Luab: We need to see the Rainbows

I’VE been living alone for six months now and I do have enough privacy for reflections. Last April 19 and 20, I had the most beautiful of surprises.

Women’s world: Jealous boyfriend

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

Dear Cindy,

Super Trouper Abba Mania

“I HAVE a dream, a fantasy …… And my destination makes it worth the while…I have a dream…a song to sing.”

Remembering the Veterans of World War II

SUMMERTIME in Bacolod City is always marked by general alumni homecomings at the Negros Occidental High School. For Summer 2013, the school observes its 53rd General Alumni Homecoming.

For one week, from April 22 to April 29, alumni gather to reminisce and relive those memorable moments of high school life spent in the said school which once served as a station of invading Japanese forces during World War II.

Victor Ortega makes the cut

IN ONE of those bad hair days, I was lured to the Victor Ortega Salon at The District at North Point. It’s a very new salon and barely a month old. I had balked at the pricey services it offered but then this was a particularly bad hair day and any woman would know what bad hair does to her psyche. (In my case, my bad hair days outnumber the good ones.)

North Korea’s five-star failure

THE luxurious 105-storey Ryugyong Hotel dominates Pyongyang’s skyline with its remarkable arrow-shaped façade and its shiny glass exterior.

It was supposed to boast no less than five revolving restaurants, more than 7,000 guest rooms, service that would put rival hotels to shame, and surprisingly – western operated casinos and nightclubs. Take note that I used the word “supposed”.

More than the Ice-ing on the cake

PRETTY as her presentations, Ice Valderrama, is an accurate depiction of her products.

I saw Ice (Isabelle B. Valderrama)starting out as a young mom entrepreneur making accessories and polymer clay sculptures. They were cutesy little items, too tedious to do and, although they took much time and love to create, I as a manufacturer myselfknew the returns would not be reflective of the tender loving time,care andeffort invested into each item.

Friday's offer P295 Weekday Specials

TRUE to its promise to continue the tradition of serving up American classics with an all-new exciting affordable solo-serving menu that will surely satisfy its clients, T.G.I. Friday's, or simply Friday's, launched on Monday its P295 Weekday Specials in all its 13 branches nationwide.

The new promo is an innovation that will surely satisfy Filipino diners' cravings for American classic dishes at a very affordable price.

Izakaya: A happy place

HERE is a place where, at first, stereotypes about Japanese restaurants aren’t still quite easy to shatter given the sophisticated look.

Three decades of native goodness

THERE are plenty of reasons why home cooking is usually close to the hearts of most people.

For one, it could be that a person is attached to his mom’s heart-felt recipe. Or for another reason, it could be that taste reminding people of the ambience and the feeling of what it’s like to dine comfortably in their own homes.

Sira-sira store: The burden of Bourdain

IN THE beginning, there was lechon—generic lechon, lechon Talisay, branded lechon like CNT, Alejo’s and Rico’s, lechon per kilo sold in dingy food stalls, lechon, lechon all over Cebu.

The southern island is noted for its crispy, juicy, meaty roasted pig that makes a dieter swear off carrots and low-carb cereals with yogurt dressing (tastes like wet confetti).

Food tripping made easy

THERE'S nothing like food tripping in the comfort of your home or the office anytime.

Delicious new turns

CANVAS Bar has announced its new menu, with new turns that will please the tongue. The descriptions alone can make a potential diner’s mouth water.

Soups include Chef’s Soup of the Day; curried pumpkin soup; and tomato and basil cream soup with shredded garlic, chicken and garlic bread croutons.

Camella holds photo, art workshop, contest

THE photography and art workshops that highlighted the two-day exhibit and grand launch of Camella Davao yielded winners in the contest for each workshop.

Winners in the photography contest were Anikka Zen C. Tabin for the People category and Catherine Lynne S. Abe for the Project category.

Happy Lemon now spreading happiness

HONG Kong's seven-year-old tea brand Happy Lemon now spreads more joy in metro Davao as it opens its shop at the ground floor of SM City Davao Annex building.

Recently, the traditional Asian tea-drinking culture has made a comeback in the pop market. And now, Happy Lemon adds a modern twist to tea-drinking in China, Singapore, Australia and the Philippines!

Tessa Prieto Valdes’ Website Launch

When socialite, interior designer, newspaper columnist and triathlete Tessa Prieto Valdes throws a party, you can bet it is a successful one. Her website launch was no different as it was held at the Y2 Residence Hotel in Makati City, this time, with the famous manila sunset as the backdrop.

Paint of summer

SUMMER is all about fun under the sun. It is never limited to the choice of vibrant vesture, but extends to the search for the most exceptional shades to make the face pretty. After all, some people might cast a critical eye on a person’s wardrobe but some linger longer on the person’s face.

Skincare made easy

WHEN it comes to beauty, good skincare should come before anything else.

With a fresh, smooth face as canvas, you won’t need to pack on foundation and concealer to cover imperfections, or eye shadow and lipstick to divert attention from blemishes.

Serna: Lapu-Lapu wins again: diaper commercial pulled out

THIS weekend promises to be fully loaded as far as exciting activities are concerned.

Mothers and flowers

APRIL 23 was my mom’s birthday. She would have been 96 now had she not passed on last year.

I was reading an excerpt of Paula J. Fox’s Heart of a Mom from Simple Truths and this is what she had to say: “Mothers are also a lot like flowers in many ways . . . each one has her own unique beauty and each is designed by God to bloom where she is planted. As the heart of a Mother grows and blossoms in beauty and grace, she spreads her fragrance of love not only in her home, but throughout her world.”

Corpus Christi….Amen.

FINALLY, it’s Corpus Christi on the list and I say “amen” to that. This coastal city in the South Texas region aka the "Sparkling City by the Sea" is the one place I was excited to see on this trip. You see my good friend lived here for years and on this second visit to the Lone Star State, I’m not going to miss the chance to see his so-called habitat.

Bluejaz Beach Resort: Perfect getaway this summer

IF WATER sports can be compared to a beach, then Bluejaz Beach Resort and Water Park would be it. Just five to 10 minutes away from Davao City, it has everything a whole family can ask for. Three water slides for children, two giant slides for adults, infinity pool, café bar, fine dining, zipline, water activities, an open field for soccer, a pavilion for parties, and cozy rooms resting. Don’t forget the white sand beach with crystal clear waters and the kaleidoscopic rays of sunset.

Deep sea dreams

Just approaching the islands and lagoons of Busuanga is a sight to behold from the air, so request for a window seat on the plane if possible.

Utzurrum: ‘ The King and I ’

WHO hasn’t watched the stage musical nor seen the film The King and I? This best-loved musical/movie has enthralled, enchanted and entertained millions of theatergoers and film fans (and children) all over the world. And it continues to do so! Good reason why Resorts World Manila (RWM) has chosen to present this Rogers and Hammerstein classic at its ultra-modern, 1,500-seater Newport Performing Arts Theater, which boasts of state-of-the-art lights, sound innovations and the largest LED wall in all of Southeast Asia!

Fetalvero: Painful treatment of senior citizens

SOME entrepreneurs interpret laws based on where they can cut their losses.

Summer treat at Grand Regal Hotel

EXPERIENCE the thrill of summer without leaving the city. With 217 rooms and suites designed with a distinguished fusion of comfort and satisfaction to suit the needs of business and leisure travelers, make the most of summer at Grand Regal Hotel with the Summer Treat Room Package.

Telco continues pioneering earth-friendly advocacies

WIRELESS services leader Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) walks the talk when it comes to integrating and sustaining eco-friendly initiatives in its operations.

The telco put up the country's first "green" cell site using wind and solar power in the island of Malapascua in Sitio Guimbalayan in Cebu in 2006.

Neri: Cokaliong's newest vessel

IT WAS a proud day for the Cokaliong family when M/V Filipinas Butuan, the newest addition to its shipping fleet, was blessed and inaugurated. Man of the hour was the dynamic top honcho of Cokaliong Lines, Chester Cokaliong [founder, chief executive officer (CEO)/chief operating officer (COO)] and lovely wife Anna Lynne (VP for marketing and branches) who were the perfect hosts along with the youthful matriarch of the clan Gregoria Cokaliong (chairperson and president).

Old fashioned treats

EVERYTHING has a version of old fashion. Think about language, clothes and music—why, even bread has its own evolution story. Learn more about that from a chef of notable distinction as he talks about what his shop has in store for goodies lovers.

Literatus: The way of the flesh

ONLY recently did I learn that my mother had been wondering why each time she saw me eating sweet oranges, I ate the whole segment—juice and all—instead of extracting just the juice alone and throwing away the pulp with the peel.