Cafe Juanita - Bonifacio Global City {Fatravelist}

After Ligligan Festival we planned to take our dinner in Cafe Juanita at Pasig City but we are not lucky that night as the store is already closed when we arrived around 12AM.

Sunday morning, we are still eager to try the restaurant so we checked their website for store details. And we found out that there is Cafe Juanita at Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City. so we quickly called the branch for reservation at 11AM for late breakfast and early lunch. 

Store opens at 11AM and close at 11PM. We were the 1st customer when we arrived at the restaurant. Everybody is very accommodating, a signature of Filipino warm service. :D 

Cafe Juanita offers delectable Filipino dishes. And the restaurant was also known to it's Kitchy ambiance a sentimental art that attracts restaurant-goer like us. 

Unusual, yes LOL think of everything that was covered with colorful and different kind of cloth. Hohoho

For soup, we ordered mushroom cream soup and asparagus cream soup cost 168 pesos each (pocquito). I can say that  they severed a very good soup, creamy indeed.

We tried the Beef Calderata this is another cafe Juanita's house specialty of beef shank stewed for hours in tomato sauce, olives and special spices that cost 439 pesos (good for sharing)

And ripe mango shake, usual but still refreshing. The restaurant also offer wines

Capiz Chandelier

Overall we enjoyed the place, the service and the Filipino food at Cafe Juanita. We will surely go back to this place when we are craving for our favorite Filipino dishes :) 



Cafe Juanita at the Fort
Unit WS-2 Burgos Circle, Forbestown Center, 
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, 1634
Telephone: +632 403-1952
Email: cafejuanita@yahoo.com

Giant Lantern Festival {Fatravelist}

A month ago we planned to observe the Kapampangan annual celebration of Giant Lantern Festival (Ligligan Parul)2012 in City of San Fernando, Pampanga.

The City is also known as "The Christmas Capital of the Philippines". San Fernando City is famous in making colorful and attractive lantern. This intricate giant parol are designed and hand crafted by Baranagay who joined the competition.

Ligligan Parul Competition is a showdown of Giant Lantern (not more than 20 feet high) twinkled thousands light bulbs in a tune of Christmas song.

We called the Giant Lantern Committee 2 days before the festival for details and ticket reservation, unluckily there is no more tickets available for us but that can't stop us from seeing this amazing giant lantern. LOL

1:30PM when we left Bulacan and exact 3:00PM when we arrived in San Fernando City.

We went to Robinsons Starmills as the competition will be held at the open parking space at the back side of Robinsons. Right after we arrived we quickly looked for free tickets for early birds like us. haha

And seems like our destinies change because they are currently giving tickets that time. Swerte!
Take note: Ligligan Tickets are open to public and FREE!

4:30PM when they let us in and since we are early we get a chance to choose a seats(first come first serve). They also allowed us to bring our food inside and a chance to took early picture at the event LOL

Booth was also set-up to raised fund and donation for the victims of recent typhoon Pablo in Mindanao.

Exact 6PM when they start the event on a Thank you Prayer and Pambasang Awit ng Pilipinas then followed by History of Ligligan Festival then few Intermission number from our beloved Kapampangan.

11 Barangay's will be fighting for Giant Lantern Festival (GLF) crown.
12 Judges will decide who will be the 2012 GLF winner.

Grand Price: 120,000 Pesos, Trophy and 2 Scholarships from STI.
1st Price:  60,000 Pesos, Trophy and 2 Scholarships from STI.
2nd Price: 40,000 Pesos, Trophy and 2 Scholarship from STI.

8PM when they started the competition. 

Round 1 Each Giant Lantern have 7 Mins to performed and show how thousands of light bulbs dazzled and dance on a tune of their choice of music.

Round 2: Giant Lantern were group into 3 and they will performed in one tune.

Round 3: All Giant Lantern will have a showdown in 1 Chistmas Music

In the end Barangay Del Pilar won the Giant Lantern Festival crown. Congrats Brgy Del Pilar!

Del Pilar at the back stage

Electrician Antonio Manaloto said that they have been preparing and practicing almost every night for two months to deliver the right colors combinations. 

Del Pilar lantern maker Rainier DeVeraTurda said that they used 8,500 bulbs worth P300,000, which is lesser and nine rotors and none of it was broken.

Telebastagan 2 face parol ended on 1st place runner up then San Jose got the 2nd runner up place that night.

The Festival Ended on an eye catching fireworks.

Our eyes are so amazed on this spectacular Giant Parul. Truly a Masterpiece!
Witnessing this interplay light and colors along with Christmas song make me feel the yuletide seasons :D

Melo's - Fort Bonifacio {Fatravelist}

We are driving around Fort Bonifacio when we feel like we are craving for steaks. 

Then we found this place where all our craving will be over! LOL
The restaurant is located at Burgos Circle cor. Forbestown Road, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

Melo's is a sophisticated fine-dining restaurant known in serving CAB Steak. 

While waiting they served a complimentary bread with butter

We ordered Grilled Angus T-Bone 18 Oz (can be shared to a friend haha) comes with soup of the day and a choice of side dish (Mashed potato, Japanese rice or Corn) cost 2,609.

***T-Bone - Combines two lean, tender steaks. Consists of both strip loin and tenderloin steaks  If diameter of tenderloin is smaller than golf ball, it’s usually considered a T-bone. (2 steaks in 1 cut and very flavorful because it’s still attached to the bone.)
***Medium Well – The steak will be very stiff but will still have a little squish in the middle.

Melo's T-Bone is one of a kind.

They are also serving fresh juice, liquor and wine at the restaurant. 

Melo's is an experience worth revisiting again and again.

I will rate Melo as (This is just my opinion) 

Melo’s Steak Restaurant: Home of Certified Angus Beef and Authentic Wagyu Beef
RESERVATIONS
Alabang:  771-2288 & 771-3945
Makati:  899-2456 & 899-9403
Quezon City:  924-9194 & 924-9168
Fort Bonifacio:  403-5969 & 403-5969

Melo’s Steakhouse Restaurant Website: http://melosteaks.com
Email and functions inquiry:   comments@melosteaks.com
Makati & Quezon City tinrivera@melosteaks.com
Alabang Branch paulmacasaet@yahoo.com
Fort Bonifacio cricketmesias@yahoo.com

Kamana Sanctuary Resort and Spa {Fatravelist}

Kamana Sanctuary Resort and Spa is the perfect place to celebrate his birthday :)

We called the resort day before his birthday for room reservation. And got confirmation right away. Hotel Suite (Cost 11,500 per night).

We left Taguig around 10AM and expect 2 and half hours drive from Manila to Kamana but we arrived exactly 2PM at the resort. What??? 4 hours drive! (Long Drive but Pagod are worth it)

Kamana Suite is beyond our expectation. Asian-minimalist inspired Suite. The room have amazing view from veranda. King size bed, 42' flat screen TV and split type aircon at the bedroom.

Comfortable glass walled sala with L shape sofa, another 42' flat screen TV and  separate split type aircon.

I can't asked for more as the bathroom sink, bath tub, toilet and glass paneled shower is so clean.

Kamana essentials green tea is so refreshing.

Rooms also have it's own dinning table and Mini bar. We will prefer to stay on our room the whole day! haha

We decided to take our lunch around 3PM at their restaurant. We ordered Sinigang na Hipon and Sisig (Walang kamatayan Sisig) our lunch cost 700 per meal. We will rate their restaurant, 7 as 10 is the highest. We also decided to have our massage schedule but they don't have a spa room :( (They will do the massage sa room).

Pool (4ft is the deepest - Siguradong di need and life guard). :D Beach is not as beautiful like what they say on the reviews. Late night when we feel hungry but the restaurant is already close. :( So I suggest that you bring your own midnight snack. hahaha

Our stay is inclusive of complimentary breakfast buffet. I have discovered my new favorite breakfast (Toasted bread then spread salted butter and put scramble egg on top of it). Bwalah unbelievable breakfast hahaha The buffet highlight is their Vegetable Omelet.

You can say you to your self that you get rid of city noise, work and heavy traffic LOL

We checked out exactly 12PM. Pay all of expenses upon check out. We really enjoyed our stay in Kamana. Happy Birthday for our celebrant.

I will rate Kamana Sanctuary Resort and Spa (This is just my opinion).

Address
Nabasan Beach Illanin Forest
West District, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, 2222
Tel nos. +632 843.7851 to 52 (Makati)/
Fax +63 47 250.0724 (Subic)
Smart: +63 9474075119
Globe: +63 9279859870

ThunderBird Resort {Fatravelist}

October when we planned to have another out of town vacation at

ThurnderBird Resort in Binangonan Rizal.

We arrived at the resort around 4PM. After we checked in they handed us an envelop and when we opened it has different size of paper. 1 for welcome drinks, complimentary 30 mins massage, complimentary luck match at their Casino and a paper bracelet we need to wear if we are planing to you use the pool. LOL (It's like your confined in the hospital).

We reserved for Deluxe room cost 5,400 per night. Room is very spacious but I feel that it's lacking of light. The room have a huge sala, nice view at Veranda and Hooray Mini Bar! Bathroom has bath tub and a glassed paneled shower with Thunderbird body essentials.

The resort have 3 restaurants. 1 near at the pool offers Grilled food. 2nd is the Koi restaurant offers Asian food. 3rd is the restaurant at the Casino. :)

We decided to take our dinner around 8PM at the restaurant near the pool. No buffet dinner so we ordered 1 sisig and boneless chicken inasal that dinner almost cost 1000. The food is Hameysing! If I will rate our dinner as 10 is the highest it's 8.5. (You have to bring your wallet with you because you need to pay right away after eating or using their facility and services.)

We also reserved for 1 hour full body massage at their Zhapire spa(waterfall installed beside spa house)  cost 600 per person and due to late reservation we got the 1AM schedule of the Therapist (Two Thumbs Up for the Therapist). So I suggest once you do the room reservation you should include the reservation for spa.

Jacuzzi and pool is open up until 10PM. 

The infinity pool is great, comes with nice view of lake and mountains.

Complimentary breakfast at Koi Restaurant and for us the highlight of the buffet is the freshly made omelet. If I will rate the restaurant it's 7.

You can borrow the bike, play poker at the Casino or just stayed at the patio near the pool. We checked out exactly 12PM but we decided to use the complimentary 30 mins massage before going home. :) Sinulit :D

I will rate the resort (this is just my opinion).

Thunderbird Resorts Rizal

Eastridge Avenue, Binangonan, Rizal

Contact Number: (+632) 651 6888

Email: rizalreservations@thunderbird-asia.com