Lio is Ayala Land’s first tourism estate, located in the paradise of El Nido, Palawan. It’s
master-planned as an integrated resort community with hotels and resorts, commercial establishments, residential communities, amenities and facilities for eco-adventure and leisure travelers.
The 325-hectare development is guided by principles of sustainability and inclusive growth, ensuring the least impact on the environment while benefiting the local community.
Of the 325 hectares, only 179 hectares are to be developed, or just 55 percent of the total area. The remaining 146 hectares will be retained as nature reserves and open spaces consisting of forests, mangroves, wetlands and waterways, integrated into the master plan of the estate.
Three hotels
There are currently three hotels and resorts operating within the Lio Tourism Estate.
Casa Kalaw is a 42-room hotel catering to families and group activities. It is equipped with an alfresco deck, indoor restaurant, open-air bar and a swimming pool. Balai Adlao, with 20 rooms, is designed for couples and young professionals, while Hotel Covo, also with 20 contemporary and colorful rooms, is for young, adventurous travelers.
Near the hotel is The Shops@Lio, a shopping and dining promenade situated along the beach front. This is also the home of Destileria Limtuaco & Co. Inc.’s first corporate showcase, Manille Beach Bar.
Manille Beach Bar is a tropical cocktail bar brought to El Nido by the oldest distillery in the Philippines, Destileria Limtuaco. The interior features a 360-degree bar fixture decorated with reclaimed oak barrel staves; used oak barrels are also used as decoration on the interior’s roof.
Crowd favorites
At the bar’s helm is Larry Guevara, a flair bartender/mixologist most known for his stint on “Pilipinas Got Talent.” His fiancée, Sharleen (also his partner on the reality TV show), assists in managing the beverage program. Together, they mix up concoctions using the company’s wide range of spirits and liqueurs, including the Manille line of citrus liqueurs and Very Old Captain Artisan Crafted Dark Rum.
Crowd favorites include the Manille Basil Smash (P250), a mix of Manille Liqueur de Calamansi, Empire London Dry Gin, fresh basil, lemon juice and sugar; Calauit Park Swizzle (P230), a sweet, heady blend of Old Captain 5-year-old rum, orgeat syrup and guava juice; and Lio Sunset (P250), a tropical concoction that features Paradise Mango Rum Liqueur, Orchid Coconut Rum, mango nectar, lemon juice and hibiscus bitters.
The food menu also features dishes prepared using some of the company’s products, like the Paradise Mango BBQ Chicken (P280) and Island Paradise Salad (P280), which uses Paradise Mango Rum Liqueur; and Amadeo Coffee Beef Ribs (P350), which uses a coffee liqueur of the same name. –CONTRIBUTED
Manille Beach Bar is at Lio Tourism Estates, El Nido, Palawan, tel. +639175837413.