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MIAA sees over 1 million arrivals this Holy Week
The Manila International Airport Authority is expecting an influx of over one million passengers this coming Holy Week......»»
MMFF 2023 movies Rewind, GomBurZa, Mallari coming to Netflix
Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2023 entries "Rewind," "GomBurZa" and "Mallari" are soon going to be available for streaming on Netflix. .....»»
Feel like royalty at Tivoli’s Royal Lounge
When you’re starving, you want to wolf down on great food. You crave the familiar, the basic but lip-smacking delicious. You naturally pick your comfort food and wish to be satisfied, happy and full. [caption id="attachment_156739" align="aligncenter" width="525"] country burger.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_156741" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Pot roast beef braised in red wine.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_156742" align="aligncenter" width="525"] BBQ Pork Ribs.[/caption] That’s the idea behind the Royal Lounge, Tivoli Royale Country Club’s banner restaurant located on Yakal Street, Tivoli Royale Subdivision, Quezon City. It understands the concept of great food in a way that it does not need to impress. It just wants to make you happy. The al fresco poolside restaurant is unpretentious. Right next to a glistening turquoise pool, aesthetically pleasant dining tables and chairs are invitingly open to the hungry, or to big families with little kids, or to corporate yuppies for a hearty lunch meeting. The atmosphere at Royal Lounge is chill and friendly. The menu consists of familiar Filipino favorites but upgraded to an edgy hotel experience. Their chicken pork adobo, for example, has boiled egg and pickled papaya. They have pancit canton, beef nilaga, sinigang na sampaloc (pork or salmon, your choice) and even beef and ox tripe kare-kare. Their free-range chicken inasal with java rice is finger-licking good. At P580, it can serve up to three people. This popular Visayan dish of marinated chicken grilled over hot coals is mouthwatering, perfect for lunch after a dip in the pool. For shrimp enthusiasts, I highly recommend the Po’Boy — Louisiana-inspired crispy chunks of deep-fried freshwater shrimp sandwiched between Pistolet buns (all their yummy bread is baked in-house!), but made even more deliriously good with the Cajun spice blend, topped with pickle relish and remoulade sauce. Sous chef Jomhar Marcial’s Nasi Goreng is perhaps the ultimate breakfast meal. Inspired by Indonesia’s national dish, the rich and flavorful fried rice is cooked in a wok and served like a surprise underneath a perfectly concocted omelet and served with a side of chicken satay. Just opened a little over a year ago, the restaurant revamped its menu. Since then it has become quite popular not only among the country club members, but a favorite venue for social and corporate events for its pleasant and spacious area — and the scrumptious food. Thanks to executive chef Emmanuel “Jonnel” Roxas who specializes in Mediterranean cuisine and backed by experience in both hotel dining (the Sheraton Manila Bay, Pan Pacific Hotel Manila) and casual American dining (TGI Friday’s), the restaurant experience at Royal Lounge has elevated ever since his arrival. Chef Jonnel shared that he is collaborative, allowing his chefs in the kitchen to be creative and imaginative in putting their signature twist to already well-known dishes. But chef Jonnel says that he still makes sure that the food served to the members and guests is still familiar, because familiarity brings comfort. “Siyempre po, sa country club, normally, the families would want to have a place where they can relax and unwind, to bond,” he said. “Yung tema kasi dito is: ‘I want to eat something I can eat, and my family can eat’. The concept is familiarity.” “The guests are not going to spend a lot of time thinking what to eat, so they will get a burger, club sandwich, pizza — the familiar, humble and simple everyday favorites,” he further explained. But chef Jonnel’s creativity in these “simple” dishes is notable. His European taste, for example, is evident in his pot roast beef, braised in red wine sauce, as if you are tasting Julia Child’s recipe of Beef Bourguignon — designed for family dining. It is a savory delight, the beef melts in the mouth and you are suddenly transported to east-central France, in Burgundy. For young kids, the menu does not disappoint with a wide selection of meals that will keep them coming back: beef and bacon sliders, cheesy macaroni, mozzarella sticks and chicken tenders and fries, spaghetti and a lot more. The country club burger, meanwhile, is a sight to behold. Towering and crammed with cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, bacon and a fat, juicy patty in the center of it all, which is so thick it’s like meatloaf. I had to break it down just so I can fit every single layer in my mouth. The BBQ pork ribs with a side of corn is another memorable experience — fall-off-the-bone tender. But what truly made an impact on me was the new experience: Chef Jonnel’s Tapa Don Galo, a recipe close to his heart as he grew up in the coastal town of Don Galo in Paranaque, where tapas are the specialty. One spoonful of the Tapa Don Galo is like eating the complete tapsilog experience with fried garlic sprinkled on top. It is heavenly. It comes with four kinds of dipping sauces: banana ketchup, white vinegar, chopped chili and rock salt. Mix, match, ignore, you can customize your dipping sauce. But, personally, the tapa alone is a winner. Believe me, you will dream about it for days. If you are on the hunt for afive-star hotel dining experience of your all-time favorites and more, the Royal Lounge is the ideal place. Sure, you can get a burger anywhere, or a gising-gising, or a country-fried chicken, but what the Royal Lounge does is that it adds a magic sprinkle of specialness to every dish, making it still comfortable but deliciously unique. The post Feel like royalty at Tivoli’s Royal Lounge appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Wolfgang Steakhouse Grill opens city of dreams branch, expands menu
The name alone sounds expensive and intimidating, but the owners of Wolfgang Steakhouse Grill swear it’s because they serve only the finest food. Known for its signature USDA prime dry-aged steak, the chain has opened a fourth restaurant in the Philippines with more grilled items on offer — the better to encourage people who love first-rate food and a relaxed atmosphere The new Wolfgang Steakhouse Grill at the City of Dreams Manila in Parañaque City had a grand launch Tuesday night attended by the founder himself, Wolfgang Zwiener, accompanied by wife Elena and son Peter, now the president of the world-renowned Wolfgang’s Steakhouse. The event was also graced by its local managing partners led by Raymund Magdaluyo (Red Crab Group of Restaurants) and Leina Bolinas (Excello Restaurant Management Group). The resto’s other outlets are in Resorts World Manila in Pasay City, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City and The Podium in Mandaluyong City. This is also the 32nd location of Wolfgang Steakhouse worldwide. What makes this new location extra special is that this is the only Wolfgang Steakhouse with grilled offerings. New grilled dishes have been added to the menu for diners to order from brunch to late night, such as Grilled Barbecue Short Ribs, Dry-Aged Brisket Pastrami, Beef Tartar and Grilled Lemon Caper Chicken. “Wolfgang Steakhouse is a classic steakhouse that serves the finest beef,” said Peter in his brief speech. “Here at the Grill, we are able to introduce more dishes using the different parts of the cow and the various ways of preparing it. This gives us an opportunity to offer those who want to eat other interesting and flavorful dishes, such as Lomo Saltado (a Peruvian dish) and chicken dishes. But, the good thing is, we still offer the regular full menu of Wolfgang Steakhouse.” Peter reflected on how the restaurant has come a long way from its first outlet in Manila in 2016. “Thanks to our fabulous partners like Raymund Magdaluyo and Leina Bolinas and their team,” Peter said. “We were very fortunate. I still remember the day I met Raymund in Japan after he called me to say he had a fabulous dinner at Wolfgang on Christmas Eve. He told me a beautiful story about his family and how they had a great dinner there. He told me he wanted to have Wolfgang Steakhouse in the Philippines. And it came to fruition many years later.” “After the pandemic, we are coming out stronger and we want to grow more rapidly in the Philippines and offer our steaks to everyone,” he added. Elegant, contemporary Boasting an intimate and cozy atmosphere with dark wooden interiors and an old-world charm, the 350-square-meter steakhouse features an intimate whisky lounge and impressive wine cellar. Popular among its steaks are the short loin, porterhouse and rib-eye. “Grill means basically direct fire. We offer more grilled items,” said Magdaluyo, adding that, “for us, the actual concept of the grill is that this place is a bit casual. Upscale but casual. Meaning, you can come as you are. You can wear shorts or beach wear and that’s perfectly fine.” Magdaluyo also shared that another Wolfgang Steakhouse Grill, with a sports grill theme, is opening at the Araneta Coliseum by October. “It’s a 40-seater place to serve the Quezon City market,” he said. Turn to page C18 Meanwhile, Wolfgang Steakhouse in Boracay will open in February 2024 at Megaworld’s Belmont Hotel, according to Magdaluyo. The steakhouse, overlooking the beach, can accommodate about 50 diners. [caption id="attachment_133452" align="aligncenter" width="1707"] photograph courtesy of wolfgang steakhouse grillBURRATA Salad.[/caption] Menu The Grill’s new offerings include the fall-off-the-bone Grilled Baby Back Ribs, Lomo Saltado (marinated strips of sirloin with onions and tomatoes) and Grilled Barbecue Short Ribs. Salad options have also been updated with Classic Wedge Salad, Burrata Salad and Arugula Salad. The USDA Prime Dry-Aged Porterhouse Steak remains a meat lover’s dream: thick, tender, juicy and formidable right down to the very last bite. The resto’s all-time favorites include Creamed Spinach, Steak Fries, Burger Sliders, Filet Mignon, Shrimp and Lobster Cocktails and Fresh Oysters on the Half Shell, while among the must-try desserts are the New York-Style Cheesecake, Apple Strudel, Key Lime Pie and Hot Fudge Sundae. Wolfgang Steakhouse Grill is on the upper ground floor of City of Dreams Manila, Paranaque City, It is open daily, 11 am-12 mn. Visit www.wolfgangssteakhouse.ph. Meanwhile, Wolfgang Steakhouse in Boracay will open in February 2024 at Megaworld’s Belmont Hotel, according to Magdaluyo. The steakhouse, overlooking the beach, can accommodate about 50 diners. The post Wolfgang Steakhouse Grill opens city of dreams branch, expands menu appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bad roads for tourists
Let’s hope the coming three-day long weekend will spare the eager expressway traveler from long bone-crushing traffic gridlock not unlike during the recent Holy Week exodus. Other than the odd gridlock, I’m not bothered much by the privately built and operated expressways, however. Instead, my attention is elsewhere, on roads that start after the expressways end. More particularly, on roads that lead to tourism sites which I have dubbed “tourism roads.” If, at first glance, these “tourism roads” don’t count for much, these roads are in fact crucial underlying infrastructure of the vital tourism industry. Last weekend, for instance, I made a quick getaway to my hometown Cebu City. Other than keeping abreast with what’s been happening in my beloved hometown, I had the rare opportunity of going to one of Cebu province’s major tourist draws: whale shark watching in Oslob town. Oslob sits at the southern edge of the island of Cebu and whale shark or butanding watching is its present economic lifeblood, involving all of its officials and townsfolk. Of course, there are other sites in the country for seeing the giant gentle, uniquely spotted fish with enormous mouths — Donsol in Sorsogon and Honda Bay in Palawan quickly come to mind — but Oslob is “home to the largest non-captive whale shark tourism interaction in the whole world.” (At last count, the country is home to over 1,950 whale sharks, making it the second-largest known whale shark population in the world.) Oslob butanding watching, which involves swimming alongside the tender sea creatures, has another distinct advantage: the butandings are a few meters offshore, in the clear, still waters of the appropriately named Barangay Tan-awan. “Tan-aw” is the Cebuano word for seeing. On any given day, especially during summer, our local guide tells us, hordes of life-jacketed local and foreign tourists hop aboard bangkas, expertly manned by local fishermen, to see the endangered butandings as they’re fed young shrimp, done since 2012, from the break of dawn to noon. Environmentalists frown on the feeding practice, raising ethical issues about feeding an endangered species for tourism purposes. But that’s another story. For the moment, however, and even as many visitors do admit later that butanding watching is ethically a “guilty pleasure,” communing, even for a regulated 30 minutes, with these gentle giants of the Philippine natural world is an exhilarating experience. Exhilarating enough for inclusion in anyone’s bucket list of travel destinations. Only if it were easy and smooth to do it. Going to see butandings, which involves a three-hour ride from Cebu City, simply isn’t pleasurable. Bumpy enough to induce dizziness, the ride isn’t easily forgotten. All courtesy of a slew of ongoing road rehabilitation projects immediately past the outskirts of Cebu City. Provincial road rehab projects are a necessity, I understand. But the long stretch of road toward the butanding heaven is paved with confusing road works here and there. Not exactly anyone’s idea of a joy ride, particularly if you’re a traveler suffering from motion sickness. How long the insufferable state of the road has been, I don’t know. But if there was anything exposing the frustrating state of affairs it was the shocking notices on portions of unfinished road work. Put up by the provincial government on the outskirts of Oslob, the particularly shocking signs, if I recall correctly, read like this: “This is a national government road. Address all complaints to the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways). This is not a project of the province. Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.” Other than probably showing a governor’s disgust over the slow pace of the road work, the signage blatantly tells us how idiotic our national government bureaucrats have long been. If nothing else, the signs are abject notice that our government bureaucrats just don’t know that a well-paved road is in itself a revenue -generating tourism draw, enticing further future vicarious local and foreign travelers. Email: nevqjr@yahoo.com.ph The post Bad roads for tourists appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The metro’s best heirloom ham
When Cocina Murriel joined the Ultimate Taste Test 2022 in November last year, its signature product, the heirloom smoked ham of the Murriel family, made it to the winners’ circle and even took home the honors of being the Best Heirloom Smoked Ham in the Metro. It’s an honor that was well-deserved, considering how much care the Murriel family has put into the preparation of their heirloom smoked ham. “I believe that our dedication as a family to share our family tradition with everyone is the key ingredient that makes our heirloom smoked ham special. Quality is really at the very top of our priority. We use only fresh pork from our local supplier. It is never frozen and is always NMIS certified. Smoking is always done for eight to 10 hours using a local blend of wood chips. The whole process would take at least a week to finish,” explains Catricia Murriel, president of Cocina Murriel. [caption id="attachment_117831" align="aligncenter" width="669"] PHOTOGRAPHS BY DOLLY DY-ZULUETA FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE | Cocina Murriel's signature Smoked Ham.[/caption] The heirloom smoked ham recipe actually came from Catricia’s grandmother, Lola Mada, who made the ham for special occasions. The ham was always the most awaited dish during Christmas gatherings, but Catricia’s dad, Alvin, was not contented with just enjoying the ham during such occasions. Having a knack for cooking, Alvin, when he was younger, was constantly in awe of his mom’s cooking, particularly when she was preparing bone-in ham during the holidays. So, he happily served as her sous chef, and Lola Mada responded by gladly teaching him how it was done. For the next 10 years, he would improve on the recipe until he was able to reinvent the process, perfect the recipe and make it his own. He saw the potential of the ham as a family business, but he could not give up his office job to concentrate on it. Catricia and her three siblings were still in school, and he needed a steady source of income. So, what he did was start making it in small batches. He gave some to close friends for them to try. He got very good feedback from those who had tried it, and orders started coming. [caption id="attachment_117832" align="aligncenter" width="567"] Cocina Murriel's Whole Smoked Ham.[/caption] Heirloom When Catricia graduated from college in 2018, they started seriously selling the heirloom smoked ham. They sold it online, with Catricia’s elder sister Charisse starting a Facebook page for the ham and then joining food groups. She was able to tap the right target market for Cocina Murriel, and before they knew it, they were selling like crazy through social media. They made sure, though, that the quality did not suffer. [caption id="attachment_117830" align="aligncenter" width="582"] The Murriel family (from left) dad Alvin, mom Imelda, Charisse and Catricia.[/caption] “Because of the tedious process involved in making the smoked ham, it was all done by us, no staff. We made sure that we all stuck to the tradition of making it with quality ingredients, no shortcuts,” says Catricia. She adds: “When we started, all preparations were done in our tiny home kitchen in small batches. Our smoker was custom-made by Papa using a small steel drum that he had welded to become a smoker. Now, we are building a commissary for Cocina Murriel. We were also able to acquire a smoker that could fit in 100 kilograms meat in one smoking session.” Cocina Murriel’s heirloom smoked ham comes in Whole Smoked Ham at P1,000 per kilogram, in Smoked Bone-in Ham at P1,400 per kilogram, and in 500-gram Sliced Smoked Ham at P580. The menu now also carries Smoked Bacon, Imperial Sausage, Smoked Daing na Bangus, Hampanada, and Crab in a Jar, from recipes developed by Alvin Murriel himself. The post The metro’s best heirloom ham appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Manila Archbishop: Washing of feet maintains faithful’s connection to Jesus
In his homily at the Manila Cathedral on the evening of Maundy Thursday, Advincula stressed the importance of the washing of the feet, not merely as a hygienic act but as a sign of one's relationship with Jesus......»»
US reaffirms support for Philippines sovereignty amid its tensions with China
Washington, DC [US], March 28 (ANI): US Secretary of Defence Llyod Austin has reaffirmed Washington's commitment to Manila in defending its sovereignty while criticising China's "dangerous" water cannon attack at the Philippine supply mission vessel on Saturday. In a telephonic conversation between Austin and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, the US Secretary reiterated the US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty.....»»
Philippines announces decisive measures amid tensions with China
Manila [Philippines], March 28 (ANI): Amid the escalating tensions in the South China Sea, Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr has announced decisive measures to protect his country's sovereignty and maritime rights while ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Marcos, known as Bongbong, said that the measures, aimed at addressing what he said is the "open, unabating, and illegal" actions by China's Coast.....»»
Contagious pertussis disease continues spreading in Philippines
MANILA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The contagious pertussis has continued spreading in the Philippines, where it has caused at least 40 death cases, after a province near the capital region reported an outbreak of the disease. In a social media post on Wednesday night, the Cavite government posted a resolution declaring the province under a state of calamity "due to the outbreak of pertussis" after logging 36 cases an.....»»
Akbayan to Sara: You don’t have to be president to speak vs China
MANILA, Philippines — Party-list group Akbayan said on Thursday that Vice President Sara Duterte does not have to be a president of the country for her to call out China’s intrusive actions over the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Empathy and a moral backbone is just what it takes to stand up with fisherfolk and frontline.....»»
China: PH is ‘straying down a dangerous path’
MANILA, Philippines — China continued to blame the Philippines and its ally, the United States, for the continued tensions in the disputed West Philippine Sea. In a statement on Thursday, Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Wu Qian warned that the Philippines is going down a dangerous path. READ: No letup in Chinese water cannon attacks.....»»
7 lumang simbahan sa Metro Manila na swak pang-‘Visita Iglesia’
TUWING sasapit ang Semana Santa, isa sa mga tradisyon ay ang “Visita Iglesia.” Para sa mga hindi aware, isa ito sa mga taunang ginagawa ng mga Katoliko na bumisita sa pito o higit pang simbahan upang magdasal at magmuni-muni sa mga istasyon ng Krus. Sa pamamagitan nito, ibinabandera ng mga deboto ang kahalagahan ng pananampalataya,.....»»
Philippines logs 40 pertussis deaths this year
MANILA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Forty children have died of whopping cough, a respiratory infection also called pertussis, since this year, the Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) has reported. The DOH said in a statement on Wednesday that cases have continued to increase since the start of this year, recording 568 cases from Jan. 1 to March 16. "The total number of cases for the same period in 2023 was.....»»
DMK criticises Election Commission for being biassed in allocating symbols to political parties
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], March 28 (ANI): The Deputy Secretary of the Student Wing of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Ka Amutharasan, has accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of having a biassed attitude towards opposition parties by allocating election symbols as per their wishes. "ECI has allocated the symbols for the Tamil Manila Congress and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhgam that those parties wished for. Th.....»»
ANZ raises Philippine inflation forecast to 3.8% this year
ANZ Research hiked its inflation forecast for the Philippines to 3.8 percent this year, from 3.5 percent previously, as risks may drive inflation up to above the central bank’s two to four percent target in the coming months......»»
Unlock business success at Franchise Asia Philippines Expo
The Franchise Asia Philippines Expo 2024 is set to hold a series of dynamic seminars designed to empower entrepreneurs, investors and business enthusiasts with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in the ever-evolving world of franchising. Slated from April 12 to 14 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, these seminars offer invaluable insights into key aspects of franchising and business growth......»»
Dela Rosa considers war with China but admits: ‘Hindi naman natin kaya’
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa is already fed up with China’s persistent harassments in the West Philippine Sea, prompting thoughts of engaging in war with Beijing. But he knows, war is not an option. “Naubos na ang sasabihin ko dapat dyan. Short of declaring war na tayo dyan against sa kanila e,.....»»
Pertussis or whooping cough: 40 child deaths so far this year – DOH
MANILA, Philippines — Assistant Health Secretary Albert Domingo reported on Wednesday that as of March 16 this year, some 40 children had died of whooping cough — a respiratory infection also called pertussis. An increase in new pertussis cases nationwide had been observed nationwide, with 28 cases reported from March 10 to 16. READ: What.....»»
Xdinary Heroes make ‘extraordinary’ concert in Manila
Members of the South Korean rock band Xdinary Heroes showed that they were no ordinary musicians during their first world tour, “Break The Brake” last March 23 at the New Frontier Theater......»»