Manila is a vibrant metropolis with something for everyone. Thrill seekers are invited to discover the wondrous section of Malate that is home to the bohemian and culture loving art enthusiast on an inspired high. Intramuros, a war-torn walled city, is now a bustling center of culture with museums, parks and Baroque inspired churches and a playground for those who want to play hide and seek! And there is Makati in the central business district, a night prowler's delight where the socialites, urbanites, glamour girls and boys, the rich and the infamous, and those who have nothing to hide mingle and indulge.
When you are here in the Philippines, you might come to chance upon a silky, heavenly violet scoop of ice cream. You will most likely ask yourself, "Where does this royal treat come from?" Silly you. The succulent ice cream everyone here loves so much is made from ube or Purple Yam, a root crop grown in the Philippines!

Fresh fruits, marine products, and desserts have found their way into households and posh restaurants around the world and many of them came from the Pearl of the Orient­ the Archipelago of the Philippines!

The Philippines ' strategic location made it a favorite destination for merchants and travelers throughout the centuries. Foreigners come and go, bringing with them their tastes and cooking methods. Filipinos, in their immense creativity, mixed these ingredients with their own style. As traders and colonizers continued to trade all sorts of spices and food plants with the islands, the intermingling of cuisines was furthered and refined for more tasteful ends. The result is a conglomeration of flavors-Filipino food.

Yet Filipino cuisine continues to evolve as many international cuisines thrive in Manila. Italian, French, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Thai restaurants, among others, are there to serve peculiar appetites and discriminating tastes. Locals and foreigners alike share their love for Filipino food. And to taste Manila at its most luscious, come to CircuitAsia 2005-where beautiful boys, broiled by the sun to golden perfection, whet a different appetite! Feast your eyes on rippling muscles while they gleam as if basted with their own juices. Inhale their aromatic steam-taste the essence.

Inspired by the Black & Blue Ball in Montreal, Circuit Asia is the latest reason to explore Asia. This is another destination of paradise, great food, hot men and brotherhood in the BOI travel issue.

"CircuitAsia will be groundbreaking," promises Ding Pastrana, the Founding President. "We are bringing a different caliber of partying to the Far East with state of the art sound and light system and most importantly, the world's most beautiful and exotic men. Over the long term, we intend CircuitAsia to be among the must-go gay destination events in Asia alongside Montreal's Black and Blue and Palm Spring's White Party, our foremothers in the circuit scene."

"We join the rest of the pink nation in celebrating the parties," adds Tony Barobaro, director for production for CircuitAsia, "It is fulfilling to learn that our American sisters will be with us in this celebration. We invite them as royalties in this endeavor in Manila."

On a side note, The Gift Foundation was established as a resource group for talented individuals who have the gift of passion in what they do and believe in. What they wanted is to have a party that is both beneficial to the attendees and the society at large. Their areas of concern are primarily education, employment and public health issues.