The ‘great media cookout’

MARCO Polo Plaza has once again up the ante. It was a fortunate thing to witness another culinary journey. Oh yes, we read them on the papers, online and see them on television, but we never think of them as chefs.

Craft your own cake

AT BAKER Bob in Consolacion, crafting your own cake has been made very easy.

A person need only have to choose the cake he or she wants to decorate, then choose the icing and whatever else to put on it, like flowers or figures, then top it off with a personalized message. And all this with the help of the bakeshop’s staff.

Sira-sira store: Bisayang adobo

THERE are many versions of the adobo. It is a soul-satisfying, sinfully delicious meat dish composed of pork or chicken or a combination of both and pairs well with rice.

The sauce, which earns its stars through a mixture of vinegar, garlic and soy sauce (basic ingredients), can stand as sud-an or viand to go with rice.

America's tragic week

SAYING that the United States has had a rough week would be a bit of an understatement. It seems that the powers that be have decided to drop the hammer on the world's most powerful nation by sending it wave after wave of terror and tragedy.

Tuesday, April 15 (Monday in the United States) will forever be remembered by the people of Boston and the world as the day of the Boston Marathon Bombing.

Salt of the earth

WHEN summertime comes, salt is sold cheaply. The blazing hot sun makes it quicker for the seawater to evaporate from the salt evaporation ponds so there is an abundance of this most essential element.

Salt is not only important for survival but is also a valuable commodity, hence, the word "salary" which comes from the Latin salarium which, in turn, is from sal or salt. The word "salt" is used in idiomatic expressions.

Remembering the fall of Bataan

"IN MEMORIAM to the Unknown Soldier. Dedicated to a soldier whose name is not known, who left his loved ones in a lonely home, who fought our battles nobly to the end that we may stay our homes to tend. He fought for flag, for God, for you and me, that we may live forever free."

These are the moving words inscribed on the Monument to the Unknown Soldier at the Bacolod City Public Plaza, venue of our local government's 71st anniversary celebration of the Fall of Bataan last April 9, 2013.

Elemental beauties

THEY’RE not air benders, or water tamers. Neither did they spring from the earth nor are tinkering metallurgists. With their normal human heights and fair skin, they don't look like avatars. Earthlings, homo sapiens, students are they. But for just 30 minutes, in their quest for the most expressive and scenic posterity shots, and of course, to win in the team building exercise, they were able to capture the magnificence of the different elements and thematic concepts present in the scenic sights of the Guerrero Farm and Mountain Resort at Sitio Mambucano in Barangay Concepcion, Talisay City.

31 Nograles scholars graduate with honors

THIRTY-ONE beneficiaries of the Nograles Scholarship are graduating with honors from the top Davao City schools this summer.

House assistant majority leader and reelectionist Davao City First District Rep. Karlo B. Nograles said he was proud of his scholars for the feat. He vowed to continue with the scholarship and at the same time work hard to secure funds necessary to sustain the program that already earned him the citation of being one of the country's Most Outstanding Congressman from the London-based Superbrands polling firm.

Yellow boats of hope for Baganga

I FREQUENT Davao Oriental because we have a house in Mati and a farm in San Ignacio, Manay. But beyond our place, the last time I toured the coastal areas of Baganga, Caraga, Cateel and Boston as the last frontier was before the onslaught of Typhoon Pablo/Bopha. Luckily, our farm and ancestral home by the shore in San Ignacio was spared, with just a few coconut trees down.

I was very proud to showcase the natural, unexploited wonders of the province in my articles and blogs. Nothing could come close to the stunning vista of the falls, hidden lakes, islets and white sand shorelines which will astound every first time visitor.

A penchant for pastels

AT PHILIPPINE Fashion Week a few months ago, designers like Philip Tampus, Albert Andrada, Michelle Lim and Randy Ortiz revealed collections for Spring/Summer 2013 in sherbet hues.

The Beauty Enthusiast

RECENTLY, I watched the Victoria’s Secret fashion show and was in awe of the gorgeous women strutting down the runway in elaborate costumes.

Serna: Polo, Troy, Yam in ‘Kadaugan’

GABBY CONCEPCION, William Martinez, Isabel Granada, Jeric Raval, Jao Mapa and a bevy of local TV and stage talents were in Cebu at the launching of Aida Patana’s latest television project Loving Hearts. It is said to be inspired by the businesswoman-turned-TV-producer-actress’ own colorful life.

The rivers and reefs of Aloguinsan

Joanna Cuenco

WHAT was once a community that depended almost entirely on fishing for a livelihood has now become a success story resulting from the responsible application of ecotourism.

A cut above the rest

THE city of Talisay: rich in history with its heroes like General Aniceta Lacson, Julio Diaz, General Simon Lizares and so many more, plus vibrant in culture and heritage is evolving into a progressive city but still maintaining its country lifestyle.

Taken out for a boat ride, again.

LIKE any tourist in the area, the boat ride across the famed river of San Antonio is a must. I’ve taken the ride on the first visit to the area but I didn’t mind taking it again when I found myself in this city again.

No, it wasn’t the lure of the gondola built for two steered by a singing hunk of a gondolier ride that made me hop on the boat again. In fact, the 40-minute ride is shared with forty other tourists eager to see what’s along the famous 2.5-mile River Walk stretch. There’s no singing either, but the boat captains’ stories of this city’s rich and colorful history is like music to the ears, interestingly narrated (with a bit of humor injected) as they navigate the riverboat under footbridges and through the winding river where San Antonio’s memorable sights are located or visible. My first ride was during the holiday season and I wanted to see how it was during the fall season.

A climb to the highest peak

AT ONE time, George Herbert Leigh Mallory was asked: “Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?” His answer – “Because it’s there” – has become “the most famous three words in mountaineering.”

At 9,692-feet in elevation, Mount Apo is the country’s highest peak. I had the opportunity of scaling the majestic mountain when I was still younger – during a Holy Week.

Utzurrum: Add color to your life

UPON arrival at the Davao City Airport, you are met by a hotel car painted with rainbow squares in predominant red, blue, green and gold, and instantly your mood is set. Yes, for at Park Inn by Radisson Davao, the ambience is fresh, friendly, and of course, vibrantly colorful!

Park Inn by Radisson is the very first “next generation” mid-scale Park Inn by Radisson brand to be established in the Asia Pacific region, bearing the hallmarks dedicated to savvy business and leisure travelers, seeking an outstanding hotel experience.

Fetalvero: Interpreting plastic

“IT ain’t no way to treat a lady,” a line from a song by Frank Sinatra. This was my impression when I was at the parking lot of the much-visited castle that houses the miraculous Virgin Mary in Simala, Sibonga.

Visitors apparently just throw away wrappers of junk food and ice water plastic pouches as trash is strewn all over the said area.

Epic summer at Resorts World Manila

IT WAS a fun flight on board Cebu Pacific Air’s Airbus A-320 with full passenger capacity on last Saturday’s trip to Metro Manila. A quick taxi ride brought me across NAIA3 and to Remington Hotel where Resorts World Manila PR Manager Archie Nicasio who provided a comfortable two-night stay to experience the best summer party of all – Epic Summer held at the top floor of Maxims by the glass swimming pool.

Apo View Hotel re-invents Blue Room

AFTER celebrating 65 years, Apo View Hotel once again makes waves as it announces the re-launch of its bar, Blue Room. An all-out party on Saturday, April 13, featuring the pioneering tribal house group, DJ Elmer Dado + Gruppo Tribale, fetes the bar's re-invention.

The Greek way of life

GROWING up in Vancouver, Canada, he recalls there were plenty of Greek diners and restaurants found all over the city, and how it had made a crossover and is already part of his country’s food culture.

Literatus: Attempts to forever

ONE of the few important sideshows in the final days of the Lord before His Passion was the death of Judas Iscariot. He was a man who had chosen life when he followed the Master and later chose a tragic way of escaping the demands of his conscience.

Everything for kids at SM

YOUR best-loved cartoon characters will be heading your way this summer as SM City Cebu and SM City Consolacion bring you the SM Cartoon Festival for the kids and the young at heart.

Something new is cooking at U Kitchen

WELCOME a glorious summer with U Kitchen’s new menu that guarantees a chock-full of flavors and fun dining moments for the entire family, because whether it’s gratifying comfort food you seek or a peaceful atmosphere to enjoy it in, U Kitchen is the perfect place to experience reinvigorating family time—it’s like being in your own kitchen.

The deep American south inspires Riverdale

SUMMER is more fun in Crown Asia as you get the chance to go sight-seeing at breathtaking residential communities. Free site visits are on hand for those who wish to see these beautiful homes, and who knows, you might like it so much and want to have one for your own.

Nothing is too far away with Sun Cellular

THANKFULLY, the families our OFWs leave behind have quite a few avenues to get in touch with their loved ones abroad at practical and affordable rates, thanks to Sun Cellular.

For example, the Sun TODO IDD Call and Surf 60, the newest prepaid IDD load that grants you P60 worth of IDD calls, which comes with a free 7 hours of mobile internet.

GM diet

I WANT to give GM diet a chance. Again.

It was mid last year that I first heard about this weight loss management plan to be very effective in giving really good results in shredding extra pounds and, at the same time, detoxify one's body in just a week of eating nothing but fruits for the first day, veggies for the second day, bananas and milk the next day, etc. until the seven-day diet program ends. It sounds so easy, but compared to an actual work it was never a cinch.

Tadlas

SOMETIMES, when he finds himself going around the concrete labyrinth of big cities—passing by skyscrapers, driving along multilane highways illuminated by headlights and billboards—he remembers the bedtime stories his mother and grandfather would tell him when he was a child.

Klimt’s ‘gilded paintings’ influence the runway

VISUAL and fashion are not strange bedfellows.

Gustav Klimt: The Complete Paintings (published by Taschen this month) is a weighty monograph chronicling the complete works, personal letters and photographs of the artist.

Espina: Hats off to CCCI

Hats off to the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) for the huge success in hosting the 27th “Confederation of Asia Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry” (CACCI) on March 14-15. The theme was “Asia Pacific: Catalyst to Global Recovery.”

The plenary and break-out sessions tackled the issues on the Euro crisis, entrepreneurship, energy and environment, trade and tourism, women and youth empowerment. It was a showcase of Cebu as the Convention and Performing Arts hub.