1. South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) and Microtel Inns & Suites will be choosing eight lucky bloggers to join an all-expense paid bloggers’ tour of Boracay from September 10 to 12, 2010. This includes round-trip tickets from Manila to Caticlan and accommodation at Microtel Boracay.

2. To be selected, you will have to write a blog entry telling us why you should be chosen to join the tour. Each blog entry must have a link to the SEAIR website, the SEAIR Facebook Fan Page, and the Microtel Philippines wesbite.

3. You can publish your entry from 12:00 a.m. of July 26, 2010 to 11:59 p.m. of August 20, 2010. Only one entry per blog will count.

4. To let us know about your blog entry, post it as a link in the SEAIR Facebook Fan Page. It has to be posted from 12:00 a.m. of July 26, 2010 to 11:59 p.m. of August 20, 2010. Once it is acknowledged by our administrator, your entry is counted.

5. Three winners will be selected by a panel of judges based on which is the most compelling. The top three entries with the highest scores from the judges will be invited to the tour.

6. Three winners will be selected by fans based on the number of “likes” to the link. The three entries with the most number of “likes” by 11:59 p.m. of August 25, 2010 will be invited to the tour.

7. One winner will the selected by the SEAIR Adventure Club. The entry with the most number of votes from our resident travel bloggers will be invited to the tour.

8. One winner will be selected at random in a manner to be determined by the organizers.

9. We will notify the eight (8) winners on August 27, 2010. In case any of the winners cannot make it, we will invite the one next in line.

10. The decision of the organizers in final. Good luck to everyone!

When you finish a marathon, your legs would become so sore you’d be walking like a duck for the next few days. So after completing the marathon, the plan was to find a cheap hotel to stay overnight and possibly get a nice soothing massage as well. Luckily, the wifey and I ended up booking a cottage at Sonya’s Garden Bed & Breakfast. It’s not exactly cheap, but our stay there was very pleasant and relaxing as always.

It was actually our second time at Sonya’s. I love the food and their freshly squeezed dalandan juice so much. The following day, I felt rejuvenated but could still barely walk straight, and we headed back to Manila.

SEAIR will be offering a special promo only available online in celebration of Mother’s Day on May 9, 2010.

Ticket purchases on May 9 – 15, 2010 for travel from June 16 to October 15, 2010 can get a P1430 discount per roundtrip in any route, by just typing “seairmothersday2010” in the promo code field when booking online at www.FlySeair.com. The promo is valid for limited seats.

SEAIR would like to wish all mothers a very happy mother’s day.

To avail of the promo book online at www.FlySeair.com

February 24. It was a bright sunny day. After about an hour and a half, we have finally landed at the El Nido Lio Airport. My wife and I along with some travel blogger buddies have been waiting for this much needed weekend getaway to El Nido, located at the northwestern tip of Palawan.

We flew via Seair’s LET 410 which was suited for short-ranged travels and unpaved airstrips. This was my second or third time to fly in this plane. The El Nido airport runway was literally a strip of (dusty) land and could only accommodate small planes.

Since Seair flights to El Nido happen only twice a week, our group stayed in El Nido from Wednesday to Sunday. That’s 5 days and 4 nights of relaxation and strenuous but fun-filled island hopping activities. We stayed at the Marina Garden Beach Resort. There were three of us who shared a single air-conditioned room with 2 beds (and an extra mattress upon request). Although there were a few other cheaper alternative resorts, Marina was reasonably priced and the place is okay.

We spent P3,500 per head for 4 nights inclusive of breakfasts. There’s free WiFi at Marina too but in this part of Palawan, electricity is only available from 2pm – 6am so you’ll be forced to go out and explore. I did bring a laptop to answer any emergency work-related emails.

Marina Garden Beach Resort: For inquiries, please send us an email at marinagarden.elnido@gmail.com or call our front desk at +63-917-624-7722 or +63-908-884-3711.

El Nido is famous for its pristine beaches and majestic islands where people can go island hopping. All the trips and tours are already “packaged” so to speak (Tour A, Tour B, Tour C, or combination) and the locals are very friendly and hospitable. You just hire a boat that comes with 2 boatmen who’ll take care of cooking lunch for the group as well.

All throughout our stay, we tied our Tour A and Tour C. So that’s 2 days of snorkeling and island hopping. Some of the paces we got to experience were: Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Secret Beach, etc. There were a whole lot of other places and things to do in El Nido.

SEAIR resumes direct flights to El Nido

SEAIR resumes direct flights from Manila to scenic El Nido, Palawan on November 18, 2009. SEAIR flies Manila-El Nido-Manila every Wednesday and Sunday.

El Nido is located in the northernmost tip of Palawan and is part of the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area, the largest marine sanctuary in the entire Philippines. This group of islands is a perfect destination for divers and snorkelers as well as beach and island-hoppers with over 30 dive sites and more than 50 beaches and hidden lagoons. Aside from its diverse fauna, El Nido also showcases a striking geological wonder: limestone cliffs that were carved extensively from thick layers of coralline deposits

SEAIR Announces Special Anniversary Promos

Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR), the Philippines’ premiere leisure airline, offers special anniversary promos in celebration of its 15th anniversary on March 25, 2010.

Travelers can avail of the special morning rates of as low as PhP 1,999.20 per way all-in when they book as early as February for travel from March 2010 onwards. The special rates are available for limited seats for all flights to and from Boracay before 7 a.m.

SEAIR is also offering exclusive discounts for online bookings. Vacationers can get PhP 1,500.00 discount per way for all seats, flights and routes when they book via www.FlySeair.com. To avail of the promo, online users can type iloveseair15 in the promo code field when booking on Jan. 11-18 for travel on Feb. 19-March 26, as well as when booking on March 14-25 for travel on June 15-Oct. 15.

This is SEAIR’s way of thanking travelers for their continued support. The airline has been serving key tourist destinations since 1995, most notably Boracay, and has the longest history of uninterrupted service to Boracay direct via Caticlan.

SEAIR now offers up to 27 flights per day to Boracay (Caticlan) and is now flying daily to the island paradise of Batanes. It also flies to El Nido, Palawan every Wednesday and Sunday, as well as Marinduque every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

SEAIR is the nation’s second-oldest airline and has flown almost 3 million passengers to local destinations including Tablas (Romblon), Cebu, Clark, Zamboanga, Jolo, and Tawi-tawi. SEAIR also offers the most routes from Caticlan with flights from Caticlan to Manila v.v., Caticlan to Clark v.v and Caticlan to Cebu v.v.

To avail of the SEAIR 15th anniversary promos call SEAIR Reservations at (632)8490100 or book online at www.FlySeair.com. Join SEAIR Facebook Fan Page for updates on promos.

“Spending your vacation here is a great pledge to love your own and do your part in boosting our country’s growth,” said Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism.

Aside from country’s eight anchor spots, Boracay, Palawan, Davao, Cebu, Bohol, Vigan, Baguio, and Manila, the department is also actively promoting unexplored sites to benefit the communities in said remote areas.

“We enjoin people to visit tucked-away destinations as well for economic gains to trickle down to the grassroots level,” Durano said.

These alternative spots are readily available and highly accessible for tourists who prefer to immerse themselves with the local life, enjoy the flavor of home-grown leisure, and stay in accommodations such as homestays and inns, added the tourism chief.

In the past year, the DOT has launched some alternative sites like the Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park in Leyte and the Danao Adventure Park in Bohol.

Citing other examples of undiscovered spots, Durano shared, “While beaches of Boracay and Palawan are still top-drawers, Camiguin, Leyte, Mindoro, Occidental and Oriental Negros, Siquijor, Quezon also have pristine waters and stunning coastlines.”

Nature-lovers may head off to Bataan, Batanes, Benguet, Bulacan, Cavite, Marinduque, and Romblon, while heritage hunters may seek the old historical charm of Bacolod and Iloilo, aside from Ilocos.

Tourists who plan to troop to the cities of Manila, Makati, Cebu and Davao have a range of options laid out for them. “On top of shopping, food trips, night-time entertainment and theme park activities, we have huge theater performances and concerts lined up for the year,” said DOT Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque, Jr.

The head of Planning and Promotions also noted the travel trends that the public should look out for. “Extreme outdoor activities are big this year. The range is more expansive now, with tourists who are open-minded and raring to experience something new,” Jarque shared.

The department has been relentlessly supporting adventure activities such as plunges, zipline rides, wakeboarding, skimboarding, kayaking and cylotourism among others.

The young-at-heart on the other hand may try other activities, as the country caters to a broad spectrum of different preferences of travelers.

“A beach lover can enjoy a relaxing spa retreat in Palawan, a festive party in Boracay, or a surfing break in La Union. Our islands offer a unique plethora of things to do for all kinds of tourists,” continued Jarque.

Spiritual pilgrimages, cultural festivities and colorful ethnic celebrations are some other highlights that tourists may also wish to join.

Lastly, the department reminds the public to book early. “It’s ideal to plan ahead, and avail of value-for-money packages offered by hotels, restaurants, malls, theme parks, and entertainment venues,” ended Durano.

The DOT is pleased to share the following long weekends, with the Palace’s declaration of regular and special non-working holidays for 2010 as stated on RA 9492 and Proclamation 1841:

• February 20 – 22, Saturday to Monday (February 22 – EDSA Anniversary)
• April 1 – 4, Thursday – Sunday (April 1 – Holy Thursday, April 2 – Good Friday)
• April 9 – 11 Friday – Sunday (April 9 – Araw ng Kagitingan)
• May 1 – 3, Saturday – Monday (May 1 – Labor Day moved to May 3)
• June 12 to 14, Saturday – Monday, (June 14 – Independence Day)
• August 21 – 23, Saturday – Monday (August 23 – Ninoy Aquino Day)
• August 28 – 30, Saturday – Monday (August 30 – National Heroes Day)
• October 30 – November 1, Saturday – Monday, (November 1 – All Saints Day)
• November 27 to 29, Saturday – Monday, (November 29 – Bonifacio Day)
• December 24 to 27, Friday – Monday (December 24 – Non-Working Holiday, December 25 – Christmas Day, December 27 – Rizal Day)
• December 31 – January 2, Friday – Sunday, (December 31 – Non-Working Holiday, January 1 – New Year’s Day)

The observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eid’l Adha will be issued by the government upon the advice of the Office on Muslim Affairs.

SEAIR offers Batanes Winter promo

Ready for cold days up north? South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) offers a special limited online offer for travelers who want to experience a chilly holiday season within the Philippines.

Visit www.FlySeair.com and get a ten percent discount on flights to Batanes when you book anytime from December 1 – 25, 2009. Just type “ilovebataneswinter09” in the promo code field upon booking. Travel period is from December 1, 2009 to January 31, 2010. The promo is available for a limited number of seats only.

Batanes, a visual feast of rolling hills and green pastures, traditionally goes through more seasons than the rest of the country. Its close proximity to Taiwan brings the temperature down to as much as 7°C in December and January.

Visitors will be enthralled by historical stone houses, lighthouses guarding immaculate shorelines, rocky beaches and cold weather. This picturesque destination is also known for the freshness of its cuisine, and the warmth of its people. Long likened to the Scottish Highlands and Ireland, the Batanes islands more than holds its own as a uniquely pleasurable travel destination.

SEAIR flies to Basco in Batanes daily. SEAIR also offers up to 27 flights per day to Boracay (Caticlan) and just resumed flights every Sunday and Wednesday to El Nido

SEAIR is the nation’s second-oldest airline and has flown almost 3 million passengers to local destinations including Marinduque, Tablas (Romblon), Cebu, Clark, Zamboanga, Jolo, and Tawi-tawi. SEAIR also offers the most routes from Caticlan with flights from Caticlan to Manila v.v., Caticlan to Clark v.v. and Caticlan to Cebu v.v.

(Photo from www.flyseair.com website)

SEAIR Extends 14th Anniversary Promo with Another P70,000,000 in Discounts up for Grabs!

Due to insistent public demand, SEAIR extends its anniversary promo by giving additional discounts of up to P70,000,000. All online ticket purchases from April 1 to May 31, 2009 get P1,400 discount per roundtrip, for all fare classes, for all seats, for all routes, and for all flights from June 15, 2009 to October 15, 2009. Just type iflyseair14 in the promo code field when booking online in www.flyseair.com.

SEAIR adds Flights to Boracay for 2009 Holy Week

SEAIR just added more flights from Manila to Boracay and vice versa from April 6 – 13, 2009. Those who want to spend their holidays in Boracay can still get seats! For bookings please call (02)8490100 or book online at www.flyseair.com.

Hermanos Tapas and Deli Bar is located along Julia Vargas Avenue in Ortigas. It’s inside the Home Depot compound along with other new restaurants and bars people would usually hang out on a typical Friday night. Hermanos opened last February. They invited over some friends and bloggers to try out their food. Gail and I needed to unwind at that time so we decided to check it out.

The place is not too big and yet it’s very classy. Everything you see inside have a Spanish touch to it – from the big entrance door, walls made of bricks, aged picture frames, wooden tables and benches, etc. They adorned the whole place with old yellow-lit lamps which can be very romantic. The second floor seems to be the main dining area. And there’s also tables outside where you can hang out with friends drinking beer while eating one of their Tapas de Kastinoy dishes.

Hermanos offers traditional Spanish food and wine as well Filipino delicacies. During the event, we got to try most of their famous dishes like their famous Tapang Usa de Katipunan (P250) served with wine vinegar – very tasty, and (Vigan) Longganiza de la Revolucion (P280). My favorite was the Boquirones ala Ibarra (P250) which was very similar to the kinilaw. Here are some of the photos I took:

Bola-Bola Paella dela Guerra (Deep fried breaded paella rice with chili tomato sauce) – P150.

Gambas de las Islas (Shrimp sauteed in garlic, chili and olive oil) – P290.

Overall, I find the food very exquisitely pleasing to the taste buds. Or in other words, very flavorsome. In most restaurants I’ve been too, there would always be food that I like and do not like. But over at Hermanos, nothing was boring. All the the dishes I got to “taste test” were delicious. They also serve red and white wine (P100 per glass), and an assortment of cervezas (or beer).

The price may be a bit pricey but not overpriced because the food is excellent. You can check out their menu over here to see for yourself. Hermanos Tapas and Deli Bar is the the kinda of place businessmen and yuppies would love to go to and eat really good food. It can also be a good place to have a romantic dinner for some.

Tapas Filipinas Hermanos Deli and Bar
Unit 104 Bldg C Ortigas Home Depot Complex
Doña Julia Vargas Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig city
Phone: (+632) 706-4978
Website: http://hermanosdelibar.multiply.com/

You can learn more about Hermanos over at the FoodBlog.ph. The event was featured in QTV and here’s a video clip of it:

In celebration of SEAIR’s 14th anniversary on March 25, 2009, it is offering a very special treat online. All online ticket purchases from March 25, 2009 to March 28, 2009 get P1400 discount per way, for all fare classes, for all seats, for all routes, and for all flights from June 15, 2009 to September 15, 2009. To avail of the SEAIR 14th anniversary promo, just visit www.flyseair.com and type in the promo code iloveseair14 in the promo code field.

SEAIR offers daily flights to Batanes this summer

SEAIR now flies daily to Batanes to serve tourists to this beautiful northern paradise. Visitors now have full flexibility on their itinerary and have more options on what day they want to go to Batanes and return to Manila. The flights utilize SEAIR’s Dornier 328 planes which take vacationers comfortably to Batanes in just 1 hour and 20 minutes.

For bookings please call SEAIR reservations at (632)8490100 or book online at www.flyseair.com. For packages please call SEAIR Leisure Escape Packages at (632)8437308

Bolero and Fishbar give 10% discount to SEAIR passengers

Two more establishments in Boracay now give special privileges to SEAIR passengers. Bolero, in station 3 area, and Fishbar, in D’mall area, both give 10% discount to all SEAIR passengers upon presentation of their SEAIR boarding pass. These are the most recent additions to SEAIR Hot Deals Boarding Pass Privileges Program.

Together with fastest flights to Boracay, fastest queues and check-in procedures, fastest baggage claim, and VIP transfers to Boracay and back, boarding pass privileges in establishments in Boracay and Manila add to the advantages of SEAIR.

To see the partner establishments check the hot deals boarding pass privileges ad in the Inflight magazine. To book flights to Boracay call (632)8490100 or visit www.flyseair.com.