Breaking free at Plantation Bay

Planning on going away with the whole family? Enjoy the tranquility and security of vacationing in a private estate called Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Mactan Island, Cebu. But don’t let the serene colonial plantation-style setting fool you.

The resort and spa GM Efren Belarmino reveals a dozen cool and exciting ways to have fun at this out-of-town resort. For starters, there’s the gym with its impressive facilities like treadmill, weights and cross-trainer. Right beside the gym is the game room for the kids and the not-so young to play table tennis, foosball and other table-top games, billiards and a host of video arcade games. Squeeze off a few rounds at the indoor firing range at Savannah Park where different types of firearms are for rent. Other thrilling options include archery, the Segway Personal Transporter and wall climbing. “Mellower” activities include beauty salon treatments in the privacy of your own room, tasting the extra-creamy homemade ice cream especially the peanut butter choco and jackfruit flavors (a personal recipe of Manny Gonzalez, founder and CEO of Plantation Bay Resort), and souvenir shopping at the resort’s Jamaica Market.

Plan your vacation for the whole brood this early. 

(For reservations and inquiries, call Plantation Bay Resort and Spa  at (63-32) 505-9800 or its Manila sales office at (63-2) 844-5024 to 25,  e-mail [email protected] or visit their website at www.plantationbay.com.)

Painting the town hot pink

The curvaceous American rapper and singer Nicki Minaj wowed a crowd of over 15,000 screaming fans during her one-night-only concert at the SM Mall of Asia. The country’s hottest celebrities and other famous party animals grooved to the music of the artist known for her monster hits Super Bass and Starships and equally outrageous makeup and inside-out fashion wear. The Pink Friday Tour: Nicki Minaj Live in Manila was organized by Wilbros Live headed by Glenn and Winston Llamas. Nicki’s Filipino fans simply couldn’t get enough of the biggest all-night dance party!

Hail to the chef!

It was easy to gather friends to honor top culinary professor cum chef Sylvia Reynoso-Gala on her natal day. The celebration was held over glorious Italian food at Balducci’s Ristorante in Serendra. Music was provided by a trio of troubadours who played songs requested by the guests. Sylvia gratefully distributed trays of baked Iberian chicken to her cherished guests as a take-home treat. We agreed with Mariliese Evaristo who planned the entire affair that we should make time for our friends while we still can—preferably in the flesh not just online. 

Happy Birthday, Sylvia!

A shared vision of elegance

Art and fashion recently took centerstage as esteemed fashion designer Frederick Peralta and award-winning painter Dominic Rubio converged for the event entitled Artes. Held at The Podium in Ortigas Center, Pasig City, beauty and elegance of the Filipino shone through as some of the country’s top models sashayed on the runway wearing the creations of Frederick Peralta. Both Frederick and Dominic used Filipiniana as a springboard for their respective works. Together, they created pieces that showed an aura of sophistication and grace, heralding the beauty of the combined efforts of visual art and fashion. The captivating show was well-attended by celebrities, fashion designers and society A-listers including the legendary Pitoy Moreno, Ben Farrales and Miss Universe 2011 third runner-up Shamcey Supsup. Congratulations to Frederick and Dominic for such a wonderful collaboration!