Michael Learns To Rock: Still Asian Tour 2018 - Philippine Leg (Manila, Cebu, Laguna, Davao)

Michael Learns To Rock: Still Asian Tour 2018 (Philippine Leg)

This December, the 1990s pop band Michael Learns to Rock will return to the Philippines for a four-city tour as part of their Still Asian Tour 2018/2019. Produced by Ovation Productions, the group will be performing at the SMX Convention Center (Davao City, Davao del Sur) on December 4, Sta. Rosa Sports Coliseum (Sta. Rosa City, Laguna) on December 6, Waterfront Hotel Ballroom (Cebu City, Cebu) on December 7 and Smart Araneta Coliseum (Quezon City) on December 9.

This is the sixth visit of the group in the country, having performed here on August 31, 2017 (Kia Theater), September 19, 2015 (Smart Araneta Coliseum), November 22, 2008 (Smart Araneta Coliseum), November 6, 2001 (Araneta Coliseum) and 1992.

Jascha Richter (Vocals, Keyboards)

Michael Learns to Rock, also known as MLTR, is an award-winning Danish soft rock band (from Aarhus, Denmark) composed of  Jascha Richter (vocals, keyboard),  Mikkel Lentz (guitars), and  Kåre Wanscher (drums). Bassist Søren Madsen, the original band’s fourth member, left the group in 2000.

Formed in 1988, the band has, over the course of their career, sold over 11 million records, with the majority sold across Asia where they’ve earned great success aided by the hugely popular single "Take Me To Your Heart," awarded the "most downloaded single of the year 2006" (with 6 million or more paid downloads). 

The band has attributed its success in Asia to their clean-living image (their path to success has never been about scandals, divorce, drugs or any extreme way of living but always been about the music) and to singing in English, despite being Danish, as a second language. What sets MLTR apart from other mainstream acts is their ability to craft good tunes oozing with commercial appeal.

Kare Wanscher (Drums)

MLTR has earned Gold and Platinum status for records in many countries and won many awards, including "The Best Performing Act of the Year" at the 1994 SEA Grammy Awards in Singapore and the 1995 Gold Preis Award from the radio station RSH in Germany. The band has recorded nine studio albums as well as a number of live and greatest hits albums. They have played in excess of 600 concerts across the world, with no signs of stopping, and also have an estimated 50 million video views on YouTube and more than 50 million streams on Spotify.

Their string of monster radio hits include  "The Actor" (peaking at No. 1 on the Danish Singles Chart and performing well in Norway, Sweden, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines) from their first album Michael Learns to Rock; "Sleeping Child," "25 Minutes" and "Out of the Blue" from  their second album Colours (released in October 1993, it sold over 1.1 million records);  "That's Why (You Go Away)" and "Someday" from their third album Played on Pepper (sold over 1.2 million records, with most of those sales from Asia);  "Paint My Love" from the greatest hits album Paint My Love; "Take Me to Your Heart" (a remake of Jacky Cheung's "Goodbye Kiss"), "It's Gonna Make Sense" (played as the farewell song on the Philippine reality TV show Pinoy Big Brother), “My Blue Angel” (which went on to top the Danish Album Chart).

MLTR will also be performing cuts from their 9th studio album “Still,” released last March 21, 2018, featuring the hit songs “Everything You Need” and “Hiding Away from Life.”

Mikkel Lentz (Guitars)

For SMX Convention Center (3/F, SM Lanang Premier, J.P. Laurel Ave., Lanang, Davao City) tickets, contact (0922) 695-0284 and (0956)  726-7671. Tickets are priced at PhP4,710 (VIP), PhP3,660 (Gold) and PhP1,310 (Silver).

For Sta. Rosa Sports Coliseum (Leon Arcillas Blvd., Sta. Rosa City, Laguna) tickets, contact (0928) 770-8737 and (0995) 456-0270. Tickets are priced at PhP4,710 (SVIP), PhP3,660 (VIP), PhP2,620 (Lower Box) and PhP1,570 (Upper Box).

For Waterfront Hotel Ballroom (Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City) tickets, contact (0915) 535-3873 and 232-6888. Tickets are priced at PhP4,710 (SVIP), PhP3,660 (VIP), PhP2,620 (Gold), PhP1,880 (SP Balcony), PhP1,570 (Silver) and PhP1,050 (Balcony). Provincial concert tickets are also available via SM Tickets and www.smtickets.com.

Smart Araneta concert tickets are now available via TicketNet at (02) 911-5555 and  www.ticketnet.com.ph; SM Tickets at (02)470-2222 or Ovation Productions at (02) 532-8883. Michael Learns To Rock Live at Smart Araneta Coliseum tickets are priced at PhP4,750 (VIP), PhP4,250 (Patron), PhP3,750 (Lower Box), PhP2,750 (Upper Box A), PhP1,750 (Upper Box B) and PhP750 (General Admission).

Restaurant Review: El Panchito's Fil-Mexicano Resto (Pagsanjan, Laguna)

El Panchito's Fil-Mexicano Resto

It was already past noon when Jandy, Joy, Desiree, Ann, Jessica and I arrived in Pagsanjan and, after meeting up with retired Municipal Tourism Officer Mr. Ramon “Mon” Cabela at the town’s Spanish-era Arch of Guadalupe, asked him on where to delight our craving for some real good food. 

Mon recommended El Panchito's Fil-Mexicano Resto, a restaurant offering Mexican street food favorites with a Filipino twist.  We followed him as he drove his motorcycle.

The dining area

Owned by the husband and wife team of Kit Delos Santos Zaguirre  (the grandson of the woman behind the iconic Aling Taleng's Halo-Halo, the best halo halo in town since 1933) and Jymsee Abaquin Zaguirre, this restaurant opened its doors in 2015.  

The restaurant’s facade had a very homey feel, the fact being it is actually a home, not far from the famous old arch, converted into an L-shaped restaurant.  The dining area was formerly the garage.  The premises of this family-friendly restaurant are clean, the ambiance superb and very relaxing, and the atmosphere wholesome and calm.  

Anticuchos de Pollo

Nachos Bravas

In the dining area, we saw guitars, ukuleles, maracas and Mexican hats on display.  Adding to the Mexican feel was the Mexican music being played.  The whole experience was made even greater by the free Wifi!

Then there’s the great food.  For starters (Antojitos/Pampagana in their menu), we ordered a plate of Nachos Bravas (PhP190) - home fried, multi-colored tortilla chips, drizzled with cheese sauce and crema, topped with mozarella cheese, cheddar cheese, signature picadillo and jalapeno and served with house salsa on the side. They tasted really good, not as dry as some nacho dishes I’ve tasted before, and the  jalapenos were huge.

El Cerdo Fritos

Their main dishes (El Plato Principal/Ulam in their menu) really grabbed a hold of us - Anticuchos de Pollo (PhP200, marinated grilled chicken seasoned with fresh Mexican spices, and served with Mexican rice, buttered corn and pickled cucumber with crema on the side) for Desiree; the El Cerdo BBQ (PhP150, grilled pork liempo in sweet BBQ sauce, with coleslaw and corn, and served with plain rice) for Joy; Chicken Burger (PhP190, deep-fried chicken fillet with coleslaw, lettuce, nachos, tomatoes and cucumber, served with chips on the side) for my son Jandy; El Cerdo Fritos (PhP130, deep-fried pork liempo with pickled cucumber and corn, drizzled with crema and served with Mexican rice) for me and Jessica; and Sisig Plato (PhP160, signature Filipino-style pork sisig, with chopped hard-boiled egg on top, and served with plain rice) for Ann.

Brownie Caliente Con Helado

El Cerdo BBQ

Finally, there’s the sizzling sweetness of their desserts (Postre/Panghimagas in their menu) - the Brownie Caliente Con Helado (PhP190, hot brownies with ice cream on it and milk poured on it) and the famous Aling Taleng’s halo-halo (PhP90).  We liked the former so much, we ordered a second serving. Adding to our fun was all of us wearing Mexican hats, holding ukuleles and having our photo taken in them.

Through word of mouth, this charming restaurant, no longer a hidden secret, will truly become a favorite watering hole for lunch, snacks or dinner for both locals and travelers in the town. Their food prices were very affordable and the servers were very alert and approachable. A must-try restaurant when in Pagsanjan, Laguna.

All dressed up in Mexican hats with ukuleles. L-R: Ms. Desiree Benitez, Mr. Jandy Layug, Mr. Mon Cabela, the author, Ms. Julie Ann Zafe, Ms. Joy Tenedero and Ms. Jessica Bez

El Panchito's Fil-Mexicano Resto: 661 Mabini St., Poblacion Dos, Pagsanjan, 4008 Laguna. Tel: (049) 250-3849.  Mobile number: (0917) 811-4452.  Open daily, 11:00AM - 10:00PM.  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elpanchitospagsanjan. Instagram: @elpanchitospagsanjan.

Resort Feature: Villa Escudero Plantation & Resort (San Pablo City, Quezon)

Arrival at the resort

Our carabao cart ride

Villa Escudero Plantation & Resort, an exotic 450-hectare Class “AA” resort, was opened in 1981.  

A favorite destination among local and foreign tourists, it is situated within a vast 800-hectare (2,000-acre), self-contained working coconut plantation that encompasses San Pablo City (where most of its land belongs) in Laguna and the towns of Dolores and Tiaong in Quezon. 

Upon arrival, guests here are welcomed at the reception hall with a warm greeting and cool native sago or fruit drinks.

Labasin Hydroelectric Dam

After the welcome, guests are uniquely toured around the park-like setting of the resort via a large, festively-decorated and carabao-pulled cart (aptly named Macho).  Along the way, local female folk singers serenaded us with Filipino songs to the accompaniment of a male guitarist.  

All are appropriately dressed in native costumes: the women in baro't saya or kimona and the men in camisa de chino and colorful trousers. Truly a laid-back and unique countryside experience in a serene pastoral atmosphere. 

Delicious native-style buffet lunches are served beside the man-made  Labasin Waterfalls, actually the spillway of the Labasin hydroelectric dam. 

Guests sit at rows of shaded wood and bamboo dining tables with 8 inches of running spring waters swirling around the calves of our bare feet, a truly singular and memorable experience as we dined al fresco with the falls as a backdrop.  

The Labasin dam also created a long, narrow and deep artificial lake or reservoir from the waters of the Lagnas River.  Filled with dalag (mudfish) and tilapia, fishing is offered here but we opted to avail  of the relaxing bamboo raft ride at this lake which was included in the day tour. 

Frolicking at Labasin Falls

Villa Escudero Plantation & Resort: San Pablo City, Laguna.  Manila booking office: 1059 Estrada St., Malate, Manila.  Tel: (632) 521-0830, 523-0392 and 523-2944.  Website: www.villaescudero.com.

How To Get There: About 10 kms. (6.2 miles) south of San Pablo City,  enter the Laguna-Quezon (Tiaong) border arch and, a few hundred past the arch, on the left, is the entrance to the resort.