A Jolly Christmas BEACH holiday
BEING swamped with work and personal commitments, i felt my cup was already empty, thus the invitation to join the Christmas Tree Lighting event at Pico de Loro Cove couldn’t have come at a better time. Passing through Cavite, the traffic was unkind and heavy but that didn’t dampen my spirit because i was so ready to leave the harsh and suffocating environment of the Metro to touch some sand and get my fill of the so-called “vitamin sea.”
My sister and I arrived at the Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club hotel lobby around lunchtime, so we quickly had a filling meal and were quickly ushered to our Premiere Mountain View room. After dropping off our bags, we immediately went out to enjoy a lovely stroll and check out the premier leisure club of Hamilo Coast.
At the country club, the swimming pools for adults and the ankle-deep one for kiddies are inviting for a quick dip. The sports center is enormous where you can play volleyball, basketball, and badminton. There are also billiards, bowling, and a separate room for e-games.
Heading toward Pico Beach, we enjoyed the open wide spaces, the sea breeze, and the canopy of trees. We were amused at a raft of ducks paddling at the lake before we took a knack at crossing in the wooden hanging bridge at the lagoon. Not too long of a walk, we reached the beach but opted to head back quickly to our rooms to prepare for the night’s main event.
With the theme “A Holly Jolly Holiday,” Pico de Loro Cove opened the festive season by lighting a 30-foot Christmas Tree by the beach. This holiday activity was led by Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club Chairwoman Elizabeth T. Sy; Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club President Rita Dy; SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation Senior Vice President for Operations Walid Wafik; and Costa del Hamilo Vice President for Project Development Ms. Imee Francisco. Stage and film actor Vien King delivered several songs to the crowd, followed by a ceremonial gift-giving for Children’s Joy Foundation Inc. headed by Jennalyn Platon. The foundation will be receiving donations from the sale of Green Christmas products from the Housekeeping Team. They are also the same team behind the creation of the Pico bird-inspired Christmas tree and the handmade holiday decorations, spearheaded by Supervisor and Chief Designer Florencio Garcia together with the Engineering team led by Chief Engineer Paul King.
After the program and cocktails prepared by the culinary team headed by Executive Sous-chef Charles Marinduque, our party of property officials, guests, and media friends were ushered to a private room to feast on a special Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine. As it turns out, this is just a preview of the menu of a restaurant that’s going to be opened soon.
We were served Pan con Tomate, Camaron Macerado En Ginebra, Tabla De Embutidos y Quezo, Pate de Sardinas, Salsa Monja, and a platter of grapes, dried fruits, and nuts for starters. Then we had our fill of the Ensalada de Naranja and Cebolla Y Aceituna. Next, we were served the Sopa de Lentejas before the house specialties were presented at the table. The delectable main entrees were the Cochinillo and Langostinos Con Ajo Ala Plancha partnered with Paella Valenciana and Paella Negra. Already heavy on the tummy, we had to take a breather before indulging in the dessert. Created for the night’s feast, we took delight as we savored a special gelato called Tarta de Santiago Helado Crema Catalana.
Capping the night was the customary group photo op but this one captured our smiles while holding on to our Santas. As a souvenir of our holiday on the beach, we were gifted a handcrafted Santa coin bank made from bamboo and coconut husk. After the good nights and goodbyes, we sauntered back to our hotel room with tummies full of yummy treats and our hearts full of Christmas cheers.