by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 2, 2023 | Family and Pets
Manila Prince Hotel, a premier hotel nestled in the heart of the City of Manila, is excited to announce its latest initiative to cater to the needs of all guests. The hotel is delighted to open its doors to registered pet cats and dogs, ensuring that their stay is as comfortable as that of their fur parents. This step reflects the hotel’s commitment to providing exceptional hospitality and an inclusive experience that guarantees no family member is left out.
Starting 01 October 2023, guests can book pet-friendly rooms that are thoughtfully equipped to cater to their furry friends. These rooms feature a range of amenities, including plush pet bedding, towels, feeding bowls, kitty litter trays, and more. Protocols are in place to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene, assuring a safe and pleasant experience for all.
Beyond the enhanced room facilities, Manila Prince Hotel is also offering additional services tailored exclusively for its VIP (Very Important Pet) guests. This includes the provision of a dedicated pet park located in the al fresco area of the hotel. This spacious outdoor area allows furry guests to stretch their legs and enjoy outdoor playtime.
“Our decision to embrace a pet-friendly approach aligns with our commitment to cater to the evolving needs of our guests who consider their furry companions as integral family members,” says Marvin Kim Tan, Manila Prince Hotel’s director of sales and marketing.
For reservations or for more information about our pet-friendly policy, call +63 2 53282222, email in**@**********ce.com, or visit www.manilaprince.com.
About Manila Prince
Manila Prince Hotel, a subsidiary of The Manila Hotel, is situated in the heart of Manila’s business district. It is located close to the city’s top tourist spots as well as main transportation hubs. With its 300 well-appointed rooms, 10 function rooms and ballrooms, an elegant lobby with 24-hour reception, a business center, swimming pool, and gym access, Manila Prince Hotel offers value for money and stylish comfort.
Along with excellent service and luxurious hospitality, the hotel has two (2) exciting dining outlets: Marcelino Street Café, the all-day dining restaurant, and Dragon Court, the Chinese restaurant. The hotel is attached to UN Square Mall for convenient shopping and dining. These and more make Manila Prince Hotel a top choice for both leisure and business travelers.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 28, 2023 | Food & Beverage
What would you do if a lion gets up close and personal with you like this one did with me? If it were a real lion, I would probably be frozen in place and praying that I am not on the menu. With a dancing lion like this one was, all I could manage was a squeak and a giggle.
I was fortunate enough to be part of the opening of Dragon Court at the Manila Prince Hotel. I knew to expect a dragon and lion dance, a lauriat meal, and a dice game. After all, these are staples of Chinese events (as far as I know), and I was not disappointed.
Opening with a bang
The dragon and lion dance is performed to bring in good luck … and what is a Chinese extravaganza without a dragon and lion dance, right? This isn’t the first one I’ve seen, but it is the first one that interacted with me directly. Who knew they were so flirty? Lol! It was just so entertaining.
Dragon Court interior
The interior of Dragon Court has a very old-world Chinese charm. Off to the sides are private rooms for private parties that could seat anywhere from ten to thirty people, depending on the room. The tables in the public area are widely spaced so it does not feel overcrowded.
The Food
I’ve noticed in Chinese restaurants they don’t serve the food at the same time and they usually serve the rice last. I never understood this practice since, as a Filipino, I like eating rice with my viand. That being said, there is no disputing that everything we were served was delicious! Let me show you my favorites.
Hands down whenever I get a chance to eat dimsum, you can be sure I will order hakaw and siomai, and hope that I will not be disappointed. Thankfully, the siomai and hakaw of Dragon Court are definitely something to write home about. Not only are they flavorful, but each piece is chock-full of filling, and I did not feel at all cheated.
We can’t go wrong with ordering lemon chicken. The chicken is tender, sweet, and definitely not dry. Cooking this at home, it would be easy to overcook it. From what I experienced, this was cooked to perfection.
You can be sure that this eggplant and minced pork dish is good because I am very allergic to it, but I couldn’t resist tasting it anyway … after making sure I took an antihistamine first. My only regret is that I could only risk one tablespoon of this lest I break out in hives. In my opinion, it was the best dish served.
Dice Game time!
We ended our lunch with a fun dice game where everyone goes home a winner! The rules are simple, and at every round, most of us won a lolly at least. Except for one, who messed up in every round except for the last round, where he won the first prize. It must have been fate. 😀
I was prepared to have my belly filled with delicious food. I wasn’t expecting to have so much fun and interaction. I will certainly keep Dragon Court in mind next time we have a family event in Manila.
If they still have the Dice Game set menu, I will recommend that to my family and friends as well. Not only was the food good, but it was a lot of fun to play as well!
More power, Dragon Court! And see you again soon.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 26, 2023 | Book Reviews
About a month ago, we were able to interview author Ashley Breanne and feature her on our sister site, Hearthandhomebuddies.com. In our chats, one of the things she mentioned was that she wrote this story called The Rebound, a YA/Teen story and that it was on Goodnovel.
According to Ashley, The Rebound: The Wrong Cinderella’s Story was the first book she published on Goodnovel. This got me curious. The first book of hers that I read was The Alpha’s Girl and I liked that a lot! So, I checked it out on Goodnovel and discovered it is only 66 chapters. I can do that. I can spare the coin for that.
From page one I was transfixed. What a fun story! It is one of those that I wish was made into a movie. It is definitely going to be a teen flick and, yes, it is most definitely a Cinderella story with a twist.
But what I liked most about this story are two things. First, Caleb may be the golden boy of the school since he is the quarterback, but he isn’t a manwhore. As a matter of fact, Violet is only the second woman he has even been intimate or in a relationship with. Awwwwww!
Second, Violet is not a damsel in distress, nor is she popular. She also isn’t bullied or bookish, etc. If she were to fall under any stereotype it would probably be a loner with only one friend. But then again, she didn’t have any problem making friends with Caleb or his best friend so it is obvious that she isn’t a social recluse.
The banter … the banter is what got me. “Listening” to them was just precious! The teenage girl inside me was giggling a lot at their interactions.
I give this book all digits up, not just my thumbs. It is an easy read and very light-hearted. I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as I have. 🙂
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 20, 2023 | Business
In line with their shared goal to promote and strengthen financial inclusion for Filipinos nationwide, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently rolled out the Paleng-QR initiative in Mandaue City in collaboration with GCash, the Philippines’ leading mobile wallet.
Under the joint initiative, market vendors and tricycle drivers in Mandaue Public Market can easily transact with their customers through GCash QR codes. With this, both vendors and consumers can have a safer and more seamless shopping experience. Moreover, this initiative ultimately boosts the growth of the digital ecosystem, especially in the grassroots economy.
BSP representative Atty. Charina de Vera-Yap, DILG 7 Regional director Leocadio Trovela, and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes enjoy the 1-peso street food GTreats at the GCash booth.
Locals also enjoyed exciting treats in GCash booths at the Mandaue Public Market, where they were able to experience safer and more convenient cashless transactions first-hand. With the program’s entry into the city, GCash has so far onboarded a total of 561 out of 700 market vendors in Mandaue Public Market and 100 members of the local Tricycle Operators/Drivers Association (TODA) to allow payment through the app.
In addition to providing a safer and more convenient cashless experience to vendors and their customers, GCash is also set to onboard more small merchants for GCash Pera Outlet (PO) in the city. This feature allows vendors and small merchants to earn extra income and grow their businesses by offering customers in their communities access to various GCash services such as Cash-in, Cash-out, Pay Bills, and Send Money. Currently, there are already a total of 1,006 vendors and merchants for GCash PO in the city.
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes pays via QR at a fruit stand in the Mandaue City Public Market.
GCash will also conduct financial literacy sessions (FinLit) to educate its users about different wealth management options in GCash, such as GSave, GInsure, GLoans, GInvest, and more, that can help them grow and secure their accounts.
“We are very grateful to the BSP, DILG, and GCash for expanding the Paleng-QR initiative in the city. With this initiative and through GCash’s convenient services, small merchants, tricycle drivers, and consumers can now enjoy a hassle-free payment experience for their everyday transactions and have access to the various benefits of digital financial solutions. We are honored and open to having more strategic partnerships that will help Filipinos have secure and better lives,” Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes said.
Driven by its shared vision of “Finance for All,” GCash, BSP, and DILG have already onboarded more vendors and tricycle drivers for the Paleng-QR initiative in various public markets in various communities all over the country.
Together with the public sector and Local Government Units (LGUs), GCash continues to build a reliable digital ecosystem to promote sustainable adoption of online financial services and make Filipino lives better every day.
About GCash
GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Finance App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 1,600 partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones.
GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.), the first and only duacorn in the Philippines, which is a part of the country’s leading digital solutions platform, Globe Group.
GCash is a staunch supporter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly UN SDGs 5,8,10, and 13, which focus on safety & security, financial inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, respectively.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 15, 2023 | Food & Beverage
Manila Prince Hotel is excited to announce the reopening of its esteemed Chinese restaurant, Dragon Court. Located at the lobby level, Dragon Court’s reopening is part of the hotel’s month-long anniversary celebration. It is set to welcome guests to an unforgettable dining experience starting September 27, 2023.
Abundance of Flavors
Dragon Court’s food and beverage team underwent extensive preparation to ensure the restaurant maintains its signature taste while introducing new items to cater to the most discerning palates. Guests can expect a wide array of dishes that showcase Chinese cuisine. From delicate dim sum to flavorful specialties, every plate at Dragon Court is crafted with precision and passion.
The menu includes timeless favorites such as Shrimp Dumpling, Roasted Pork Barbecue, White Chicken with Ginger and Leeks, Eight Treasure Diced Winter Melon Soup, Honey Beef in Pepper Sauce, Lapu-Lapu Fillet in Soy Sauce, and baked Mango Tapioca Pudding.
Mid-Autumn Festival Set Menu Packages
In addition to the a la carte offerings, Dragon Court introduces Mid-Autumn Festival Set Menu packages, which include dice game paraphernalia and special prizes. These packages add fun and excitement to one’s group dining experience while celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Manila Prince Hotel’s director of sales and marketing, Marvin Kim Tan, expressed his enthusiasm about the reopening of Dragon Court. “We are delighted to reintroduce Dragon Court to our guests to celebrate Manila Prince Hotel’s anniversary. We are confident that Dragon Court will be another reason our loyal guests will keep returning to our hotel and attract new clientele.”
Starting September 27, 2023, Dragon Court will be open daily for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Call (+632) 5328 2222 or email fn*@**********ce.com for inquiries and reservations.
About Manila Prince
Manila Prince Hotel, a subsidiary of The Manila Hotel, is situated in the heart of Manila’s business district. It is close to the city’s top tourist spots and main transportation hubs. With its 300 well-appointed rooms, ten function rooms and ballrooms, an elegant lobby with 24-hour reception, a business center, a swimming pool, and gym access,
Manila Prince Hotel offers value for money and stylish comfort. Along with excellent service and luxurious hospitality, the hotel has two (2) exciting dining outlets: Marcelino Street Café, the all-day dining restaurant, and Dragon Court, the Chinese restaurant. The hotel is attached to UN Square Mall for convenient shopping and dining. These and more make Manila Prince Hotel a top choice for leisure and business travelers.
We ended our lunch with a fun dice game where everyone goes home a winner! The rules are simple, and at every round, most of us won a lolly at least. Except for one, who messed up in every round except for the last round, where he won the first prize. It must have been fate. 😀
According to Ashley, The Rebound: The Wrong Cinderella’s Story was the first book she published on Goodnovel. This got me curious. The first book of hers that I read was 
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