The Splendors of tea drinking

We took our time to answer the invitation of Shangri-La Mactan's Island Resort & Spa's Director of Communications Sharon Samarista to a tour of China via the Tea Appreciation lunch at the Tea of Spring…to savor six kinds of tea with the expertise of the Tea Master Chao Zong Wan and to enjoy the exotic lunch prepared by Chef Khor. Also, to meet Richard Simmons, the new Resident Manager of the hotel.

With the start of Westlake Ming Chin Longlin tea, we were so patient and succeeded in drinking all the teas poured into our cups. Our lunch menu had Chinese Appetizer platter, marinated Jelly Fish with Homemade roasted chicken, deep fried crispy bean curd and poached squid. Next was pumpkin broth with braised diced scallops paired with The Perfect Harmony; Fish Fillet in Lemon sauce with Taiwan Dongding Oolong; Beef Tenderloin in fresh Ginseng Wok fried King Prawns with Old Pu-er 8-10 years; braised black mushroom bean curd and Heavenly Robe; and for dessert, chilled sweetened black glutinous rice served with buko ice cream, and complemented with Everlasting Memories. That made our day "oh so heavenly!"

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And now, Rai Rai Ken, Ramen House & Sushi Bar promises to be more spacious and comfortably located at the 2nd level, Ayala Food & Entertainment Center. At the opening two weeks ago, we finally met with the Big Boss, Benjie Garcia, President and CEO. He was then assisted by HR officer Joh Sayago who comes to Cebu every now and then. For Benjie, he proclaimed: "We are now bigger and better!"

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Cebu City Marriott Hotel joins the 2,400 Marriott hotels worldwide in getting the latest bedding makeover which offers plusher mattresses, softer sheets, more pillows and a new fresh white look. The transformation is part of Marriott's global bedding initiative which utilizes over 30 million yards of fabric - enough to stretch more than two-thirds of the way around the world. Wow!

Now, in place at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel, are thicker, more comfortable mattresses with the addition of a two-to-four inch mattress topper and more pillows. The stylized bedding is accented with a decorative bed scarf. Beautiful indeed!

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Much has already been said about the new President of the University of San Jose -Recoletos (USJ-R), but during our presscon, we were so impressed with Rev. Fr. Anthony A. Morillo, OAR. At 35 years, he is young to be president. But he accepted the challenge to head this prestigious university with humility. And he added: "With the help and guidance of the Almighty God, the source of all wisdom, and with the support of my brother religious and the whole Josenian family, I am pretty sure I can lead and bring USJ-R to greater heights and be able to better achieve its goal of Quality Christian Community Oriented Education." And Dr. Mila Espina who introduced Fr. Morillo to the media, was very happy for his assumption to the post.