by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 1, 2018 | Business
Discovery Country Suites has been shortlisted along with some of the world’s best hotels for Haute Grandeur’s Global Hotel Awards.
Haute Grandeur is an independent award-giving body that recognizes the best hospitality experience from across 7 continents, 172 countries, and 90 categories.
To be awarded by Haute Grandeur, different factors are taken into consideration, such as rooms, food & beverage, service, overall hotel facilities, location, ambiance, design, unique guest experience, online presence, guest reviews, among others.
Discovery Country Suites
As a part of The Discovery Leisure Company’s roster of hotels and resorts, Discovery Country Suites provides a calm respite for its guests with their picturesque view of Taal and its trademark outstanding service.
As a seven-suite manor home, one of the things that separate Discovery Country Suites from most hotels is its exclusivity. Those who enter the property can immediately feel the distinctive feeling of home. From the personalized service, elegant suites, a signature experience of wine and cheese at sundown, to the sumptuous dishes of Restaurant Verbena, a stay at Discovery Country Suites is a unique experience in itself.
Being shortlisted for a prestigious award is already an honor for Discovery Country Suites, but excellence has always been imparted in their roots. Guest ratings are an important part of winning the award, which is why guests are encouraged to share their honest feedback through various travel websites. Winners will be announced on November 1, 2018.
Discovery Country Suites is located along 300 Calamba Road, San Jose, Tagaytay City, 4120 Philippines.
For inquiries and reservations, call (02) 5298172, email re**********@***************om.ph or visit http://www.discoverycountrysuites.com.
About Discovery Country Suites
The Suites
With seven elegant and unique suites that radiate the feeling of home with the view of Taal Lake and Volcano right at its window, Discovery Country Suites offers a relaxing stay for guests looking for a Tagaytay getaway.
Dine in at Restaurant Verbena
Inside the property is Restaurant Verbena – serving up fresh dishes and staying true to its country contemporary cuisine tied together with the “Service that’s All Heart” Discovery has always been known for.
With so much to explore in Tagaytay, Discovery Country Suites neighbors some of the country’s best golf courses, flower farms, spa resorts, and concept restaurants.
Stay up to date and follow us:
- Facebook: /DiscoveryCountrySuites
- Twitter: @DCSTagaytay
- Instagram: @discoverycountrysuites
About Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Awards
The Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Awards was established as an independent and unbiased initiative to honour the very highest achievements from across the global hotel industry in 2014, recognising exceptional contributions by outstanding hotels with Marinique De Wet as CEO at the helm.
This prestigious Awards system is exclusive to the Haute Grandeur brand, and considered without equal because of its method. Unbiased results are guaranteed by placing emphasis on quality feedback from guests, rather than quantity of votes by a panel of judges or general public.
A wealth of experience and thorough understanding of the global hotel and spa Awards industries result from 10 years’ hands-on experience in operations – including her role as Managing Director of two highly successful international luxury hotel & spa Awards brands, and Editor of numerous industry-related publications.
Marinique de Wet, CEO
As a solutions-driven and insightful individual, she identified the need for an absolute transparent rating system due to industry concerns with existing systems in recent years.
“I wanted to improve existing global Awards concepts to offer a more alternative system, where participants are guided on how they can improve on their existing service levels as part of the recognition process”, shares Marinique. “Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Awards is focused on fairness and transparency that form the basis of any credible Awards system.”
The Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Awards promise to raise service delivery levels by means of awarding only the very best in the industry. It aims to focus on hotels that do not want to win the “average” award and celebrates the very best in hotel experiences across 7 continents, 172 countries and 90 categories. Participating hotels are generally seen as the benchmark in the industry as they create awareness about the value and importance of constantly raising the bar of excellence.
The value of a Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Award is powerful in terms of its ability to boost marketing and promises to have a direct impact on guests perceptions and revenue. It provides the much needed inspiration that hotels look for by identifying role model properties across all continents in order to further raise their current levels of service delivery to even greater heights.
The annual Awards Gala Ceremony where winners are revealed, is not only the most dazzling event of the year on the luxury hotel industry calendar, it also highlights the values of leadership, hard work, dedication, ambition and success. This event takes place each year in a different exotic location and offers hoteliers in attendance a new networking opportunities.
The Haute Grandeur Global Hotel AwardsTM provide travelers with a trusted source of Award winning properties to choose from when booking their holidays or business trips, knowing that our winners have been hand-picked and rewarded for overall excellence on many levels. The Awards aims to be regarded as the largest & most trusted Awards initiative in the world with a rating process that is transparent and fair.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 30, 2018 | Health and Wellness
Our parents play the biggest part in our development and are always with us every step of the way. After providing us with the best life, it is time to give back.
Our parents deserve nothing but the best, and health comes first.
It is true that as the age of an individual increase, the health care costs can increase as their medical needs become more demanding. And because of our growing expenses, we need to find the best way to provide the best health care in the most cost-efficient way possible to our senior citizen parents.
Maxicare Prima Gold
Maxicare Healthcare Corporation, the country’s leading healthcare provider, offers a solution with their new Maxicare PRIMA health card.
Maxicare PRIMA Gold health card offers high-quality, reliable healthcare coverage for our senior citizen parents and to other elderly members of the family.
Maxicare PRIMA Gold offers great value for money to senior citizens. With a one-time membership plan, members enjoy a full year of outpatient consultations, laboratory and diagnostic procedures with exclusive access to all Maxicare Primary Care Centers (PCCs) and all conveniently located MyHealth Clinics.
Additional values include coverage of pre-existing conditions of the members as well as emergency room coverage of up to Php 20, 000 per year in Maxicare-affiliated hospitals nationwide.
PRIMA Gold can be easily purchased from
- the Maxicare Online Store www.shop.maxicare.com.ph,
- the Maxicare Facebook page (www.facebook.com/maxicarehealthcarecorporation),
- Maxicare Primary Care Centers (PCCs),
- Maxicare affiliated agents and brokers or
- from the Maxicare Tower Direct Sales.
Payments can also be made through leading partner banks, just call the Product Inquiry Hotline (632) 789-7777 for details. After the membership’s confirmation, an electronic Card (eCard) is going to be sent to the member’s email while PRIMA card will be delivered a few days after.
With Maxicare PRIMA Gold, we can give back to our parents or grandparents by ensuring that they get the love and care they deserve.
Maxicare PRIMA also comes in another variant, the PRIMA Silver for individuals aged 0-59 years old.
Maxicare’s Primary Care Centers are located in the following areas:
- W City Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig;
- Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City;
- Centuria Medical Makati in Makati City;
- Chinese General Hospital in Manila;
- Makati Medical Center in Makati City;
- St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City;
- St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig; and
- The Medical City in Pasig City.
MyHealth Clinics are located at
- Festival Supermall in Alabang;
- Robinsons Cybergate Mall in Cebu City;
- Filomena Building in Makati City;
- Robinsons Mall in Manila;
- Shangri-LA Plaza in Mandaluyong City;
- SM North Edsa in Quezon City; and
- Venice Grand Canal Mall in Taguig City.
For more information
- Visit www.maxicare.com.ph
- Facebook – www.facebook.com/maxicarehealthcarecorporation
- Product Inquiry Hotline (632) 789-7777
- 24/7 Customer Care Hotline (632) 582-1900
- 24/7 Customer Care Mobile (63) 918-889-6294; (63) 917-594-2680
- Provincial Toll Fee Number: 1-800-10-582-1900 (PLDT, Smart and Sun); 1-800-8-582-1900 (Globe, TM and ABS-CBN Mobile)
Maxicare Healthcare Corporation: One of the pioneers in the health maintenance organization (HMO) industry was established in 1987 by an esteemed group of doctors and businessmen with the vision to deliver a better healthcare system.
Three decades later, Maxicare has progressed into becoming the No. 1 HMO* in the country, continuously providing comprehensive healthcare programs via its wide network of medical providers and strengthened customer support.
Maxicare has more than 1.2 Million Members, more than 56,000 affiliated Doctors, more than 1,000 affiliated Hospitals and Clinics, 3,800 Dental providers, 8 Primary Care Centers and 13 Helpdesks, 9 Satellite Offices, 5 Exclusive Wings.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 27, 2018 | Health and Wellness
Losing weight requires a lot of dedication and hard work and may involve physical and emotional costs. It is hardly surprising that many prefer the easy route by taking weight-loss supplements. While almost all weight-loss supplements are marketed as beneficial for the body, some may actually be harmful to one’s health.
Nutrition experts debunk certain claims about weight-loss supplements and reveal possible health risks.
Myth #1:
Weight-loss supplements are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Truth: The US FDA does not have the authority to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed. It only steps in when a “dietary supplement” is found to contain harmful substances.
Myth #2:
Weight-loss supplements alone are enough to lose pounds.
Truth: Weight-loss supplements cannot substitute for healthy eating and regular exercise. Many weight-loss supplements’ labels include a disclaimer that they do not guarantee a specific weight-loss benefit, that individual results may vary and, to get the most benefit, they must be combined with proper diet and exercise.
Myth #3:
Supplements like Hoodia, green tea and bitter orange aid in weight loss.
hoodia, green tea, and bitter orange
Truth: Green tea, bitter orange and the African herb hoodia have not been scientifically proven to burn fat. In fact, hoodia has not been studied in humans. It is also unclear if it curbs appetite. Green tea contains a fair amount of caffeine, which may result in some weight loss initially, but it will not burn fat. Too much caffeine can affect the heart rhythm and disturb sleep. Bitter orange has synephrine, an alkaloid found in plants, that can be dangerous to health as it increases heart rate and blood pressure.
Myth #4:
“Natural” is safe.
Truth: Some weight-loss supplements containing “natural” ingredients like herbs comfrey or kava may be harmful to the liver. Claims that “natural is safe” is not always true.
Safety depends on the supplement’s chemical makeup and what it does to the body, how it is prepared and the dosage used. Also, while an individual supplement may be safe, the combination of several products may be risky. If you are under medication, it is best to consult your doctor first before taking any weight-loss supplements as they may affect the efficacy of your medicines.
While some supplements may result in weight loss in the short term, they may have long-term adverse effects on the body, which may not be able to handle the stress of dramatic weight loss or process artificial food and supplements. They may be unsafe for those with existing medical conditions or those who need to lose a lot of weight.
If you feed your body the right kinds of food, avoid unhealthy snacks and adopt other healthy habits, you should be able to rebalance and reboot your metabolism naturally. Nothing beats fresh and good food to improve health and promote healthy weight loss.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 24, 2018 | Fashion
MANILA, Philippines – There is no denying the talents of Shaira Luna. From an early age, she graced our TV screens as a “gifted child”. Her passion for learning set her apart and would eventually lead her to forge her own career as one of the most prominent photographers in the country. This July, the thirty-one-year-old takes her place as Melissa’s Style Maven.
#MeInMelissa is the latest campaign in the Philippines from the Brazilian footwear icon, Melissa Shoes. This fresh and empowering digital campaign will showcase pieces from the brand’s 2018 collection, Open Vibes. Luna shares her talent as the campaign’s official photographer.
Shaira Luna, gifted child
“I really love that Melissa shoes are comfortable and squishy”, shares Shaira Luna, chuckling. “Sometimes I take for granted how important footwear is, especially for someone like me who’s on my feet for most of the day. Eventually, I found my way to shoes that fit the bill of being both stylish and comfortable.”
At the age of thirteen, Luna found herself at De La Salle University, undergoing a Bachelor of Science degree in human biology. After switching courses for some time,
Luna purchased her first professional camera, a Canon EOS 350D. The camera enabled her to flex her creative muscles and would eventually inspire her to pursue a professional career in photography.
In the decade since Shaira Luna gradually developed herself to become one of the most prolific young photographers in the country. Luna regularly works with high-profile brands and influential names from the world of art and entertainment.
“Behind the camera, especially when shooting for someone else, I make sure I understand their vision and I understand the output that they need from me”, Luna begins. “I just try to make it work for everyone and keep communication open.”
This level of professionalism extends itself to moments that require Luna to stand in front of the camera.
“When I’m in front of the camera, I try to take the place of the photographer,” Luna adds. “I try to imagine what they need from the shoot and I try to move as quickly as possible. I find it is over much faster if I get what they need, so I tend to move a lot in front of the camera even if it’s awkward for me.”
As a fashion photographer, Luna is well-regarded for her personal sense of style. Self-described as an “ever-evolving” aesthetic, she draws her inspiration from rock ’n roll icons of yesterday and today.
“I love Florence Welch (of Florence and the Machine) so much! I really love her style and her music,” Luna shares. “I also like Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones. I’m very much inspired by icons of the ‘70’s. I’m not sure why. Maybe someday I’ll find out.”
Even then, Luna is quick to admit that a lot of her style inspiration comes from the research she does prior to a shoot.
“In general, I’m very much into the history of fashion and that translates into my style and the people I admire as well,” Luna adds. “I think the reason I got into studying eras of fashion was because of my shoots. So, whenever I have a shoot that’s inspired by a particular period, I find myself going even deeper into what happened during that time, especially the things they wore and why they wore the things they did.”
If there is anything Shaira Luna can share, it’s her love for rediscovering the past through pieces of clothing. “If you just use your imagination, you can try to rework the stuff you already have. Perhaps you can use stuff from your parents and grandparents. You end up with something more unique, something not cookie-cutter. Just something more fun that will put a smile on your face.”
Shaira Luna is an old soul who has built her name by turning her dreams into a successful career. This is reflected in both her personal style and her approach to her work. This bubbly, determined, and highly-focused individual has all the qualities that make her the perfect fit as Melissa’s first Style Maven.
About Melissa
Melissa is an iconic global footwear brand from Brazil. Established in 1979, Melissa is highly regarded for its long-lasting and avant-garde designs and collaborations with a number of high-profile names from the world of art and fashion.
From sexy stilettos to fabulous flats, Melissa shoes have brought fashion and comfort to new heights. Melissa brings the future of fashion to the world.
- Instagram: melissaphilippines
- Facebook: MelissaPhilippines
- Website:melissaphilippines.com
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 22, 2018 | Sports
AXA, official insurance partner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the Philippines, was one of the marketing partners of the Jr. NBA Philippines 2018 presented by Alaska National Training Camp (NTC).
The program attracted the most promising and aspiring basketball players aged 10-14 from different parts of the country. One of the participants, Jam Lachica, 12, made it to the NTC with support from AXA.
The insurance company provided apparel and training to Lachica for the Manila Regional Selection Camp prior to the NTC. For more information on AXA’s partnership with the NBA, visit www.axa.com.ph.
Discovery Country Suites has been shortlisted along with some of the world’s best hotels for Haute Grandeur’s Global Hotel Awards.
Maxicare Healthcare Corporation, the country’s leading healthcare provider, offers a solution with their new Maxicare PRIMA health card.
Myth #1:
“Natural” is safe.
As a fashion photographer, Luna is well-regarded for her personal sense of style. Self-described as an “ever-evolving” aesthetic, she draws her inspiration from rock ’n roll icons of yesterday and today.
AXA, official insurance partner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the Philippines, was one of the marketing partners of the Jr. NBA Philippines 2018 presented by Alaska National Training Camp (NTC).
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