Where to go for treats and feasts on Mother's Day 2013

Anna Jarvis (founder of Mother's Day) has continually voiced her active protest against the holiday's commercialization. Despite this, much of Mother's Day involves a lot of spending. 

 

Originally intended for people to spend time and thank their respective mothers, the event has become one of the most popular holidays around the world. 

 

Of course, how you decide to celebrate Mother's Day is up to you. For Pinoys, no holiday is complete without eating. A nice home-cooked meal will surely be appreciated, but if you're not too confident about your kitchen skills, there are plenty of Mother's Day specials at restaurants in the metro.

 

Here are some Mother's Day dining promos and activities for 2013:

 

1) Mother’s Day Treats at Megaworld Lifestyle Malls

 

Pinoys love malls, especially during the summer. For Mother's Day, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls offers shopping, dining and entertainment treats for the whole family. If your mom is a foodie, you can bring her to the Mother's Day Cooking Demo with Chef Jackie Laudico. The celebrity chef will hold cooking lessons on May 11, 5p.m. at Eastwood Mall Open Park and on May 12, 5p.m. at the Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill.

 

If your mom loves music, you can bring her to Lucky Chinatown, where Richard Poon will perform signature renditions of all-time favorite hits from music legends such as Barry Manilow, Barbara Streisand, Lionel Richie, Whitney Houston, Madonna and Michael Jackson. Customers who buy copy of the singer’s new album Legends, will get access to the autograph signing after the show on May 12.

 

Looking for a gift? Head to the Mother's Day Bazaar at the Eastwood Mall Atrium from May 9 to 12. When it's time to eat, choose from the many chef-driven and specialty restaurants at Eastwood City, Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill, Burgos Circle at Forbes Town Center and Newport Mall at Resorts World Manila. 

 

Customers who spend P3,000 at Megaworld Lifestyle Malls establishments from May 9 to 15 will also get a free premium beauty kit for their moms. For more information, log on to Megaworld Lifestyle Malls.

 

2) Moments with mom at Makati Shangri-La, Manila

 

You may not be royalty, but you can treat your mom like a queen on Mother's Day at Makati Shangri-la. Spend a quiet afternoon with a relaxing view at the Lobby Lounge as you enjoy the specially crafted Mother’s Day High Tea for P680+++, available in the afternoons of May 1 to 11, 2013. Families can also enjoy a buffet of high tea from 3 to 6:30p.m. for Php 800+++ on May 12.

 

Indulge in a feast at Circles Event Café, a four-course menu at Red, or an authentic Japanese utage spread at Inagiku. The Mother’s Day lunch buffet at Circles costs P1,980+++, while the dinner buffet is P1,850+++.

 

Give mom a sweet treat with specially designed Mother’s Day emoti-cakes, or get her one of the Mother’s Day hamper packages available from May 1 to 12 at P4,000 nett, inclusive of lunch buffet for two persons at Circles Event Café, assorted cookies, a praline box of 12 and a bottle of Wolf Blass Chardonnay. These are available at Sinfully Circles in Circles Event Café, and Sinfully by Makati Shangri-La at Greenbelt 5.

 

For restaurant inquiries and reservations, please call the Restaurant Reservations and Information Center at (02) 8400884 or e-mail rric.slm@shangri-la.com. 

 

3) Get lovestruck at Discovery Shores Boracay

 

Mother's Day doesn't necessarily have to be with the whole family. Why not give mom a romantic escape with Discovery Shores' "Lovestruck" package?

 

Designed with all the ingredients for the perfect romantic holiday, the package includes a three days, two nights stay at any of the Junior, One Bedroom or One Bedroom Premiere Suites, inclusive of delightful daily buffet breakfasts at Sands Restaurant, a romantic set dinner at Indigo Restaurant with a complimentary bottle of wine, a relaxing couple’s massage at the Terra Wellness Spa.

 

There's also a complimentary basket of fresh fruits plus an en suite foot wash upon arrival at the private suite, and roundtrip boat and land transfers from Caticlan.

 

Special package rates start at P33,000++ (lean season), P40,000++ (peak season) and P46,000++ (super peak season) for a Junior Suite. Rates for One Bedroom Suite and One Bedroom Suite Premiere are also available.  Advanced booking is required and is subject to room availability at the time of reservation.

 

For inquiries and reservations, contact Discovery Shores Boracay at (02) 720 8888 / 719 6692 to 6695, (036) 288 4500, emaildsbrsvn@discovery.com.ph or visit their website. 

 

4) Feliz Dia De La Madre at Casa Armas 

 

Celebrate Mother's Day at Casa Armas, where the whole family can enjoy a tasty meal of authentic Spanish dishes. The restaurant recommends that you begin with a selection of seafood tapas such as Gambas al Ajillo (fresh, juicy shrimps in olive oil and garlic), Calamares a la Plancha con Ali oli (tender, steamed squid with ali oli siding – squeeze fresh small lime and its flavor will be enhanced), and Mejillones al Horno (baked fresh shellfish in olive oil and garlic).  

 

For the main course, choose from one of the restaurant's paellas such as the Paella Valenciana (a medley of rich flavours owing to its various ingredients – seafoods, chorizo, chicken, fresh shellfish and vegetables), Paella Parilladas (paella topped with an assortment of grilled prawns, chicken breast, porkloin, button mushrooms and asparagus) or Fideoa (this paella dish never ceases to surprise many as instead of rice, thin noodles is the major ingredient).

 

There are also main entrees of Carnes (meats), Mariscos (seafoods), Pollo (chicken) and Verduras (vegetables). For an even richer feast, try the Casa Armas cochinillo (crackling roast suckling pig) or Cangrejos (King crabs), or Asado de Pollo ensu Jugo (marinated overnight in special herbs and spices and baked to a golden yet juicy consistency).

 

The restaurant also has a Wine All You Can promo, which allows unlimited sampling of Spanish vinos, tintos, and blancos for P495. Moms who dine at the restaurant on Mother's Day will also get goodies from Body Shop.

 

For table reservations, take-out orders, and catering, Casa  Armas is located at: The Podium (02) 6873663/65); Greenbelt 2  (02) 7574996/61); and 132 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air Village, Makati City (02) 8973605.

 

5) The Manor at Camp John Hay indulges mom

 

For Mother's Day, The Manor at Camp John Hay offers a 30 percent discount when you book at least two nights, and a 50 percent discount for the third night. Complimentary amenities include welcome drinks, use of gym, Jacuzzi & Sauna, WiFi, and daily newspaper.

 

The promo is applicable for bookings made online, and is valid from May 1 to 15 only. 

 

For reservations, call (02) 5844911 or 5844892 and (074) 424-0931 to 47/50-53. The Manor at Camp John Hay is located at Loakan Road, Baguio City. Email reservations@campjohnhay.ph or visit the Camp John Hay website. 

 

6) Event-filled Mother's Day at Mandarin Oriental, Manila
 

This year, Mandarin Oriental, Manila celebrates Mother's Day with the theme "Fan a Message to Mom." 

 

The hotel has an ongoing Facebook contest where you netizens can post their special notes for the chance to win a two-night stay in a Club Suite with breakfast for up to two adults and two children, and five gold-plated silver pendants from Jul B Dizon Jewellery for the messages-to-mom with the most “likes.” 

 

The notes should complete the sentence “Mom, you may not know it, but. . .” on a fan-shaped card that will be hung on the Mother’s Day tree. Participants must take a photo of their message and email it to momnl-pr@mohg.com, together with their name and contact details. The Facebook contest will run from May 6 to 19.

 

In the week leading up to Mother’s Day, Twitter netizens may also tweet a dedication to mom with the hashtag #YouMayNotKnowIt and a mention of @MO_MANILA. Five of the best tweets will be chosen, and will each win for their mom an exquisite gold-plated silver pendant also from Jul B Dizon Jewelry. This special Twitter promotion is available from May 6 to 12. There is no limit as to how many tweets one may send on a given day. 

 

Meanwhile, the whole family can enjoy the "Flavors of the Visayas" food festival at Paseo Uno on May 12. Featuring guest Chef Pauline Gorriceta-Banusing, the spread includes Kadios, Baboy at Langka (KBL), a tangy soup made with kadios beans, pork and jackfruit, soured with batuan seeds; Lukon na may Aligue kag Paho, or fresh Aklan prawns with crab fat in garlic and scallions; and a Batchoy station. 

 

The luxury lunch buffet, which costs P2,450+, also includes an international spread with gourmet delicacies.

 

For a more Oriental celebration, Tin Hau has Mother's Day set menus prepared by Executive Chinese Chef Hann Furn Chen. The set menus start at P1,888+++ per person. 

 

All moms who dine at Paseo Uno or Tin Hau on Mother's Day will receive a complimentary limited edition Mandarin Oriental Fan, where you can write special dedications. Moms can also get creative by joining flower-arranging classes by the hotel's expert florist. The classes are complimentary for one person for a group of four diners paying lunch buffet in Paseo Uno, and set menus in Tin Hau. Additional enrollees may take the classes for P1,500.

 

For inquiries or reservations on Mandarin Oriental, Manila’s Mother’s Day activities, please call 750 8888 or email momnl-reservations@mohg.com. 

 

For updates on hotel events and promotions: Like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter. 

 

7) Moms’ Day serenades at the Power Plant Mall

 

At the Power Plant Mall, those who like an outdoor setting can chill out to The Manila String Machine Quartet performing sweet ballads and love songs from A-Z along Lopez Drive, also at 7p.m. "You’ll be thrilled with the sweet versions of pop, jazz and rock & roll favorites played on violin, viola and cello," they said.

 

For more information, visit Power Plant's Facebook page or call (02) 8981702. 

 

8) Say "I love you, Mom" at Bahia de Baler

 

Treat your mom to a weekend getaway at Bahia de Baler on Sabang Beach in Baler, Aurora.

 

For an exciting dining experience, Chef Romy Aumentado will take guests on a culinary tour featuring local Baler cuisine at P450++ per person.  

 

From May 10 to 12, you can book an overnight stay at Casa de Bahia for P2,750++, Casa Loft for P4,250++, or Casita de Bahia for P4,500++, inclusive of buffet breakfast for two persons at The Pavilion. Moms eat free at The Pavilion on May 10 and 11, with a complimentary dinner or lunch buffet for every group of five.

 

9) Give the gift of hope this Mother’s Day with special Lazada gift cards

 

Want to give mom a thoughtful gift? Instead of the usual greeting card, why not get your mom a World Vision Mother’s Day gift card, which helps improve the lives of underprivileged children across the country.

 

“When you purchase this World Vision Mother’s Day card, a donation in her name will be made in honor of your mother. This donation will go to World Vision’s Child sponsorship program that enables children from a poor community to be educated, cared for and protected against poverty and injustice,” Jun Godornes, Associate Director of World Vision said in a press release. 

 

The Mother's Day gift cards are available for P600 until May 20 at their website. “Adding the Mother’s Day gift card to your order will not only put a smile on the sponsored child’s face, but will also tug at the heartstrings of any mother,” LAZADA’s Vice-President for Marketing Paul Mendoza said in the release.

 

For more information on the World Vision Mother’s Day gift cards and other gift inspirations, visit the Lazada website. 
 

10) Fruits in Bloom's sweet and healthy Mothers’ Day celebration

 

A sweet gift doesn't have to be unhealthy. And a healthy gift doesn't have to be boring. Fruits in Bloom combined the artistry of flower arrangement with gourmet fruit preparations in their edible arrangements. 

 

"Get more creative with a gourmet fruit arrangement and tell her how you want her to be happy, healthy, and in your life for a long time,"

 

For Mother's Day, they have two special designs called "Mommy" and "Mama." They also have chocolate dipped luscious and plump strawberries in 3's, 6's and 12's, as well has gift bags of fresh fruits with either luxurious fruit jams, fruit-based tea, dried fruits, fruit chips or sparkling wine.

 

Mother’s Day edible arrangements are priced at P1,500 and P2,500. Dipped Strawberries are from P350 to P1,200, while Fruit baskets are priced at P2,500. 

 

For pre- orders and inquiries, Fruits in Bloom can be reached at (02) 8120380 or 09153269136. Visit their website, or drop by the Fruits in Bloom shop at the Ground Floor of Frabella Bldg., 109 Rada St., Legaspi Village Makati. – Carmela G. Lapeña / KDM GMA News