SunStar Best of Cebu has become a local cultural phenomenon. More than a decade has passed since its launch, and Cebu has undergone significant changes. Social media has almost single-handedly facilitated the boom of new players in the micro, small, and medium enterprise sectors. It has also become a platform for customers to provide direct feedback about their experiences with these brands.
Amid these shifting dynamics from creator to consumer, Best of Cebu continues to deliver. What began humbly in 2013 has endured and evolved, even through the pandemic, thanks to three core forces that drive it forward.
First, Best of Cebu is simply a mirror that reflects Cebuano excellence and innovation. The spirit to build, refine, and create something that resonates with the community is deeply woven into the Cebuano identity. Best of Cebu exists because of the minds and makers who refuse to settle.
Second, it’s the people behind the process. The team that powers Best of Cebu comprises some of the most hardworking, experienced, and qualified individuals in the industry. It takes a village to choose an awardee, and that village operates with the spirit of democracy and the ethics of journalism. Behind the scenes, even the simplest decisions are debated, disagreements are carefully navigated, and every nomination is reviewed with fairness, transparency, and accountability.
Third, it’s the Cebuanos themselves. Ultimately, Best of Cebu resonates because of the very people it aims to honor and serve. People are drawn to truth, because by nature, we move toward light. And when something rings true — when it feels earned, excellent, and rooted in integrity — the community responds. This pursuit of what is real, meaningful and well-made is what sustains Best of Cebu year after year.
As we have often said: Taste. See. Experience. We recognize, however, that taste is subjective, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and experience is personal. We are aware that each year’s list invites both celebration and critique, but that’s part of its power. Best of Cebu is not a kingmaker nor a tool to manufacture consensus. It exists to spark conversation and to encourage those who earn the recognition, reminding them that their work truly matters.
Best of Cebu celebrates the Cebuanos who pour their hearts into what they build. Awardees will tell you that even a single year of recognition makes it all worthwhile.
Find the list of 2024 Best of Cebu awardees from Aug. 3 to 10, 2025, via SunStar Lifestyle on SunStar Cebu. Special artcards and moments are also published via @sunstarbestofcebu on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram. Congratulations to all the awardees!