When we gathered for our trip to the island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park in Kawit, Cavite, we certainly didn’t anticipate the grand tour we were to have at this resort. On a bright and sunny Friday morning, I and nine other bloggers set off from 6750 in Makati (in the resort van that we were provided) with a rough idea on how long the trip would be. Eventually, by the time we passed by Mall of Asia on our way to Kawit via Cavitex, we arrived at Island Cove in less than 20 minutes– and the staff were already waiting for us inside the hotel lobby.
We’re off to Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park. (c) Nana Nadal
Hotel lobby
We were hied-off to the i-Cafe, had some of their specialty coffee and briefed on the resort’s facilities by no other than former Congressman, TV Anchor and now Managing Director of the resort, Gilbert Remulla.
i-Cafe
Cove Island Hotel’s Managing Director, Gilbert Remulla
Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park, accredited by the Department Tourism as a triple “A” (AAA) resort is offering a gateway to its newly renovated accommodation facilities. Set in 36 hectares of Mediterranean-inspired surroundings, less than 20 minutes drive from the Mall of Asia and 3 kms. away from the Aguinaldo Shrine, Island Cove is famed for its Fishing Village that provides a very unique dining experience.
The resort is really nice, quite large compared to other resorts i’ve been to and a day wouldn’t be enough wandering around. The walkways are well thought out and the over-all surroundings, very picturesque. In addition to the Fishing Village, the resort provides a wealth of leisure activities including swimming at the Oceania Swim and Splash Park, a Wildlife Sanctuary, Hotels and Cabanas, the Island Spa and the Bayside KTV. It has four food and beverage outlets helmed by Executive Chef Vill Purificacion.
Executive Chef Vill Purificacion
Oceania Water Park
The highlight of our visit (and everybody’s favorite) would be our late lunch at the Fishing Village, a Filipino-themed restaurant that offers a unique, very Filipino experience that is a big hit to both local and foreign tourists. Facing Manila Bay, the Fishing Village has 21 bamboo huts atop the water and has spectacular views of the Manila and Makati skylines. This is the Filipino way of feasting on food with friends and family. Here, all the formality of the dining table is broken down, allowing food and conversation to flow naturally in glorious surroundings above a body of water.
Fishing Village
The food served to us were all favorite Filipino cuisine–amazingly appetizing and bursting with flavours! There are just too many to mention here so just take a peek of the food pics below. All looked mouth-watering, tasted like a dream! No worries about crumbs and spillages as most of us were using our hands to eat!
Roasted Pork Belly
Appetizers in Sungka containers
Seafoods
Lechon sa Pugon
Freshly harvested oysters and mussels
Chopped roasted pig
After an hour of devouring these sinful gastronomic delights, all we wanted was an hour of quiet, relaxing afternoon rest–and that is exactly what we all got, some pampering at the Island Spa! The Spa has a full range of treatments and massages, most notably their signature massage, the Hilot (Pilipino massage). Other treatments offered were Swedish/Shiatsu massage, Warm Milk Bath, Foot Spa, Facial, Body Scrubs and lots of other pamperings. Each of us were offered what we fancied.
Island Spa
Foot spa room
Milk bath and massage room
My foot spa treatment
Fit Club (Gym)
The Bayside KTV cabins
The premier and family de luxe rooms in their hotel as well as their villas were spotlessly clean and spacious enough for large family groups. The rooms were elegantly decorated. Traditional in style, each had its own large cable TV set–not that you actually felt like watching AlDub Nation.
Premier De Luxe rooms
The villas
Walkways
A look inside the villas
Built on its own private hideaway, Island Cove is all about switching off and the variety of its amenities help guests to do just that. There is so much to do here and the place itself has a lot to offer. You’ll love walking, running or biking everywhere and you’ll encounter electric cars and horse carriages that will bring you to the different areas within the resort!
Outside the villa
With our scheduled departure back to Makati at about 6pm, we all hurried to the Sangley Point Bar and Grill where we all had an early dinner. The dining room was in no way ostentatious. Far from the “silent library” atmosphere that many of us associate with the kind of restaurant that serves steaks and back ribs, it was welcoming and friendly, with the view of the pool and Splash Park. The menu was lengthy but not a chore–with our food light enough in quantity not to be off-putting but consistently excellent in taste.
Sangley Point Bar and Grill
We had a taste of their specialty Wagyu Burger, Fish and Chips, Grilled Boneless Soy Chicken, Chicken Picatta Pasta and some fruit and vegetable salad. And because our gracious host, Ms. Malu Samaco, Executive Assistant Manager of Island Cove, wanted us to taste more of their specialties, she ordered samplings of different Pizza flavors and, never one to worry about my waistline (which i should) i devoured a slice each of all 3 samples and washed it down with 2 large tumblers of fresh mango and guava juices without guilt!
As we now knew that the journey going back to Makati was going to take more time than we did coming here considering the rush hour traffic, we hurried to our van and bid Malu our warm thanks and farewell and wished that we could be given a chance to return. Like a human genie, Malu granted our wish by giving each of us free overnight accommodations vouchers for 3-4 persons! Isn’t that cool?
And as we traversed back to the now congested tollway in Las Pinas, we all agreed that we experienced a piece of paradise just near the heart of the hellish metro.
Chef Vill Purificacion
PRESS RELEASE:
ISLAND COVE HOTEL AND LEISURE PARK
Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park is the perfect destination for an easy escape, whether for a quick day tour or an overnight stay. Conveniently located 15 minutes from the Mall of Asia, Island Cove allows you to get away from the madness of the metro without having to go too far.
Island Cove has four food and beverage outlets, helmed by Executive Chef Vill Purificacion. The Fishing Village is a Filipino-themed restaurant that offers a unique experience that is much appreciated by balikbayans and tourists. Facing Manila Bay, the Fishing Village has 21 bamboo huts atop the water and has spectacular views of the Manila and Makati skylines. Guests can go fishing and may have their catch cooked or can order Filipino favorites from the menu including dishes that are unique to Cavite.
Top recommendations are the Pinoy Boodle Feast and their new Lechon sa Pugon which their chefs prepare with much passion. Slow-cooked in their brick oven for 2.5 to 3 hours, it comes out less sinful because a lot of the oil and fat drip out. The skin is very crunchy while the meat is moist and tender. With all the secret ingredients, their Lechon sa Pugon is noticeably more flavorful than those cooked the traditional way.
Sangley Point features western-style cuisine and must-try items are the baked baby back ribs, Wagyu burgers, and their home made bacon barbecue. iCafe offers coffee, shakes, quick meals and sweet treats. Recently added to its menu are sisig buns and adobo buns. Bayside KTV serves pica-pica such as baked oysters and mussels.
There is something for every member of the family at the Island. You can even bring the family dog, because yes, Island Cove is pet-friendly, allowing guests with dogs to enjoy the facilities. Aside from dining at the restaurants, you can spend hours at the Oceania Swim and Splash Park. They have a 350-square meter kid-friendly splash park to Oceania. The splashers and sprayers were imported from Australia. Safety is of paramount importance so they installed colorful, water safe rubber flooring (EPDM) to minimize the possibility of accidents.
The main pools of the Oceania Swim and Splash Park retain the 4 giant slides and giant inflatables. The whole water complex spans over 3,000 square meters and their splash park is the biggest in Mega Manila. It is also notable that all their lifeguards are certified in standard first aid and basic life support by the Philippine National Red Cross.
They have just added a new playground for the kids. It is called the King Crawler. It was designed by the Dutch company, Carve. The original King Crawler was developed when the city council of Purmerend, in the Netherlands, invited Carve to design a new schoolyard area. This vertical urban play structure combines several functions including different types of play and climbing opportunities.
The brightly colored ribbon-like platforms stand out as if they are floating between the muted posts and wire mesh walls. The whimsical design of the King Crawler lends itself to enhancing any architectural landscape. The King Crawler complies with the American and Canadian playground safety standards.
You can also visit the Island Cove Wildlife Sanctuary which is home to different species of reptiles, mammals and birds. Aside from feeding crocodiles and monkeys, you can take photos of ostriches, Bengal tigers, Philippine deer, and a 15-foot python. If you want more thrill, their Adventure Zone has one of the largest paintball arenas in the country and an airsoft game site. You can try their Island Cove Maze Challenge too. Their other outdoor facilities include a basketball court, a tennis court, a 1.4-kilometer jogging path, several playgrounds for children and a giant chess set. Bikes are available for rent.
If you prefer to stay indoors, they have billiard and table tennis tables and a game room with Wii, Playstation 3 and Xbox consoles. If you like to work out, you can visit their full service gym. For those who like to sing, the Bayside KTV would be perfect. It has nine private rooms that can seat groups of 2 to 30. Each of its unique rooms has up-to-date equipment that plays more than 3,000 songs in Chinese, English, Korean, Japanese and Filipino.
For those seeking relaxation and stress relief, the Island Spa is for you. It offers various western and oriental massage treatments.
Island Cove has accommodations that serve guests and clients of every need and budget. They have recently finished major renovation of their accommodation facilities. According to Managing Director Gilbert Remulla, the rooms are now more in tune with the times with USB charging ports, wi-fi internet connectivity, flat screen TVs, and modern bathrooms, while still maintaining a Mediterranean feel.
They are particularly proud of their premier de luxe and family de luxe rooms, as well as the junior suites and villas. Family de luxe room occupants get 30% off on kiddie meals. If you book the premier de luxe room, you will receive complimentary assorted pastries and you won’t be charged separately for the contents of the minibar, you can consume everything that’s there! The junior suites and villas are very spacious and will be much appreciated by groups. Aside from a jacuzzi and pool in the hotel complex exclusive to checked in guests, some sports and recreation facilities are also available to them for free.
Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park is a great place for events, socials and conferences. They have 2 main ballrooms that can fit between 300 to 500 people, 10 air-conditioned function and meeting rooms (including an air-conditioned tent), various non-airconditioned pavilions and function areas. Island Cove is capable of catering and organizing events for as many as 14,000 persons.
They have a concert park where they hold concerts from time to time. They’ve had David Pomeranz, Sharon Cuneta, Side A Band, Sarah Geronimo, Vice Ganda, Daniel Padilla, Rico J. Puno, Marco Sison, Randy Santiago, Louie Heredia, Chad Borja, Nonoy Zuniga, Sitti Navarro, Jed Madela, The Company, Bamboo, Ely Buendia, Aiza Seguerra, Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Regine Velasquez, Spongecola, and Cueshe. They have also hosted wellness events, food festivals, dog shows and sporting activities. And have served as venue to TV shows such as ASAP, Umagang Kay Ganda and Unang Hirit. Movies and soap operas have frequently used Island Cove for their out-of-studio location shoots as well.
Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park is located in Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite, only 15 minutes away from Mall of Asia. For more information, log on to www.islandcovephil.com, call (046) 434 0210 or email inquiry@islandcovephil.com.
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JAZZRUNNER 