The Terraces in Ayala Mall

If you’ve not been out of your couch or computer workstation lately, it is time to start moving. You don’t want to be the last to see, right? Yep, there’s something new to see in Cebu, specifically in Ayala Mall at the Cebu business park.

The new Terraces just opened and it is so much more than food and drinks out there.

Today, my hubby and I went to see it and we were amazed at how much was done in so short a time. If I remember it correctly, they started renovating it around late last year, I’m not sure. The old lagoon is now a classy, clean, landscaped and developed park with great viewing decks from the main mall.

From the Bo’s Coffee entrance, the first majestic subject for the eyes is the fountain silently inviting people to come near it. It’s a round simple fountain before you get to the center of the Terraces.

A huge space and stage occupy the center of the park, great for concerts and events. Just across the stage are levels of terraces (where its name is probably based) where mall rats like us can view the whole place from the top. By the way, it’s an open space so you can enjoy star gazing and the moonlight in the evenings.

Curious what to do after the nice park trip? Now, there’s a wide selection of food choices, but the majority of the restaurants are coffee shops like the Figaro, Laguna Cafe, Moon Cafe, Starbucks and a lot more. For the restaurant category, a lot of the stalls inside have started transferring here. Some are the Lemon Grass, Kublai Khan, Henrico’s, etc. There are also a lot of new restos like Casa Verde, Teriyaki Boy, Sizzling Pepper Steak (where we ate by the way) and the most famous of all, the TGI Fridays.

The good part is you can enjoy it with or without a full-packed wallet. All you have to do is get out there with full stomach. So pack your camera and see for yourself.

Moalboal Trip

The garden of eden is not that far. A two-hour drive was all it took for us to reach it, and it was amazingly serenic – a marvelous treasure of the Philippines – Moalboal.

Team Building Activity

It’s always nice to get that chance to go out as a team or company and enjoy the beach during a hot summer month full of deadlines – like now. As if reading my thoughts, our Client recently approved a check for our spending pleasure, officially known as “team building activity”.

Moalboal – Cebu’s diving capital was our team’s target destination.

After three weeks of waiting and working hard to deliver all deadlines, our Team and guests (family) finally drove off to Moalboal, Cebu on Saturday, April 21, 2008.

Cottage

Moalboal is just simply beautiful! We arrived early so the beach was still silent and peaceful. We were able to get two cottages at only 150 pesos each – very inexpensive for the rewards you get in a-day picnic. We settled at an area or portion of the beach for locals. Some foreigners were walking along the shore. They were obviously staying at some nearby high class resorts. Along the same shore, there were other accommodation options for those who want to stay overnight. Since our Team was only there for a whole-day event, the cottage was the best choice.

Activities

Games were conducted to promote camaraderie, bonding and sportsmanship within the Team. We played “Simon Says”, a “Fill-The-Bottle-Relay” game, “Tinnie Winnie” and another pair game for members who brought their significant other along (my dhad and I were one of those). While this was happening, another group was preparing three huge fish and some marinated chicken to fill our grill table.

Boating and snorkeling was the best part. If only anybody among us thought of bringing an underwater camera, I could show you now just how beautiful is beneath the clear water. Before any of you reacts, I’m going to admit that I did not stay that long underwater because I don’t know how to swim, but i did check under, and the scene was amazing – all those colorful fishes and majestic corals that stand a long way down with their long bodies.

We watched the sunset as we prepared to leave the place. Everybody was exhausted when we left but the experience was truly something to keep forever.