This is what “I need some space” means.
It can’t buy love, it can’t buy taste, but I’ll tell you one thing money can buy: Space.
One consequence of urbanization is shrinkage: new condominiums are half the size of condos built ten years ago, but twice as expensive. You work hard and save your money so you can pay millions to own what is essentially a large closet. We have so much more to do today and so much less space to do it in.
Last week we got an invitation to tour Maxims, the new six-star hotel at the Resorts World Manila complex in front of the airport. We’ve been hearing the term “six-star” a lot lately, and Burj Al Arab in Dubai is often called a seven-star hotel, but what do the extra stars mean? Apparently there is no formal hotel industry definition of hotels above the five-star (luxury) rating, but the sixth star is awarded for luxury hotels that offer intensive guest care.
In the case of Maxims Hotel, which is the only Maxims Hotel in the world at present, six stars means the accommodations are all suites, and each suite has a butler assigned to it.
When you walk into the hotel you see a huge sculpture, Ballerini by Botero, casually plonked down into a plant box. There is no reception desk. There is a cafe, Cafe au Lait, serving coffee, drinks, and an excellent mango cheesecake. We caught a whiff of cigar smoke, which reminds us that we’re not in Makati anymore. It’s been years since we smelled cigar/cigarette smoke indoors (outside of a cigar bar); must alert our smoker friends.
The butler showed us to a Signature Suite, which has a living room and dining area, a bedroom and a bathroom that is vast.
All this space, which is big enough for an evening of ballroom dancing, with the butler and a wi-fi touchscreen console for summoning service, and–Wait, we forgot the balcony.
It is nearly as large as the suite indoors. Plus it has a jacuzzi with a view.
What does all this space cost? US$500 a night.
The Signature Suites are minuscule compared to this:
The Villa. 500 square meters, US$2,000 a night. You could go skating in it. Or organize a roller derby. Apart from the huge living room and dining room a Villa has two bedrooms, a well-appointed kitchen, an audiovisual room, two toilets, a vast bath with toiletries by Bulgari. There’s also a massage room.
Out back there’s a humongous balcony with its own pool, in case you don’t feel like sharing the big pool right in front of the Villas.
For inquiries and reservations call the Resorts World hotline, (02) 8366333.
* * * * *
Kaos, the Las Vegas-meets-Broadway revue at the 1,500-seat Newport Performing Arts Theatre in Resorts World Manila, has been playing to packed houses since it opened. Momelia will be reviewing the show for us next month. In the meantime, we’re giving away two pairs of tickets to the May 13 evening shows of Kaos. Each pair of tickets comes with a stuffed toy Kaos lion.
Would you like to win two tickets to Kaos? Send us a list of things you would buy if you had ten million pesos. The catch is that you have to spend it all in 48 hours while staying at a Villa in Maxims. You can not buy more than two of the same item. Post the list in comments, and we’ll announce the winners on April 25.
Thanks to Archie, Karmina, Joy and Francis of Resorts World for the tour and the tickets.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
April 13th, 2011 at 01:43
Diamonds for my Mom
Sports Car for my Dad
Vacation for my Brother (so he can go back to the country)
New Kitchen
New Bedroom
New Balcony
A Cat
A Dog
A Personal stripper
A Building, so once my hair recedes I’ll act like mini Trump ha!
April 13th, 2011 at 01:50
Oops, didn’t read the instructions right. Anyway, what I’d do with 10million pesos:
(1) fly in R.E.M. to perform for me in my suite.
April 13th, 2011 at 08:41
Rakenrowl! Looking forward to watching Kaos!
April 13th, 2011 at 10:00
Ok, I’m not lucky in contests but let me try! I only have 3 things to buy with that PhP10M but I can assure you that it’s close to consuming all that money.
My friend told me that he knows someone who is selling a ferrari (my favorite) for 8Million pesos so I’m getting that. I’d asked our favorite jeweler to create a customized silver Rado watch for me full of diamonds (taken from the Star of Africa) on its dial so bright that it could cause an instant blindness the moment I showed it to someone asking me for the time. ;D
The last million would go to Belo. I hate my pathetic legs! I’d asked for skin graft to replace my ugly leg skin. I’ll personally ask Vicky to make it look like Derek’s legs. lol.
I really think I’m a simple guy. :D
April 13th, 2011 at 10:43
Whew, that is really a challenge, 10 million pesos in 48 hours?! hmm…
* If I would be staying at a Villa in Maxims, that would be 86,500 pesos (Forex @ P43.25 to $1) for two nights. I will also include all the meals and a massage while staying on the villa. So I will add 20,000 pesos. For a total of 106,500 pesos.
* While having my dinner in my own balcony, I will then search the internet for a 50 sq.m. lot in Manila Memorial Park Quezon City (Holy Cross), buy it and then build a simple mausoleum for my dad (who is actually in a garden-type lot there). So that would be 2,000,000 pesos considering the permits and all the construction costs.
* After dinner and while having a good time at the jacuzzi, I will call a drugstore and order a 1 year supply of my mom’s medicine (she’s a Kidney Transplant patient for 11 months now). That would be around 2,000,000 pesos.
* While having my breakfast in my own balcony (with a nice view of the metro), I will call a very reputable Rehabilitation Center in the Tagaytay area and book my brother for 6-9 months in their Drug Rehabilitation program (he’s in a semi-private facility right now). That would cost me 540,000 pesos.
* After a relaxing massage in my own villa, I will contact all the banks, loan companies and credit card companies to settle all our debts (mine, my mother’s and my brother’s) and ask them to cut all our credit cards. That would be 2,500,000 pesos with all the accrued interests.
* Being debt-free and while having my lunch, I will contact a travel agency to treat my best friends (three of them) to a 5-day vacation on my dream destination-Batanes! That would cost me 100,000 pesos.
* Swimming in my own pool, I will contact a friend who will help me in my Pre-school venture. I will use our garage and build my own pre-school there. That would cost me 2,500,000.
* Being a public school teacher, I will book all my 65 students to watch Kaos at Newport Performing Arts Theatre in Resorts World Manila and have dinner and fun time afterwards. That’s 100,000 pesos.
* Me and my mom will shop and dine at Resorts World Manila for my last day. We will spend all of the remaining 153,500 pesos.
SUMMARY
2 hours 106,500
6 hours 2,000,000
6 hours 2,000,000
6 hours 540,000
8 hours 2,500,000
5 hours 100,000
5 hours 2,500,000
3 hours 100,000
7 hours 153,500
__________ _____________
48 hours 10,000,000
Thinking about it is already a challenge, what more dealing with it in real life. Oh well, that was a nice challenge! Good vibes everyone!
April 13th, 2011 at 12:58
1. Kobe Beef and Maine Lobster Burgers (around Php35,000)
2. Chateau Lafite 1787 (around 7 million pesos)
Such can be devoured in minutes or half an hour only. But the thing is, I would like to be ‘woken up’ after this meal. I would buy the
3. the sedative mixed by Yusuf (Inception, guys)
4. the gadget the team of Cobb used in sharing their dreams (I do not know how much these cost but I guestimate such as around 2 or 3 million)
Who will I share my dream with? That is to whom I will spend the rest of the 10 million pesos. Therefore,
5. a ‘wholesome’ Filipino movie star who could be cuddling with me in exchange of the remainder of the 10 million money.
Why would I just ‘share’ a dream with this star? 48 hours is not enough so I need to spend more time and create a ‘dream within a dream within a dream…”
April 13th, 2011 at 13:36
Wow, vume-Vegas ang Maxims, ah. Wonder if there’s a way to sneak a tiger into that bathroom? ;)
I love that Botero sculpture! (And Botero in general.) My parents and I stayed at the Marriott next door for the New Year’s weekend, which had a more traditional lobby setup than Maxims. That didn’t stop us from going into Maxims and taking pictures of the Ballerini – though I should’ve tried that mango cheesecake, too.
Can’t wait to read Momelia’s review of KAOS!
April 13th, 2011 at 16:35
1. Call my insurance agent, ask her to come over and buy from her pre-need educational plans for my children until they reach college.
2. Call my real estate agent, ask him to bring his portfolio of properties for sale, and buy a house and lot so that we will not experience flooding anymore just like we did during Ondoy.
3. with the balance, call the rest of my relatives, have them lined up and give away money to them
4. Ask the wait staff and other workers of the hotel to line up and give them tips.
April 13th, 2011 at 16:54
This was so relaxing :)
The first thing I’ll do after paying the approximately P86000 villa price (@P43.00 exchange rate) is I’ll resign from my job and pay the P300,000 bond I have. :D
Then after that, I’ll have to make sure I’m set for life through a business. I’ll contact (thanks to Sulit.com.ph) the following owners/ agents to go to the villa for processing of purchase (hehe):
> Brand new Nissan Urvan Shuttle (P 1,079,000) – can be used for a business or as a shuttle
> A Spanish American Restaurant in Salcedo Village (P 5,300,000)
Price supposedly includes the 1.5 year old Spanish American Asian restaurant with 70 seats, bar for 20 people, all stocks, FF&E(?), recipes, staff (yes they go with the price), rentals, brand and goodwill.
For my own personal use, the following agents/owners:
> A townhouse in Mapayapa Village, QC – (P2,500,000)
> 2008 Avanza J MT (2nd Hand) – (P449,000)
This will probably take me the entire day. After that, I’ll take care of my gadget fetish (purchase via eBay inclusive of Delivery):
> iPad 2 64 GB – (P43,000)
> iPhone 4 32 GB (P38,500)
> PS3 + Move Bundle (P21,400+5,500)
> Asus N53SV Laptop (P58,000)
> Apple MacBook MC700 (P56,000)
> Sony Nex-3 Digital Camera Kit (P32,500)
> Panasonic TS2 Camera (P15,500)
> Western Digital 1TB External HD (P5,100)
After that, I’ll use the remaining cash (P10,500) to treat out a few friends + family around the Casino and Resorts World.
–> I figured I won’t have to donate cash to favorite charities or buy more expensive cars, etc for me as if the money provided here will be invested in a business, than I could donate more in the future. :)
April 13th, 2011 at 17:09
Here’s a list of the things that I’ll be doing (or let someone do for me) if I have 10M moolah to spend for 2 days (obviously, I haven’t given the fantasy much thought):
Items Estimated Price (PHP)
Overnight stay for 2 night at Maxims
for myself 172,000.00
Business Class tix for family
Mom and Dad 14,000.00
Siblings (4) 28,000.00
Separate Villas
Mom and Dad 172,000.00
Brother 172,000.00
Sisters 172,000.00
Separate Villa for parties 172,000.00
Hire a secretary for 2 days 20,000.00
Purchase iPhone 4 for secretary
to use for calling my friends 30,000.00
Invite Saga Events to manage the
2-day extravaganza 300,000.00
Special Lunch Buffet for 2 days (50 pax) 100,000.00
Special Dinner Buffet for 2 days (50 pax) 100,000.00
Dessert Buffet by Bizu for 2 days 100,000.00
Invite Regine Velasquez to sing
a capella 500,000.00
Hire 10 Brazilian models as
ushers 5k a day x 2 days 100,000.00
Assorted wines and spirits 300,000.00
Buy gifts (online) for all of my 50 guests:
LV Wallets @ 20k each 1,000,000.00
iPhone 4g @ 30k 1,500,000.00
Lacoste GC’s @ 20k each 1,000,000.00
Rustan’s GC’s @ 10k each 500,000.00
Philip Stein Watch (est – 50k) 2,500,000.00
Transpo services for my guests 100,000.00
Additonal 5 Villas 860,000.00
Tips and other incidentals 88,000.00
TOTAL 10,000,000.00
April 13th, 2011 at 22:22
at first *read* of the title, I thought, Miss J must be mistaken, that sounds like an Auntie Janey post!…lol…oh boy, i struggle with the disparity between the rich and poor in countries such as ours…haaayyysss
April 14th, 2011 at 10:00
i’ll fly in the CURE for a personal concert with me and my friends in one of the suites.
April 14th, 2011 at 14:10
Are we including the cost of the Maxim stay, then?
The room: 300,000 for two nights + food, entertainment, gratuities, ect
A Mazda CX-9: 2.8 M
A passable condo unit in Fort Bonifacio + Furnishings: ~5M
ASUS G73 Laptop: 100,000
Western Digital 2TB External HD: 7,000
LG 55″ LED TV: 300,000
Sony PS3: 16,000
Microsoft XBox 360: 16,000
Nintendo 3DS: 13,000
Sony PSP: 12,000
Various Videogames: 250,000
Apple iPod Touch 64GB: 23,000
An HTC Android Phone: 35,000
Time Deposit in a bank with a suitable interest rate: 500,000
Gift to friends: 100,000
Gift to family: 100,000
Total: 9,572,000
The rest? BOOK RAID. I will finally have enough money to actually buy books at PowerBooks, Fully Booked, and so on in volumes I usually reserve for second-hand bookstores like Booksale and Chapters and Pages. I will have that lovely hardcover edition of the complete Jane Austen novels! Muahaha!
April 14th, 2011 at 14:27
galing ng plano mo @blissfulguro :)
April 14th, 2011 at 15:03
($ 4000) Php 172,000 – accomodation for 2 day in Maxims
Php 50,000- allowance forliving the high life in Maxims with my family
($500) Php 21500-tip to the (im sure very tired) butler
Php 2 M – will be donated to UP to set up an STFAP-like scholarship program to create more Pelias
( yes, that BS Math summa cum laude dude from UP Diliman with 1.016 GWA who was able to not only graduate but to support his grandmother
due to his STFAP scholarship)
Php 1 M – will be given as a cash donation to PAWS
Php 2M – will buy 2000 units of surplus japanese bikes and distribute them to the highschool students im my alma mater (in baliwag, bulacan)
to reduce the carbon footprint of the tricycles clogging the air of our beautiful town
Php 4 M- ill buy off the farmland that my uncle is planning to sell to Henry Sy et al to be converted as an extension of SM Baliwag-
the land has multitudes of mango trees and hundreds of sq meters of vegetable patches which my family can continue to operate as our
own business. the farmland has 2 villas – 1 i will give to my parents the other will serve as a guest house for me and my siblings
Php 100000- atty’s fee to grab and buy off the farmland in 2 days
100000- will hire some hotshot accountant from SGV firm to settle my family’s debts in 2 days
200000 – total amount of my family’s debts (+ interests)
150000 – will buy a canon 5d dslr to document the crazy 2 days of my life
100000 – will buy cat food,cat condos,pet carrier and healthcare plan to my vet (complete vaccinations + check ups) for my 4 cats
80000- will buy a macbook pro
25900- will pay my apartment 7 months in advance (3700 rent/month) to ease off my utility bill for a while
600- will be given as a tip to the doorman of Maxims when we leave after staying for 2 rollercoaster ride days
April 14th, 2011 at 16:02
With growing up also comes the “growing up” of the things we want to have. When we were young we can ask our parents to buy us toys that give us joy. But once we hit maturity, finished college and started earning our keep, that is where life gets hard. It is indeed hard to earn and having P 10,000,000 is much harder. Nevertheless, a girl can always dream. If the world suddenly smiles at me and I was given 10,000,000 to squander, this is how I will squander my millions.
Day 1
Cost
Accommodation at Resort’s world for 2 nights
($4000@P 44 exchange rate) 176,000.00
Meal for 2 days {3 meals and 3 snacks(morning, afternoon and midnight)} 10,000.00
Car (Toyota 4×4 Fortuner with
V 3.0 Dsl A/T engine worth 1,800,000.00
Harddrive (1 terrabyte) 5,500.00
Acer Laptop 15,000.00
Obagi Cream (for my Mom) 30,000.00
Iphone 4 40,000.00
SLR Camera 40,000.00
Shopping (books, clothes, shoes) 100,000.00
Manicure, foot spa with pedicure, facial, wax, massage (with my mom and sister) 20,000.00
Day 2
Condo in Mckinley Hill 2000000
Jollibee Stocks (40,000 sh@ 72/share) 2880000
Treat my officemates to Yakimix (24pax @584/pax) 14,016
Asian Tour with Family 1,000,000
I will use the remaining money to establish a foundation that will help the less fortunate children to go to school as well as build a shelter for homeless children and women.
April 14th, 2011 at 19:10
Red One Camera, 2.5 million
Tatawagan si tessie aquino oreta at pasasayawin (kapag nakipagnegotiate si oreta nang mas mababa, tatanungin ko sya bakit si erap isang milyon lang ang pina-anggi sa kanya?), 1 million
Adobe Creative Suite para iedit ang sayaw ni aquino oreta, 0.1 million
Magarang Macpro, macbook air, ipad 2, at lahat nang gustong ibenta ni Steve Jobs sa akin, 0.7 million
Ieedit ang sayaw ni aquino oreta at Ipopost sa youtube mula sa internet café (para anonymous na posting), 0.000025 pesos
Pumili hanggang magsawa nang magagandang libro sa National Bestseller sa itaas nang galleria, 0.2 million
Isang linggong sweldo ni Shalani, para di muna sya mag-host, 0.2 million
pang-tuition ni shalani sa isang special short course na nagtuturo ng hosting, 0.1 million
Matinding dslr camera at lighting equipment 0.5 million
Bibilhin ang wowphilippines domain at gagawa nang website na mas maganda kaysa sa tourism.gov na gawa nang mga lightweight, bibili ng magagandang articles mula sa bloggers, magpopost nang magagarang pictures, 2 million
bibilhin ang aling consuelo halo-halo store sa tondo, 2.5 million
Pambayad sa napakamahal na hotel, 0.1 million
Isang platitong masarap na mani at nagbabahang beer panlibre (sagot na nang mga kaibigan ang pulutan), 0.1 million
Total: 10.000025
April 14th, 2011 at 22:49
Buti na lang may cellphone at internet. Una, uutusan ko muna yung butler na ideposit yung 8 million sa dalawa kong mga account. Tapos ibigay nya yung 1 million para sa Kythe. Hay pangarap…
Anyway,
-Dahil nagaaral pa ko tsaka yung kapatid ko, tatawag muna ako sa schools namin. Magpapabank transfer ako ng remaining 3 years’ worth of tuition fee for me, tapos yung remaining 1 year nya. Papa-refund ko na lang kung umabot sa scholar yung grade ko. May kita pa ko pag nagkataon!
-Tatawagan ko din si Tita na kapitbahay namin. Real estate agent kasi sya. Bibilihin ko yung pinakamalaking house and lot na available sa kanila. May taste naman si Tita kaya ipagkakatiwala ko na lang sa kanya yung pagpili. *bank transfer*
-round trip tickets tsaka accommodation for nanay and mama to Vatican and Rome, pangarap kasi ni nanay makapunta don.
-bagong golf set para kay daddy
-Kung may natitira pang milyones sa account ko, tatawagan ko yung bunso kong kapatid sa bahay para makapag-ebay shopping sya. Magagamit nya din naman yung express teller card ko sa mall. Basta sis, 48 hours lang yang purchasing power mo. Gora! Ay may bilin din pala ako:
-isang tube of tennis balls para kay Baggy (the doggie)
-isang pack ng ping pong balls for Mykuhl, Reijdj and Uno (the mimings)
-isang mac book pro
-isang buong crispy lechon, palabok, at iba pa to be delivered paguwi ko para may street party!
-Yung 1 million na cash na natitira, pambayad sa villa, pangtip sa butler, at sa mga staff na tumulong to make my stay pleasurable ;)
April 14th, 2011 at 23:44
hmmmm…. sound like a genie wish…
1. For P3M, this will pay for the talent fee of GMA to act as the main actress in my upcoming indie movie; it’s title not yet finished, but it’s avant garde.
2. For P5M, I’ll hire Brillante Mendoza to have a remake of his famous indie work, Kinatay but instead of the basement, it will be recorded in my room for the whole 48 hours. It would be my own “snuff” movie and it will be shot in only one take. No prosthetics necessary. The money will go to rentals of movie equipments and talent fees.
3. For P500,000, this is to be spent on incidentals, such as Plasil, my anti-emetic medication, household ingredients such as detergent, caustic lye and industrial-grade oxalic acid for cleaning up after the shooting, and bottles of Astroglide for Mr. Coco Martin (who has reluctantly agreed to reprise his role for the tune of P500,000- only if the rape scenes, which will be shot in close-up 3D, shall be pixelated.)
3. For P1M, I’ll call the MTRCB head and bribe that person to approve my movie, without cuts and must be rated PG to be shown in all major major cineplexes.
and for that, after P48 hours, not only will I have spent the money, I’ll have my blockbuster too.
April 15th, 2011 at 10:19
Whew, this was harder than I thought. But thanks for giving us a nice problem to solve :)
Php10M is approx USD 232,558 (at php43 forex rate). So I will spend the money as follows, and all within the Resorts World Complex.
Day 1:
$ 2,000 – one night at the Maxims Villa
$ 1500 – 1 degustacion menu at Cru Steakhouse for dinner
$2500 – 1 table at Passion, with customized lauriat menu including exotic food like bird’s nest
$2000 – baccarat table
$2000 – blackjack table
$2000 – roulette table
$2000 – Casino Poker table
$ 2000 – slot machine
$2000 – 1 round of drinks for everyone at Bar 360
$3000 – tips for wait staff, casino dealers, and of course, the butler!
Day 2
$70,000 – at Kristine Jewelry for 2 carat diamond ring, VVS1 or higher, set in platinum
$2000 – one night at the Maxims Villa
$5000 – one rare bottle of bubbly or white wine from Beurre Blanc
$500 – Samsung Galaxy at one of the electronic stores in the complex
$1500 – MacBook Air
$6000 – 1 gift certificate at Maxims b/c I loved it so much I wanted to stay more nights
$6000 – 1 family package for Star Cruise executive suite
$2000 – because I was so impressed, I hired the butler to conduct a training session on my household staff
$20,000 – private booking of Kaos for 1 night
My running total is now $134,000 or php 5,762,000. Balance to spend is php 4,238,000.
I cannot afford the Botero b/c that is at least $1M! So I will spend it in another form of arts appreciation. Private booking of the RVM Concert Series ( Zsa Zsa Padilla / Basil Valdez) at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre. :)
April 15th, 2011 at 16:35
I’d call Willie’s agent and offer him the 10 million to entertain me at the hotel. Then I’d set up a surprise press conference at the Maxims ballroom (do they have one?) announcing that Willie was willing to match my 10 million donation to UNICEF.
April 18th, 2011 at 18:25
Wow! P10Mil for 48 hours. $231,160.43 in dollar equivalent.
Day 1:
1. First night at the Villa at Maxims- $2,000
2. Buy an Ipad 64gb Wifi + 3g+ complete accessories for me, my hubby, and my sister bought online- $ 3,000
3. Macbook Air x 3 (hubby, me, sister)- $4,800
4. Buy Stocks And Bonds- $ 65,000
5. Buy Euros- $ 50,000
6. Book a 20 day European Tour for 7 people (incl. pocket money aside from the Euros bought in # 5, visa and travel processing fees)- $ 70,000
7. Food and Drink for the day- $ 3,000
8. Tips- $ 1,000
9. Clothes & Shoes & knick knacks (for me, hubby, sister, mom, dad)- $ 5,000
10. Church Donation- $ 10,000
Remaining Balance at the End of Day 1: $17,360.43
Day 2
1. Villa at Maxim’s- $ 2,000
2. Food and Drink- $ 1,000 (tipid tipid na hehehe)
3. Tips- $1,000
4. Casino money- $ 1,000
5. Grocery Shopping Spree- $2,000
6. Pre pay a Health Plan Fund for my parents- $7,000
7. House repairs- $ 3,360.43
I realized makasarili pala ako. Nyah! I don’t want to correct the items I listed just to see what my character really reflects. Tsk.
April 19th, 2011 at 05:21
– i’d have fafa jake gyllenhaal shipped to the doorstep of my maxims villa suite, and hold him captive until we finish reenacting all my favorite scenes from “love and other drugs”
-then hire someone to write a glowing Wikipedia entry about me.
-afterwards i’ll treat good old mom and pop to a really nice dinner; the burp-inducing, artery clogging kind with all sorts of gourmet food whose names we are never able to pronounce. to burn out the carbs, we would then run down the halls of maxims like bonged out toddlers.
– then i’ll pay someone from abscbn to air reruns of the now defunct “Hiraya Manawari” for an entire day. Jake and I shall snuggle in our suite while watching. Naturally the butler shall do all the Tagalog translations in “Hiraya” for Mr. G.
#endofaveryconvoluteddaydream