The Bellarocca is a resort full of contrasts. “Bella” is Italian (or Greek?) for beautiful, “rocca” is rock. This small, green island off the edge of Marinduque (Philippines) is home to white-walled architecture inspired by Santorini (Greece). The white structures beautifully float from the green foliage and the azure sea, framed by the blue sky.
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No Comments » The Manor at Camp John Hay, Baguio City
They say the early bird gets the worm. True. But there’s more. Those who rise early get to discover that this early, the first week of November, there’s fog in Metro Manila. Yes, fog, not smog. A truly wonderful sight. It’s so beautiful (well, at least for those with roof over their heads), with the
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The Pacific Waves Resorts in Bulacan
It’s not exactly summer. Swimming pools are no longer the top pick for a weekend getaway. However, when somebody mentioned taking the kids for a pool gathering in Pacific Waves, the prospect of checking out a new resort erased all thoughts about the rainy season.
Spiral at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila
Spiral. It’s a curve which emanates from a central point, getting progressively farther away as it revolves around the point. This is how “spiral” is characterized in mathematics and in general language. In cuisine, Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila characterizes “spiral” in this manner: “Manila’s most fashionable eatery is a concept restaurant with multi-cuisine open cooking
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Zoocobia Fun Zoo and Paradise Ranch (Sacobia, Clarkfield, Pampanga)
A destination oftentimes presents a welcome surprise, a deviation from the usual image associated with it. Take, for instance, Clarkfield in Pampanga. Foremost that may come to mind is the U.S. airbase, long gone, and the existing economic zone. There’s the Macapagal airport, hub of budget airlines. It’s the venue of the annual hot air
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Corregidor Inn (Corregidor Island)
Some hotels are memorable because of scenic views, found along beautiful beaches. Some hotels are legendary because of their structure and facilities. Some are found in the city, with easy access to meeting/convention places and night life. The Corregidor Inn, sometimes called the Corregidor Hotel and Resort, has a different allure.
Manila Hotel: A Historical Landmark
General Douglas MacArthur, the Commander of the U.S. Armed Forces Far East (USAFFE), lived at the Manila Hotel. His comfortable stay was disrupted by the Japanese when it attacked Pearl Harbor on 8 December 1941, reaching the Philippines shortly thereafter. With the Philippine defenses crumbling, Gen. MacArthur retreated to Corregidor then to Australia in 1942,
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Peace of Mind in Club Balai Isabel (Talisay, Batangas)
Taal Volcano and Taal Lake (Batangas)
We all know that the Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire. We have volcanoes for neighbors in our communities. The beautiful Mayon Volcano in Albay, with its world-famous perfect cone. Mt. Pinatubo,which exploded in 1991, the world’s largest explosion in living memory that caused global temperature to dip half a degree (celcius).
Microtel Inns & Suites (Sto. Tomas, Batangas)
The location of Microtel Inns & Suites (Sto. Tomas, Batangas) makes sense if we consider that it’s inside an economic zone, the First Philippine Industrial Park, which naturally holds foreign-owned locators (various economic zones scattered throughout the Philippines, under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority or PEZA, offer tax breaks and other incentives to encourage foreign
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Discovery Suites (Ortigas Center, Pasig City)
The larger-than-normal orange-colored chair at the lobby neatly summarizes the weird feeling one gets while checking-in at the Discovery Suites. It’s probably like having tea with Alice in Wonderland‘s Mad Hatter, except that the madness here seems to be the identity crisis of the Suites (though in a good way).
Laiya Coco Grove (San Juan, Batangas)
Summer. The most wonderful time of the year, for some. It’s also the time when El Nino throws an extra punch. Low in water, which in turn means less electricity supply and more blackouts. The heat . . . well, could you say more except people are dying from heat stroke? We need an antidote
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Summer Getaway at Laiya, Batangas
Grande Island Resort, Subic
I’ve been to Subic many times, but still haven’t visited the Grande Island Resort (and I still get lost in Subic roads. Maybe there’s a downside in always looking at all the traffic signs, especially the “stop” signs. if you haven’t heard, traffic laws are strictly enforced in Subic).
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Surprises in Angat Dam
Culinary Bet on the Red Crab
Rowena’s Tarts and
House of Wagyu Stone Grill at
The Original Hawaiian
