Paradise in Mactan: An Abaca Boutique Resort + Restaurant Review

Abaca is a popular dining destination in Cebu. Known for its superb bakery that serves mouthwatering and picturesque breakfast staples, Abaca eventually grew into a restaurant group that also owns and manages Maya, Tavolata, Red Lizard, Phat Pho and Luncheonette. For years, Abaca has been synonymous to great meals. But not many know that this Cebu gem also manages a boutique resort in Mactan. And it was like discovering paradise.

Hello, Abaca Boutique Resort + Restaurant.

I was so excited to visit Abaca's resort after reading great reviews of this place on TripAdvisor. From butler service to scrumptious food, many guests claim this place to be close to paradise. 

Restaurant Love: Summer Palace

Summer Palace is our go-to place whenever there’s a special occasion or if there’s a guest in town. I never really bother to visit this place before as I used to be not fond of Chinese food. R though was raving about this place and shared how much he loves some dishes served here. And one bite was all it took for me to fall in love with it too.

Hello, Summer Palace.

Summer Palace has been around for several years. As one of the successful dining establishments of Shangri-La Hotel, Summer Palace has garnered a lot of recognition under its belt all thanks to its top notch food and service.

When in El Nido: Huni Lio

El Nido Resorts never fail to deliver exceptional service and gift us with great memories to cherish. This is why we opted to book Huni Lio after finding out that it is also part of the same group. 

Hello, Huni Lio.

Huni is the newest addition to the Lio Estate Resorts group. Knowing that it opened just last June made it so easy for us to confirm our reservation. 

What Mary Loves: Amorita's New Saffron Dishes

Bohol is one of my favorite islands in the Philippines. Aside from its chill vibe and beautiful beaches, I love that this place is a gold mine for sea urchin. But I found another reason to like Bohol. And that's Amorita and its scrumptious new dishes at Saffron.

Hello, Amorita. 

Amorita is one of the luxury resorts situated in the famous Alona Beach in Panglao. It sits on top of a cliff giving its guests a wonderful view of the beach and sea. 

First Bite: Indulge Ice N Cream

Rain or shine, ice cream is a staple treat in Manila. With summer heat lingering year round, it won't be surprising to know a friend or two who can wolf down a tub of this cold treat in one sitting. I usually could not resist the urge of grabbing a scoop or two myself whenever I pass by an ice cream parlor. And when I dropped by Novotel Manila Araneta Center, Indulge enticed me to try a few of its flavors. 

Hello, Indulge. 

I was in a rush to head somewhere else after a quick errand at Novotel so I zeroed in on Indulge's grab and go Ice N Cream which offers a nice mix of classic and new flavors. 

Staycation Chronicles: Crowne Plaza Galleria

Living in Manila could be very toxic. The insane city traffic, never ending heat and busy lifestyle could easily drive one nuts! I myself have been on the edge these past days due to tight deadlines, shoots and upcoming trip that needs a detailed itinerary. And a staycation at Crowne Plaza Galleria was just what I needed to de-stress. 

Hello, Crowne Plaza Galleria. 

Managed by the prestigious Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), Crowne Plaza Galleria is the hotel of choice of several business travelers. Its premiere location of being at the heart of Ortigas and right beside Robinsons Galleria gives it a strong advantage against its competitors in the area. 

When in Thailand: Krabi Island (Day 4 and 5)

Time sure flies fast when you're on a vacation. It felt like days went by as quick as a blink of an eye. Before we even realized it, we were about to leave Krabi and we were just not ready yet. But we tried to maximize our last full day with another island tour and checking out one of the highly rated restaurants in the island. 

Day 4 and 5 at Krabi Island

We decided to spend our last full day at Krabi checking out 4 Islands which is the tour recommended for those who prefer snorkeling over relaxing by the shore. 

When in Thailand: Krabi Island (Day 2)

Don't you just love it when you don't have to rush in the morning? We had such start on our second day at Krabi Island. We headed out of our first hotel, Holiday Inn Express past noon and moved to another resort which is just a few steps away. 

Day 2 at Krabi Island

We decided to try Aonang Buri Resort which belongs to a group that also manages Buri Tara Resort and Blue Sotel. 

First Bite: AG New World Manila Bay's Market Cafe

I rarely visit the side of Manila Bay. I think I could still count with one hand how many times I've been in the area in the past decade. But I think I found a good reason to drop by more often. 

Hello, Market Cafe.

Market Cafe has been around back when AG New World Manila Bay was still Hyatt Hotel. Its mouthwatering buffet spread has pleased countless foodies and travelers that have made the restaurant a popular destination. 

Must Try: Samba's Sabado de Fiesta

Weekends are made for lazing around the house and recharging for another battle with reality come Monday. However, there are times when I find myself excited to wake up early on a Saturday despite a grueling Friday because good food awaits! And such is the case a few Saturdays ago. 

Hello, Samba!

Samba is one of my favorite Peruvian restaurants. As one of the few establishments that offer top notch fresh ceviche and to die for Arroz con Mariscos, I found myself visiting this place quite a number of times. 

Staycation Chronicles: Seda Vertis North

What do you love to do on rainy days? 

I love staying in on bed weather days and just watch the rain pour down while I indulge in a hot cup of coffee by the window. And a staycation at Seda Vertis North came timely two weeks ago!

Hello, Seda Vertis North. 

My first Seda experience was in Davao back in January this year. It started off with the delayed check in, clogged sink and noisy guests staying next door. But one thing I liked about my stay was how Seda won me back with its superb service. Hence spending the night at Seda Vertis North made me excited. 

A Paradise in Jiangsu: Wuxi Hubin Hotel

China never fails to amaze me. From its mouthwatering regional cuisines to jaw-dropping infrastructures, each trip to China leaves me mesmerized and makes me yearn for more. I sure am lucky to have an opportunity to visit areas such as Shandong, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Shanghai among others as seeing these places gives me better appreciation of the country and its beautiful complexities. And one of my favorite experiences to date was with Wuxi Hubin Hotel.

Hello, Wuxi Hubin Hotel.

Located beside the scenic Lihu Lake in the beautiful Jiangsu province, Wuxi Hubin Hotel is a marriage of elegance, pristine nature and unparalleled comfort. Its huge compound covering 80,000 square meters and houses top class facilities and amenities that would make anyone's stay a memorable one.

Night Life: Unlimited Tacos with Unlimited Sangria or Margarita at Encima

Restaurants that offer Do-It-Yourself dishes are brilliant. Guests find it attractive, interactive and never blame the restaurant if it tasted bad as they made it themselves. But there are some places where no matter how bad you messed up, your creation will still be delicious! And such is the case with Encima's DIY Taco Bar. 

Hello again, Encima Roofdeck Restaurant.

To celebrate the Encima's anniversary, they threw a simple and intimate thanksgiving party which also served as the launch of their DIY Taco Bar, Unlimited Margarita or Sangria promo for just PHP499.

When in Davao: Seda Abreeza Davao

I've been visiting Davao a bit too frequent lately that it's becoming a bit too familiar. We eat at the same places and stay at the same area. But this time around, R and I tried to up it a bit in time for our anniversary and decided to stay at Seda Abreeza Davao. 

Hello, Seda Abreeza Davao. 

We left for Davao early and had a long day so we were really looking forward to a rewarding stay at Seda.

A Trip Around The Philippines: Luzviminda 6: Timeless Flavors

F1 Hotel Manila is popularly known as the very first hotel to open in Bonifacio Global City. With its modern interiors and accessible location, it has been one of the top of mind hotels for travelers and locals alike. But aside from its comfortable beds and spacious rooms, F1 Hotel has established itself as a destination of choice for food enthusiasts with its mouthwatering buffet spread and dishes. It also holds an annual food festival Luzviminda to celebrate local flavors around the country. And this year marks its 6th installment. 

Hello, F1 Hotel Manila.

Starting 2018 Right with The KTG

2017 has been a year filled with discovering new food and meeting new friends. And there's no better way to welcome the new year than with some of the fantastic people I've met and love. I was not expecting to throw away my plan to eat in moderation in less than a week but I'm not regretting it a single bit especially if it means feasting with The Kain Tulog Gang at F1 Hotel.

Held at the Infinity Ballroom, I was welcomed by several familiar smiling faces and scrumptious spread from La Petite Fromagerie, The Plaza Ham, Swizzle Mobile Bar, and of course, our gracious host, F1 Hotel. 

Night Cap: Makati Diamond Residences' Champagne and Tapas Buffet

I am a big fan of bubbly and I could drink it all night if paired with some good tapas. And a homey hotel in Makati seems to be my new favorite with its remarkably great spread perfect for a relaxing night after moving around the city to find the perfect gifts this coming Christmas. 

Hello, Makati Diamond Residences.

Southern Chronicles: B Hotel Alabang's Prime Cafe Launches New Dishes

A menu reveal never fails to excite me. Aside from being one of the first to sample new dishes, I get to spend time with my favorite foodies. This time, it was the launch of B Hotel Alabang's new dishes. 

Hello, B Hotel Alabang.

Fondly called B Culinary Soiree, it was indeed a meet up of several food enthusiasts and media. 

City Life: H Hotels

One of the perks of being a freelancer is that you can be very mobile and dodge traffic from time to time. But when you live in a city that has insane traffic, you cannot avoid being stuck on the road. So R and I thought of something... why not stay where we have to go to the following day? And with that idea in mind, we spontaneously booked a room at one of the numerous hotels in Quezon City. 

Hello, H Hotels.

H Hotels is one of the small hotels in the busy Quezon City. I was attracted to book this hotel when I found out that it is situated just behind SM North. I figured that I could walk to the mall after checking in to grab dinner. However, the road you have to take to get to the mall is too dark and scary. I ended up buying a meal near R's office instead. 

Davao's First: Apo View Hotel

Just when I thought August was crazy, I was greeted by an even crazier September. With three trips lined up, two for Davao and one for Shanghai, I could count with one hand how many days I stayed at home. I'm not complaining though as it's also nice to have a change of scenery from time to time. And speaking of change, R and I decided to try out another accommodation during our third visit in Davao. 

Hello, Apo View Hotel.

Apo View Hotel is one of the most popular hotels in the city of durian. It opened its doors to the public in 1948 with only fifteen rooms and one restaurant, making it the very first hotel in Davao. 

Throughout the years, Apo View Hotel expanded to 100 guest rooms and is now recognized as one of Davao City's landmarks. It has also won several prestigious awards and recognition such as the Datu Bago Award (highest award given by the City of Davao to its outstanding constituents) and being recognized as a Pioneer Hotel by the Department of Tourism. Just reading those made me feel so excited towards my three nights stay in Apo View Hotel.