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“Last year we watched Deadpool and ate at Chicken Deli in Robinsons Galleria. We’ll probably do the same this year: Movie and cheap dinner. Will check what’s showing this week.”
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Virgin Island, Bantayan
“We would probably go to Bantayan. It’s close to the city but far enough from the hustle and bustle. We just love to bike around the island, chill by the beach, and simply enjoy each other’s company. We guess that’s what Valentine’s is all about.”
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“For Valentine’s we like going on road trips to the beach with our daughter or staying home, cooking lots and lots of bacon and watching old movies (like The Princess Bride)”
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“In the nine years we have known each other, I’d say we’ve sort of graduated from the passé Valentine’s date night outs. This year may be different as we are planning to spend that weekend by going out of town at our family’s beach house with our pet Finn, away from the hustle bustles of the city. And since my husband has started to love cooking steaks off the grill, he wants to venture into experimenting with another cooking feat for that weekend. Here’s looking forward to that celebration!”
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“We don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day, but we always make sure to take spontaneous trips throughout the year. Preferably in the waters since we’re quite fond of freediving. However, for this year’s Valentine’s Day we might spend it at a nearby island.”
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The Henry Hotel
“We’d usually staycation and head out only to try Valentine set menus at different restaurants throughout the weekend. Plantation Bay‘s Romantic Rendezvous proved interesting. The Henry is our perennial favorite and offers a honeymoon/romantic weekend package. Anzani Mediterranean Restaurant is a good bet for a full-course dinner any given day. The Pig & Palm would be, too. We enjoyed their recent tasting dinners tremendously. I’d also suggest the upcoming pop-up Blind Date: Dinner in the Dark at District On 53rd. You don’t have to limit yourself to one. Trying a variety of places makes Valentine’s even more fun and meaningful.”
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“We’re going to Argao Wharf on a pilgrimage of sort. There’s a spot there where we sealed our relationship. We realized we had already done all the crazy things imaginable together, and there was only one crazy thing left to do: get married.”
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Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa
“Our love for Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa goes back to the time we first got together as a couple in high school over 20 years ago and so it has always held a special place in our hearts. From having the best beachfront in Mactan, its amenities and facilities, selection of delectable eats and excellent service that ensures we always feel at home, Shangri-La continues to be our happy place in Cebu. If we had the time, we would love to take a quick break there with our kids. Valentine’s has evolved for us through the years from romantic dates to group dates. We are celebrating Valentine’s at Café Sarree with colleagues and their other halves with a special menu created by Chef Sarree.”
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“We used to eat out in the previous years, but the last 3 years, I cook for her at home. And the last three years, we would be working on the day itself. She would be at Ilaputi, and I would be at Irie—except for 2016 where we both just stayed home.”
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Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton of The Pig & Palm

“We’d love to spend Valentine’s in the beach down south. A quick getaway would be awesome, but Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year and we have work and appointments. A fancy dinner at The Pig & Palm would be lovely!”
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“Last year, we spent Valentine’s Day in Siargao and it was wonderful! This year, we’re planning to have a quiet and romantic dinner in the mountains, where we can look down at the city lights and see the stars. Mike loves to sing, so I hope to be serenaded!”
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“We don’t over-plan for Valentine’s Day. We just make it a point to do something or go somewhere for the first time together as couple. This year, we’re planning to go to Vine Molave, a beautiful bed and breakfast at Pagadian, Zamboanga Del Sur. Other than being attracted to sleep and food (get it? Bed and breakfast?), we’re planning to go to Puting Balas sand bar and the Dao-Dao Islets there.”
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Abaca Boutique Resort
“We both lead very busy lives so when we do get to spend QT together, we prefer more relaxed environments. This Valentine’s Day, we might head to a more private beach like Abaca. But honestly, it doesn’t really matter where we go as long as we’re together.”
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“Since Jen loves peace and quet places, I’ll probably take her to Maru Restaurant inside J Park since they serve the best Korean food and sulbing. At the same time, only few people go there.”
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What do you have planned? Share your ideas on Facebook and Instagram and tag us!
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Warm lighting and comfortable seats make Isidra Comfort Cantina anything but your usual carenderia (Photography by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)
Named after Lor’s maternal grandmother, Isidra brings comfort food in a casual, cool setting at the heart of the city. Business partner April Rama calls it a canteen more than anything, but as far as canteens go, you can’t get any better than this.
Comfortable seats, warm lighting and air conditioning create a relaxed yet plush ambiance that makes it a perfect setting for Chef Lor’s take on comfort food such as the crispy chicken wings that are fried to a golden brown perfection served with sour cream and onion batter, the twice-cooked adobo, stewed first before being baked; and the deep-fried mascara—pork face boiled tender and deep-fried to crispiness.
Isidra is also the only cantina that offers options for the health and body conscious— the fish fillet, open-faced ham and egg sandwich, and Thai prawn salad, to name a few. These offerings make it relatively easier to indulge in Isidra’s unique and delectable dessert selections, such as the crowd-favorite calamansi custard meringue—perfect with the hazelnut French press coffee.

Isidra Comfort Cantina’s crispy chicken wings is one of Cebu’s best. (Photography by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)

Hailing from Luzon, gising-gising is a spicy yet creamy appetizer best paired with bagnet. (Photography by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)

Must-have to cap off every meal at Isidra Comfort Cantina: The calamansi custard meringue (Photography by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)
While we certainly miss Isidra’s daily lunch buffet (at Php 149 with varying themes throughout the week, how can we not?), the cantina remains the perfect venue for the veteran chef to experiment with different flavors and keeping things interesting for patrons. Come back from time to time and you’ll see new additions on the menu… or you can talk to the Chef herself and ask her to whip up something special for you. Seriously, Chef Lor’s food at that price indeed, you know you can’t go wrong.
GF Oftana Bldg.,
Don Mariano Cui cor. Jasmin Sts.,
Capitol Site
6332. 263 1101 | Facebook
photography Robo Formacion
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Zee Lifestyle’s October 2015 Luxury Issue: Dina Arroyo-Tantoco and Catherine Tantoco Huang (Sittings Editor: Shari Quimbo/Photography by Filbert Kung/Production Assistant: Patty Taboada/Styled by Sheryl Songsong/Makeup by Byron Velasquez of MAC/Hair by Eddiemar Cabiltes/Clothes available at Rustan’s Department Store)
With the launch of a bigger and better Rustan’s Department Store dedicated to bring to Cebu the world’s most luxurious lifestyle brands, cover girls Dina Arroyo-Tantoco and Catherine Tantoco Huang show the family dynamics behind the premium brand.
To give the lowdown on luxury, Leslie Ann Reyes, Patrice Huang, Chin Onglatco, SJ Quitevis, John Franco and Preston Nicholas share experiences and purchases they consider their ultimate indulgences.
Similarly, this month’s Conversations feature pits together Maris Aznar Holopainen and Annie Chen, Denise Fajatin-Pegarido and Allen Zaldarriaga, John Rey Guadalquiver and Tasha Dixon, Kyle Uy and Michael Goho, Allen Tan and Lor Torres, Michelle Yu and Dr. Cecilia Ramos-Bernad, and Drs. Fremont Base and Peter Mancao to find out their individual luxury preferences.
Zee Lifestyle also sits down with Alexandra Seno, Jon and Tessy Pettyjohn, Leigh Carcel, Mia Borromeo, Yiouri Augousti, Gerry and Pamela Montanus, Derek and Mary Ann Arculli, and Butch Carungay for The Call of Luxe, a dinner discussion focused on defining luxury and figuring out its various aspects.
This issue also features a rundown on the latest indulgent trends in the world as well as the best luxury that Cebu can offer, including Amparito Lhuillier’s home, designs by Debbie Palao, and the most premium accommodations in town.
Read more in Zee Lifestyle’s Luxury Issue, out on stands this month. Grab your copies at National Bookstore and Fully Booked. For subscriptions, click here, or download the Magzter app on your device and search for ‘Zee Lifestyle’.
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