by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 9, 2024 | Food & Beverage
As Mother’s Day approaches, The Manila Hotel offers exclusive deals to honor the remarkable women in our lives. For the whole month of May, we invite our guests to treat their mothers to an unforgettable experience at the iconic hotel.
Exclusive Mother’s Day Staycation
Experience a luxurious stay at The Manila Hotel and ensure an unforgettable Mother’s Day celebration. For a special rate of ₱5,999 net, guests can revel in an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room and awaken to a lavish breakfast buffet for two persons. Treat Mom to the pampering she deserves amid the timeless elegance of the Grand Dame. The stay period for this offer is until May 31, 2024.
Terno de Mayo Exhibit at the Grand Lobby
Teaming up with the Designers Council of the Philippines, The Manila Hotel presents Terno de Mayo, a showcase of elegance and artistry of 20 stunning terno gowns crafted by 20 Filipino designers. Set against the backdrop of the Grand Lobby’s grandeur, the display serves as a tribute to the Philippine terno’s enduring beauty and rich traditions. The exhibit is free to view and runs until May 31, 2024.
Celebrate Mother’s Day in Style at Champagne Room
At the prestigious Champagne Room, renowned for its top-notch cuisine, guests can indulge in a special menu crafted to delight even the most discerning palates. The 6-course gastronomic journey begins with a refreshing salad, offering a choice between Burrata Salad with cherry tomatoes, radish, and micro greens or the Symphony of Lobster with mango citrus dressing.
For starters, guests can relish the flavors of the Romaine Sweet Peas Soup, Four Cheese Ravioli, and Green Mango Sorbet, setting the stage for sumptuous mains including Grilled U.S. Beef Rib Eye with Gratin of Truffle Oil Mashed Potato or Seafood Medley with Zucchini Risotto. End the meal on a sweet note with the decadent Mixed Berries Pavlova paired with coffee or tea and a selection of luscious pralines.
The Mother’s Day special menu is available for lunch this May at ₱4,888 net per person.
Delicatessen Delights
Mother’s Day Delicatessen
Delicatessen welcomes guests with a dedicated Mother’s Day counter featuring an array of delectable treats designed to pamper the queen of the day. Choose from Praline Bouquet, I Love Mom Chocolate Bar, Heart-Shaped, and Shoe-Shaped Chocolates, among others. These Mother’s Day treats are available until May 15, 2024.
Mango Cream Cake for Mom
Mango Cream Cake
Highlighting the celebration is the divine Mango Cream Cake, a sumptuous dessert perfectly encapsulating the sweetness of maternal love. This decadent mango treat, made with layers of sponge cake, soft whipped cream, and fresh mangoes, is available for ₱1,600 net.
For inquiries and reservations, you may call +632 8527 00 11 or +632 5301 55 00 local 1262 to 1264, email re************@************el.com, or visit www.manila-hotel.com.ph.
About The Manila Hotel
The Manila Hotel is located beside kilometer zero (0), where the City of Manila begins, and is within walking distance from the Philippines’ known landmarks: Rizal Park, Intramuros, and National Museums. Defined by its history, elegance, and world-class service, The Manila Hotel is the choice hotel for the most distinguished clientele.
Since 1912, The Manila Hotel has continuously provided the best services and amenities for a truly memorable experience. It has more than 500 well-appointed rooms and 22 function rooms, including three (3) ballrooms. Apart from these, the hotel offers five-star relaxation and wellness experiences with the Manila Hotel Spa, adult and children’s pools, and the Manila Hotel Health Club.
The hotel is home to the Heritage Museum, a treasure trove of priceless memories that narrate its illustrious past. It also has an Art Gallery that offers a window into a contemporary world, captured through the objective point of view of different artists.
It has six (6) dining outlets, each offering a unique culinary adventure: Café Ilang-Ilang, which is a favorite spot for its extensive selection of International buffet delights; Champagne Room with its Old European style fine dining and also hailed as the most romantic room in Manila — it features European cuisine in a posh, fine-dining setting; Tap Room, an Old English pub-inspired outlet where one can enjoy an evening of live music; Lobby Lounge which is ideal for casual dining, aperitif, post-dinner nightcaps, or leisure meetings; Red Jade, a fine dining restaurant that serves authentic Chinese cuisine; and Delicatessens that offers the hotel’s signature pastries, bread, chocolates, and pralines.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 7, 2024 | Book Reviews
A few weeks ago, I was searching Goodnovel for a new story to read. It’s always Alpha this, Alpha that. Then, I encountered a couple of stories that piqued my interest.
The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story
The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story
The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story is a story about Piper, a woman who was working as a waitress to raise her twin sister’s daughter. Unbeknownst to her, her friend entered her into a contest by the royal family for all unmated women of eligible age. Whoever wins will become the Luna for one of the three Princes, meaning there will be three winners … one for each Prince. She discovers that one of the Princes is her ex, Nicholas. At the time they were dating, she had no idea of his identity.
She gets chosen as a candidate, and as the story progresses, the candidates go through different challenges where one or more will be eliminated. She brings her niece, who everyone thinks is her daughter, with her. Things are more difficult for her as she has the added challenge of being wolfless and not being high-born. However, she does not really let that stop her. She knows she will get eliminated early, but while she competes, her niece gets the medical care she needs.
Most of the other candidates hate her, some of the servants hate her, some of the guards hate her, and the King and Queen hate her. It seems like only Princes Nicholas and Julian like her. What will her fate be in The Luna Choosing Game?
How she lost her wolf when Nicholas was sure she had one before is part of the mystery of this story. Why are more and more people losing their wolves? Where is Piper’s sister? Why did she leave her daughter with Piper?
Luna Battle: The Game by Billiejo Priestley
Luna Battle: The Game by Billiejo Priestley
Luna Battle: The Game by Billiejo Priestley is about Elara, a slave to Alpha Draven’s pack who secretly entered The Luna Battle in hopes of escaping the torture of her everyday life. She lost her wolf at four years old, has lived her life as a servant, and when she was old enough, she became a sex slave and was made to service Alpha Draven, his betas, and his guests. She was bitten and claimed by Alpha Draven when she was twelve years old and had no mate.
The Luna Battle is a competition to select the Luna Queen for King Darius and the Luna Princess for Prince Kellan. Each candidate will be asked to perform various challenges. At the end of each challenge, one or more of the candidates will be eliminated and sent home.
Magic selected her as a candidate, and when she arrived at the Palace, most of the other contestants hated her and called her “mutt,” but that didn’t stop Elara from being the bigger person and reminding them of how a Luna is supposed to behave. After all, she didn’t really expect to stay in the competition for long. But what happens when Prince Kellan starts to show her favor, and the King seems to do so, too?
The Luna stories go head-to-head.
I started reading The Luna Choosing Game first and then paused at Chapter 102 because I, quite honestly, got bored with the minutiae. More than a hundred chapters in, and it feels like only a little has happened. Some scenes could have been removed, and chapters could have been compressed. You know those telenovelas that seem to go on forever? That’s what it felt like when I was reading this book. It was interesting, but it was taking forever to get to the point.
In addition, as of this posting, The Luna Choosing Game has 460 chapters and counting! For crying out loud! Know when to stop! If you must, then serialize it, book one and book two, etc.
At the point I was getting fed up with it, I encountered Luna Battle: The Game, and the first thing I noticed was the parallels:
- wolfless
- no family
- forced into a life of servitude
Even the challenges were similar, but then, you know what they say, there really is little that is original as we all build off what other people have done in the past. There’s a big difference, though. Luna Battle is fast-paced and engaging and, more importantly … ONLY 151 CHAPTERS!
YES! The author was able to tell THE WHOLE STORY (COMPLETE!) in just 151 chapters. Value for money? Check!
Will I go back to finish The Luna Choosing Game? I am unsure. At this point, as I see the chapter count climbing higher and higher, it doesn’t seem very certain. Maybe I will wait until the book makes its way to Amazon, hopefully, KU, and then read it there. I’ve already spent way too much on it, as it is.
Head to head … Luna Battle Wins!
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Apr 15, 2024 | Food & Beverage
Hey there! Are you excited for Mother’s Day? It’s a great opportunity to show your mom how much you care about her. And what better way to do that than by cooking up a delicious homemade meal using Purefoods Heat & Eat Viands? These convenient viands make it super easy to prepare delicious dishes like Bistek Tagalog and Chicken Meatballs in no time, so you can focus on spending quality time with your mom and making her feel cherished and appreciated.
Just imagine the smile on her face as you serve up slow-cooked, flavorful meals that require minimal effort. Plus, you can add your favorite veggies to elevate the flavors and create a culinary masterpiece that your mom will love.
And if you’re feeling adventurous, why not check out the HomeFoodie website for amazing recipes like Sweet and Sour Meatball or Bistek Stroganoff? You’re sure to find something that your mom will adore.
So go ahead and make this Mother’s Day extra special with Purefoods H&E Viands. Your mom deserves it!
Sweet & Sour Meatballs
Servings: 4
Author: HomeFoodie
- 2 packs 250 g each PUREFOODS HEAT & EAT CHICKEN MEATBALLS
- 2 cups cooking oil
Sauce:
- 1 pc 50 g red onion, quartered
- 1 can 227 g pineapple chunks, drained
- 1/2 cup cane vinegar
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/4 cup banana ketchup
- 2 tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 1 cup water
- 1/2 tsp iodized fine salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Fry meatballs in a deep pan with hot oil for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Drain excess oil on paper towels and set aside.
In a saucepan, add 2 tbsp used oil. Sauté onion, then add the remaining ingredients. Stir continuously until the mixture simmers and thickens. Adjust seasonings as needed.
Add cooked meatballs and simmer once.
Makes 4-5 servings
(Yield: 20-24 pc/4 pc per serving)
This Mother’s Day, forget about spending hours in the kitchen and instead, spend some quality time with your mom and family. Purefoods Heat & Eat has you covered with their easy-to-prepare options that taste just like home. You can find them in almost all major supermarkets and groceries across the country, and you can also order them online via San Miguel Mart, Lazada, or Shopee.
Make your Mother’s Day celebration unforgettable with Purefoods Ready-to-Eat that will let you show your love and appreciation to the women in your life. With Purefoods, creating memories with your loved ones has never been easier. So, why wait? Grab some Purefoods and make this Mother’s Day extra special!
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 27, 2024 | Food & Beverage
Creating a wholesome meal plan could be a struggle for both experienced and new cooks — especially a healthy one! Scrolling through social media for a recipe worth trying could be mind-numbing. Search results for a “healthy meal” would most likely lead to multiple choices of greens, and a drastic change in diet like this could be intimidating for most. Adapting to a flexitarian diet can be an easier approach.
This semi-vegetarian diet increases the consumption of plant or plant-based foods and beverages, along with smaller meat portions. Veega provides delicious and protein-rich options such as Veega Meat-Free Nuggets and Veega Meat-Free Burger Patty — dishes that even kids will enjoy. This is also perfect for the Lenten season.
Elevate your meals with Veega — mmmeaty without the meat! Check out a variety of recipes in Home Foodie and get to shop conveniently from San Miguel Mart.
Veega Meat Free products are good to cook as is, but if you want to find other ways to cook them, here are some samples.
Veega Burger Pizza
Veega Nuggets with Cheesy Sriracha Dip and Garlic Mayo Dip
Looking for more #madalicious recipes? Scan QR code on the recipes above.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 22, 2024 | Beauty
So you’ve done a flawless makeup look and are ready to face the day. Of course, with the humid Philippine weather, the last thing you want is to keep re-touching your makeup to make sure your makeup will stay on the whole day.
Careline offers the perfect solution to lock in your look with the Careline Bubble Town Spray (₱325) – the brand’s newest setting spray from its Spongebob Squarepants collaboration. It ensures that you look fresh all day with make-up on.
It contains nourishing skincare actives such as Snow Mushroom extract and Aloe Vera extract to lock in your make-up with a moisturized satin-finish glow. Best of all, it’s very easy to apply. Simply shake the Bubble Town Spray and then spray in both ‘X’ and ‘T’ motion at least 6 to 8 inches away from the face.
So keep your make-up looking fresh and in place with the Careline Bubble Town Spray, available in physical stores: Watsons, SM Department Stores, and other leading stores nationwide or online on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok.
For more updates, visit and like Careline on Facebook (@CarelineCosmetics), Instagram (@carelineph), and TikTok (tiktok.com/@carelineph).
The Manila Hotel is located beside kilometer zero (0), where the City of Manila begins, and is within walking distance from the Philippines’ known landmarks: Rizal Park, Intramuros, and National Museums. Defined by its history, elegance, and world-class service, The Manila Hotel is the choice hotel for the most distinguished clientele.
Creating a wholesome meal plan could be a struggle for both experienced and new cooks — especially a healthy one! Scrolling through social media for a recipe worth trying could be mind-numbing. Search results for a “healthy meal” would most likely lead to multiple choices of greens, and a drastic change in diet like this could be intimidating for most. Adapting to a flexitarian diet can be an easier approach.
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