Aren’t we gonna drink yet? That was the quintessential question that’s been buzzing around our heads as we lounged around Microtel Cabanatuan’s Liquid Bar. We were at the al fresco area, basically just shooting the breeze, waiting for our friends to arrive, when the seemingly innocuous sunset we were ignoring suddenly bloomed into one of the fieriest afterglow we have ever witnessed.

SUNSET AT MICROTEL CABANATUAN

The sun has lowered itself beneath the horizon but its colors blazed across the open sky, painting the heavens in blistering embers. Thoughts about beer were quickly forgotten as we grabbed our cameras and rushed towards the nearest open field.

We were being warmly welcomed by Cabanatuan City. We certainly knew it.

► CHECK OUT: CABANATUAN TOURIST SPOT

The familiar red and cream façade of Microtel Inn emblazoned itself against the bright blue Tarlac morning. We hauled ass from Manila and arrived at Tarlac City after two hours of straight driving through the highways of North Luzon. The local government of Tarlac, together with Microtel Luisita, has invited us for Tara Quin Tarlac (Tara na sa Tarlac), the first ever media tour of what this familiar but not-so-explored province in Central Luzon has to offer in terms of tourism.

►EXPLORE: TARLAC TRAVEL BLOG

TYPICAL BREAKFAST ON ANY MICROTEL HOTELS

Before anything else, the first order of the day was breakfast.

After dropping our bags at our assigned rooms, everyone trooped back to Microtel’s lobby for the buffet. The staple corned beef, sausage, egg, and crispy danggit filled our plates; it was gonna be a full day of going around Tarlac and we’re packing in as much as we can for the day.

►EAT MORE: DAMPA SA TARLAC

Like most hotels, Microtel at the Mall of Asia provides free breakfast for their guests. I like it when hotels give a free-for-all buffet rather than a set meal one. It means I won’t have to choose what I’m going to eat, I got to have them all haha.

The breakfast is set at Millie’s Restaurant at the ground floor of Microtel. Warm morning light was filtering in through the windows of the place. The restos’s furnishing looks modern and chic, red plush chairs match the textured placemats on wooden tables. Travel-themed artworks hang on walls reflecting the character of the person the restaurant is named for.

I love eating al fresco and I was delighted to find out that we would be having our staycation dinner at Microtel’s roof deck with the stars above and the city lights below.

The food would be provided by Millie’s Restaurant, Microtel MOA’s in house food place. It was named after the hotel president’s mom who, we found out, has also got a bad case of the travel itch too. She proclaimed that a big part of roaming the globe was the gastronomic delights that a traveler encounters on the places one visits. The restaurant reflects that theme with its dishes.

I have been traveling almost non-stop the past few months and although I really love what I’m doing, being a travel junkie and all, it does get to you after a while. Constantly being on the road can be tiring.

And so when Microtel extended an invite for a mini vacation within the Metro, I didn’t even blink, I immediately grabbed the opportunity.

I would be staycationing with a group of travelers; L of Anny’s Chocolate Skies, D of Tracking Treasures, C of Adventurous Feet, E of The Shade of Grey and J of The Backpack Chronicles. Relaxing with like-minded individuals would surely double the fun.

We entered the posh lobby of Microtel at five in the afternoon. Puffy white clouds sailing across Manila Bay were already being lit by the already setting sun. We immediately headed towards the roof deck of the hotel.

It was weird to be suddenly in Baguio without enduring the usual six-hour bus ride from Manila. An hour hasn’t passed yet since we ate lunch at La Union’s Capitol and here we were preparing to chow down again, this time at Baguio’s Te Quiero Tapas Bar & Restaurant.

Te Quiero, which literally means I Love You, is one of the newest food joint in the City of Pines. Part of the Microtel hotel in Baguio City, it sits loftily above the towering pines of the city.  
The restaurant has a modern chic interior; white and yellow walls, huge windows, red furniture and lots of textures. I specially love the airy dining hallway that’s lined with red paintings over a stone wall.  On one side Te Quiero’s windows open to the bustling Victory Liner bus station, but look on the other and you’d see nothing but pine tree tops.