We are once again put to a test to see if humankind can band together to find a treatment for the COVID-19 virus. I didn’t even know what a coronavirus was, but today, I see there are more than 80,000 cases, and almost 3,000 have died.
On the bright side, the World Health Organization (WHO) says it is not a pandemic, so we should not panic. WHO does not recommend travel restrictions, but advises additional screening measures. To me, this is a signal that there is no better time to rediscover our beautiful Philippine islands.
Keeping our immune systems strong is so important in protecting ourselves, so wellness and health are even more important today. How cool is it that I can combine islands and health at the state-of-the-art Aegle Wellness Center?
Yoga and wellness
Aegle is a health and wellness center set in two complementary sites, at the Balesin Island Club and at the five-star city center facility, Alphaland Makati Place. Nominated as Medi-Spa of the Year in the 2017 AsiaSpa Awards, Aegle is devoted to the maintenance of health through cutting-edge technology from the basic sciences such as cell physiology, molecular biology and human genomics. It’s the only place in the Philippines that offers thalassotherapy, a medical treatment for weight loss and detoxification that makes use of the components of seawater.
I can hardly wait to join the upcoming Yoga + Wellness weekend being planned at Aegle in Balesin, April 3-5. The weekend offers a special yoga and sound healing experience combined with multiple Aegle treatments, culminating in a one-on-one physician consultation and a customized package of supplements designed for one’s needs.
Yoga + Wellness is the first in the Serenity Series of lifestyle-plus-wellness events planned by Aegle to rejuvenate our stressed lives. In the works are Pilates + Wellness, Art + Wellness, and others. Yoga + Wellness will feature yoga and gong bath sessions led by Kundalini yoga and sound healing expert Rosan Cruz.
Sound healing is fast becoming a wellness phenomenon worldwide. In the book “How to Be Well: The 6 Keys to a Happy Healthy Life” by Dr. Frank Lipman, he recommends multiple doses of musical medicine for lifelong vitality. Sound baths marry deep, intentional relaxation with sonic wave healing.
Try it out for yourself, as Rosan will be giving a gong bath March 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Aegle Wellness Center in Alphaland Makati Place.
Email [email protected] or tel. 09178219795.
Birthdays and a wedding
Balesin is my new favorite playground because of its proximity to the city. Just a 20-minute flight away, the resort is hassle-free to get to, with its own hangar at Naia and a private airstrip on the island.
Last weekend, birthday celebrants on the island included longtime friends Malu Gamboa-Lindo, Eileen Juan, Jeena Llamas, Carlo Umali and Tippi Tambunting. My hubby Dennis and I found it serendipitous to bump into all these accomplished friends having their own little celebrations in various villages and beaches all over the island.
Also vacationing locally was the family of Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. It was great to meet Yorme and family at an intimate dinner hosted by Balesin big boss Bobby Ongpin at his private villa. We talked about our Lifestyle Asia January cover and some plans to help make Manila great again.
With the new Balesin Marquee opened up as the events place in the resort, many beautiful weddings are being celebrated there. A recent wedding I attended was the touching Niro-Riego de Dios nuptials. Young couple Noell and Sarah exchanged beautiful vows at the Balesin Chapel and had their fairy-tale dream wedding, as they were first to experience using the new Royal Carriage to bring them to the Balesin Marquee. The couple’s families and close friends stayed at the luxurious Regency Villas, which was perfect as they had more intimate moments together. The weekend of merriment kicked off with a welcome lunch at Mykonos, followed by welcome cocktails and dinner at the Balesin Royal Villa. Congratulations to the families of Yolly and Ruben Riego de Dios and Soc Niro.
‘Millionaire’s playground’
Fresh from my weekend vacay, I traveled locally again to Pampanga for the launch of Hann Resorts, the first luxury lifestyle brand in Clark that addresses the future of travel and seeks to offer guests an all-new integrated resort experience. The Widus Group, owner and developer of the Widus Hotel and Casino and the Clark Marriott Hotel in Clark Freeport Zone, hosted the most amazing extravaganza to introduce their new brand and logo.
Hann Resorts brings the idea of a “millionaire’s playground” to life by elevating the experience of play with a carefully curated mix of gaming, golf, nature and outdoors, entertainment and hospitality activities and experience within an ultra-luxe, integrated resort environment. Now under one master brand, Hann Resorts, there will be two premium lifestyle resorts with a coordinated master plan—Hann Casino Resort and Hann Lux Lifestyle Resort.
Daesik Han, president and CEO of Hann Development Corp., told me that their vision is “to raise the concept of play into a lifestyle that people would want to discover through world-class experiences.”
With Clark drawing a number of tourists and investors, Hann is well poised to make Clark and New Clark City a bustling center for recreation and development. In the plans are three, 18-hole championship golf courses by renowned designers Jack Nicklaus, K.J. Choi and Nick Faldo. Additionally, the launch of Hann Resorts brings a collection of world class brands together, including Clark Marriott Hotel, Swissôtel, Mercure Hotel, Banyan Tree Hotel, Angsana Hotel, the Westin Hotel and The Luxury Collection by Marriott International. Indeed, this could be the ultimate luxury playground north of Manila.
More pics on Instagram @seaprincess888
