viajera cebuana

ROTARY MINDS: Unveiling Not Just Wit but Talent in a Holistic Manner This Year

Cebu City — Secondary students from Mandaue City schools joined Rotary Mind The Minds Quiz Bee, Jingle Making and Talent Contest for two consecutive years, a flagship project of the Rotary Club of Metro Mandaue 2006 together with Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (Inc.), Department of Education (DepEd) Mandaue City Division & Mandaue City Government. The objective of the quiz show is to spread…

The BPI Museum and Library’s Top 10 Most Interesting Finds

Curious about how old bills and coins look like? Or how our grannies paid for the stuff they bought back in the days? If you’re a numismatist, a collector of coins or paper money, or if you’re simply interested to learn about money and how it evolved through the years, then the BPI Museum and Library is just the right place for you.

This is located in the corner of the block where you can also…

Anjo World Finally OPENS!

Anjo World, Cebu’s most anticipated theme park opens its gates to the public today at Belmont One, Calajoan, Minglanilla, Cebu.

On its soft opening, 7 out of 12 rides will be ready to give thrill and amusement to its guests. The park will also offer park snacks and treats with partner establishments. Set to open in the 1st Quarter of 2019 are the iconic and gravity-defying Spinning Roller…

Globe creates new traditions with reinvented classic Christmas songs

Catch your favorite local artists go digital caroling and help bring smiles to the kids of Smile Train this holiday season!

It’s that most wonderful time of the year once again. Parols and lights are set up, Noche Buenas are prepared, and perhaps most noticeably, Christmas songs are played practically everywhere.

This year, Globe is giving customers a chance to create new traditions with their…

The symbolic lighting of the resort’s 30-feet Christmas tree was spearheaded by its CEO Jason Uy, Chairman and President Justin Uy, Ms. Marcela Uy, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza, Mactan Cebu International Airport General Manager Atty. Steve Dicdican, MEZ Deputy Zone Administrator Atty. Rufino San Juan IV and Jpark’s General Manager Jonathan Nowell.

Dubbed as “Sweet Christmas,” the event area which was at The Abalone restaurant was absolutely a replica of a majestic candy land.

The programme kicked off with Christmas carols from the Angelicus Children’s Choir which was followed with welcoming words from the resort’s General Manager, Mr. Jonathan Nowell.

Jpark Island Resort is not only committed to provide the best of Filipino hospitality to its valued guests but also to give back to the community. Every year, they partner with the Lapu-Lapu City Home Care Center where disadvantaged children take shelter from. To show gratitude to all the support they’ve received throughout the years, kids from the said home care center sang their hearts out to the event’s guests with some Christmas songs.

As dinner came, members of the media, corporate clients, resort’s executives and VIPs enjoyed a yuletide feast at the resort’s buffet restaurant, The Abalone. Everyone loved the selection of Filipino and International cuisine favorites which include Cebu’s Lechon, Braised Lamb Shank in tomato Sauce, Pan Grill Salmon fillet, Salmon Gravlax, Carving stalls with Pecking Duck and Whole Fish with Ginger Soya, Grilled items such as Beef Ribeye, Prawns, Mussel, Seafood Kare-Kare and so much more.

Guests even more felt the warmth of the season with Fidelis Choir’s classic Christmas songs. The epicure evening further impressed the event’s 380 guests with vivacious performances from Jpark’s very own “Amigos” and violinist Melissa Cipres.

On the same night, Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark also introduced and launched some of its latest developments which include their newest water activity which is the Wave Rider Amphibious Boat. With the limitless leisure offered by this resort, they now give more reasons for guests to enjoy the beautiful islands of Cebu with this amphibious craft. Jpark Island Resort is also the exclusive distributor of the Sealegs Amphibious Craft in the entire Philippines.

Another video was launched that night which is the resort’s Christmas video campaign highlighting Christmas traditions in the Philippines being practiced by different nationalities. The video features a mix of Korean and Cebuano rendition of the prominent Cebuano song “Kasadya Ning Taknaa” with Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark’s employees together with the Korean-Bisaya Social Media Star “AnnyeongHaleo” and C3 Core Singers. The video is now up on their social media accounts for everyone to see and sing with.

The night ended with an inspiring speech from Chairman and President Justin Uy as he shared his family’s humble beginnings and experiences. All guests absolutely had a great night and are looking forward to the resort’s new developments throughout 2019.

Snaps:

    Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark, Cebu is located at M.L Quezon Highway, Brgy. Maribago, Lapu-lapu City, Cebu, Philippines. For more information contact (632) 494 5000, visit http://www.jparkislandresort.com; email [email protected]. Check out facebook.com/jparkislandresort or follow @Jparkresort on Instagram and Twitter for updates.

The Asia’s Nightingale at Mandani Bay: A Thanksgiving Concert

Thank you couldn’t be more intense! To articulate this profound expression of gratitude, Mandani Bay rolls out the red carpet for multi-awarded performer Lani Misalucha and promising thespian David Ezra in its Thanksgiving Concert with Asia’s Nightingale on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at The Tent at Mandani Bay.

Co-presented by Cathay Pacific, the by-invitation-only concert promises a night of…

Growing up, I had been listening to MLTR’s songs. These songs accompany my journey in life from studies to heartbreak to getting wonders after a bad day. Their songs had been embedded in my reverie as long as I can remember. The lyrics in every song has a significant pull of the heart string.

As I remember on the lyrics of “You Took My Heart Away”, this phrase really captured the love I once had.

Cebu City, Philippines — Cebu, while being the seat of Catholicism in South East Asia, has evolved into an icon that has seen many firsts. In the history books, one can infer that Cebu has been essential for the Spanish and Portuguese explorers in their quest for the Spice Islands. Cebu has always been the home of culture, history and heritage.

Last October 23, Property giant Megaworld, the…

Get 50% off on JPark Island Resort’s Year End Sale Today!

Today, November 30 – December 2, 2018, the Philippines only 5-star premier waterpark resort, Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark, Mactan Cebu, is once again giving out their best room and dining deals by far at the Ground Floor of Ayala Center Cebu.

As gratitude to all its guests for their continuous support, Jpark presents gift vouchers on its best room and dining perfect for all your holiday…

Lunch At Misto of Seda: The Best Feeling in the World

Cebu City — While I was so engrossed in focusing on my career as a hotelier, I barely have lunch most of the time. I also skip breakfast.  However, there are days that I splurge on lunch, the only part of the day where I can really eat my feelings and heart out.

Seda Ayala Center Cebu brings you the best feelings in the world — one dish at a time with their daily lunch buffet from noon to 2 pm at…

My AFFINITY for the Lechon

My family had a Lechon business back in the early 2001 or 2002. It was considered as a small time backyard business. I was in high school studying in one of the big universities back then. We had an issue with finances and we needed something to make both ends meet. We don’t have any background in business. My father, who is a jack of all trades, actually had concocted a mix of the Lechon marinade for the selected swines. He was always requested by the family to roast pigs whenever we have family gatherings. Growing up in a family who are foodies, our affinity for Lechon stemmed as back as our grand parents. My Grandpa used to check on the roasting pit and always advised my father and cousins to use any material we can find in the woods for the fire. Coconut husks, coconut palms, and firewood had to suffice when we are in the province to use instead of charcoal. I remember my late Uncle, who was an OFW, decided to finance our Lechon business. WE were able to secure a lot in front of our house to have the pig shelter + septic tank. Raising swines for Lechon was no easy task. I remember my father had to work long hours to make sure the shelter is free of smell, flies and bacteria. During weekends, my father would roast around 5-10 pigs in a day so that we are able to supply various corporations who needed it. We would also sell our Lechon at the entrance of our Subdivision, where people from all walks of life will pass by and stop to buy from us. When inflation was at its heyday, we were not able to recover from the demand of capital and as well as with the supply of the meat itself.  Often times, my father and mother would venture into far municipalities just to find quality swines to roast. Times get rougher and rougher. We needed to stop the operations since we are going downhill.

It was devastating and a tough time, but it did not deter me to stop eating the LECHON that helped me to go through High School and early on with College. Whenever I see kiosk and stalls selling Lechon, I remember me. I remember how I helped with the selling of it by kilo or by whole piece. It made me realize at such a young age how wrong decisions will lead to catastrophic situations.

  Fast forward to today. More than 10 years after, here I am again savoring the best Lechon that this island can offer.

  I was fortunate enough to be invited to the media launch of the Lechon Festival at Mactan Newtown. The experience was quite one of a kind. We were able to see how Megaworld was able to conceptualize, together with the Lapulapu City Tourism Office, an event that pays homage to the Lechon. Even if other areas of Cebu beams with pride for their Lechon, the Mactan Newtown is a different avenue where Lechoneros would be able to showcase their signature products. It was a lunch of fun eating lechon and other paired favorites like Baked Scallops, Burrito, Pancit Guisado, Shrimps [Garlic Buttered and Black Pepper Seasoned], among others. It was truly a feast.

It was a reunion of friends from different media outfits, both tri media and digital. I was overjoyed to see Miss Tere (whom I know from a diff agency) as well as friends from Megaworld Sir MJ and Sir Harold.

How The Grandest ‘Lechon Festival’ in Cebu Was Concieved

“This annual gastronomic and cultural celebration is aimed at bringing awareness to small-scale and less commercialized lechon businesses. Apart from giving local businesses the platfrom to showcase their lechon products, we are also looking to raise the status of this great dish as a main pillar of food tourism in Cebu. Through this, we hope to grow Cebu’s reputation further as a top attraction, while becoming a catalyst for regional economic growth and more livelihood opportunities,” says Kevin Tan, head, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls.

From August 1-12, foodies can indulge in the finest lechons right off the grills of Cebu’s best lechon craftsmen as The Mactan Newtown Lechon Festival entices the palates of tourists and guests alike in an authentic showcase of Cebu’s mouthwatering culture.

Experience a dining celebration like no other at the Mactan Alfresco where you can savor the best iterations of Cebu’s beloved pork dish.

See you at the Mactan Newtown!

Learning Triathlon requires the same focus and discipline as well as the passion to push through difficult and tacky situations like learning Aikido. Some people see training for triathlon as a respite for a lot of things, including office stress, relationship stress and as well as coping up with pressure from peers. With this, it is better to know that LIFE is better with Sun Life’s Go WELL PH initiative. Sun Life has always supported initiatives and efforts on preventive measures to have a well-balanced life as well as providing protection with products that compliment an active lifestyle for its beneficiaries.

This year, Sun Life Financial Philippines Triathlon Team marks its 5th year as participants in the upcoming REgent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Triathlon on August 05 by fielding a total of 13 races led by brand ambassador and flag bearer, Mr. Piolo Pascual, actor Mr. Enchong Dee and of course, its very own core team of executives.

Piolo will bike for one of the relay teams while teaming up again with Enchong (swim) and Triathlete Toniel Uy (run).

On the other hand, Sun Life Chief Investments Officer Michael Enriquez will also see action on the bike, together with Toots Malapad, the Sun Life Business Development Manager for Partnership Distribution as well as Ged Custodia, Sun Life Sales Training and Development Head.

The Sun Life National team is composed of Jan Chiu (swim), together with Sun Life Digital Transformation Specialist Karl Villalonga (bike), TBR Sun Life Dream Marathon 2017 top finisher Alfred Diacosa (run) for the third team, while an all-feamle team will consist of élite athletes Bea Grabador (swim), Laarni de Guzman (bike) and Charlle Sy (run). Not to be missed as well is Bubbles Paraiso who will also join the élite team of iron ladies.

As per Sun Life CEO & Country Head Benedict Sison, “It is a thrill for us to once again be a part of Ironman 70.3, which is a perfect venue for us to highlight Sun Life’s health and wellness thrust.” He also said that “By having our own brand ambassador and executives leading the Sun Tri Life Team in Ironman, we’re confident that we’re sending a clear message that we’re committed to this purpose. We hope that by after the journey of our athletes in this race, more Filipinos will be inspired to lead healthier lives.”

Sun Life, which has expanded its purpose beyond helping clients achieve lifetime financial security, aims to encourage Filipinos to live healthier lives as well. In fact, the company has beefed up its suite of health and accident insurance products and has been launching programs that promote the cause.

About Sun Life

Sun Life Financial Inc. (“SLF Inc.”) is a leading international financial services organization providing insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate clients. Sun Life Financial has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2017, Sun Life Financial had total assets under management ( “AUM”) of $975 billion. For more information, please visit http://www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial, Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stick exchanges under ticket symbol SLF.

Nestled in the most active part of Ayala Center Terraces, Watami PH replaced another Japanese Restaurant just beside Italianni’s. The restaurant exudes a no nonsense no frills facade. I felt like entering a dojo and it brought me back to the time when I started having an affinity for Japanese rice meals [pork/chicken curry, Karaage and Katsudon].

Watami PH is a Casual Japanese Restaurant that offers authentic Japanese comfort food. It is a part of  a leading food and beverage brand in Japan with over 700 branches all over ASIA PACIFIC. It was a humbling experience as well as a culinary journey that day. The ambiance that was so light and appetizing. We noticed that there were regular patrons during that day. We were not the only ones who had taken part of the visual and gastronomic feast of Watami PH. Families are actually present with kids 🙂 It is heartwarming to know that families are able to gather and share a sumptuous meal. On our end, we are also grateful to share the best sellers of Watami PH and indulge on delicious Milk Tea and Matcha Ice Cream. The lunch we had was a balance between savory and sweet. It was also good to know that Watami PH hails from a group that launched the famous brands like Italianni’s, TGI Fridays and more.

Here are my favorites on their menu:

Pearl Milk Tea — not too sweet but definitely creamy and refreshing. The strong aroma of tea is evident with a silky touch of the milk. Tapioca pearls add to the finishing experience of the drink.

California Maki — The crispy cod roe and the sweet mangoes plus crab stick is the best tandem to start the feast.

Special Curry with Fried Pork Loin — The breading was light enough to coat the pork, and then it was deep fried until crisp. The curry sauce was the perfect addition to the rice. I am both a rice and pork lover, so this dish really got me eating a lot.

Pepper Beef Rice — Cooked in a stone pot with a generous serving of thinly sliced beef, sweet corn kernels and rice. Definitely a must try.

Chashu Ramen — the flavorful broth with fresh egg noodles and hearty pieces of meat completed the experience. I was surprised that both the broth and the noodles were a hit. I do not usually finish a bowl of Ramen but here, I finished one big bowl.

Here are our shots from the fulfilling lunch event:

  Visit them on the Ground Floor of the Ayala Center Cebu Terraces just beside Italianni’s. It will be impossible to miss them. Visit their website as well at www.watami.com.ph

Itadakimasu! 🙂

ThreeSixty Pharmacies Now Accepts GCash! That’s Convenience AT Your Hands.

Cebu, Philippines — Mynt which operates GCash, Philippines’ largest mobile wallet and ThreeSixty Pharmacy recently announced that the GCash QR-based mobile payment technology will now be available to some branches in Cebu which will enable the acceptance of payment from all local GCash users.

This means that people will have more than one options of paying those much needed medications for their…