A night in Maribago Bluewaters

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22 EXECUTIVE EDITOR:MARLINDA ANGBETIC TAN

 ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR:QUENNIE SANCHEZ BRONCE

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2009

July 19 was a very special day for me, so, I decidedto take a run for it and cancelled all other invitations,including the Hari ng Negros testimonial dinner inDumaguete City. It was time for me to be selfish andtreat myself to a day of solitude and total relaxation.So, three days ahead, I called up Ruben.

Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort(www.bluewater.com.ph), is one of the best places to be in if you are looking for relaxation. And shouldyou want solitude, well, you definitely could not haveit in the busy beach front or the main pool fronting

Allegro Restaurant, where kids and families enjoy alot of themselves that you could not help but envythem and be engulfed with the desire to take a dip inthe pool and just wash your cares away.

This, however, does not mean that you can’tenjoy a quite Sunday afternoon in MaribagoBluewater. On the contrary, the resort is teeming withcoves and spots where you can lounge, have a goodread, or take a refreshing nap as you bathe in thewarmth of the golden Mactan Sun.

The quieter Watsu Pool by the Yoga Pavilion issuch a place, but for me, I decided to spend my lazyafternoon at the pool by the Garden Pavilion, where Iwas able to enjoy the book I bought from OMFLiterature (Tel. No. 032-253-1525), FaithfullyFit by ClaireCloninger and

Laura Barr.Your room

can also be a  place of quietisolation. To beconfined the wholeday is a relaxing experience atMaribago Bluewater. The cottagegiven to me was by the beach wingand it was the newer one, I was told.There were two queen sized beds andthey were installed in such a manner that it would give an illusion thatthey were floating on air. The bedwas comfortably huge with all theworks. The light under it completesthe oneiric experience that can

B y R I T C H E T . S A L G A D O

only be described asheavenly. Indeed,everything that I’veexperienced inMaribago Bluewater was but a dream.

The resort doesnot sett le for anything less when it

comes to pamperingtheir guests. Fromw o r l d - c l a s sfurnishings (mindyou, even the beachloungers are Dedon,an international  brand of exclusiveoutdoor and indoor furniture) to ?ber-  pompous service,you would feel like acelebrity or somevery important  person, never mindthe clothes that youcame in. I just want to  point this out

  because when Iarrived I was wearingsimple clothes, whichmade me think that Ineeded to prepare myrebuttal should I bestopped at the gate.But the guardcourteously pointedme to the front desk when I told him I waschecking in. It is nota wonder why guestskeep on returning tothis somewhat homeyand humble resort.

 Now, back to myroom. Well, one of the

first things that Iwould check in ahotel or resort roomis the bathroom. Inthe little cottage thatwas provided to me,the restroom cumcloset has the air of an outdoor shower – veryspacious (which isa total

u n d e r -s t a t e m e n t )and completewith stonesand pebbles.During theday, sunlightcompletelyfil ls the

r o o m ,completingthe wholeeffect. Thetub is placedgenerouslyin the center,making itvirtually thevery firstinviting objectyou’d see themoment you openthe wide bathroomdoor. It did not takelong for me tooblige the invitationof the tub and

immersed myself inwarm steamy water. A prelude, I should say,to the invigoratinghilot  that I was privileged to try later that day.

As I had the wholeday ahead of me, Idecided to explore theresort – from the whitesand beach that isalways calm regardless of the weather (but check on the tide levels, lestyou be stuck with anankle deep water) to theintriguing Alegrado

Island which is a greatvenue for exclusive  parties and for sun bathing.

A s i d ef r o mswimminga n dlounging,

Maribago

 Last year, my good friend Ruben Licera, Jr. invited 

me to stay at Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort,even just for a night. I was so excited, but I just couldn’t figure out when

 I would have the free time to take advantage of this very tempting offer.

Seafood Kebab (Photo by Ryan Lee)

Go ahead, give into the temptationof taking a warmsteamy dip in thetub (Photo by

Ritche Salgado)

Warmsmiles fromour beautifulhosts(Photo byRyan Lee)

The giantChess set(Photo byRitcheSalgado)

The writer (Photo byRyan Lee)

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23WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2009 LIFESTYLEThe Freeman

Bluewater has tons of activities for their gueststo take advantage of andenjoy. The resort has adive shop where you canrent or sign up for aquasport adventures likediving, jet skiing or snorkeling. You can play ball games, Frisbee, or agame of chess with theresort’s giant chess set.Should you wish, youcan arrange for a privateviewing in the resort’sgallery which houses anexpensive collection of works by Cebu’s greatartists.

But I would say, thatthe best experience that Iwas able to enjoy atMaribago Bluewater wastheAmuma hilot  atAmuma Spa. A 90-minutetreatment, the hilot takesafter the traditionalmassage enjoyed byFilipinos for centuries.It’s a wet massage, soexpect to be generously bathed in virgin coconutoil. The feel could never  be more authentic.

As with other massage service at thespa, the hilot would startwith the traditional foot

 bath by the terrace. Thiswill then be followed bya ri tual where themasseuse would lightincense and walk aroundyou as she chants ahumble prayer to thespirits. This, according tomy masseuse LovelyQuinawayan, would driveaway the evil spirits.

Amuma Spa’s hilot comes with a uniquelayering of heated  banana leaves over thetreated area. This is thencovered by a thick towel,ensuring that the heatwould circulate and  penetrate your tiredmuscles. A hot pot of green tea after thetreatment ensures over all detoxification.

The interiors of Amuma Spa exude anatmosphere of relaxation.It combines theconservatism of JapaneseZen and the intricacy andexoticness of SoutheastAsia. Wood is the mainelement that wouldsurround you inside thespa, giving a feeling of  being one with nature.

As for my chow,well, let’s just say that

the resort whips up quitea list of options. Duringdinner, I was privileged tomeet the resort’s food and beverage manager, Mr.Ver Tayao, as well as thecharming Weng Eser Jose. It so happened thatI was there on a weekendand at a time when theywere serving the Chef’sSpecial for dinner, a four-course kebab meal.

It was heavenly. Theappetizer was a trio of Maki Kebab (dragon roll,dynamite roll andCalifornia Maki) withsesame soy dip. This wasthen followed by grilledchicken skewers on saladgreens with honeymustard dressing. For the

Survivors! While partying at Juice Bar in Boracay, Hobbes bumped into Survivor Philippines castawayJace Flores (left) and Ultimate Survivor JC Tiuseco. The second season of Survivor Philippines, held inPalau, will premier on Monday, August 17 in GMA 7.

DATEWITH Hobbes

DATEwithHOBBES

main course, I choseseafood kebab. Other choices were pork andchicken kebabs. Dessertwas also skewered, butthese were fruits with arich chocolate dip.Yummy! Complements tothe chef! I would suggestfor the chef to alsoindulge the patrons infairly traded ingredients(www.cebuspftc.com) tomake their diningexperience extra special.

All in all, my brief stay at MaribagoBluewater Beach Resortwas a dream of anexperience that I do notwant to wake up from.Sadly, reality beckons andI have to answer its call.

Put some local soul into your step by headingover to Make Your Own Havaianas 2009(MYOH09), the biggest and most-anticipated flip-flops event of the year! MYOH09 happens at theAtrium of the Northwing, SM City Cebu on August14 to 17.

Choose from a palette of soles and straps,and a cool new set of embellishments. With nearlyall the hues of the much coveted Havaianascollection available as your canvas, there arehundreds of possible combinations of soles andstraps for Men and Women, in the popular Topand Slim styles.

This year, Make Your Own Havaianas steps itup a notch by offering an artistic treat for Havaianaticos. Parade your Filipino pride with patriotic Culture Pins featuring symbols of our unique and colorful heritage, such as wide-eyedtarsiers, vibrant vintas and much more. Other visually arresting pins are available for embellishingyour masterpiece, from sleek Swarovskis that willunleash your inner chic to Lifestyle Pins that willshow off your inner soul.

Styles, colors, sizes, and embellishments areavailable until supplies last, so stride with prideand be the first to Make Your Own Havaianas.Catch a glimpse of the design possibilities atwww.havaianas philippines.com/myoh .

 A.L. Amizade Marketing, Inc. is the exclusive sub-distributor of Havaianas in Central and  Eastern Visayas. In Cebu, Havaianas is availablein All Flip Flops, Rustan’s, What a Girl Wants,  July, Republik, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa,Maribago Blue Water Resort, Meddah Spa and   Abaca Boutique Resort.

MAKE YOUR OWNHAVAIANAS 2009:

Put Some Local SoulInto Your Step!

New Beach Wing Deluxe Room

Amuma Spa Wing