Celebrating Easter: Egg hunts for the kids, buffets for the grown-ups

 

After a week of solemn prayer and fasting, Catholics make merry by the time Easter Sunday comes because it symbolizes the resurrection of Christ. There are many different ways to celebrate the holy day. Arguably the most common one is with an egg hunt—a tradition that has become almost synonymous with Easter. Active Fun on Bonifacio High Street literally brings the egg hunt to several different levels with its Easterrific Sunday on March 31, where kids can search for the eggs on all four levels of the labyrinthine play area. The hunt will be divided into two batches, the first batch for kids aged 4 to 7, and the second for kids aged 8 to 12. Tickets are at P500, and reservations or inquiries can be made at 869-0800 or 869-9509. Meanwhile, at Mandarin Oriental's Easter Escape, kids not only look for the eggs, but get the chance to decorate them as well. Starting at 10:30 a.m., kids can get their hands dirty with egg-painting, and cookie and cupcake decorating sessions, after which they can join the egg hunt at the hotel's Clipper Lounge. The fee is P1,999 net per child for the activities only, or P4,999 net including a buffet lunch for two adults and one child at the hotel's Paseo Uno restaurant. The event only has 60 slots available, on a first-come, first-served basis. For reservations and inquiries call 750-8888 or email momnl-reservations@mohg.com. Along with the token egg hunt, kids can also learn about the story of Easter through an interactive performance at the Hoppy Hunt from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Rockwell tent. Other activities include a puppet show, mascot dance, bunny-ear making, ceramic and plastic egg decorating, and face painting. Apple iPod Nanos will also be up for grabs. Tickets are at P550 for one child and one adult, with P200 for an additional adult. For more information, visit Power Plant Mall's Facebook page. Pepper Lunch Express in Lucky Chinatown Mall will also be having an Easter egg hunt for kids, along with other activities as part of the mall's Easter Magic and Adventure. Other activities for kids include egg decorating; booths featuring the Winx Club, Polly Pocket, and Barbie; fingerboarding tutorial, board games booth, pasta jewelry and pizza box artwork, do-it-yourself mamon making, a magic show, as well as Go Kart and animal trolley rides around the activity areas. Passes can be claimed for a single or accumulated purchase of P2,000 at Lucky Chinatown establishments from March 22 to 31. For more information, call 576-8139. For those who are travelling to Baguio over the long weekend, the Manor at Camp John Hay is also having an Easter Egg Hunt, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the hotel's North Wing. P750 per person includes participation in the egg hunt and games, a packed lunch, and loot bags. The egg hunt will follow a Eucharistic Celebration at 6 a.m. In the days preceding Easter, guests can also participate in Holy Week traditions. These include the Visita Iglesia on Maundy Thursday, which costs P2,100, inclusive of shuttle service, tour guide, and packed snacks. There is also the Via Crucis, on display at the Sacred Heart Community Center from March 25-27.    Sometimes though, the celebrations are not so much about the egg hunt as it is about the party itself. For instance, Eastwood City's Easter Wonderland Royal Shindig feels a little more like Halloween than Holy Week as kids are invited to dress up in their best "Royal Ball" look for a chance to win a prize at the costume contest. Dressed as princes and princesses, kids can enjoy egg painting, face painting, glitter tattoos, a photo booth, parlor games and a program that includes a ballet performance and a science show.  Other attractions include inflatables, a Cosmic Pavilion where kids can see a meteorite exhibit and telescope workshop, a petting zoo, pony rides, and a garden of sweets. Passes for the event cost P550 for one kid and two adults, and are available at the Eastwood Mall Concierge until March 30. For more information, call 709-0888 or 709-9888. Venice Piazza, meanwhile, is choosing to go the sweet route with their Easter in Candyland. There will be the usual egg hunt and egg decorating, also face paint, glitter tattoos, and a makeover photo booth. There will also be a petting zoo, magic shows, ventriloquist acts, bubble choreography, and a mini concert. While some attractions are free, full access to the event requires tickets which cost P550 for kids and P350 for companion adults. Tickets are available at the Blue Leaf Events Pavilion at McKinley Hill, Kiddie-Party.com, or through kiddieparty@yahoo.com. Of course, another way to celebrate Easter is by breaking the lenten fast in the grandest way possible. L'Incontro, for instance, is serving the lechon that most people abstained from during lent. Diners can choose from Davao-style lechon, which is baked vegetarian baby native pig served either regular or spicy; or Cebu-style boneless lechon stuffed with herbs and spices, served either whole or sliced Italian Porchetta style, with pasta and sauces. The Davao style lechon is available for pick-up or take-out for P4,500 net, or for dine-in for P4,900+. The Cebu-style lechon is only available for dine-in, and costs P3,400. Reservations are required two days in advanced, and can be made by calling 899-0638 or 899-0635. At Bahia de Baler in Aurora, guests can join the Easter Lunch Buffet, which features a bagnet carving station to satisfy that post-fast pork craving. There will also be games and activities for adults and kids alike at the resort's Hippity Hoppity Easter Party. Leading up to Easter Sunday, the resort will be holding various events, which include a Black Saturday beach party, Good Friday flying lanterns and acoustic night, Maundy Thursday bonfire, Holy Wednesday outdoor film-screening, and many others. For more details, contact 576-4555 or visit www.costapacificaraintree.com. Another feast awaits at Enderun College's Restaurant 101, which will be holding an Easter Day Brunch Buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The menu includes indulgent dishes like foie gras and duck confit terrine, roast veal loin with tuna mayonnaise and capers, and a carving station with US prime rib and roasted lamb leg among others. The buffet costs P1,280 per person, plus 5 percent service charge, while for kids below 11 it costs P780. Reservations can be made by calling 856-5000 local 101, or 403-7840. At Makati Shangri-la, the gourmet dining goes all day on Sunday. Hungry guests can choose to lunch at the hotel's Circles Event Cafe, which will be serving a lunch buffet for P1,800++, or at Inagiku, for an utage buffet for P1,980++.  In the afternoon, guests can have Easter high tea, served at the Lobby Lounge to the sounds of a 14-piece live orchestra. For dinner, Shang Palace is offering set dinner menus for P1,588++. The menu includes hot prawn salad, sautéed scallops with pine nuts, roasted duck, steamed lapu-lapu, and roasted chicken. For dessert, Sinfully Circles will be offering special Easter-designed cakes, chocolates, and other assorted pastries. Inquiries and reservations can be made by calling 813-888 or emailing reservations.slm@shangri-la.com. — BM, GMA News