MANILA, Philippines - A growing number of Metro Manilans in search of an alternative party venue are discovering for themselves an ideal place to hold their weddings, debuts, anniversaries and reunions.

Since it opened a year ago, the Blue Leaf (www.theblueleaf.com.ph), a series of huge pavilions set in a 5,000-sq-m property in McKinley Hill Village, Fort Bonifacio, has been catering to a fair share of the events market, including corporate affairs, product launches and team-building seminars.

?Our guests don?t seem to mind the short drive,? said Eugene Sandejas, the Blue Leaf?s managing director.

?In fact they welcome it, as it allows them to experience a change in pace and scenery.?

On a good day, the venue is a mere 10- 15 minutes away from Makati?s Central Business District.

This explains the Blue Leaf?s appeal to corporate clients on weekdays and private individuals on weekends.

Unlike a typical hotel ballroom, Blue Leaf, in keeping with its modern, tropical Asian theme, is set amid lush pocket gardens, rock formations and water features.

In lieu of walls or heavy curtains, each air-conditioned pavilion is set off by a series of floor-to-ceiling glass panels that allow the outside in.

Aside from a lounge, each venue comes with a caterer?s area where any of the Blue Leaf?s 10 accredited caterers such as Cibo, Via Mare, Hizon, Albergus and Mandarin Oriental, to name a few, can prepare the food.

No actual cooking is allowed, but clients can bring in as many bottles of their favorite drinks as they like without paying corkage. They just have to inform management beforehand.

?Our three pavilions don?t look like hotel ballrooms,? said Michelle Sandejas, the Blue Leaf?s client relations manager. ?At the same time, they?re no clubhouses without ambiance either.?

Oasis

If anything, Michelle likens the Blue Leaf to a refreshing urban oasis, complete with footbridges, bamboo sanctuaries and fountains, amid a satellite city in the making.

McKinley Village, which is being developed by Megaworld, the same real-estate company behind Eastwood in Quezon City, is shaping up as a haven for call centers, embassies and international schools.

?And because each pavilion has clean and unobtrusive lines, clients can easily spruce it up to suit their parties? themes,? said Michelle, referring to architect Alex Co?s minimalist design.

Michelle and husband Eugene, son of lawyer Jose Sandejas, one of the venture?s owners, manage the family-owned corporation. Eia Dy, the Blue Leaf?s events manager, completes the management team.

The Banyan, the biggest of the lot, can accommodate up to 300 guests for sit-down dinners. Meanwhile, the smaller Silk and Jade can host similar affairs for as many as 250 and 200 people, respectively.

Thanks to a series of sliding panels, the Banyan can be merged with the adjacent Jade to accommodate as many as 500 people for bigger sit-down events.

?Modesty aside, we have plenty to offer clients,? said Eugene. ?One of our biggest come-ons is the refreshing feeling people derive from venturing into our garden atmosphere. They say it?s like being in a resort without leaving the city.?