C’s is it!

LOVERS of French food will want to know that C’s Café at L’Fisher Hotel has included an array of authentic French breads in their pretty little bread baskets. Added to their repertoire of baked goodies are croissants, the baguette, gateau breton, pain au chocolat, chocolate éclair, pain au raisin, Mediterranean roll, sundried tomato fougasse, toursade au chocolat, and even their French version of buko pie that has pastry cream!

Best LTE smartphone experience from Smart

WIRELESS leader Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) has made available the best and latest smartphones in affordable plans that will seamlessly fit into the different lifestyle of its subscribers.

Smart now offers the Samsung Galaxy S4, Nokia Lumia 920, Huawei Ascend D1, ZTE T82, and Sony Xperia V and Z on various postpaid plans geared precisely to its customers’ needs and wants.

UPMin's Architecture program maintains 100% passing rate

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines (UP)-Mindanao BS Architecture program maintained its 100-percent passing rate record in the lastest Architect Licensure Examination with ten passers from among its graduates, in comparison to the national passing rate of 51 percent.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced that 901 out of 1,767 passed the Examination given by the Board of Architecture on June 7 & 9, 2013.

Sonic Boom

IF YOU are a regular to music gigs happening in the city, it is likely that you have come across the name “Sonic Boom” at some point. But what exactly is it anyway? In its iconic bold, yellow and red font set against black logo, it is a name that many people seem to have a vague idea about. Is it a music label? A production house? An events company?

Espina: CCCI tourism: then and now

JUNE is Tourism Month in In My Diary. The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (CCCI) tourism team has come a long way.

Group gathered to build up ties

THE network of people with Rh negative blood in the Philippines recently gathered in Olongapo City and discussed how the group will strengthen their bond in helping one another.

Rh Negative Philippines is a group of people with Rh negative blood, which helps provide blood donors with Rh negative blood through strong bonds with its committed members in helping and saving lives.

Sorely missing Lumbia Airport

HOW do we say our goodbyes to one who has been so much a part of our lives and of Cagayan de Oro for over six decades?

I am referring to the recent closure of the iconic Lumbia Airport last June 14, 2013.

Simultaneous flag-raising rites jump-start Independence Day at SM

ON JUNE 12, SM Supermalls joined the entire nation in commemorating the 115th Philippine Independence Day with simultaneous flag-raising ceremonies in all malls in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

At SM Lanang Premier, the flag-raising ceremony was held outside the main mall at the Grand Boulevard area of Gate 1. Davao City Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre graced the occasion as guest of honor.

Kitchen stories

IT'S easy enough to mix ingredients together, toss them in an oven or a frying pan, and check if the food has been thoroughly cooked. This is mere preparation, but there’s a distinct and noticeable taste to food that has been made not just with technical skill, but with an inherent passion for gustatory delight.

152 fiddlers—not on the roof

MORE than 100 fiddlers enthralled Cebuanos recently. No, they didn’t play their music on top of the roof.For the first time in the Philippines, 152 fiddlers (violin, viola, cello) gathered together for a grand recital named “A String of Fiddlers.” Held recently at the Northwing Atriumof SM City Cebu, the grand recital gathered together the music students of nine music schools: Music & Me Studio; Bella Musica & Violin Discovery; Francis Balo Violin Studio; Classic Orchestra Music Studio; Duyan Childcare Center Cebu Inc; Cebu Music Learning Center; Sacred Heart School Ateneo de Cebu ; Bridge Music Academy; and 7 Spirit.

Filinvest begins development of Il Corso in SRP

WITH its aim to bring to Cebu a refreshed lifestyle shopping, dining and recreation, Filinvest starts the development of Il Corso.

Il Corso is a 10-hectare development in SRP directly fronting the seawaters that will provide a different shopping experience. Designed to complement the natural environment, this retail development exudes a relaxing feel and resort-like ambience.

PAL opens a new office

PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) continues its tradition of providing the best passenger experience as they open another office in Cebu City. Last month, PAL formally opened its newest office in QC Pavilion, along Gorordo Avenue.

Aside from the new office being centrally-located, it also offers a compact area which utilizes every space in the office.

PTT opens new branch in Pusok

PETROLEUM Authority of Thailand Philippines Corporation (PTTPC) opened its new branch in Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City last May 28, 2013.

The branch is owned and managed by Kenneth Lester Ang.

Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu joins The Great Cebu Sale

THE Cebu Chamber of Commerce drums up a flurry of amazing deals this month with the Great Cebu Sale, the first of its kind in the city. From June 1 to 30, exporters, hotels and restaurants will be slashing their prices and bringing out steals for those hungry for bargains and deals.

The Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu also joins the Great Cebu Sale to bring you great stays and experiences at a fraction of the price.

Filipino recipes under one roof

CRAVING for Filipino dishes? There's a new restaurant that offers a vast array of the most delectable Filipino recipes, called Archipelago 7107 by Barrio Fiesta.

In this place, you'll be delighted to find the country's mouth-watering dishes, from the north to the south and anywhere in between -- giving each diner a wider range of recipes to choose from than the usual Filipino restaurant.

MassKara dancers back-to-back champ in New York

BACOLOD MassKara New York Edition successfully defended its title as “Best in Parade” during the Philippine Independence Day Parade in Madison Avenue, New York City last June 2, 2013.

Make mine mangroves

DEAD tamilok don’t tell tales so I’m going to do it myself. After all, I’ve contributed to its declining population.

This long, pencil-thin, translucent invertebrate snuggles in the recesses of rotten mangrove tree branches and its cozy abode is usually a hollow that fit it just so. To get to the poor woodworm, the branch should be split in half. Then, carefully handle the tamilok so you don’t break it in two. The dark strip of its innards is taken away, the worm rinsed in water, dipped in native vinegar, and dropped into your eager, open bouche. That’s tamilok ceviche for you.

A kind man is a strong, wise man

MSGR. Vic Rivas said, during the Feast of the Sacred Heart celebrations, that he did not learn kindness only when he entered the seminary. He knew and saw kindness at home.

A message from Fr. Junjun Agruda reads: “Kindness is more important than wisdom and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom”

Our visit to Calauit

WE WOKE up and got ready as early as three in the morning. When the clock struck four, our van arrived. With our sandwiches and drinking water in tow, off we went for our journey. Our destination? Calauit Island. Geographically far from Coron Town, Busuanga Island, the Calauit Island Wildlife Sanctuary is a three-hour travel by land and a four-hour ride if one opts for the boat. However, both the front desk receptionist and the booking agent recommended that we should take the early morning van trip to be able to get there earlier and see the animals in their natural best.

Philippine Coat of Arms: The sun, stars, eagle and lion

FIRST and foremost, I’d like to greet you a belated Independence Day! I hope you felt really patriotic staring up at the old red, blue and gold waving in the breeze, and looking at the glorious coat of arms of the republic – the shield with the sun and three stars, divided into blue and red like our exceptional flag; the seal that you see on every official document from your BIR forms to your passport; one of the symbols that defines us as a country – a symbol whose meaning you’re not exactly sure about.

Eye-to-eye with Ninox leventisi

A RARE find, a newly discovered endemic specie Camiguin Hawk Owl (Ninox leventisi) and Philip Godfrey C. Jakosalem or Godo to his friends, finds love at first sight.

Jakosalem works as a conservation biologist specializing in ornithology. He is a biologist, with a Masters degree in Applied Ecology and Conservation at University of East Anglia in UK with the support of the International Fellowship Program of Ford Foundation. He recently had another eye-to-eye encounter with one of the world’s endemic species found in Camiguin island.

Dad and daughters 3

THE QC in QC Pavilion along Gorordo Ave. stands for Quintin Calagos. His daughters, he says, have names that start and end with “E:” Elaine (Ong), Eloise (Sy) and Eunice (Castillo). And “E” is the first letter of his wife Emma’s name. QC Pavilion, he explains, is his and his wife’s first venture into real estate. His office in the building became the meeting place for his children and eventually his grandchildren, so bonding with all the family members was easy.

Singlestalk: Go for it!

Michelle: Coco, 24, an engineer who works as an agent for a call center, is in love with Casey, 28, an executive in the same company. They are both single but Casey broke up with her boyfriend two months ago. Coco says Casey is smart, beautiful and has a number of suitors.

Should he even try? Well, there is a saying “try and try until you succeed”. So, Coco, why not? There’s no harm in trying. If your intentions are good and you believe that Casey has the essentials that you are looking for in a woman, go for it!

Luab: The Feast of our Mother of Perpetual Help

NO man in self-sufficient. There always comes a time in our lives when help comes when we need it most and that makes all the difference.

Women’s world: A father’s need for affirmation

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

Dear Cindy,

'Chronicles of a Death Foretold' in the mall

I AM reading Chronicles of a Death Foretold on a bench against a lavender wall, an island of peace and quiet, much like my favorite bench in the university sunken garden, but where the trees are of steel leafed in multi-colored skirts, blouses, and gowns on fragile hangers.

They surround me, these tributes to womanhood, silently begging to be bought, like the lines and layers of shoes that seemed to cry out in their little high-heeled and strappy voices, “me! me! me!” as I approached the third floor from an escalator at the SM department store in MOA.

Singapore Math Learning Festival in Davao

FOR the last two decades, Singapore Math consistently ranks as the top Math program in the world as measured by U.S. and international studies.

What makes Singaporean students the best in Mathematics?

Daddy's dishes

FATHERS usually have their favorite dishes. But most likely when it’s time to go out for a family meal, dads just step aside and don’t really impose where they want to eat. First, the kids (hopefully without their tantrums) endorse a food place they want. If mom is lucky enough to convince the children that fast food chains aren’t the only restaurants in the world, then that should be good enough progress.

June treats from Choi City

CHOI CITY City Seafood Restaurant makes going back to school more delightful this June. With its back-to-school promo, students can enjoy 10 percent discount starting June 15 up to July 15 just by showing any proof of admission for this coming school year.

Shang’s June dates

ON SUNDAY, June 16, celebrate Father’s Day with any of the special set menus here and receive food and beverage return vouchers of P100 for every P1,000 spent. Here are the “tips” to honor the greatest man in the house—dad.

Dim sum lunch. The well-loved dim sum literally means “to touch the heart.” Let chef Bun Boon Hoe touch your heart and taste buds with his dim sum creations. Available daily for lunch at Tea of Spring.