Traveller
The Premier Trusted Travel Magazine SORSOGON SECR ETS | R AINY SEASON BR EAKS | SIA M A HOTEL
Sorsogon Secrets Skin diving, paddling, and bird calls
v ol u me 1 iss u e 4 2 0 1 4
R a in y Se a s on Br e a k s T o p 7 things to d o w hen I T ’ S P O U R I N G
Si a m a HO T EL
Ooh-l a-L io!
S av v y shopping
S T Y L I S H D E S I G N an d warm serv ice
A P 6 -billion resort rises in E l N i d o
A g u i d e to the best local sho p s
2 014 volu m e 1 issue 4
PhP150
inside inf l igh t t r av el l er | v ol ume 1 is s ue 4 2 0 14
38
bulusan lake photo by monica de leon
Bulusa n L a k e
In Places
38
cover story T r av e l A l o n g t h e C oa s t s o f S o r s o g o n
From paddling across Bulusan Lake, to skin diving 12 feet into the waters for seagrapes, Sorsogon offers a delicious slice of provincial life, says Monica De Leon
53
insider’s guide m a n i l a r a i n y se a son br e a k s
The clouds may be gathering, but there’s still plenty of action and relaxation in and around the city
2 014 | volu m e 1 i s s u e 4 | I n F l ig h t. ph |
InFlight Traveller Vol 1 Issue 4 TOC Section.indd 3
3
8/4/14 11:09 PM
inside inf l igh t t r av el l er | v ol ume 1 is s ue 4 2 0 14
24
53 indulge
playground and pristine beach coves
Black Sheep; Vieux Chalet; Bite Contemporary Cuisine
The Hotel Suppliers Show and Manila International Travel Expo kicks off in September
regul ars
63 tr aveller’s guide
22 beaut y & wellness
05 Edit or’s No te
13 RESTAURANT & BAR
B ASE M EN T SALON Where to go for hair color and highlights
24 h o t e l s & R e s o r t s
Si a m a Hot el Sorsogon’s newest luxe boutique resort sets the standard in style and service
C l u b P u n ta F u e g o Punta Fuego beckons with its 88-hectare chill-out
4
13
08 In Focus I n fi n it y R esort
Puerto Galera in Mindoro opens its first and only five star resort
All you need to know, from airport and arrival essentials to getting around Manila and neighboring cities
08
On the cover Bulusan Lake photo by Christian Sangoyo
10 in the ne ws
Ayala Land’s P6-billion Lio Resort Town Soon to Rise in El Nido, Palawan; Philtoa launches its 25th Philippine Travel Mart in September;
| i n f l ig h t. ph | volu m e 1 i s s u e 4 | 2 014
InFlight Traveller Vol 1 Issue 4 TOC Section.indd 4
8/4/14 11:09 PM
editor’s note
www.inflight.ph www.facebook.com/inflight.ph twitter.com/nflight_travel www.youtube.com/user/inflightph
editorial Executive Editor N i ko s G i t s i s Editor-In-Chief G i s e l l e J av i s o n Managing Editor M o n i c a D e Le o n Contributing Photographers Camille Ante, Mon Corpuz, Ferdz Decena, Toto Labrador, Rhonson Ng, Oggie Ramos, Hermes Singson, Jeffrey Sonora, Daniel Soriano, Gutsy Tuason Contributing Writers Francis Brew, Freida Dario, Cielo Flores, Kristine Fonacier, Tito F. Hermoso, Catherine Kirchhoff, Jan Lao, Oggie Ramos, Ces Rodriguez, Myra Santigao, Gutsy Tuason
Advertising Sales and Marketing Sales & Marketing Manager L ov en i a L i m Senior Account Manager M a ne l l e S u y a t
Publishing Publisher D o r n i e r M edi a Publishing Director N i ko s G i t s i s
Board of Advisers Chairman I r en D o r n i e r Publishing Director N i ko s G i t s i s Editorial Director G i s e l l e J av i s o n Director D e l z a Ap o s t ol Legal Counsel A t t y. C e l i n a C ua
Inquiries Direct Line: + 6 32/ 55 3 7 9 76 Email: e d itor s @ i n f l i g ht . ph; a d s a le s @ dor n ie r me d i a . c om
philippine Copyright © 2014 Dornier Media International 2/F Lerose Building, 832 Edades Street corner
s
orsogon, a sleepy coastal province in Bicol, often brings to mind the popular Donsol whale shark tours. It’s easy to forget there’s more to this place than sightings of the gentle giants.
For starters, Sorsogon is home to some of the most beautiful white sand beaches this side of the planet, the Tunga-Tunga Reef marine sanctuary offering great diving, Bulusan Lake for paddling and kayaking, and the San Rafael Bird Wall for spectacular bird watching. At sunset you can set up your camera to catch hundreds of tiny birds called bee eaters blanket the sky on their way back home to their little nests on the Bird’s Wall. The chirping of hundreds of birds flying across the sky is nothing short of spectacular. In this issue’s cover story, managing editor Monica De Leon spent three days in Sorsogon exploring all these wonderful places, and giving us a glimpse of coastal village life. One of her memorable moments was skin diving some 12 feet to the bottom of the sea to harvest sea grapes, a local delicacy. Skin diving is a local past time with fishermen in their boats cheering you on. (See story on pages 38 to 51). On pages 53 to 59, we give you an exciting guide to some of the great things to do in and around the city during the Philippines’ rainy season, from July to September. This issue also brings you news about hotel openings and new developments, including the P6-billion Lio Resort Town planned for El Nido in Palawan. Developed by Ayala Land, Lio is planned as an eco tourism estate housing hotels, resorts, private residences, and health and wellness centers. (Page 10) Enjoy the rest of the issue!
Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City, 1227 Philippines
giselle Javison editor - in - c h ief editors@inflight.ph
v o l u me 1 i s s u e 4 | In F l i g h t . p h |
InFlight Traveller Vol 1 Issue 4 Ed's Note + Staffbox.indd 5
5
8/4/14 11:14 PM
in
infinit y resort There’s a new-found confidence in Puerto Galera, with the opening of its first five-star resort photo c ou r t e sy of i n f i n i t y r e s o r t
Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, known for its medium to budget range hotel on the beach strip, recently welcomed Infinity Resort, a boutique 20-room luxury resort. The resort, sitting on a two-hectare property in local barangay Talipanan, is a 40-minute travel from the town proper of Puerto Galera. The modern Asian design of the resort is dramatically set against a backdrop of tropical forests and the Malasimbo, Alinbayan and Talipanan mountains. Infinity has 20 rooms, suites and villas, a 400sqm infinity pool, outdoor jacuzzi, gym, entertainment room, and games room equipped with Xbox, darts and billiards. Infinity’s restaurant, The Brae, serves Asian and continental cuisines prepared by resident German and Filipino chefs. A recent addition to Infinity’s facilities is its Malasimbo Spa, launched in May this year. Malasimbo Spa uses products that are 100% made from premium virgin coconut oil. A room night at Infinity Resort starts from P9,800 (about US $222) for two, including breakfast at The Brae. Puerto Galera is located about 130km south of Manila. It’s famous for its White Beach, and the annual Malasimbo Festival Music and Arts (www. malasimbofestival.com) held in March. How to get there. From Manila, it takes about four hours to get to Puerto Galera. Hire a chauffered car for P3,500 (+632/ 853 5331) or hop on a Jam bus at their terminal on EDSA corner Gil Puyat Avenue to Batangas pier. At the pier, go straight to Terminal 3, where you can book a seat on one of the ferries to Puerto Galera. Infinity Resort also arranges round trip private boat transfers for 15 persons at P24,000. Visit www.infinityresort.com.ph.
8
| i n f l ig h t. ph | volu m e 1 i s s u e 4 | 2 014
infinity resort
2 014 | volu m e 1 i s s u e 4 | I n F l ig h t. ph |
9
th e m ajestic M ayon Volca no, v i ew ed from Pa num baga n in Pil a r
38
| i n f l ig h t. ph | volu m e 1 i s s u e 4 | 2 014
cover story
Tr avel Al ong the Coas t s of Sorsogon
From paddling across Bulusan Lake, to skin diving 12 feet into the waters for seagrapes, Sorsogon offers a delicious slice of provincial life, says Monica De Leon photos b y C a m i l l e A n t e and M o n i c a D e L e o n
“G
o on, jump!” our official tour guide, Pilar Town’s tourism officer Joel Navora, prodded me. I was staring deep into the waters of Tunga-Tunga Reef in Pilar Town, not sure whether I should dive in or be a wimp and just stay on the floating raft. After much prodding, I obliged. I jumped and braved the waters even if the current’s quite strong. Tunga-Tunga Reef is a marine sanctuary off Barangay Inapujan in Pilar, a sleepy coastal town that lies next to the famous whaleshark capital, Donsol, Sorsogon. It’s a must visit, if only to snorkel or dive, with the waters brimming with marine life — red snappers, sweetlips, clownfish, groupers, emperor fish, and corals moving in a kaleidoscope of color. More than anything else, the now recovering reef is testament to what a little bit of community spirit and political will could do. Dynamite fishing had been rampant in these areas, but two years ago the local government stepped in to put a stop to it. 2 014 | volu m e 1 i s s u e 4 | I n F l ig h t. ph |
39
40
| i n f l ig h t. ph | volu m e 1 i s s u e 4 | 2 014
Where to take her next? Start by subscribing now! save up t o P720* one ye ar % P400*
20
get a special discounted price off the cover price
six months
get it advanced before it hits the newsstand
we will deliver directly at your doorstep
* Free delivery within Makati City. Additional shipping and handling fee outside Makati City.
Subscription Form name: address: tel.:
please, check:
mobile:
one-year subscription
email:
six-month subscription
PAYMENT DETAILS Make your payment/s directly to any Metrobank branch. Account name: Dornier Media International Corporation.
Account number: 642-3-64207269-3. Tear and fax this form at: (02) 840 2802. Fax or scan and e-mail bank deposit slip to: subscription@inflight.ph.
For subscription inquiries, call: (02) 840 2802 / (02) 553 7978 or email us at: subscription@inflight.ph
w w w. f ac ebook . c om/ I n f l ig ht . ph
t w it ter. c om/ I n f l ig ht _ t r ave l
w w w. i n f l ig ht . ph