Arts & Culture
The nine best places to have breakfast in Cebu
Start the day right! Cebu has a lot to offer in terms of breakfast, so there’s no reason to skip the most important meal of the day.

Breakfast is severely underrated – and it shouldn’t be! As the first meal of the day, it’s also the most important one, designed to fuel you for the rest of the day ahead. But with most people’s busy schedules and active lifestyles, breakfast tends to be pushed aside, replaced instead with brunch (or just plain lunch, if we’re being honest).
Skipping breakfast is a habit that should be done away with, and there are so many restaurants in Cebu offering amazing meals that’ll entice you to actually start your day right. Here are Zee Lifestyle‘s top picks.
ABACA BAKING COMPANY

The selection of fresh breads and pastries from Abaca Baking Company (Photography by Jessica McYorker/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)
If there’s one restaurant synonymous to breakfast in Cebu, it’s definitely Abaca Baking Company. The scent of freshly baked bread and pastries easily makes this a favorite early morning destination, although for a more filling meal, we highly recommend the ABC Breakfast Skillet, with eggs, bacon, and sausages–and that’s only some of it!
Crossroads Mall / Ayala Center Cebu / Robinsons Cybergate / Robinsons Galleria / Paseo Arcenas
Facebook
- Eats in Cebu: Abaca Baking Company (via zeelifestylecebu.com)
THE PIG & PALM

Avocado and poached eggs on toast (Photography by Patty Taboada/Zee Lifestyle)
Run by Michelin-star chef Jason Atherton, The Pig & Palm was bound to be a popular addition to the local dining scene, and it certainly did not disappoint in that aspect. While it draws the crowd in the evenings, the restaurant also boasts of a wonderful breakfast menu. The avocado and poached egg on toast is a must-try.
MSY Tower, Cebu Business Park | Facebook
- The five must-try dishes at The Pig & Palm (via zeelifestylecebu.com)
CAFE MARCO

Cafe Marco (Photo: Facebook)
If you want a breakfast of champions, the morning buffet at Cafe Marco is the way to go. The extensive selection of international fare and local favorites will definitely fill you up. Besides, we’ll take any excuse to have malicious cookies, which are best paired with coffee.
Marco Polo Plaza Cebu | Facebook
CAFE SARREE

Salmon Eggs Benedict and Angus Beef Tapa from Cafe Sarree (Photo: Facebook)
Three words: Angus. Beef. Tapa. That’s right, this well loved Filipino breakfast is given an international spin with the use of Angus beef, and it’s a specialty you can have at Cafe Sarree. The quaint and charming ambiance will also make you linger long past the last bite.
Escario Central / Ayala Center Cebu | Facebook
TYMAD BISTRO

Tymad Bistro’s bestselling crepe (Photo: Facebook)
Crepes for breakfast? Not the crepes you had in mind, for sure. This little bistro in Banilad takes pride in their Crepe Complete, an ensemble of a dish with Emmental cheese, ham, and eggs sunny side up–and with good reason. It’s so good, it’ll make for one of your most memorable breakfasts ever.
Paseo Saturnino, Ma. Luisa Road, Banilad | Facebook
BIRDSEED BREAKFAST CLUB + CAFE

Birdseed Breakfast Club’s Eggs Benedict (Photography by Nath Ybañez/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016)
Our website has already dubbed Birdseed as the place to have the best Eggs Benedict in city. The bacon is homemade, the yolk is rich and thick, the English muffin is flavorful with the wilted spinach, and the hollandaise is served quite generously. It’s hard to top that.
Axis Entertainment Avenue, Escario | Facebook
- Here’s where you’ll find the best Eggs Benedict in Cebu (via zeelifestylecebu.com)
CANVAS BISTRO BAR GALLERY

Going bananas at Canvas Bistro Bar Gallery (Photo: Facebook)
Modern Australian cuisine restaurant Canvas gives a twist to pancakes with their fluffy banana buckwheat version, with grilled ham, brie and scrambled eggs. Besides, who doesn’t love pancakes? We know we do!
One Paseo, Ma. Luisa Road, Banilad | Facebook
CAMDEN CAFE

Cherry tomatoes, black beans, chickpeas, onions, bell pepper, garbanzos, corn, jalapeno and lime make up Camden’s Ensalada Obregon (Photo: Facebook)
Along with its Instagram-worthy interiors, the best thing about Camden is that you can chomp on your favorite breakfast dishes all day. With regards to our New Year’s resolution, we recommend Ensalada Obregon for a hearty and nutritious fill.
Rosal St., Cebu City | Facebook
YOLK COFFEE AND BREAKFAST

Chorizo and Egg in a Pan (Photography by Christine Cueto/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, March 2015)
What’s breakfast without a cup of good coffee? Yolk, tucked in one of Mabolo’s quieter streets, is one of the few bistros that specialize in third wave coffee that’s freshly roasted. It’s the perfect pair to Yolk’s extensive menu of egg-based dishes, our favorite being the Chorizo and Eggs in a Pan.
Tres Borces St., Mabolo | Facebook
Arts & Culture
Queer Coding in Cinema: The Best Shows to Binge for Pride Month 2025

compiled by Edge Javier
As Pride Month 2025 goes into full swing, the best way to celebrate LGBTQIA+ voices is with a binge-worthy lineup of shows that center queer stories, joy, love, resilience — and yes, of course, drama. From groundbreaking recent series to must-watch staples and fan favorites, here are the top shows to stream this June that reflect the vibrant spectrum of the queer-coded experience.
1. Heartstopper – Season 3 (Netflix)
Nick and Charlie are back, and the coming-of-age sweetness is stronger than ever. Season 3 explores deeper emotional territory while keeping the wholesome tone fans adore. Expect more queer joy, nuanced relationships, and tearjerker moments that feel like a warm hug.
2. Drag Me to Dinner (Hulu)
Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, this chaotic culinary competition pairs drag duos in a battle to throw the most fabulous themed dinner party. With outrageous challenges, surprise twists, and plenty of camp, queens serve up equal parts food, flair, and fierce shade. It’s RuPaul meets Top Chef—served with a side of sequins.
3. Queer Planet (Apple TV+)
Hosted by Janelle Monáe, this visually stunning docuseries dives into queerness in the animal kingdom and parallels in human identities. It’s smart, groundbreaking, and perfect for those who want to feel seen—and informed.
4. Fellow Travelers (Paramount+)
This period romance-drama set during the Lavender Scare continues to grip audiences with its tragic beauty and sharp historical insight. If you missed Season 1, now is the perfect time to catch up before the highly anticipated Season 2 lands later this year.
5. The Buccaneers – Season 2 (Apple TV+)
The unapologetically queer period drama returns with more scandal, sapphic yearning, and feminist rebellion among American heiresses navigating high society in 1870s London. Think Bridgerton, but with more edge and better sapphic representation.
6. Our Flag Means Death – The Finale Special (Max)
This fan-favorite pirate rom-com wraps up with a one-hour finale special airing this June. Whether you’re rewatching from the start or jumping into the last hurrah, this show remains a shining example of queer love told with heart and humor.
7. This Is Me Now… The Series (Prime Video)
Following Jennifer Lopez’s genre-blurring film-musical hybrid, the series version delves into themes of love, identity, and self-acceptance, and features cameos by queer icons and allies. It’s campy, messy, and made for Pride Month mood-boosting.
8. Sort Of – Final Season (Max)
This critically acclaimed dramedy about a gender-fluid millennial navigating love, grief, and identity in Toronto comes to a close with an emotionally rich final season. A thoughtful and often hilarious story that never loses its beating heart.
9. Red, White & Royal Blue – Limited Series (Prime Video)
After the hit film adaptation, the beloved queer romance returns in a serialized format, expanding on Alex and Henry’s story with new twists and deeper character arcs. It’s romantic escapism, elevated.
10. POSE: The Legacy (FX/Hulu)
This documentary miniseries honors the cultural legacy of POSE and the real-life ballroom legends who inspired it. Featuring interviews with cast, creators, and icons from the scene, it’s a must-watch tribute to queer history and resilience.
Whether you’re looking for laughter, tears, romance, or revolution, these Pride Month picks for 2025 offer it all—while honoring the complexity and beauty of LGBTQIA+ lives. So press play, turn up the volume, and let queer stories shine this June and beyond. Happy Pride! 🏳️🌈
Arts & Culture
Chaos and Clarity: Zen Aesthetic in Oj Hofer’s Art

by Jing Ramos |
Oj Hofer, our fashion contributing editor, is a Fine Arts graduate from the University of the Philippines. Though he began painting at the age of eight, his artistic journey took a transformative turn in 2013. While volunteering as a costume designer for Siddhartha: The Musical, he encountered Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s One-Stroke Calligraphy, sparking a deep devotion to Japanese sumi-e painting and kanji calligraphy. Over the years, he refined his craft, using his art to share the Dharma through exhibitions while supporting the Hsing Yun Educational Foundation. In 2022, his spiritual path deepened at Nan Tien University, where he embraced Zen and Humanistic Buddhism, shaping his artistic philosophy.

“Plum Blossoms in Moonlight.” Serigraphy on abaca.
In his recent works, Hofer merges traditional calligraphy with serigraphy, drawing inspiration from his friend Charles Lahti—an internationally recognized New York-based painter and printmaker. Lahti, known for his collaborations with post-war American artists like Robert Rauschenberg, Donald Judd, Andy Warhol, and LeRoy Neiman, introduced Hofer to silkscreen techniques. Through a workshop Lahti conducted in Cebu—arranged by their mutual friend Greg Urra—Hofer integrated silkscreen into his Zen artworks, particularly those on abaca.

“The Circle of Harmony” Serigraphy and Calligraphy on abaca.
Hofer’s cross-disciplinary approach challenges conventional Zen aesthetics. His layered paintings on abaca may seem far from tranquil at first glance, but closer contemplation reveals a meditative core. His serigraph of an Enso circle, for example, initially appears chaotic, filled with Tang Dynasty poetry and overlapping, repetitive forms. Yet, by focusing on a single calligraphic element, the viewer experiences a moment of clarity—a glimpse of awakening within the visual complexity.

“Monkey Mind” Serigraphy and Calligraphy on abaca.
Even more engaging is his diptych Monkey Mind. At odds with the traditional Zen emphasis on negative space, this piece is deliberately busy, reflecting the restless nature of the mind. A distracted viewer may struggle to find a focal point, but one attuned to emptiness and presence will perceive clarity amidst the seeming disarray.

Ink and intention—creating calligraphy in support of one of my advocacies.
By fusing Zen philosophy with the discipline of serigraphy, Hofer invites his audience to look beyond surface impressions and discover stillness within movement, balance within complexity. His art does not merely depict Zen—it embodies the paradoxes at its core, offering a path to mindfulness through the act of seeing and the experience of doing.
Arts & Culture
What is Sappia? The Rice Myth Goddess of Bohol Who Helped Feed the People During a Great Famine

by Emma Gomez
The story began when the people of Bohol started to experience hunger and famine. All the livestocks were inedible and the fields were dried out leaving only weeds planted on the ground. The people prayed to the goddess of mercy, Sappia, to ask for food.

Sappia, the rice myth goddess of Bohol
Sappia, from the heavens, heard the cries of the people. She saw the dense population of weeds and offered to help them. Sappia thought of nourishing the weeds to be edible and healthy for the people of Bohol. Straightaway, she sprinkled the weed with milk from her bossom. She emptied each breast until blood came out. Before she left, she whispered to the weeds that they may be nourished and be able to feed the people.
When harvest season came, the people of Bohol quickly gathered the nourished weeds. They observed that the ones sprinkled with milk were white, while the other were red. They called the new plant rice and they replanted these in honor of Sappia, and for the people to devour.
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