MANILA BAY KITCHEN: Where Flavors and Stories Gather

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


Sheraton Manila Bay's new all-day dining restaurant, Manila Bay Kitchen is set to be Manila's culinary melting pot.

As the capital of the Philippines, Manila has long been a hub of trade and a cultural melting pot with influences from across Asia and beyond. Much like its namesake, Manila Bay Kitchen, Sheraton Manila Bay's all-day dining restaurant, offers diners an exceptional culinary experience that showcases the best of international, regional, and local cuisine.

Be greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere as you step inside Manila Bay Kitchen, with its modern interiors, comfortable seating, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The open kitchen concept allows guests to see the chefs at work, adding to the overall dining experience.
Manila Bay Kitchen features an extensive menu, carefully crafted to highlight local signatures and an array of Asian specialty cuisine, inspired by flavors from Thailand, Japan, and Korea, among others. Freshly prepared sushi and sashimi platters are some of the highlights of the international menu while highly sophisticated oven bake the most distinguished premium pizzas. The restaurant’s skilled culinary team also boast of its innovative gourmet creation including the “Curate your own Pasta” which allows dinners to choose the perfect pasta shape and pair it with specially made sauces including Crab and Shrimp "Aligue", Moringa Pesto, and Chicken "Inasal-Alfredo". The restaurant also features an impressive "on the grill" selection of premium fish, seafood, and succulent steak including the famous "Kurobuta pork" and US Wagyu Striploin. A must-try when visiting Manila Bay Kitchen is their signature dessert “Blanc”, a delicious and refreshing dessert that combines the flavors of sweet Philippine mango, rich and flavorful sticky rice, and cold and creamy coconut ice cream, served with thick caramel dip and ladyfingers brushed with confectionary sugar.

Aside from its delectable a la carte offerings, Manila Bay Kitchen also offers a diverse buffet spread for breakfast, pre-dinner happy hour, dinner, and Sunday brunch.

The exquisite Breakfast Buffet available daily from Monday to Friday at 6:30 to 10:00 am and 6:30 to 10:30 am from Saturday and Sunday for only Php 1,350 net per person, offers a culinary experience to suit every palate and dietary preference. From freshly baked pastries, artisan bread, egg station, and fluffy pancakes to a variety of cereals and a colorful assortment of seasonal fruits, guests will find a delightful selection of breakfast favorites to energize their day.

The Pre-dinner Happy Hour buffet experience sets the stage for an unforgettable evening of culinary indulgence. Available every Sunday to Wednesday from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm for only Php 1,800 net per person, it features a sumptuous assortment of tantalizing appetizers, small plates, gourmet salads, artisanal cheeses, and delectable bites carefully crafted by our skilled culinary team.

 
Drawing inspiration from culinary delights around the world, our Dinner Buffet presents an enticing array of flavors every Thursday to Saturday from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. For only Php 2,800 net person, our dinner buffet showcases an indulgent selection of gourmet delights, meticulously prepared by our talented chefs. From international specialties to regional favorites, the buffet offers an enticing array of appetizers, main courses, pizza station, savory meat carving, decadent desserts, and an impressive array of fresh and succulent seafood options.

Indulge in a delightful medley of flavors with a Sunday Brunch buffet from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm for only Php 2,800 net per person. From breakfast classics like made-to-order omelets, custom waffles, and crispy bacon to an array of lunch favorites such as succulent roasts, gourmet sandwiches, and savory pastas, our buffet ensures that there is something for everyone to enjoy. Elevate further your Sunday brunch feasts and dinner buffet with a delicious drink or two by availing Beverage add-on for only Php 600 net per person and enjoy a variety of refreshing beverages including house wines, local beers, chilled juices, and sodas, that pair perfectly with your meal.

With its diverse gastronomic offering, there is no shortage of culinary experiences to be had at Manila Bay Kitchen. It is truly a fascinating community center where locals and travelers alike share, dine, and gather in a celebration of diversity, culture, flavors, and stories.

For reservations, please call +632 5318 0788 or email sh.mnlsb.fnb@sheraton.com. Sheraton Manila Bay is located at M. Adriatico corner Gen. Malvar Streets, Malate, Manila. Like us on Facebook and Instagram @sheratonmanilabay and Twitter at @sheratonmnlbay.

Masustansya at murang pagkain para sa iyong anak

Wazzup Pilipinas!?




Pangunahing hangarin ng isang magulang para sa kaniyang anak ang mabigyan ng masustansyang pagkain sa araw-araw, subalit, dahil sa kakulangang pang-pinansyal, maaaring maging mahirap para sa isang pamilya na magkaroon ng balanse sa pagitan ng abot-kaya at wastong nutritisyon na kinakailangan ng isang bata.

Lumabas sa mga pag-aaral na isa sa mga pangunahing sanhi ng malnutrisyon ay ang hindi sapat na pagkain ng masustansya na kinakailangan ng ating katawan. Upang maging malusog, dapat na maibigay ang hustong nutrients katulad ng carbohydrates, taba, protina at bitamina.

Kaugnay nito, at upang matulungan ang iyong pamilya na makaiwas sa malnutrisyon, narito ang mga tips sa paghahanda ng masustansyang pagkain na swak sa iyong badyet na tiyak na magugustuhan rin ng iyong anak:

Isang mahalagang bahagi ng balanseng pagkain ay ang taba at protina. Bumili ng abot-kayang pagkain tulad ng itlog, munggo at mga sariwang isda. Ang mga opsyon na ito ay hindi lamang matipid sa bulsa, kundi dahil ito rin ay masustansya na nakatutulong sa paglaki ng iyong anak.

Ang pagpaplano ng maaga ay isa sa mga susi sa abot-kaya at masustansyang pagluluto. Maglaan ng ilang oras kada linggo upang magplano. Sa maagang pagpaplano maaari kang gumawa ng listahan upang maiwasan ang pagbili ng hindi naman kailangan. Huwag kalimutan na isama ang mga pagkain tulad ng kanin, gulay, manok, baboy o tokwa na naglalaman ng nutrients na kinakailangan ng iyong anak.

Mahalaga ang mga sariwang prutas at gulay upang maging malusog. Hindi lamang abot-kaya, masustansya at sariwa ang mga lokal na produkto, matutulungan din ang ating magsasaka sa kanilang kabuhayan. Isama ang mga prutas, gulay na karaniwang makikita sa Pilipinas, tulad ng saging, papaya, talong, okra, malunggay at kamote. Ang mga pagkain na ito ay masustansya at kadalasang makukuha sa abot-kayang presyo sa merkado.

Maaaring lutuing muli ang mga natirang pagkain upang makalikha ng ibang ulam. Halimbawa, gamitin ang natirang inihaw na manok para gawing adobong manok o gawing sinangag ang sobrang kanin. Maaari naman isama sa may sabaw na ulam ang natirang karne at gulay. Ngunit dapat na siguruhin ito ay maaari pang makain. Sa pamamagitan ng muling paggamit ng mga natirang pagkain, ikaw ay makatitipid at makababawas din sa pagkasayang ng pagkain o food waste.

Tandaan na hindi mahal ang maging healthy. Tulad ng tema ng Buwan ng Nutrisyon ngayong Hulyo, “Healthy Diet Gawing Affordable For All!” sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng lokal na sangkap at tamang diskarte sa pagluluto, masisigurado mong makukuha ng iyong anak ang mga nutrients na kinakailangan para sa mas malusog na katawan. 

Survey confirms disappearing population of critically-endangered Irrawaddy dolphins in Bicol

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



No sooner has their existence been confirmed that the rare Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) of San Miguel Bay in Bicol are already at risk of disappearing from the region.

The survey team spotted two Irrawaddy dolphins in San Miguel Bay in the Bicol region: one near Apuao Island and another near Canimog Island, both in the waters of Mercedes, Camarines Norte. (Image credit: MMRCL)

Irrawaddy dolphins are characterized by gray or dark-blue backs and pale bellies, with a high tolerance to various levels of salinity that enables them to live in areas where salty seawater and freshwater meet – such as in the mouths of rivers and bays. They are among the world’s most endangered dolphin species, indicated as critically endangered on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They are also considered critically endangered by the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

A mission to find live Irrawaddy dolphins in the area of San Miguel Bay in Bicol led scientists from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (UPD-CS IESM) to validate the existence in the area of this critically-endangered species during a recent dolphin survey conducted from July 6 to 9, 2023.

 



Efforts to locate Irrawaddy dolphins

The team, led by IESM Professor and Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Laboratory (MMRCL) Head Dr. Lemnuel Aragones, sighted two Irrawaddy dolphins—one near Apuao Island and another near Canimog Island, both in the waters of Mercedes, Camarines Norte.

“These dolphins prefer brackish waters, making the San Miguel Bay area an ideal place for the Irrawaddy dolphins to thrive, with its shallow depth, a wide range of salinities, and presence of nearby offshore islands,” Dr. Aragones explained.

The IESM researchers and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Office 5 (BFAR5) were motivated to organize the dolphin survey after conducting key informant interviews in October 2022 about a stranded Irrawaddy dolphin reported as a bycatch in August of the same year.

The team covered a total area of about 680 square kilometers. In terms of travel distance, they covered a total of 335 kilometers in 23 hours, spread over four days, with transects traversing the shorelines of towns in Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.



Seeking refuge in San Miguel Bay

According to Dr. Aragones, not only do these rare sightings of Irrawaddy dolphins confirm their existence in San Miguel Bay, they also indicate that only a few of these dolphins are left. “It is most likely that the Irrawaddy dolphins are using the offshore islands in the San Miguel Bay as a refuge area, and that there is now probably much less food for them there since it is one of the most over-exploited fishing grounds in the country,” Dr. Aragones explained.

Dr. Aragones also urged the creation of an action plan with BFAR5 on the protection and conservation of these critically-endangered dolphins. “I already talked with BFAR5 Regional Director Ariel Pioquinto about enhancing San Miguel Bay again to ensure the Irrawaddy dolphins’ habitat,” he said. “We hope to harmonize local ordinances with existing national laws regarding protected species.”

The dolphin survey team was composed of spotters from IESM; the BFAR5 – Fisheries Protection and Law Enforcement Group (BFAR5-FPLEG); the BFAR – Fisheries Resources Management Section (BFAR5-FRMS), and the Ateneo de Naga University Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research (INECAR).

Other populations of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Philippines can be found in Malampaya Sound in Palawan and the Iloilo-Guimaras-Negros Occidental area.

The dolphin survey team was composed of spotters from IESM; the BFAR5 – Fisheries Protection and Law Enforcement Group (BFAR5-FPLEG); the BFAR – Fisheries Resources Management Section (BFAR5-FRMS); and the Ateneo de Naga University Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research (INECAR). (Photo credit: MMRCL)