May 17, 2012

Vote Cebu City for New 7 Wonders Cities of the World

March 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Cebu, the Queen City of the South, is nominated for the first ever New 7 Wonder Cities of the World.  I bet there are still many of us who are unaware of this.  Please share this blog post to all Cebuanos and Cebuanas out there and tell them to support our very own city.

To cast your vote, visit http://www.n7w.com/cities/en, and proceed to “South East Asia & Oceania” REGION and select CEBU City as one of your NEW 7 WONDERS CITIES of the WORLD.

Let’s push Cebu to the top by sharing this blog post to our friends and to our social network acquaintances before the voting period ends.

8 Photos Showing the Wonders of the City

Here are 8 very stunning and beautiful photos showcasing Cebu’s radiance and progress.

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 5

Photo 6

Photo 7

Photo 8

All these photos are from the official Cebu City for New 7 Wonders Cities Facebook Fan Page.  Check the fan page every now and then for new announcements and more photos.

Filed Under: Cebu, Featured, News

Sinulog is the Grandest Festival in the Philippines

January 15, 2012 By 1 Comment

Tell me other festivals in the Philippines that can attract a crowd in millions.  I think only Sinulog can do it.


 The Black Nazarene procession in Manila can draw in millions of crowd. But that is a religious event and yes, it is strictly religious– not that I know many of it since I haven’t even experienced joining that kind of event in Manila. But the Sinulog is far different for it mixes religion, devotion, fun and street party.

I’d say you have missed one half of your life if you haven’t joined the crowd in Sinulog. You don’t really have to join the choreographed street dancing. Let those dancers do it. However, if you really want to dance for Sinulog, then attend the last novena mass after the procession on the eve of the Sinulog day. You can surely dance with other churchgoers and be in the drumbeat with the priests and other devotees.

Why I say Sinulog is the grandest festival in the Philippines?

It’s a yearly tradition in Cebu to hold the festival event in honor of Sto. Nino.  And almost every year, the festival is getting grander. Not only Cebuanos can enjoy Sinulog. Local tourists from all over the Philippines and even foreign ones have to join Sinulog because it really is Super Fun in Sinulog.

Even from other locales in the Philippines, they join the Sinulog parade to feature their dancing routines. There are contingents from Lanao del Norte, Dumaguete and other parts in the Philippines. Hence, the Sinulog dancing is not strictly for Cebu-based contingents. That’s one of the foremost reasons why Sinulog is the grandest parade because even non-Cebu contingents enter the dancing scene to show their veneration to the Child Jesus.

But Sinulog is not only a religious event. If you venture out on the streets of Cebu, many businessmen consider it as an opportunity for business. Yes, it’s sad to say this but Sinulog is an event for commercialism. But do we have to deny this fact? It should not be for it is part of the development when there is a big festival such as this in your area especially in the area where I was born and raised for over 20 years of my life.

 Just to plug-in: tonight is the special Sinulog Tattoo party from Globe at Ayala Terraces. Expect more happenings at the party including the fireworks display in Ayala, which is already a yearly tradition during Sinulog.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Featured Post, Festivals, News

Harold’s Hotel Invites you to a Gastronomic Feast and Samba on Sinulog

January 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Be enthralled by the Samba dancers as you indulge yourself in the gastronomic feast of international cuisines. This Sinulog 2012,  go “Ai Caramba!” at  Harold’s Hotel.

 Experience the new prime business hotel in the metro as it offers delighting treats of international cuisines laid out in  Lunch and Dinner Buffets on January 14 (Saturday) and January 15 (Sunday), the Sinulog days.

LUNCH BUFFET (January 14-15, 2012 Only)

Are you into grilled and smoked foods?

Try the “Sugba-Sugba” in the  Lunch Buffet at H’Cafe. It surely is a must-try. With a diverse and bountiful selection of Cebuano’s best, the cafe’s “Sugba-sugba” will certainly be the  highlight among the choices of grilled foods in which Cebu is known for. This unlimited food offer is at Php 588 net.

DINNER BUFFET

Starting January 11 (Wednesday) until January 15 (Sunday), guests and visitors will be treated to colourful and palatable culinary favorites.

As you dig in a wide selection of food, be in rhythmic presence with the  sexy and eye-tempting “BRAZILIAN SAMBA DANCERS” live at H’ Cafe.

 

LOCATION AND CONTACT DETAILS:

HAROLDS HOTEL, is the newest premier business hotel in Cebu,located at Gorordo Avenue corner Rosal Street, Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines

Filed Under: Events, Featured Post, Festivals, News, Tourism

Jollibee Maaga ang Pasko brings cheer to Cebuanos

January 10, 2012 By 1 Comment

 

Jollibee continues its tradition of making Christmas brighter with the magic of toys and books as its longest-running Maaga ang Pasko headed down South to spread cheer to children and families in Cebu City last December. Now on its 17th year, the project intensified its nationwide campaign as Jollibee employees, customers as well as Jolly Toy Scouts from partner schools, companies and families in this side of Visayas joined hands to touch the lives of even more children and families in need.

Students from Bagong Lipunan Elementary School in Mabolo, Cebu City and Carreta Elementary School in Carreta, Cebu City felt the warmth and cheer of Christmas as they opened bags of toys and books and enjoyed langhap-sarap Yumburgers  during the school caravan. Jollibee was also present and entertained the kids with a dance number, eliciting wider smiles form the children.

Bagong Lipunan Elementary School Principal Sheila Pancho expressed the entire school’s gratitude to Jollibee’s goodwill. “It’s evident in the expression on the kids’ faces how happy they are with this early Christmas gift. This will surely be a memorable Christmas for all of them,” she shared.

 

This is also the first year that Jolly Toy Scout families in Cebu were called to participate thru the Maaga ang Pasko gift giving activity and share their blessings with less fortunate families.

“Jollibee is happy to be the bridge between these families. We want to start a Filipino Christmas tradition of giving and we hope this habit spreads to more families,” said Vice-President and Regional Business Unit Head for Visayas/Mindanao Beng Huyong during the Family Gift Giving Activity at Jollibee’s branch in Cebu A.S. Fortuna Branch.

Jollibee, through the DSWD, invited four families from the area — the Andales, Gomez, Antig, and Rafols families as the special beneficiaries of gifts from generous family donors and partners. Apart from toys and books for the kids in their household and Jollibee gift certificates , these families received various gifts ranging from basket of groceries, clothes and other special items from volunteer families like the Suplido family, Jollibee Family Values Awardee from Negros Occidental, as well as the Garcia family and Jollibee’s own District 1 families.

In addition, the beneficiary families were all provided with technical skills training scholarships courtesy of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Cebu.

Similar Maaga ang Pasko school caravans and the family gift giving activities were held in Manila, Naga, Pampanga and Cagayan de Oro.

Kids of Bagong Lipunan Elementary School wear Jollibee cutout hats to welcome the Maaga ang Pasko team


Kids thoughtfully prepared a thank-you poster for Jollibee



Students excitedly open their Maaga ang Pasko goodie bags


The Jollibee Cebu team, headed by VP and Regional Business Unit Head for VisMin Beng Huyong (center), with the kids of Carreta Elementary School


Jollibee’s District 1 family with the Andales family



The Family Values Awardee Suplido family gives a Christmas message to the Rafols family


The donor and recipient families share a hearty meal together

Filed Under: Events, Food, News

MoonWalk for Breast Cancer Awareness Rescheduled

October 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Moonwalk, organized by RAFI in observance of Breast Awareness Month in October, will assemble an estimated 3,000 people on the lot beside Pag-Ibig Fund Tower in Cebu Business Park at 5 p.m.

At 5:30 p.m., the Moonwalk participants  will walk to The Walk in Asiatown I.T. Park, passing by Archbishop Reyes Avenue (attached is the Moonwalk route map). A formation of a human pink ribbon and a brief program will follow.

The Moonwalk was originally scheduled last Oct. 12 but it was postponed due to bad weather.

Moonwalk, a unique advocacy campaign of RAFI held every full moon of October, aims to promote the importance of observing monthly breast self-examination for women aged 20 and beyond.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Cebuano women, based on the Cebu population-based Cancer Registry of RAFI.

From 1993 to 2007, the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of RAFI recorded a total of 3,005 reported breast cancer cases in Metro Cebu. EJACC found a continuous increase of breast cancer
incidence in Metro Cebu over the past 10 years, caused by lifestyle and health-related factors.

We hope  to see you at this collaborative endeavor to promote
awareness and fight breast cancer. Kindly wear pink t-shirt during the Moonwalk.

For inquiries and/or confirmation, please contact Nancy Cudis at 418-7234 local 520 or through
mobile number 0917-395-9423, or email at Nancy.Cudis@rafi.org.ph.

Filed Under: Cebu, News

Krispy Kreme To Open First Outlet in Cebu

October 16, 2011 By 1 Comment

Kripsy Kreme, the famous brand of sugary-glazed doughnuts will open its first branch in Cebu.

Cebuanos don’t anymore have to go to Luzon to bring simple dotted-designed boxes filled with piles of oozing sweetness of round pastries for “pasalubong” in Cebu.

It will be a sweet weekend treat for Cebuanos this October 22, 2o11 as it will be the day of Krispy Kreme’s official opening of its first branch in Cebu at the Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu.

But  Cebuanos can still visit the outlet a day before to check the goodies.

Filed Under: Business, Featured Post, News

Brace yourself for Typhoon Ramon This Wednesday

October 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Tropical depression Ramon is expected to bring storm to the areas in Visayas and Mindanao.

Heavy rains have already been felt in Cagayan de Oro and Surigao. Signal number one is forecast in these areas:

  •  Eastern Samar,
  • Western Samar,
  • Leyte provinces,
  • Bohol,
  • Biliran,
  • Camotes Island,
  • northern Cebu,
  • northern Negros,
  • Capiz,
  • Masbate,
  • Ticao Island,
  • Surigao del Norte,
  • Siargao island,
  • Surigao del Sur,
  • Agusan del Norte,
  • Agusan del Sur,
  • Dinagat Island,
  • Camiguin Island.
This is based from PAG-ASA report.

Typhoon Ramon has gustiness of up to 80 kph, with winds whirling at a maximum of 65 kph.

In Cebu, rains have been pouring since Friday, October 7, 2011. Floods should be expected on roads and traffic will surely be a headache.

And will there be classes tomorrow?

Tune in to radio stations for updates or call your school.

We’ll try to update you on this development at our Facebook page.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Blogging, Cebu, News

RAFI to hold Moonwalk for breast cancer awareness on Oct. 12

October 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

In observance of Breast Awareness Month in October, the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) will hold the 8th annual “Moonwalk: A Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness” under the full moon on Oct. 12.

“Since Oct. 12 is a weekday, we would like to inform the public of a possible traffic congestion that might happen on that day from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.,” Ronald delos Reyes, program coordinator of EJACC, said.

The Moonwalk will assemble an estimated 3,000 people on the lot beside Pag-Ibig Fund Tower in Cebu Business Park at 5 p.m.

Moonwalk 2011 Route Map

At 5:30 p.m., they will walk to The Walk in Asiatown I.T. Park, passing by Archbishop Reyes Avenue (please see illustrated route map). At the Asiatown I.T. Park, participants will form a pink human ribbon. A short program and Pink Rock Concert will follow.

Moonwalk is open to the public. Participants are encouraged to wear pink shirts.

Moonwalk, a unique advocacy campaign of RAFI held every full moon of October, aims to promote the importance of observing monthly breast self-examination for women aged 20 and beyond.

It is also a campaign of RAFI to get more people to be aware on the importance of early cancer detection and prevention. At the same time, it is a tribute to the victims and survivors of breast cancer.

“We hold Moonwalk during a full moon and Oct. 12 is when the moon is at its fullest this month. Full moon, because it is symbolically linked to the woman,” delos Reyes explained.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Cebuano women, based on the Cebu population-based Cancer Registry of RAFI.

From 1993 to 2007, Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of RAFI recorded a total of 3,005 reported breast cancer cases in Metro Cebu. EJACC found a continuous increase of breast cancer incidence in Metro Cebu over the past 10 years, caused by lifestyle and health-related factors.

“Most of the participants are cancer patients, women from the barangays, and the youth. We encourage everyone, from all walks of life, to join us in this year’s Moonwalk,” delos Reyes said.

Moonwalk is organized in collaboration with The Walk and in coordination with Ayala Center Cebu and I CAN SERVE. It is supported by the Cebu City Government, Department of Health Region 7, Asiatown I.T. Park, Cebu Business Park, Allied Banking Corporation, Phillipine National Bank, Cebu Praedia Development Corporation, Rotary Club of Cebu Fuente, KAHAYAG Network of Cancer Support Group, and Destiny Medical Fund, Inc.

Moonwalk is an initiative of EJACC under the Integrated Development focus area of RAFI, addressing health issues of communities in order to create a better quality of life.

For more details about the Moonwalk, or to register, please call 254-6351 or 256-3287 and look for Gina Mariquit.

Filed Under: Cebu, News, Society

August 6 is Cebu’s Special Non-Working Holiday

August 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Though August 6, 2011 does not fall on a school day, the working class can have a field day with a non-working weekend. But if they do work on that day, they are entitled for a 30 percent premium of their rates.

Cebu commemorates August 6, 2011 as its founder’s day of being a province. Celebrating its 442nd anniversary, Cebu gains its provincial status since the appointment of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi as governor under the royal decree granted by King Philip II of Spain in August 6, 1569.

 

The founder’s day of Cebu is a special holiday that also encompasses Cebu City, which is a chartered city and Mandaue City, which has an independent status in cityhood. Thus, the whole Cebu province including the component cities can enjoy the celebration of the founding anniversary.

 

The declaration of Cebu Charter Day was made in accordance to a resolution, which is the Republic Act of 8952 of 1993. The republic act is an amendment of RA 7698, which failed to include Cebu City and the highly urbanized cities of Cebu in the commemoration of Cebu’s founding anniversary.

 

Various activities will be celebrated in the whole month of August, 2011 in Cebu Province. The anniversary celebration kicked off with a business program, The Agro Trade Fair on August 1, 2011. The opening salvo was done by Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

 

“Sugbo Nagasubay sa Tukmang Dalan” is Cebu’s 442nd founding anniversary’s theme this year.

 

 

Filed Under: News

Greenin Philippines Launched to Media and Eco Groups

May 9, 2011 By 1 Comment

 

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated (RAFI) will embark on a large-scale environmental project that envisions to “go beyond tree planting by developing real forests.” Last October 27, 2010, RAFI has gathered together Cebu’s top environmental organizations, schools and colleges, and media organizations to launch Greenin’ Philippines. The presentation was held at the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center.

Mr. Neil Papas, RAFI Program Coordinator, gave a presentation about the foundation followed by Ms. Rowena Bandola’s lecture on climate change, in-depth analysis Cebu’s land, what Greenin’ Philippines. is all about and how do we, as program partners, execute it.
Greenin’ Philippines. aims to establish a broader scope, meet the needs of potential clients and partners with environmental concerns, contribute to national sustainable development, and upscale best practices and experience in environmental management.

“It is a starter of a five-year program,” says Ms. Bandola. ”It will align with the environmental rehabilitation by linking program partners with an accredited school, LGUs, corporate entities and individuals.”

To develop sustainable forest areas, Greenin’ Philippines has developed program strategies and approaches such as partnership broadening, capacity enhancement, social networking and establishment of forest models and pooling together of experts. The forest models can be found at Babag, Cebu City which started last 2004 and at Bojo, Alaguinsan last 2009.

RAFI signed up with CEAP schools (Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines) who will cultivate the native tree nurseries for logistical and operational reasons.

Based on the data presented, we need to reforest 8.6 million hectares of failing or denuded lands. To do this, we need 120, 400, 000 seedlings to be planted in the right places with the right kind of trees and at the right time. In Cebu alone, we have total land area 508,000 hectares and only 193,000 of this are forest or timber lands.

Among the organizations partaking in the program includes Cebu Bloggers Society headed by Vernon Go, Cebu Association of Biology Students headed by Evan John Mendoza, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Foundation for the Philippine Environment, University of the Visayas, St. Scholastica’s College, Cebu Bird Conservation Society, Cebu Mountaineering Society, Department of Education, Shangri-la Resort, Freeman Foundation, Sun.Star Cebu, Aboitiz Leaders, DelSan Office Systems and Mr. Ramon Vidal.

How can you help?

You can encourage your school, community or company to do your share by planting native trees where they are needed and most suited. Please coordinate with RAFI thru calling (032) 418-7234 local 515 and look for Mr. Neil Papas or Ms. Meryl Mendoza.

 

by: Jaysee John Pingkian, graphics artist, blogger and contributor, Content Management

Image from: rafi.org.ph

Filed Under: Events, News, Society
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