up early, I would like to be wowed by the morning food options. So I was left wondering whether on normal days, and without Chef Pardo de Ayala around, would the food still be as delicious as the special meals he had prepared for us?

Having said that, whether one is staying at Discovery Shores or any other resort, what will take any guest’s breath away is really the fabulous white beach of Boracay. A stay on the island will never be complete without a walk on the beach, or laying down on the fine white sand, and a swim in its clear cool waters. And that to me, will always be the height of true luxury.

Of course, staying at Discovery Shores does make for a splendid bonus.

Getting away from it all

(Staying at Discovery Shores in Boracay was a different kind of experience altogether. More on that in a future blog entry.)

Something Like Life
Aug. 31, 2007

GOING on an extended vacation, where you just want to be by yourself, away from all the pressures of city living and demands on your time, isn’t as simple as it used to be anymore.

After going through some unfortunate family events in the past few months, I thought it was time for me to take a break, at least two weeks, to get my head together and revive my spirit. This would only be the second time in my entire adult life that I would take off all by myself and try to relax solo.

At the onset, it was difficult to explain to my usual travel buddies why I wasn’t inviting them along on my holiday. Of course, there was also the mother creature whom I had to persuade to live with my sister and her family during the time I would be away so she wouldn’t have to be all alone at home. I was just in dire need of some alone time.

Then, there was the packing. I realize that as one gets older and becomes a creature of habit, there are just certain items that one can’t live without. First of all there was the matter of what toiletries to bring.

When I was in my 20s, I was quite content with just a small bag of toiletries containing my toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, cologne, baby powder, foundation, eyeliner and lipstick. On this last trip, I had to bring two kikay kits along—one for my toiletries, which now included age-defying creams (for daytime and nighttime), and another for all my makeup (eyeshadow, mascara, lash curler, blush, brushes, lipliner, lipsticks and lipgloss).

(The main pool at Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu. Heaven!)

Even what resort wear to bring has become a tad complicated. I never ever packed jeans while on vacation, as I was quite content living in my shorts and T-shirts every day, whether at the beach or in any resort. But now I found myself packing a pair of jeans, black capri pants and a few light long-sleeved tops for cocktails I needed to attend at a resort. And, no, the sarong over the bathing suit just doesn’t work anymore...I had to have my lounging tunics as well.

Whereas before I used only one purse which took me from day to night, nowadays I would bring three different bags of varying sizes. One is a casual bag small enough to put in my wallet, two cell phones and a lipstick for that quick trip to D’Mall or some café; a medium-sized bag made of banig to bring to the beach or the pool, carrying—besides those items mentioned previously—sunblock for my face, sunblock for my body, a book and a magazine, and a bottle of water; and, last, a large foldable all-purpose bag to accommodate all other items that I expect would no longer fit in my luggage on my way back from vacation. (We girls always end up with more stuff than what we had originally brought for our holiday, don’t we?)

Truth to tell, I was even going to bring my iBook because I had never taken a leave from work that long. (The last time I did, laptops had yet to be in vogue.) I thought I might get some writing done while I was away. But then I had already locked myself in my home office for three days straight before my vacation, just finishing my assignments and advancing stories for my editor abroad. All that work would have been all for nought. I had to draw the line and do a mental check, convincing myself that I could live without my iBook for the duration of my holiday. I was only supposed to read a book or two, lounge by the pool or beach, and eat without guilt. So I unpacked the iBook and banished it to my cabinet.

Still, as I was about to begin my vacation to Cebu and Boracay, I found myself at the airport trying to stand upright as I struggled with my mid-sized luggage on wheels, a backpack and a purse! Ack!

In Cebu the sun was out and the heat was on, tricking my brain into thinking it was still summer. My hotel room overlooked the ocean and the inviting pool below, which I thought I would be enjoying for next few days. After a quick merienda, I took a leisurely walk around the hotel’s splendidly manicured grounds and made a quick tour of the hotel spa, and was calmed by the wonderful scents permeating throughout. Off I was dreaming of my own day of wellness.

(Tourists watch a local para-wakeboarding – not quite sure if that's the right term for the sport – in Boracay.)

With the constant breeze from the ocean cooling me, and the relative quiet of the surroundings, I was lulled into thinking that I was in for two weeks of relaxation...until someone mentioned that I had narrowly missed a typhoon which by then had been battering Metro Manila, plunging it into a flooded mess. The comment threw me off-track and quickly put me on my “city” mode. For the next two hours, I was glued to the TV set in my room watching ANC for more news of the typhoon.

I then made the mistake of checking my cell phone, which I had put on silent mode supposedly in keeping with my vacation. But there was a text from a friend back in Manila asking me how the weather was in Cebu. He added that it was flooding everywhere in the metropolis and the rains were just pouring unabated. That did it! I had to once more check myself and mentally struggled to shift back to “relaxation” gear once more. So I hurriedly changed into my bathing suit and went for a few laps in the pool that had beckoned to me only the day before.

I managed to catch a few winks as well in between my magazine reading, then it was time for lunch. But then, I foolishly passed the business center on the way back to my room. The next few minutes caught me plunked down on my sofa reading the Asian Wall Street Journal’s analysis of the subprime credit mess in the US. Oh, good grief!

Over the next few days, I was lounging at the pool—and hanging out at the business center, watching the TV news (this time, CNN as well), reading the AWSJ and, ultimately, succumbing to checking my e-mail on my cell phone, even as I continued to myself that I had switched on the vacation response option on all my e-mail servers.

I thought things would be different when I landed in Boracay. But as soon as I had lunch and had leisurely eaten my favorite dessert of lemon tart and coffee, I was off looking for an Internet café. After two hours, I had already read all my e-mails, chatted via YM with some friends back in Manila, and updated my news blog (http://sludge.wordpress.com). Arrgh!

That being said, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful for this spot of “me” time. And, of course, there were a few days when the endorphins and dopamines kept me happy and calm, especially after a few visits to the spa and some delicious meals with my favorite reds. I was also able to sleep soundly throughout the night, waking up feeling quite refreshed. I also have a slight tan and my slowly fading dyed hair to prove I had been using the pool and the beach and not simply parading my bathing suits. But I was foolish to think that in this day and age, I could still get away from everything that would remind me of my frenetic life back in Manila.

Vacations are no longer as easy as leaving your watch in your hotel room or switching off your cell phone. As we get older, the packing becomes a bitch. Gone are the days when my vacation consisted of a few clothes and my toothbrush and toothpaste in a small backpack. (On my way back to Manila, it became the luggage on wheels, backpack, the large now-unfolded all-purpose bag, as well as a box of sweet treats from Boracay. Oh, brother!) And as technology pervades every corner of our lives, we will never again be so isolated and alone no matter how far away from Manila we go. All hotel rooms now have TV, our cell phones are always within range of cell sites, and even if we don’t bring our laptops, there are Internet cafés everywhere to pander to our Web surfing habit.

Now, did someone mention Bhutan?

(My column, Something Like Life, is published every Friday in the Life section of the BusinessMirror. All photos by the author.)

A Holy Week food trip down south

(Casa San Pablo's grilled tilapia in banana leaves)

Text and photos by Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo
BusinessMirror, April 27, 2007

THERE is nothing like good old Filipino cuisine to tide over the hungry tummy while abstaining from meat during the Lenten holidays.

I was lucky to have partaken of really simple but sumptuous traditional Filipino meals in San Pablo, Laguna, although I did surrender to some Italian fare, meatless nonetheless, on Good Friday. (I did try to stay away from the grilled pork but, yeah, I confess to spearing two pieces from my friend’s plate. Mmmm….)

Casa San Pablo, a quaint and rustic inn where we spent the Holy Week, served up some of the most sincere home-cooked meals that made me an instant fan of Laguna cooking. There is surely more to Laguna than its buko pie.

Healthy and light
Casa San Pablo’s meals are a divine testament of how Filipino cuisine can be almost effortless to create, but deliver a delicious kick in the way each dish melds all flavors of each ingredient. Making full use of its homegrown product, the coconut, and tilapia from the nearby Sampaloc Lake, the inn’s cuisine is healthy and light.

My favorite was the kulawo, basically some mashed grilled eggplant in smoked coconut milk. According to innkeeper Boots Alcantara, the eggplant is grilled in its skin before being peeled then mashed. Instead of just using young coconut milk, hot burning charcoal is rubbed all over the coconut making it toasty. Thereafter, the coconut meat is grated and squeezed in vinegar to milk it. The gata is then mixed with the mashed eggplant along with onions and some chili peppers, thus giving the dish its smoky tasty flavor. I don’t like eggplants but this dish was beyond belief in its simplicity but truly delectable, I didn’t mind a repeat during the week.

Another favorite was the grilled tilapia wrapped in banana leaf, which was juicy and succulent, my mouth still waters just as the thought of it. I could taste the freshness of the fish with each bite. Casa also serves a special dipping sauce of grilled tomatoes mixed with soy sauce and vinegar that complemented the tender flakes of the tilapia.

(Kulawo na talong)

Although its breakfast fare consisted of the average cacophony of sinangag (garlic fried rice), red salted eggs with chopped tomato and onions, pork tocino or sausages, it was still about uncomplicated hearty dishes. Casa also serves hot chocolate with toasted pinipig (flattened glutinous rice) on the side, making each breakfast day truly uplifting.

Most dishes are Alcantara family recipes, which is why every Casa San Pablo meal epitomizes what we all yearn for, lutong bahay.

Casa San Pablo accepts dine-in customers who may wish to partake of its daily buffet at P350 per head. Breakfast is from 7 am to 10 am, lunch 12 noon to 2 pm, and dinner from 7 pm to 9 pm. Breakfast or lunch with a room, which may be used from 9 am to 5 pm, is P750 per head.

Fiesta fare
For some reason, Good Friday usually brings out the egg salad sandwiches in most homes in San Pablo. We had it at Casa, then again at the home of Maris Capino, from whose balcony we watched a procession of saintly images. Egg salad is probably the easiest sandwich filling to make and one of my childhood baon favorites. Just hardboil an egg or two, then mash them and blend in some mayonnaise. Add a little salt and pepper to taste and spread over white bread (somehow it doesn’t taste as good when spread over whole wheat, but then that’s just me). Voila! Yummy egg salad sandwiches!

Maris also served really scrumptious crunchy turon (fried saba bananas in lumpia wrapper) which, in contrast to those served in Manila, were more banana than wrapper, thus making each bite truly a delight. Maris’s simple fiesta fare also included refreshing turnips (that’s singkamas to the lot of you), which I haven’t had the pleasure of eating in years. I had to consciously stop myself after I realized my right hand was robotically reaching then plopping the singakamas pieces into my mouth.

While everyone was still in mourning on Black Saturday, my travel buddy and I were celebrating the fantastic cuisine of Kusina Salud. Owned by couturier Patis Tesoro, the restaurant showcases traditional Filipino dishes whipped up by its chef Paul Poblador, husband to Patis’ daughter Nina. While local ingredients are used, Chef Paul gives them a modern twist, thus elevating traditional Filipino recipes to a level of French bistro-like sophistication.

Who would’ve ever thought that garlic spaghetti would complement a plate of carabao salpicao? The carabao meat was supremely tender and tasty by the way. Or how about the Hot! Crispy! Hito! (yes, the menu provides all the exclamation points for emphasis), where the catfish is fried to crunchy perfection then bathed in chili mango sauce? The cooks also accommodated our request of a vegetable dish to balance off our rather meaty dishes, and offered us an off-menu dish of simple sautéed pechay which turned out to be quite tasty and pleasant. Now that’s what I call service! The brewed coffee, which was infused with the aroma and taste of pandan leaves, was also outstanding.

Kusina Salud also offers lunch buffets every Sunday.

Thin-crust pizzas!
(La Pizzeria staff prepare to serve some sumptuous pizzas for loyal clientele and new fans from Manila.)

Amid our celebration of traditional Filipino cuisine, we discovered, with the help of Boots, La Pizzeria, which serves what is perhaps the best thin-crust pizza this side of the world! Its owner, we were told, studied to be a chef, and uses only the finest Italian ingredients in generous quantities. The pizzas are baked in a real woodfire brick oven, which gives the pizza its smoky and crunchy flavor.

We ordered the Romana, which is totally meatless—only thick tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, anchovies, capers, oregano, and olive oil. The Quatro Formaggio is also truly divine, with four cheeses—mozzarella, parmesan, romano, and feta—melting their wonderful flavors into each other. There is no restaurant to speak of as regulars just course their orders through the cashier in a gas station. The actual pizza parlor consists of one tall table and stool parked in front of the cooks’ working area, so it gets extremely hot inside the rather small place. Customers thus eat their pizzas while seated on monobloc stools and plastic tables around the gas station’s convenience store.

Of course we just had to return to La Pizzeria on Easter Sunday to take home some of those yummy pizzas back to Manila. The convenience store, by the way, also serves strong coffee concoctions, both hot and chilled, which my travel buddy swears to be better than Starbucks! What a great find indeed!

For a food trip down south, be sure to swing by San Pablo, Laguna, and enjoy all the pleasures of Filipino and, yes, Italian cuisines.

Casa San Pablo is located within the Gomez Compound in barangay San Roque; Kusina Salud is in barangay Sta. Cruz, Putol; and La Pizzeria is in the Total gas station along Maharlika Highway.

The big birthday bash

(YATS Chef Philip Golding gives me a cleaver to slice our delectable birthday cake. Photo by Dudubel)

I turned another year older last Saturday, and as expected, it didn't turn out to be a quiet walk towards impending senility.

The gang and I motored over to the Clark free port over the weekend and engaged in a few days of mayhem. It was actually a joint birthday celebration for a number of us, starting with Mago and Dudubel in January, and me in February, along with Buntis who celebrates her natal day on Valentine's Day. Unfortunately, Buntis couldn't join us due to a previous appointment...achuus.

While the resort we stayed at was clearly a shadow of its former self, we still managed to enjoy ourselves mainly because of the really super nice people we met in several establishments, and the fun activities we had. Some played the slots at the casino, while the others stayed in the villa for some card games. It turned out to be a mighty profitable weekend for some of us hehe.

(The gang at play poses for a 'beauty shot'.)

We had a surprisingly inexpensive lunch at the YATS Wine Club co-owned by Chef Philip Golding who served as vintage beer for starters, some Chianti to go with our main course of salmon, steak and risotto, and port to close our meal. Advised earlier of the dietary restrictions of a few in the group, Golding served us some delectable sugar-free white chocolates, and thereafter gifted us with oh-so-heavenly sugar-free cheese cake. The cake was so good even the non-diabetics in the gang devoured it when there were three other sugar-rich cakes just waiting to be eaten. Ang kapal nyo ha!

Philip showed us his extensive collection of wines and two of his wine "cellars", which were actually not cellars but temperature-controlled rooms chockfull of absolutely gorgeous vinos from everywhere imaginable. I asked if I could live in his cellar where I would be very happy just drinking all the good stuff. The wines don't come cheap, of course, and he proudly showed off his P1-million wine, a bottle from Chateau Margaux. There was also another Chateau Margaux bottled in 1803 (P125,000), and I asked Philip what it would taste like considering it was really old and that it had probably been subjected to massive temperature fluctuations before it finally landed in his hands. He said he was dying to find out, and I of course had the temerity to rain on his parade by saying that he could have also ended up with a rather expensive bottle of vinegar! Hahaha!


(I'm not very partial to carbonara, but this version at C' is lusciously creamy with some earthy notes.)

Aside from the casinos and the indoor card games, some of us managed to do a bit of shopping and I for one, finally found Aquafresh Extreme Clean at Puregold, and rather inexpensive Carnation Hazelnut Coffee Creamer in larger containers unlike those sold here in Manila. Duty-free shopping of course is not what it used to be in Clark, and the goods are no longer as inexpensive and varied as before. Time was when I used to buy all my toilet paper at Clark (or Subic) because they were imported and more reasonably priced than our local brands, and what's more they were thick and absorbent. Okay, so I have a thing for plush toilet paper...shoot me.

But it wasn't just fun and games for us over the weekend as we were able to sit down and chat with Chicos Luciano, president of the Clark International Airport Corp. who gave us a rundown of the exciting new developments in the aviation field in Clark. For a government official, Luciano is one heck of a regular guy. He drove himself from Quezon City on a Sunday, without any bodyguards in tow, just to meet with us. He is so amiable and kind, constantly giving in to snickers at our antics, but he definitely knew his stuff. He rattled off facts and figures like they lived in his head and was generous with the information we needed for our slew of Clark stories. If all government officials were like Mr. Luciano, we would have one heck of a super efficient bureaucracy.

(Oooh, panizza! Yum!)

Luciano thereafter treated us to an ultra-sumptuous meal at the "C" Italian restaurant on Fields Ave., said to be a favorite of my favorite presidentita GMA, Imee Marcos, Luli Arroyo, Sharon Cuneta, and a few other celebrities, as well as CEO expats now living in Clark. Some of its fans actually drive to Clark (now a very fast one hour drive on the repaved NCLEX) from Manila just to have a meal there.

Its best seller is the panizza, the creation of its Swiss-born "Chef Patron" Chris Locher, which is really a super-thin crust pizza sliced diagonally, and which you can top with alfalfa sprouts and arugula. Chris tells us that a few times in a month, when the presidentita has her "cravings", PSG guards would turn up at "C" to take out panizza for the madam. Our meal last Sunday consisted of deliciously creamy risotto, very tender slices of angus beef, a different take on Pasta Amatriciana, and yummy yummy flavors of gelato. The strawberry and lemon-mandarin gelatos are really to die for.

Too bad that Chef Locher doesn't want to put up a branch in Manila. He tells me that while he has been with the Philippines for quite awhile, he absolutely abhors Manila. So grab your cars people and take a trip down to Clark soon if you want to have a taste of Chef Locher's brilliant dishes, designed to please every foodie bone in your body.

Props goes to publicist Mike Marasigan (my ex-boss at BusinessWorld, imagine that!) who was able to facilitate the great getaway, along with Clark Development Corp. tourism officer, the ever cheerful Noemi Garcia. Thanks guys! We really had a blast!

Holiday jewels of Northern Cebu

WITH all eyes focusing on the Asean Summit this week, no doubt its participants will be curious what the province has to offer aside from the danggit, the lechon, and spicy chicharon they've all probably heard about.

About 3,000 delegates are expected for the four-day high-level meet and greet, and most hotels and resorts have already gussied up since last year, eagerly anticipating the arrival of their very important international guests.

Cebu has always been one of my must-go places, especially for vacations. Despite its immense popularity among tourists, both local and foreign, it has yet to get crowded, as say, Boracay island.

Resorts are scattered all over the island province offering all levels of facilities, amenities, food, and recreation designed to fit every vacationer's budget.

While most tourists stay in the city hotels and the resorts on Mactan, there are still other jewels to be found to the north of this province which offer more than just the usual breathtaking sites.

(More at GMA News TV.)

BORN TO BE A HOTELIER

In an exclusive interview, Accor Asia-Pacific managing director Michael Issenberg talks about his love for his job, Bruce Springsteen and when it is okay to walk away from a deal.

WHEN Michael Issenberg took over as managing director of Accor Asia-Pacific in 2003, the worldwide tourism market was in a flux. SARS had broken out in China and Hong Kong, the war against Iraq had commenced, then there were bombings in Bali and Jakarta, Indonesia. In 2004, just as the tourism industry began to recover, a tsunami struck major tourist destinations such as Thailand, where Accor lost 160 guests and about 50 hotel staff, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Last year, SARS had threatened to rear its ugly head again while most Asia-Pacific countries, including the Philippines, continued to be on heightened alert against threats of terrorism.

“You have to expect the unexpected,” says Issenberg, when asked what he learned from all these incidents. “We have spent a fair amount of time improving our crisis planning and making sure that procedures do not sit in a draw.”

Nevertheless, he says in an e-mail interview with BusinessMirror, “Asia- Pacific remains the most exciting part of the world for the hotel industry.”

Compared to these incidents, journalist killings, terrorist threats, and regular coup rumors seem to be miniscule although still factors to be considered for a tourist to decide whether to travel to the Philippines or elsewhere. Issenberg appears undeterred and believes “there is definitely a big future for Accor in the Philippines.”

In February last year, Issenberg himself flew in to deliver the good news to eager Filipino fans. The Accor hotel group, he says, will be unveiling its flagship hotel in the country this year—a refurbished and improved Philippine Plaza, to be renamed the Sofitel Philippine Plaza. Last March, the hotel opened its premier dining outlet, Spiral, which features an interactive dining concept featuring different cuisines from all corners of the globe.

Finding the right chemistry
Sofitel is the Accor group’s luxury five-star hotel brand and promises to lend the fine French flair of living to the Philippine Plaza, much loved for its breathtaking view of Manila Bay’s sunsets.

“Having the right partners is crucial to success. We believe that we have the right owner [Philippine Plaza Holdings Inc.] that is committed to the future of the hotel,” Issenberg says.

And Issenberg has been doing just that. He has been traveling all over Asia—most recently in China, Vietnam and India—trying to find the right chemistry with local partners to establish Accor’s brands. But it won’t be a numbers game to him, even as he tries to fill the shoes of his predecessor Jochen Dobel, who managed to add 80 hotels to the Accor group during his tenure.

“When I took over Asia, there was a fair amount of ‘me’ first attitude. My priority was to instill a team spirit across Asia similar to the Pacific,” he stresses.

Issenberg has played a pivotal role in the success of Accor’s hotel and tourism network across the Pacific region. He joined Accor in 1994 as regional general manager and within a year was promoted to chief executive officer of Accor’s hotel and tourism operations in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. He assumed the managing director position in the region in 1998.

In that time, the Accor hotel network in Australia and New Zealand increased from 40 to over 110 hotels. Issenberg has also been credited for his role in developing the hotel group’s interests in associated businesses in Australia including the Cairns Reef Casino, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Summit Restaurant, Blue Line Cruises and Accor Premier Vacation Club. It was also during his tenure when the Base Backpacker Hostel brand in which Accor is a minority shareholder was established in New Zealand in 2003 and Australia in 2004.

Issenberg has certainly come a long way from Boston, Massachusetts, where he was born, the youngest of three children of Danny and Ann Issenberg. His father owned his business manufacturing juice products, while his mother was a stay-at-home mom which was typical in those days. Growing up, Issenberg worked “casually” in various hotels during the summer vacation as busboy, dishwasher, waiter, bartender, or cook, and as part-time work while he was attending school.

“However, for me, it was more than just earning some money. I fell in love with excitement of the industry.” He says he has been a hotelier since he was 16 “so it’s pretty hard to imagine another career.”

He eventually graduated with a degree in hotel administration in 1981 from Cornell University. Thereafter, he built a successful career that include executive officer positions in Westin Hotels and Resorts, Laventhol & Horwath and Horwath & Horwath Services Pty Ltd in San Francisco and Sydney. Prior to joining Accor Asia-Pacific, he spent five years as chief executive officer of hotels for Mirvac Ltd., one of Australia’s largest hotel companies.

Balancing home and career
The Issenberg family vacationing in Shanghai, from left, Jacob, Rachel, Michael, and Elizabeth. (Photo courtesy of Michael Issenberg)

It was there in Sydney, where the tall transplanted American met his wife Elizabeth, with whom he now has a 13-year-old boy Jacob, and 10-year-old girl Rachel.

“I came for work on a two-year assignment. I could not believe how much opportunity there was in Australia’s hotel industry…. I married a beautiful Australian woman, no doubt one of the biggest reasons why I remained in Australia,” Issenberg explains. Elizabeth, he says, stays home and “manages the family as I travel so often.”

But like many regional chief executives with a lot of countries to oversee, he says it has been quite difficult to balance his family and career. On occasion his work has had to take a backseat to his family.

“It is always a difficult balance…. I have missed many a company meeting for my family, but I cannot recall ever missing anything crucial. On the reverse, I have missed a few family events as well,” he confesses.

To relax, although he hastens to add that there is not nearly enough time for that as well, he loves to watch or participate in sports such as golf or go scuba diving.

“I love almost all sports. I enjoy the competitive nature.” He also listens to music, mostly rock and roll, and admits to being a “Bruce Springsteen fan at heart.” (Hmm…is that “Born in the USA” playing in the background?)

His favorite author is John Irving “because his stories are always unusual,” and says the last book he read was the latter’s latest novel, Until I Find You. How Issenberg was able to plod through the somewhat meandering tale of Jack Burns in search of his father over 820 pages and actually finish it, is a feat worthy of any sportsman!

Asked what his most defining trait is, Issenberg says, “I’m a very frank person. Ask me a question and you will get my honest answer.”

It was very evident in his e-mailed responses to BusinessMirror’s questionnaire, that he is very brief as well. Direct to the point.

Hands-on manager
As a manager, Issenberg says he is a hands-on type of guy. “I like to know what is going on in a fair amount of detail. However, once someone has earned my trust, that earns a lot of freedom.”

He describes Accor’s own management style as “people-focused,” which may be not different from other hospitality organizations, but insists “it is very different from companies in other industries.”

The best management tip he learned from his predecessor and other bosses? “Never be afraid to say no, even it means you have to walk away from a deal, a piece of business, or partnership that has not worked out.”

And so walk away Accor did in 1998, after experiencing some difficulties with its first Filipino partner, another hotel by the bay. Only to turn around and return in 2002, through Century Suites, a budget hotel in Quezon City. The latter was part of the Accor group’s acquisition of the Century Group that year.

With its management of Philippine Plaza, the Accor group is certainly back with a bang (very apropos for turbulent Manila), eager to establish its dominance in the Philippine hotel industry.

“Whilst we definitely believe there is an opportunity in the economy sector, we felt that it was important to reenter the market with a flagship property that made a statement,” says Issenberg.

Now that it has “the right property” to reestablish the Accor name in the market, it may not be too long to see more of its hotel brands in the country. Issenberg says, “We will now actively look for other opportunities to launch our Novotel, Mercure and Ibis hotel brands in the Philippines.”

(My interview with Michael Issenberg was published in the Perspective section of the BusinessMirror, Jan. 12, 2006.)