Easter celebrations

FOR those who stayed behind in Metro Manila, many hotels offer options to celebrate Easter. Photo courtesy of Marriott Hotel

He is risen! Hallelujah!

Easter is my favorite Christian season of the year because it is also a celebration of the birth of Christ, this time as King, sans all the stress and traffic of Christmas, which has become a little too commercial for our own good.

There’s also significantly less traffic because Holy Week has become synonymous to going out of the country.

But for those who have wisely decided to stay behind, and especially for those who have children or grandchildren, here are a few places where you can find the Easter bunny—or at least a chocolate version of it:

Manila

To feel like you are not missing out on a great vacation, the Marriott Hotel today offers a Safari Sunday brunch for only P2550 net.  While the adults eat, kids can join in hunting for a golden egg on a Safari field and spot a hopping Easter bunny.

As a bonus for the adults: the child who finds the golden egg will also win a prize of dinner or lunch buffet for 4 at the Marriott Café and 1,000 worth of credits for Marriott Café Bakery.

Tagaytay

Over in Tagaytay, there will be an Easter Mass at Taal Vista Hotel at 8 a.m. At 1 p.m., an Easter egg hunt will take place at the Ridge where there will also be unlimited solar viewing, space art, an astro-photo exhibit, and a magic show for only P988 net for kids from 6 to 12 years old. Adults can enjoy a lunch buffet for P 1,200 net. For merienda, head over to Taza by Chef Jayme Natividad for an alugbati salad or Taza’s unique pizzas.

Baguio

When we were kids, Holy Week meant Easter egg hunting at the Intercon and summers meant horseback riding in Baguio.

For those who now have children making their own memories in Baguio, the good news is that it is business—and fun—as usual at Camp John Hay.

Tito Avanceña, the religious Master of Leisure at Camp John Hay, made sure that there will be an Easter Mass at the accessibly priced but chic hotel The Forest Lodge, adjacent to The Manor.

For the kids, the annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Manor Garden for only P750 per person (adult/kid), inclusive of Egg Hunt, Picnic Lunch, Games, Magic Show and Easter Loot Bags.

For those who just want to eat (and want to have some Chef Billy King recipes), aside from the daily breakfast buffet (6:30 to 10:30 a.m. for only P720 net per adult and P360 net for kids 5 to 10 years old), this Easter there is also an extra special Easter Lunch Buffet for only P950 net per adult and P475 net for kids 5 to 10 years old, as well as a Merienda Buffet from 2 to 5:30 p.m. at The Manor Garden, for only P380 net per adult and P220 net for kids 5 to 10 years old.

Home

Of course there’s no place like home. If you would just like to have your own Easter celebration at home but have the kids or grandkids still have an Easter Egg Hunt, check out this recipe by Louise Hagedorn on how to make Easter Eggs at ManilaSpeak.com: https://www.manilaspeak.com/louise-hagedorn/easter-eggs.

But don’t forget, amid all the eating and celebrations, that Easter is not about the bunny or the eggs but about the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Happy Easter!