I love casinos! I love casinos not just because of the gambling but also because of the mix of fun, excitement, (a little gloominess in loser’s faces), noise and the whole chaotic world of this gaming hub. So when I got an invite from Resorts World Manila to join the Bloggers’ Casino Royale, I did not hesitate a bit and signed up for it right away.
The event was divided into two parts: an orientation and the Casino Royale event itself. I did not know what the orientation was for, but I knew that I really needed some of it since whenever I go to a casino, I’m limited to just the slot machines. I’m a slot whore (pun not intended). I’m always lucky at the slots (but never lucky with the male sluts). I have never actually lost a huge sum of money – the most was about a thousand pesos. I’m no high roller so whenever I play and my winnings would amount to P2,000 to P3,000, I’d immediately move away from the machines and cash out.
The night of the orientation came and I was excited! Who wouldn’t be excited to see a casino which has not been opened to the public yet? I, among with several other bloggers, got the chance to experience before all others did, a night in what is dubbed as Asia’s Newest Playground – Resorts World Manila. (MyGandaAko’s feature on Resorts World Manila here)
After dinner, we were given a tour of the Genting Star Training Academy – where the staff of this up and coming commercial hub are being trained – and boy was I amazed! The training facility is one of a kind! I’m a training and development professional, and seeing their facilities just left me in awe! The academy houses their model units for the soon-to-rise Maxims hotel, a kitchen and cooking “studioâ€, training rooms, and a “training†casino.
The facilities impressed me much. And the VIP hosts that were all over the facility (assisting us and tending to our every need) were so hospitable and helpful that one would think they could do anything and everything for you – even blink your eye for you! Oh wait, did I mention how goodlooking the male VIP hosts were? The ladies were too, but I don’t really care much for their looks. Bakla ako diba?
Apparently, Resorts World Manila was not yet done impressing me. When we went inside the casino for the orientation and tutorials of different casino games, I went and dashed my way to this Baccarat table whose dealer – named Kevin (whom I heard is also a commercial model) was so goodlooking, my invisible panties fell off. Baccarat, according to the Resorts World expats and executives, was one of the most famous casino table games in Asia. We had a few rounds with Kevin – a few rounds of learn-to-play sessions, that is. After the learn-to-play (no need for me to learn how to play) with Kevin, all tables went into a Baccarat tournament where the winners of each table competed against each other at the final table.
A week or two later, all the invited bloggers went back to the Resorts World Manila property (right across NAIA Terminal 3) for the much-awaited Bloggers’ Casino Royale. It was a red carpet event and all bloggers were asked to be in their “Casino Royale†best. It was very refreshing to see bloggers from all walks of life dressed to the nines! Some dressed to kill, some dressed to impress, some dressed to be killed, and some others (read: me) dressed as if they were going to work.
The night was filled with glitz, glamour, good food, great wine, and a whole lot of fun and excitement! Kevin, MY casino Baccarat dealer was not in sight (the Operations Manager told me he couldn’t make it since he had a taping – sosyal. To which I replied in jest that Kevin was actually at my home, exhausted for reasons only he and I would know. Then I heard my other self tell me to wake up!). It didn’t matter much since there were other goodlooking dealers at different games there – Emmanuel at the Roulette and Mike (?) at Blackjack.
Bloggers playing Baccarat (photo by Faith Salazar)
We had another tournament (with “fun†money) of ten Baccarat rounds. After finding out that I lost, I went around to play at other casino tables. I learned how to play Roulette, while at the same time blatantly flirting (with no other intention but to flirt) with the dealer. I then hopped my way to the other tables where I got the chance to become a dealer for a few minutes. Casino Wars is now officially my favorite casino table card game!
The Bloggers’ Casino Royale event at Resorts World Manila was a success! Resorts World at Manila, a flagship integrated entertainment project of Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., is a joint venture between two of the region’s most dynamic companies, Philippine conglomerate Alliance Global Group, Inc. (AGI) and Star Cruises Ltd.. The complex will be the first of its kind in the Philippines and will include the country’s largest casino, an iconic mall
and three hotels: a 342-room Marriott Hotel; Maxims Hotel, the country’s first all-suites hotel with 172 rooms; and another hotel to be announced. Visit the Resorts World at Manila website for details and more information or view the myGanda feature of Resorts World Manila here.
Also, watch out for their soft opening on August 2009! (Sign up to become a member of Resorts World Manila before July 31, and get the chance to get invited to their soft opening.
Resorts World Manila
Travellers International Hotel Group, Inc.
Star Cruises Centre
100 Andrews Avenue
New Port, Cybertourism Zone
1309 Pasay City
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