If you’re my friend on Facebook or you follow my social media posts, you know that my boyfriend Jessie and I recently welcomed our first anniversary at Discovery Suites Ortigas. A lot of people have been asking me about it, so I just decided to blog about it in full detail.

First, a little personal background: Jessie and I officially became a couple on the day of my parents’ own wedding anniversary, and the day after my brother’s birthday, so for the rest of our lives together, celebrating will be tricky, hehe. Of course I don’t want to miss celebrating my bro’s birthday and my parents’ anniversary with the whole family, but I also want alone time with Jessie.

We reached a compromise: Instead of me flying to Iloilo, which is usually what I do when we celebrate our monthsaries, Jessie decided to fly here, so he’s here to celebrate with my family, and then we can have our alone time on the actual night of our anniversary. Whenever I’m in Iloilo, Jessie takes care of all the planning when we celebrate our monthsary: a trip here, a romantic dinner there, a spa treat, too. So I decided that for our anniversary, since he’s the one flying to Manila and I don’t get to see him as often as I’d like, I might as well make it special and be the one to plan something for us.

The cakes Discovery Suites gave us for dessert at 22 Prime.

We’ve always loved Discovery Suites (click here to book), and we stay there almost every time Jessie visits me in Manila (yes, we’re in an LDR, if you haven’t noticed by now). My family also loves Discovery Suites, and we’ve celebrated several occasions here already (we usually stay in their two-bedroom suite; but you have 220 suites to choose from, from a junior suite to a three-bedroom suite). So I thought it would be perfect to welcome our anniversary in Discovery Suites and also spend a little bonding time with the family during the day, before we get our alone time.

Discovery Suites’ location in Ortigas is perfect: It’s within walking distance to at least three malls (The Podium is right across, then SM Megamall is just right after that, and a few more minutes and Shangri-La Plaza’s there!). It was perfect because my mom decided to have a joint birthday and anniversary lunch in a restaurant in Podium, and since we had time to spare, Jessie and I were even able to do a little shopping at Megamall. And as if the shopping and dining options in these three malls are not enough, there are also a bunch of other restaurants around that are also within walking distance (hello, El Pueblo, etc.). There are also banks everywhere, so withdrawing cash is never an issue. In our previous stays, we loved how Discovery Suites is close to where I have events and where I do yoga, or where Jessie has business meetings.

Discovery Suites Lobby

Since Discovery already considers us among their very loyal customers, it was easy to request special amenities and get their help in creating special memories, such as my first anniversary “surprise” for Jessie. I booked us a one-bedroom suite, then told the Discovery team that I needed their help in making our “anniversary salubong” (the night before our anniversary) extra special. Suffice it to say, they over-delivered! Even I was blown away by how our planning turned out. Click through the gallery below for a virtual tour of our one-bedroom suite in photos, then read on for the rest of my entry.

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We were immediately put at ease the moment we walked through the doors because it was like coming back to our second home. Everyone knew us by name and greeted us warmly—we’ve stayed here several times, after all, and Jessie particularly appreciated this kind of personalized service that no other hotel is able to deliver.

When we arrived at our suite, there was a basket of goodies on the table in the dining area, welcome drinks, and cold towels. At the desk in the living area, beside a vase of beautiful flowers, is a framed photo of us on one of our trips to Cebu (I didn’t even wonder how they got access to this because of social media, but Jessie was amazed how they got hold of our photo, haha!). While Jessie was admiring the goodies in the living room and kitchen, I went inside the bedroom and squealed: There was a bouquet of flowers on the bed, an elephant towel sculpture, and pillows with our names embroidered on them! (By the way, they have a pillow menu!) It’s our first couple pillowcase, and we were so happy! I teased Jessie that he didn’t even need to worry about getting me flowers, haha!

Anyway, after our family lunch, I invited the family to our suite so we can have a few drinks. There are several convenience stores around, so we were able to stock up on chips to go with the beer we ordered from room service (even if they also gave us delicious garlic peanuts on the house). It was so easy to entertain the family because the kitchen is equipped with plates, cutlery, an oven, a stove, and all the other essentials. It made me happy that not only was Jessie so happy with the surprise, my family also got to relax and bond in our suite. Discovery is really known for its uncanny ability to combine the luxuries and comforts of a deluxe hotel with the warm touches of a home.

Just as we were preparing for dinner that I arranged at their flagship steak restaurant 22 Prime, one of my favorite steak places in Manila that is just at the 22nd floor of Discovery Suites, in comes room service with chocolate fondue, as well as fruits, churros, and marshmallows to dip in it, plus a “Happy Anniversary” cake! Jessie and I attacked the fondue with gusto. Sayang my family already left! We were already quite full when dinner came around. But 22 Prime is 22 Prime, I wouldn’t cancel our dinner reservations for the world, and so we went! Watch for my separate food feature on our “anniversary salubong” dinner there soon, on my blog’s Food section, of course!

While we were at dinner, housekeeping set up our suite in a way that’s fit for honeymooners: They turned down the lights, scattered rose petals on our bed and on towel sculptures in the shape of two kissing swans, and, for me, the sight to behold: our bathtub filled with rose petals and strawberry-scented foam!

Jessie was already too tired and full from dinner, so I had some alone time in the tub, sipping leftover wine from dinner while I soaked in the strawberry foam. Ah, bliss! That was a wonderful first for me, for sure.

The next day, knowing that we’re the couple celebrating our anniversary, the staff of Restaurant 5—their restaurant at the fifth floor that serves Pan-Asian cuisine, where we enjoyed Discovery Suites’ buffet breakfast that comes with our accommodations—really went all out to take care of us. When I asked for coffee they gave me a freshly brewed cup, and they even gave us a platter of fruits without us asking. Having stayed and enjoyed buffet breakfast in Restaurant 5 several times, Jessie and I both agreed that their spread that day was pretty impressive and seemed larger than before. Click through the gallery below for my snapshots of some of the buffet items.

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We wanted to enjoy our suite some more, eating our cake and watching TV, so we didn’t swim in their pool, soak in the jacuzzi, or work out at their fully-equipped gym (Balance Lifestyle Fitness Club, which also offers classes like yoga and one-on-one workout with a trainer), but those are available for guests. And while our stay was purely leisure, we did enjoy the WiFi internet access for posting our photos on social media.

Upon checking out, knowing that Jessie is not from Manila, Discovery Suites made sure he flies back home with some baked sweets as pasalubong. Of course I got my own box, too!

It was a very quick, hectic anniversary staycation for us, but if we actually had the time, it would have been perfect to spend one night in Discovery Suites in Ortigas, then the next night in Discovery Country Suites in Tagaytay (click here to book). Since it’s their sister hotel, it would be so easy to coordinate with Discovery Suites’ reservation for a stay and some sightseeing in Tagaytay, too. Discovery Country Suites is a charming seven-suite bed and breakfast in Tagaytay, home to the multi-awarded Restaurant Verbena, known for its contemporary country cuisine. Offering the little luxuries of a hotel, it is an ideal location for intimate celebrations and quaint garden weddings overlooking Taal Volcano. The lakeside retreat in the South is an idyllic weekend escape for families and honeymooners alike. Their team told me as much, and while I didn’t get to do it this time, this is definitely an AWESOME idea for next year’s anniversary celebration, which has to top this one, of course.

Don’t wait for me to tell you about that. Go try this double treat of Discovery Suites and Discovery Country Suites, taking yourself from business to leisure. It will be worth it, and you deserve it. Entrust your special celebrations with Discovery, the way I did, and as I have just told you, they do not disappoint. A friend even compared notes with me when she found out Jessie and I were celebrating our first anniversary salubong in Discovery, because she and her boyfriend did the same, albeit with different treats, personalized to them.

Halloween at Discovery Suites & Discovery Country Suites

One of the best times to stay at Discovery Suites Ortigas and Discovery Country Suites in Tagaytay is when they have promos tied to special occasions, like Halloween!

Join Count Dracula and the rest of the gang for a costume party at Discovery Suites Ortigas on Oct. 30, 2015 from 3PM to 6PM. Kids are entitled to a delicious snack buffet and an exciting tour of spine-chilling booths. Ticket price is at P800 net per person for children and adults. Room packages are also available from Oct. 29 to 31. Rates start at P5,600 net in a Junior Suite and P6,300 net in a Junior Serendipity Suite. Offer includes breakfast buffet at Restaurant 5 and tickets to the Spooky Halloween Adventure event for two.

Meanwhile, you may also want to celebrate a one-of-a-kind Halloween in Tagaytay! On Oct. 31, from 3PM to 6PM, participate in Discovery Country Suites’ fun-filled event that comes with afternoon refreshments, horror movie screening, and a thrilling adventure in a makeshift labyrinth. Tickets are priced at P450 net for in-house guests and P550 net for walk-in guests. Room packages are also available from Oct. 29 to 31. Rates start at P9,000++ in a Deluxe Suite and P10,000++ in a Premier Suite. This offer includes country breakfast at Restaurant Verbena and tickets to the Halloween event for two.

Discovery Suites and Discovery Country Suites are two of five properties of The Discovery Leisure Company’s portfolio of distinctive hotels and resorts, and is a member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Connect Collection. Discovery Suites is located at 25 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Philippines. For inquiries and reservations, call (02) 719-8888, email rsvn@discovery.com.ph, or visit discoverysuites.com. Discovery Country Suites is located along 300 Calamba Road, San Jose, Tagaytay City, 4120 Philippines. For inquiries and reservations, call (02) 5298172, email dcsrsvn@discovery.com.ph, or visit discoverycountrysuites.com.

To book your stay in Discovery Suites via Agoda, click here. To book at Discovery Country Suites via Agoda, click here.