Manukan BBQ

Macabebe Pampanga

Discovery Shores Boracay

God I love my best friends.

While at CCP for the 2010 Toyota Classics, Atty AOA asked me if I wanted to go to Boracay. Another lawyer from her firm had to cancel, and her ticket and hotel booking would go to waste if nobody used it. Didn't take much convincing for me to say Yes!

Friday morning we flew to Caticlan and was met by the Discovery Shores van, taken to a private jetty where the Discovery Shores Boat was waiting to take us to the resort. I've never been to Boracay. I've actually actively avoided going there. I was under the impression that it was like Malate or Greenbelt but with a stretch of beach where the parking lot is supposed to be. The people who rave about Boracay are those I hate most: party circuit people who wear skimpy clothes for the straightforward purpose of getting laid while under the influence of liquor.

Well, I'm glad I went. It was beautiful. Finally realized now why people love the place. A bit busier for my taste (and it's not even peak season yet) but gorgeous! And let me say it now then I'll shut up. I love Discovery Shores Boracay. I was even surprised to see one of my former students working there.

Lunch at Discovery Shores' Sands Restaurant was delicious. I'm glad we had to order a la carte because they didn't have a lunch buffet that day. If they did I may never leave, like Homer Simpson in that episode with the seafood buffet.

Market Cafe at Hyatt Manila

It's quite unusual for us to go to the other side of the metropolis for food. No, that's not true. When I think about it, we've gone everywhere in search of a good meal. So it was only a matter of time before we ended up at Market Cafe inside Hyatt Hotel in Manila.

I know most people won't believe me when I say that I don't really like hotel buffets. I really don't. To me, eating in a hotel buffet is more a sport rather than a meal--it's really just a very silly test of human endurance and blind gluttony. Given the option between a nice plated meal and standing behind hordes of Chinese tourists all making a beeline to the carving station, I prefer the former.

The Market Cafe at the Hyatt Hotel in Manila, however, is a very nicely edited version of a buffet. They do have the spread one would expect in a regular hotel buffet, but the stations also give diners the option of ordering freshly prepared food items delivered to their tables. My friend Francis David took us there for lunch and it was nice to see that the choices, varied as they are, are not too overwhelming.

There's an Indian Station with Lamb curries, basmati rice, naan bread and mango chutney.



A Dessert Station which features a gelato counter, cakes, pastries and a chocolate fountain.


A Carving Station which serves roasts.


And Japanese Station with maki rolls, sushi, sashimi, tempura, etc. I had two plates of these!


My absolute favourite was the Mango Pavlova. Will definitely go back there again!

Loco Frio

Boracay is about tanning yourself silly and getting plastered. Loco Frio is perhaps the only kiosk on the beach I can think of which fully understand this.

The idea is very simple. Six different flavours of virgin frozen drinks, optional shot of liquor (at about PhP 50/shot) and you're good to go. Nothing beats getting drunk on frozen cocktails on the beach after your buffet breakfast.

Love these tumblers, too. They charged PhP 250 for a frozen cocktail (price includes shot of liquor and the 600 mL tumbler). Refills only cost PhP 150 (so PhP 100 for no liquor). Had a look at their Facebook page and under Discussion there's a link to Franchising. Nothing mentioned there, just three excited girls asking to bring Loco Frio to their shores.

Grab one when you're in Boracay. Actually, keep grabbing until the people around you start looking attractive. Enjoy!

Toyota Classics 2010

Friends are our best assets, and their value greatly improve when they work for a law firm who represents Toyota Philippines, and therefore gets lower box tickets for a truly fantastic concert.

Pedro and I haven't been to a show in CCP for what must've been at least a year so we were pleasantly surprised when we got an invite from Atty AOA and Atty JGP to watch this year's Toyota Classics offering. And cocktails start at 6:30.

The food was provided by Barbara's. Or was it Tamayo's? I can't remember now because when I thought about taking note I was already slightly drunk, and these days it doesn't take much for me to get there. Whoever it was, they did an excellent job. The waiters kept the wine and other drinks flowing, they served roast beef and mash and the food was very, very good indeed!

Now I must say I'm a bit concerned about the performance before getting inside the Main Theatre. I was having flashbacks of the Julia Duncan performance during the 2008 Toyota Classics. So it was quite a relief to find out that the Orchestra Citta di Firenze, tenor Leonardo Melani and our very own soprano Maria Rachelle Gerodias were prepared to give an outstanding, extremely polished performance.

During the intermission we went back to the cocktails area for more food. The lawyers arrived late from Ortigas and were famished so we were more than happy to accompany them. The wine flowed again. The roast beef, mash and gravy kept coming. Then we were ushered back to our lower box seats.

All in all the performance and the entire evening turned out quite well. Even FVR and Mrs. Ming Ramos approved.


Thanks Toyota Philippines, Atty AOA and Atty JGP!