Tagged: Review

The Philippines, a newcomer in the $24-billion global wellness tourism, is promoting two traditional massages in order to lure foreign tourists to its world-class spa destinations.

Enchanted Kingdom

Thousands of people head south of Manila to spend a day of fun-filled relaxation and adventurous excitement within the American-style walls of Enchanted Kingdom, a 17-hectare world class theme park conveniently located in the outskirts of Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Unknown to many, a large complex of hotels and entertainment centers has transformed the skyline of Pasay City near the Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.  The world-class hotels and resorts, collectively called Resorts World Manila, would easily attract the attention of Cebu Pacific passengers using Terminal 3.  The complex is a part of the Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City Manila.

A new integrated residential-resort development will soon rise in Tagaytay City.  Fil-Estate Land, Inc. and Megaworld Corp. have partnered to develop a world-class tourism-oriented project called Twin Lakes, over a 1,149-hectare property.

The first phase of the project will include a luxury hotel, residential villas and condominiums, a shopping village, botanical garden, sports and country club, and plantation estates. 

South of Manila is Makati City, considered as the financial capital of the country. Along Ayala Avenue rise modern skyscrapers, which are home to multinational companies, foreign embassies and local banks. The trendiest leisure spots – hotels, restaurants, bars, music lounges, fashion boutiques and department stores – converge around the sleek Ayala Center and Greenbelt. Across EDSA is the posh subdivision of Forbes Park, home of the country's rich and famous. One area that now competes with Makati in terms of its modern architectural landscape is the Ortigas Center between Mandaluyong City and Pasig City. Home to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), it is also the site of three of the country's richest shopping malls – SM Megamall, Robinson's Galleria, and Shangri-la EDSA Plaza.Also within Ortigas is the striking leisure enclave, Saint Francis Square, with its fine restaurants and fashionable music lounges.

A photograph taken by Mr. George Tapan on Onuk Island in Balabac, Palawan has bested 21,000 entries from 130 countries to be the winner of the National Geographic Photo Contest 2011.  The winning photograph titled “Into the Green Zone” bagged the first place in the Places Category of the highly prestigitious National Geographic photo contest.  The winning photos were judged by respected National Geographic magazine photographers Tim Laman, Amy Toensing, and Peter Essick.

Azalea Residences, a 99-suite-suite vacation residence, has recently opened in Baguio city. “It is the hotel that offers the brand of convenience and amenities of top international hotels, yet maintaining the natural texture and traditional character of the Philippines at a very affordable price,” said Azalea Resorts and Residences COO Dulah Lipardo.

A Korean group, which is constructing a 616-room resort hotel complex in Lapu Lapu City, has unveiled its plan to also construct a retirement village and a golf course in the coastal town of Cordova located at the southeastern tip of Mactan Island, Cebu.