Ellis Suites

Ellis Suites. 

Tucked in the bustling part of Purok Malakas in Gensan, you will find this whimsical hotel. You might want to peek a little closer when you reach the junction between Aparente and Yumang Sts since in front of the hotel are rows of business establishments which comprise of the entire Ellis Arcade. 

Sbarro Invades Gensan

I used to love eating at Sbarro. But when I moved to Polomolok more than a decade ago, I only get to eat here during the times I visit Manila. So imagine my excitement when this favorite pizza chain opened a branch at the Veranza Mall in General Santos city! 

Sbarro. 

A chain of pizza restaurants that specializes in New York style pizza and other Italian-American cuisine. One particular favorite is the Chicago White stuffed pizza. It has two crisp layers of dough overstuffed with mozzarella cheese with pepperoni, ham, ricotta and pineapple. Perfect for cheese lovers like myself. This baby costs P179 a slice and P1,432 for a whole pizza. 

Grand Caress Spa Gensan

Its funny finding myself fascinated with posts on spas in my blog. I guess my quest for the most preferable spa to my liking is a constant goal in my mind. :) 

While out on a date with girl friends, we tried the 

Grand Caress Spa 

Blackbeard's Seafood Island's Boodle Fight

It was my birthday, and one of my fellow bloggers suggested a burpday celebration with the Sox Bloggers at the newly opened 

Blackbeard's Seafood Island 

at SM Gensan. 

Boy, we were in for some serious boodle fight! :)

We had so much fun when the food arrived that I forgot to take photos of the place. Sorry! :) While waiting for our food, we were served with these complimentary 

Tuna Chicharon.

Morocco Rooms in the Middle of Gensan

Fancy a trip to Morocco without leaving the island? Well, now you can have a feel of Moorish interiors at Gensan's Morocco Rooms by Hotel San Marco.  

Bodyrest Spa

It was a friend's birthday and we decided to treat ourselves to a much needed break and girl time at this new spa we discovered in Gensan...

Bodyrest Spa

 

Mint Cafe @ Greenleaf Hotel Gensan

Mint Cafe. Aptly named since mint is one of the strongest scented herbs. This restaurant is part of Greenleaf Hotel's main dining area. I won't be surprised if this will be one of the strongest restaurants to beat in Gensan for sure. It is where the buffet breakfast is served every morning for its guests. 

Greenleaf Hotel Gensan "Green is a luxury you can afford"

General Santos city, the city of champions is turning into a new leaf...

with the rise of establishments and commercial buildings in this booming city, 

 Greenleaf Hotel 

is a welcome addition to its new line of hotels opening in its locality.

Tuna fountain sculpture by Leeroy New in front of the hotel :)

Greenleaf Hotel is a deluxe hotel being managed by Asian Grand Legacy Hotels Corp, the same ones who operate Astoria in Boracay, Astoria Palawan as well as Las Casas Filipinas de Azucar in Bataan to name a few.

Pacman's Wild Card Gym

The "Pacman" has always been a national not to mention a local icon here at General Santos city. The Pacquiaos have always invested a lot of their earnings in the city, and one such investment is the opening of the 

Pacman Wild Card Gym.

On the way up to the Wild Card Gym, you will notice the usual fixtures of framed pictures of this highly regarded couple.

Microtel by Wyndham - General Santos

Gensan is indeed booming with the onset of business establishments sprouting left and right in its mantel. Just recently, the generals welcomed the opening of... 

Microtel by Wyndham. 

Microtel Inns & Suites (Pilipinas), Inc.'s latest addition to their line of affordable yet chic abode for leisure and business travelers.

This hotel boasts of a total of 66 well appointed Double and Suite rooms. Adhering to the chain's unrivaled value for cleanliness, comfort, and safety. 

Gwapaha Medical Spa. Cosmetic Medical Expertise In One Roof

My first time at Gwapaha Medical Spa, I have to admit I was a little bit intimidated. But the moment I walked in the spa, whatever misconceptions I had was slowly ebbing away as I was assisted by very gracious staff.  

The interiors of the spa also caught my attention since it has a really homey yet elegant feel to it. 

Of course being in the south, the use of the native cloth T'nalak was a nice touch to the interiors of the spa.

Cinco Niñas Filipino Cuisine

Cinco Niñas Filipino Cuisine is a top notch restaurant located at Koronadal, South Cotabato. It is so named maybe due to the fact that the owners have five daughters who are entrepreneur extraordinaire in their own businesses. 

Church Hopping in Singapore

In our visits to Singapore, one of the places that we never fail to visit are its churches. Considering the multi-faceted culture of the people in Singapore, almost every race and religion imaginable has its own place of worship in the city. The striking contrast in architectural structures here is something to marvel at...well, at least for me.

Take for example St. Andrew's Cathedral, at 11 Andrew's Road.

Red Trellis Seafood Garden - Microtel Branch

Just last night, Red Trellis Seafood Garden opened another branch at Microtel, Valley High, National Highway, General Santos city. Bringing with it all the seafood-dish goodness prevalent in their original restaurant located at Lagao.

Exploring the Food in Singapore

In my visits to Singapore, one of the things I like the most is the food. It is true what they say that Singaporeans love to eat. Of course we wonder why true blue Singaporeans remain thin and  fit despite their love for eating. Hmmm. they might know something I don't. just kiddin. 

But the food choices here are endless. And to be truthful, quite intimidating. Singapore’s multi-cultural diversity is reflected in the variety of local cuisine it has to offer,

Blugre Coffee - Mindanao's Pride

With the emergence of foreign owned coffee shops in and around the entire archipelago, Blugre Coffee comes as a breath of fresh air. We take pride in knowing that this coffee shop is Mindanao's pride having originated from Davao and owned by Filipino coffee connoisseurs. Husband and wife team Gatchi and Larcy Gatchalian both Davaowenyos founded the coffee shop with their first branch in Davao year 1998.

Kasalang Filipino sa Gensan 2013

So here are a few of the reasons why I love Kasalang Filipino 2013 at Gensan.

It was a wonderful experience being part of the Kasalang Filipino 2013. If only to support my hobbyist turned full time wedding photographer hubby - Omar S. Gallinero. 

Kasalang Filipino 2013 - Gensan Leg

Our official photographer (although he rarely shoots for the Pinay Travelogue nowadays), is also a full time wedding photographer. He has been doing a number of weddings for quite some time now. And for the first time, he is having a booth under his own name at Kasalang Filipino 2013. 

Mt. Sabrina Mountain View Resort (Jam's Garden Restaurant)

Mt. Sabrina at dusk

I've previously blogged about this beautiful resort on top of a hill, overlooking the picturesque Sarangani Bay. Quite frankly, I get confused whether it is really called Jam's Garden Resort or Mt. Sabrina Garden Resort. But forget the name since the mere mention of Mt. Sabrina to locals, they will readily point you to this wonderful resort.

Teriyaki Boy @ SM Gensan

Teriyaki Boy is one of our favorite restaurants in Davao, so when it opened one of its newest branch at SM General Santos, our family of three had to troop over for a meal. The restaurant serves Japanese cuisine at fairly reasonable prices. Their signature lemon yellow furnishings is a breath of fresh air from the usual reds or darkwood designs of traditional Japanese restaurants.

Dine Philippines Gensan

Gensan plays host to the national restaurant management conference, DINE PHILIPPINES on February 25, 2013, 1 to 5pm at the SM City Gensan Cinema.

Dolefil’s Surgical Mission 2013

Just recently, I have been lucky to be invited along with the Sox Bloggers to experience first-hand Dolefil’s Surgical Mission 2013. I have been in Polomolok for more than a decade now. I know for a fact that there are a number of impoverished communities  in the municipality, so the Surgical Mission is a welcome relief to the people of Polomolok and other communities in and around region 12.

First Glimpse of Mt. Sabrina Garden Resort

Up in the hills (Mt. Sabrina), hidden from view of the public's prying eyes sits Jam's Garden Resto-Bar. The handsome property started as a venue for countless prenup shoots done in the area, well mostly by Mr. OSG :).  Maybe due to the picturesque view in these hills, The owner Ms. Sol Mananquil, decided to invest in the property and put up a permanent structure which is perfect for garden weddings. 

I love the view from up here, where you can see all the way to Sarangani Bay. 

According to photographer extraordinaire -- Mr. OSG (excuse me for being biased :), sunsets here are breathtaking. So if you are planning on having a garden wedding, you might want to consider having it here at Jam's Garden Resto-Bar.

I remember MR. OSG telling me a story about the first garden wedding that was held here at Jam's Garden and Resto-bar, they had no covered areas yet, and the wedding party was constantly getting worried should the heavens shower them on their very special day. According to the owner, she will put up a permanent structure if the wedding goes well without a hitch. Well, I suppose the heavens wanted future brides to enjoy the place so true enough, we can see and enjoy the new buildings put up in the  area. Here are a few of the pictures from that wedding...

Their restaurant on the other hand, sits with pride in the highest peak of the entire establishment. 

From my visit there, I think, they can comfortably sit around 50 people inside the air conditioned hall and about 20 more in the restaurant's entrance. 

 This is of course just my guess-timate so you might want to see for yourself how many of your guests can be seated comfortably if you prefer the covered area.

For inquiries, you can get in touch with them through these numbers: (0917) 708-1693 or (083) 553-2763 .