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Lifestyle, Spas and Salons
Trying Out Ton Ton Thai Massage
It’s been just over a year since I started thinking about getting a massage from Ton Ton, one of those prolific Thai massage parlors that has branches all over the metro (and even as far as Tagaytay and Subic). Since then, despite encouraging recommendations from readers and friends, I managed to find one reason or another not to go—whenever I told myself I would go, it always turned out that I would be too busy that day, or rushing to another appointment; there was even a time we planned to go to the Tagaytay branch (something different to do on one of our frequent trips there), but after a hearty meal, we realized we just couldn’t risk bringing up all that food with the round of serious Thai massage.
Finally, after all my good intentions stretched into a year of not doing anything—s perhaps a subconscious thing on my part, since some part of me was convinced this was a DOM place, after a friend told me the massage therapists had confided that some customers hit on them—I made it there, thanks to the fact we had a few hours to kill while waiting for Sophie’s Garden to open. Ton Ton was a few lots down, we weren’t stuffed to the gills with food, there was nothing else to do while waiting—no more excuses not to go.
The place was simple—a typical small BF establishment, as expected. You pass the other shops in the front portion of the building (they were constructing a new salon on one side when we went; it’s now open, I think), through a narrow hallway, to the end, where the door on the left opens into Ton Ton’s reception area. We were warmly received, with a minimum of fuss (well, there was some fuss, mostly caused by me, trying to take clear pictures in the dim light). Two 1 Hour Body Massages, discounted for their happy hour promo, at P250 each (normally P300). Having no special props to prepare (no hot water for soaking here), we were led inside immediately, to one of the massage rooms in the back.
Ton Ton’s interiors are classic BF—the place still looks and feels like a house, except for the dimmed lights and the bamboo slats lining the wall (the lights were actually rope lights behind the bamboo at the base of the walls). The bathrooms were typical residential bathrooms, and, as is usually the case in BF, there was no water (so we couldn’t flush, but the toilets were somehow clean when we used them anyway). The massage rooms were partitioned into separate areas with curtains that reminded me of a school clinic (UP infirmatay, anyone?). Each partition had a sheeted massage mat on the floor, with a small pad and pillows, and pajamas to change into. As expected, not much by way of ambiance.
Despite the lackluster surroundings, the massage itself was very good. It was my first Thai massage, but I’d read about the process, so I was expecting all the stretching and pulling. The therapists had a no-nonsense and down to earth attitude, instructing you to lie down, or kneel, or relax, or push against them, all while they carried on the business of massaging and stretching. They were exceptionally strong for such small women, their size being an advantage, since parts of the massage called for them to sit on you or otherwise hold you down with their body weight (I suppose this is where the trouble comes in when you have, ahem, frisky clients). I enjoyed the hardness of the massage, and I particularly liked the head massage—as for the stretching, it was limbering, but I couldn’t help feel a little vulnerable and slightly anxious, wondering what weird positions they’d stretch me into (nothing to be worried about, of course, but the way they pause before they swing you into position makes you think twice about what’s about to happen).
So after my massage, I finally know what’s behind the Ton Ton buzz. The massages are cheap and they’re a good therapeutic pick-me-upper, a truly invigorating way to spend a free hour. My only issue, aside from the basic interiors (which I didn’t even mind, since I expected as much), was the lack of silence—the therapists occasionally talked to each other as they worked on us, and the people in the next partition (it sounded like there were at least three of them) were carrying on a very involved conversation, complete with getting-to-know-you questions like “Saang probinsya ka galing” and shared stories of the sort heard in barbershops… not relaxing at all.
Still, if you have an afternoon free, and creaky limbs to attend to, this place is certainly worth the visit, as long as you keep your expectations in line.
Ton Ton Massage
273 Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes Parañaque
827-2467
Operating hours: 12NN – 2AM
Unit 20-C-4 Building, URCI Townhomes
Alabang Zapote Road, Pamplona, Las Piñas City (after Casimiro intersection)468-9511, (0922) 818-7814
Operating hours: 12NN – 2AM
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Favorite ko ang Ton Tons because it’s cheap and they give really good massages. Talagang masahe!!! I don’t care about the spa ambiance as long as the place is clean.
I haven’t tried the one in Las Pinas but I’m a patron of the BF branch. Before they lead you to the massage area, they wash your feet with lukewarm water with alcohol. Also, I’ve never experienced my masahista to be noisy or talkative. They even shush noisy customers who talk to each other during the massage sessions.
uy, we didn’t get the foot washing treatment. shucks. :(
i was in legaspi village the other day and i passed by a ton ton branch along perea. sosy ton ton siguro yun, hehe. :)
i like ton ton massage once in awhile….. it’s the “lazy man’s yoga” sarap when they stretch your body and do pressure point massage….they do wash your feet with warm water and alcohol… they shush noisy costumers…but, there are still hard headed ,thick faced noisy people…i just dont like the clothes they give you makati.
“hard headed, thick faced noisy people” hahaha i know what you mean! malas lang siguro ako nung day na yun may nakasabay akong ganun! ;)
In the absence of a good Filipino traditional hilot or a Swedish massage, Thai will somewhat be acceptable. But try the hilot being promoted by the Dept of Tourism, it’s really good!
i haven’t tried ton-ton massage pano naman kasi the other day it was only 1am hindi na pwede.but there are also
nice massage place along Banawe opposite of St. Scholastica’s College.My mom brought me there and had a relaxing moment. :)
ayen,
sayang the branch wasn’t open anymore… a lot of tonton branches are open til the wee hours.
jcs,
i’ve heard about that! i don’t know for sure where to try the “official” hilot endorsed by the dot, though. i talked to the hotel manager of pontefino in batangas before and i seem to recall he said they were also going to offer traditional hilot at their spa. any ideas where we can try it?
the ton ton on perea street gives the best back massages.
The therapists were really noisy. What happened was my therapist, who was massaging me at that time, heard from the other partition that her co-therapists are talking behind her back. She then butted-in and confronted them. So they were throwing words to each other, while she was massaging me, that is.
yikes tama ba naman yun, magaway habang nagmamasahe? :p so what happened to their discussion? (hahaha, nakitsismis pa ano!)
hello!
would really appreciate more of your comments and recommendations…
you may contact me directly at 09228783772 or email at tessa_poblete@yahoo.com
thank you and hoping to give you nothing but the best in Traditional Thai Massage!
Tessa Poblete, GM TonTon Massage
hoping for more “happy ending spa’s..:-)
ton ton thai massage? that’s my favorite…pmpnta ako to have massage every 2 weeks..sa makati pasay road branch ako madalas…even though tga las pinas ako…i tried at las pinas once i like the ambiance there and they also wash your feet with lukewarm water with alcohol pero mdalas me sa makati kya pg nandun ako pmpnta na rn me ng ton ton…although they don’t have the lukewarm water…
very relaxing tlga dun..sometimes i go there with my friends…sa sobrang relaxing nkktulog cla,ako auko mtulog kc gsto ko mfeel ang sarap ng masahe and i really appreciate the ton ton thai massage…
grabe ito na ang pinaka masarap at nakaka relax sa lahat.ang mag pamasahe kay TONTON ..napakalinis ng facility ,friendly ung mga staff..talagang mga customer laging boss…so ano pa hinihintay nyo.try nyo experience ung na experience ko…im out..balik ulit ako next week. :D
i treated my whole sales team to a massage after a particularly gruelling season and toxic sales meeting. IT WAS MEMORABLE! I HOPE THEY ARE CONSISTENTLY GOOD…
nice talaga sa ton ton from the lukewarn water with alcohol in a native basin marelax ka na agad may gong pa after hehe (tomas morato branch) sulit na sulit bayad at oras mo, masahe talaga! one more thing pla — the clothes! di ka na ka bold while massage ka unlike the rest of the spas.
TanTon or TonTon massage in Davao at the Royale wasn’t too bad, but all the therapists there have a habit of burping during the massage.
After about 15 minutes, I heard my wife’s therapist burp about 6 times and 2 other therapists burp once or twice and I had to ask… they were surprised we asked. They said it had something to do with taking in our bad toxins and they had to belch them out.
So Magic was their reason. I have never heard of this anywhere else… Seriously my wife’s therapist burped an average of once per 2 minutes and it was highly annoying.
Have you?
Ton Ton is the BEST!!! :)
Hi Betty!
I’m also in the search for the best and of course, reasonably priced massage parlors here in the south. So after reading this article and getting good feedback from a friend, I recently tried Ton Ton’s 2 hour back and body massage here in BF and sad to say, I didn’t find it that great. I guess it just wasn’t what I was looking for. I appreciated the foot soak prior to the massage but I didn’t expect it to be a “dry massage” and it felt like the masseuse was poking my back in all the wrong spots. Maybe I got a new and inexperienced masseuse but she couldn’t even find the “lamig” spot on my shoulder after I repeatedly showed her where it was. :( oh well, hope I’m able to find the best massage place for me :)
Really love southbound by the way. Hope you’re able to place more articles! They’re suuuper helpful!