Satisfying food experience at Novotel Manila

Food plays a big role in our overall hotel experience.

One of the greatest things I looked forward to at this year’s Blogapalooza was our two-night stay at Novotel Manila—a first for this annual event since its inception in 2011. The relatively new hotel, which is part of Accor Hotels, is located at the Araneta Center. It’s perfect for both a leisurely stay and a business-related trip.

The hotel boasts of stylish posh rooms with soft beds, carpeted floors, elegant toilet and bathroom, and a view of the bustling city. I had a rejuvenating comfortable sleep, but truth be told, what I loved the most about the hotel was the Food Exchange Manila buffet breakfast.

The feast was a mixture of Asian (Filipino, Indian, Japanese) and Western (American, English, Italian) cuisines that created a flavorful revelry in my mouth. Even the coffee, which was served in a French press, added fun and excitement to my breakfast experience.

Appetizing salad greens and other colors!

Uniting PH at Blogapalooza 2016

In politics, what do you do to dominate the race? Get the right numbers.

And how do you get the right numbers? Unite your allies.

While this post is not about politics, this strategy seems to be what Blogapalooza has implemented in preparation for year 2017 dubbed as “The Domination.” On November 5, 2016 at Novotel Manila AranetaCenter (more about my Novotel experience on my next post), the event-turned-company gathered bloggers from Northern Luzon, National Capital Region (NCR), Visayas, and Mindanao to unite them as one collaborative organization of bloggers.

From being an annual event which kicked off in 2011 with the aim to connect businesses and bloggers, and which used to be organized by When in Manila, Blogapalooza is now a company headed by its chief executive officer, Ace Gapuz, who is nicknamed “Blogamomma.”

First night's mission: Experience downtown Davao

I took a deep breath as soon as I stepped out of the arrival area at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Davao City International Airport). It was both a feeling of relief that I made it to NAIA on time and of great satisfaction that I finally got the chance to travel again after a while. I’m blessed to be here.

Wasting no time, I hailed a cab to take me to the hotel where I was billeted at. I was in a dilemma at first though. I thought that if I took a cab at the airport, the driver might ask for a higher fare, just like what taxi drivers in Manila do most of the time. I thought of walking towards the gate leading outside the airport’s vicinity and hail a cab there instead, but I immediately dismissed the idea as soon as I realized that doing so would require much effort.

It was 7:45 pm and my stomach was starting to grumble, so I swallowed all bits of hesitation. The taxi driver was courteous enough to admit that he didn’t know where my hotel was located, so I just pulled out my phone and fired away Google Maps. I found the exact location and told the driver where to take me to. He obliged.

I initiated a conversation with him by asking a few questions, starting with, “Are you going to ask for an additional amount on top of the metered fare?” I almost sounded suspicious rather than inquisitive, but the driver willingly answered my query.

“Ay, bawal po dito ‘yan, Sir. Bawal pong mangontrata dito,” he said.

(“That’s not tolerated here, Sir. Demanding a fixed amount is not allowed here.”)

That’s great! My first impression: Dabawenyos are honest, obedient and disciplined.

We talked a bit more about the traits of Dabawenyos, the tourist spots, the food, the surroundings, and the bombing that shocked the nation, among others. That’s one way of getting to know the place—asking questions and seeing from the perspective of a local.

About 20 minutes later, we arrived at Bahay ni Tuding where I settled down for a few minutes before heading out for a night stroll. My mission: Wander around and experience downtown Davao at night. Oh, yes, Bahay ni Tuding is in the downtown area where you can find almost everything.

Since the hotel’s restaurant was already closed by the time I arrived, I opted to dine out. The receptionist advised me to try Kusina Dabaw. I obliged.

I found in the menu a dish that was new to my ears. Balbacua. I asked the waitress what it was, but since my stomach was already complaining, I placed my order upon hearing “beef.” Several minutes later, my order was served and, well, it was something I never expected. Apparently, balbacua is a thick soup dish with cow’s skin, seasoned with chives. I learned later on that it is a specialty dish in Davao and there’s a place in the public market called Balbacuahan, a strip of eateries serving the dish.

I didn’t like it though. Not that it wasn’t delicious at all; it just wasn’t my type of food.

As it turned out, I didn’t have a satisfying dinner, so I strolled around, looking for some redemption.

I stumbled upon a brightly lit old house that had been turned into a café and bar. Letting my curiosity take over, I entered Claude's Le Caféde Ville.

Davao adventure—my first shot at solo traveling

Part 1: Sprinting to the airport

All the seats by the window were taken, so I had no choice but to settle for a middle seat.

I thought I wouldn’t make it to the airport on time. At 3:45 PM, I was still on the MRT, wishing that it was a bullet train I was riding on. This is bad. My flight is at 6 pm!

At 4 pm, I was still at the station, trying to hail a cab to NAIA Terminal 3, but getting refused every time.

Damn Manila traffic.

I had to use my last resort: Grab Car. With a bit of hesitation, I pulled out my phone, clutched it tight in my hand—lest someone would snatch it—and ran a booking. At that point, I didn’t mind paying a higher amount, which was brought about by the price surge, just to catch my flight. While in the car, crazy thoughts were running in my head.

What if I don’t make it on time? Shall I book another flight? Shall I just stay in Manila and feel sorry for myself for a flopped trip? Shall I go somewhere else and just forget about all the plans I laid out, the paid reservation at the hotel, and all the crazy stuff I should be doing in Davao City?

Then my optimistic side toppled the pessimism. I will make it.

I arrived at the departure area a few minutes before 5. After getting through the X-ray machine and having my bags checked, I went straight to the self service check-in machine, half-walking, half-running and panting the whole time.

A beautiful Cebu Pacific personnel assisted me along the check-in process and in less than a minute, I got my boarding pass. I was then told to go straight to Gate 116, as boarding time was 5:15 pm.

Whew, thank God I made it. Now, I wait.

The new ride in town

One Saturday afternoon, without any plans of where to go after my friend and I completed our errands, I saw this rather new mode of public transportation in the metro, the Point-to-point bus service or more commonly known as P2P.

I'd seen the bus plying the length of EDSA a few times which got me really curious what it felt like to ride on it. The interior was not visible from the outside, as the windows are tinted. The windshield's size is much taller than the one I see on jam-packed buses. The exterior looks fascinating and judging from it, I inferred that the inside would be cozy.

Giving in to my curiosity, I told my friend to come with me for a joy ride to Trinoma, the sole destination of the bus which would depart from Glorietta 5 in Ayala.

Pinatubo—a hell of a trek to heaven

They say that the most beautiful places are the hardest to reach. I couldn't agree more.

Last month, I visited one of the most awesome places I've gone to, and it really wasn't an easy climb. It required strength, endurance, and sweat—literally.

Not everyone loves trekking, but one must try at least once every year especially if what awaits on the other end is an undeniably majestic site which answers the question, "Why would I 'punish' myself by doing that crazy thing?"

So, must you visit Mt. Pinatubo? Absolutely, because every ounce of energy, every bit of strength, and every drop of sweat you release will be replenished by the marvel and beauty that unfolds...that is the crater lake.

But if you think that it's the sole reason why you must pack your bag, put on your trekking shoes, and conquer Pinatubo, you're wrong. There are other reasons why you must do so.

Tam-awan Village—a treasure trove of culture and artworks

​​Baguio City became my second home for nine months. When I decided to go back to Manila and start anew, I realized there was one more thing to do before leaving the Summer Capital—visit Tam-awan Village.

Dubbed as "Garden in the Sky," Tam-awan is a village of art galleries built by Chanum Foundation on a roadside hill in Baguio City—a 10-minute drive from the city proper.

From mountains to buildings

Manila may not be the coziest place to live and work in, but it feels good to be back in this great urban jungle.

Nine months ago, I relocated to Baguio City following a directive from my former company’s management due to the need of having someone to oversee the operations in the area. I was directed to handle sales, marketing, training and administrative tasks--responsibilities I never thought or dreamed of performing. Why would I in the first place? They were never in line with my passion!

Moreover, like what I wrote on my blog in April, I never considered living, or working in Baguio City. I saw the place only as a tourist destination--a place I would always love to visit, but would never desire to be my permanent residence.