Favorite ‘secret’ summer destinations

By: Alex Y. Vegara, Cheche V. Moral, Stef Cabal
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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MICHELE SISON

Fave secret getaway would be our rest house in Pililia, Rizal. It is the only house on a hill, and is not publicly accessible. It can be a place for solitude or could be a party place with a group of friends or my family.—MICHELE SISON, fashion designer

I love surfing in Maui, Hawaii. It’s where surfing started. The waves are the perfect size for surfing. It’s nice to surf with a lot of champion surfers in Maui. I learn faster, and I have more fun when I surf with the best.—RICHIE SANTOS, VP and group manager, Cinderella

RICHIE Santos

There’s only one secret hideaway for me and my friends, and I keep going back. It’s in Alfonso, Tagaytay. It’s a house, a big loft owned by two balikbayan friends. They fixed and designed this home for comfort. You can just laze around all day and eat to your heart’s content—wine and chees

e all day long, and all the gossip and conversation! I’m already missing the fun just thinking about it. It’s really a great way to unwind, away from all obligations, and to bond with my closest BFFs. We try to do this at least three times a year. Can’t wait for our next one!—HENRI CALAYAG, creative director, Henri Calayag Salon

Dicasalarin in Baler, Aurora. The moment you reach the entrance, you will fall in love. The vista is breathtaking. You have to meander through the mountain and its lush vegetation to get to a little private cluster of cute cottages. Once you get there, you have a choice of going to the ocean or just hanging out by a cool freshwater stream. The shoreline is long, and you can check out little coves or climb up a hill and take the view in.—FERDI SALVADOR, TV host

Chichen Itza and the cenote in Mexico. Chichen Itza is just amazing, from the structure to its history. It’s just so inspiring. As for the cenote, it is an underwater cave where you can either dive or snorkel. It’s a nice cave with free hanging stalactites. It’s a different experience to be snorkeling inside a cave, with clearance of just one or two feet, and above you are the amazing stalactites.—MONETTE BATA GARCIA, co-owner, IORA Phils.

NJ TORRES with friends

Capari, San Vicente, Palawan. It’s a modest boutique resort in a private cove, offering serenity, privacy, great food, great beach, conveniently located near the country’s longest 14.7-km white beach cove called Long Beach. Deserted beaches, waterfalls and captivating viewpoints. Perfect getaway from the big city.—NJ TORRES, PR manager, Marie France/Facial Care Centre

INGRID Go

Hands down, Amanpulo in Palawan, Philippines. Confession: I was never a beach person until two years ago, when I first went to Amanpulo. I have since been transformed and have been going back when I need to unwind. While I would undoubtedly enjoy the vibe of Boracay, I choose to go with the quiet and calm, the serenity and privacy, as they give me that chance to relax and completely detach myself from the “real” world without compromising modern amenities that we’ve all grown accustomed to (hello, Internet! The island is “wired”!). El Nido, Palawan comes a close second as it’s also more “budget-friendly” and allows for more interisland exploration.—INGRID GO, “bag hag” and Inquirer columnist

The Monastery of the Transfiguration in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, is a tranquil retreat for urbanites who seek spiritual renewal and inner reflection. Its chapel’s unique pyramid-shaped architecture is indeed a sight to behold, surrounded by the picturesque terrain of Bukidnon and the calming breeze. Basked in serenity, the monastery is definitely one summer destination worth visiting.— ROSEVI GAETOS, Citem executive director

The Healthy Hotel

By MA. GLAIZA LEE

November 24, 2010, 11:55am

Lake Hotel offers wellness and relaxation with every visit. (Photo by PINGGOT ZULUETA)

MANILA, Philippines — While Taal Volcano is actually situated in Talisay and San Nicolas in Batangas, it is Tagaytay City that greatly benefits from its majestic view as evidenced by the mushrooming business areas and industrial growth along the ridge.

Considered as the second summer capital of the Philippines, its cool and crisp climate makes it a perfect picnic spot. Spend an afternoon at the Picnic Grove while enjoying a sumptuous picnic lunch and the natural splendor of the majestic Taal Volcano that quietly sits on tranquil Taal Lake.

The view at night is even more dazzling. The lake sparkles from the lights of the fishing boats with the view of the Manila skyline - the tall sky-crappers glistening with lights adding to the allure.

Its proximity to Manila, which is about 58 kilometer south, makes Tagaytay the ultimate weekend respite from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.

Many establishments and businesses have capitalized on its absolute charm that draws many local and foreign tourists. In fact, the city is a cornucopia of hotels, inns, apartelles, bed and breakfast rooms, and retreat houses which provide tourists the perfect place for R and R.

One of these is the Lake Hotel. As guests walk down the wide granite stairs with cascading waterfalls on both sides at the entrance of the hotel, they can already feel the calming and welcoming ambience of the place.

Further down is the Antonio Yupitun Executive Lounge which provides a 180-degree view of the lake and volcano, bounded by lush greeneries. The lounge is an ideal venue for meetings and socializing with acquaintances. It also houses the Sukhabati Meditation Place, which is actually an open-air area where people can commune with nature.

One of the hotel’s unique features is its gift to absorb nature’s blissful heartiness even for a fraction of a silent moment in its soothing garden and communing areas. Take for instance the lush Shambala Garden. Its well-manicured lawn imparts a serene and tranquil moment.

At night, the garden is transformed into an entertainment and cultural area where the Bughaw Folkloric Dance Group performs classic and traditional Filipino dances from the different regions of the country such as the tinikling and Muslim Suites every Saturday.

The hotel has five functions rooms: the Grand Ballroom that can accommodate up to 200 guests, the Function Hall which can be divided into two separate function rooms, the Himalayan View Deck that can accommodate 600 guests, and the Shambala Garden which can be a good wedding venue.

Perfectly situated at the slope of Tagaytay Ridge, the three-storey Mediterranean-inspired hotel provides an exceptionally picturesque view from each of its rooms. In fact, its 60 elegantly designed rooms, including six suites, have different panoramic angles of the Taal Volcano.

Lake Hotel Tagaytay is committed to promoting total well-being and provide their guests with a hale and hearty escapade while delighting their senses. The hotel offers complete health and wellness facilities and amenities, perfect for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Aside from its gym that has dynamic fitness equipment and massage service, the hotel rooms (the Deluxe rooms in particular) are equipped with TheraBed, the magnetic mattress that produces less than two gauss geomagnetic energy, with a high penetration of 60 cm, for that five-star quality sleep.

The Great 103 High-Tech Invention mattress promotes over-all body restoration by applying magnet therapy, a non-invasive method of applying magnetic fields to the body for therapeutic purposes. It works the same way that the Earth’s magnetic energy does.

Geomagnetic power is an environment element that people cannot live without. All living cells are electromagnetic by nature. The earth provides a supportive and steady magnetic field which the body draws on to enhance its molecular reactions. The human brains and the Earth are working together to accomplish magnetic resonance, which dramatically enhances the chemical reactions of the body.

Also, the magnetic mattress is especially designed to make shoulders and buttocks sink properly and get corresponding elastic support giving the vertebra a relaxing and natural pose.

Another health feature of the hotel is the TheraQi Far-infrared Ray (FIR) Enhancer which uses far-infrared electromagnetic energy. Using the natural thermal properties of sunlight, the 14-wavelength enhancer helps improve the systemic blood circulation, regulate balance of the nervous system, and strengthen the immune system. It promotes regeneration and fast healing as well as repair of tissue and cells.

On the night table in every room are various health notices which talk about the benefit of drinking eight glasses of water and the time-table of the body. Guests can read them for health tips and additional knowledge.

Nestled near the food strip of the city, the hotel has the Avengoza Fusion Restaurant to entice the palate. Its dynamic culinary team combines their epicurean taste for impeccable flavors in both local and international cuisines.

A short walk away to the south of the hotel are the various shopping and entertainment hubs where guests can indulge in a shopping spree and pasalubong buying or opt to have fun at the Casino Filipino Tagaytay. Within its ambit are prime tourist spots such as the Picnic Grove, People’s Park, Caleruega Church, and Ilog ni Maria Bee Farm, as well as the many convents situated in the city.

The Lake Hotel is located at Km.58, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, Brgy. Maharlika East, Tagaytay City. For inquiries, call (+632) 7257080-81 or (+6346) 4134680-81, or email sales@thelakehoteltagaytay.com.

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

A higher place in Tagaytay

By CARLOMAR ARCANGEL DAOANA

November 2, 2010, 2:47pm

Part of the change and reinvention of any town or city is the constant influx of new inhabitants. As the number of people grows, the demand for housing and other necessities rises as well, energizing business and commerce, requiring fresh infrastructure and development, and fostering a sense of community among the disparate groups of people that call a particular place home. Before you know it, you have a full-fledged, alive, and multi-faceted city.

Tagaytay City, no doubt, has established itself as a boom town ever since people recognized the recreational possibility of a lake, a small volcano, and a cool climate. Unlike Baguio it has not succumbed to overpopulation and urban disarray, keeping its charm and beauty largely intact. This may be because the majority of people who have houses in the city are not based there but in the nearby provinces and Metro Manila. Their houses, in short, are vacation homes and their trip to Tagaytay is but a breather to their frenetic lives somewhere else.

Offering a burgeoning community in this getaway is the Wind Residences, a lifestyle project of SM Development Corp., whose first tower was unveiled last year to resounding success. Its second tower has just recently unveiled, masterplanned within what is envisioned to be a ten-tower mixed used development.  The second will have more than 30,000 square meters of ground area, feature 862 one-bedroom units, and offer breath-taking views of Taal Lake.

Other amenities include: 21-passenger elevator, 24-hour security, a lobby, and access to lifestyle amenities that include lounges, a viewing gazebo, and deck. The tower will also share the amenities of the development such as a two-hectare lawn, jogging paths, playground, swimming pool, sports center, function rooms, and a clubhouse. Characterized by greenery and the unhurried lifestyle which Tagaytay is famous for, Wind Residences will have tracts of open spaces.

What this development promises is the proximity of modern-day conveniences. Units in the second floor will be devoted to commercial use. The location of the Wind Residences, along the Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, gives residents easy access to world-class restaurants, recreational spaces, and other interesting tourist sites, such as the spectacular beaches in Batangas.

The project highlights its affordability, giving the opportunity to realize the dream of those who want to have a home Tagaytay. Whether seen as an investment, a second-home, or a getaway, Wind Residences’ has the natural beauty, the well-planned community, and a respected name in real estate going for it.