In what has become
an annual tradition between technology giant Epson, a renowned global leader in
innovative and sustainable technology solutions, and members of the media
covering lifestyle and technology beats, this year's 15th edition of Epson
Fusion saw us enjoying three days of fun under the sun in Shangri-la Mactan in
Cebu, a property teeming with verdant foliage and surrounded by clear blue
seawater.
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| The 15th Epson Fusion is the second one I participated in |
This year, unlike
previous Epson Fusion events, the team challenges primarily center around
analytical games set-up across the 13-hectare property, encompassing a white
sandy shoreline, numerous landscaped gardens, swimming pools, and top-notch
amenities.
Shangri-La Mactan:
an ideal tropical hideaway
The lush Shangri-La
Mactan seems to have been crafted for more than just island vacationers; it
also makes for an ideal location for group leisure and recreational
activities. And in the case of Epson
Fusion 15, it was a great place to conduct some team challenges.
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| Free time was mostly spent on the water |
For those seeking a
comfortable shut-eye moment, Shangri-La has five hundred and thirty-three tastefully
designed rooms and suites at their Mactan Resort and Spa. The two wings of the
resort offer rooms with stunning views of the garden or ocean and a modern
resort vibe with traditional Filipino touches.
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| The spacious property of Shangri-La gives guests many opportunities to explore. |
Guests can satisfy
their culinary cravings at Tides, the resort's interactive lifestyle
restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner from an open-kitchen
buffet featuring worldwide dishes. In addition to Tides, there are six
additional restaurants spread out over the property that serve equally
delectable food and offer breathtaking views of Hilutangan Channel.
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| Exhibit A |
One can choose from
the Cantonese Tea of Spring, the seafood place Cowrie Cove Seafood Bar &
Grill, the poolside joint Acqua, the alfresco Buko Bar, the beachfront Breeze
Bar, and the Lobby Lounge.
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| Our team won a facial massage and treatment here. I went out with times 500 pogi points. |
With its expansive
layout, Chi, The Spa gives the impression of being a resort in and of itself,
and it offers all the therapies every wellness enthusiast might need.
Professional therapists provide a variety of health services, including
massages, that draw on Asian and Philippine traditions.
Let the Epson
Fusion 15 Mind Games Begin
This year's Epson
Fusion is the most relaxed, according to participants who have been attending
the earlier editions. For starters, there's no stamina-draining challenge
involved. The five challenges only necessitate memory mastery, analytical
skills, some knowledge of Epson products, and beer pong accuracy.
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| Let the fun games begin |
My group, Team Pink, placed highly on each of the five challenges and ultimately won second place overall. We should have won first place had we not finished last on the previous night's ice-breaker movie scene re-enactment game. We achieved the fastest time in the On Par game, which required a team to hit shots on the resort's mini golf course.
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| I enjoyed this game of mini golf. |
We also finished first on the Jeopardy game, which
asked questions about Epson products (it helped a lot having Masako Kusama,
Epson Philippines' President and Director, as our teammate), and Cebu in
general. We also placed in the top two on the other challenges: the Wavelength,
a memory game that entails blindly matching hidden objects; the 20/20 Vision,
which involves guessing blurry photographs; and the Pong game, sort of like a
Beer Pong game without beer.
Epson’s Push for a
Carbon-Negative Company by 2050
Before the fun and
games started, Epson executives hosted a media dinner during our first night at
Shangri-La Mactan. Following a short trivia game and the assignment of team
groupings, Masako Kusama, President and Director at Epson Philippines, highlighted
the significance of establishing an eco-connection.
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| Epson Philippines product update |
This concept,
according to Kusama, embodies two crucial factors that are at the core of the
company's purpose. Firstly, it demonstrates Epson's steadfast dedication to
constructing a sustainable future. This entails the development of
environmentally efficient products, the implementation of sustainable practices
in the brand’s operations, and the establishment of influential alliances and
projects that bring advantages to both individuals and the environment. An
essential component is the robust connection between Epson, its partners, and
customers as they collaborate to advance sustainability.
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| Barrio Fiesta themed dinner on our last night |
Other than being a
yearly thanksgiving gathering between members of the media and Epson, the
Fusion event also serves as a platform to disseminate updates about upcoming
Epson products and innovations.
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| A buffet in Cebu ain't a buffet without the lechon |
As I learned from
our first dinner, Epson’s goals are to be carbon-negative and underground
resource-free by 2050. To achieve this, Epson is investing heavily in
decarbonization, resource recycling, and environmental technology development,
all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions in their supply chain.
Making the most of
Shangri-La Mactan's Amenities
Since the entire
Epson Fusion 15 games took hardly half a day, we spent most of our three-day
stay at Shangri-La Mactan roaming and enjoying the property's amenities.
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| Indian selections in the buffet? Yey |
In between drinking
a beer at the beachfront Breeze Bar, digging into the buffet spread at the
Tides, and getting a relaxing massage at the Chi, The Spa, I found myself
swimming at the resort's private beach cove, which is adjacent to a marine
sanctuary, explaining the presence of countless medium-sized fish and colorful
corals.
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| Zen moment in the air |
For me, the
highlight of our second day was the parasailing activity, which lifted me
300–400 feet in the air for around fifteen to twenty minutes while providing a
breathtaking panorama of Mactan Island and the waters of the Cebu Strait. Being
in the air with nothing but the sound of your own thoughts and the gentle
caress of the wind on your face was a truly Zen experience.
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| Spectacular view |
As the night’s Barrio
Fiesta-themed dinner commences and even after the food were served and the open
bar served cocktail drinks, I can’t help but feel gratitude for, yet another
wonderful experience coupled with staying in a world-class resort like
Shangri-La Mactan and to once again participate in my second Epson Fusion
event.
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| The resort's private beach is one of the best on the island |
In line with this
year's Eco-Connection theme and the Epson brand's increased commitment to
sustainability in both its current and future products, I also sense a deepening
connection to our environment. This encompasses the waters surrounding Mactan
Island, the underwater treasures it conceals, the verdant surroundings of
Shangri-La Mactan, and whatever remains of our cherished planet.
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| Feast in every meal |
As a traveler who
dreams of having my grandkids enjoy the beautiful places I’ve been to, I do
hope that more brands will emulate Epson’s dedication to becoming a carbon-zero
company in the future so as to guarantee a longer life for our planet.
