Marco Polo Hotel

Deluxe room

LCD color tv with cable channels

marble bathtub

with nespresso coffee machine

welcome fruits

executive desk w inroom safe

toiletries

minibar

mini bar and refrigerator

menu for breakfast

spa and pool reception area

reception area

where: Marco Polo Hotel, Ortigas
when: 20 August 2018

what I like:

staff were accomodating and courteous

strong wifi signal

with nespresso coffee machine and 3 free capsules

near food establishments

with turndown service

i like it that they have clocks plus alarmed ones

same with phones, i think there were 3 in our room

madaming hangers 😁

the room is spacious

privacy was very much respected like you can leave instructions for breakfast and hang it outside your door. same with newspapers, they'll leave it in a bag pa.


what i don't like:

not much of an issue but they have this window cleaning service and it was funny/nakakagulat if you're not informed of the sched or if not ready. (they have a memo though)

also mabigat ang robe haha. 😄

if I'd have to rate our stay from 1-5, for me it's a 5.

Pop-up Night Cinema

 I have been wishing for this. I thought we would journey as far as Laguna just for the chance but thank God we finally have it here in Makati. Ayala Malls Circuit posted this last year and i got super excited as I saw this experience in movies only, I think we all, at one time, have seen the kind where they watch the free movie from inside their cars. Personally though it would have been convenient and way comfortable if you instead lie on a picnic mat with a pouf or pillow, that way your legs can move freely as you desire unlike when you're inside a car. Below are my photo experience.  My first was with my sister and we weren't prepared like we didn't bring any mat or even newspaper with us to sit on because I didn't really know what to expect first. Nevertheless we enjoyed the movie night while munching on hotdog sandwiches and tacos.  The second experience was with hubby, but the movie was seen in The Deck.  Thinking the movie was always shown in the Globe Circuit Event Grounds, I bought a big towel with us and didn't bother to buy any food and drinks. Fail.  So for our third time, i made sure I noted where the movie watching will happen and when I learned it will be in the grounds,  I bought a picnic mat and we got our food from the tents available nearby. That was where we spent our Valentines Day where we caught 3 movies in one night.   It was a fun experience and I wouldn't have it any other way.

tents where foods are available like sandwiches, pizza, pork barbecues,  beers,  sodas and more.  You can also bring your own feast with you.  I once saw sisters who brought rice and ulam with them.

At the back,  where tables and chairs are available

At The Deck.  you can sit at stair steps while watching

Ctto. Poufs and banigs for early birds

Yexel Museum

we've been to Manila Ocean Park a couple of times already and each time there'd be something new to explore. we learned about Yexel Museum when we saw his collection on tv. he has 2 branches we learned, the other one is in Las Piñas pa so Manila was the better option. we bought lang the tickets for the museum since we've seen  most attractions already. inside the museum were his collections of the minions, super heroes like Superman, Batman, Spidernan, LOTR, the Iron Throne, Starwars and Ironman. it was a small collection so do not expect much but you'd have a better time to marvel at how detailed each piece were. most of his works are in Las Piñas branch so that meant a visit there  won't be far off soon.

Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod

San Pedro Calungsod is the first Visayan saint, martyred in Guam doing his missionary work in 1672, he was considered to be a role model for the youth. He was beatified by St. John Paul II and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI. 

The chapel of San Pedro Calungsod is located at SM Aura Premier's Skypark 7th level.

The chapel has 12 stations of the cross and can seat almost 300 people. (source: philstar.com)

The area for those with children in tow.

I suggest you ride the elevator going up as it's 7-10 flights of stairs should you decide to walk up.

Mass Schedule (as of 2014)

SATURDAYS
12:00 nn
6:00 pm

SUNDAYS
10:00 am
12:00 nn
3:00 pm
5:00 pm
7:00 pm

WEEKDAYS
12:15 nn
6:00 pm

San Pedro Calungsod Prayer

Padre Pio chapel and Custaroons

Finally we were able to get to Padre Pio chapel in Eastwood. I like how intimate the chapel is.. It's super serene inside, someone even carries a placard reminding everyone to stay silent. It's that peace that's inviting that engages you to a long and meaningful conversation with God. The stories shared written on the walls are inspiring that it makes you believe miracles can happen everyday and to everyone for as long as faith rules in your heart and soul. I remember my tears silently fell when I touched the  image of Padre Pio and hubby took my hand while we prayed. It is so unbelievable how a prayer unarms you and lets you be you. 

For Holy week, the Stations of the Cross outside are perfect for reflecting. You can send your prayers above by lighting a candle as you head out. You can find Padre Pio’s image outside surrounded with hundreds of rosaries as they symbolize every prayers that were granted. 

We ended the day by bringing home custaroons with us. Custard plus macaroons, that sounded so sweet and so we didn’t pass up the chance to sample it.

 

Bite-size box of 15, P210.00

Mary, Mother of Hope Chapel, Landmark Makati

(Please see below the schedules of Masses for Christmas and Simbang Gabi)

All over Landmark, Makati you'll see tarps about the newly built chapel, Mary Mother of Hope. The chapel is located right inside the mall so as to probably remind each one of us that there's no excuse not to hear mass anymore. The chapel is in the 5th floor of Landmark store right along the curtains and bed linens section. You won't miss it because there's a stairs going up and of course there's the big signage.

 

that room is the children's room inside the chapel

flat screens abound

Landmark chapel

they added more chairs for children

Kneeling pad

The chapel is very solemn. It's big, spacious, clean and very conducive for silent talks with the Big Guy Up There. There's children's room that separated families with giddy toddlers so as to preserve the celebration's solemnity, the room though is provided with a big screen. The seats and kneeling pads are comfortable. Flat screens are situated on the left and right sides of the chapel to not miss the responses, the prayers and the songs. Confession rooms are aplenty. Volunteers are right around every corner, they assist seats for newcomers and latecomers too. (Side comment: it's just embarrassing really that some wapakels citizens still wanted to be assisted for vacant seats when they came in way beyond the Second Reading or even during the Homily pa. For realz?!? The entire people just saw how many of you didn't exert effort to come on time for just an hour of celebration and yet you still wanted to be comfortably seated? Enebenemenyen!) The chapel seems to be ready to accommodate more people and their careful thought of just what about every Catholics may have needed to be comfortable while hearing mass deserves a slow clap. I guess I've made mention of the word "comfortable" too many a times. It just really is.

Schedule of Masses:
Mon - Fri : 12:15pm and 5:30pm
Sat: 12:15pm and 5:30pm
Sunday: 11:00am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm and 4:00pm

Here's the new schedule as of March 2014

Simbang Gabi 2014 Schedule:

 

ASH WEDNESDAY MASS SCHEDULE 2016