Yummy Yaki

THERE are just those moments when “heaven” suddenly hits you on the head during meals.

Sira-sira store: Wisely wins

“UNCLE, Wisely will win after the May 13 elections.” This was my precocious 10-year-old nephew, Pannon, talking to me as I was encoding “vtrsxy, agvbxzc, mnzltw” on my laptop. I drew a blank this week and had been battling with the empty space for an hour.

Hot stuff

NOTHING is ever too trivial in the world; not even something as common as colors. Come to think of it, what is a picture without color? More so, how is life without a single hue?

The Beauty Enthusiast

Brush basics

FOR THE longest time, I didn’t bother with makeup brushes. When I finally got around to buying some, I never looked back. Getting the right brushes will do wonders for easier, seamless application. Whether you’re buying brushes individually or as a set, here’s a guide on how to use them.

Serna: Zanjoe jokes about himself

ZANJOE MARUDO breezed into town last Saturday to promote his latest starrer, Bromance – My Brother’s Romance, where he plays a dual role, that of twins where one is gay.

Pamper Mom like a queen this Mother’s Day at SM

MOTHER'S Day is the perfect day to celebrate the joys of having a mother. It is the time to make amends for not being able to spend quality time with her.

On May 12, bring your mothers to SM City Cebu and SM City Consolacion and enjoy a relaxing day with good food, lots of fun and surprises, and a total entertainment.

AboitizLand launches second phase of Priveya Hills

AboitizLand Inc. recently launched its P417-million Phase 2 development of Priveya Hills, located at the hills of Bacayan, Cebu and Tawason in Mandaue.

The third of the Aboitizes high-end lot-only development, their phase two project covers approximately eight hectares, with 89 lots. It is a low-density development with only 13 houses per hectare. Prices range from P14, 000 to P16, 000 per sq.m.

Dragon Home Inn opens

THERE'S a new addition to the hotel industry in Cebu that soft-opened last April 21, 2013. Dragon Home Inn is a new player located in General Echavez Street, Cebu City.

The owners are not new to doing business as they are beans supplier for years.

To Siargao's Tres Marias

EVERYTHING starts with strangeness and being estranged: unfamiliar faces in the resort’s restaurant, unfamiliar laughter on the beach, a familiar sleeping position on an unfamiliar figure in the airport lobby, familiar driving on an unfamiliar road with unfamiliar hands behind the wheel. Everything starts with strangeness and being estranged.

A string of fiddlers: grand recital at SM

AFTER a successful concert at the Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod last month, the Cebu Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) is back and this time, showcasing their talented violin students—over a hundred fiddlers, in a grand recital set on May 19, 5 p.m. at the Northwing Atrium of SM City Cebu.

Utzurrum: Time for media chefs to shine

CAFE MARCO, at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu Hotel, was recently lauded as the Philippines’ fifth best restaurant by Miele Guide, an honor obviously not enjoyed by everyone.

Recently the cafe reversed its role. So instead of preparing their top culinary fare, they invited their media friends to share their recipes and reveal well-guarded family gems. So here they are with the guidance of kitchen guro Jessica Avila.

Fetalvero: Living wage

ROGER KOOPMAN, a private employment service owner, once said: “The idea of raising minimum wage is a classic example of good intention and a bad idea.”

This remark is supported by most businessmen who want to keep profitability a primordial concern whereby setting aside social responsibility for a living wage.

Not the usual 'bread'

PIZZA has met countless reinventions over the years. Tracing its beginnings to the food haven that is the Mediterranean region, pizza variants are present nearly everywhere, bearing different flavors and styles—some even quite different from its herby, cheesy and tomato-filled predecessor.

Literatus: Underrated ‘D’

TO PARAPHRASE a Yiddish proverb: “Even a dog without teeth attacks a bone.” It seems nature has something against the bone eventually, hasn’t it?

The United States Institute of Medicine set the daily recommended intake of calcium for people aging 19 to 50 years at 1,000 milligrams (one gram). Studies in the past agreed that at the age of 30 bones in the body start depleting itself, and in order for the person to make up for these loss enough dose of dietary calcium must be taken in. The question is: Do we take calcium alone? Or, should we take it with vitamin D?

Neri: Total entertainment at Resortz World Manila

RESORTS World Manila (across the NAIA 3) wasn't fully completed when I first set foot in the place more than two years ago. Even then it was totally impressive as an entertainment destination because it brings to mind the glitter of Las Vegas but with that distinct Asian flavor. The entire complex is called the Newport City.

Gateway Motors opens used cars showroom

GATEWAY Motors Group brings the used car industry to the next level with the opening of a brand new showroom.

Although there has been an existing showroom for the Gateway Motors Premium Used Cars since 2009, the increasing demand for used cars has led to the construction of a formal showroom, which began in January.

Waterfront Mactan introduces new chefs

BRINGING in new flavors to their already wide array of gastronomic selections from Café Fortuna, Lobby Lounge and their room service, the Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino Mactan introduced two latest additions to their already dynamic team last April 24 at the renowned Uno Restaurant.

L’Oreal Professionel’s new collection

IT WAS a night of beauty and expertise as L’Oreal Professionel presented its Spring Summer Collection last April 25, 2013.

The night was filled with astounding hairdressing talent, as various hairdressers from all over Cebu came together at The Gallery in Mabolo.

Skin City opens at SM Consolacion

EXPERIENCE the five-star quality services of SkinCity, Cebu’s newest ultimate spa place. Located at the second floor of SM Consolacion, it is the very first branch here in the Visayas.

SkinCity is a one-stop spa shop which started in 2009 in Manila. With the belief that every Cebuana deserves to be beautiful inside and out, SkinCity guarantees a relaxing ambience topped with quality services.

Primitive art in the time of technology

A “laughter philosophy” for finding fun amidst the seriousness of life inspired artist Carlo Rodriguez to start and grow his line of handmade accessories, aptly called Lilila or “Lingaw Lingaw Lang.”

Espina: ‘Speechcomized’

“Be Speechcomized” is the brand essence of Speechcom, transforming shy to more confident and competent speakers and performers.

This happened again in summer 2013! Here are some photos to show what fun it is to be “speechcomized.”

Woman on the go

THERE are dynamic women who wear many hats and succeed in creating a good career out of the many titles they carry.

Playing it back, way back

Michelle Varron Top drawer

LAST April 27, Havaianas held a one-of-a-kind sports fest that brought back many childhood memories. A throwback to the days when kids used to play games like piko, sack race, tug o’ war, Chinese garter, patintero (tubig-tubig in Cebuano) or batolata, Havaianas Playback was a fun-filled day of nostalgia and competition.

Jo: a book launch

Nelia G. Neri, Chinggay Utzurrum and Cookie Newman

IT WAS a proud and happy day for the Magsaysay siblings, Myra, Maureen, Mia and Glen and their families when the book Jo was launched at the Marcelo Fernan Press Center.

Costanilla: A party like no other

PARTY. It was a birthday party like no other, with a number of Cebuano entertainers “invading” Tacloban City, specifically the sprawling Hacienda Verde poolside. It was where Dr. Anita Salazar was treated to a surprise golden birthday bash by her husband Raffy, one of Tacloban City’s well-respected businessmen, and their four wonderful children. Those that entertained the crowd of the city’s who’s who were singing Rotarian Bong Deiparine (who should now cut an album) and the University of Cebu Dance Troupe headed by Victor Cuenco. This writer was the program emcee. Our trip to Tacloban City was made possible by Rotarian Mila Demecillo, charter president of the Rotary Club of Cebu Fort San Pedro. Engr. Junjet Primor directed the entire party.

Shrine for a worker saint

MAY has long been associated with not just the Flores de Mayo celebration but also with fiestas. Fiestas are just among the myriad of vibrant influences that Pinoys have whole-heartedly absorbed from the Spanish conquistadors. Pat on the back to the Spaniards who used such tactic, among others, to successfully convert the natives to Christianity.

Singlestalk: The mommy

M: Gretchen is 28, employed and in a relationship with a 21-year-old guy. She is pregnant. Should they get married?

She’s worried that her BF is too young to settle down as he might miss out on his youth. What’s she to do? Simple. Talk to your boyfriend, Gretchen, and ask him if he’s ready to have a family, and this includes asking whether or not he wants to marry and if he is not yet ready to marry, if he is willing to give support to their child.

Luab: The need to belong

I once saw a movie whose title I’ve forgotten but I remember that Donald Sutherland had the lead role. He was one of the psychiatrists of a juvenile correctional institution. To make a long story short, Donald had to take care of a teenager who came from a broken home, whose mother had married someone else, and whose father did not love him. The boy’s only link to family was an older brother who was such a bad influence on the young boy that things grew from bad to worse.

Women’s world: Sleep problem

Dr. Dana Ruiz-Sesante Cindy Ruiz Garaña, R.N.

Dear Cindy,

Davao's famous grill is here

IF CHICKEN barbecue is your thing, then you must try Penong’s version of it. The newly opened Penong’s in Cebu is the 16th outlet of this barbecue place, very popular in Davao City where it began and where there are eight outlets. The others are in Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Tagum, Dipolog and Kidapawan.