Relaxing Weekend at Valentino Resort and Spa

A great yet inexpensive resort so close to Manila is hard to come by for a number of reasons. First, the Batangas, Laguna and Cavite areas are so commercialized it doesn't feel like you're leaving the city at all. Second, if you want a well-maintained resort, you have to pay a hefty price tag. And lastly, it is often over-crowded.

That is why I was worried my second visit to Valentino Resort and Spa would be a disappointing one. When I first went there last year, it appeared to be fairly new and everything was pretty and polished just like a new resort should. For the second visit (upon hearing they were charging more or less the same price as before), I worried that the place would be at least two of the three things I mentioned above. Fortunately, they proved me wrong.

Alphas: Heroes 2.0

Heroes came in with a big bang. Everyone was talking about it like it was the best thing on TV and for a lot of people, it was. But then the writer's strike threw a wrench into Heroes' perfect clockwork and delivered a disastrous season 2. Everything was just downhill from there until it was cancelled two unbearable seasons later. Now, a new superpower-based ensemble comes in the form of Alphas.

Alphas has a lot of work cut out for them considering they are on a cable network on the summer season. Heroes had a relatively bigger budget even after the cuts and it was showing on Monday nights in the stellar fall season. But what they lack in backing they make up with a more concise plot and lots of potential for character development. Here's why.

Cirque du Soleil's Varekai Wows Manila!

After seeing the first billboard for Varekai a couple of months ago, I swore to myself that I wouldn't let the opportunity of seeing world class Cirque du Soleil performers pass me by. And I'm glad I kept that promise because I can't even begin to explain how awesome this afternoon has been.

Varekai is a re-telling of the fall of Icarus. Instead of plunging into the ocean, he finds himself in a lush forest surrounded by strange creatures. Here, he finds love and eventually learns to fly again with the help of his new friends.

The Nine Lives of Chloe King: Suprisingly Good

I like to watch premiere episodes of a lot of new shows because I try not to judge a TV show by its trailer (or its synopsis). Surprisingly, I found a promising new show airing from ABC Family called the Nine Lives of Chloe King right in the middle of the summer season drought.

Based on a novel by Liz Braswell, the Nine Lives of Chloe King is about a 16-year-old girl who discovers she has cat-like powers. I was a bit wary of the show at first especially since it seemed like it was one of the many shows trying to achieve the success of The Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars. But after watching the first episode, I think I'm going to be hooked for the rest of the season.

The Voice: A Refreshing New Reality Singing Competition

Today, I finally caught up with all the episodes of The Voice just in time for next week's big finale. I must say that it is a nice break from watching American Idol for nearly a decade.

First of all, the format is a lot different from most competitions. Instead of judges, the show has coaches in the form of Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton. They guide the singers instead of just critiquing them which helps them grow and ensures a brilliant performance each and every time. Second and probably the most important, the talent is just amazing. I'm such a big fan of a lot of the people on the show and watching them perform week after week is such a treat.

Castle: The Best Season Finale for the 2010 - 2011 Season

Castle has consistently been one of my favorite shows since it started airing three years ago for several reasons. One, Nathan Fillion is a genius. Two, Stana Katic is gorgeous. And three, their chemistry is great. However, in the past two seasons, the finales of other shows often eclipsed that of Castle. But for their third (and thankfully not their last) season, the show delivered the most heart-wrenching and mind-blowing episode for all shows of the entire season.

Fast Forward to September Please!

All my favorite TV shows ended a couple of weeks ago which means the start of the dreaded summer season. The summer season is the wasteland filled with mostly boring shows and unnecessary re-runs.