Ilustrado Restaurant in the Walled City of Intramuros

The early morning of Saturday of November 5, 2011 had me and about 30 key people of the Manila Standard Today broadsheet newspaper trooping to the walled city of Intramuros, Manila. Tucked in a spacious area and amidst the various structures with Spanish inspired architecture is the Ilustrado Restaurant, the venue of the half day-morning-only-first of a series of two planning meetings of the group.   I have not been to the place for quite a while  and it was certainly a refreshing sight to see the lush greeneries of the Ilustrado garden.

Caretela Pathway at the Entrance of Ilustrado Compound

Ilustrado 

Ilustrado Greens at the Patio

Antique Shop Located at the Garden Patio of Ilustrado

Clay Water Vessels On Display at the Patio

The antique shop at the Patio of the compound

Ilustrado Trellis by the Restaurant Entrance

Contrast in Architecture

Wood and Metal Benches by the
Pathway leading to Ilustrado
entrance door

"Tuloy Po Kayo at Mabuhay":  Welcome!

Reception/Cashier Counter

Ilustrado Cashier Maricel Mabulac

Early birds were treated to the special Ensemada pastries and overflowing coffee/tea. (I had to savor their hot chocolate so I ordered and paid for it. It was good!) The participants were accommodated in 4 round tables of 10 seats each.  The interiors of the place reminded most of us of the old houses of our grandparents in the provinces, i.e.  neo classic finished posts, carved gold leaf wooden arches and capiz windows.   However, we were jolted back to the present when out came the LCD Projector and the white screen on a tripod, the IPads, the Mac and other laptops ,   SLRs (Canon and Nikon) ,  Voice Recorder – contraptions that contrasted with the ambience of the place.

The sessions commenced 2 minutes before the 9am schedule and ended at  1130am. I'd rate the lunch as above-average.

Manila Standard Today  President Roger Salazar setting the tone

Manila Standard Today Circulation Manager Egay Valmorida
Parading His Statistical Figures

MST Advertising Manager Ms. Gina Versoza Laying Down
Ad Revenue Figures for 2011

Statistician Jun Buscas enumerating parameters

Supplement Group Head Edith Angeles Singing Her Sales Tune .

Chief Accountant Mario Policarpio, Jr. Belting Out
Numbers

Treasury and Credit Collection Manager Anita Grefal Her
"I Did It My Way" Number on Receivables and
Credit Standings of Clients

Some of the Not-So-Camera-Shy Boys of MST

The Nicotine Group Huddled Together
Relaxing after the presentations and sumptous Lunch

"Hope springs eternal in the human breast:
Man never is but alway To be Blest"
......................................Alexander Pope