Sing, Dance and Dine for Bayanihan with Mabuhay Restop’s Manila Vanilla!

Friday, March 15, 2013



Mabuhay Restop is envisioned as the go-to place for tourists in the Philippines where they could experience the country like never before and be effective catalysts for nation-building.

Mabuhay Restop seeks to promote social tourism and entrepreneurship in 
the Philippines by:

1. Establishing a central social tourism base in Rizal Park that will showcase the beauty of the Philippines and the Filipino through tours, shows, events, and the arts, and eventually spread them out in different parts of the country;
2. Empowering communities for community-based tourism enterprises in partnership with GKonomics;
3. Facilitating voluntourism tours that are not just fun and affordable, but are also meaningful in that they have immediate concrete transformation impact on the community;
4. Facilitating demonstrable pay-forward schemes for accomplished Filipinos (the best for the least);
5. Demonstrating a feasible business model that commits a significant percentage of income to nation-building.


It is a widely known fact that Filipinos are very hospitable people, so much so that they greet guests not by asking, “Kumusta (How are you)?” but by asking, “Kumain ka na ba (Have you eaten)?”

Such quirks and other peculiar Filipino traits are celebrated in Mabuhay Restop’s Manilla Vanilla--a unique musical comedy directed by Nestor U. Torre, with music composed by Ryan Cayabyab.


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.

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.





Aside from a night of pop-cultural entertainment, audiences will also get to enjoy a delicious Filipino buffet of home-style dishes and different regional specialties.





A Catalyst of Nation-Building
As a museum, travel café, and social enterprise in one, Mabuhay Restop is devoted to promoting Philippine culture and heritage in creative ways while making a difference. 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.

“At Mabuhay Restop, we want our guests to get to know and experience the Philippines like never before,” says owner and president Rose Cabrera, a UCLA-educated California lawyer and GK advocate. “We don’t just offer great food and entertainment; we also offer voluntourism tours and other avenues to provide visitors with an opportunity to create better lives for communities who need it most.”

Other Attractions
To add to its repertoire of shows, Mabuhay Restop also offers something for the kids and kids-at-heart with Mga Kwento ni Tita Beauty, also written and directed by Nestor U. Torre. A spin-off from Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang, the show features creative and theatrical storytelling featuring 6 original Filipino and English tales imbibed with valuable moral lessons.

For a different Philippine travel experience, Mabuhay Restop offers the Voluntourism or Kalinga Tours. They provides visitors a totally different Philippine travel experience by taking them not just to beautiful tourist spots in Bicol, Bacolod, Palawan, and Davao, but also to several Gawad Kalinga villages, where they can experience the warmth and hospitality of the Filipinos, practice compassion in action, and understand the soul of bayanihan. 

Additionally, Mabuhay Restop also offers the Bayan Tour, a 3-hour guided and interactive tour in Rizal Park for visitors who wish to learn more about the Philippines and the Filipino. This tour features the one-of-a kinds "I am Filipino" art exhibit with 12 Filipino artists like Ugu Bigyan, Nemi Miranda, Ramon Orlina, Ryan Cayabyab, JC Buendia and Ernie Francisco, and Albert Badz Magsumbol.

Ultimately, Mabuhay Restop aims to make a difference in the lives of Filipinos through social tourism and entrepreneurship. “We want to be able to set an example to other entrepreneurs by showing it is profitable to invest in the poor and partner with them through social enterprises.”



For more details:

Like Mabuhay Restop's Facebook page:

KALINGA TOURS (Voluntourism Tours)

o Experience the Philippines like never before by joining a KALINGA TOUR which will take you not just to Philippine tourist spots, but also to a Gawad Kalinga village where you will experience the much vaunted warmth and hospitality of the Filipino, practice compassion in action, and discover hope.
o City Tour (Half Day), Farm Tour (Full Day), Provincial Tour (3, 5, 7 Days) 
o Tours offered are in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Camarines Sur, Palawan, Bacolod, and Davao. 

BAYAN TOUR (Patriotic Educational Tour) 

o Enjoy a 3-hour guided, interactive tour about the Philippines and the Filipino in Rizal Park.
o Tour includes some singing, live theater, art exhibit, a museum tour, a short film, crafts-making for your souvenir, and a brown bag lunch under the Rizal Park trees (or dinner show if afternoon tour).

MANILA VANILLA (Cultural Dinner Show) 

o Enjoy a not-your-usual cultural show with a sumptuous Filipino buffet dinner.
o Show is written & directed by Nestor U. Torre, with music by Ryan Cayabyab.
o Saturdays (7pm).

MGA KWENTO NI TITA BEAUTY (Weekend Children's Theater)

o Original fun-filled children’s plays brighten weekend afternoons for the whole family.
o Written & Directed by Nestor U. Torre
o Saturdays (3pm) – show includes special Pinoy Merienda

CAFE & EVENTS VENUE

Sumptuous homestyle cooking, regional Philippine specialties and family favorites
Spacious venue for meetings and special occasions. 
Product launches at Relief Map
Special Occasion Parties
Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner Meetings
Filipino-Themed Children’s Parties
Family Reunions

PHILIPPINE-MADE MERCHANDISE

GK village & social entrepreneurs products
Filipino designer goods
Other patriotic merchandise

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1 comments

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