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Version: Dazzling Experience...
by Maryo B. Labad
After
watching a couple of shows at Club Mwah! along
Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong, excitement still lingers
in my mind because there's no boring moment in
there. being accredited by the Department of Tourism
as a tourist stopover, it's no wonder that foreign
guests frequent the place. The club's well-conceptualized
set, meanwhile continues to mesmerize everyone.
 For
the Yuletide season, Club Mwah! unveils new production
numbers, fabulous sets and the usual spectacular
costumes.
In one
of my features about Club Mwah!, I got a letter
from a reader (name withheld), which goes...
It has
been my habit to have the radio on whenever I
drive. On my way to an appointment one morning,
the DJ was bubble sharing her experience in a
night club along Boni Avenue. She talked about
the state-of-the-art theater design, the world-class
show, magnificent performers, superb ambience
and good food. Being a resident of the area, I
can't help but wonder if she had the location
right. A magnificent club along that busy road?
Yeah, maybe she had the address wrong.
 Weeks
later, while inside a beauty salon, I came across
a magazine article featuring that place along
Boni Avenue. This time, I noted the venue's name
- Club Mwah! my interest really piqued now, I
made sure to pass Boni Avenue the next day and
find out for myself where the place exactly is.
It was still closed so I asked the security guard
for flyers and learned that the club is open for
shows only on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
So when
my husband asked me to help find a place to hold
a reunion party, Club Mwah! immediately came to
my mind. I went to the place for booking purposes
and there met Pocholo Malillin, the manager, who
invited me and my husband to watch the show for
that day. We obliged and were impressed by the
place's beautiful interiors, cleanliness, fabulous
entertainment, exquisite food and well-mannered
staff.
"I
like the place," my husband said when we
got home, "let's hold the reunion there."
It really was a wonderful experience. Everybody
enjoyed every dish from the buffet table - from
the piping hot tasty mushroom soup to the refreshingly
cold buko pandan ice cream. The show began at
10:45 p.m., and the Follies de Mwah started to
perform in a full burst of stunning and colorfully-crafted
costumes.
What made
the night so engaging was the chance to chat with
the manager. on our first meeting, I assumed Pocholo
to be in his 40s and was surprised to know that
he is actually 62 years old. Asked what secret
was to the fountain of youth, he gladly shares
that he never abuses his body. He doesn't smoke
and drink, eats healthy food and takes a good
rest when tired. He startes his day with a prayer,
which gives him the drive to strive for excellence.
he further reveals that he enjoys his work and
does it with passion. He also believes that regret
makes one feel and look old, and doesn't dwell
on negatives. He's conscious about being fair
and just to people around him, especially his
coworkers.
All in
all, my Club Mwah! experience was a load of fun
with nuggets of wisdom to boot that touched my
heart and spirit.
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