Pre-Valentine in Makati Shangri-La

It was not really planned but I had expiring Mabuhay miles that I had to use so what better time to go to Manila than in February, just before Valentine’s Day?  Since, this month happens to be my celebratory month of retiring from my full-time job as lifestyle executive editor, what other time than now to reconnect with friends and family one has long been meaning to reconnect?  And since I really wanted a quiet time to relax and just chill out, what better place to be than in Shangri-La Makati – at the center of shopping and restaurants galore?

What was intended as a laidback break, turned out to be a full weekend of lunch and dinner dates with people I hold dear – including Sunday! Then, there was the invitation from dear Bart Guingona – my multi-awarded friend from theatre – to watch RED in CCP, a play which he was actor and director.  After a pre-arranged early dinner with Berry Pelaez-Marfori on the day I arrived, I was lining up for a taxi at Landmark taxi stand.  The line was not really that long and it was 6:45pm (the play was at 8pm).  What was eventually alarming was the trickle of taxicabs that passed through.  By 7:20pm, I tried Shangri La’s hotel taxis (the hotel was just a block away) only to be told that I had to wait for 15 minutes.  Goodbye, RED! It was a good thing that Shang is right at the middle of all this: walking distance to M Café where we had our dinner and the Landmark taxi stand. I went up to Horizon Club on the 24th floor to have a glass of cabernet with some fresh fruits, figs and cheese, while looking down to the insane traffic snarls of a Friday evening in Makati.

So beware:  if you have to get a taxi in Makati on a Friday, give yourself two hours leeway.  Or else, forget about your appointment!

If you happen to be there on a Saturday, there is a 5:30pm anticipated Mass in the Chapel of Our Lady of Hope on the 5th floor of Landmark.  The chapel is air conditioned, quiet and beautiful.  The choir on that Monday Mass (daily weekday Masses at 12:15 noon and 5:30pm) I attended was lovely – composed of Landmark employees.  Then an exposition of the Blessed Sacrament ensued, with prayers for the sick.  The short but solemn ritual was so significant to me, as I have sick family members and friends to pray for.

On Sunday, Masses at the Greenbelt Chapel (at the middle of the garden) start at 7am.  From the hotel, I walked down to Landmark, up the second floor, and through the walkway to Greenbelt. No need to cross streets.  I attended the 10:30am Mass which was ideal as I had a leisurely breakfast at 9am of freshly made blueberry yoghurt with fresh strawberries, blueberries and raspberries at the Horizon Club. The fruits looked like they just arrived from Maine (USA) – their quality and sweetness were remarkable! ( Although blueberries/strawberries from Japan can be just as luscious.) This time, I ordered daily from the a la carte menu, hot off the kitchen: choice of boneless bangus, beef tapa and chicken tocino. Of course, the buffet spread is considerable and changes daily…but more for western taste.

I am a true-blue believer of the Executive Club of Shang Makati: Horizon. Service is noteworthy, with every member of the staff addressing you by name after the first day and remembering your preferences thereafter. One lady even commented that I did not forget my vitamins, after going back to my room one morning to get them. And then there is the delightful afternoon tea at 2- 4pm and the heavy buffet during cocktail time from 5-7pm daily. One may not get out of the Horizon floors, as it were.

I had an early Sunday dinner with my cousin, Dr. Jocelyn Angbetic Nieri-Quidlat (a pediatrician) and her two dynamic sons: AA who is a medical student at UST and brother AJ who is graduating from Physical Therapy also at UST and will proceed to medicine.  Both young men want to specialize in Orthopedics, like their dad Gen. Adrien Quidlat – a respected Army orthopedic surgeon. Being foodies, my nephews brought me to this “hole in the wall” gourmet secret in the Hobbies of Asia ConCept Mall along Macapagal Ave.  It’s called King One.  Boy, you know the restaurant is good because when we arrived at 6pm – remember we planned an early dinner – we had to wait in line! It’s a shabu-shabu set-up with squirming live “suahe” or fresh water shrimps as part of the Sunday choice. You can opt for an all seafood dinner or all meat – they even have lamb. The dip that you make is something else – freshly chopped garlic, chillies, shallots with their soy sauce and hoisin sauce. The highlight of my weekend!

If you want to try out this place, better make a reservation!  Or expect to wait in line for as long as a couple of hours!

Monday night was the opening of Sage – Shangri La Makati’s new tapas bar right next to the Lobby Lounge, with the fine dining Red on the second level. I will write about this in a separate article.

Well, my Makati getaway served its purpose after all…I was able to sneak in shopping for my grandson’s winter clothes at Zara and some books for the rest of the Lilliputians – their all-time “like”. But nothing for me.  My time in Shangri-La was all I wanted…along with the pre-Valentine dates with family and friends.

Happy Valentines, everyone!