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.

Johnnie Walker Platinum unmasking

THE Johnnie Walker Platinum Label, a rich and preciously crafted 18-year-old blended scotch whisky, was exclusively unveiled last Jan. 18 at the newly renovated Formo lounge.

Cebu’s A-List set were in attendance, along with Formo’s Kaiser Tan, Melvin Banzon, and Jacqueline Tan. From Johnnie Walker were Johnnie Walker brand manager Ranielle Mendoza as well as Johnnie Walker Reserve regional brand ambassador Raveen Misra, who led a whisky mentoring of different blends from the House of Johnnie Walker, much to the delight of whisky aficionados.

Shining bright

Fiona Patricia S. Escandor reveals what makes Miss Tourism International Rizzini Gomez glow

THE room lit up when she walked in, her beauty queen’s aura drawing awe from an excitable stylist who needed to say out loud: “Lahi ra gyud ang glow basta naa na’y international title (What difference having an international title makes to one’s aura)!”

KTV etiquette: minding your Ps & Qs at the videoke bar

WHEN you’re happy, you sing. When you’re sad or mad, you sing. And when you’re bored out of your wits, you sing. No wonder the karaoke—videoke in these song-loving islands—has remained everybody’s pastime favorite.

Unless you live under a rock, it’s unlikely you won’t find a song or two to sing along at a videoke or KTV bar. So chances are, you and your peers, no matter how vocally challenged or shy (supposedly) are bound to have a good time in front of the karaoke box.

Dodge and Burn Technique

Albert Pedrosa Photo mania

In my last article, I wrote about Sinulog Photo Contest shooting tips. This time, after reading the rules and regulations of the contest, I learned that you are allowed to apply dodge and burn to your image. In this article, I will show the different ways of doing it using Lightroom or Photoshop.

A tale of hope and survival

Miguel Ouano

THE problems started last year November when I noticed blood mixed with my mucus and continued into December with a headache that lasted a month, which would prevent me from getting any sleep.

Miss Cebu 2013

JUMPSTARTING the Sinulog revelry was the coronation of Miss Cebu 2013 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino last Jan. 16.

Among the 12 lovely ladies who vied for the title, a 20-year-old biology student, Namrata Neesha Murjani was crowned this year’s Miss Cebu. The members of her court are Therese Llamada (first runner-up), Maria Gigante (second runner-up), Patricia Estuart (third runner-up), and Ely Rose Angcon (fourth runner-up).