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The guide to catching Pokémon in Cebu

You’d have to be living under a rock if you don’t know what Pokémon Go is—much more the fact that it has taken over the Philippines by storm since its release two weeks ago. The cultural phenomenon, which taps into a lot of childhood memories, has found its way into millions of smartphones. People walking around public places while glued onto their phones trying to catch ’em all has become a common sight.

Since its release in the Philippines, businesses have tapped into Pokémon Go’s popularity, leading to lure parties and other fun gimmicks. Here’s a quick guide to the city’s Poké Stops and Poké Gyms for the Zee Lifestyle Pokémon trainers out there.

MALLS

AYALA CENTER CEBU

Ayala Center Cebu (Photo: Facebook)

Ayala Center Cebu (Photo: Facebook)

Cebu’s premier lifestyle destination is also a premier Pokémon destination. Several areas at The Terraces, The Gallery, the Active Zone and the Activity Center are all Poké Stops, which led to an epic lure drop party last weekend. Hashtag your screenshots with #FindEmAtAyalaMalls and #PokemonGoAyalaMalls.

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PGo - OutletsTHE OUTLETS AT PUEBLO VERDE

Known for year-long affordable deals through its various outlet stores, shopping at The Outlets at Pueblo Verde is now made more interactive, as the place itself is a certified Poké Gym. There are also several Poké Stops throughout the strip mall.

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ROBINSONS GALLERIA CEBU

Cebu’s new favorite mall also joined in on the lure party bandwagon last weekend, even throwing in exciting prizes for those who’d catch Pokémon at Robinsons Galleria Cebu. Be one of 100 winners of gift certificates by posting your screen grabs on Facebook and Instagram with the hashtags #‎GOExploreToWINatRobinsons #‎CatchEmAllatRGC and #RobinsonsGalleriaCebu, and your name, mobile and e-mail.

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SM CITY CEBU & SM SEASIDE CITY CEBU

Both SM City Cebu and SM Seaside City Cebu (the Cube, in particular) are level two Poké Gyms as of press time. This has attracted a lot of aspiring trainers. Add the hashtag #GottaCatchEmAllAtSM to share the Pokémons you’ve caught in the malls.

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HOTELS & RESORTS

MARCO POLO PLAZA CEBU

PGo - Marco Polo

This five-star hotel in Cebu City has received attention for its Lobby Lounge being a Poké Gym, but did you know the main entrance is also a Poké Stop? Stock up on those Poké Balls, lure modules and other goodies before you enter.

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MÖVENPICK HOTEL MACTAN ISLAND CEBU

Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu has three Poké Stops – the Mövenpick logo at the entrance, the fountain in front of the main lobby, and at the flowing pond fountain by the beach. Additionally, the Conservatory at the Ibiza Beach Club is a Poké Gym.

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PGo - ShangriLaSHANGRI-LA’S MACTAN RESORT & SPA

Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa has a total of 14 Poké Stops scattered all over the sprawling beachside property. The Treasure Island at the main wing’s swimming pool is also a Poké Gym. Score treats when you screen grab any Pokémon during the flash mob dance at Tides Restaurant with the hashtags #‎flashmobatTides, #‎TidesatShangrila and #‎ShangrilaMactan.

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RESTAURANTS

PGo - IsidraISIDRA COMFORT CANTINA

Beyond being a home to comfort food inspired by delicacies throughout the country, Isidra Comfort Cantina is also a Poké Stop. Drop a lure while you enjoy the bestselling twice-cooked adobo, and let all the Pokémon come to you.

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PGo - LantawLANTAW SRP

Get your fill of Filipino favorites while you battle it out. Lantaw Native Restaurant at the South Road Properties is currently a level three Poké Gym.

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TOURIST ESTABLISHMENTS

Photo: dookiexave on Facebook

Photo: dookiexave on Facebook

MAGELLAN’S CROSS

It’s home to the symbol of the Cebuanos’ acceptance of the Christian faith from the Spanish, and now it’s a Poké Gym too! Don’t forget to take a moment to light a few candles while you’re there battling for Pokémon.

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THE MACTAN NEWTOWN

The dolphin fountain at The Mactan Newtown is a Poké Gym

The dolphin fountain at The Mactan Newtown is a Poké Gym

The iconic Dolphin Fountain at The Mactan Newtown is a Poké Gym. The township is also close to four Poké Stops – the Mactan Barangay Hall, the Battleship Wood Sculpture, the Fr. Jules Chevalier Statue and the Sto. Niño de Cebu Mactan. Furthermore, The Mactan Newtown is very pedestrian-friendly, so you don’t have to worry about your safety.

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We’re updating this list as we go! Share your favorite Poké Stops and Gyms through the comments, or on our social media pages.

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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! 🏳️‍🌈

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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.

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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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