LIFE
C4 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2023 Nickie Wang, Editor Angelica Villanueva , Writer E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
Where El Nido’s natural beauty meets comfort and adventure
Eric Sugui and his team at the Sea Cocoon rooftop
Sea Cocoon Hotel’s spacious standard room Art Cafe offers an extensive menu consisting of seafood, and guest favorites like pizzas and pastas Kayaking amidst the towering limestone cliffs and crystal-clear waters of El Nido
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was easy to romanticize the place. We booked a special twin room on the fourth floor with a small balcony overlooking El Nido beach. The T Sea Cocoon Hotel, we view from the room was spectacular, with the limestone felt nestled in a cocoon of cliffs seemingly kissing the waters of the bay. The room was clean and comfortable, with new comfort and relaxation, and efficient air conditioning. The hotel also offers a surrounded by the complimentary daily buffet breakfast and a rooftop breathtaking views of the sea and the café and bar that will open soon. The rooftop also warm hospitality of its owner, Eric offers stunning views of the bay. El Nido town Sugui, and his friendly staff. The The initial response to visiting a place for the first hotel is also conveniently located time and developing a deep affection for someone, near the restaurants in town. or in this case, a travel destination, is often likened to falling in love. So, let’s embark on a journey of The team welcomed us with figurative open arms, discovery and fall in love with the charming town of and we knew that we were in for a memorable stay. El Nido, as we explore the community, its businesses, As we gazed at the beauty of nature surrounding us, it and the daily activities that tourists and locals enjoy.
By Jenny Fatima Macatiag
28 years of magic BE THE Magic. Be Enchanted. This is the mantra that greets you as you enter the gates of Enchanted Kingdom, the 25-hectare theme park in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. A few weeks after it opened in October 1995, I visited with my three young children for a day of fun and frolic. We enjoyed the exciting rides, which rivaled those at Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm in the USA. I haven’t gone back to this theme park since then, which is why I made it a point to visit it again when I received the invitation to its 28th anniversary celebration. Not only did I want to see the new attractions it now offers but also because I wanted to personally congratulate and celebrate with the owners, Cynthia and Mario Mamon, for finding ways, albeit difficult, for our only worldclass park to survive the devastating effects of the recent pandemic. The mammoth crowd of parents with their children, excited teens, and even senior citizens I saw that day, all having fun inside the park grounds, was a testimony to the park’s successful overcoming of the most challenging obstacles brought about by the past two years. Upon entering the park grounds, I was immediately ushered into the Evens Center where I was tagged with the usual bracelet of Admission Ticket which gave me unlimited access to all the rides in the park. While waiting for the program to start, I was escorted to watch the park’s newest attraction, Agila The EKsperience. It is Agila the first flying theater in the EKsperience country and the largest of is the its kind in the whole world. newest The thrilling 10-minute ride addition takes one virtually piggy- to the backing on a Philippine eagle park’s fun as it soars over our country’s attractions magnificent tourist attractions. I found it quite an emotional experience as, seeing the beautiful scenery made me feel truly blessed to be Filipino, having all these stunning natural marvels that our country offers. The show bannered the many reasons why our foreign guests “Love the Philippines.” The evening celebration at the park’s Events Center had a list of VIP personalities who were just as happy as I was
to help celebrate Enchanted Kingdom’s significant milestone – DTI Usec. Blesilda Lantayona, L a g u n a Congresswoman Ruth Hernandez, Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez, Executive Director and Vice-President of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Jack Chan, and Senior Director of Universal Beijing Resort Bob Dennis, who designed the park and its attractions. After the speeches, the Anniversary Toast was led by Head of Organization Development and Corporate Planning Nico Mamon, and Head of Business Development and Digital Transformation Anna MamonYOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE: A 25-year study by Harvard and Cambridge universities’ senior researchers has just concluded that: “The number of lies told by men would decrease significantly by 94 percent if women stopped asking questions.”
El Nido serves as the gateway to the Bacuit Archipelago, a cluster of islands adorned with limestone cliffs that rise majestically from the sea. Its poblacion offers a sanctuary far removed from the bustle of city life, replete with hotels, restaurants, and activity centers. It’s conveniently located, just a 5-hour drive from Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS) or a mere 15-minute trip from Lio Airport. Art Cafe El Nido We couldn’t wait to explore more of the town as we headed out for lunch. Highly recommended was Art Cafe which is about a five-minute walk from the hotel. The restaurant offers an extensive menu consisting of seafood, and guest favorites like pizzas and pastas. They also have a souvenir store on the ground floor and a gallery of paintings down Serena Street. After walking around town and checking out the sights and sounds of El Nido, we had an early
Eldar, the adorable main mascot of Enchanted Kingdom, warmly greets guests at park entrance
dinner at Cafe Athena which is a Mediterranean-style beachfront restaurant. Island tour On our second day, we embarked on an islandhopping tour with Isla Malaya Tours. The group that we were with was a happy bunch. We had the time of our lives kayaking the big lagoon of El Nido and enjoying an island seafood buffet lunch right after. It was already late in the afternoon when we got back to Corong Corong beach. We then decided to have an early dinner at Nanay’s Restaurant located in the Pops District of El Nido. All these restaurants and activities are near the Sea Cocoon Hotel which makes it easy to move around. El Nido provides peace and a chance to just let go of everything that weighs you down. Now is the perfect time to go, be inspired and fall in love with nature.
A unique travel experience this holiday season
Sunlight Air allows travelers to personalize their travel experience
Aban, children of the owners. After a lavish dinner, we were then escorted out into the park’s main street to watch the Grand Storybook Characters Parade, Enchanted Kingdom’s colorful and attractive version of the Electrical Parade we see in Disneyland. The magical anniversary festivities ended with a concert top-billed by popular Cebuana diva KZ Tandingan and, interspersed between the musical numbers were the entries of the Finalists to the Sky Wizardry Fireworks Competition. The evening certainly ended with a bang as the dark sky teemed with glittering diamonds of various sizes, comets of different colors, and sparkling stars that seemed to have migrated from different parts of the universe. I have to admit that the whole shebang made me feel like a little boy once again. It certainly was a beautiful way to spend the weekend. It’s been a long while since I’ve been to an amusement park and I have to say that each one of us needs a magical moment like this every now and then in our lives. It’s a most enjoyable way to relieve ourselves of stress and prop ourselves up, ready for whatever challenges there may be. We’re lucky we have Enchanted Kingdome nearby… where the magic lives forever! For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com
BOUTIQUE airlines are a new and exciting way to travel, especially for those looking for a more personalized and exclusive experience. These airlines typically have smaller fleets and service a smaller number of short-haul domestic destinations, which allows them to provide passengers with a higher standard of customer service and amenities. One of the key features of boutique airlines is their easy-to-build itineraries. In addition to booking round-trip flights, passengers can also book hotel accommodations, airport transfers, and even complete travel packages that include meals and attractions. This makes it easy for passengers to plan their entire vacation without having to make multiple bookings. Another feature that sets boutique airlines apart is their intimate and comfortable travel experience. With fewer seats on the aircraft, passengers enjoy wider legroom and the full attention of the flight crew. This makes for a much more relaxing and enjoyable flying experience. Sunlight Air is the Philippines’ newest boutique airline, and it is quickly becoming a favorite among travelers for its exclusive short-haul and inter-island flights to local dream destinations. In addition to its regular flights, Sunlight Air also offers special services such as the Travel Bubble and Easy Shuttle, which make it easy for passengers to book accommodations and transfer services. Sunlight Air, the Philippines’ newest boutique airline, offers exclusive short-haul and inter-island flights with a fleet of three ATR 72-500s. You may book your flight at https://sunlightair.ph/