GUIDE: From A(fternoon tea) to Z(umba): Treats for Mom on her special day

She has the most demanding job in the world, and she almost never takes a break. She is Mother, Mom, Mommy, Mama, Nanay, Inay... And May 10 is a day specially dedicated to her.

On Mother's Day, you can let your mom know how much you appreciate her by going beyond the usual greetings, flowers, and cards. Treat her to some specials and activities that would add a little sweetness to your usual Sundays.  

Hotel promos

Whether you take her out of the city for some much-needed R&R—and sun, sand, and sea—or stay in the metro and splurge on a hotel stay, here are some promos offered by some of the top places in the country.

Peninsula Manila

The Peninsula Manila’s MomMeCation Package begins with a stay in a Deluxe Room, Grand Deluxe Room or a Premier Suite and continues with a 60-minute supervised workout with a personal trainer then winds down with an hour-long Swedish or Shiatsu massage for one at The Fitness Center & Spa. (A companion may get a 30% discount.)

The package also includes an exclusive beauty gift from Rustan’s Department Store, a P1,000 food and beverage credit at The Lobby, and themed cocktails for a nightcap in Salon de Ning or The Lobby.

The package includes a buffet breakfast for two in Escolta restaurant.

The MomMeCation Package is offered until December 30 and starts at P11,500 per night in a Deluxe Room.

For inquiries or further information, call (02) 887-2888, extension 6630, e-mail reservationpmn@peninsula.com or visit peninsula.com.

Discovery Shores Boracay

Discovery Shores Boracay's culinary team prepared a degustation of brick oven chicken served with mashed potatoes, creamed corn, sautéed green beans, a bowl of salad and a slice of lemon tart at the resort's Sands Restaurant for only P1,295 for a group of three. Plus, mom will receive a complimentary box of macarons as a sweet epilogue to dinner.   

The resort also offers a spa package for mothers on Sunday. Terra Wellness Spa will treat you and your mom to a one-hour facial with 30-minute foot massage for P2,890.

Contact Discovery Shores Boracay at (02) 720-8888 or (036) 288-4500, email dsbrsvn@discovery.com.ph or visit www.discoveryshoresboracay.com.

Discovery Suites

Until May 15, Discovery Suites offers an overnight package for a Junior Suite or a One Bedroom Suite that includes buffet breakfast for two persons, 10-percent discount on food and beverage, movie passes at The Podium Mall cinema, complimentary WiFi to unlimited devices, access to PressReader with more than 3,500 quality online publications, and 22 Prime’s Mother’s Day Special Set Menu for two persons.

If you just want to enjoy an intimate lunch or dinner on Mother’s Day, Discovery Suites’ 22 Prime offers a three-course set menu priced for P1,800/person.

The menu will kick off with a Steak Salad or a Seafood Veloute, a choice between the Oven Baked Halibut and the Slow Cooked USDA Beef Cheek for the main course, and Deconstructed Tiramisu for dessert. All moms who will dine at 22 Prime on Mother’s Day will also receive a box of pralines. The set menu will be offered on May 10, 2015.

For inquiries and reservations, call Discovery Suites at (02) 719 8888, e-mail rsvn@discovery.com.ph, or visit http://discoveryhotels-resorts.com.

Marriott Manila

From May 8 to 12, Marriott Manila gives you a chance to treat your mom to an overnight stay in a deluxe room with buffet breakfast for two and P3,000 credit in Quan Spa and Cru Steakhouse for  P15,000. The hotel will also give away special items for mom: a gold South Sea pearl set in 18 karat yellow gold, Tory Burch lipsticks, designer sunglasses, nail art services, and three-course dinner at Cru Steakhouse.

Mariott Café also offers special brunch (P2,800) or dinner (P2,650) treats on May 10 that the entire family can enjoy. Its menu includes US rib eye, maple turkey, Bourbon baby back ribs, lamb salpicao, baked prawns with herbed goat cheese, and pan seared sea bass with vierge sauce.

The offer also includes organic salad station, sushi rolled to order, seafood bar, cheese and charcuterie as well as access to the interactive teppanyaki station, chocolate room, and dessert bar. Moreover, the café offers a special selection for the kids.

For inquiries and reservations on Mother’s day offerings, call (02) 988-9999 or visit manilamarriott.com.

Amelie Hotel Manila

Boutique hotel Amelie Hotel also joins in the Mother’s Day fun with its special packages that will run from May 8 to 15. An overnight stay starts at P3,000. Each package comes with complimentary breakfast, access to WiFi and gym, one full-body massage, and a bottle of red wine.

For inquiries and reservations, call (02) 875-7888, email hello@ameliehotelmanila.com or visit www.ameliehotelmanila.com.

Makati Shangri-La

For all weekends of May, a staycation for mom at the Makati Shangri-la starts at P7,800 per night for a Deluxe Room. This offer includes buffet breakfast for two persons and a surprise gift from Laura Mercier.

Makati Shangri-La’s Lobby Lounge, The Shang Palace, Circles Event Cafe, Sage Restaurant, and Inagiku also offer yummy treats for Mother’s Day.

For more information, call room reservations at 813-8888 or email reservations.slm@shangri-la.com.

Club Paradise Palawan

Wishing for a beachfront dinner for mom? Club Paradise Palawan got your covered with a P1,307/person buffet deal at its Ocean Restaurant.

You can also take her to a "Mother’s Glow" spa experience while in the resort for P1,500/person. The package includes royal manicure, pedicure, and a 60-minute anti-stress massage.

Contact Club Paradise Palawan at (02) 719-6971 to 74, email atcp.reservations@discovery.com.ph or visit www.clubparadisepalawan.com.

Restaurant specials

Make mom ditch her apron for at least one day. Take her to any of these establishments offering Mother's Day promos on Sunday.

City of Dreams: Nobu Manila

From May 8 to 10, Nobu Manila will offer a special Mother’s Day Omakase dinner featuring Mix Seafood Ceviche, Tasmanian Ocean Trout with Arugula, White Fish New Style with Truffle, three-piece sushi platter with Miso Soup that introduces the Seabass Jalapeño Miso entrée then by the Beef Wasabi Salsa, and finally the Guru Berri for dessert. The dinner is priced at P4,000/person.

Interested patrons can call 800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com for more information.

City of Dreams: The Tasting Room

A modern European dinner selection and an optional wine pairing awaits those who choose to dine at The Tasting Room on Mother’s Day from 7 to 11 p.m. Its menu includes langoustine, pan-fried duck liver, and meringue pochee. This menu is at P3,900.

Wine pairings are available upon request for P5,400 including the set menu.

Interested patrons can call 800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com for more information.

City of Dreams: Crystal Dragon

To celebrate Mother’s Day, the Crystal Dragon offers a lunch and dinner lineup from May 8 to 10 with the Munificent Set Menu, Precious Set Menu, and Virtuous Set Menu. The set menus start at P2,588.

Interested patrons can call 800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com for more information.

City of Dreams: Crystal Lounge

From 3 to 6 p.m. from May 8 to 10, Crystal Lounge will treat moms to an afternoon tea for P 1,180/person. This treat features sandwiches like foie gras mousse red onion jam and orange zest on brioche, pastries like Berries Britani Tartlets, and pass around items like Smoked Salmon and Leek Quiche, which are all complemented by coffee, English Breakfast tea, or Earl Grey tea.

Interested patrons can call 800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com for more information.

Buddha Bar

For only P1,200 net, moms get to enjoy a 4-course meal and a gift to mark the occasion. The menu includes seafood cream soup and salad mesclun with flaked chicken with yuzu cream dressing for starters. The entree is a choice of grilled beef medallion with soy red wine sauce or panko sesame crusted salmon with thick pepper ponzu sauce. Both are served with onion crisps, seasonal vegetables, and mashed potatoes. Dessert is either warm cheesecake and chocolate cake ala mode or fresh fruits. A box of assorted choco bonbons with sesame bars will be given away to moms to cap off her special day.

Buddha-Bar Manila is located at Picar Place, Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City. For reservations, call (02) 856-7822, 856-6859, 856-6719 and 0998-983-3918 or email info@buddhabarmanila.com.

Italian flavors at Lombardi's and Lucia

You don’t need to go to Europe to give mom a chance to enjoy authentic Italian or French cuisine. Lucia Ristorante and Lombardi’s, both steered by Italian Chef Davide Lombardi.

Have an intimate lunch buffet with the woman who raised you at the Lucia Ristorante on May 10 for P699. You can also take her to Lombardi’s at Shangri-La Mall and Robinsons Magnolia where classic Italian dishes Insalata di Mista and the rich Frutti di Mare Spaghetti take the spotlight all month long.

For reservations, call 887-8080 and 836-0023.

Le Jardin

On Mother’s Day weekend, Le Jardin Manila offers a special three-course set menu for P2,200. This menu includes a choice between Coquille St. Jacques with Sauce Oursin (seared scallops with sea urchin sauce) or Boudin en Compote de Pommes Avec Homard (blood sausage with apple compote and lobster tossed in butter) for starters; Vin Rouge Braise Queue de Boeuf et de Porc Fennel Saucisse (red wine-braised oxtail with house-made pork-fennel sausage ) or Saumon Grille à la sauce de Roquette (grilled salmon with arugula sauce) for the main course; and Profiterole au chocolat blanc et crème patissiere (light choux pastry with white chocolate ganache and pastry cream) or Gateau Rouge Velours Mousse au Chocolat Blanc (white chocolate mousse red velvet cake) for dessert.

Le Jardin Manila also has a library of carefully curated wines from French vineyards that would pass your mom’s discerning palate.

For reservations and inquiries, contact Le Jardin Manila at 0917 817 6584 or email lejardinfrenchrestaurant@gmail.com.

Cravings

Mothers and daughters are in for a sweet treat this May at Cravings. Bond with your mom at the Unlimited Canape Station and the Summer Salad Bar. It has a choice of Sunday Roast Chicken or Lengua with Queso de Bola.

End the meal with the Torta de Yema con Almendras cake, made with a creamy yema filling with a hint of citrus slathered between soft, pillowy layers of butter chiffon, enrobed in caramel icing and finished off with a light crust of golden almond flakes.

For more information, visit www.my-cravings.com.

Epicurious

If your mom is a big fan of wines, then better bring her to Epicurious on Sunday. Its wine pairing starts with a degustation platter of foie gras, jam, chorizo, Gouda cheese, bread and organic chips paired with Altozano White Sauvignon. Its main course will be Oven-Roasted Provence Chicken served with a duo of Mashed Potatoes and rich truffle gravy paired with a glass of Ramon Rogueta Cabernet. Finally, a Molten French Dark Chocolate Fondant drizzled with a red berry sirop that goes with a glass of Vollie Rose ends the night on a sweet note.

Call (02) 570-7741, 506-6474, or 0917-5907420 or email epicuriousmanila@gmail.com.

Brotzeit

From May 6 to 12, diners who celebrate this special occasion at Brotzeit can spell “Ich liebe dich, Mama” or “I love you, Mom” with a complimentary dessert for moms with every entrée ordered. As an additional treat, you can get P500 gift certificate for use on your – or your mom’s – next visit. only the first 10 reservations to be made in each branch with a minimum spend of P5,000 for a single-receipt purchase are eligible to avail of the complimentary dessert and gift certificate.

Brotzeit Glorietta is located at the Courtyard Drive, (beside Ascott) Glorietta 4 while Brotzeit Shangri-La Plaza can be found at Streetscape Level , Shangri-La Plaza Mall. For inquiries or reservations, call (02) 893 2815 (Glorietta) or (02) 631-1489 (Shangri-la).

Other activities

Sign her up for a free fitness party

Bring your mom to the "Mother's Day Dance Fitness Party" at the Manhattan Row in Araneta Center. The three-hour dance session features Zumba instructors led by Regine Tolentino. By joining the party, mom will also get a chance to win a body massage and hair treatment vouchers and gift certificates.

Registration starts as early as 6 a.m.

City of Dreams: Nobu Spa

City of Dreams also offers a Mother’s Day Ritual at the Nobu Spa. This is a one-hour of pampering that starts with a15-minute Geisha facial, followed by a relaxing 15 minute scalp massage, and capped off with a 30-minute Ashi Tsubo foot ritual.

The P3,000 spa treat includes a P500 credit to Nobu Lounge where moms can enjoy handmade Ikaati tea and pastries.

Interested patrons can call 800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com for more information. — Trisha Macas/BM, GMA News