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HOTEL ROW

@Makati Shangri-La
Makati Shangri-La, Manila celebrated the official start of the Christmas season with the annual Christmas Tree-lighting ceremony held at the hotel’s main lobby with a musical celebration.

As an evening of cocktails, music and warmth, one of its highlights was the launch of this year’s adopt-a-seedling program called “Be An Angel.” Since 2008, Makati Shangri-La had been in partnership with Haribon Foundation, which aims to restore 1 million hectares of Philippine forest by the year 2020. This year, the hotel invites each individual to be an angel to the environment by helping in the conservation of the Philippine forests with a seedling pledge. To learn more about Be An Angel Adopt-A-Seedling program, log on to the website at www.be-an-angel.com.ph.

@Peninsula Manila
The Peninsula Manila’s famous 45-foot tall Christmas tree was lit for the first time this holiday season. The lighting of The Lobby Christmas tree has become a holiday tradition going back 36 years when the hotel first opened in 1976. As has been customary for the past nine years, The Peninsula Manila hosted a meet-and-greet Santa Claus and Peninsula mascot Peter Bear, cookie-decorating class and merienda for the wards of Make-A-Wish Foundation® to coincide with the tree lighting and launch of the annual “Trees of Hope” program. The campaign has also been expanded to include “Teas of Hope” and “Tree of Hope Cocktail.”

@InterContinental Manila
With the holiday season in full swing, InterContinental Manila gets into the gift-giving mood by way of room packages created especially for this time of the year. For Christmas, the Holly Jolly Christmas Room Package will be offered from December 15 to January 2, 2013, while usher in the New Year with the Countdown to 2013 Room Package on December 31. For more information and reservations, call 793-7000 or drop by the lobby Holiday Desk open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. until December 31.

@Dusit Thani
Dusit Thani Manila makes your holiday wishes come true with an indulgent and mouthwatering series of food and beverage offerings this December from its different restaurants like Basix All-day Dining Restaurant, Benjarong Royal Thai Restaurant, Tosca Italian Grill and Umu Japanese Restaurant. On Christmas Day, the festive Christmas Day Crossover Brunch is spread across Basix, Benjarong, Tosca and Umu from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For inquiries and reservations, contact the Restaurant Reservations Desk at 238-8888 ext. 8430.

@Resorts World Manila
Come and feel the solemnity of the Yuletide Season as the country celebrates the grandest Christmas revelry ever at Resorts World Manila via the Grand Fiesta 2012. Avail of the most sumptuous cuisines at selected food outlets via the Grand Fiesta Food Fest, then be treated by the new installment of the 3D-Projection Christmas story dubbed Jessie’s Gift. For the complete calendar of events for the Grand Fiesta 2012, log on towww.rwmanila.com or call (632) 836-6333.

@Boracay Regency
Say hello to a prosperous new year as the Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Spa invites everyone to its New Year’s Eve Party. The festive event, happening on December 31, will feature the longest buffet line in the island, fireworks display, live band performances and all out laughter courtesy of comedienne Giselle Sanchez. For reservations, call (632) 523-1234 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

@Hyatt Hotel
Gather your friends and family for a taste of Christmas this holiday season. At the Hyatt Hotel and Casino, Santa Claus and Santarina are looking forward to giving away lots of joyful cheer, sweet goodies and hearty “Ho Ho Ho’s.” Look forward to taking a souvenir picture with them during their visits to the Hotel’s restaurants and lounges on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. For enquiries and reservations, call the Festivities Showroom on 247 8666 or 245-1234 ext. 7291 or through e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

@Bellevue Manila
Make your Noche Buena this year different, luscious and even more enjoyable as The Bellevue Manila’s prime dining outlet Café d’Asie offers its Noche Buena Buffet. Head on over to the finest five star hotel in the Southern Metro on December 24 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and have a feast that’s apt for a very merry Christmas with family and friends. Another feast will happen on the same time on December 31 to say goodbye to 2012 and welcome 2013 with Café d’Asie’s New Year’s Eve Buffet. For inquiries, contact The Bellevue at 771-8181, 0917-8718181, 0918-8718181 or log on to www.thebellevue.com

Life & Times

Pampanga’s rich food heritage in focus

Published : Thursday January 17, 2013   |  Category : Life & Times   |  Hits:187
By : EUDEN VALDEZ STAFF WRITER

Aching Lillian Borromeo and the author share a plate of freshly baked San Nicolas cookies       DID you know that sisig—yes the Pinoy’s favorite pulutan-cum-ulam—is actually a Kapampangan term that means “to eat something sour” or “... Read more

Finding oneself in the middle

Published : Thursday January 17, 2013   |  Category : Life & Times   |  Hits:91
By : ALICE BUSTOS-OROSA

As a 20s working girl decades ago, I remember always thinking that my office mates who were in their early 40s then seemed so oddly eons of ages older than me. It was often embarrassing in fact, to call them by their first names, thinking that I shou... Read more

Cebu’s finest Dimsum now in Manila

Published : Thursday January 17, 2013   |  Category : Life & Times   |  Hits:120
By : ED UY STAFF WRITER

For a lot of Filipinos who belong to the current Generation “S,” or the siomai-fueled youth, eating these yummy steamed dumplings meant drowning them in calamansi and chili soy sauce. Read more

Frabelle names first ‘Foodie Chef’

Published : Thursday January 17, 2013   |  Category : Life & Times   |  Hits:45
By : EUDEN VALDEZ

Frabelle Foods has just concluded its first Frabelle Foodie Chef competition which had contestants inventing an original dish that incorporated the company’s extensive line of meat products. Read more

A happy Heart

Published : Friday January 11, 2013   |  Category : showtime   |  Hits:1051
By : TESSA MAURICIO-ARRIOLA LIFESTYLE AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

With leading man Geoff Eigenmann     No matter which way you look at Heart Evangelista these days, there is no doubt that one of the most beautiful faces of Philippine show business is simply happy. Read more

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