One way might be to grab a seat at the Asian Poker Tour of the Philippines (APT) for 2011. Sure, you could pony up the money and then get your ass handed to you by the pros, but a better way might be to go as a spectator and watch how the pros really do it. While the Asian Poker Tour isn’t the highest stakes game around, it’s nothing to slouch at. It’s not uncommon for winners to walk away from the table with a quarter of a million dollars or more. So, don’t bother counting your money when you are sitting at the table because it’s probably either too much or too little to bother with.

The Asian Poker Tour of the Philippines will run from March 28th to April 3rd at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City, Philippines. Expect to see a lot of cool characters in town during that time. No word yet on whether the games will be televised, but given the fanatical way that Filiponos have taken to Texas Hold em and poker, you can be pretty sure that it will be on the tube. A number of websites and businesses are helping great card players without money to raise seed money, so if you don’t have the buy-in money, don’t despair.

And remember, wait to pick up your cards until the dealer is done.

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Durano swore into office Dr. Joven R. Cuanang, president; Eva Trinidad, vice president, Catherine Brillantes-Turvill, secretary; Millet Escasinas, treasurer; Dr. Joel Gutierrez, auditor; and Lara Santos as press relations officer while Joyce Alumno was appointed as HEAL Philippines secretary general.

Durano said that the country’s fledgling medical tourism is expected to grow bigger through the years with the unification of health services and medical tourism providers.

With 41 hospitals, 45 accredited spas, clinics, faith healers, the newly formed organization seeks to promote the Philippines as a prime destination for global healthcare and retirement at very reasonable prices.

“This is a booming billion dollar industry which can greatly help our economy. We have world-class hospitals like St. Luke’s Medical Center at Bonifacio Global City and Chong Hua in Cebu which are technologically at par with those in the US or Europe, but most of all the Filipinos are unique in the sense that they are compassionate, caring and competent when it comes to looking after patients,” said Durano.

Durano added,”How can we fail to succeed when we offer holistic services from treatment to healing, rest and recuperation after trauma, travel to the countryside for recreation and cultural enrichment plus the possibility of retirement here for foreign clients?”

He then urged the newly-installed officials to show their dedication, enthusiasm and support in pursuing the goals of their organization. >Undersecretary Cynthia Carrion of the DOT’s Office for Sports and Wellness added that the Philippines has a big potential of becoming a major player in the medical industry.

“It is only here in the Philippines where international patients can experience high-quality medical care from world-class doctors, nurses and other medical professionals who are naturally warm, English speaking, friendly and caring. That is why our country has been dubbed as the “Heart of Asia,” said Carrion.

International patients can avail of wide range of medical and wellness treatment in the Philippines at a cost 50 percent to 80 percent lower than similar procedures in the US and Europe.

These services include simple dental and cosmetic procedures, complex specialty areas such as oncology, cardiology and stem cell therapy, rejuvenating spa treatments and long-term health care and retirement. (PNA)

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Tourism Secretary Ace Durano acknowledged the awards, “These recognitions are continued testimony to the excellence of our Philippine spas. The winners and all nominees serve as an inspiration to the entire tourism industry.”

Presented by AsiaSpa magazine, the region’s most recognized spa and wellness publication, AsiaSpa Awards gave out commendations in 27 categories, including spa personalities, resorts, associations and products that set the benchmarks in the region. The winners were voted on by 28 independent judges.

According to Eduardo Jarque Jr., Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions, “More than offering a personal journey to wellness through therapeutic treatments and healthful cuisine, our spas celebrate the Philippines as a must-go destination for personal care and relaxation.”

“We are very proud to support the best businesses in the industry and to give them the recognition they deserve,” said Olivier Burlot, Managing Director of Blu Inc Media, publisher of AsiaSpa magazine.

Other Philippine nominations include Tirta Spa Boracay, Spa Association of the Philippines, Sanctuario Spa Manila, and CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La Boracay. The country was also nominated for Asian Spa Capital of the Year.

Residents of the New York metropolitan area can get a sneak peak of the Philippines and first-hand experience of some of the tropical paradise’s more alluring qualities – such as its delectable cuisine and soothing spa treatments at booth number 352 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center.

Renowned for unique spa treatments that combine indigenous techniques and elements of spirituality, the Philippines is most famous for hilot, a traditional Filipino-style deep tissue massage performed by an authentic manghihilot who uses mysticism and incantations while kneading the muscles to remove aches and pains.

An ancient Filipino art of healing, Hilot employs chiropractic manipulation and massage for the diagnosis and treatment of musculoligamentous and musculoskeletal ailments. Those who stop by the Philippine booth will be treated to a very special demonstration by a New York licensed masseur and masseuse.

Award-winning chefs and cookbook authors Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan of Cendrillon Restaurant in New York will be giving a talk on Philippine cuisine at 11:30am on Saturday, February 7. Food tasting with ube pan-de-sal filled with sumptuous pork & chicken adobo and the native ensaymadas will be available immediately after the presentation.

Entrance to this session is on a “first-come-first served” basis. The popular San Miguel beer and juices from the local mangoes, guyabano and kalamansi (tiny lemon-lime-like fruit rich in Vitamin C) will be available for tasting after the cooking demonstration.

The Philippine Department of Tourism will also be offering samples of “mangorind” – a candied puree of mango and tamarind – from booth 352. It is a special treat considering the world’s best-tasting mangoes are found in the Philippines.

“Our unique cultural background has given us an opportunity to excel in service-oriented areas,” said Emma Ruth Yulo, Director of the Philippine Department of Tourism in New York, noting that most cruise lines and many international five-star hotels and restaurants favor Filipino workers to ensure their discerning guests’ satisfaction with personable hospitality and superior attention to detail.

“Nowhere is this more true than in the pampering one receives at our luxury spas where soothing treatments blend with our tranquil atmosphere to create pure bliss and relaxation,” added Yulo, encouraging attendees from throughout the US and Canada to experience the Filipino philosophy on hospitality first-hand in the paradise where it originated.

Culture is an important element to any Philippine vacation as architectural marvels such as the Banaue Rice Terraces (pictured left), still preserved by the same indigenous Ifugao rice farmers who built it by hand more than 2,000 years ago, provide fascinating insight into the spirituality, pride and dedication of the Filipino character.
“The rice terraces are but one of eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites in our the country,” noted Yulo, urging visitors to include some of country’s historical treasures in their journey.

The Philippines is home to many luxury hotels and resorts throughout cosmopolitan Manila and many of its smaller tropical islands such as the beach-lined Panglao and Boracay, as well as Cebu, the Philippines’ oldest city where one can seek plantation-style accommodations with ultra attentive pampering at Plantation Bay Resort (right image).
All luxury hotels within the Philippines offer exceptional spa services, including beachside huts in many cases for the ultimate relaxation.

Five Shangri-La properties in Manila, Cebu and Boracay offer special Filipino treatments at the Chi Spa (first image in press release), while others, such as Panglao Island Nature Resort on the southwestern tip of Bohol, utilize locally-gathered ingredients to rejuvenate the skin and muscles while relaxing the body.

Private-island resort paradises abound in the Philippines with some of the most notable being El Nido Resorts (pictured left) and Amanpulo Resort in Palawan, and Badian Island Resort & Spa (bottom right image) on the southwestern coast of Cebu. These resorts offer an assortment of blissful and holistic spa packages, as well as other serenity-inducing programs such as yoga and meditation sessions for mental well being.

For the adventurous, the Philippines is home to the eerily beautiful Mount Pinatubo, site of the second largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century, where both hot and cold springs are a gateway to euphoria and spa treatments utilize mineral-rich volcanic ash from the crater. Of particular interest is the mud-spa skillfully administered at the Mr. Pinatubo Spa Town in Clark, Pampanga (location of the former US Air Base).

For the second year in a row, Sanctuario Spa is nominated as Spa for Men of the Year, in recognition of its body and facial treatments that are designed specifically for men.

Sanctuario’s signature massage called the Sacred Tantric Massage, is also nominated as Holistic Treatment of the Year. This unique style of bodywork incorporates the use of Reiki energy, breath, tone and long flowing movements that work with the body’s natural flow and rhythm. The massage starts with a Reiki treatment of the chakras. Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive.

The performance of the sacred tantric massage aims too awaken the Kundalini, which is a very powerful kind of energy that lies dormant at the base of the spine. When the Kundalini is awakened, it shoots all the way up through the body, through the main microcosmic spinal channel, and out of the Crown chakra. When this energy is tapped, specific healing channels and chakras are been opened, and you gain access to the unlimited healing energy from within yourself and the environment.

Jomar Fleras, president of Sanctuario Spa and past president of the Spa Association of the Philippines is again nominated as Spa Personality of the Year. Jomar Fleras was responsible in securing a European Union grant of Euro 578,197 that aims to internationalise the operation of spas in the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. The grant will be used to enhance the capacity of 200 spa operators from the spa associations of the four countries in providing spa services that conform to European standards of spa operations and safety. The grant will also organize 8 business meetings between spa operators and travel operators that will help increase spa visits by European travellers. Over 4,000 spa therapists/trainers will be trained on European treatment and therapy techniques.

Sanctuario Spa is one of the Philippines’ premier spas. It is known as a holistic center for the promotion of oriental healing traditions that cater to the body, mind and soul. Sanctuario Spa is a member of The International SPA Association (ISPA), the voice of the spa industry which represents more than 1,700 health and wellness facilities and providers in 49 countries. It is also a founding member of the Spa Association of the Philippines and is accredited by the Department of Tourism. In 2005, Sanctuario Spa was voted as No. 1 Spa in the Philippines by the Consumers Choice Awards. It was also nominated for the Baccarat Awards of Asia Spa for Best Spa Treatment in 2005. In 2006, Sanctuario Spa was chosen as Asia’s Most Innovative Spa by the Global Excellence Awards. In 2007, Sanctuario Spa was nominated for Spa for Men of the Year and its CEO, Jomar Fleras was nominated as Spa Personality of the Year by Asia Spa Magazine. That same year, Fleras was given a Presidential Award as Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year by President Gloria Arroyo.

Sanctuario Spa’s main branch is cocooned at 1829 Jorge Bocobo Street, in the bohemian district of Malate, Manila. A majestic ancestral mansion built in the 1940s has been converted into a sprawling spa complex. Another branch is located at Canyon Woods, a posh residential golf resort overlooking the famed Taal Volcano. Its newly opened branch is at 30 Esguerra Street, South Triangle Quezon City. For more information call 4501127, 5219904 or Email spa@sanctuario.com.ph. Website is www.sanctuario.com.ph

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