Spa Review: P.D.C. Spa Town (Capas, Tarlac)

P.D.C. (Pinatubo Development Corp.) Spa Town, in Brgy. Sta. Juliana in Capas, Tarlac, is the jump-off point for early morning Pinatubo treks.  It also offers relaxing and rejuvenating series of spa treatments unique to Pinatubo in a first-of-a-kind model in fitness therapy and well being.  

Mud Pack Treatment

For the volcanic ash spa treatment (sulfur or salt treatment). guests are buried for 30 mins. in a relaxing body wrap with heated, sulfur-laden volcanic ash to remove body wastes by drawing out toxins and impurities that are embedded deep within the skin's pores. 

Volcanic ash is said to be high in sulfur which not only helps our body not only to resist bacteria but actually to destroy it. It is also said to lessen body cholesterol. 

Next is a facial and body mud pack. When applied to our skin's surface, the soothing wet clay lifts, firms and exfoliates, softening and stretching our skin to make us look revitalized and healthier with a more youthful looking complexion.  

After a while, guests then take to the showers to remove the dried up clay.  The final pampering is soothing signature massage in the 100-pax massage parlor to improve blood circulation and relax  tired muscles and joints.  The spa's 1 hour and 20 minute signature massage – the “Pina-thai-tsu,” a unique combination of a traditional Thai and Shiatsu massage, with a few local massage techniques (hilot) added in. 

The Signature Pina-Thai-Tsu Massage

There’s nothing like an ideal series of treatments to soothe our tired muscles and joints, improve our blood circulation and invigorate our body after a long and punishing day of trekking, making the most of this fantastic Philippine experience that is Pinatubo.  The whole 3-course spa treatment costs PhP1,500 per person or PhP500 per treatment. 

P.D.C. Spa Town: Brgy. Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac c/o Pull Travel Destination Corporation, Clark Office: G/F Oxford Hotel, MA Roxas St. cor N. Aquino Ave., Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.  Tel: (045) 499-0629, 493-0031 and 615-0454. Email: pdcspatown@yahoo.com. Website: www.pinatubospatown.com.

Hotel and Inn Review: Microtel Inn and Suites (Tarlac City, Tarlac)

Date of Stay: January 25, 2011

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)

Location: *******

Rooms: *******

Condition and Cleanliness: *******

Staff Performance: ********

Room Comfort: *******

Food and Beverage: ******

Other Amenities: ******

Value for Money: *******

Microtel Inn and Suites Tarlac

Double queen room

Microtel Inn and Suites, in Tarlac City, near the Aquino Center, has 50 airconditioned rooms with chiropractic-approved beds, private bath with hot and cold shower, fridge, IDD/NDD phone, writing desk, internet-ready data port, electronic key card entry system  and cable TV (single/double queen and suites, PhP2,106-3,861).   

The hotel also has a 24-hour front desk,  a 20-pax meeting room and offers wi-fi access (at lobby), safety deposit boxes (at lobby), currency exchange, laundry, mailing and fax services. Luisita Golf and Country Club is located just 3 kms. away.

Microtel Inn & Suites Tarlac: Luisita, Brgy. San Miguel, Tarlac City, Tarlac 2301.  Tel: (045) 985-1770 (trunkline) & 985-1974.  . Fax: (45) 985-1975. E-mail: tarlac@microtel.ph.  Website: www.microtelinn.com. 

Manila sales and reservation office: 2/F, PHINMA Bldg., 166 Salcedo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.  Tel: (632) 810-9526, 813-7523 & 813-8553.  Fax: (632) 817-3942.  Domestic toll-free: 1-800-1888-7171. 

Restaurant Feature: Fresh Catch Isdaan (Gerona, Tarlac)

Fresh Catch Isdaan

Koi-filled fishpond

The open Fresh Catch Isdaan, along the highway in Gerona, has one huge koi-filled fishpond with "floating" (actually on stilts) cabanas with tables for diners, all connected by bamboo walkways.  

All over the place are huge, eye-catching statues of Buddhas, mermaids, monkeys, dinosaurs and crocodiles; Disney characters; noted Filipinos (Corazon Aquino, Joseph Estrada, Jaime Cardinal Sin, Ninoy Aquino, etc.)  as well as Marvel comic characters such as Batman, Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk. 

Food served here was mostly Filipino, the restaurant being part of the Barrio Fiesta Restaurant Group.  Its signature dishes include chicken tinupig, sisig, adobong pusit, bulalo, manok sa gata, kare-kare, sinampalukan, sizzling tanigue, hototai (mixed vegetable soup), Bicol Express, pinakbet, inihaw na liempo, buko pandan, binagoongang baboy, sinigang na hipon, lumpiang shanghai, fried chicken or porkchop, lechon kawali, among others.  There were subli dancers as well as roaming singers with guitars serenading guests, all dressed in appropriate Filipiniana attire.  

Tacsiyapo Wall

A big surprise was the Tacsiyapo Wall, a cool and neat though not original idea which is bound to bring tourists, looking for stress relief, to this place.  Here, you can release your anger by throwing crockery such as cups (PhP15), bowls (PhP18), plates (PhP35), pitchers (PhP100), vases or even a broken TV (PhP2,000) at a wall.   

According to the attendant, to get the feel of it, you need to shout "tacsiyapo!" (A Kapampangan word meaning, at best, "shame on you" or, at worst, similar to the Tagalog P...I....).  Before throwing, you can choose at a  selection of targets on the wall such as "Taksil!," "Sip-sip!," "Bolero!," "Bolera!,""Ingitera!," "Tsismosa!," etc.  

Fresh Catch Isdaan: MacArthur Highway, Brgy. Salapungan, Gerona, 2302 Tarlac.  Tel: (045) 931-2196.