Staycation at Holiday Inn

Edmund was scheduled to travel to Bangkok last weekend. Since he would be away, Oyen thought of having bonding moments among the three of us- mom, son, daughter. She booked a room at the Holiday Inn in Glorietta for one night.

Edmund forgot to renew his passport. It’s expiring in July this year but since the six months validity is now being strictly imposed, he backed out of their group travel.

Instead of the three of us having a staycation, there were 4 of us. Oyen wasn’t able to upgrade the room, so bahala na daw if we would fit.

When they were a lot younger, we used to spend a night or two in Edsa Plaza, and about 3x in what used to be Holiday Inn, now Crowne Plaza Hotel adjacent to Robinsons Galleria shopping mall. I also got a membership at the hotel where I would bring my family for a Sunday swimming. We didn’t eat there because our budget didn’t permit. Basta libre use of their swimming pool. No drinks. No merienda.

Then we stopped. We haven’t done mini vacations in Metro Manila hotels, now termed as staycation, for more than 15 years. Until last weekend…..

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Pillow choices:  akin lambot, kanya tigas.
It doesn’t sound decent when translated in Tagalog.
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My 3 room mates were knocked out.  Mukhang mga tired sila.  I was the last man standing by 2 am.
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View from our window the next morning.
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The room included buffet breakfast for two people.  Only Nyke and Edmund went down to eat.  Oyen and I chose to stay in bed.
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The guys said the food was fairly standard.
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Oyen arranged for a 2 pm late check-out.   11 am we went back to the EcoSport display inside Glorietta.

Yen and I checked-out the seats display of Singapore Airlines.
This is the business class seat, available initially  in their Singapore to London route.
Singapore airlines display in Glorietta

Looks like a real bed
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The first class seat could fit two medium-size persons, but no sharing syempre.
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Singapore Airline’s routes are not in my usual destinations that’s why I have rarely taken this award-winning airlines. They compete head to head with PAL in the London segment.
I think the business class rates have gone down to a very enticing level. Parang ang sarap magbakasyon.

No more book signing.  The activity center was now full of television and other appliances display.

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There were a lot of people looking at the Ford EcoSport.
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Sana hindi lang looking, kundi buying. Ang problema, wala pa namang stocks nito. Ford always does that. They launch a fantastic vehicle. People scramble to get them, unahan. Syempre buyers want to be the first one to have something nice like this. But thank you, NO STOCKS. Then after the hype, they would flood the market, oh thank you. The buyers got tired of waiting. They either have lost interest, or have bought another brand instead. Gaya nitong EcoSport, siguro 500 people na ang waiting, kailan naman kaya darating yung 500 na stocks na yun. Baka 5 lang ang darating. Sayang.

Oh, mag test drive na rin kayo para hindi kayo maunahan. Go to Makati Ford in Pasong Tamo, or Ford EDSA, or in Ford Cainta.  Be sure you have a valid Philippine divers license ha? Hindi yung galing sa DMV California. And be sure din you really know how to drive.

Look also at the other models, Ford Fiesta, Focus, Explorer, Ranger. Yung mahilig sa condo, may I recommend the E150 who’s seating area is as big as a studio condo unit.   I am not sure but I think Ford Mustang is almost sold out, so those who have been dreaming of having this automobile icon,  the time is now.  Tomorrow may never come.
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Yen and I didn’t have breakfast.  12:30-  we went to Dulcinea on the second floor of Glorietta.

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She had her decade-long favorite Beef Salpicao, while I had pasta marinara ( not fantastic).

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Edmund had heart-shaped churros. Basta February daw they are shaped like a heart.    Edmund suggested to the manager that in March,  they should make it shaped like a letter H.  Ewan kung ano naman yung H na naisip nya.  From the last letter:  marc H?
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We didn’t notice the time. It’s past 2 pm. Our room keys have already been deactivated that’s why we couldn’t even ride the elevator back to our room.
The Filipino front desk staff was kind enough to activate our keys again. We got our stuff in the room and checked out at 2:30 pm.

The guard saw me knocking on this sculpture. I thought it’s wood, metal pala.
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Their lobby is on the 2nd floor.
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Holiday Inn mascot
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We were already in the van when Edmund said, sayang hayun lang yun J.Co donuts sa kanto, hindi kami nakabili. We made a U-turn.

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The waiting line was about 10 meters long.
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We bought a dozen, mostly alcapone flavor. O ayan ang dami na nyan, walang away.
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Hmm so yummy, and hmmm we’re so takaw talaga.
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Konti na lang, ang bilis
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O ayan Tart, wala ng lamangan, huwag mo ng pagnasaan yung donut ko.
(related post RYU Ramen and J.Co Donuts posted on Feb 17, 2014 )
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