Sunburst opens branch at Calyx Centre

SUNBURST Fried Chicken has come a long way since it first came to Cebu in 1975. Over 30 years later, this well-loved restaurant chain has spawned eight branches in Cebu – the latest one being the newest addition to Cebu I.T. Park's roster of dining establishments.

Franchise Director Butch Pilapil explains that I.T. Park is a growth area with extensive pedestrian traffic, due to the BPO centers sprouting like mushrooms.

Starbayad to operate VECO’s Liloan and Consolacion collection offices

VISAYAN Electric Company’s (VECO) Liloan and Consolacion collection centers will be operated by Starbayad Center starting on April 22 and 29, respectively.

VECO Billing and Collections manager Sandro Aboitiz assures the public that “The payment procedures will be the same for our customers except that they will now receive official receipts from Starbayad”. Payments are credited at the end of the same day. Aboitiz also emphasized that there are no additional charges for payments made to Starbayad.

The people of the Rising Sun in the Pearl of the Orient

WHEN you think of the historical relationship that the Japanese had with the Philippines, only one thing comes to mind – they were here during World War II, and they abused, tortured, raped and murdered our people.

That’s the answer you’ll get from most people. That image of Japan has been so ingrained into Philippine history that we even call the World War II years “tiempo-Hapon” or “the time of the Japanese”. However, World War II was not the only time the Japanese came to our shores.

The Feast of the Ascension and the elections

THIS Sunday is Ascension Sunday and why is it significant? Christ’s ascension completes the resurrection. Without the resurrection, Christ’s death would be meaningless and, without His ascension, the resurrection would likewise be incomplete and meaningless. That would limit Christ in His anointed mission by the Father.

“The ascension is the important link between His work on earth and His work in heaven which begins with the ascension.” (Walvoord, Jesus Christ Our Lord, p. 224).

“Variations” by Jeffrey Montaño

FORTY sculptures, mainly in wood and a few in stone, show off once more the skill of a sculptor. Extended until May 20, 2013, “Variations” opened in April 15 at the Museo Negrense de la Salle at the University of St. La Salle. Jeffrey Montaño showcased the various styles of making forms and figures through this art exhibit. The exhibit also shows how his style evolved after five years as a full-time self-taught sculptor.

Claridad Clan Reunion

AFTER covering the 71st Anniversary celebration of the Fall of Bataan and the 53rd General Alumni Homecoming of the Negros Occidental High School, I got the rare privilege to be invited by World War II veteran and NOHS alumnus Mr Pio Rodrigo to the 33rd Claridad Clan Reunion that was held at the San Juan Nepomuceno Covered Court in Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod City last April 28, 2013.

The venue is just beside the Sum-ag Catholic Church, which was named after San Juan Nepomuceno, the Spanish name for St John of Nepomuk, national saint of the Czech Republic and martyr to the cause of defending the Seal of the Confessional.

World Red Cross Day in our corner of the universe

WHAT the Swiss businessman Jean Henri- Dunant and Geneva lawyer Gustav Moynier and the other three members of the “Committee of the Five” started back in 1863 to give relief to the wounded has provided more aid to help the suffering humanity.

Simple, small, yet meaningful. These characterized the 150th year anniversary celebration of the Philippine Red Cross, Negros Occidental- Bacolod City Chapter of the World Red Cross Day.

Like mother, like daughter

TODAY'S mothers are often also working parents, running a household, rearing children, holding a job. And as they say, like mother, like daughter.

Singlestalk: Mamma mia

Michelle: This Mother’s Day, I want to share “A Daddy’s Letter to His Little Girl (About Her Future Husband),” a post a saw on Facebook that originally appeared on DrKellyFlanagan.com. If there is one thing that my mother taught me, it is to hold on to my sense of worth.

In the dad’s letter for his dear cutie-pie, he wrote: “Recently, your mother and I were searching for an answer on Google. Halfway through entering the question, Google returned a list of the most popular searches in the world. Perched at the top of the list was “How to keep him interested.”

Luab: The struggle to love one another

GOD has spoken to us many times in the Scriptures about love. The hardest order that sticks in my mind is “Love one another as I have loved you.”

After 25 minutes of meditation last April 27, Fr. Martin Tobin CSsR read the Gospel of John where this command was recorded. When Fr. Martin reads or says anything from the Scriptures, the words come from his heart and anyone who hears the words knows and feels the weight of the word of God.

Women's world: Being a good mom

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

Dear Cindy,

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.

‘Bulilit’ to enjoy summer at Northpoint

CHILD star and singer Trisha Luise Canete, better known as Cha-cha or Bulilit, will be in Davao on May 11 to frolic with kids for some real summer fun at the landmark British colonial themed condo development, Camella Northpoint.

"Lots of kids have been wanting to see Cha-cha in person, that's why we're bringing her to Davao to add excitement to a series of fun summer activities we have in store for kids and families," said Anna Mae dela Pena, marketing head of Camella Davao.

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.

The Brazilian flame rekindled

THE first encounter was in San Antonio and it was love at first bite. A couple of years later the love affair was rekindled, in Houston this time, and it was more delicious on the second encounter. It was not, and never will be, a “Houston we have a problem” relationship for I can easily cast the strict diet across the deserts of the Lone Star State.

But, I held back a little lest I let my belly hop on the “everything is big in Texas” bandwagon.

Tripping with Tridacna

IT WAS easier to change the title to "Swimming with Tridacna" but I had to be honest, I didn't take a dip in the waters. Plus, you may be wondering what in tridacna are we talking about.

Tridacna is a genus of large saltwater clams, marine bivalve mollusks in the subfamily Tridacninae, the giant clams. Unfortunately, the global conservation status is listed as Vulnerable in the 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. All species of giant clams are listed in CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna). In the Philippines, it is locally known as "taklobo."

May's Garden and Restaurant

TRYING to look for a getaway for a luncheon is not anymore difficult. There are many interesting places to go, thanks to the very ingenious women who have transformed their homes and gardens to entrepreneurial endeavors as well as sharing environment friendly efforts to a community that is hungry to likewise join the parade of preserving the earth.

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.