#f1hotelmanila

[wheresrr]

Have cocktail night with a glass of Coco Havana, Tropical Sunset and Beach Bum from ​​The Canary at F1 Hotel Manila. The Canary will soon re-open for dinners, strictly implementing minimum health protocols for your safer dining experience. Use the promo code WHERESRR15 to avail 15% discount when you dine. #TheCanary #F1HotelManila #WheresRR @f1hotelmanila @thecanarybgc https://www.instagram.com/p/CS_489yBKcr/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Super BURP moment here at @f1hotelmanila 🤗 More details about their Dinner buffet via http://youtube.com/c/graceebongolan or visit www.itsmegracee.blogspot.com 😋 #F1HotelManila #F1Hotel #Buffet #Foodtography #FoodBlog #IGFood #IGFood #Foodporn (at F All Day Dining Restaurant) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqXEhmFDFs6/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=17pwyf7y3dow0

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Desserts at @f1hotelmanila ❤️😋 #F1HotelManila #F1Hotel #FAllDayDining #Buffet #Dessert #Foodtography #IGFood #FoodBlog #Instafood #IGFood (at F All Day Dining Restaurant) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqXEC-KDmEN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=kwnti721lhnz

[graceelicious]

Dinner buffet here at @f1hotelmanila 😋 #F1HotelManila #FAllDayDiningRestaurant #Buffet #Foodtography #Instafood #Foodie #IGFood #FoodBlog (at F All Day Dining Restaurant) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqXDqLPj8ZX/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1dsmf9h97qpc5

[thehungrykat1]

Luzviminda 6: Timeless Flavors at F1 Hotel Manila

F1 Hotel Manila is celebrating the Philippine Independence Day with the sixth edition of its annual Filipino food festival called Luzviminda 6: Timeless Flavors. This month-long culinary journey around the Philippine islands is happening from June 8 to 30, 2018 at the hotel’s renowned restaurant, F All-Day Dining. The Hungry Kat was invited to this colorful adventure during its opening weekend and it has been a delicious June tradition that I always look forward to each year.

Led by F1 Hotel’s executive chef, Angelo “Chubby” Timban, together with guest chefs, AJ Reyes and Zheryl Jacinto, they have created a memorable Filipino feast that will take guests’ palates from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Luzviminda 6 is a combination of traditional Filipino recipes passed down from one generation to the next, and the chefs’ personal skills and innovations, introducing unique regional dishes that I had never seen before. Best of all, this buffet is available for only P1,699 nett per person for lunch or dinner, with a special Independence Day promotion on June 12 where you can get it at 50% off. 

F All Day Dining is the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant on the third floor featuring buffet options from breakfast all the way until dinner. Each of the three chefs will be exhibiting their own highlight dishes during the food festival, with Chef Chubby focusing on Luzon, Chef AJ showcasing Vizayas, and Chef Zhe presenting her Mindanao specialties.

This year’s edition of Luzviminda is definitely the biggest one I have experienced, with a huge selection of appetizers, main courses, and desserts from various regions around the Philippines. There are several local dishes that I had never even heard of before, so it was really a great way to learn more about our nation’s history through its diverse culinary offerings and flavors. 

I started with the fresh Lato Oyster Ceviche from Chef Zhe. Lato is an edible seaweed found in the waters of the Philippines and combining it with the local oysters gives this dish some added texture and flavors.

There are actually so many options at the appetizer station. You can find the Sinuglaw, Kinilaw na Lobster, Adlai and Smoked Corn Salad, and Scallop Nigiri from Chef AJ, all with their own distinct tastes to jumpstart your palates. The Insarabasab from Chef Chubby is also one of the highlights here, an Ilocano style sisig made from grilled pork, chilis and vinegar. I wasn’t able to try everything because I wanted to save room for the other specialties.

But I did get some of these more familiar appetizers like the Crispy Crablets, Shrimp, Tawilis and Lumpia. They also have a dried fish section offering local favorites such as dilis, danggit, pusit, espada, salinas, and more. Filipinos love dipping everything in their own sauces so there are also several types of vinegars and sauces to go along with these items.

The Longganisa Station offers your choice of Lucban, Vigan, Batangas, or Cabanatuan longganisa, among others. Each of these regions actually have their own version of the longganisa, which is a Spanish-style sausage or chorizo. They all taste different from one another, so have the chefs prepare an entire set of longganisa for you so you can try them all.

Head over to the Paihaw or Grilling Station where guests can choose from several meats, seafood, and popular street food and have them grilled a la minute. I had them cook some slices of salmon and pork together with shrimp and pig’s ears on a stick, a delicacy that you can often find in the streets of Manila and other provinces.

For the main courses, there are lots of dishes to choose from on the buffet table, starting with the Pocherong Baka ni Ipeng from Chef Chubby. The pochero is a type of stew originally from Spain but Filipinos have tweaked it and made it their own. This one uses tender beef instead of pork which makes it even better.

I had never even heard of Bulcachong before but Chef Chubby has brought this specialty from Davao which uses Carabao meat. I am familiar with eating carabao meat during my childhood years but this one is simply more tender and flavorful.

When I first saw the Adobo Bone Marrow from Chef AJ it just simply blew me away. I do love eating roasted bone marrow and Bulalo soups but this is the first time I have seen it as an adobo dish. The rich adobo sauce seeps into the bone marrow and gives it an even more indulgent taste. I quickly filled my plate with these bone marrow and I just had to go back for more.

Other items you can find include the Grilled Bicol Express from Chef Zhe which gives more meat to the classic Bicol express. For those who like dinuguan or pig’s blood stew, the Dinuguang Baboy Ramo is an upgraded version using wild pigs and ingredients sourced far outside Manila.

We all love to eat rice, so Luzviminda 6 also comes with all the types of rice you can imagine. Ask the chefs for some Longganisa Fried Rice, Sisig Fried Rice, or Bagoong Rice. You can even ask them to prepare one especially for you with your own choice of ingredients.

The Carving Station is definitely where the best dishes can be found like the Beef Belly Tapa which comes with fatty, juicy slices of roasted beef belly that just melt in your mouth. 

The Litson Liempo Tinomok is also a highlight at Luzviminda 6 with its indulgent lechon belly stuffed with taro leaves. The Tinomok is a Bicol dish with meat wrapped in taro leaves and cooked in coconut milk, so that is the inspiration for this unique version. Luzviminda 6 with have a rotating set of dishes each day so you may find many other interesting items during your visit.

But we’re not done just yet because the dessert selection is just as colorful. The Turon de Halo Halo comes with a crunchy turon on a sweet dip. You can also find a Halo Halo de Davao Station plus have unlimited ice cream if you like.

My favorite dessert was the Leche Flan sa Gatas ng Kalabaw which I almost finished on my own. Other notable items include the Guava Crème Brulee, Chocolate Polvoron Cups, and the Kutsinto, a curious combination of kutsinta and puto.  

After that delicious trip around the Philippines, it was time for a relaxing weekend staycation at F1 Hotel Manila. This is the best way to complete your Luzviminda journey, with a stay at The Home of Happy Experiences. The hotel has been a second home to The KTG bloggers family ever since it started and it was a few months ago when we had our New Year’s Party & Staycation right here.

My room at F1 Hotel Manila last weekend was the elegant and spacious Fort Suite. This fabulous corner suite has 43 square meters of comfort and comes with high-speed internet, an ipod dock, electronic safe, mini-bar, plus coffee and tea-making facilities. It has a separate living room area complete with a sofa bed and its own 32-inch LCD television. I mostly just laid on my king-sized bed all day which was so comfortable, especially with the rainy bed weather. 

F1 Hotel Manila has another promotion this month for all the fathers out there. From June 8 – 28, 2018, let the man of the house experience a luxurious treat with an overnight accommodation in a City Suite for as low as P6,600 nett per night. This comes with P1,000 drink credits which can be used at the Canary Lounge on the pool deck to liven up your Father’s Day celebration.

The kids don’t have to worry even if it’s raining, because they can have fun at the kid’s play area which has been moved indoors so they can still play all day.

Our Luzviminda 6 experience wasn’t over yet because our buffet dinner at the Silver function room on the first floor was also filled with regional specialties. F1 Hotel Manila has several private function rooms which are suited for wedding receptions, birthdays, parties, or other corporate events. 

We were introduced to even more unique appetizers like the Pomelo Ubod Salad and Crispy Bagbagis from Chef Zhe, as well as the Tamales Blanca from Chef AJ. There was also a Fried Sotanghon at Hipon, and the Kilawin de Choca from Chef Chubby.

Our main courses consisted of the Pinakbet na May Bagnet from Chef Zhe, which is probably the best pinakbet version I have seen. Everything is better when topped with crunchy bagnet.

Another surprising discovery was the Ox Tail Bulalo from Chef AJ. This rich and creamy version of the bulalo is another reason why you should go and indulge in Luzviminda 6.

Of course, a Filipino food festival won’t be complete with the sisig so we had the Sisig Itum which is a version inspired by a Tausug dish. On the carving station was the Baked Maya Maya cooked with onions, kamias, cilantro, tomatoes and ginger. 

The night was made extra special with overflowing cocktails from Destileria Limtuaco including the Calamnsi Mojito, a refreshing mix made with their Manille Liqueur de Calamansi.

More desserts followed which had us trying the Carioca Matcha, Cheesy Pichi Pichi, White Chocolate Taho, and Durian Creme Eclair from the three chefs. 

The most astonishing dessert there was definitely the Dinuguan Pudding from Chef AJ which turned the hot dinuguaan we all know into a cold dessert treat. I wasn’t brave enough to try it but the presentation alone is worth an award.

Adding even more sweet treats was the dessert table from Aging’s Food Delight which included a big Suman Cake and their popular Latik Fondue. You will never see suman or rice cake served this way as you can get scoops of latik or caramelized coconut cream from the latik fountain to put on top of your suman. The function rooms of F1 Hotel Manila also serve a a good place for karaoke so all of the guests, including the chefs, were more than willing to participate and belt out their favorite songs that evening.

The next morning, I woke up to a buffet breakfast at F All Day Dining which is served from 6:00am to 10:00am. You can find the usual breakfast staples here such as bacon, sausages, cereals, eggs, and noodles. Pancakes, waffles, ensaymada and French toasts are also available with fresh milk and juices to start the morning right. 

It was another fantastic weekend staycation at F1 Hotel Manila especially with Luzviminda 6: Timeless Flavors. You have the entire month to enjoy this feast of Filipino flavors and these chefs have really created a spectacular range of regional favorites, imbued with their own innovative interpretations. Congratulations to F1 Hotel Manila for another successful event!

F1 Hotel Manila

32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

928-9888 / 908-7888

www.f1hotelmanila.com

www.facebook.com/f1hotelmanila

[thehungrykat1]

New Year’s Party & Staycation at F1 Hotel Manila

The holidays are always the best times to spend with family and friends. F1 Hotel Manila, the Home of Happy Experiences, has always been a popular destination whenever holidays or long weekends come along (see related links below). I have had relaxing Christmas staycations at F1 Hotel for the past three years, but this time, we had something a little different as The KTG (Kain Tulog Gang) held its New Year’s Party at the hotel last January 6, 2018. That gave us an opportunity to experience a New Year’s staycation this time around and it still came with the warm hospitality this 100% Filipino-owned hotel always provides for its guests.

I arrived at the Premier Lounge of F1 Hotel Manila for my private seated check-in. This is located on the fifth floor and is a benefit for guests staying at the Fort Suite or City Suite. Guests can also book restaurant reservations or spa treatments through the friendly lounge associates. I got my room cards quite easily and got ready for a fun and relaxing post-Christmas staycation at our favorite hotel in Bonifacio Global City.

The Premier Lounge also offers snacks and beverages throughout the day. It serves as an extension of the hotel rooms and guests can stay here and enjoy reading newspapers and magazines or even entertain other guests.

My room at F1 Hotel Manila is the elegant and spacious Fort Suite. This fabulous corner suite has 43 square meters of comfort and comes with high-speed internet, an ipod dock, electronic safe, mini-bar, plus coffee and tea-making facilities. It has a separate living room area complete with a sofa bed and its own 32-inch LCD television. 

I am always delighted with the admirable Filipino hospitality and service guests receive at F1 Hotel Manila. This cheese platter was already waiting for me when I arrived and these are the small things that truly make a stay extra special. Room service is also available 24 hours a day so anyone can place an order in the comforts of their room.

My king-sized bed inside the Fort Suite is just so comfortable. The plush mattress and soft pillows makes it so easy to fall asleep whatever time of the day. The bedroom also has another flat screen TV so this is perfect for families whose kids want to watch their own programs. No need to fight over the remote control!

I wanted to just stay inside my room and take a nap, but it was time for our buffet lunch at F All Day Dining, the hotel’s restaurant on the third floor. The spacious cafe offers international cuisine for its lunch and dinner buffets at only P1,399 nett per person.

I also wanted to meet F1 Hotel Manila’s new executive chef Angelo Chubby Timban who was busy preparing the lovely buffet spread at F All Day Dining. Chef Angleo is an award-winning chef who used to work at other five-star establishments such as Resorts World Manila, Shangri-La Boracay, and Discovery Suites. He takes over from Chef Decker Gokioco and is now in charge of all the hotel’s kitchen operations including the buffet plus banquet and social events such as our New Year’s Party this evening.

Lunch at F1 Hotel Manila is always special and diners can start with some appetizers from the cheese board. Other choices include salads, breads, cured meats, soups, noodles, sushi and sashimi.

Now this is my kind of appetizer, the crunchy Prawn Tempura. I always looks for these first whenever I am at a buffet and F All Day Dining never disappoints with their huge bowl full of tempura.

The cold seafood section is also a great place to grab some mussels and fresh prawns. You can eat these as they are, but it is much better to have them grilled or cooked in garlic butter at the grilling station.

The highlight of our buffet lunch that afternoon was the Lechon Cebu, a savoury slab of roasted pork belly that comes with very crispy skin. I got a plateful of lechon and poured some liver sauce for a really delectable treat.

There were many other dishes featured on the buffet table including the Beef Tenderloin in Red Wine Sauce and the tasty Pork Pastrami. Other interesting items included the Beef Ribs Adobo and the Gochujang Chicken with red chili paste.

Desserts are also plenty at F1 Hotel Manila with a selection of cakes, parfaits, cookies, breads, fruits, halo halo, and even all the ice cream that you want. I was really so full from my lunch buffet at F All Day Dining so I had a short walk around the hotel afterwards to visit some of its facilities.

F1 Hotel has three separate swimming pools located on the fifth level including a family pool, a kiddie pool, and a lap pool. It is open daily from 7:00am to 11:00pm. A fully-equipped Fitness Center is also just nearby which is open 24/7 for those early morning or late night workouts.

Beside the pool is the Canary Lounge where drinks and snacks are served all day. Set with a magnificent view of the bustling cityscape below, the Canary Lounge is also a great place for evening cocktails especially with the cool city breeze. F1 Hotel is also close to many popular retail establishments such as S&R Membership and Bonifacio High Street so everything is just a few minutes away.

Our dinner party that evening was held at the Infinity Ballroom which is a great venue for birthday parties, debuts or corporate events. The ballroom can accommodate around 200 guests and with our growing family and friends, the KTG had plenty of room to dine and mingle. The KTG’s founder, media personality and blogging pioneer Spanky Enriquez, hosted the affair which even included raffles and special gifts for the guests.

Of course, everybody was waiting for the buffet tables to open and we all started lining up for The Plaza Premium Baked Ham from The Plaza Catering. This is one of the best hams you can find in Metro Manila and it goes really well inside warm pandesal. 

Also on deck were excellent cuts of cheese from La Petite Fromagerie. I especially like their Truffle Cream Cheese Spread which is unlike any other spread you can put on your bread.

But the star of the evening was definitely the Raclette which was melted into a gooey and cheesy delight. You can have the cheese with bread, nuts or fruits, but you can also be creative and combine it with the ham pandesal. Thank you Ms. Karla Reyes for bringing these lovely treats to the party.

F1 Hotel Manila also presented their own culinary creations for the guests like the Tinapa and Aligue Pasta with its distinct Filipino taste.

Everyone was also impressed with the Stuffed Beef Belly with Black Forest Sauce from Chef Chubby. This roasted beef is stuffed with even more beef and then served with a chocolate sauce that is truly amazing. With these kinds of mouthwatering dishes, I’m sure F1 Hotel Manila is in good hands.

Most of The KTG members are now so busy that this is the only time everyone is present in one event. It’s nice to get together and see all the KTG babies growing up so fast. All the guests were happy with their glasses of yummy milk tea and beverages courtesy of Serenitea. I tried the Wintermelon Milk Tea and the Milo Dino drinks which were both really good.

There was also free-flowing cocktails and other alcoholic beverages care of Swizzle Mobile Bar. I like their Frozen Mojito which you can also book for your parties and celebrations. It was a fun and filling night which even ended with a one-hour spa treatment inside my room. How can you beat that?

The next morning, I woke up to a buffet breakfast at F All Day Dining which is served from 6:00am to 10:00am. You can find the usual breakfast staples here such as bacon, sausages, cereals, eggs, and noodles. Pancakes, waffles, ensaymada and French toasts are also available with fresh juices to start the morning right. 

F1 Hotel Manila is truly the Home of The KTG and every visit here reminds me of how important it is to spend time with family and friends. We each have our own busy schedules but it is always a pleasure to see everyone during these special holidays and events. Thank you so much F1 Hotel Manila for always taking care of The KTG and I’m sure I will be back again really soon.

F1 Hotel Manila

32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

928-9888 / 908-7888

www.f1hotelmanila.com

www.facebook.com/f1hotelmanila

Related articles:

Easter Summer Staycation at F1 Hotel Manila

A Very Merry Christmas at F1 Hotel Manila

Luzviminda 4 Highlights Filipino Heirloom Recipes

A Splendid Yuletide Staycation at F1 Hotel Manila (with a Birthday Surprise)

[graceelicious]

Thank you @dianastalder and @f1hotelmanila ❤️ Happy Holidays indeed! 🎄🎄🎄 For more details about #DianaStalder and #F1HotelManila (Promos, Discounts, events and more) visit www.itsmegracee.blogspot.com 💚 #OnTheBlog #Lifestyle #FoodBlog #TravelBlog

[thehungrykat1]

Easter Summer Staycation at F1 Hotel Manila

F1 Hotel Manila, The Home of Happy Experiences, has lined up several exciting promotions and activities to make the summer season extra special for its guests. Affordable and fun-filled room and buffet packages, especially made for families aspiring to have a weekend getaway, have been tailor-made by the hotel as we all get ready to Sail into Summer. The Hungry Kat was recently invited back at F1 Hotel Manila for an Easter staycation and no matter how many times I have stayed at this hotel, each visit always makes me feel welcome and truly at home.

Since I was booked at one of their suites, I checked in at the private Premier Lounge on the hotel’s 5th floor for my overnight stay during Black Saturday. The hotel was expectedly quite busy with guests and families because of the Holy Week break, so it was refreshing to be able to check in at the exclusive lounge where I could sit down while waiting for my room keys.

The Premier Lounge is accessible for guests staying at the Fort Suite or City Suite and it offers snacks and beverages all throughout the day. F1 Hotel Manila recently commemorated its five years of success in the industry last March 22, 2017 and I am proud to have been part of that success, both as a regular hotel guest and as an invited blogger.

It was my first time to stay at their City Suite which I find to be more modern and hip compared to my regular Fort Suite. The City Suite has 35 square meters of comfortable space, with a personal work station and a separate living room and lounge area. It has two LCD televisions with one at the sofa and the other facing the bedroom. There is plenty of space to move around and families can even ask for an extra bed for their children.

For this summer season, F1 Hotel is offering a relaxing staycation with the “Fun”tastic Weekend Room Package which is jam-packed with enjoyable activities that kids would surely not want to miss. Outdoor movie nights, weekend Play Zone, board games like Jenga, life-sized Snakes and Ladders, and dessert-making workshops are just some of the surprises F1 Hotel will offer. Limited room promotions are available at P4,800 nett for the Deluxe Room and P5,400 nett for the City Suite, inclusive of buffet breakfast for two plus the use of hotel amenities and facilities.

F1 Hotel is also letting mothers know how important they are as they present them with a relaxing staycation through their Mother’s Day Room Package from May 10 to 17.  For only P6,700 nett per night, they can enjoy an overnight stay inside a City Suite that comes with a pampering one-hour in-room massage for the mom. That’s a great way to treat our most-cherished moms on Mother’s Day.

After checking in, we headed down to the third floor to have lunch at F All Day Dining Restaurant. I also noticed the new F All Day Dining Patisserie just outside the restaurant which offers a wide variety of confectionery selections from the classical desserts to current favorites such as matcha delights and sweetmeats with twists.

Since it was the Lenten season, F1 Hotel Manila was offering lighter Lenten buffet options that afternoon. F1 Hotel Executive Chef Decker Gokioco was present to make sure that everyone still enjoyed the small buffet spread that was prepared for the guests.

Starters included the delicious Carrot and Squash Soup. I also got a plate from the Salad Bar for a lighter and healthier appetizer. 

There were three main dishes to choose from which the chefs would then cook a la minute. The Chicken Kushikatsu with Mango Sauce was a juicy fried chicken served on a stick. The main courses came with sauteed wing beans and rice.

Another option was the Burnt Coconut Mahi Mahi with kewpie and garlic chili. Don’t let the burnt appearance fool you because the fish is quite tender with the garlic chili giving it a mild kick.

Since I was also abstaining from meat the past few days, my favorite was the Tiger Prawns with Panko Sesame Crust which were grilled perfectly. Seafood lovers should head to F All Day Dining on a Friday or Saturday with the featured buffet spread, the Seafood Splash. Indulge in the treasures of the sea and savor the richness of your favorite seafood dishes, cooked in different ways upon your request. You can Have this festive weekend seafood lunch or dinner at P1,699 nett per person.

For desserts, the buffet table had assorted French pasties, mocha cake, sliced fruits, and a Do-It-Yourself Halo Halo station to cool ourselves off. For the month of May, make moms feel special as they get to dine in for FREE when accompanied by at least two paying guests for P1,499 nett per person.

F1 Hotel Manila is always a special place to spend with the family during weekends and holidays. Children can have fun swimming at any of the hotel’s three swimming pools on the third floor. They have also set up a small kiddie playground outdoors which younger children can enjoy.

In the evening, we had dinner at the Gold Function Room, just one of the several function rooms that guests can rent for their special events and occasions. We always encounter other guests celebrating their debuts, birthdays, and graduation parties here.

F1 Hotel generously presented a meatless buffet spread in observance of the Lenten holidays. The Marinated Crab Meat Salad with Nachos was one of the appetizers together with soup and breads.

The Fish and Squid Churros with Tartare Sauce was a surprising creation. I thought it was really a churros but it turned out to be squid in the shape of a churros.

The highlight of the buffet was the Phyllo-Crusted Salmon with Okra Frites, Soy and Sesame Sauce. This beauty had tender salmon topped with crispy bits of okra frites.

Another favorite was the Black Pepper Crabs which are always a popular item in any buffet spread. We ended with the Poached Pears Citrus Jelly Mango Mousse for our desserts.

But the night wasn’t over yet because I had scheduled an in-room massage just before bedtime. The soothing massage guaranteed that I would have a majestic evening and a very satisfying slumber.

The next morning, breakfast was served at the F All Day Dining Restaurant where a big buffet was presented to celebrate Easter Sunday.

It had been a few days without meat for me, so I was really happy to find the Pork Adobo and loads of Crispy Bacon on the table. There were many other delightful treats such as the noodle station, champorado, ensaymada, pancakes and waffles, and much more. After my hearty breakfast, I retreated back to my City Suite where I enjoyed the rest of the afternoon before my late checkout.

Every visit to F1 Hotel Manila gives me a new experience that I will always remember and cherish. I’ve lost count on how many nights I have spent relaxing inside their cool and comfortable rooms and indulging in a bountiful buffet at the cafe. Whatever the occasion, F1 Hotel Manila continues to be The Home of Happy Experiences and the undisputed Home of The KTG. Until next time!

F1 Hotel Manila

32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

928-9888 / 908-7888

www.f1hotelmanila.com

www.facebook.com/f1hotelmanila

Related articles:

A Very Merry Christmas at F1 Hotel Manila

Luzviminda 4 Highlights Filipino Heirloom Recipes

A Splendid Yuletide Staycation at F1 Hotel Manila (with a Birthday Surprise)