The Best in Boracay: Delightful Discovery on the Shore

  Hazy ribbons of ginger, persimmon, crimson and mauve floated over the lucent blue turning to cobalt water, unraveling the night like a dainty gift, full of romance and surprises. The sunset in Boracay Island’s White Beach area is a gift, a bonus. The beach with its unrivaled fine, white sand is attraction enough, a dream, making it the Philippines’ top tourist destination and one of the world’s best. At the other side, as vacationers strolled by the beach, played and pondered, the crowded strip of hotels, resorts, restaurants, bars and stores lit up one by one. Later, Boracay would come alive to own its tag as the best party place in the country. 
 Discovery Shores Boracay was awash in golden and indigo lights, lacing the sunset glow on the sand and white beach lounge chairs. Nearby a white tent was set up with long table. Glass stars and bubble were hanging above the table with a captivating setting of leaves, candles and starfish skeletons.

  

From the kitchens of Discovery Shores Boracay, the best ones in the island if not the whole country, and prepared by Discovery Group’s corporate chef, Anthony Raymond, Alaskan gindara with bruleed citrus, cherry tomatoes and crisp basil, drizzled with calamansi vinaigrette; grilled lobster from Palawan with sweet corn and chive risotto, mushrooms and bacon dashi broth; and warm citrus honey pudding with almond ice cream, brown butter roasted tropical fruits and salted brandy snap crisp delighted the distinguished guests.

That night, March 23, Discovery Shores Boracay gave tribute to its travel agents for their work the past year, thanking them as well as other guests for making the resort, which one of the properties of the Filipino Discovery Leisure Co., which has the Discovery Suites in Metro Manila and Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay, one of the best in the island.

Discovery Shores Boracay was voted as one of the Top 25 Hotels in the Philippines and one of the Top 25 Luxury Hotels in the Philippines by TripAdvisor in its 2013 Travelers’ Choice awards, and is cited among the Top 50 World’s Best Hotels and named the Top Island Hotel in Asia for 2013 by New York-based travel magazine Travel + Leisure, among many others.

Many of the awardees are Korean. This is not surprising as the resort’s number-one clientele, as well as of the whole island, are Koreans.

After the Top Producers 2012 Awarding Ceremony, the resort participated in the worldwide Earth Hour. As the lights were switched off in the public areas of the resort, a black-light presentation amused the crowd by the shore. The only light were from the moon and an Earth Hour sand structure glowing with lit candles at the beach. Swirls of colors danced around and formed images with the dark sea as background. Discovery Shores showed that its commitment to the environment given much importance as their quality of service.

It is not hard to see why Discovery Shores emerged as one of the best in the country and even in the world. Special guests got a sumptuous taste of it from March 22 to 24, which the shore as “A Weekend with the Best,” with the Top Producers 2012 Awarding Ceremony as highlight.

The magic began as we stepped into the room, where guests relations manager Carlo Arboleda helped us with the checking-in. All of the 88 rooms of Discovery Shores Boracay are modern and spacious suites, elegant and cozy. The wide window opened to a commanding view of the sky and sea. The resort perches on one side of a hill, straddling the top down to the beach. The architecture is clean, minimalist, geometric — very likable and stylish. The dominating white paint compliments the green of the pocket gardens and blue of the sky and sea. Our room was one of the topmost, affording us an invigorating vision of clear blueness and space that seeped right inside.

The Discovery Shores Boracay Rooms are categorized into junior suite, one-bedroom suite, one-bedroom suite premier, two-bedroom suite and two-bedroom suite premier.

The junior suite, about 40 to 45 square meter, has bathrooms overlooks a scenic rock garden. The one-bedroom suite, about 65 square meter, has a spacious living area, a nook, a bar and a separate bedroom with two queen size beds. The one-bedroom suite premier, about 60 square meters, on the lower level features a personal space on the deck with either a view of the beach or the lovely landscape of the resort. The two-bedroom suite, about 120 square meters, is suitable for groups of up to six guests and has a living area, a dining area, a bar, two private rooms with their own toilet and bath and a balcony. The two-bedroom suite premier, about 120 square meters, has two levels, including a private deck with an outdoor Jacuzzi on the first level. All suites are luxuriously furnished and equipped for a lovely, lovely stay.

The divan by the window was laden with tokens—beach bags, sun block, luggage tags. The table was laden with treats—a plate of sweets, personalized with the name of the newspaper; a bowl of fresh fruits; a pitcher of cold pandan drink. A banner over the bed welcomes guests as if one is coming home. Immediately, one will surely miss these little sweet things as soon as thoughts of departing pops up. Apart from the luxury, this thoughtful attention to detail and the needs of the guests distinguishes Discovery Shores Boracay from most of the resorts in Boracay and even in the whole country. Each element is given thought for the delight of their guests. Each is like a little surprise gift.

When the bed is turned down for the night, there is a card with a picture of a man lounging in a hammock during sunset and a quote from C.S. Lewis: “You're never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”

Capping the welcome is a foot wash and massage to ease you into dreamy island living. You slip on the Discovery Shores Boracay flip-flops, which amusingly leave imprints of the resort's name on the sand while you walk. You can either flop into the plush bed or explore the island. Discovery Shores Boracay is at a very good location, Station 1, the quieter area of White Beach but near center of activities.

Food is one of its best features. Its Indigo restaurant was shortlisted for the 2010/2011 The Miele Guide, a guide book to Asia's best restaurants. It serves a highly seasonal menu of coastal cuisine and has the island's best selection of wines. Additionally, there is Platitos, which is set up at the beach and features creative appetizers and finger foods. Sands Restaurant offers breakfast and themed buffets by the sea. The Sandbar/Pool Bar serves a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

 

 Discovery Shores Boracay itself has facilities for recreation and an enjoyable stay such as the pool and the gym. It also makes arrangement with the island's water sports operators for guests to enjoy Boracay. Try scuba diving, boat trips, snorkeling, paraw sailing, skim boarding, wind surfing and kite surfing, waterskiing, banana boat rides, glass-bottom boat ride and parasailing. The last one we tried. Harnessed to a parachute, one is pulled by a speedboat and gets a panoramic view of Boracay and the surrounding seascape and landscape, an exhilarating ride.           

After a day full of activities, Terra Wellness Spa is a welcome retreat. The number-one hotel spa in Asia, as declared in the Travel + Leisure 2012 World's Best Awards, offers a range of relaxing and pampering treatments. For massages, try Terra's Touch, the signature massage, which is a “deeply relaxing massage” that “combines slow and graceful gliding strokes that are applied to different key pressure points of the body to relieve tension and aid blood circulation. The experience is enhanced with the use of specially blended therapeutic oils.” Terra Wellness Spa offers different packages, facial treatments, scrubs, wraps and foot therapy.

This summer, Discovery Shores Boracay's theme is Happy Summer. Resort staff greets you with “Happy summer,” an infectious smile and hands to their hearts.

“Happy Summer” is our way of saying thank you, said Leeds Trompeta, resident manager of Discovery Shores Boracay.

With it, the resort offers the Happy Summer Package, with the special rate of P8,888 net per night. It includes accommodations in their junior suite, a complimentary buffet breakfast at Sands Restaurant, a roundtrip boat and land transfers from the Boracay airport in Caticlan, Malay. The promo package is ongoing until June 15.

Happiness is not really based on big events. It is made of up of little things such as a sweet note, a piece of pastry, a smile, a delicious piece of dim sum, a beautiful seashell found by the shore, signs of thoughtfulness, a soft bed, the smell of lavender, a request warmly granted, little surprise gifts. One finds these in Discovery Shores Boracay.

 

For inquiries and reservations, contact Discovery Shores Boracay at (+63 2) 720-8888 or (+63 36) 288-4500 or visit Discoveryhotels-resorts.com.

Spend Summer in Singapore

 
Singapore is one of my favorite Asian cities. I like the orderliness, the modern cradling the old, the architecture and the public art breaking the monotony of highways and corporate structures. Despite being a vibrant commercial hub, the island at the tip of the Malaysian peninsula embraces arts and culture. Even with the urban bustle, one can find many quiet spaces.
Something is constantly happening in Singapore. There are always new developments. For a very small state, this is amazing. There are always new things to discover about Singapore.
Because of these and the country’s aggressive marketing, Singapore has become a major tourist destination. Over the past 10 years, tourist arrivals steadily increased. In 2011, Singapore counted 13.2 million visitors, a 13 percent increase from the previous year. Of these, 678,000 are Filipinos. Many Filipinos are enticed by Singapore. According to Cebu Pacific, the Singapore route is one of their busiest. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) reveals that more and more Filipinos are visiting Singapore. The 2011 tally shows a 24 percent increase compared to 544,000 in 2010, making the Philippines the sixth country with the most visitors, behind Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Australia and India. But in terms of growth, the Philippines ranks third.
For this summer, a traditional time for travel, Singapore has many new things to offer Filipino excursionists.
“Summer in Singapore is always a treat for travelers, as well as the locals. Week after week, there’s always something new that the city offers. This year, to kick off what promises to be an amazing summer, Singapore is going full force in keeping everyone in the city busy and entertained. With concerts from chart-topping artists, award-winning Broadway musicals, outdoor runways shows, food expos, mind-blowing shopping sales and highly anticipated theme park openings, this summer of 2013 at Singapore looks to be an experience that no traveler should dare miss,” said Sherina Chan, STB area director for Philippines and Brunei.
One attraction to look forward to is the 101-hectare Gardens by the Bay (ticket price at P924) at the Marina Bay. Winner of the World Building of the Year Award at the prestigious World Architecture Festival Awards 2012, Gardens by the Bay has the largest climate-controlled glasshouses and conservatories with interesting flora and fauna displays. Go to the Bay South Garden, which consists of Flower Dome and Cloud Forest cooled conservatories; 18 Supertrees; and other signature features. Additionally, there are outdoor and indoor spaces where different events are held, and numerous dining outlets.
Universal Studios Singapore has a new ride, the Sesame Spaghetti Space Chase, the first Sesame Street ride in Southeast Asia which has a special rise-and-shine breakfast programme where one can have a fun dining experience with Sesame Street characters while feasting on a breakfast buffet spread at Loui’s Pizza.
One can visit the world’s largest oceanarium, the Marine Life Park (ticket price at P957), which opened on Dec. 7, 2012. The marine park boasts of 100,000 marine animals from over 800 species. Kids will enjoy its Adventure Cove, which has towering slides, wave pools, tropical jungle gardens and grottos inhabited by whimsical sea creatures.
This year, Asia’s first river-themed park, which boasts of the largest collection of freshwater wildlife, will open. The River Safari (ticket price at P891) recreates the environment of the world’s great rivers — the Mississippi, Congo, Nile, Ganges, Murray, Mekong and Yangtze. It also has the region’s largest panda exhibit.

Where to stay
There are many choices for accommodations in Singapore — from backpackers’ lodge and budget hotels to luxury resorts — catering to different types of persuasions as well as budget. If you want to try out new ones, there are a number that have just opened. The price range for the four to six-star hotels is from P6,050 to P13,200, while the two to three-star hotels is from P1,925 to P5,500. Budget hotels cost from P1,925 to P5,500.
For nature lovers, the six-star Equarius Hotel is set in a tropical rainforest with rooms that overlook the Marine Life Park. An exclusive 24-hour personal butler service is provided for guests staying in suite rooms.
The five-star W Hotel is located in the new upscale lifestyle precinct of Sentosa, the Sentosa Cove. It features rainwater harvesting and collection of condensate from its air conditioning system, as well as a smart room air-conditioning system that automatically switches off when balcony doors are open.
The multi-awarded, four-star Parkroyal on Pickering is near the Raffles Place financial district and Chinatown with 15,000 square metres of sky gardens, reflecting pools, waterfalls, planter terraces and green walls to show its “hotel-in-a-garden” concept.
The Capri by Frasers is near Expo and Changi Airport with 313 studios with kitchenettes and Spa Suite with Ofuro-style private baths and TVs.
The three-star Days Hotel is in the cultural enclave of Balestier Road, 15 minutes away from Orchard Road.
Set to open this year are Sofitel So, Westin Singapore Marina Bay, Holiday Inn Express, The Amoy, Ramada Hotel Singapore at Zhongshan Park and One Farrer Hotel and Spa. It is estimated that by 2015, Singapore will have nearly 63,000 rooms from 53,895 rooms in 2012.

Shopping stops
Shopping is a popular activity of Filipinos in Singapore. Orchard Road remains to be Singapore’s iconic shopping district. There are also shopping precincts in Holland Village, Haji Lane, Ann Siang Hill, Raffles City and Bugis Street.
Additionally, there are new family-friendly malls that just opened to delight shopaholics.
JCube in Jurong East features Singapore’s first Olympic-size ice rink with a 460-seat gallery, designed to host international events and competitions for sports such as ice hockey, curling and speed skating.
Located in the heart of Changi Business Park, directly opposite the Singapore Expo MRT station, the Changi City Point has a landscaped garden with interactive art installations, playground and a tree-house trail for children.
On the other hand, Bugis+ is along Victoria Street, opposite Bugis MRT station, boasting of more than 30 new and established brands, and over 90 outlets, including the largest Uniqlo store in Singapore. The 38-year-old mall Plaza Singapura has undergone a 21-month makeover and is now nearly the size of Ion Orchard, all linked to Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. The mall front now stretches 170 meters along Orchard Road. The new wing has about 80 shops, including several brands that are new to Singapore.
Scotts Square is a new luxury mall located between the Grand Hyatt and Marriott hotels in Orchard Road, featuring international luxury brands and designer labels.
For techies, go to Funan DigitaLife Mall and Mustafa Centre.
Shoppers must anticipate the Great Singapore Sale, happening from May 31 to July 28, where one can get big discounts on almost everything.

Dining and more dining
Singapore has an exciting culinary landscape, offering a multitude of dining options. In fact, celebrity chefs such as Mario Batali, Susur Lee, Wolfgang Puck and Joel Robuchon have opened their restaurants here. New restaurants are opening every year.
The Satay by the Bay is a new waterfront eatery at Gardens by the Bay offering satay, chicken rice and grilled seafood.
The Marche, which has two branches in Somerset and Vivo City, offers different kinds of cuisines. An interesting feature is the “cashless” system where the diner is given a card to buy food.
Also called the Food Republic, the St. James Beer Garden at 3 Sentosa Gateway serves local fare such as satay, rojak, chicken wing and fried oysters. It also features live bands.
Buffet lovers can troop to Buffet Town, Sakae Sushi, Coleman’s Café, Peninsula Excelsior, Seoul Garden, Carousel @ Royal Plaza on Scotts, Sakura International Buffet, Hanabi Japanese Restaurant, Zhou’s Kitchen Gourmet Buffet, and Kuishin Bo Japanese Buffet.
For a truly gastronomic adventure, foodies can go to the World Street Food Jamboree, from May 31 to June 9, at the F1 Pit Building and Paddock. It promises 40 of the world’s best street-food masters who will offer everything from Indonesian kaki limas to American food trucks and Chinese food inns. Famous foodies such as Anthony Bourdain and Jean-Georges Vongerichten are expected to grace this affair. This is definitely one culinary experience any food lover shouldn’t miss!

Eventful
Singapore hosts over 30,000 art and entertainment events in a year. When one goes there this summer, there is bound to be a major event. Currently happening is Samsung Fashion Steps Out from March 28 to May 12, showcasing the latest fashion trends with outdoor runway shows and a fashion bazaar. Then, there is the Asia Fashion Exchange 2013 featuring new local and Asian talents, latest fashion insights from fashion thought leaders at Asia Fashion Summit, fashion concerts, after-parties and runway shows. The trade show will be from May 16 to 17, while the emporium will be from May 18 to 19.

Loving the nightlife
Party lovers will love Singapore as it has a very vibrant nightlife. Hip bars nowadays are the Pangea, Avalon, St James Power Station and Zouk. Currently rooftop bars is becoming trendy. Check out the Lantern, Ku D‚ Ta, Orgo, 1-Altitude, Loof and Helipad.

Getting there
With the rise budget airlines, going to Singapore has been convenient and affordable for Filipinos. The Philippines’ largest carrier, Cebu Pacific (CEB), boasts of the most flight options and schedules to Singapore with up to 52 weekly direct flights from Manila, Clark, Cebu and Iloilo. It also offers the lowest year-round fares starting at P1,599.
“Singapore has always been one of our guests’ favorite destinations. Now, not only can they fly direct to this city-state from four major Philippine cities, they can also make the most of their travel budgets with these special summer discounts,” revealed Cebu Pacific vice president for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.
Cebu Pacific is partnering with the Singapore Tourism Board to offer deals and discounts to its passengers to Singapore from March 28 to July 31. They can avail of special deals by presenting their Cebu Pacific Singapore boarding passes.
CEB passengers has a 15 percent discount on the Singapore Flyer, said to be the world’s largest giant observation wheel, which can take you as high as 165 meters. Here, they can have a spectacular dinner through the Singapore Flyer-Sky Dining Flight package. It is available at 15 percent off by using the Cebu2013 booking code on the Singapore Flyer Web site, and this includes a four-course fine dining menu served by a dedicated butler, plus free entry to Journey of Dreams Interactive Gallery.
At the Marine Life Park in Resorts World Sentosa, passengers can get 10 percent off on one-day S.E.A. Aquarium or Adventure Cove Waterpark passes. They can get up to six tickets at a discounted rate per Cebu Pacific boarding pass.
There is also a one-for-one promo at the Jurong Bird Park. Those looking for an authentic taste of Singapore can also book the Original Singapore Walks and get 20 percent off on The Tipple Exchange Walk to discover a different side of the Lion City.

For more information on the Cebu Pacific and Singapore Tourism Board promo, visit http://www.cebupacificair.com/HTML/hot-deals.html. For more information on seat sales and events happening in Singapore, visit www.cebupacificair.com and www.yoursingapore.com/ph.

Gloom, Blooms, Boom!

The float of Baguio City depicts its well-known landmark, a giant lion’s head

Typhoon Crising had reached Manila by the time we boarded the bus for Baguio City. It seemed an inauspicious start for a trip. Eventually, the typhoon would flood several areas in Metro Manila and leave four people dead. A few hours earlier, a bus carrying students and teachers from Marinduque on an educational trip had collided with a truck along Marcos Highway in Badiwan, Tuba, Benguet, a few kilometers from Baguio, with seven fatalities and many injured. A couple of days after, someone tossed a grenade inside an office under the Melvin Jones Grandstand at Burnham Park, just before the grand float parade started at the historical core of Baguio City. There were pickpockets and petty criminals descending on the festival crowd, but the people would not be discouraged. Likely they were incognizant of the unfortunate events. They flocked to Baguio City to enjoy its famous nippy air and the Panagbenga: Baguio Flower Festival, the highlight of which transpired in the last weekend of February. The gloom turned to blooms, a myriad of multicolored blooms.

According to Baguio congressman Bernardo Vergara, the police estimated visitors to be 2.2 million this year, the highest attendance in the festival’s 18-year history. Attendance is steadily increasing about 10 percent every year, said businessman Freddie Alquiros, chairman of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation (BFFFI), which operates, organizes and manages the Panagbenga festival. This, despite the mishaps and this year’s coincidental celebration of the similarly pictographic Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta at the Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Baguio City, about 250 kilometers north of Manila, has always been a favorite getaway, particularly in Luzon. Because of its elevation, it enjoys a cool climate attracting people who want to escape the tropical heat. Visitors would go to the city’s different tourist spots and shop for now iconic Baguio items such as grass brooms (which is actually made outside Baguio), strawberries, jams and fresh vegetables. Despite emerging destinations in the Philippines, Baguio, with its American colonial look, remains a romantic and sentimental place for many people. Baguio is also the educational and commercial hub of the Cordillera region. The Panagbenga gives people another reason to visit the City of Pines.

Long-time Baguio City mayor Mauricio Domogan said, “When it (Panagbenga) was founded, there were four major reasons. (Until now) it is an occasion for us to thank the Lord, especially for the trees, the flowers, the natural environment. It is an opportunity for the people of Baguio, as well as of the Cordilleras, to gather and work together and have fun. It is also an opportunity to show our unique cultural heritage. That’s why there is a Cordillera motif in many aspects of the festival. We are also doing this to sustain our tourism industry.”

Country maidens romanticizing the harvest of rice on the float of the Department of Agrarian Reform

Hall of famer M Lhuillier’s float carries pop star Gary Valenciano, one of the several celebrities who grace the festival

 The float of Northern Luzon Expressway Corp. which won second prize

The Panagbenga: Baguio Flower Festival was created by lawyer Damaso Bangaoet Jr., then managing director of Camp John Hay, formerly an American military recreation facility, of the John Hay Poro Point Development Corporation in 1996. During this time, many places in the country were developing festivals for merry gathering, as well as promotion. The flower was chosen as focal point because it is the most visible and attractive feature of Baguio. Indeed, the city has many pocket gardens, and parks are usually abloom. With support from the local government and communities, the festival blossomed. Its unique feature, at least compared to other festivals in the country, is the parade of floats, which are covered in flowers, inspired by the century-old American New Year’s Day celebration Tournament of Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.

Filipinos are fond of stretching festive occasions. The Panagbenga is actually celebrated for a whole month with activities such as expos, fairs, shows and competitions. Every year, they introduce new features. This year, they had the carpet of flowers at the Athletic Bowl.

While the Panagbenga is spectacular, some have considered it an “artificial” festival, not rooted in tradition and commercial in its conception. But in 2007, Oscar Palabyab, then Undersecretary for Tourism Services and Regional Offices of the Department of Tourism (DoT), expressed that Panagbenga’s being a “product of the imagination” (as opposed to tradition) and “purely an invention” as a manifestation of creativity. Sometimes we have to create something, Palabyab said, mentioning that Malaysia built the Petronas Towers, which has become a tourist draw and a distinction of said country. He said we should do something similar in some places in our country, where there isn’t much tradition, heritage and natural resources from which to draw attractions. The Panagbenga is man-made, but, he said, it is “related to what they have right now” — the flowers.

Over the years, the Panagbenga has been trying to incorporate the indigenous cultures of the Cordilleras, home of many ethnic groups such as the Ibaloi, Kankanaey, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Isneg and Bontoc. 

 Cordillera boys carrying huge butterflies on poles

 A breakfast of corned beef, fried rice and eggs made of flowers on the float of corned beef brand Argentina

 The floral float of Baguio Country Club, a perennial winner

 A fluttering butterfly made of flowers from the float of Baguio Country Club

Flower strawberries from the float of La Trinidad, Benguet

 

The name Panagbenga was adopted in late 1996, a Kankanaey term meaning “a time of flowering” or “blossoming season.” The name was suggested by Ike Picpican, an archivist and curator of the Saint Louis University Museum. Lately, Cordilleran cultures have been featured more and more. This was evident during the street dancing parade organized by the Baguio Cultural Society. The organization was created three years ago to inject more culture into the festival, particularly in the street dancing event, fulfilling BFFFI's aim of strengthening the cultural aspect of the festival, related Alquiros. Thus, one can see culture in the street dancing and flowers on the floats, the two biggest aspects of the festival, said Anthony de Leon, Baguio Country Club general manager and BFFFI co-chairman.

"The quality of the street dancing and the floats has surpassed those from previous years," revealed De Leon.

The street dancing, which happened on Feb. 23, was participated in by 13 groups from Baguio and nearby communities. They paraded together with the elementary school drum and lyre groups around the city's historical core. Each group depicted local folklore, legend or tradition. Traditional clothes were worn. Many had bright costumes to stand out, sometimes creating an incongruous mix of indigenous textiles and modern materials and colors.

Last year's winner, the Kabayan Youth Cultural Dance Troupe of Kamora National High School in Kabayan, Benguet, is also this year's winner in the street dancing open category. They brought their Adivay Festival, a celebration of good harvest, and told the story of Gadate, who helped save the town and the harvest of kintoman, a sweet variety of rice said to be from Bugan, goddess of grains.

"It is also Bugan who sent the snake when the people forgot to do the cañao as thanksgiving," they stated. "In Gadate's dream, the snake told him to ask his people to perform the cañao and offer liver and tapuey, a rice wine. When he followed as instructed, the snake left Kabayan but went to Kapangan. The people of Kapangan sought the help a mambunong, a local priest from Kabayan. The mambunong made the snake sleep and was able to slay the snake. As reward, he was given carabaos and pigs. He brought the head of the snake to Kabayan and celebrated the conquest, shouting 'Adivay!' with the dancing of the cañao and bindiyan. The gods were pleased, and so Kabunyan rewarded them with good harvest and flowering sceneries as a sign of goodwill."

The Litangfan Cultural Group from Bontoc, Mountain Province, won the second prize with their Te-er si Saray-at, the eight-day rest period observed after the planting activity. The rituals and traditions of each of the eight days were depicted.

The third place winner, Apayao Ipasindayaw from the province of Apayao, depicted the kabinnulig, explained as "the strong relationship between a farmer and his carabao."

Their narrative read like a tender love story: "Early in the day of a planting season, this kind of companionship starts with the farmer preparing the carabao for a long day of work in planting caravasa seeds. After three months, the field turns into a haven of caravasa flowers, signifying the hopes of both farmer and carabao. As the flowers turn into young squash, the friendship between farmer and carabao is sealed and promises a bright future for both of them. The abundance of flowers and squash signifies the deities' blessings to the people of Apayao. As a form of thanksgiving, the people perform the taddo and talip in rich and colorful Apayao regalia. The feasting and merrymaking are highlighted by the kabinnulig's haul of ripe squash in the karison, or wooden cart, which marks the farmer's role of returning the favor for a carabao's job well done by taking care of the animal-friend until the next planting season."

 Giant flowers enliven a street dance

 Litangfan Cultural Group of Bontoc, Mountain Province

 Sakusak Traditional Ensemble of Pinsao National High School  

The rest of the participants also showcased their own traditions and stories. The Tanghalang Teatro Pino of Pines City National High School depicted the hulin, a ritual in Bokiawan, Hungduan, Ifugao. Baguio City National High School's Teatro Mi Pengantaay Pagey told the story of Iowak, the hero of a Benguet folktale from Itogon. The Bampkabia Cultural Dance Troupe of Baguio City Academy Colleges showed the traditional wedding feast of Bontoc called chono. The Philexian from St. Louis High School Philex depicted the Kankanaey thanksgiving ritual.

The Tabuk Matagoan from Tabuk City, Kalinga, showed their abuyog, the practice of helping each other "on rotation basis." Also from Tabuk, Saint Theresita's School of Tabuk's Bumabanga Ti Kalinga extolled the traditional pottery of the town of Pasil. Tsinakhon Cultural Ensemble of Saint Louis University Laboratory High School depicted the practices of planting rice during the tsakhon, the dry season. The Sakusak Traditional Ensemble of Pines City National High School Annex displayed the insalay rain ritual from Abra. Saint Louis University's Cordillera Cultural Performing Group told the story of the tikgi bird of the Tingguian of Abra. The Tribu Ari-tau from Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya, showed the Benguet's ngayow, the victory ritual.

The following day, the float parade drew more people. Because it is expensive to make a float of flowers, the parade is participated in mostly by companies, which find it a colorful way to advertise. With the election season a few months away, politicians are known to take advantage of festivals to campaign. Festival organizers decided to discourage them from campaigning. They said that political candidates can join the event by riding on their floats, but distributing campaign materials, as well as going to the crowd were discouraged. Violators will be banned. Soap brand Placenta remains banned for disrupting the parade when its celebrity endorser Melanie Marquez and her companions threw product samples at the crowd. 

Vergara boasted that Panagbenga is the most organized, the most peaceful and cleanest this year.

The floats followed the guideline that 95 percent of their floats should be covered with flowers. Although there is no restriction on where participants get their flowers, all of them sourced their flowers from farms in the Cordillera region, particularly in La Trinidad, Tublay, Tuba and Sablan in Benguet, boosting the local cut flower industry.

Celebrities such as Robin Padilla, Bong Revilla, Rhian Ramos, Daniel Matsunaga and Gary Valenciano rode on some of the floats, exciting the crowd.

The Le Monet Hotel float clinched the first prize this year followed by the floats of the Department of Agrarian Reform and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). There were a total of 19 floats, including the ones from the city of Baguio, the Baguio Country Club, SM City Baguio, Psalmstre, Creworks Asia, Smart Communications, Jollibee Foods Corp., Taloy Norte Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative, GMA Network, ABS-CBN Network, International Pharmaceuticals Inc., San Miguel Brewery, the town of La Trinidad in Benguet and M Lhuillier.  

That day, Session Road in Bloom, also a crowd drawer, opened transforming the historic street into a colorful market of native products and of course flowers.

Vergara is optimistic that next year's festival would be bigger especially with the extension of the Nlex up to Rosario, La Union, dramatically shortening the traveling time from Manila to Baguio, which usually takes about eight hours.

Many Baguio-based companies are supportive of the Pangabenga. Among the biggest are The Manor at Camp John Hay and The Forest Lodge, promoting the festival, providing guests with lovely accommodations and delectable dishes from its restaurant whose chef is the renowned Billy King at the helm, and ensuring that they experience the festival as a downpour of merriment, a collision of colors and an explosion of excitement.

St. Louis University’s Cordillera Cultural Performing Group tells the Tingguian story of birds called “Say-ang” in its street dance

 The ethnic and the tawdry mix during the street dance parade

  Tanghalang Teatro Pino of Pine City National High School

Rocking Hard Pays Off at the Muziklaban

 2012 Red Horse Beer Pambansang Muziklaban grand champion, A Music Theory

 2012 Red Horse Beer Pambansang Muziklaban grand champion, A Music Theory, raises a toast

 

The crowd enjoying themselves as they watch the performances at the Red Horse Beer Pambansang Muziklaban

  The main stage of the 2012 RedHorse Pambansang Muziklaban

 

 Years of diligence and learning paid off for a Metro Manila band as they were hailed as the champion of the 2012 Red Horse Beer Pambansang Muziklaban Rock Challenge grand finals held last Feb. 2 at the reclaimed field at the corner of Edsa and Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.
A Music Theory (AMT), formed in 2008 by four college students of the De La Salle University, took home P500,000 cash prize, an exclusive recording contract and a big shot at Filipino rock superstardom.
“When our band was announced the grand champion, it felt magical,” described lead vocalist and band leader Jaime Miguel “Cholo” Pabalan. “It was the kind of happiness kids feel when they walk through the gates of Disneyland for the first time whilst an instrumental version of ‘A Whole New World’ is playing in the background. It was just pure, unadulterated happiness. After over four years as a band playing gig after gig after gig around the metro, it felt as if the hard work finally paid off. Also, we felt honored to be given the chance to hold the Red Horse banner just like the industry’s finest bands do.”
This was the third time AMT joined Muziklaban.
“We got booted at eliminations back in 2009 and 2010. We decided not to join in 2011 to concentrate on band growth. Luckily, the third time was the charm in 2012,” Pabalan related.
AMT traces its beginnings in 2006 when Pabalan, JC Santos (lead guitar/backup vocals), Lorce Manaois (bass guitar), John Jo Presingular (drums/backup vocals) and other classmates made a music video project for their Filipino class, calling themselves Sevensticks. After the project, they thought of starting a real band. The group fizzled out with the remaining members calling themselves as BFKAS (Band Formerly Known as Sevensticks). Manaois met Santos again in a philosophy class and revived their intent of forming a band, now calling it A Music Theory, officially born on Oct. 24, 2008 at the JNJ Studio in Malate, Manila.
AMT started doing gigs and eventually joining Muziklaban.
“The Red Horse Beer Pambansang Muziklaban is the premier amateur band competition in the country. We saw it as an opportunity to break into an industry we love to get a chance to get to do what we all love doing. We want the songs we play to be heard so that people would be able to appreciate it and feel all the emotions it holds just like we do. Also, we would like to someday be able to contribute to our country’s rich history of music,” Pabalan said.
Now on its 14th year, the Red Horse Beer Pambansang Muziklaban Rock Challenge, an annual rock band competition to promote the strong beer brand of San Miguel Brewery, the Philippines’ leading beer maker, has become an influential force in the music industry, discovering new talents and establishing itself as a major rock event in the country.
Pabalan explained: “The opportunity Muziklaban brings to an amateur band is golden and opportunities like that do not come often in the indie band scene. And being a Muziklaban champion is really something to be proud of. It’s a title that a band will carry forever. Winning at Muziklaban is possibly the best opportunity that any aspiring amateur band can get.”
Past winners include 3rd Degree (2001), 18th Issue (2002), Fuseboxx (2003), Hardboiledeggz (2006), Mayonnaise (2004), Sunflower Day Camp (2005), Gayuma (2007), Even (2008), Hatankaru (2009), Light of Luna (2010) and David vs. Goliath (2011).
Months of elimination rounds conducted around the country precedes each Muziklaban grand finals. This year, Red Horse Beer came up with five bands to represent the different regions — A Music Theory for Metro Manila, Memoronnie for Mindanao, Fidortchi for southern Luzon, Diesngage for the Visayas and Katulad for northern Luzon.
Based in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, in northeastern Mindanao, Memoronnie plays indie/alternative rock with four members — Rosaire (lead vocals), Philip (drums), Jfoi (guitar) and Dancapz (bass guitar). The band is named in memory of a deceased member, Ronnie. On the other hand, Disengage, based in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, in Central Visayas, plays hardcore and Death Metal rock. Formed in 2011, it is composed of Julius Mananquil (vocals), Jesse Antiquiera (guitar), Kim Nochefranca (bass), Matthew Lee (guitar) and Joseph Corleone (drums). 
The northern Luzon band Katulad is from Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, and was formed in 2011. Its members — Dave Gualberto (vocals), Allan Teneza  (bass), Andrew Sardillo (guitar), Paul Tumaliuan (guitar), Dan Calling  (percussion), Gudo Dela Cruz (percussion), Gideon Reyes (drums) — were formerly members of other bands. With Pinikpikan, Kalayo, Francis Magalona and Eraserheads as influences, Katulad fuses ethnic and modern music to form what they call “malayang musika” (literally, free music).
Fidortchi hails from Naga City in the Bicol Region and is composed of Rommel Sandagon (vocals), Alvin Bautista (drums), Mario Bulao (bass), Mark Owen Mendez (guitars) and Nong Legacion Jr. (guitars). Formed on October 2010, the band has been visible in the Bicol music scene, as well as numerous band competitions.
Hosted by Francis Brew Reyes and model Phoemela Barranda, the grand finals attracted hundreds rock enthusiasts, beer drinkers and anyone in between. Aside from the performances at the main stage, there were many things going on. The Pinoy Ink Tent featured tattoo demonstration and exhibit by Chris Garcia, notable tattoo artist in Hollywood and brother of Slapshock’s lead singer. The Extreme Sports Zone had BMX and skateboard stunt riders. The Horsepower Zone highlighted amateur bands poised to join next year’s Red Horse Beer Pambansang Muziklaban Rock Challenge. There were also wall climbing activities, ring toss games, etc.
At the main stage, guest performers included band ambassadors Slapshock, Kjwan, Wilabaliw, Greyhoundz and Razorback as well as past champs Mayonnaise, Gayuma, Even, Hatankaru and Light of Luna. Pepe Smith and his band Juna dela Cruz and Ely Buendia with his band Pupil provided the highlights. The event also unveiled the Red Horse Beer motorbike customized by Hardcore Brothers, which boasts of an original Red Horse airbrush paint finish, bobber fender, Vance and Hines exhaust, Cobra Chrome Pwerflo Air Intake custom rev meter, fuel cap, handle bars, solo saddle, tail lights, deuce-style signal lights and Kuryakin grips. This was raffled off to patrons.
In between the established bands, the contenders performed like no tomorrow. This year, they performed original songs as well as covers. AMT’s songs caught the attention of judges and audience.
“The two original songs we played during the finals were ‘Anthem’ and ‘Endgame,’” Pabalan said. “‘Anthem’ is a song about feeling your way through life and not just living by so-called rules and norms dictated by society. Endgame, on the other hand, is sort of an emotional love song based on certain personal experiences by the band’s bassist.”
Pabalan related their journey: “The semi-finals (which was also Rakrakan Series XVII) and the grand finals of the Red Horse Beer Pambansang Muziklaban were the first two times wherein we got to play on a huge stage in front of a huge crowd. We learned that bar gigs are so much different. The nervousness comes at a different level on a big stage with thousands of people watching as compared to a bar with dozens. Also, we learned the true meaning of perseverance.”
He further said: “In preparation for the RHB Muziklaban Grand Finals, we rehearsed for two hours, two to three times a week. We also took a couple of gigs to help us prepare for the finals. Also, we tried our best to eat right and stay healthy to avoid any and all kinds of illnesses that could come upon us. Murphy’s Law was on the back of our minds so we took extra precaution in almost everything. However, it didn’t hurt to have a little fun. We still went out and chilled as usual to keep the vibe warm and happy.”
AMT’s win followed the victories of National Capital Region bets Mayonnaise in 2004 and Hatankaru in 2009.
“We will be touring with the industry’s finest bands, learning from them every step of the way. And we’ll also be starting on our first album very soon. Hopefully, it all rolls on the right direction from there,” Pabalan said.
With a Muziklaban feather in their cap, Pabalan revealed the band’s dreams: “Because we love what we do, we’d love to tour and play around the country and even abroad if given the chance. We’d also like to release an album or two so that our music would be heard. And who knows? Maybe we could even become a successful, international band someday which harbors national pride and serves as an influence to others to achieve greatness and be conferred upon the Order of Lakandula. Dream big, right?”

A BMX stunt rider showing his moves at the Red Horse Beer Pambansang Muziklaban Extreme Sports Zone

 

 A Music Theory's lead singer, Jaime Miguel de Guia Pabalan

 

A graffiti wall turns into a work of art at the Red Horse Beer Pambansang Muziklaban graffiti wall competition

 

Slapshock's high intensity performance

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