It all started when Vladimir, our tour guide in Davao City, sang a Kim Chiu song over the bus PA system. We were headed to our hotel from another full day of school visits and government courtesy calls. Traffic was terrible. To while away the gridlock, Vladimir asked everyone in the bus – students, teachers,…
Category: People
National scientist Dr. Davide to speak in UP conference
Dr. Romulo Davide, the multi-awarded national scientist, will be the guest speaker in a scientific conference on Nov. 23 at the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna. The scientific conference dubbed “Couldn’t AGRI More: Harvesting S & T Knowledge” will run from 9 a.m. to 12 at the Audio-Visual…
MVP is Asia’s telco CEO of the Year
PLDT and Smart Communications chief executive officer Manuel V. Pangilinan was named Telecom CEO of the Year at the Telecom Asia Awards ceremony held on June 26 in Singapore. The Telecom Asia Awards is the region’s longest-running industry awards program, which seeks to recognize the continent’s premier service providers and telco executives. It is organized…
Chef Juanito takes charge as 1st Filipino executive chef of Marco Polo Plaza Cebu
A chef who rose from the ranks now takes charge of the highly-regarded Marco Polo Plaza Cebu kitchen. The hotel, which takes pride in being known as a leader in culinary excellence in Cebu, recently named Chef Juanito Abangan as its first Filipino executive chef. The promotion marks a major milestone for someone who discovered…
Philippine chocolate queen Raquel Choa shares life journey, passion
She didn’t know it then but Raquel Choa spent her childhood days in a place that shaped what she would become: Philippine chocolate queen and the amazing woman behind Ralfe Gourmet, The Chocolate Chamber (TCC), and just recently, Batirol. At a young age of seven, Choa went to live with her grandmas in a secluded…
International hotelier Brian Connelly to lead Marco Polo Plaza Cebu
Marco Polo Hotels has appointed international hotelier Brian Connelly as general manager of its deluxe urban resort hotel Marco Polo Plaza Cebu. Connelly served various leadership roles spanning over 38 years with prominent hotels and resorts in Asia Pacific, Middle East and the United States, making him the ideal successor for Cebu’s hospitality landmark perched…
Turning Wheels brews fine handcrafted beer in Cebu
Michael Nikkel of Turning Wheels Craft Brewery has big plans for craft beers in Cebu. Not only does he want to put up a taproom where people can drink beer and observe the brewing process, he intends to come up with home brew kits so people can learn to do it on their own.
New Shangri-La Mactan GM to focus on quality customer service
As new general manager Nicholas Smith takes over the helm at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, he intends to build on past achievements to ensure that visitors continue to have unique experiences. The new Shangri-La general manager, a seasoned hotelier, said the resort’s overall focus will continue to be customer service.
Explore Cebu City’s highlands on a mountain bike
On the fringes of Cebu City’s urban landscape are wooded trails that lead to rustic hangouts. People unfamiliar with the city might find it hard to believe that a few minutes away from the high tech enclave of BPO companies and big shopping malls are rivers, waterfalls, and other scenic spots.
Cardinal Vidal recounts many roles as Cebu archbishop
He hadn’t wanted the task of overseeing the Catholic Church in Cebu but has come to love the Cebuanos. When Ricardo Cardinal Vidal was appointed Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cebu in the 1980s, he begged off from the job. He hailed from Luzon and did not speak a single word of Bisaya and foresaw…
Jessie shares secrets to delicious Argao torta
Baking the perfect Argao torta requires a confluence of several things, revealed one of the town’s top makers Jessie Magallones. The tuba (coconut wine) must be fresh and fermented just right so it is neither too sweet or sour. A clay oven or what Cebuanos call the “hurno” gives the best Argao torta results. Cooking…