Hotel Benilde Maison De Manila

Stayed overnight at the Hotel Benilde Maison De Manila a couple weeks ago. Honestly I was skeptical about this because most hospitality establishments run by schools fail to impress because of the quality of work they put in on these joints especially in the Philippines. Not that I'm putting anyone down but the battering average is low in my books, so they don't end up in my blog for more reasons than one.

This place is right smack in the middle of Manila. It sticks out among aged buildings in the area because this one is just fresh, new, like an oasis in the desert. You will feel right at home. Albeit very strict upon checking in, you won't spend that much time in the lobby because they have systems in place. The kind gentlemen even offered to carry my bag upstairs - even if in my head I just wanted to take a break, shower and sleep.

I took a breather and saw this waiting for me on the top floor. The crisp white covers and warm lights was just inviting, I practically slept til around 4 ish to get ready for my other events slated that day. 

I placed my UE Red Warriors cap on the work table, they have ample WiFi and several cable channels to keep my mind off things. The couch beside the window was my favorite place, the Manila skyline didn't look bad after all when you're on top of this building. Check out this video I made of my stay and the events that occurred that day. Enjoy!

To you it may have looked like a jump-off point to other things in the district, but those couple hours I spent in Hotel Benilde Maison De Manila got me going the whole day, plus they've got really great breakfast choices in the morning, I didn't want to miss every bit of that. So I did indulge!

They passed my fried egg test which I do in a lot of hotels just to see if they follow cooking instructions because I prefer mine super well done and crispy, and they did just that! Overall, I felt taken cared of and comfy, I didn't know they had these hotels in Manila. If you also check their rates, they are super cheap for the room I got. 

Now don’t you even think that they are not thinking of you because Hotel Benilde has specials prepared for you this Christmas. Check out their promos during this holiday season!

Dinner during New Years Eve at 899 plus cocktails, I'm there!

Overnight stay for 5K and a breakfast buffet, how can you not do this?!

Finding a spot for your Christmas Party? This fits the bill!

More deals for longer stays, this almost looks like a giveaway. You should!

More deals for longer stays, this almost looks like a giveaway. You should!

Go check them out at HotelBenilde.com if you want to experience Manila and save a bunch on rates and food, this might be the best thing for you!

I enjoyed that short stay, you will too!

KUMAGCOW

Fresh Blogs Fast!

Now Available on Talk ’N Text: PisoNet

Image not mine. From Smart.com.ph's website.

It's funny to stumble upon something that would be important for students that I know in Smart's website. I went to college with a measly daily allowance but that didn't stop me from getting Internet connection when I needed it. Don't ask me when but even then I figured mobile data wasn't even existent at these speeds, let alone being used quite extensively for everyday activities. I envy them now.

It's because a new mobile platform has been developed by the people from Smart Communications Inc. Soon, they would be able to offer Internet access for as low as P 1.00. Crazy right? but it's real. They call it “PisoNet” and they will initially offer this to Talk ’N Text (TNT) subscribers. Upon subscription, they would be able to access to all applications and websites on smart phones at the rate of P 1.00 for every 10 minutes. You would however have the exception of video streaming sites and file-sharing activities which usually hog bandwidth. I think that's a fair deal if all you are after is research or small things for school. You can also use if for social networks or just when you want to talk and chat with your friends on this medium. It's way cheaper than the ordinary 5 pesos per 15 minute rate you usually are charged regularly. That means, they'll help more Filipinos who have mobile phones gain access to the Internet without breaking the bank. 

Charles A. Lim, EVP and Head of the Wireless Consumer Division at Smart says “Now, one peso is all you need to access the Internet. PisoNet thus brings the many benefits of the Internet to more Filipinos nationwide, especially those who are accessing the Internet for the first time using their phones."

They are also making this part of the PowerApp. It's Smart's own platform for mobile Internet packages. Users can purchase Internet bundles such as Social, Photo, Email, Chat and individual apps that you can get as low as P5 a day.

So go ahead and try PisoNet by texting PISONET to 5555. If you want to use Smart's PowerApp, check out their special offers at www.smart.com.ph/powerapp. It's that easy. Yes, this P 1.00 Internet rate has been studied quite well and might make mobile Internet connection in these segments as regular as buying shampoo sachets in neighborhood stores.

For more information about their promos:

Smart Communications

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Visit their official website

http://www1.smart.com.ph/corporate

An Easy, Fun Filled Galactic Easter at Marriott Hotel Manila!

There are several things that I need to do in order to celebrate Easter with kids this season. Wake up, wash my face, take tons of time in the market, prepare everything first, then cook. After that you need to also take time and paint all the eggs you need to hide from these smart ones then let them feast and celebrate the coming of Christ into this world. That entails thousands of pesos, plus labor and time that I don't really have. It's a good thing there are several establishments who are already aware of this problem and make necessary arrangements to make that one day for the kids very special. 

At Marriott Hotel Manila there is a Big Bang Stay package for only P10, 980 net and this includes two tickets to the Lost in Space Easter Party and Game Zoo credits at the Newport Mall. This promo runs from April 1 to 10 with minimum two nights stay. Or you can opt for the great Easter Party for only P500 (kid) and P1, 000 (adult) entrance fees. This event has been packed since 2010 and it'll be even bigger this year! There will be games, prizes and surprises awaiting those who want to avail of these promos. World class Executive Chef Meik Brammer has prepared a spectacular menu to the delight of kids and their families. They will also take home lots of goodies from Marriott and different vendors so you're surely get your money's worth and MORE! Or if you prefer a more intimate setting, you can avail of the Marriott Cafe experience for only 2,500 pesos inclusive of one Lost in Space Easter party ticket. Their brunch buffet is quite a grand spread and you'll choose between fourteen different food stations so you know your degustation is just starting!  

Need I say more? Make sure you call Marriott Hotels Manila and reserve a spot on their highly awaited Easter Party, it's the best advice I could give you this lent.

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Marriott Cafe
No.10 Newport Boulevard
Newport City Complex
Pasay City, Philippines 1309
Phone: (632) 9889990
Fax: (632) 9889946
Email: mhrs.mnlap.cafe.mgr@marriotthotels.com

Or Visit their Website!

http://www.marriott.com/mnlap


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Marriott Hotel Manila

The Ideal Getaway!

Earlier this week, my Mom asked me if we could go for a vacation a couple of hours away from my hometown Manila. The Highlands as they call it was part of the itinerary but the deal is we could not do that unless we had some of our relatives that had membership in that exclusive club to pitch us in since they are the only ones who could only do that. The couple of hundred thousand dollar membership fee a year is really a hefty price tag to pay. I would not want to have that on my account considering the economic crunch is on its way to affect our part of the world. I'm sure people would want to have an alternative that would not hurt that much on their budget. There are better alternatives though if I want to take that road.



Have you heard of places where you can avail 5 star rated accommodation at a cost so measly you won't even bother looking at the bill? It's where you have too much to spend for other things than the club membership itself to begin with. It's a place where relaxation and recreation is so affordable that you will eventually spend only a couple of hundred dollars for everything. Check these Great Deals Now so your family would enjoy what was meant only for the rich and famous. Visit http://www.holidaytravelaccomodations.com and see what huge savings you can make in these locations. You'll surely love the packages and offers they have for the smart consumer in you. I'll check it out one of these days if my brother and I push through with our NY City trip early spring next year. See you there!

Electricity Rates Goin Up!

Hindi pa tapos ang pagtaas! This is not the end of it! Har har!

Aside from the delayed fare rollback for public utility vehicles, the bad news just comes rolling in. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has recently approved the petition of National Power Corporation (Napocor) to raise rates for local electricity.

According to the ERC's decision, it has given due provisional authority for NAPOCOR to increase it's basic rates up to P0.47 per kilowatt hour for the whole area of Luzon, P1.15 per kilowatt hour in the Visayas and P0.71 for the Mindanao region. Because of this particular increase it would be a total of P4.36/kWh for the basic rates in Luzon, P4.03/kWh in Visayas and P2.82/kWh for Mindanao respectively. The power rate increase will be felt on the February 26 - March 25 billing period. Meralco consumers like us in Metro Manila will only have half of the increase because this region only have half of its supply with NAPOCOR. The other half are only from independent power producers, and I just wonder if they increase their rates in the same season too. That would just be bad!

Calling Costs A Lot!

I've been trying to call my cousin in the Canada and Japan helplessly because I was trying to fix matters concerning money sent over some banks in the Philippines. I was using the services of local cellular phone companies that charged me a couple thousand of pesos in order to get a decent conversation going. It was doubly hard if they were unavailable because they still charged me the same rates.



I was trying to get a cheaper deal than the usual because discounted rates here were still costing a lot compared to what I could have had when I was in the US. Good thing there are a couple of online shops that transact calling cards that can work here and wherever I may be elsewhere in the world. Now for a few cents, I can call Canada, the US and other countries. I think 23.9 cents which the site http://www.getmecallingcards.com offers is the best one I could find. Imagine that... the rates are better! Where else should we get reasonable prices at this side of the globe? I guess I'll have to tell my friends too because it even did beat the rates of Philippine Phone Cards available at local telecommunication companies. Now its going to be easier to call from 153 countries around the world. Need I say more? We all have choices, but there never will be a better deal than this phone card company that knows how things could get easier for you.