An escape from the urban jungle

The perfect remedy for the noise and pollution of the city is to escape to the cool climate and fresh pine-scented air of Camp John Hay in Baguio City. A new neighborhood is rising in the center of the Camp’s prime residential areas – a quaint cluster of cozy cabins called the Forest Cabins. A new design is now available for the few remaining Forest Cabins, making more use of space to allow for a three-bedroom duplex house.

If you want to build your dream house exactly how you want it, check out any of Camp John Hay’s estates: the Country Estates, the Golf Estates, and the Forest Estates. With lots ranging from 400 to 1,000 sq.m., choose from Camp John Hay’s designer log homes or customize your own design to suit your needs and your lifestyle. Leave the concrete jungle and all its noise and pollution behind. Camp John Hay is a place where you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy life. See you there.

For more information on how to experience the Camp John Hay lifestyle, contact the Camp John Hay Development Corporation in Baguio: (074) 442-7902 to 08; or in Manila: 6376966 or log on to www.campjohnhay.com.ph.

A beauty in Cebu

Marco Polo Plaza, the premier business destination in the Queen City of the South, recently celebrated the Chinese New Year with a traditional Yee Sang Tossing Ceremony, and was honored with the presence of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Cebu First Lady Margot Osmeña, and hardworking Marco Polo Cebu president Rey Villar. Other VIPs present at the event included Honorary Chinese Consul Cui Luosheng, Jose Ng, HRRAC executive director Aissa dela Cruz, Cielo Reyes, Dr. Mila Espina, Vina Rasmo, and Frederick Deocariza, all of whom were part of the ceremony.

Yee Sang is actually fish salad eaten only during the Chinese New Year. The purpose of this ceremony is to gather prosperity for the upcoming year as 12 specially chosen are gathered around a giant wok, each assigned to a particular zodiac sign and ingredients put into the salad. After everything has been put in the wok, each guest is given a pair of chopsticks and they start tossing the salad. Those particularly lucky for this New Year are those born under the animal signs Rat, Tiger, Dragon, Horse, and Monkey, as far as fortune is concerned, while the others must practice more diligence in order to emerge unscathed. Marco Polo Plaza continues to be tourism’s Queen of the South!

Johnny’s Wine of the Week

This week, your columnist recommends Chateauneuf du Pape, a wine with a purple robe and amber fruits, nose of toasted almonds and herbs. Suave and harmonious in the mouth presenting flavors of licorice and spice. It has a long savory finish with a toasty aftertaste, perfect accompaniment to delicatessen meats and fish dishes. Exclusively imported and distributed by BestWorld Beverage Brands, 637-8491 to 94, bbbi@pacific.net.ph.