M ONDAY : NOVEM B ER 16, 2015
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Rajo Laurel recreates The Bakeshop Funky Monkey, by giving a fresh new look on this well-loved classic
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The Funky Monkey x Rajo Laurel collection displayed at the hotel lobby for the month of November
PHOTOS COURTESY OF EDSA SHANGRI-LA
Rajo Laurel Dresses the Funky Monkey BY WEIZEL GULFAN PHOTOS BY ANDREW CO
I
t’s always a joy to receive a box of chocolates for Christmas, and it’s also a nice gift idea to send to your friends or loved ones specially those with a sweet tooth. During the holidays, a lot of establishments will have their own take on Christmas chocolate gift sets, but the best ones would be the artisanal creations. Recently, Edsa Shangri-La, Manila’s Bakeshop partnered with fashion designer Rajo Laurel to design the covers for their holiday chocolate creation and give its all-time bestselling
The original Funky Monkey cover design
Rajo Laurel holding the Beatriz pattern of Funky Monkey, a design inspired by his grandmother
Funky Monkey Christmas gift set
chocolate bar, The Funky Monkey, a whole new look. The Funky Monkey has always been the most coveted choice of indulgence at the Bakeshop in Edsa Shangri-La, Manila. The chocolate is made by hand using only the freshest ingredients of Belgian chocolate, milk, rice crispies, and marshmallows – this chocolate bar gives one the euphoria of childhood memories with every crunchy bite. For the holidays, the hotel decided to re-launch this
Hand crafting the Funky Monkey
secret recipe, which has not been tweaked since 2007. Now wrapped in four stylish limited edition wrappers – the Duchess, Beatriz, Ming, and Hermosa – designed in brocade fabrics with rich colors, floral patterns and intricate details that complement the resort feel of the hotel. “This is the first time after eight years that we are giving Funky Monkey a new and exciting look to delight guests, and we wanted it to be memorable and worthwhile.
We trust this reinvention will be perfectly executed by a visionary designer who can breathe life to our brand of chocolates,” says Edsa Shangri-La, Manila’s general manager Amit Oberoi. The Funky Monkey x Rajo Laurel collection will be displayed at the hotel lobby for the month of November. The collection is available at the Bakeshop for P355 with Christmas box options for corporate giveaways. The Bakeshop also offers other chocolate variants such as B-52, Singapore Sling, Mojito, La Dolce Vita and Halo-Halo. So tick your gift list and head to the Bakeshop to get your boxes ready for your gift giving.
The Bakeshop dressed in white Christmas for the holiday season
For inquiries and orders, contact Edsa Shangri-La, Manila’s Information Center at (63 2) 633 8888 Ext. 2840 or email esl@shangri-la.com. Visit www.shangri-la.com/manila/ edsashangrila and follow them on social media at Edsa Shangri La on Facebook, and @edsashangrila on Twitter and Instagram.
LIMA PARK HOTEL LAUNCHES ‘LADY OF THE LAKE’ TOURS
T
ourists will now have an opportunity to travel around the pristine waters of Taal Lake with the launch of the “Lady of the Lake,” a 30-ft. Catamaran cruiser from Lima Park Hotel, a prime business and leisure hotel located at the Lima Technology Center in Batangas. Taal Lake happens to be a favorite spot located just 60 kilometers from Manila. The 60-minute sightseeing tour which will start from Balete, Batangas includes stopovers at the islands of Napayong, PiraPiraso, Bubuin, Binintiang Malaki, and Binintiang Munti that serves as a sanctuary for migratory herons and egrets. The first establishment to offer a lake tour, Lima Park Hotel remains true to its vision to make the area a top tourist destination in the country. The cruise around the 30-seater boat serves as the new addition to the hotel’s offerings for the “Bisita Batangas” campaign initiated by the hotel in 2013 in collaboration with the local government of Batangas.
The 'Lady of the Lake' 30-ft. Catamaran cruiser
Aside from organizing various tours that promote the recreational, religious, and cultural sites of Batangas, the hotel also offers a spiritual tour where guests and devotees can visit the different churches in Lipa City, which has been able to retain its deep religious traditions. Known as the
“Little Rome of the Philippines,” Lipa is the seat of the Archdiocese of Batangas and is home to a number of notable Catholic chapels and churches. Batangas is also recognized for preserving its ancestral houses like Casa de Segunda, considered a Heritage House by the
National Historical Institute and was named after Segunda Solis Catigbac, the grand matriarch of the old rich Katigbak family. Segunda was also romantically linked to Jose Rizal before she married Manuel Luz, another prominent name in the area. Built in the 1880s, the house’s arrangement, solidity, and history have made it one of the must-see repositories in Batangas. Nestled in a highly industrialized zone, the Lima Park Hotel – which has a four-star rating from the Department of Tourism – is widely recognized for its excellent customer service and has made a name for itself in the hospitality industry with its top-notch facilities, world-class menu, and accommodating staff. The hotel is also noted for providing DOT-approved PWD (persons with disability)accommodations. For room reservations and cruise schedules, you may call (043) 981-1555 or (0917) 504-2385. Visit www.limaparkhotel.com for more information.