Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Mabuhay Restop’s Manila Vanilla!

Get to know and experience the Philippines like never before while you are having your dinner over a buffet.
Mabuhay Restop is a museum, travel café, and social enterprise in one, devoted to promoting Philippine culture and heritage in creative ways while making a difference.
Just a few days ago I was invited to experience an exceptional cultural show or what they call pop-cultural entertainment at Mabuhay Restop.  
I was the only one who came in late (Booo me) and might I say I was wowed as I came in to the cafe.  As I had opened the door, the sound of the show echoed throughout the room, which made me even more giddy to move up the stair fast, but my eyes were all over the ground floor dining area.

 The restaurant offers home-style dishes, featuring different regional food specialties.   I will do a separate review on their food, since I wasn't able to experience it when I was there.

What I like best though about the restaurants concept is their  contribution in the country's nation building.

The social enterprise has committed to give 30% of Mabuhay Restop’s net income to Gawad Kalinga, a Filipino nation-building movement dedicated to eradicating poverty and restoring human dignity through building empowered and sustainable communities.
If only most Filipinos have hearts like the owners Alain and Rose Cabrera, our country would easily go up the economic ladder and be a Tiger nation in no time.

 Going up the stairs gives you a hint already that the place isn't just like any usual dining place, it is a mini museum that profiles young and aspiring artists of different facets and coming from different regions.
 Even the buffet area was splendid-looking with a stained-glass art from a known artist, highlighting the different and rich culture we Filipinos have.

According to them and some bloggers who were able to savor the dishes, Chicken Binakol is a must-try.

Aside from the sumptuous buffet offering is a heart-stopping show which will  truly make a dinner with friends or families a memorable one.   Dubbed as Mabuhay Restop’s Manilla Vanilla, is a unique musical comedy directed by Nestor U. Torre, with music composed by Ryan Cayabyab.

The show tells the story of a Filipino family as they prepare to open their home as a bed & breakfast. Served with deliciously self-deprecating humor and lighthearted song and dance numbers, the show will tickle your funny bones and serve as an enjoyable introduction to those new to Filipino culture.

Mabuhay Restop’s Manila Vanilla! stars Celine Fabie of the Ryan Cayabyab Singers and Spotlight Artist Centre's "Katy: The Musical," Astarte Abrahan of Resorts World Manila's "The Sound of Music" and Repertory Philippines' "A Portrait of the Artist as a Filipino"; singer and comedian Andy Bais; and entertainer and Gawad Kalinga volunteer Edward Fernandez.

To know more about them, please do check out out their Facebook site.


Address:  T.M. Kalaw corner  Roxas Boulevard (T.M. Kalaw  going to Manila Ocean Park)
Contact Numbers:  02-359-7927 or 0917-810-8195
Email Address:  info@mabuhayrestops.com
Website:   http://www.mabuhayrestops.com

1 comment:

  1. i was also late, so you're not alone in saying that. yes,i loved the show and the food. will come back with my friends.

    ReplyDelete

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