Davao - Life is Here Campaign

I first fall in love with Davao when I moved to this City to earn a college degree. From my very first day of moving to Davao until today I never had a day of regret or dissatisfaction being a resident here. This City is not only a melting pot of all the tribes in its neighboring places but a home of the many races.

Davao City's - Life is Here Campaign is a very good tag line in promoting the city's tourism. To live with complete security with the basic needs possible is something Davao can offer. It does not only promote peace but it also promise a good life through it's booming industries. 

The uniqueness of the city in terms of cultural background, good governance, inviting places, exotic food, exciting activities and everything  else are just few of the many factors why LIFE IS HERE.

Investment? Career? Good life? Vacation? Whatever you like - Davao is surely a destination you must try.

What's you idea about Davao - Life is Here tagline? I would surely reply on your comments.

Manila: Top 3 in Asia's Most Sinful Cities

According to one of the posts in Yahoo Travel Manila, Philippines is top 3 as Asia's Most Sinful Cities. This poll can speak as a result of the loveliness of the Filipino female. But you wouldn't know it by talking to the Filipino men -- they're too busy gazing lustfully into the mirror.

According to a study from Synovate, Filipino men are the most narcissistic in Asia. There are 48 percent consider themselves sexually attractive.

For ladies counting these in their advantage, sorry -- nine out of 10 Filipino men said they liked to look good for themselves, not anyone else.

Davao City: Southern Philippine's Business Hub

Davao City is the undisputed center of business activities in Southern Philippines. Having a spans area of 2, 443.61 square kilometers of huge fertile land,  it is considered as the largest city in the world in terms of land area. Having this fact, it will give us enough impression that Davao City is not only perfect for tourism but also for investment.

As a trading hub it links the entire the southern part of the Philippines throughout the East ASEAN Countries - Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines. BIMP -EAGA is a leading growth centers in Asia.

Davao city is not only rich in natural resources  but also the resiliency of its people. The city has a significant achievement towards improved business environment reaping numerous awards as one of the 20 Most Livable Cities in Asia and counted as one of the Top 5 Most Competitive Metropolitan Cities in the Philippines.

Discover Davao and discover a city in growth and investment now.

Lotus Court showcases Manila Hotel’s Mabuhay Palace Gastronomy

THIS month of April, Manila Hotel's chefs head south for Marco Polo Davao. The Davao hotel's Cantonese restaurant, Lotus Court, hosts two Manila Hotel chefs for the better part of the summer.

"From April 6 to May 15, 2011, Chef Wenceslao Gacutan and Executive Chinese Sous Chef Josephine (Joie) Yu Tanganco Candelaria will be concocting Mabuhay Palace original creations from the freshest ingredients in Davao," Marco Polo Davao Food and Beverage manager Bernard Bulaong said.

Chef Joie is a trilingual chef who regards excellence as her touchstone. She doffs her toque to her Executive Chef Konrad Walter, a Swiss national whose extensive experience spans his native land as well as Scotland, Bahrain, Macau, and the Philippines.

Executive Chef Konrad inspired her to think outside of the box and create what have become signature dishes of Mabuhay Palace, Manila Hotel's highly acclaimed Cantonese restaurant.

"Chef Joie's take on Long Life Prawns, vegetarian Peking duck, and salted egg ice cream took Manila by storm last month," Bulaong said.

These innovative dishes, unique to Mabuhay Palace, will be served in Lotus Court beginning 6 April. On offer as well are timeless classics, such as seafood and chicken, pork and beef dishes, with flavors both sensuous and appealing. Other Cantonese delights shall be the domain of Chef Wenceslao Gacutan whose talents in this area are nothing short of legendary.

Sample the extraordinary specialties of Chef Joie and Chef Wenceslao, which you can opt for in special a la carte menus or in sumptuous buffets at Lotus Court. Sunday lunch buffet shall be at P850.00 net per person. Payday dinner buffet with Mabuhay Palace menu highlights will be at P600 net per person on 15 and 30 April and on 15 May.

"This summer, stop by Marco Polo Davao's Lotus Court, to experience Mabuhay Palace's celebrated Cantonese cuisine and know why Chef Joie is the toast of the town," Bulaong concluded.

For inquiries and reservations, call 221-0888 local 7233.

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on April 06, 2011.

Marco Polo Davao's Lotus Court, to experience Mabuhay Palace

Emilio Yap (listed by Forbes last year as the 13th richest Filipino), is now acknowledged for having the best Chinese restaurant, called the Mabuhay Palace, in the country. The Mabuhay Palace has gained its reputation for offering exquisite gastronomic fares featuring Cantonese favourites as well as the extraordinary blend of dishes inspired by the cuisines of Beijing, Hong Kong and Guangdong. The Mabuhay Palace has been quietly garnering praises from customers; and the respect of the country’s noted food critiques and reviewers.

Philippine Tattler duly gave recognition to the Mabuhay Palace as one of the country’s best restaurants in 2009. It has since become a charming stop for breakfast or lunch with its buffet offerings although the real draw is still its dinners.

The good news is, Davao’s food aficionados may now have the rare opportunity to feast on the famed five-star Chinese cooking of the Manila Hotel’s Mabuhay Palace at the Lotus Court of the Marco Polo Hotel-Davao this summer season (April to May). Mabuhay Palace’s culinary virtuosos namely executive sous chef Josephine Yu Tanganco-Candelaria and chef Wenceslao Gacutan (former chefs of Mandarin Oriental Hotel’s Tin Hau) are in town busily concocting delightful dishes using the freshest of ingredients and produce Davao has to offer. The Mabuhay Palace’s culinary masters offer a lot of exciting flavours, textures and aromas to delight the palate of the loyal patrons of the Lotus Court. Theirs is refined food, more popularly known as fusion cuisine, which makes for sensational dining at the elegant Lotus Court.

Undeniably, the Mabuhay Palace’s Chinese fare has been modulated to accommodate well-heeled international tastes, but I like the menu to quibble over it. The Long Life Prawns (celestially light, miraculously ungreasy), the Beef Cubes in Honeyed Peppercorn Sauce (reminds me of a yummy beef dish I ate in Singapore which lingers in my memory), the Honey-Glazed Chicken Fillet in Crispy young Ginger, and the Slow-Cooked Pork Belly simmered in Shao Sing Wine (tastes like the delicate Japanese dish su buta) offer irrefutable proof of that.

To end Mabuhay Palace’s family style dinner at the Lotus Court, you just have to try chef Josephine’s ingeniously concocted salted egg ice cream which took Manila by storm last month. “This original ice cream recipe was created from a wonderful culinary dream. I’ve made other good recipes from dreams I’ve had,” explained chef Josephine. Oh my, keep on dreaming, chef Josephine!

“Now you know why chef Josephine Yu Tanganco-Candelaria was handpicked by Mr. Emilio Yap himself. The good natured chef has since become the toast of the town. Chef Josephine thinks outside of the box and has masterfully created innovative recipes that have become signature dishes of the highly acclaimed Mabuhay Palace of the Manila Hotel,” said the recently promoted Food and Beverage Director of the Marco Polo Hotel-Davao, Bernard Bulaong.

“This is one good opportunity to try Mabuhay Palace’s celebrated Cantonese fusion cuisine, either through a la carte or sumptuous buffet style, right here at the Lotus Court of the Marco Polo Hotel-Davao,” informed PR Executive Meg Sta. Ines.