Your Next Wedding, Debut and Events Destination: Eugenio Lopez Center in Antipolo

We journeyed to the East of Metro Manila today and got ourselves immersed in a great sprawling property managed by First Philippine Realty Corporation. The Eugenio Lopez Center was initially an unfinished retirement home of Don Eugenio Lopez built way back in the 60's but was stopped during the Martial Law years when Eugenio Jr. (Geny) got imprisoned and they had to fled to the US to avoid persecution. 

This place has a lot of history and there were talks on what to actually do with it when they came back in 1986. The ELC was finished after a couple of years after and has hosted tons of events of corporations under the Lopez Group of Companies. Since then, they held several trainings, weddings, banquets and has been managed and operated by 10-50 people, depending on the requirements of staff. Today, they seem to be opening up their doors for more functions even if they don't belong to affiliated corporations, a thing that I find would be good because this property definitely needs to be seen by the public. 

This is the Eugenio Lopez Center Building, situated at the top of a hill, this two floor events center can host a party for around 200-250 people. They can accomodate catering services from outside and can recommend ones that already know the property.

It's got a 180 degree view overlooking Makati, BGC, Ortigas and Quezon City which you'll absolutely love.

They have theee levels and it houses about 38 rooms where guests can stay overnight. This Executive Room costs Php 5,500 per night and you can add more per person if you are expecting more people to be with you during your trip.

The De Luxe room can fit 2 people, and costs Php 4,400. It's got a veranda where you can also have that same view of the city. They are fully booked most of the time so make sure you call ahead if you need to stay. 

This is only one room and can entertain people with their own receiving area which opens up to a veranda too. This is called the Premier Suite and costs Php 8,500. They can have this fit 5 people if necessary, just let them know beforehand. There is also a door connecting to another De Luxe Room which you can book separately if you are too clingy.

They have 3 lecture rooms available which can accomodate 50 people each, you can also have this combined for a total of 150.

They also have a mini theater which can seat around 60-70 people, which is perfect for small screenings or symposiums.

If you wanna have it more private, they have 4 separate Meeting Rooms to do your business in, well not that kond of business. This costs Php 7,500 which can fit about 10-20 people.

I don't even have to tell you how majestic this is. Just beyond those trees is the same view of Ortigas, Makati and BGC so you're pretty much going to see that while you're swimming. This is a perfect way to relax from the busy city. It's free for guests and your lovely kids. Shall we take a dip?

They also have a Gym and Activity area, a working spa, Massage Room, Sauna and Steam Room. If you would like to get wed here, just bring your own priest and let him officiate the wedding right here while looking at the spectacular view of the city. You can park your helicopter at the helipad if you're that rich too.

Now I know Antipolo must have been not in your go to places if you want a short vacation, but think about the possibilities and things you can do while in this place. They've almost got everything in this 10 hectare property and by the looks of it, it holds a LOT of promise. Where else can you see Batangas and Pampanga on a clear day? So if you're planning for debuts, weddings, your next corporate activity, just go give them a call because it's thay easy. For corporate arrangements, please call 6360581 or 4100951 to 53 local 130. If you want to reserve a room, call 6362886 and they can get you connected right away. Oh and if it's that crazy in Edsa, a chopper would do from the airport, for a fee of course.

You may visit their website at www.elcenter.com.ph and follow their Facebook page at Facebook.com/EugenioLopezCenterofficialpage and their IG account @eugeniolopez.center. 

As for me, I'm so ready for Antipolo!

KUMAGCOW

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Archery Right In The Heart Of Makati: KODANDA

We went to Makati Cinema Square a few days ago to try one of the things that I have on my bucket list. I'm quite sure someone has got this on theirs too. This is the Kodanda Archery Range. When you get to Makati Cinema Square, just go down in the center and you'll see the range at the edge of the stairs. It's one of the few places in Metro Manila where you can try the sport in it's fullest form. I'd like to say that this is easy, but when I held that bow and arrow last week, I had a hunch it was going to be difficult. There are a few rules to follow, something similar to etiquette in other sports. The perk in this place though is that they've got air conditioning and it's indoors so you don't have to worry about the wind like in outdoor ranges.

Before you start, you'll have to sign a waiver because of course.. if you shoot someone else on the range.. that'll really hurt!

Suiting up is easy. I think the only thing they don't allow is wearing slippers because of safety reasons. Other than that, you can just fasten the strap on your waist and go shoot. Remember to put your feet in between the line and stand up sideways. Two whistles means start shooting, another whistle means you can pick up the arrows back from the target.

The range has got around 5-7 lanes, so if you have friends with you it's the best activity to vent out happiness, stress or anger with. I felt really calm all throughout though. I laughed profusely at how some of my shots went above and beyond the target, but I had some good ones which landed the bulls eye. They can set the target to 5, 8 or 10 yards away but I'd recommend the nearest one so you can master the basics first. Once you get the hang of it, you can ask them to put the target a littler far and get comfy with it again.

The tip of the arrow is sharp but it's not like the ones you draw on paper or see in cartoons. It's also got a notch on the tail end of it and it snaps into place on the bow's center. You can use a leather protector for the fingers but I didn't like how it felt so I used my fingers to pull the arrow. You can do that too.

My friend Reg made easy work of it. Here he is mounting an arrow on the bow.

The Bow wasn't as light as I thought it would be. It was a little heavy that sometimes, you'll want to put it down if you're not shooting arrows or in between.

The one thing you'll need is the protector that would be wrapped around your forearm. It's there to protect you from the whipping action of the bow. Believe me, you'll need it. Oh and if you're right handed like my friend here above, you'll need to close your left eye so you can take a look at the target with the right one.

Make sure you also take note on how he pulls the bow. It goes up way in front of his chin and you have to release it within 2 seconds so your other arm won't get tired. I had a problem with that because it takes me a while to pinpoint the target. There's a small adjustable notch on the front that helps called the "Sight". The staff helped me adjust that and indeed, it made my shots better.

I felt a little sad though because I thought I was going to be better at it but no, I only had 3 bulls eyes on an hour of archery. I thought I had all the experience because I am Sagittarius. It would have been better if I went back a few more times so I can practice. The people there said it's not that bad for a first timer. They were too kind.

For those who want to get serious about Archery, Kodanda Archery Range will make it easy for you. Aside from the range services, they have tutorials that you can opt for which will cost you 6,000 bucks. It's a one on one thing with the instructor plus you'll get 10 sessions with that price. An hour of archery costs around 550 bucks but I think it'll be better if you get the sessions first. The professional grade bow and arrow set would cost around 25K with the accessories included, but I suggest you try out the range first. I superbly enjoyed my time in Kodanda Archery Range and it's just around a kilometer walk or less behind Greenbelt 1. I'll surely go back when time permits and of course... I'll bring my friends along!

Need something to do these days? Maybe a round of archery would get your interest. You can get more information on the links below.

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kodanda.archery@gmail.com

The Royal Lake Spa in Timog Avenue, Quezon City

I've only been to one Spa (no matter how lame that sounds it is true) and it's a bit far from where I live. It's not too easy to go to but I go there for the food, the ambiance and the people. 

I'm a guy who needs options and I was so lucky to have been invited to this new place in the Tomas Morato - Timog area called Royal Lake Spa. It's beside the Petron Station and rotunda where the Boyscouts Statues are. This was previously known as the CITYLIFESTYLE Building.

This is my neighborhood and I can walk from my house to here in just a couple of minutes.  I'm not a fan of crowds and a bit allergic to stares and I must say this experience was new to me so I gave it a shot. 🐵

This place is also managed by the same people who run Wensha Spa in Antipolo; and the thing is, this place is only three months old. This was a gentleman's bar before but they've reconstructed and converted it into an All in One Family Entertainment place right in the heart of Quezon City.

The ground floor houses a full bar. They serve a la carte local and international beer, liquors and mixes to satisfy their very discriminating clientele who just wants to have a good time. They have bucket packages though that are surprisingly affordable. Bands can play on this joint and functions (on some occasions) can be accommodated to party on this spacious entertainment area specifically designed for those who want a drink or two before going through the rest of the floors. Believe me, there's more!

Upon checkin in, you'll be given slippers and a faux jade/crystal bracelet which you'll use while inside the building. The Second Floor houses the Male and Female locker room situated on separate sides of the floor. Your bracelet actually serves as your keys which works much like a perimeter RF card so you can open and close your lockers while you're there. You have to be careful though because if you lose it, it'll cost a lot because it's high tech. I didn't take photos of the wet and dry Sauna also the Jacuzzi because there were people on them at the time I arrived. They've got a lot of shower stations too so you can rinse off after going around this place. Men and women are on separate ones, quite conducive to a more wholesome experience.

The third floor is nice. You can pamper yourself with Manicure, Pedicure, Foot Spa services on lines of chairs stretching from end to end. This floor also has the dining area where the buffet is. I didn't get to eat dinner so I kinda ate a lot. For the price you pay on the services, KTV (which you'll see later) plus this buffet... it is definitely a STEAL!

They also have a smoking area for those who do. The dining area is also huge, you won't be crowding too much.

The hotpot was awesome. Just put all the ingredients in a bowl and give it to this guy right here and he'll prepare it for you. Tell them your locker number and they'll find you on the dining area. The broth is quite nice. They also have other items on the buffet like salads, rice and viands that you'll love - and that comes with the package too. It's like the perfect accompaniment for your spa experience, but we're not done yet!

When we reached the 4th floor, I realized I did something wrong. I ate first remember? So it was a little uncomfortable to get massaged after that. I strongly suggest you do this relaxing number first before you do eat a ton. I must say, they only said that they'll do Swedish and Shiatsu massage but actually they do a combination of these plus Thai plus hilot. It was SOOOOO GOOD. The guy beside my massage table was already sleeping after a few minutes. I was stretched in areas I don't even know existed haha. I highly recommend you do not leave this place unless you get this done. You need it and deserve to be pampered.

The Fifth Floor houses the Female Massage Rooms. Men are unfortunately not allowed here for obvious reasons. =( haha. This area is better because they are non communal, meaning they have separate rooms. You are also going to be asked if you prefer a male or female masseur on these services. Tipping is not forced but in normal circumstances it is recommended as courtesy (to be paid later upon checking out).

The 6th Floor's got the KTV rooms in it. It's fit for groups and families who want to spend time singing along the latest tunes this side of town. What's even great is that they have free drinks available on this joint so just ask around which ones are included on your package. All these for the promo price of P780.00 ++. You can't find a deal this good anywhere in this district. This is the Timog-Morato area after all and other Spa's probably cost an arm and a leg here without food. Now if that isn't enough reason to try out Royal Lake Spa with your friends and family, I don't know what will.

For your information this place is OPEN 24/7. If you're like me who stays in the office too much and gets lots of stress... Royal Lake Spa is the answer to your dreams. Go there, relax, get a massage, eat and enjoy the one stop shop for all your entertainment and spa service needs.

Royal Lake Spa is located at #60 Timog Ave. cor., Tomas Morato, Brgy. Laging Handa 1100 Quezon City, Philippines. You can call them at (02) 376-3184/376-3972 / 3763132 or 6641293.

(UPDATE: THIS ESTABLISHMENT HAS BEEN CLOSED UNFORTUNATELY.)

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