Category: Philippines

Cebu is one the Philippines’ hot spot for gastronomic adventure. A wide variety of cuisine and dining options dot around the city. From time to time, new food stalls and restaurants spring up like mushrooms, adding more entries to the long list of dining destinations. And soon, a Michelin-starred food chain will be among its additions. Tim Ho Wan’s best-selling pork buns Hong Kong’s famous Michelin-starred dim sum restaurant, Tim Ho Wan, is opening its 7th branch at the Upper Ground Floor, Mountain Wing of SM Seaside City on Saturday, March 25, 2017. The Seaside branch is the first and only ... Read more

I got awake due to an alarm. It was lazy dawn, and getting up was a bit of a challenge. The cold breeze blowing from the windows, the refreshing scent of my pillows, and the deafening silence were all conducive to good sleep. I reached my noisy phone from the bedside, and then checked the alarm. A note stating, “Trip to Sumilon” was flashing with the vibration rhythm. That text, for some reason, fully woke me up. I could feel my body pumping some adrenaline. Sumilon Island sandbar I was ready and all packed up in a matter of 30 ... Read more

The Philippines is a host to some of the world’s gorgeous beaches. These beaches are scattered to various islands within the archipelago. Boracay, El Nido, Coron, Malapascua, Bantayan, Concepcion, and Siquijor are among the thousand others that host the Philippines priced and famed, white beach fronts. The pink strip of the Great Santa Cruz Island, Zamboanga City The Pink Beach of the Great Santa Cruz Island Most of the beaches that rise to popularity are white. But, one fine strip in Mindanao had able to make to National Geographics’ list of 21 Best Beaches in The World—the Pink Beach of ... Read more

The shop seats seemingly ordinary at first glance. Unassuming. The glass that separates the house of sweets from the outside refracts the day light, creating a glossy tint, which eventually reduces the transparency. You could not get an apparent view of what is actually inside. Behind the fragile walls is The Chocolate Chamber. The Chocolate Chamber banner outside its boutique at Sarrosa International Hotel Initially, you may wonder if it either sells your favorite Belgian chocolates, or houses a candy collection sourced from foreign makers. Your curiosity engender, more likely. You’ll probably make a stop and take a close look ... Read more

Dumaguete is colloquially known as the city of gentle people and is rightly so. It is the image the locals built for years and has been continuously sown even in the present. Dr. Jose Rizal, Philippines’ National Hero, couldn’t be wrong during his first visit in the city. The city is also known as a university town because, despite of its size, it houses four of the countries biggest universities and a number of colleges, institutes, and higher education learning centers. Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete As Negros Oriental‘s capital, Dumaguete is the best place for you to taste the province’s delicacies ... Read more

The chestnut-brown to ebony timber furnishing, the inky metal frames and railings, and the transparent glass panels give the façade of the newest branch of Rico’s Lechon a simple yet elegant look. Rico’s Lechon Axis Entertainment Avenue branch From the inside, the designs are not simple at all. The interiors are carefully matched to the finest details; from the seat upholstery, wall and ceiling hangings, flower arrangements, to lighting works, as well as the creative use of arches. The stairway works like a mini gallery of Rico himself with his notable guests. Above it are well-crafted bamboo and rattan enclosures ... Read more

We took our phones out from their shelters, connected to the WiFi, opened our respective Facebook apps, and started broadcasting the event via Facebook live. With the 100 Mbps internet speed, the 25 participants of Cebu Food Crawl 2016 simultaneously aired live videos from Cebu Marriott without interruption. The organizers even promised additional bandwidth to desaturate the data demand. Upon entering Gumamela function room, everybody noticed the delectable centerpiece of healthy sweets. The carrot cake slices and the whisky tumblers half-filled with banana chips, sweetened nuts, and yogurt were slavering. Healthy desserts by Cebu Marriott At one corner were fresh ... Read more

Weekday routines could be grueling. Working with difficult individuals, bumping into some annoying strangers, and getting stuck in an unrelenting gridlock strained me to my limits. That is why I love weekends. I can go to random getaways around the province to flush out toxic stress. Returning to work refreshed increases both my productivity and tolerance to pressure. But sometimes, travel could be equally stressful, especially when the weather and traffic conditions are not that cooperative. Hence, instead of going out of town, I spent one of my weekends within the city boundaries—in a place where the ambiance is close ... Read more

I couldn’t be sure if the sundown has passed. My phone ran out of juice and there was no other way for me to check the time. The sky was rather gloomy that day. Fine drizzles wetted the upper part of my shirt, which gave me an unusual chill. I stopped by at a mobile snack bar to get some siopao and refreshment. I remembered that I skipped lunch, so I had to grab some bites to fuel up. Not to mention, it was my birthday and I spent most of my day on the road. Traveling more than 15 ... Read more