Then all girls must be sluts

Katrina Pontanar

VIOLENCE against women is ubiquitous. Although cases have decreased since 2010 by a fifth, rape still cannot be discounted from society’s bucket of social problems.

Going round the bend with wine at Bibendum

THE idea came to mind when they were out having a drink sometime in November last year. Over a bottle of wine, business colleagues Hans Eulenhoefer and Mikel Perdices lamented over the little selection of fine mid-priced wines available in Cebu, and how “good finds” would lead to disappointment because it would eventually go out-of-stock.

Singled in

Fiona Patricia S. Escandor discovers the perks and ‘perils’ of being young, free and single

ROMANTIC love was first associated with the feast of St. Valentine in a poem by Geoffrey Chaucer back in the middle ages. In an old English piece about birds and mating, he unintentionally declared Feb. 14 as the day of love, making him partly responsible for all the flying cupids and heart-shaped décor strewn everywhere these days.

A couple more questions for April, Ella and Mia, plus a parting shot

If you were stranded on an island, who’s the guy you would want to be stranded with?

The kitchen is his playground

Fiona Patricia S. Escandor

AS a TV show host with an inquisitive appetite, Chef Sharwin Tee has found himself in places all over the country. “Anywhere I go, my main purpose is really to find out more about the food,” the chef said.

Pedrosa: Picture Style

Albert Pedrosa Photomania

PART of what I preach is you don’t get the advantage of shooting with picture style when shooting with RAW since preset adjustment doesn’t apply to RAW. Normally, the presets are only applied to JPG file during the in-camera adjustment performed just before the camera writes to your memory card. In Nikon, you call this “Picture Control.”

Judging the dog’s human

Joel M. Seno

I AM bothered with the recent news involving a Belgian Malinois that attacked and killed a nine-year-old girl in Zamboanga City, and reading through it makes me wonder about the “breed” of the owner.

Ypil: Sketch

Lawrence Ypil Dog-ears in the wrong notebook

I COULD talk about the head, but that would take the fun out of it. The head, of course, being the first thing that people will see. The first thing that people will say when they see it is: “Where is it? Where is the head? Has someone taken it away?” There is a face, yes, but without a head.

Chinese New Year at the Palace

THE country’s only five-star water park resort, Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort & Spa, embraced the Year of the Water Snake in a grand Lunar New Year celebration last Feb. 9.

Waterfront Mactan: new look for the New Year

WATERFRONT Airport Hotel & Casino officially announced its five-stage renovation program at a media luncheon held on Chinese New Year’s Day, Feb. 10.

Creative writers’ role models honored at Taboan festival

SUN.STAR CEBU’s very own Lamberto Ceballos, Erma Cuizon and Ernesto Lariosa were awarded the 2013 Taboan Literary Awards in Dumaguete City during the 2013 Taboan: Philippine Writers Festival, a gathering of the country’s established and promising literary/creative writers. With them was Msgr. Agustin Ancajas, the official delegate of Cebu to the Taboan.

Royal couple

Fiona Patricia S. Escandor finds out about the pursuit of beauty, love and its rewards

COLLEGE sweethearts then, business partners now, Merrick and Karla Siao have gone a long way as a couple.

Some kind of (exotic pet) loving

Luis A. Quibranza III

WHO says Valentine’s Day should only be limited to bubbly, cheesy, warm-blooded human pairs alone? Not that this story is promoting relationships that go beyond what is normal, please. (Disturbing news involving people, chickens and goats made the rounds a couple of weeks ago; but that’s best left out, considering that those things are way too whacked out.)

Why love and leftovers for pets don’t mix

THE number of pet owners in the Philippines are growing.

Love and a million words

“UNTIL I read the book Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, I had no idea that a book would be able to make a person fall in love. And as I read, I had a great torrid affair with this work of fiction. The moment I finished the last page, my heart felt broken and strangely renewed at the same time.

A woman’s date with destiny

Fiona Patricia S. Escandor

IT was a bumpy year for Judith Jade Eugenio. Her kids were always ill, money was going down the drain, and her relationships were rocky. She went through a string of misfortunes in 2008, but she couldn’t pinpoint what caused it.

Cupcake connection

Fiona Patricia S. Escandor welcomes February with a story of love, life and those little things

IT all started two years ago, online. Valentine’s Day was fast approaching and something interesting came up: her friends asked her to prepare sweets in time for the special occasion.

Wine as a way of life

MANY years ago in the vast vineyards of Rimini, northeast of Italy, a young boy of six rides a tractor with his grandfather, looking forward to harvest time when the entire family would jump on the grapes for the press.

This was one of Massimo Lorenzi’s earliest memories, and little did he know that time that he would travel the world years later with boxes upon boxes of his grandfather’s wines.

Pedrosa: Color reproduction

Albert Pedrosa Photo mania

LAST week, photo labs were all busy printing for the Sinulog Photo Contest. I’m not sure, but based on the number of registrants, the Sinulog Foundation would probably have about 20,000 photos in their hands for judging. I’m sure that this is something photo labs look forward to every year, given the fact that printing has really slowed down significantly due to social media.

How to survive the Valentine’s Day Apocalypse

THE world obviously won’t end on Valentine’s Day. But why is it that those who have a 90 percent chance of not having a V-Day date feel that way? Tough, no? We’ll here are some tips on “how to survive the Valentine’s Day apocalypse.” (No one knows if these are fool proof, but there’s no harm in trying. Besides, what could be worse than spending time alone on Feb. 14?)

15 Trick Tips for the Sinulog Photo Contest

Chiloy Baldicantos

To increase your chances of winning in the photo contest, here are some tips:

Sa babayeng kuyog nako kagabii

SA atong paglabang, hinayhinay nga nilihok ang tuo kong kamot, nangita sa wala nimong kamot. Sa dihang nakuptan, nilugnot ka. Wa tingali ka magkinahanglang naay moagak nimo. Sa dihang nakatabok na ta, wa ka makabantay sa kalit kong pag-abay nimo. Apan wa’y tingog nimong gipakanaog ang akong bukton gikan sa imong abaga. Wa tingali ka magkinahanglan nga kini habolan batok sa nagtaligsik nga kagabhion. Pagkataudtaod, nabantayan nako nga ang imong lakang nagkakusog hangtod nga nidagan ka. Nidagan sab ko apas nimo. Layo na ka. Apan gibinat sa mga suga sa da’n ang imong anino

‘Wok on Saturdays’ at Radisson Blu

RADISSON Blu Hotel Cebu ushers in the year of the water snake with a new irresistible dining experience called “Wok on Saturdays.” The promo, which will serve only the best of Chinese cuisine, was formally introduced at a media lunch held last Jan. 30 in the hotel’s main dining outlet Feria.

MYtv celebrates 1st anniversary

LOCAL cable channel MYtv celebrated its first anniversary last Jan. 28 at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu.

It was an intimate gathering of the individuals who have contributed—on cam or off—to the young channel’s success the past year. Hosts, show producers and crew members were awarded accordingly by executive producer Bobit Avila and president Joen de las Peñas.

Dream catcher

Fiona Patricia S. Escandor recounts the fairytale run of Neesha Murjani to the Miss Cebu 2013 crown

HER parents weren’t expecting her for another three days. But on the eve of the feast of the Santo Niño in 1993, an expectant Judy Murjani was rushed to the hospital. Her husband Dave, who was at the procession that time, followed straight away, overwhelmed by the turn of events.

Catching up with Anna Fegi

IT’S hard to forget her heavy curls, even more so, her soulful voice.

These are the traits that come to mind upon hearing the name, “Anna Fegi,” the Cebuana songstress who made a mark in national showbiz years back.

Pedrosa: Sinulog, Photographer’s Haven

Albert Pedrosa Photo mania

I WAKE up at five in the morning and drive to my studio in Mabolo to park my car. This is how I start my day for the Sinulog. I normally go with my wife and kid, as this is our family tradition every year. I spend my whole morning shooting and we spend the rest of the day in the grandstand to get a better view of the performances.

Yap: A Sinulog 2013 Party

Alexis Yap Lex in the city

FOR many years, I have not really gotten the chance to “party” during the Sinulog.

Hello, imaginary friend

I’VE been blessed with a fertile imagination since I was three years old, and much of it had to do with my being an only child.

An only child tends to be lonely and plays alone. But unlike most kids who have no siblings, I had one wonderful playmate when I was three.

Sinulog Blastoff 2013: An explosive music fete

ONE of the highlights of the Sinulog weekend was Sonic Boom’s Sinulog Blastoff, a yearly gathering of the best music acts in the country. It was held at the Grand Convention Center of Cebu last Jan. 19, Saturday, and gathered over 3,000 attendees.