If you’re looking for a laptop that you will use for business and heavy creative work. The Lenovo Thinkbook 15P could be the laptop that you’re looking for. It packs with a lot of features that will cater to the needs of any creative pro.
Mother’s Day is fast approaching – a day solely dedicated to the most special woman in our life. Show mom the appreciation and gratitude that she deserves – plan a refreshing staycation for her, complete with special dinner, or a relaxing massage. Let her pause from the demands of her daily routines and treat her to a quick getaway. For only Php2,200nett, take mom to a pampering overnight stay at Go Hotels Butuan with a complimentary massage for two. In the mood for a fun and heartfelt conversation with her? Talk about it over dinner at Go Iligan. For the same price of Php2,200nett, go on an overnight stay with breakfast for 2 and complimentary dinner exclusively for mom. Truly a wonderful time to give back and a weekend to look forward to! These deals will definitely make her feel pampered and loved.
New Normal staycations at Go Hotels are anchored with Robinsons Hotels and Resorts’ Circle of Clean elevated standard of hygiene and cleanliness that are based on World Health Organization and DOH New
Normal protocols. We provide a worry-free stay experience for our guests from pre-arrival to post departure touch points implemented in all Go Hotels nationwide.
Promo runs until May 15, 2021. For the complete terms & conditions visit us at www.gohotels.ph or via Hotel hotlines. (02-8-397-0111), 0917-888-7788 and 0998-888-7788
Get ready to pack your summer essentials with Go Hotels Tacloban’s Summer Promo! This cozy hotel recently reopened its doors last March 1, 2021, launching the extension of their “Live Love Local” promotion to all its local residents. This special offer can be availed for only Php2,000.00 from March 29 to April 4, 2021 – just present your travel documents as mandated by the local government unit. With this, all guests are entitled to a 5% discount at Patron Casual Dining, and to beat the heat, rate comes with complimentary access to Summit Hotel Tacloban’s iconic pool lounge. If you opt to just stay in, relax, and go on a movie marathon with the family, the room only promo rate of Php2,000.00 is valid until April 30, 2021. The fifth installment of the Summit brand showcases a contemporary design with a tropical ambiance which perfectly sets the atmosphere for that complete and affordable summer experience within a few steps away!
Guests would also be able to experience a whole new level of “New Normal” accommodation at Go Hotels anchored with Robinsons Hotels and Resorts’ elevated standard of hygiene and cleanliness based on World Health Organization and Department of Health and Sanitation protocols. This ensures a worry-free stay experience for our guests from pre-arrival to post-departure touch points implemented in all Go Hotels nationwide.
Moreover, since Go Hotels Tacloban is just adjacent to Robinsons Mall, guests can shop conveniently for travel essentials. Also, if you are looking for a place to process your government-related documents, the hotel is just a few steps away from the Lingkod Pinoy Center, which provides services from various government agencies including Social Security System, Department of Foreign affairs, and many more.
For the complete terms & conditions visit us at www.gohotels.ph or call our Happy to Care hotline at (02-8-397-0111), 0917-888-7788, and 0998-888-7788
PARAÑAQUE, PHILIPPINES (DECEMBER 19, 2019) – Filipino seaplane pioneering operator Airtrav Philippines and Sunlight Eco Tourism Island Resort strengthened their partnership to elevate the travel experience from Manila to Coron and vice-versa, heading into 2020.
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Airtrav Philippines and Sunlight Eco Tourism Island Resort sign a contract to fortify their partnership, with an eye to elevate the travel experience from Manila to Coron and Vice Versa heading into 2020. |
The partnership between two parties will ensure future patrons of Sunlight Eco Tourism Island Resort guaranteed seats on Airtrav’s Seaplane flying to and from Coron’s luxury resort three times a week.
The contract signing is attended by VP for Sales & Marketing of Airtrav Philippines, Ann Margaret Ngui with Sales Manager, Jema Ng; Sunlight Eco Tourism Island Resort’s Vice President Ryna Brito with Corporate General Manager, Edmund M. Valencia.
Check out my vlog about my experience flying a Seaplane!
Elevate your getaway experience with Airtrav. For more details, you may contact Airtrav Philippines at 0927-382-8883 or visit www.airtrav.ph.
Airtrav Philippines continues to expand the business by offering a scenic aerial tour around the beautiful island of Boracay! Airtrav Philippines will fly passengers on a 15-minute tour above the gorgeous white sand beaches of Boracay. This service will be having a soft launch on July 26 – 28, 2019, and will continue on weekends in August.
Check out my vlog about my experience flying via Seaplane!
For more details, please visit https://www.facebook.com/airtravph/ or email sales@airtrav.ph. Airtrav provides comfort and convenience. Book a flight now and experience a new way to fly.
Starting July, Waterside takes tacos and tequilas to a whole new level every Tuesday. Tuck into tacos at a special price and get 50% off on their Mai Tai cocktails. Chef Hylton Le Roux, Chef de Cuisine of Waterside, take your taste buds on a roller-coaster ride of Latin-inspired flavors with every crunch and every bite.
Gather your amigos and comer todos los tacos! Available from 5:30 PM to 11:00 PM.
Check out the pictures below for some mouth watering dishes they have prepared for this treat!
Waterside is a Latin-inspired fine dining restaurant offering an authentic ensemble of fine Latin food staples. It is the perfect backdrop for an intimate get-together with family and friends with its indulgent, sumptuous food selection and luxurious ambiance. Home to the finest Latin-inspired cuisine, its kitchen is packed with an import of fresh and authentic products from Mexico, ready to serve hungry customers.
Among the Waterside’s signature dishes are the star course Paella Valenciana, the must-try Peruvian Chicken, the seafood dish Jalea Mixta and the traditional Spanish stew with a Filipino twist Callos.
Aside from savory meals, Waterside offers a wide selection of alcoholic beverages, including tequila, rums, wines, and beers, as well as some local products to retain the Filipino touch, namely the now-popular craft beers from the Engkanto brewery.
OPERATING HOURS
(Lunch) Sat – Sun. 12:00PM – 3:00PM
(Dinner) Mon – Sun. 6:00PM –11:00PM
(Bar Tapas) Mon – Sun. 10:00AM – 01:00AM
Waterside’s mouth-watering menu is carefully curated by the South Africa-born Hylton Le Roux, a seasoned chef with experience in well-known freestanding restaurants in London, including the popular restaurants of Gordon Ramsay such as the one at London’s Savoy Hotel, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and The Fat Duck.
Easing off a busy day with your compañeros is made exciting by Waterside with its happy hour offers. Unlimited margaritas, wine, and beer paired with unlimited nachos are available every day from 5:30PM to 8:30PM.
WATERSIDE TWILIGHT HOURS
Spicing up late-night gatherings is no problemo with Waterside’s happy hour offers. Enjoy Latin-inspired bites and drinks from 10:00PM to 1:00AM.
The Weekend Jam, which coincides with the restaurant’s Happy Hour, happens every Friday and Saturday starting at 7:00 PM. The entertainment program allows customers to push weekday stress to the side and usher in the weekend vibe as they dive into unlimited nachos and overflowing margaritas – all of this happening while being serenaded by Solaire’s featured artists.
The Solaire Entertainment Team (SET), headed by their director Audie Gemora, has carefully selected performers for the Weekend Jam — hot musical acts that complement the restaurant’s Latin cuisine. Every Friday this July, heating the stage with Latina fire will be vocalist and keyboardist Emcy Faustino, who is joined by saxophonist Dix Lucero and percussionist Laura Austria. On July 13, Eileen Sison will be taking the stage. In the succeeding Saturdays, July 20 and 27, the crowd shall be enamored with Angela Vera’s music.
Just on its second week, Weekend Jam is already gaining traction as guests are found to enjoy listening to good music while being served great food. The weekly live musical program is just one of the many progressive entertainment offerings of Solaire.
Crimson Hotel Celebrates World Chocolate Day FILINVEST CITY, MUNTINLUPA CITY – Crimson Hotel Filinvest City, Manila honors the international celebration of the most delicious day of the year for chocoholics with month-long choco-filled feasts.
A chocolate-coated Café Eight will feature a Sunday Brunch Buffet that is filled with all things cacao. Celebrate World Chocolate Day with a decadent culinary concoction of savory dishes including White Chocolate Baba Ghanoush, Cocoa Rubbed BBQ Pork Ribs, sinful desserts, and more. Executive Pastry Chef Benjamin Bourgeois will also hold a free chocolate clay class for kids. Diners will get to take home free Auro Chocolates. The brunch buffet will be open to diners from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm with a rate of P1,918++ (inclusive of unlimited drinks) per person.
Meanwhile, the Lobby Lounge welcomes all kinds of cookie cravings as they bring guests a collection of 100 cookie creations from July 12-21. Dubbed as the 100 Cookie Project, cookie lovers are expected to give in to temptation with at least 100 cookie favorites such as Dark Choco Chip, Matcha White Choco, Salted Caramel, Tablea, Truffle Honey, Gooey Nutella, Smore, Gluten Free Milk Choco Chip, Coffee Walnut, Peanut Butter, and so much more. If you both love chocolates and afternoon tea – you’re in for a treat. The Lobby Lounge’s dreamy Chocolate Afternoon Tea includes a savory section of Chocolate Salmon Gravlax Sandwich, Mole Poblano Wrap, and Roasted Beef with Chocolate Sauce Pie. Dig into sweet treats such as Dark Chocolate and Tonka Beans Flexi Ganache, White Chocolate Strawberry and Basil Tartelette, and other divine desserts. This succulent afternoon tea is available for the whole month of July from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
Just right in time for the rainy season, warm up with hot chocolate or chocolate drink in the Lobby Lounge. Then pair it with the hotel’s best-selling ensaymada.
Crimson Hotel Filinvest City’s sensational chocolate-loaded food and beverage promotions are made with luscious ingredients from Auro Chocolate. Auro Chocolate is a proudly Filipino, bean-to-bar chocolate company that sustainably sources cocoa beans directly from local farming communities in Davao while doing their part to restore the Philippines’ heirloom varieties.
For more information or dining reservations, please call 863-2222 or 998 595 3769 or email dining@crimsonhotel.com.
It is my first time being invited to watch a movie for media coverage and to publish my review about a film.
What better way to critique a movie than to watch one of my all-time favorite childhood movies?
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| THE LION KING – Featuring the voices of JD McCrary as Young Simba, and James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Disney’s “The Lion King” is directed by Jon Favreau. In theaters July 19, 2019. © 2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
Yes. I can’t count how many times I rewind the VHS just to watch The Lion King.
Fast forward to 2019 which is twenty-five years since the original Disney animated film came out, we have been introduced to a much more photorealistic version of the film. Having said that, is a CGI remake of this classic movie really needed?
The Philippine Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention, better known as TOYCON PH, is celebrating 18 years of serving pop culture enjoyment to its fans both local and international. It is, simply put, the longest-running and premiere pop culture event in Asia.
Early this year, TOYCON PH presented a fresh visual identity, through a new logo, to cater to the growing millennial crowd, and also attract visitors from all over the world with a global perspective to promote the Philippines as the leading pop culture playground in Asia, that showcases Filipino creativity, innovativeness and talent through toys, games, entertainment and digital content.
The Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA), an indicator that measures the value added of the tourism industry, amounted to PHP 2.2 trillion, which is an increase of 14.3% from the 2017 TDGVA of PHP 1.9 trillion.
Employment in the tourism industry also rose to an estimated 5.4 million, 1.8% higher than the 5.3 million in the previous year.
The number of domestic tourists reached 110 million, which is an increase of 14.1% from the previous year’s figure of 96.4 million. This exceeds the 89.2 million target in 2022 stated in the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP). Domestic tourism expenditure is also up by 21% at PHP 3.2 trillion, compared to the PHP2.6 trillion in 2017.
Based on the Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts (PTSA) results, it is also estimated that at least two million poor people benefited from the robust growth of tourism compared to original targets from 2016 to 2018. This is in line with the NTDP’s strategic direction on sustainability and inclusive growth.
“These achievements in the tourism industry are a result of a holistic and convergent government. The Build Build Build program of the administration has greatly improved infrastructure and transport connectivity, while the ease of doing business, coupled with a facilitative environment for investments, has boosted both visitor and investor confidence in Philippine tourism”, remarked Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
“Moreover, these numbers show that the Philippine tourism industry is sustainable; it is an engine for socio-economic growth that provides jobs and income to the country while preserving Filipino culture and tradition as well as conservation of the environment.”, she added.
TOKYO, JAPAN - In a parallel event to the 14th Philippine Business Mission (PBM) for tourism held in Japan, President Rodrigo Duterte met with leaders of the Japanese travel industry and invited them to invest in the Philippines, stating that now is the best time. The tourism and travel sector stand to benefit from the Build, Build, Build program, which has a number of ongoing transportation infrastructure development projects to achieve seamless travel to and around the archipelago.
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| The Philippine Business Mission delegation led by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (5th seated from left) and Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat (6th) |
Organized by the Department of Tourism, the travel industry meeting with the President was a historic occasion, signaling the importance held by Japan as the country’s fourth biggest foreign tourist market.
The historic meeting coincides with the annual Philippine Business Mission organized by the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board. This year, the three-city PBM, covering Sapporo, Nagoya and Tokyo from May 27-31, 2019, takes pride in having a 38-company strong Philippine delegation.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat earlier presented an economically viable tourism sector teeming with exciting investment opportunities in the areas of accommodation, transportation, leisure and recreation facilities, food and beverage and even infrastructure.
The Japanese Association of Travel Agents (JATA) President, Tadashi Shimura, mentioned that under the leadership of Secretary Puyat, there have been focused marketing initiatives in Japan for Philippine tourism. He noted that in 2018, the 8.15% growth rate of Japanese arrivals to the Philippines was higher than the total Japan outbound rate of 6% and thanked the Philippines for supporting efforts to grow the Japanese market further.
Shimura also affirmed that Japan’s travel industry will help the Philippines develop and promote more destinations following Cebu and Manila and support the country’s advocacy on sustainable tourism. JATA will send 20 travel agencies to the Philippines to meet with local travel agents and explore possible areas of collaboration.
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arturo Tugade enthused that the development of new airports and expansion of existing gateways serve to attract many investment and business opportunities for airline companies and airport operators in Japan.
International air seats to the Philippines from Japan now total 3,250,264 as of March 2019. The inbound traffic is expected to rise with Philippine Airlines’ introduction of Chitose-Manila thrice weekly flights last December, Japan Airlines’ daily service linking Haneda with Manila since February and the upcoming flights of Air Asia (Osaka-Manila, July 1), and Cebu Pacific (Narita-Clark, August 9).
Anticipating an upsurge of visitors, President Duterte cautioned, “We are receiving a lot of tourists now and soon, some areas might not be able to accommodate you for lack of facilities. We suggest for those who are interested to go into business to participate in building resorts for your citizens.”
With the improved airports and seaports, inter-island travel will be easier, more comfortable and with more providers coming in, more affordable, the President added.
The Philippines played host to 631,801 Japanese travelers in 2018, an 8.15% growth versus 2017.
With no less than the President in attendance, more business and investment leads are expected to yield reciprocal arrangements to further strengthen Japan-Philippine tourism relations.
Deadline of applications is on May 31, 2019 (Friday) at the close of business hours (5:00 PM, Philippine Standard Time). Complete documents must be sent to the Philippine Department of Tourism through dottourismresearchgran
The full DOT- Tourism Research Grant Mechanics and forms can be accessed through: www.tourism.gov.ph/
Mr. Alex C. Macatuno
Office of Tourism Development Planning, Research and Information Management
Philippine Department of Tourism
5th Floor, New DOT Building, 351 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City
Trunk line: 4595200, Local: 506 or 512
Email: dottourismresearchgrant
***For emails, use the subject line: “DOT Tourism Research Grant_Surname – Subject”
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| Ceremonial exchange of tokens between DOT Secretary Romulo-Puyat and PATA CEO Mario Hardy |
CEBU CITY - The Department of Tourism (DOT) joined the rest of the Asia Pacific region’s cause for responsible development of travel and tourism as it hosted the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Annual Summit in Cebu City.
“Together with PATA, we are firm believers of this year’s theme ‘Progress with a Purpose’, same in the belief that the agenda on sustainable development can be turned into a reality,” DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.
This big-ticket event gathered close to 400 international and local tourism stakeholders including international thought leaders, tourism board officials, industry shapers, travel and tour operators, and the academe.
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| DOT Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr: The Philippine Department of Tourism will continue to support the goals and objectives of the PATA particularly with respect to advancing it sustainable development agenda |
“The PATA Annual Summit is one of the best places to stay abreast with our peers in tourism, to get on the same page, and to inform ourselves with the latest analyses of this dynamic and multi-faceted industry,” Secretary Romulo-Puyat added.
The summit featured multiple insight presentations, panel discussions, committee meetings, and a youth symposium with discussions on sustainable destination branding, mainstreaming sustainable tourism global economy, current and future state of Asia Pacific tourism, facts and figures of the regional travel industry, BBC World News The Travel Show, data and insights for responsible development, and the sustainability of the Airbnb accommodation industry.
DOT Undersecretary Arturo Boncato Jr. sat down at the “Destination Management in Times of Uncertainty” panel session and shared the story of Boracay - its rehabilitation and journey to becoming the country’s model for sustainable tourism.
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| DOT Undersecretary Arturo Boncato Jr. sat down at the “Destination Management in Times of Uncertainty” panel session and shared the story of Boracay rehabilitation and its journey to become the sustainable tourism model of the Philippines |
Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary Maria Rica Bueno discussed the challenges of advocating barrier-free tourism in the country highlighting DOT’s deaf tour guide training program in the “Accessible Tourism for All” panel session.
“We are extremely delighted to have this event in Cebu, a city with a very rich historical and cultural heritage, some of the most magnificent white sand beaches and among the friendliest and most hospitable people in this side of the world,” DOT Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. remarked.
Delegates experienced Cebu City’s heritage tour with visits to the historical Magellan’s Cross, Basilica Del Santo Nino, Fort San Pedro, and Parian District.
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| DOT Assistant Secretary Maria Rica Bueno discussed the challenges of advocating barrier-free tourism in the country highlighting DOT’s deaf tour guide training program in the “Accessible Tourism for All” panel session |
“PATA would love to come back anytime to the Philippines, the hospitality is wonderful, the places we get to visit are exceptional. We really appreciate the Philippines’ forward action on critical industry issues and the fact that they are moving sustainably and responsible tourism is something to be proud of,” PATA Chairperson Chris Bottrill said.
A silent auction, foundation charity dinner, Arnis demonstration, and insights lounge completed the four-day summit hosted at the “Queen City of the South”.
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| DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat: Let us continue to fuel the passion that drives sustainable tourism. Let us be catalysts that would ignite the fire among our peers, that there may come a time that we all glow brightly as heroes for sustainability |
