Under the Manila Sky

My Go-to Home Service Massage: VIP Wellness

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

I've enjoyed getting a massage since a friend took me to a spa. It's been one of the ways I would destress healthily. It's also a good way for my body to recover after weeks of grueling workouts at the gym. And it's just been a way for me to pamper myself.

But then the COVID-19 pandemic happened and all non-essential businesses which included spas were forced to close. And even when it finally opened, I was scared to go. It's a good thing I found out about VIP Wellness.

What is VIP Wellness?

VIP Wellness is a home-service massage that services clients in select Metro Manila areas such as Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasay, Taguig, Pasig, and Manila. Their claim? Book VIP Wellness if you want a home service massage like no other. It's luxurious, complete, and safe.

photo grabbed from VIP Wellness Facebook

In terms of service offerings, they have classic massages like Swedish, Specialized such as Deep Tissue Massage, Pre/Post Natal, and even a kiddie massage. They also have combo packages if you can't decide on just one or if you're like me who feels that one type of massage isn't enough especially when I'm trying to treat my body to a pampering session when it's aching all over.

They have massages that can last from 60 minutes to 120 minutes. And all massage services come with a timer that has a spa music, an aromatherapy lamp warmer, 24k gold collagen-infused facial mask, premium massage oils an epsom salt foot bath, and fresh towels.

My Experience with VIP Wellness

I've been an avid customer of their sister company, VIP Nails before they started offering VIP Wellness service. They do an impeccable job and safety has been highlighted as a priority for them which is so important, especially during pandemic times. Their employees were vaccinated against COVID-19 and were tested often to prevent them from spreading the virus when they do client servicing at home. That's what convinced me to give home service massage a try.

Setting an Appointment

Booking their service is so easy. I often get in touch with them on Instagram. I simply provide my details such as name, address and contact number, the date and time I'm looking at booking and the type of service I'd like to avail. When my therapist is available on that day, my booking is confirmed.

Payment Methods

To finalize my massage appointment, full payment is required before the service. This is also an easy experience because there are several ways payment can be sent: BDO, BPI bank transfers, or Gcash. Before paying, they send you an invoice detailing your service request plus a transportation fee so you can double-check to ensure you're getting the right service.

The Massage Service

Every massage experience I have had with them has been a wonderful one. Their therapists are very good! They're able to give a massage that's with the right pressure to ease the tension of my muscles. I always feel well-recovered and pampered.

I also love the added touch of the mood light and spa music. It gives that spa ambiance even though I'm just home. The facial collagen mask is a plus. Actually, it used to be that they even offered ginger tea after every massage and I loved that. It's too bad that it's no longer part of their service. Still, I get them because I love that they have combo offers. My favorite is the Ultimate Reset, a combination of hot stone + deep tissue massage. It's the ultimate pamper-me experience - a perfect way to recover from a work week!

The best part about VIP Wellness is that they are affordable! A fraction of the cost if I go to a premium spa place.

If you want to treat yourself to a great massage experience, I highly recommend checking out VIP Wellness.

My Somerset Millennium Makati Experience

Monday, February 3, 2025

My friends and I have started an annual tradition wherein we have a staycation every December. It serves as our Christmas get-together. Last year, we booked an overnight stay at Somerset Millenium Makati.

About Somerset Millennium Makati

Somerset Millenium Makati is a serviced residence hotel located in Aguirre street, Legaspi Village, Makati City. It has several spacious and contemporary apartment types with room amenities such as a kitchenette, separate living and dining areas and en-suite bathrooms. It also has a fitness center, an outdoor swimming pool, a restaurant and even a barbershop in the residence, open daily.

The hotel has a convenient location near Greenbelt Mall, a posh and premium shopping mall, a convenience store, banks, and coffee shops.

First Impressions on Somerset Millennium Makati

Somerset Millennium Makati has been around for a while now. My first job was at Aguirre Street so I often see the hotel on my way to the office. The street has seen many establishment changes but Somerset Millennium Makati remains strong.

Even though it's been around for years, the hotel's facade still looks nice and inviting. When I entered the hotel, I was also impressed to find an inviting lobby with good lighting that brightened the room. There are a few seats where guests can stay if they are waiting, whether coming or going.

In the lobby, you'll also find some of the causes that Somerset Millennium Makati supports from a green environment, animal welfare to a community of disabled artists.

Drop your plastic water bottles in the bin for recycling or donate items to support the animals of Pawssion Project.

These handpainted bags make for a great pasalubong or for your own fashion statement. Every purchase of these upcycled eco-bags will directly benefit talented artists with disabilities allowing them to continue their artistic journeys and feeding children in Gawad Kalinga.

Kudos to Somerset for supporting all these causes.

The staff at the hotel were accommodating and friendly. The hotel recep made small talk with me while she assisted me with the check-in. She asked how my Christmas holiday was going to which I answered "What Christmas?" Ha! Ha! I honestly didn't feel the holiday as I had a lot of work to do. That elicited a laugh from her.

The doorman gave me directions to go to Greenbelt as I told him I was going to run a few errands. HE probably thought I didn't know the area. I appreciated that of course.

The Stay Experience

I got to the hotel earlier than the check-in time of 2PM. I still had errands to do at the mall e.g. last minute gift shopping, bank errands etc.. I hoped I could check in the room early to leave my stuff. But it was Christmas season so the hotel had a lot of guests. The room wasn't ready but the hotel reception already assisted me in registering our rooms so that come check-in time, we could just pay and get our room keys.

The room I stayed in was a deluxe 2-bedroom with a living room, dining area, and kitchenette.

Our room was big and cozy. Doesn't look at all like the place was a years-old hotel. The room had Wi-Fi, the bathrooms had a shower and bathtub, and the beds were comfortable. I had a good stay at Somerset Millennium Makati.

Room for Improvement

While overall, Somerset Millennium Makati is still a good service residence to stay at, it is an old hotel, Some details should be looked into to improve a guest's overall experience.

Air conditioning - My friend and I both have a less tolerance for cold. Whenever we have a staycation, we always adjust the air conditioning in the room to make it less cold. The one in our room couldn't be adjusted no matter how much we pressed the remote control or the manual buttons.

Wi-Fi - As I mentioned, we got a two-bedroom. Even though there is Wi-Fi in the room, its signal doesn't cover the entirety of the area. At certain parts of the bedroom, the Wi-Fi goes weak which is a bummer.

However, I also encountered a weak Wi-Fi signal when we stayed at Somerset Central Salcedo two years ago. Maybe Somerset should look into having wifi mesh for their hotels to boost the signal. Almost everyone these days scrolls online on their phone while in bed.

Toiletries - It's standard for hotels to provide guests with toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and soap. While we had those in our room, the shampoo and lotion were almost empty especially the lotion so we couldn't use much of it. This may have been overlooked since the shampoo and lotion were hung on the wall. You can only know it's empty when you pump the bottle.

Shower - We didn't get around to trying the shower 'til the morning when we were getting ready to check out so we found out too late that our shower wasn't working. To make do, we used the faucet in the bathtub. Somerset Millennium Makati ought to check on their room amenities from time to time to ensure things are working properly.

Breakfast - In a hotel, I always look forward to having a delicious breakfast buffet. While it's not a big deal that breakfast at Somerset Millennium Makati was plated, it wasn't the best breakfast. Almost forgettable. Honestly, I would recommend skipping breakfast there until the cooking improves and they have more breakfast offerings.

My Rating of Somerset Millennium Makati

Given all that I shared about my impressions and experience staying in Somerset Millennium Makati, if I were to rate it, I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5. I would still recommend a stay in this hotel. I just hope they look into checking the rooms thoroughly to ensure everything is not only spic and span but also working properly.

Where's Wina: A Boho Paradise in Metro Manila

Saturday, June 24, 2023

Marikina City is a vibrant hub of culture, creativity, and history. It's most known to be the shoe capital of the Philippines and more recent times, it has established itself as a place for food tripping and neighborhood coffee shops. But there's something else this city has to offer - a break from the hustle of the Metro life.

Where is Wina is a charming and quaint hideaway Airbnb located in Marikina City which offers more than just a place to stay. According to its Instagram profile, it's perfect for intimate gatherings, content, or prenup shoots, and yes, staycation. It has been featured by several media for being such an Instagrammable accommodation. My friends and I, have wanted to gather and bond as a group for the longest time, but we needed a place that's feasible to go for all of us. And so we booked an overnight stay at Where is Wina.

A Stylish Home in Marikina

Where is Wina is tucked away in a tranquil neighborhood so you're sure to have a serene atmosphere while also being just a stone's throw away from the city's vibrant offerings. When you step inside, you'll find the attention to detail and warm ambiance enveloping you, instantly making you feel like you've found your home away from home.

This two-story Airbnb can accommodate up to 8 people as it is comprised of three rooms: the white room, the blue room, and the brown room. And whether you choose to rent the entire house or rent one or two rooms only, you'll still get the entire place to yourselves. The interiors of this place are full of personality and very snap-worthy.

The couch filled with our presents for each other

Brought some coffee table books as decor. Made use of the place for a few content shoots for Reader's Den MNL too.

We had a phone like this at our house before I broke it. LOL!

Our Bedroom Accommodations

The white room has two beds and over by that curtain, are sliding doors that lead to the pool area. So you know, if you feel like going for a swim, you can just easily do so through this room.

The blue room has a double bed, its own bathroom, and an outdoor bathtub.

The Outdoors

Where is Wina outdoors is just as charming as it is on the inside. It's surrounded by plants and has a small manmade fish pond.

There's also a large outdoor dining area. That's where we spent most of our time, eating, chatting, and drinking. Where is Wina has a kitchen area where you can cook but we didn't bother. We had Grabfood delivery instead.

Welcome drinks. Tasty home-brewed iced tea!

There are also a couple of activities you can do at Where is Wina such as painting though I'm not sure if they'll provide the paint for you or you'll bring your own and table tennis, which we played for only a little while.

This boho paradise won't be complete without a sparkling swimming pool with really cold water.

We had an overall great stay at Where is Wina. This Airbnb is as beautiful as it is in photos and I would recommend the place to anyone looking for a quick getaway without leaving Metro Manila.

To more bonding time and lasting friendship with these ladies

Dining Experience at the Airplane Restaurant in Tayabas City

Thursday, March 16, 2023

I had the chance to go to Quezon Province recently and finally was able to check out Air Summit Gourmet. It's the first and only airplane restaurant in the Philippines that offers a fine dining experience.

I first learned about this interesting concept for a restaurant from an acquaintance who wanted to also do a concept restaurant. As I was searching Google for ideas on concept restaurants, I stumbled upon this.

Together with my cousins, we drove to Tayabas City to experience dining at Air Summit Restaurant. As soon as we got into the area, the airplane above came into view. If you're bringing a car, don't worry there are parking spaces.

Check-In Process

Just like in an actual airport, there's a "check-in" area at Air Summit Gourmet before you can board the plane.

Pieces of luggage surround the check-in counter

Clocks that show various times in different countries

My cousin waiting for "boarding"

Our "boarding pass"

Also saw this dining setup at the check-in area. Maybe guests can also dine here when the plane is full.

Inside the Plane

Finally, we're about to board the plane!

A nice lighting fixture inside Air Summit

Air Summit was packed when we got there for lunch. The airplane restaurant is apparently a popular place to dine.

There's a boarding and landing announcement and even reminders to fasten seat belt. Even the service crew were dressed like flight attendants to keep in the concept of selling the experience of airplane restaurant fine dining.

Our window view

Ready for Take Off!

Air Summit Gourmet offers a selection of both international and local cuisines. Here's everything we ordered.

Tuna creamy pasta

Tuna Belly

Fish fillet orange sauce

Strawberry cheesecake

Leche flan and java rice

The Overall Experience

I wasn't disappointed with the food and neither were my companions. But it's honestly just okay. Satisfactory but not nothing special. I think it's really the experience of dining in an airplane restaurant that one pays for. By the way, they only accept cash for payment so make sure you have more than enough. ATMs are quite a drive from the Air Summit Gourmet.

We enjoyed the dining experience at Air Summit Gourmet and I would recommend that people try it even just once.