MANILA, Philippines ? What?s better than relaxing in front of a wide movie screen with your favorite flick on?

Getting a foot massage with it.

No, it?s not a gimmick you?ll find at mall cinemas?it?s an innovative take on the usual foot massage introduced by Blue Water Day Spa in Ortigas.

The Spa Theatre, which can house up to 28 clients, has all the elements of a modern Cineplex: State-of-the-art screen and projector system, latest speaker technology and modern spa chairs.

All that, and BWDS? well-trained therapists, who undergo 45-90 days of training to provide customers with foot spa and massage services.

?This unique concept is a Blue Water Day Spa exclusive,? said BWDS vice president Francis Ryan Simisim. ?[It?s] an essential part of [our] unrelenting effort to make going to the spa a totally enjoyable experience.?

New treatments

The Theatre was introduced at the Blue Water Day Spa Premiere, May 26, at C3 Events Place, Greenhills, hosted by Phoemela Baranda.

Launched also were four new treatments: The Athlete?s Massage, designed for active people for optimal body performance and prevention of injuries; Tibetan Meridian Fire Therapy, which uses fire and slimming massage techniques to get rid of fat deposits; Comfort Zone Monticelli Mud Treatment for detoxification and softening of the skin; and Biovegetal Enzyme Skin Peeling, which uses organic products to restore the skin?s softness, smoothness and suppleness without the harsh effects of chemicals.

The spa?s new image models, singer/actress Karylle and international ramp model Akihiro Sato, were also at the premiere.

Karylle currently plays Helen in one of ABS-CBN?s afternoon shows ?Maruja.? She has also released three albums to date, and has appeared in a number of productions for film, TV and theater.

Sato, on the other hand, made his mark in the country primarily through TV commercials of Nescafé and Close-Up. Although half-Japanese and half- Brazilian, Sato says he feels at home in the Philippines because his features are more Filipino. He has even started to learn Tagalog.

?It?s what I?m concentrating on right now,? he said. He plans to eventually go into acting. ?I like drama or romance. You get to show more of yourself.?

Spa lovers

Both endorsers are spa lovers. Karylle was already a BWDS client even before she became its image model.

?I felt honored when they asked me to endorse the spa,? she said. Once in a while, she even goes with her whole barkada to enjoy BWDS? Spa Theatre together.

?It?s also a good place to bring your date,? she added.

Sato said he felt likewise. ?My ideal date would be at a spa or cinema, then dinner.? His favorite is the Traditional Filipino Massage, otherwise known as ?hilot.?

?It really works the body because [the massage] is very hard. I usually have it done for two hours.? For Sato, going to the spa is all about taking care of one?s self. He also likes BWDS? Chocolate Slimming Therapy, ?because it makes you sleep.?

Merger

The spa was the product of a merger of facial and spa treatments. ?My mom was into facial treatments, while my dad was into spa services,? said Simisim. ?So I thought, why not combine the two? Because, before, no one was really doing it.?

Four years and six branches later, BWDS continues to flourish as one of the Metro?s best places to experience ?soulful wellness.?

?I think three factors make us stand out,?said Simisim. ?[These are] our services, which come from all over the world; facilities that are all first-class; and customer service.?

Visit www.bluewaterdayspa.com.