V Party Series: Midnight Mysteries @ Victoria Court Malate organized by Breakout Philippines (November 7, 2015)

As a blogger, I have been exposed to a variety of events. One of those which I have enjoyed is the escape room game organized by Breakout Philippines. As seen in my earlier post, I tried but failed the Trinoma Game Room which had a zombie apocalypse theme. However, I would love to try another Breakout game. This time though, it's gonna be bigger, scarier, and harder than what I've played before.

Mark your calendars for November 7, 2015 and get ready for the ultimate Halloween event of the year! FOX International Channels and Victoria Court are partnering up with Breakout Philippines, the country’s premiere escape room game, to bring you an immersive horror experience like no other!

Ever since 2014, Breakout has been providing a unique experience to thousands of players by trapping them in different themed rooms for 45 minutes. They are given an interactive game where players have to team up to find clues and solve logic puzzles based on various storylines. Participants are encouraged to PLAN as a team, SOLVE puzzles collaboratively in order to ESCAPE before time

expires.

This Halloween season, the game is about to change as it is no longer enough to BREAKOUT… you must now also SURVIVE! You and your friends will be trapped in a room and will have 45 minutes to try and survive the horror set before you.

There will be scare actors that will enter and exit the room as they please. Some will be nice and try to help you by giving you clues, while some… are not. Be prepared as they invade your personal space, tell you bone chilling stories, separate you from your friends and sometimes, even leave you alone in the dark. 

Be ready to be pushed out of your comfort zone.

This is still a BREAKOUT event so there is still puzzle solving involved. You will still choose among the 5 super thematic rooms of Victoria Court Malate which will determine the style of the overall puzzle you will have to solve: 

1. The Asgard Room

2. The Casino Royale Room

3. The Bat Cave Room

4. The Candy Land Room

5. The Marakkesh (Sex in the City) Room

If the scares get too extreme for you, there is a safe word… screaming “I want my mommy” will signal our actors to back off and bring you back to your friends. 

Though be warned, doing so will forfeit the clue you may receive by surviving the scare. Missing out on 1 clue won’t make it impossible to solve the puzzle, but it will make it very difficult. So wear your brown pants and as much as you can, brave up!

If that’s not enough, Breakout Philippines is also teaming up once again with FOX to bring you The Walking Dead Breakout Room. As if time pressure is not enough, you and your friends have to escape while trying to keep your wits together as a flesh-eating walker breathes down your necks. 

This is happening at TriNoma Level 4 Garden Restaurants (until November 12 only) and at the Breakout Katipunan Branch.

See if you have what it takes to survive by registering through our 3 main payment channels—online, bank deposit, or in-store registration in any Victoria Court Branch. Visit www.breakout.com.ph for more details. 

For more updates, please follow Breakout Philippines on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/breakoutphilippines) and Instagram (@BreakoutPH), and Victoria Court on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaCourtPH) and Instagram (@victoriacourtVC).

The Breakout Room @ Trinoma: an intense and fun-filled puzzle experience

Last Friday, I was invited by Ms. Tracey Tan to play the Breakout Room game in Trinoma, North Avenue, Quezon City. The event was from 7-9 pm. Entitled the Walking Dead Zombie Room, this experience immerses players in an atmospheric mix of escape room and zombie apocalypse themes. This event was held in conjunction with the launch of the new Fox Series, Fear the Walking Dead. The occasion was also timely held, as Halloween was fast approaching. Furthermore, the set was reminiscent of a military barricade overrun with flesh eating zombies. (Kudos for the theme and the props!)

The rules were simple: get trapped in a room with 4 or more people, solve puzzles, and break the code to the door to get out alive. Lose, and be eaten by a vicious zombie. Despite these simple rules, I still didn't know what to expect. I even thought that it would be a walk in the park. Lo and behold, my senses were bombarded by the exquisitely designed set and intricate makeup on the zombies. That alone was enough to distract me even before I played. Even more disconcerting was the ambience as I was led blindfolded into the room and locked there for 20 minutes. 

After a few minutes of talking to my teammates who were also members of the media, the four of us proceeded to the room- with absolutely no idea as to how we would get out of it alive. We were able to solve a few puzzles; but eventually the zombie came out and ate my hand. (pun intended)

The game was even more disorienting than I thought. Originally, I believed that I'd be able to easily spot the clues and the solutions to some of the puzzles in the room. However, the dark-lit place, coupled with the cries of the undead and our team's lack of experience at playing these games probably contributed to our loss. There's always a next time though. And I intend to make it right!

According to the organizers, the game is based on 90's Japanese TV show games called "Takagism" that tickled the fancy of players who like to use their wits and observational skills to solve puzzles and win challenges. This idea was carried over to the Philippines by Runtertainment Inc., a company that originally became famous for the Outbreak zombie running series.

Also, players who join the game are required to sign non-disclosure agreements to keep the secret of the puzzles from leaking out. This is also required to add to the thrill of new players.

The event will run from October 10 - November 7, 2015. For more details and inquiries, do visit their FB page at https://www.facebook.com/breakoutphilippines. Rates are also posted in the site.

The story in pictures:

The military barricade

note the intricately designed props

great makeup

I like their props

A bunch of new players hanging on for dear life as they enter the dark-lit room

Presented in conjunction with the Walking Dead

Mega Sardines Tuna Flakes Series Launch at Luxent Hotel

Just last week, I was able to witness a product event by Mega Tuna Corporation due to an invitation granted by Ms. Sol Razo. The event was about the launch of Mega Tuna's new canned Tuna flakes in four different flavors. The venue was at Luxent Hotel, Quezon City. Members of the press and electronic media were treated to a generous buffet and a salad bar filled with Mega Tuna variants as toppings. 

Mega Corporation has been at the forefront of canned good and processed food manufacturing and distribution for a long time. The Mega Tuna brand is simply an addition to the company's already illustrious line of products including Mega Sardines, Mega Creations, Valley Farm, and Oh my Ulam! These products show its commitment to creating innovations in fishing, packing, and food technology. The company's uncompromising standards in these fields have ensured that the products are free from artificial extenders, preservatives, and MSG.

According to some Mega's executives, preservatives such as sou vegetable protein are very harmful to one's health. They are happy to announce that unlike other brands, Mega Tuna doesn't contain any of these artificial ingredients. Add to that the fact that the flavorings and toppings in their new tuna variants are also of high quality and natural ingredients. 

The new variants are composed of Tuna Flakes in Oil, Hot and Spicy, Sweet and Spicy, and Spanish Style.

Gracing the event was TV personality and actress Liza Soberano. She is the new face of the brand. To promote it, she made a guest appearance in the event. She also showed 2 of her new webisodes promoting the brand. Her charm and bubbly demeanor was highlighted the whole time she was being interviewed during the course of the event. She was chosen to represent the brand due to her personification of the 100% when it comes to her relationships, family, personal life, and professional life as an actress. 

Mega Tuna is sold at the retail price of Php 33.10. It is composed of 100% pure tuna and is available in all leading supermarkets and grocery stores nationwide.

The story in pictures:

The tuna giveaways

Mega Tuna executives promoting the brand

Ms. Liza Soberano addressing the audience

Ms. Liza Soberano being interviewed 

The Chillout Project: a new hangout place in Taft, Manila

Last week, the generous Aldous Calubad of aldousatetheworld.com invited me to try out one of the newest hangouts in Taft called the Chillout Project. This new joint features a lot of pulutan favorites and fine tasting alcohol drinks for the enjoyment of barkadas and students staying in the area. The place itself is reminiscent of a rooftop bar in other areas of NCR where the cool breeze and the night sky is the diner's constant companion. Apart from that, the place exudes a vibe that is so common among college-situated bar and restos. The place is highly conducive for chill drinking, barkada get-togethers, or dates with someone special. According to the owner, the place has a strict no drugs policy along with strict regulations against carousing and other inappropriate physical activities. Even so, this place is becoming a fast growing spot for the students of DLSU and other neighboring universities. Add to that a competitor is just in front of their venue.

The menu offerings that we tried out included meat dishes such as the signature ribs, the tacos, chicken wings, bacon chicharon, and pizza, The drinks, on the other hand, included an alcoholic selection of beverages definitely suited to get someone worked up or drunk. First, we tried the smoked ribs. According to owner, the ribs are prepared for about more than 4 hours then cooked through smoking. This unique preparation style gives the meat a very tender texture with strong barbecue taste to boot. Our serving size, called the wolf pack, served 5 hungry bloggers eager to give it a try. Priced at 619 pesos, this platter didn't disappoint us.

We then tried the Let's Taco About It. This appetizer/pulutan is a taco dish that served the taco shells in the form of tortilla chips topped with saucy ground beef and a generous helping of lettuce. I enjoyed this dish so much due to my newfound love for vegetables. The beef taste wasn't overpowering. Priced at 120 pesos, the size was pretty reasonable.

I then proceeded to take a bite out of the bacon chicharon. According to the owner, the bacon is actually dried liempo that was fried to perfection. Upon testing, I found it to contain all that pork goodness without too much salt. I would say that it's a bit steeply priced at 199.00. Maybe you really are paying mostly for the taste.

The meal wasn';t complete without the pizza. The entire pan, priced at 299 Pesos for the Truffled All Veggies, is enough to feed four people with aplomb. The pizza, even though thin crust, was filling enough for that number of people. As for the taste, I'd say that it met my standard of well-crafted pizza. The cheese was pretty tasty even at small servings, and the veggie complemented the cheese well. Lastly, I gorged myself on the chicken wings priced at 199 pesos. Nothing special, but the wings were enough to satisfy my craving for chicken. I'd say the sauce was pretty tasty. 

As for the drinks, I'd say that the few I've tasted were top notch. First I start with the pink lemonade. At 55 pesos, this generous serving was enough to keep you hydrated while trying out all the dishes. It wasn't too sweet and wasn't too sour either. It was served the way I like it - balanced. The next drink I tried was the Voodoo. At 329 pesos, this deadly concoction of tequila, orange grenadine, rum, and vodka takes the term "hangover" to the next level. Initially served with variegated colors, this huge pitcher will turn black when mixed. The drink is pretty smooth on the throat. However, the enormous amount of alcohol can get one easily drunk without him knowing it. 

In sum, I do love the Chillout Project's take on the word "chill": good food, good ambience, and the company of good friends in a cozy rooftop bar at the heart of Taft Avenue, Manila.

The story in pictures:

The venue

The smoked ribs

The truffled veggie pizza

the signboard

the beach bunny cocktail

pink lemonade and the beach bunny cocktail

The sunset haze cocktail

the bloggers enjoying the meal

the wall decorations

the Let's Taco About It

The voodoo before mixing

The ever so yummy bacon chicharon

The menu

building-filled ambience

a hearty meal

the well decorated bar

No to drugs

the venue

The signboard

Special thanks to:

Aldous Calubad of aldoustheworld.com