In the past decade or so, the spa industry has experienced tremendous growth. It seems that places…read morethat offer all sorts of massage - Swedish, Japanese shiatsu, even the Filipino hilot - have been sprouting like mushrooms all over Metro Manila. My personal favourite is Thai massage because it's less icky. It's dry because no oils or lotions are applied to the body. I've tried several places that offer Thai massage and the latest place that I visited is known as Nuat Thai. Don't ask me what 'Nuat' means because I don't have a clue. Nuat Thai has several branches all over the metropolis. Lucky for me there's one along Dona Soledad Avenue Extension in Paranaque City, where I live. I went there not too long ago because I felt that I needed to iron out the kinks as well as the aches and pains all over my bod. Actually, I try to go to a spa once or twice a month. This branch that I visited looks pretty small from the outside. It was mid-afternoon when I entered and I had to ask if they were open. They were. So I said I wanted a regular Thai massage, which goes for the usual P300 for one hour service. "Male or female?" the receptionist asked. I said female. Little did I know that I would get both. Or neither. I'll explain the political incorrectness shortly. For the record, I've tried male masseurs before and found that in general the guys don't know their own strength. Too painful. I took off my shoes and got the usual washing of my feet. Then I was led to a cubicle where I was given a pair of shorts and pajama tops. The usual nature sounds was playing. I lay back and relaxed, hoping that this masseuse was no newbie. Yup, she was properly trained and I was totally relaxed at the end of the hour. I prepared the usual P100 tip that I give when I am satisfied with the service. Since the cubicle was dark, I had to ask the receptionist who my masseuse was. "Ako po," said the person whom I didn't recognize because the cubicle was dark and also because my eyes have seen better days. "What's your name again?" I asked. Actually I never asked in the first place. "Victor po," the masseuse answered. It was then that I noticed that Victor had some facial hair that almost passed for a mustache. Yup, I had been given a pretty good Thai massage by what is now referred to as a transgender. Did it make any difference? In a word, no. The service was pretty good. The Nuat Thai Foot & Body Massage is located at 187 Dona Soledad Extension, Better Living Subdivision, Barangay Don Bosco, Paranaque City. It's open from Monday to Sunday, noon till midnight. If you like Thai massage and are from the area, it's worth a try.

I can honestly say that I was one of the very first customers of Orange Cool Spa when it first…read moreopened about two years ago. Since the place where we were staying was literally a mere two-minute walk away, I decided to give the place a try when it still not yet officially opened. I was also around when the owners did something that seemed pretty audacious, when they came up with a massage and meal combination. The business tactic didn't work for good reason. The only place I know that does that is huge, with a separate dining, massage and hot/cold bath areas. Orange Cool is your typically small, neighbourhood spa that mostly offers the various types of massage, from shiatsu to Swedish to Thai. The one clear advantage it has over the other spas in the Better Living Area is that it has a small sauna. Only two or three can fit comfortably inside the hot room, which is only turned on at the request of the guest. Usually I do spend a few minutes inside to sweat off all the toxins in my body, before taking a shower and getting a massage. Orange Cool is also one of the few places that offers ventosa, an Oriental procedure that supposedly sucks the excess water from the lungs. Since the place is still on the new side, Orange Spa has the best ambiance for a local spa. I miss the times when I would just walk to this place, get a massage, and head home guaranteed to get a good night's sleep.

Orange Cool Spa is one of my favorite neighborhood spas. They have a small sauna, a clean shower…read moreroom and an Asian-inspired lounge area. The service is pretty good. I love that they pay attention to small details like offering a cool drink while you sit in the sweltering heat of the sauna to prevent dehydration. Their affordable therapies are very relaxing. The signature massage uses pressure, kneading and stretching. According to the therapist their method is to follow the blood flow to the heart. I don't know if there's scientific evidence behind this method but it really does leave you feeling relaxed during the session and recharged soon after. Definitely one of the best value-for-money spas in the South.

It might seem odd for a spa to be on the second floor of a two-storey building with a 7-Eleven on…read morethe ground floor, with a gas station in front, but this is what Dona Soledad Spa is all about. The first time I went there, one of my four adult kids just suddenly offered to treat me to a one hour regular massage. Well, hey, who doesn't like freebies, particularly from one's kids. That was about a year ago, and I have gone back more recently for another session to remove the aches and pains that come with growing older. There's nothing spectacular about Dona Soledad Spa. It's as conventional as it can get. This is not a bad thing, actually. There are minimum standards that are to be expected of any spa, and this one meets those standards. Better Living is a middle class community and it is places like this that are almost a necessity for a decent quality of life. The best thing about it is that parking is plentiful. Having a light snack right after a massage is easy, too. One small hassle: The comfort rooms are on the ground floor at the base of the stairs. If anyone is leaving or arriving from an out of town trip to the south and needs to get a full tank of gas, might as well get a massage here at Dona Soledad Spa.

Massager is great and listen to my request. She has great knowledge of what he is doing and…read moreexcellent in her work, personally , and very professional. I will recommend Vibes and the massager that helps me feel good after the excellent service.

VIBES stands for Visually Impaired's Brotherhood for Excellent Services. It's a unique concept to…read morehelp the blind help themselves by providing them with decent and gainful employment. They have three types of massages: 1-hour bed massage, 30-minute bed massage and chair or dry massage. They can do SynergisticTherapeutic Massage which combines 4 popular methods -- Swedish, Shiatsu, accupressure and reflexology. They can also do Pinoy Hilot Massage and Oriental Foot Massage. I love getting a massage at this place. Aside from being able to help out for a good cause, their massages are extremely relaxing. You can even ask your therapist to focus on just one body part. I don't know if it's just me but they seem to be better at really feeling knots and tight spots in my back and they can loosen it and really get me to give in to the massage and the whole experience. I often find myself fully rejuvenated after one session. And they're very affordable to boot.

If you come here to have your nails done then you must have some money to spend. Manicures and…read morepedicures have a good price range in this city. You can pay as low as P150 up to P500 depending on your preference. I must admit that I always go to nail salons with the latter price range because I'm cheap like that haha. I went to CANS once and had a relaxing time. The therapists were all great and they use really good nail brands compared to the ones used in el cheapo salons. The interiors here are impeccable, you won't find a single nail on the floor and the room doesn't smell like cheap chemicals aka mertayolet. I wish I could come here more often and rub shoulders with its classy clientele hehe. Maybe someday, but not today.

Incredible massage. Fabulous price. Thank you for your healing powers after a long travel day!read more

Ashley came to my hotel room. She was on time and did a great job. Very relaxing. Next time I am in…read moretown I will request her. Pricing was very reasonable.