Air21 celebrates 34th anniversary, successful election

Air21 celebrates 34th anniversary, successful election

By Nickky de Guzman

Published: June 24, 2013

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes said his dream of conducting a successful midterm-election last May has been fulfilled.
Brillantes said this on the 34th anniversary of shipping company Air21, Comelec’s partner in shipping ballot boxes, CF cards, and Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines since the automated elections in 2010. In the recently concluded national elections, Air 21 has successfully delivered 247,414 totals of paraphernalia.
“It’s just because of this celebration that I have to go back to the country,” Brillantes joked during the celebration on Friday night in Manila Hotel. Brillantes went abroad for a well deserved vacation after holding the successful May election.
“I totally forgot the elections since one month and one week and I set my vacation for the first time in two years. On the last election, everyone was talking about hokus PCOS , or magkagulo, but I was never really worried. The only thing I was worried about was how the election paraphernalia [would be shipped on time]. It was more on the logistics and deployment,” said Brillantes.
Air21 has delivered a total of 60,449 PCOS machines, official ballots, and ballot boxes each were delivered successfully together with 848 generator sets to 1128 municipalities, 64 provinces in Luzon and Mindanao and 16 cities in national capital region.
Air 21 has been providing time-definite and innovative pick-up, delivery, and logistics services since 1979.

take home the right foam

Take home the right foam

Now, there’s no more waking up on the wrong side of the bed with the best foam for optimal health

By Nickky Faustine P. De Guzman

Published: June 25, 2013

Sleeping seems to be a luxury nowadays, especially when only a few can afford it. Hence, nothing seems as rewarding as going home and hitting the sack with the comfiest pillows and beds for a good night sleep. Dozing off re-energizes our tired bodies to face yet another day of hard work. Besides, we actually spend one third of our lives sleeping so, finding the right bed accessories is a must.
Getting the most fitting mattress and pillows for our needs may seem easy but the task is actually daunting. After all, having improper bed accessories is one of the causes of back pain and stress. Aside from bad beds, the other grounds for back pain includes sedentary lifestyle, bad posture habit, being overweight, lack of exercise, and poor sleeping habit. According to the National Institute of Health, 80% of the people worldwide will experience back pain in one point of their lives.
So with these in mind, choosing the right mattress then should be a priority for it is the building block to a peaceful slumber and promotion of good health.
“A mattress needs to support your body in neutral position while your spine and head are in proper alignment. If this is not achieved, you will wake up feeling stiff and tired. If the mattress is too firm, it will push on those main pressure points and take your back out of alignment. On the other hand, if it’s too soft, your spine won’t be properly supported. Both of these scenarios can lead to a bad back,” US-trained chiropractor Dr. Anton Cancio says.
A chiropractor specializes in treating patients with disorders on the nervous and musculoskeletal systems such as back pain and slipped disc.
Cancio adds that one’s sleeping position may also trigger muscle pain. Sleeping on one's stomach causes the back bone on the neck to twist, which can cause a stiff neck and shoulder ache. He suggests that the best way of sleeping is one the side or on the back; these positions enable the back bone to be aligned with the neck.
And this is where Mandaue Foam comes in with its wide array of cozy mattresses, pillows, and beds made from the best quality foams, which ensure proper bone alignment that equates to good health.
 “We already know what suits the Filipino neck, which is more firm but bouncier pillows and mattresses,” Mandaue Foam Managing Director Ryan Robinson Uy says.
With this knowledge, Mandaue Foam offers different kinds of foam for customers with special desires. For one, the memory foam mattress molds to the shape of the body as the weight shifts through the night hence, it is suitable for any body mass. It also absorbs movements, thus one is not likely to be disturbed with the tossing and turning of a sleeping partner. A latex mattress on the other hand provides a firm and bouncy assistance that is great for relieving back pain because of the combination of support and comfort it gives. The Dr. Pedic Foam is recommended by doctors for people with chronic back pain because the foam promotes good air circulation and absorption of pressure points.
But the types of foam one should avail depend on his or her lifestyle and sleeping patterns. That is why majority of the Mandaue Foam stores have X-sensor machines that assess and tell what foam or pillow is best for you.
To fully maximize the lives of mattresses, sleep on all of their sides and flip them over once depressions start to set. Mattresses must also be replaced in 10 years.

For more information, visit www.mandauefoam.ph

autologous stem cell therapy makes the difference

Autologous stem cell therapies make the difference

By Nickky Faustine P. De Guzman

Published: June 25, 2013

People cannot effectively represent or endorse products or services if they don’t epitomize them.  And Dr. Cristina A. Puyat is one of those few persons who believe and symbolize the brand she stands for. After all, the still youthful-looking medical practitioner founded one of the most well-known anti-aging and regenerative stem cell therapy clinics in the country.
The Asian Stem Cell Institute (ASCI) offers autologous, tissue-derived stem cell harvesting and treatment for injuries and medical conditions of all types, which includes autism, osteoarthritis, and joint pains. It also introduces comprehensive aesthetics and anti-aging treatments. The stem cell therapy has custom-compound formulations that consist of hormone balancing, nutritional intravenous infusions, and herbal support.
“Autologous stem cell treatment is safe and well-tolerated by the body. When you say autologous, it means that the harvest of the stem cell comes from the same person. Whatever we get from you, that’s the one we will process and return. So, it’s not coming from any other sources, not embryo or coming from a sheep,” Puyat explains.
The advanced autologous treatment isolates, expands, and safely re-infuses stem cells from a patient’s own adipose stroma (fat), bone marrow, and blood. This regenerative medicine undergoes the process of replacing and renewing cells or organs to restore them back to health.
Also, what sets autologous therapy from its contemporaries is that there is no standard approach to all patients. Puyat explains that each individual has a unique biochemistry that depends on one’s age, sex, and genetic predisposition hence, the treatment should tailor-fit the patient with a particular condition.
Trained medical doctors perform the harvesting of fat tissue and extracting of bone marrow, which minimize the damage to the surrounding tissue and stem cells. ASCI has advance and cutting edge services using the ISO 4 Class clean area, where their in-house cellular biologists/microbiologists conduct their processes. 
Dr. Cristina Puyat has spent 30 years studying medicine and health. She completed her Masters degree in Science of Preventive, Anti-Ageing, and Regenerative Medicine at the Dresden International University in Germany.
ASCI is located at Medical Plaza Ortigas, Pasig City.

lobby for art

Lobby for art

By Nickky Faustine P. De Guzman

Published: June 19, 2013

The hotel’s guest rooms are all well-appointed.

Seda, which means silk, promotes simplicity yet elegance, a characteristic that the Seda Hotel is trying to embody. This a four-star hotel located on a choice property at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig. Amidst malls, restaurants and bars, stands this glass-walled hotel place that showcases the works of some of the country’s finest contemporary artists.  This hotel blurs the line of a showroom and an art gallery
Owned by Ayala Land, the building features the clean minimalist look which serves as the ideal setting for the artworks and as well as the stylish furniture by Kenneth Cobonpue. His Pigalle comfortable chairs greet and tempt the visitors to take a seat and relax and just enjoy the sight of the pictures.  So appealing are these intricately-woven abaca chairs, guests could probably spend an entire afternoon just sitting on them.
Looking closely into Seda Hotel’s interior, one can see heaps of artworks by other Filipino designers and photographers. There are Jaime Zobel de Ayala’s paintings and photographs and black-and-white snapshots of Francisco Guerrero and Tom Epperson. Standing near the main entrance is a huge, modern sculpture of a giraffe by the home accessory and furniture designer Ann Pamintuan. Her other work is ensconced by the lobby entrance; a large wired-wall art that gives an ethnic yet chic vibe to the overall look of Seda.  It’s not just all about the hotel lobby, however. Seda’s 179 rooms are adorned with crumpled-paper wall art by the renowned artist Wataru Sakuma.
Interior designer and architect Conrad Onglao says the interiors (particularly the reception area, lobby and dining areas) are designed to seamlessly flow into one another. Seda Hotel has a clean and streamlined vibe that integrates contemporary and traditional Filipino touches; these include photos of local tourist sites and works by artists who hail from that region where the hotel is.
Onglao explained that each Seda branch also features an art theme that best evokes the location of the hotel. Davao, for example, boasts of the Philippine Eagle. Hence Seda Davao’s artworks revolve on this theme. Seda also has branches in Cagayan de Oro and will soon open at Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Every Seda hotel presents the advantages of location within the community and with easy access to malls, offices and residential spaces.
This is not just a venue for art, however.  The Seda is every inch a hotel. Its guest rooms and suites come with 40-inch LED HDTV cable TV, a media panel with HDMI, USB, and A/V connectivity, mini-bar and coffee and tea making facilities, iron and ironing board, complimentary wireless or wired internet access, phone with iPod docks and FM stereo features and a safe.
“We also hope that the Seda brand will be associated with excellent service, something that comes naturally to Filipinos and which Seda will standardize and institutionalize with consistent training, drawing from best practices all around the world,” Seda brand owner and operator Al Legaspi says.
For his part, hotel general manager Andrea Mastellone says Seda Hotel was designed to be casual and inviting, and reflective of the world-class Philippine design and hospitality.

budget-friendly gizmos for juggling school and personal stuff

Budget-friendly gizmos perfect for juggling school and personal stuff

Singers Ericka and Krissy share what they like about Polaroid

By Nickky Faustine P. De Guzman, Photos by Noel Pabalate

Published: June 12, 2013

Nowadays, it is not surprising to see teenagers having not just one, but too many gadgets—tablet, camera, smart phone, etc—bringing and using them all at once. Youtube sensations and sisters Krissy and Ericka Villongco are not spared from this scenario. They are even more slated to be seen using more gadgets especially now that the school year has started. Besides, they are one (or rather two) of the newest endorsers of Polaroid, the 75-year-old international brand that popularized the instant film camera.
Today, Polaroid has currently reinvented its portfolio and included series of budget-friendly Android phones and tablets that cater to anybody but most especially to students like Ericka and Krissy.
The duo who wrote and familiarized the love song 12:51, says they both like the Polaroid tablet because it is “sleek, stylish, and functional.”
“Among all the gadgets today, we like the tablet because it is very helpful in our studies and everyday life. It can take pictures, save notes, and store videos and other important stuff. What we like the most in the Polaroid tablet is its high storage capacity, which is perfect for saving important files. The built-in keyboard is also a plus,” Krissy, 19 and Ericka, 20 share.
The 9.8-m ultra thin Polaroid Executive 9.7 tablet is powered by 1.6 GHz dual-core CPU with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage that allow file storage. Its 2-megapixel rear camera and wifi features are perfect for capturing and sharing images and other files online. Its expandable micro SD reaches 32 GB. The Executive 9.7 is an Android Ice Cream Sandwich that comes with a specialized Bluetooth keyboard. The Polaroid Executive 9.7 tablet is available at Php9,995.
Meanwhile, its sister tablet, the Executive 7 is currently available in the market for Php5,495. This wallet-friendly tablet also has Bluetooth feature, 8-GB built-in storage, and dual-core processor with 1GB RAM. It has HDMI output and 2500mAh battery.
Youtube and smart phones
Krissy and Ericka started their “online singing career” back in 2007 when they uploaded their own renditions of Camp Rock OST, Taylor Swift, and Alicia Keys’ songs, among others. And the rest, they say is history. As of this writing, these Youtube sensations have gathered almost 90 thousand subscribers and an estimated total of 25 million hits for all the videos uploaded in their channel.
“We are almost 24/7 online. We like using our Twitter and Instagram accounts to share our thoughts, our music career plans, and keep in touch with our fans and personal friends,” say the Villongco sisters. Ericka, also shares she likes photography and blogging while Krissy is more into song writing.
These common routines are popular among today’s youth who happens to own various social networking sites. Krissy even shares she “feels naked without a phone”. This trend has brought about the sudden reinvention of Polaroid to keep up with the ever evolving lifestyle of kids. Hence, the seemingly inevitable need for Polaroid’s series of affordable Android phones that are readily available in the market.
Its smart phones have single-core 4’’ (PROG400, Php4, 650) and 4.7” (PRO4611, Php 5, 795). The 5’’ dual-core PROGD16 and 5.9” PROG590 are Php 6, 996 and Php 7, 995, respectively. The smart phones have dual SIM capability, 4 GB internal storage, 512 MB RAM, and Jelly Bean or Ice Cream Sandwich OS.
Knowing priorities amidst digi-age
Amid the overwhelming digital age, Krissy and Ericka stay true to their priorities in life. Both are currently freshman college students. Ericka is taking Associate in Arts in University of the Philippines while Krissy is enrolled at the University of Asia and the Pacific, taking up Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
“Everything seems very easy nowadays because we are in a digital world. One can gain popularity by joining contests, perhaps in television shows, but today there are various platforms where you can showcase your talent, like in Youtube,” Ericka says. Yet despite these, one should muster balancing things and knowing priorities, to which Krissy and Ericka are carefully doing.

books for the school bound

Books for the school bound

Instill the power of reading at an early age

By Nickky Faustine P. De Guzman

Published: June 12, 2013

Photo credits Ralph Sedricke Lapuz

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” -- Dr. Seuss, children’s book author
A candid picture of a street kid reading in a bookstore has recently gone viral after a civilian posted and sent the photo to GMA-7’s “YouScoop”. The boy, seen as very engrossed on his reading, said he knew little about letters and words. Nonetheless, his intention of learning to read is very evident and strong. The photograph drew heartwarming responses from netizens.
According to the latest World Bank record in 2008, the country enjoys 97.75% (% ages 15-24) literacy rate. The number may seem high enough but it is actually inferior to Japan, which has 100% literacy rate. Japanese starts reading at an early age.
Undoubtedly, reading is a powerful tool that as much as possible, must be practiced during the formative years. Reading books, to name a few, takes one to places he’s never been and widens and deepens both the vocabulary and the comprehension skills.
Some studies and surveys may say that the printed reading materials such as pocketbooks, magazines, and textbooks are declining, owing to the growing popularity of e-reads but this trend must not hinder people from all ages to grab a reading material and immense themselves to prose, poem or plot.
And now that another school year is about to begin, toddlers, kids, teenagers, and parents are scrambling to go to the nearest bookstores to buy school materials. Now, why not include in your back-to-school list the latest reading innovation especially designed for toddlers and kids. Discover the power of words and let the Leap Frog’s Tag Reading System, Reader, and LeapPad take your mind to the undiscovered world of fun and learning.
Tag, hear, read!
Leap Frog’s Tag Reading System works through its “tag touch technology”. Just turn the Tag device on, point to a book, and touch any word to a page, and hear the device utter the sound of a letter and word. With every touch of the Tag, the words and pictures come to life and produce phonic sounds. This develops confidence in reading, vocabulary, and comprehension skills.  The Tag Reading System comes with available 80 story books, maps, and flashcards that develop the kids’ and toddlers’ (1-7 years old) confidence to read on their own. The story books range from Disney Princess to animals, maps, and even puzzles.
Track learning process with LeapPad
Learning via Leap Pad comes easy as counting. First, download the Leap Pad connect application, which lets the pad to talk to your computer. Second, download the learning apps such as games, books, and puzzles. Lastly, the Leap Pad has Learning Path option that lets you track down the learning progress and games played. Leap Pad has two versions that both cater to kids aged 3-9 years old.
Gear up, read on, and explore things with these latest gadgets that will surely engross kids to becoming bookworms and future leaders. Now, did we mention the power of reading?

go, Tacloban!

Go Tacloban!

By Nickky Faustine De Guzman

Published: June 9, 2013

The MacArthur Landing Memorial Park in Palo, Leyte is one of the province’s tourist attractions.

Tacloban, Leyte’s small airport was overflowing with tourists and locals to and from the city on a mundane Thursday afternoon. Some visitors, to an extent, had to go outside and waited to be accommodated. If the state of an airport is one of the portals that mirror a city’s status, then Tacloban is on the threshold of becoming an alternative tourist destination.
Tacloban City is the melting pot, the regional hub, and the only highly urbanized city in Eastern Visayas. Tacloban is located right in the heart of Region 8. It lies along the northeastern seaboard of Leyte. As a major tourist service center among other cities and municipalities, Tacloban City has the most facilities and infrastructure that cater to the needs of its visitors.
While the region is most often associated with General Douglas MacArthur, Imelda Romualdez Marcos, and San Juanico Bridge, Leyte, in particular, Tacloban, which comes from the word taklub (a bamboo contraption for catching fish) is a setting waiting to be uncovered.
It’s More Fun in Tacloban
Leyte is surrounded by Camotes Sea and Leyte Gulf thus, it isn’t surprising to spot several swimming sites that show off sand, sea, and surf. The Patio Victoria Beach Resort in San Jose, Tacloban for instance has black fine sand that sparkle under the sun. The steady breeze lulls anyone to slumber on hammocks and rattan-made chairs. It is also a good primer for activities such as sea strolling, surfing, and playing games with friends and families. In our case, friends from the media and Robinsons Land Corporation enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon of game relay, limbo rock, spa and massage sessions, and seafood.
Ah, seafood. Tacloban boasts of a wide array of fresh shrimps, shells, seaweeds, crabs, clams, fishes. The city also has the classic tuba, wine, and suka (vinegar). Besides, Tacloban is a culture-rich nation of well-preserved statues, rest houses, and World War II mementos.
Among its attractions include the Price Mansion, now the CAP building, which served as the headquarters of Gen. MacArthur for three months during the war. It now features his memorabilia and has an art gallery. Then, there is the Madonna of Japan located in the city proper, which is a carved Miyagi rock that symbolizes peace between the Philippines and Japan. The Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum is Tacloban’s number one tourist destination because of its association with Imelda Marcos, a Tacloban native. The palatial mansion is one of the 29 rest houses of the Marcos family. The palace has 13 guest rooms, spacious ballroom, Olympic-size swimming pool, state dining rooms, and private bedrooms. Imelda only stayed there once.
Not to be outdone is the 2.16-kilometer San Juanico Bridge, which is 15 minutes away north of Tacloban City. It connects Samar and Leyte and was once considered as Asia’s longest bridge in the ‘70s. Just like the rest house, San Juanico is built as a testimony of Ferdinand’s affection for Imelda. A trivia: the shape of the bridge changes depending on the origin of the travelers; those coming from Samar will notice an “L” shaped bridge, while it will eventually form into an “S” figure when coming from Leyte. We traversed the San Juanico Bridge at night hoping that like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it would be glittering and shimmering with lights—but to no avail. Nonetheless, to be in two places at the same time was enough.
Booming Economy and Tourism
Leyte is noticeably a jumble of a laid back, bucolic, and an active metropolis. At night, it slumbers with the community; at daylight, the city market and the malls, (Tacloban has two shopping centers, Robinsons Mall and Gaisano) mingle with the natives and visitors.
According to the latest statistics, Tacloban City increased its tourist arrival by 154% from 123, 291 in 2011 to 190, and 674 in 2012. Meanwhile, City Mayor Alfred Romualdez says that Tacloban is the fourth province with the largest money circulation; its tourism and economy are indeed booming as evidenced by the growing number of modern infrastructures like the Gohotels.ph.
A Place for Every Juan
“Why Tacloban? Why not! Tacloban is a potential tourist spot, and highly accessible with untapped destinations,” Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) PR Roseanne Villegas says. The construction of the RLC hotel was brought about by the warmth welcome from the people of Tacloban. In fact, this branch enjoys 100% occupancy and thus holds the top spot among its provincial counterparts in Dumaguete, Bacolod, and Palawan. It will open one in Iloilo soon.
As a budget hotel that offers value for money, Gohotels.ph follows the early booking, lower rate scheme, which is considered as an innovation in the hotel industry. This is inspired by its sister company, Cebu Pacific, which rewards the lowest possible fare to anyone who books the earliest.
Tacloban Go Hotel has 98 rooms (50 Twin Rooms and 48 Queen Rooms). Each room is fully equipped with modern bathroom facilities, free in-room Wi-Fi access, flat screen LCD TV, deposit box, comfy customized Windsor bed with duvets and pillows, and tight security. The rooms are smaller than its counterpart in Negros but Tacloban has a spacious lobby area for chows, chitchats, and whatnots. The hotel is also adjacent to the Robinsons Mall Annex.
Fresh seafood, iconic tourist spots, languid destination, and blooming industry; now, the only problem with going to Tacloban is leaving it. But like what Gen. MacArthur said, one will definitely revisit Tacloban. We shall return.

inviting emerging artists to ImaginART

Inviting emerging artists to ImaginART

By Nickky De Guzman, Photos by Pinggot Zulueta

Published: June 3, 2013

Some paintings of Juan Luna are currently displayed at the Ayala Museum.

In the hopes of building platforms for art enthusiasts who imagine, create, and make great things possible, Globe Telecommunications invites young and interested artisans to join in its launching art competition, ImaginART, with the theme “A Journey through a Wonderful World”.
Interested artists, aged 24-39, must submit a proposal for an exhibition of 2D painting, photography, and 3D painting, sculpture, mural, or mix media that must revolve on concept design that inspires the joys of exploration and discovery.  The deadline of submission of entries will be on July 7.
The winning composition must be executed and will be exhibited on the new Globe Art Gallery in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
“This competition is about new artwork yet to be created. Imagination, the origin of artistic expression, is what makes Globe’s ImaginART different from the other art competitions. We want the participants to stretch their imagination, then create and inspire,” Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu said.
The exhibition proposal should be original, unpublished, and unused. The Ayala Museum curators will select the top three contestants, who will be proclaimed by July 11. Each will receive a prize of P100,000. They will then be given the opportunity to prepare their exhibition concept and present their proposals before a panel of judges on July 19.
The winner of the competition will receive P500,000 and will be provided with an exhibition grant of not more than half a million. The winning masterpiece will be installed and displayed at the new Globe Art Gallery on September 17 until April next year.
“This is an opportune time to get into art because there’s a whole lot of interest in it. There are many artists, emerging artists that should be given a platform to be able to explore their art and develop into another master, great artist of the Philippines. Imagination is very important.  We believe in the relentless power of the imagination which is the source of all innovations,” Cu added.
To qualify, an entry must include a CD that contains the artist or group of artists’ portfolio, CV, concept of the entry, visual mock-ups of the proposal in universal multimedia format, complete lists of material, technical, installation, and fabrication requirements, actual studies like drawing and sketches for 2D,  scale models for 3D works, and a completed application form.  One or more persons may work on a single entry and there is unlimited number of entries that can be submitted.
The criteria for judging include 50% creativity and originality, 25% relevance to the theme, and 25% feasibility in terms of production and display. Sculptor and architect Ramon Orlina will be one of the judges.
For more details, check www.globe.com.ph/imaginart.

fun sentosa!

Fun sentosa!

Discovering the island’s delicious and delightfully daunting attractions

By Nickky Faustine De Guzman

Published: June 2, 2013

The infamous Battlestar Galactica

The Philippines and Singapore may be two distinct countries with different cultures and beliefs but their passion for family bonding trips binds them together. And Singapore, with its integrated resorts, hotels, restaurants, and parks with a plethora of fun-filled offerings fit for the whole family, seems to be quite a Pinoy favorite.
Some Filipino tourists say that one has never really visited Singapore if he or she has failed to do two things: take a picture with the legendary Merlion Statue and second, ride its infamous world’s tallest pair of dueling suspended and seated roller coasters at Universal Studios, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).
The first must-do is effortless. Filipinos love taking pictures and mementos of their travels in and out of the country. Pinoys have a knack for capturing every object that reminds them of their journey—including a lamp post and a pavement rock. But the second one…is daunting. Some would rather opt to eat servings of laksa, a tremendously spicy noodle soup, than be tossed, turned, and propelled on several inversions, loops, and near-death collisions of the 90-second daredevil ride.
It isn’t surprising, then, that from the far side of the highly-urbanized Singapore, screams, squeals, and swears (in various languages) punctuate the rather quiet and peaceful Lion City.
“Go ride the Battlestar Galactica Human and Cyclone roller coasters!” the 19 Filipino media RWS visitors encouraged one another, though alarm and anxiety were etched on their faces. The faint-hearted opted to take pictures of the more courageous ones instead.
It was a joy to take photographs and marvel at the sight of the bold riders of the 140-foot tall roller coaster that pushed, pulled, and pivoted them in complete 360 degrees through numerous inversions, zero-gravity rolls, corkscrew twists, and vertical loops to complete the one kilometer route.
Based on the riders’ screams alone, it was fun to temporarily twist and “misplace” one’s internal organs. I’d rather wait for my second serving of laksa.
Fortunately, long before some of us had more helpings of the hot soup, the waiters in Malaysia’s Street Food (one of the hawker food centers in Universal Studios) offered the refreshing chendol, a shaved ice dessert with coconut milk, brown sugar, jelly, and red beans. Just like Manila’s streets, Singapore too has many food stands that sell inexpensive chow such as fried noodles in soya sauce (char kway teow), chicken rice in clay pot, and deep fried meat in soya bean sauce (penang ah long lor bak).
The almost 20-hectare Universal Studios features 30 food carts and restaurants and 23 more rides (18 of which are original) and attractions in seven themed zones fit for the faint-hearted grown-ups and ever-energetic children. The theme park brings together the best of the Universal Studios in the world — Hollywood, California, Orlando, Florida, Osaka—with a castle from Shrek, celebrity ogre, live show by Universal Monsters, and personalities like Betty Boop, Frankenstein, and Marilyn Monroe.
Just a few steps away from the rowdy carnival is another world’s biggest: the Marine Life Park Oceanarium with Adventure Cove Waterpark and S.E.A. Aquarium that offers opportunities for hand-feeding rays and baby sharks, interacting with dolphins, and snorkeling with 20,000 kinds of fishes.
“Resorts World is en route to being Asia’s premier family holiday destination with its colorful tapestry of world-class attractions, accommodations, dining, and entertainment options under one roof. Resorts World Sentosa, for instance, has welcomed over 30 million visitors since opening in January 2010 with notable markets in Malaysia, Greater China, Indonesia, Thailand, and of course the Philippines,” RWS Communications Officer Fabian Foo said.
According to the Singapore Tourism Board, 349,353 Filipino visitors stopped over in Singapore during the first half of 2012 while there were 146, 613 overseas Filipino workers in 2011 (new hires and rehires). Hence, it isn’t surprising to meet and greet Pinoys along the quiet and squeaky clean Sentosa and its neighboring city, Vivo.
When asked if the Philippines will have the same theme park anytime soon, RW Manila’s Karmina de Ungria said that it will be too costly to import original Universal Studios characters. Besides, the management has yet to deliberate about it. In addition, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said in previous reports that the country’s tourism infrastructure is a work in progress. “We are still calibrating the demand [for tourism facilities] because we might bust the machine,” he said. Anyway, RW offers myriad hotel rooms for families on tour: Maxim’s, Remington, Festive, and Hotel Michael among others can accommodate families, friends, and relatives on vacation.
Furthermore, anyone can enjoy Resorts World’s (Manila, Singapore, Malaysia, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Hong Kong) sights and sounds via its membership card that offers rewards and perks in dining, shopping, and gaming. The membership card is accepted at all RW branches.
Like an energetic child, the island city remains wide awake even after the sun retires and the screams turn into murmurs. Its vibrant mix of sights, sounds, tastes, and attractions add allure to children and families on tour. Undoubtedly, what happens in Sentosa will not stay in that island city alone.