The Marison Hotel – Luxury Redefined

If you ever wish to catch glimpse of the famous Mayon Volcano in its original home before it gets moved to Naga (I swear this was funny in 2018) or simply experience the history-rich Legazpi City, consider staying at The Marison Hotel.

Strategically located in the heart of Legazpi, The Marison Hotel is built to be the premium gateway for tourists and business travelers in the Bicol region. Situated just a quick five-minute drive from the Legazpi Airport, it’s easily one of the most centrally-located hotels in the city.

“We aim to give our guests the best hotel experience,” says Ms. Daisy So, the President and CEO of The Marison Hotel. “Apart from being the perfect base for anyone who wants to see the beauty and splendor of Legazpi, we offer maximum comfort and convenience for the whole family. The hotel is here to provide a luxurious experience for everybody, making it the best place to truly feel the warm Bicolano hospitality.

(From L-R) Albay Provincial Media Bureau Chief Danny Garcia, The Marison Hotel Chairperson Lolita Uy, Department of Tourism Region 5 Director Benjamin Santiago, The Marison Hotel President & CEO Daisy Uy – So, and Legazpi City Vice Mayor Bobby Cristobal lead the ceremonial ribbon cutting for the launch of The Marison Hotel, in Legazpi City, Albay last February 5, 2019.

The Marison Hotel is a four-storey complex boasting 118 huge and elegantly-furnished rooms that showcase beautiful and contemporary design, arguably among the best in the region. It is one of the biggest hotels in Bicol — and the biggest in Legazpi.

All guest rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV, a desk, free WiFi, and a private bathroom. Some rooms are also fitted with a terrace for guests to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Legazpi skyline.

Attractions like the famed Mt. Mayon, magnificent Cagsawa Ruins and pristine Sumlang Lake are only less than an hour away from the hotel, as well as Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave and the Vanishing Island. In addition, the Redemptorist Church is just right across the hotel.

The scenic Legazpi Boulevard, the city’s business district and port area, is a popular spot for tourists as it offers a beautiful view of Mt. Mayon, Albay Gulf, and the Kapuntukan Hill — is also within the hotel’s vicinity.

Other must-see tourist destinations are the Quintinday Green Hills, the Kawa-Kawa Hill and Nature Park, both less than an hour drive away, Vera Falls, and Joroan Church, which are about an hour drive.

The idea behind The Marison Hotel, according to So, is to create a top-notch hospitality experience for its guests. Some of its impressive amenities that will surely make their stay in Legazpi extra memorable include their two outdoor swimming pools (one adult pool and one kiddie pool), a fitness center, a fully-equipped Executive Board Room that accommodates as many as 24 people, and a Functional Hall for formal meetings, seminars, and parties that caters up to 120 people. They also offer complimentary transfers to and from the Legazpi City Airport. And on top of that, to accommodate guests arriving in the city on early morning flights, the hotel offers free early check-in, subject to room availability.

Adding to these amenities are three dining options inside The Marison Hotel. Its main restaurant, the IL Morso Italian Restaurant, is the perfect place for guests to enjoy some of the best Western dishes in the area, from pizzas and pastas to steaks and mouth-watering desserts. The Sans Cafe & Bar, on the other hand, offers a quiet respite for travelers who simply want to relax over a cup of coffee. Those looking for a nightcap after a busy day of exploring the city can visit the hotel’s Chilo Bar to enjoy its impressive array of mocktails, cocktails, wines, beers, and non-alcoholic beverages — with a view of the majestic Mt. Mayon in the background as a bonus.

“The opening of The Marison Hotel is a testament that the Bicol region has come into its own as a prime tourist and business destination in the country,” So adds. “Last year, tourist arrivals in Bicol hit over one million — an unsurprising feat considering the unique beauty the region has to offer, yet an impressive achievement nonetheless. We enter the hotel industry with the firm belief that Bicol — especially Legazpi, has a lot to offer to both its local and international visitors. We are not only very eager to provide a premium hotel experience to our guests, but The Marison Hotel also looks forward to helping the Bicol Region welcome a much bigger tourist base in the years to come.”

The Marison Hotel is located at Corner Imelda Roces Ave, Legazpi City, Albay. For reservations, call (052) 732 7777 or email reservations@themarisonhotel.com. Visit facebook.com/TheMarisonHotel for more information.

Other must-see tourist destinations are the Quintinday Green Hills, the Kawa-Kawa Hill and Nature Park, both less than an hour drive away, Vera Falls, and Joroan Church, which are about an hour drive.

A complete list of Starbucks Holiday offerings and 2019 planners

Filipinos always say that we celebrate Christmas for four long months. As soon as September hits, you start hearing Christmas songs in malls and the Jose Mari Chan classic ‘Christmas in Our Hearts’ starts playing in the airwaves. Christmas decorations follow not long after. And then starting November 2nd, the Starbucks Sticker Collection Season begins, ingraining itself as a contemporary Filipino Holiday tradition!

Starbucks has tons of offerings during the holidays but what both young and old always watch out for are the annual planners. Good news, there are four choices this year: two (2) regular planners in Espresso and Milk colors that feature a canvas finish with metallic gold and copper stamping and a canvas pouch; two (2) travel organizers in Dark Teal and Sienna that have pockets for your valuables. All four come with their own unique Special Edition Starbucks Card that get you a chance to win in the Starbucks for a Year promo when activated with at least P500.

Continue reading “A complete list of Starbucks Holiday offerings and 2019 planners”

Starbucks unveils PH exclusive Island Series Collection for Independence Day

In time for the 120th Independence Day of the Philippines, Starbucks unveils its Island Series collection featuring the colors and symbols of the three island groups of the country.

Luzon shows off the night scenes of the urban business districts. Visayas features a debossed artwork of Sampaguita flowers and palm trees representing the world-famous beaches in the area. Mindanao has the iconic Vintas with multi-colored sails representing the colorful history of the region.

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Starbucks PH launches mobile app

Starbucks Philippines goes digital with the release of the Starbucks PH App, a mobile app providing a fast and convenient payment method for customers at more than 300 stores across the country.

Shake to Pay, redeem rewards, track your transactions, reload your Starbucks Card balance straight from your mobile, and get the latest buzz about new product offerings and promos, receive special offers and exclusive event invites.

The Starbucks PH App helps Starbucks lovers enjoy their favorite beverages anytime, anywhere with its store locator feature. The app also includes a menu of beverages, food options, packaged whole bean coffee, seasonal offers, and a newsfeed with the latest merchandise that Starbucks customers can easily explore.

The Starbucks PH App is now available on the App Store or Google Play.

Boracay 2018

Boracay is a paradise. One of the most popular in the country and one that has fallen victim to its own success.

The island has been our retreat of choice for the last xx years during holy week and one inescapable change that you notice is the over-crowding and over-development year after year.

Don’t get me wrong, I like development and I like progress. I love Boracay precisely because it is developed. I am not a fan of virginal beaches where you would have to take several rides just to get to a restaurant or a decent place to stay. By decent I mean an air-conditioned bedroom with a private bathroom and a bidet at the very least. A Starbucks nearby is also a nice bonus. I like the comforts that come with Boracay’s development but it doesn’t take a genius to see that it has gone  overboard in that department.

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Step up your lifestyle and get rewarded with GetGo

When we spend at least 50 hours of our week at work, indulging in a bit of luxury from time to time seems like a fitting reward. With GetGo, we are rewarded for experiencing the luxuries that life has to offer. From traveling around the world and visiting uncharted places to having the latest gadgets and staying on top of trends, GetGo enables people to turn expenses into free flights.

Earn GetGo points for every P30 spent with Cebu Pacific GetGo Platinum Credit Card by UnionBank, 3 Citi Rewards, 5 BPI Express Credit Real Thrills Rewards, 7 Asia United Bank Rewards Points, 12 Bank of Commerce Rewards Plus Points, 3 RCBC Bankard Airmiles, 2 BDO Elite Points, or 3 BDO Regular Points.

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Go on a no visa 6-night cruise to Japan and Taiwan aboard Star Cruises’ SuperStar Virgo this 2018

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Cruises have become one of the most popular ways to relax and explore the world. With its unique destinations, cost-efficient rates, and state-of-the-art ships, it comes as no surprise that cruising continues to gain popularity, especially among Filipinos.

Last year, SuperStar Virgo docked in Manila and cruised to Laoag in Ilocos, Kaohsiung in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and back again in Manila. This year, Star Cruises announced that its 269-meter cruise ship will homeport again in Manila for the summer months from March to May. With absolutely no visa requirements, the 6-night SuperStar Virgo cruise offers two travel destination packages. The first package will start at the Manila port then a day will be spent on the high seas. The next two days will be dedicated to seeing Naha in Japan, and Keelung in Taiwan. The fifth day will be on the high seas again, and then the cruise will head back to Manila on the sixth day.

Continue reading “Go on a no visa 6-night cruise to Japan and Taiwan aboard Star Cruises’ SuperStar Virgo this 2018”

Earn rebates when you pay your bills with PLDT-SMART’s MVP Rewards Card

MVP REWARDS CARD

There are hundreds of rewards cards in the market right now. Okay, maybe I am exaggerating but it feels that way whenever I check out my mom’s wallet. Personally, I only use the one that earns points from flights but everything else seem like a nuisance because I get to redeem the points from specific stores only.

Then comes the MVP Rewards Card for PLDT, SMART, SUN, and TNT subscribers. More than just a rewards card, this doubles up as a prepaid debit card that lets you earn points that are good as cash and lets you redeem them wherever VISA is acceptable here and even abroad. You can even use it as a tap card when paying for toll fees in the Cavite Expressway.

Continue reading “Earn rebates when you pay your bills with PLDT-SMART’s MVP Rewards Card”

Welcome the Lunar New Year with these new Starbucks collectibles

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We had an early delivery today and got these amazing goodies from Starbucks Philippines’ 2018 Lunar New Year collection! Given that beagles have a special place in our hearts and in our home, we absolutely loved the specially-designed mug, canister, and Starbucks card (stuffed toy not included). We also can’t wait to see the rest of the collection that includes a tumbler and a Bearista Bear Dog! How cute is that!

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Going back to Batanes

Our decision to go back to Batanes was mostly driven by a tempting seat sale by Philippine Airlines earlier in the year. I did not realize until today, a few hours before I go back to life and adulting, that I badly needed that time to disconnect from the rest of the world.

2017 has been a year loaded with changes – mostly unplanned and unwelcome; both at home and at work. Going to a place that is seemingly frozen in time is somehow comforting after all that.

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Holiday season must-have: The Starbucks 2018 planner

It’s that time of the year again when we eagerly await the new Starbucks Planner design and plan out who among our friends we are going to libre so we can complete the required number of stickers faster and get one ahead of everybody else! Of course, it is also the season where people will tell you that you don’t ever use the planner, like it matters lol, and that it costs so much. The last one I want to address as an occasional coffee drinker who doesn’t even go out everyday. Thing is, sticker collection period is from November 2 to January 8. That is over 2 months! Even for people who don’t frequent Starbucks, that is more than enough time to complete the required number of stickers on our usual visit making the planner just an added perk for our caffeine fix.

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Stay online while traveling abroad via Smart Travel Wifi

Smart Travel Wifi

Anyone who travels would tell you that the most important thing to secure before any trip is a reliable data connection. Apart from being able to connect with friends and family via your social media accounts, it is imperative that you have ready access to maps, translator apps, or even just to image search that item that you are having a hard time describing to a local due to language barriers. Once, I had to show a waitress in Hong Kong an image of Coke as I thought she did not understand me when I was ordering because she kept saying “Cora, Cora”. Turns out that what she meant was Cola after we agreed on the google image that I showed her.

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