Skylights and bougainvilleas that lead to Panglao

THIS place is not for everyone.

Crowd-jostling, skin to skin contact? Not here.

Utzurrum: Special occasion

WHO says Ernesto “Erny” Elizondo looks like a doddering 80-year-old? No one who saw Erny on the night of his 80th birthday would ever say so! Not with the celebrator, garbed in a flaming red shirt, greeting his many friends, colleagues, taking time to engage in lively banter, raising the hand of a candidate and just having fun, we had never seen Erny as fit as a fiddle and in fine spirits!

Fetalvero: The aftermath of a decision

MORGAN FREEMAN, actor and narrator of documentaries, once said: “Questions could spark a conversation or a revolution.”

In the recently concluded electoral exercise voters made an agonizing decision—meaning, they must have deliberated hard and I can only surmise that they simply wanted to get rid of traditional politicians and elected mostly young candidates.

A new beginning

WHEN news of its closure broke out last year, many Cebuanos were disheartened.

Since 2006, The Outpost has somewhat lived up to its name of being a refuge spot.

Literatus: Triggers to dyspepsia

WHEN you repeat or hear repeatedly a difficult word often enough you get to know it by heart. That’s the case with the word dyspepsia. The Greek root dys means “painful” (remember, "painful menstruation" in dysmenorrhea); while pepsia or pepsis means “to digest.” Together, and literally, dyspepsia means “painful digestion.” We know its simple equivalent better: indigestion (in Cebuano, we say “wa kahilisi”).

Clinically, dyspepsia is that vague feeling of discomfort (of heat, burning or pain; or of fullness that is bothersome) in the upper belly or abdomen during or right after eating.

Neri: What's up? What's new?

On the travel front...

Setting a higher line

AT least from a mainstream point of view, Manila has always been the center of attraction when talking about the filmmaking industry. The capital like no other place, hoards its share of stars—and like it isn’t bright enough already—is where the entire entertainment spotlight is pointed at.

Regional, but marginal no more

Joanna Cuenco

Espina: P.E.O.P.L.E and ‘Talento Cebuano’

ON its fifth year of celebrating success stories and skills of the Cebuano people, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry Arts and Culture and P.E.O.P.L.E (People Enhancing Opportunities Propelling Leadership Excellence) will be at Ayala Center Cebu’s Activity Center (co-sponsor) on June 22, Saturday, from 1-5 p.m., to acknowledge the initiatives of Marilyn Chua; who started from cooking as a hobby for kins and friends at her home, to putting up ‘Kusina ni Nasing’ in 2011, with only P6,000.00 for an investment.

World-class act

NOT a lot of people know that a world-renowned design professional was in Cebu lately to give a talk to a group of architects during their convention. Well, Cebu was honored to have rolled out the red carpet for Japanese architect Kazuyo Sejima of the Sejima and Nishizawa and Associates firm, which won the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Award in 2010, a recognition equivalent to the Nobel Peace Prize in architecture.

Freedom in filmaking

VINCENT SANDOVAL is only 30 years old, but the films he directed have already received global acclaim. His first film, Señorita, has screened in nearly two dozen notable film festivals in Greece, Morocco, South Africa, around Europe and the United States.

Cebu’s ‘puso’

ASK Cebuanos what is good to pair off with their favorite barbecue or lechon and you’ll likely get the same answer—puso. And the better way to indulge in this special rice is by kinamot or eating with your bare hands.

Costanilla: Producer, actress Pilapil in new film

GLAD. We are glad to see her lovely face once again on the big screen after years of being away from the acting field. Despite her age, her acting prowess is still evident and impressive. Cebuana star Pilar Pilapil plays Leona Calderon, which is also the title of her comeback (?) film. She is also one of its three producers. Pilapil’s character is an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in London whose biggest dream is to return home and reunite with her son. But she could not fulfill it after unsuccessful cancer surgery.

Bamboo Bay Community breaks ground

BAMBOO Bay Community broke ground for their first tower in Hernan Cortes Street, Subangdaku, Mandaue City last April 16, 2013. This ceremony marked as a start of their mission of providing quality and affordable homes to their buyers.

Tower One is already sold out and is considered to be a huge success for Bamboo Bay, which was launched only five months ago. The growth is really fast considering that they are just new player in the industry.

CEB pioneers direct flights to Phuket, Thailand

THE Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSE:CEB) announced it will begin direct flights from Manila to Phuket, Thailand, starting August 16, 2013.

CEB is the first and only airline to provide direct air services from the Philippines to this popular island destination.

Pavilion of memories

IN architecture, a pavilion could have more than one meaning.

One, it refers to a projecting part of a long building façade, usually emphasized by elaborate decorations or greater height such us in some government buildings.

Singlestalk: This guy’s in love with his buddy

Michelle: “In a complicated relationship” seems to be a common state of life these days. I wonder why?

Mark, who’s 28, has a girlfriend of two years but he is still in love with his buddy for five years now. How he has managed to live this seemingly “double” life is not difficult to imagine. There are many who are in denial of their sexuality. But they cannot deny it forever especially if they involve innocent people like Mark’s girlfriend who is unaware of Mark’s dilemma.

Luab: Friendship is a two-way street

FRIENDSHIP cannot and must not be a one-way street. Many of us are givers and a lesser number are takers. I’m sure a great number of people share this experience.

We who are givers are sometimes pushed to a corner, cleverly manipulated by a friend into doing something we do not want to do. Many times we are bombarded with cunning manipulations which, while sly, can be so transparent. We see through a ruse that redounds on the taker’s comfort, his or her laziness and total disregard for our dignity as a person.

My BF has no time for me

DEAR Cindy,

I love my boyfriend very much and the thought of losing him kills me.

Lechon: In the resto or on the road

SERVING something classic and as old-fashioned as lechon is beginning to take on a more innovative approach.

Cebu’s culinary heritage

EVERY year, there’s something that makes Gabii Sa Kabilin (GSK) grander. While last year guests were treated to a “let’s get there first, beat the others” Amazing Race-like game that required them to make puso or practice calligraphy, GSK on May 31 adds a whole new ingredient into the mix: food.

Sira-sira store: I’m ‘chori’

I WANTED to kick myself for not thinking of the survey cooked up by GMA 7 sometime in April. I’m really chori (sorry) for not thinking of this.

The TV network has this wonderful show, I Juander, that discusses beliefs, food, fashion and other cultural aspects that define Juan de la Cruz. I Juander is hosted by Susan Enriquez and Cesar Apolinario, who both lend a folksy note to the show.

At the height of glamour

SHANDAR is a foreign word that is becoming more and more familiar in Cebu and also gradually in Manila. It is the Hindi word for “proud” and can also mean “elegant” or “fabulous.” The name is apt for Mark Tenchavez’s line of shoes, headdresses, hats and accessories, none of which could be described as plain or boring.

5,10, and 20-minute beauty tips

SOME people think putting on makeup is a task that will eat up an hour of their day, the kind of time that most busy women don’t have. If you have even five minutes to look pulled together, here are some beauty routines to help you look more polished in a rush. When getting ready, it helps to consider which parts of your face need perking up, i.e. if you have sparse brows, you’ll need to spend more time on them than someone with fuller, groomed brows.

Serna: Fast forward: More events

WHEW! That was a grueling, taxing, draining, exhausting electoral exercise that we had last Monday. If we, ordinary voters, felt that way, I can just imagine how the candidates, their close associates and avid supporters felt.

Barbecue nights at Parklane

LATELY, summer nights have been a bit sweltering. Instead of staying at home with the air conditioning, one can spend them better by being on top of Cebu Parklane International Hotel. This is not just a breezy escape to a toasty night, but also an indulgence to a delish dinner to share with friends and family.

Parklane’s Barbecue Buffet is truly a must-try for these warm summer nights. For P450, one can already dig in to a sumptuous all-you-can-eat dinner at the hotels’ poolside restaurant.

Global Football Club visits Autowelt BMW Showroom

GLOBAL Football Club, the private football club owned and managed by Philippines Men’s National Football team manager, Dan Stephen Palami, visited the Autowelt BMW Showroom in Nivel Hills Lahug Cebu City last Monday, May 6, 2013.

The players who represented the Global FC were Ange Marios Tresor Guisso, Moussa Sanogo, Ben Starosta, Nino Ocohotorena, and Valentine Kama.

Australia as Top Study Destination in IDP Fair

AUSTRALIA is highlighted once more as among the world’s best education destinations in the next education fair organized by IDP Education Philippines this month.

The Australian Education Exhibition 2013 will be held at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao on Friday, May 17. It moves to the Dusit Thani Makati the following day, culminating with its Cebu staging at the Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu on Sunday, May 19.

New Tattoo Lifestyle Stick

TATTOO, the country’s most reliable mobile broadband, unleashes a new weapon bringing to life your many passions, designed to seamlessly sync with your fast-paced lifestyle whether online or offline.

From three different lifestyle sticks now come one revamped and powerful mobile pre-paid gadget that combines countless passions exclusively created in tandem with esteemed furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue. The three exclusive stick designs exemplify style and function in unison, and is also the smallest and lightest broadband stick available in the market today, only from Tattoo.

Davao beyond durian

WHEN I talk to friends about Davao, the reaction is often, “There’s nothing to do in Davao except eat durian.” I beg to differ.