My trip this year to Cebu, particularly to Mactan, brought back memories of a luxurious stay I did three years back in another resort within the same island. It was a press event my former office organized for a client. We gathered media people from various countries in Southeast Asia and booked them in Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort and Spa.

Treated as VIPs, we arrived at the hotel lobby through their van service from the airport was instantly greeted by hotel staff members dressed in island and local costumes. The hotel boasts of its large capacity with 537 expansive rooms, several restaurants, amenities, and a first-class spa.

The resort signage at the entrance.

The main lobby.

One of the hotel buildings in the resort.

Comfy beds and pillows.

Our first night, we shared some drinks at the Cowrie Cove restaurant by the sea after a welcome dinner at the ballroom. The sound of the waves and the smell of the sea added pleasure as we exchanged jokes and stories with our clients and our guests.

But as the clock ticked towards midnight, and with so many things to prepare, I walked through the pathway, lighted by torches, passing by the big pool to the lawn towards the building where my room was located.

Breakfast was early but it wasn’t solely because of the schedule we needed to follow but because of what was waiting for us at Acqua restaurant. Buffet was always gratifying with the great food Shangri-la Mactan prepared for us.

The interiors of the restaurant has a view of the pool.

So much greens inside the hotel grounds.

Although our stay was filled with organizing and entertaining the media, it was also a fun-filled stay. On the second night, we had the product launch program held at the very picturesque Ocean Pavilion. It was a long walk from Shangri-la Mactan’s main building and we had to cross a small bridge to a more secluded area where the guests were able to enjoy cocktails out in the open air, with the view of the sea and the sun setting, and later the star-lit night sky.

Our media invitees.

The hallway outside the ballroom and conference rooms.

One of the venues within the resort compound.

Each night was getting better and better. The hotel hosted a cultural program by the beach during the last night. Mats were placed on the sand and we let loose as others, especially the foreigners, danced with the hotel’s dancers.

Dinner at the beach.

When the program was done, the fun was still beginning. Shangri-la Mactan allowed us unlimited use of one of its videoke rooms, which were spacious and definitely classy. The room itself was like a large living room and we sang to our hearts content as we were pampered with drinks and finger food.

Finally, the three-day event has come to a close. On the fourth day, the guests were already leaving as many had to catch international flights to their respective countries. I was to accompany the Philippine media. But before I checked-out of the magnificent resort, I still had a morning all to myself.

I opted to tour the hotel grounds by myself to enjoy the sights of the bright blue sky, the green expanse of the lawn, the inviting pools, the imposing structure of the hotel buildings, and the breathtaking view of the sea.

Resort ground.

I looked back to the scene before me as I stepped into the hotel’s shuttle service and promised myself to return here someday, not for work but for pure pleasure.