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Coming Home

Wanting to be the change they seek, a group of men have sparked a catalytic movement that is improving the lives of many Cebuano families by providing new homes and most importantly, new beginnings. And it started just by planning a school’s homecoming party.

One might surmise that if a group of men got together to plan a grand homecoming party, they would simply conjure up a program that would include a fashion show with a bevy of hot Brazilian models, have celebrity appearances— one voted FHM ’s sexiest woman in the
Philippines—and have female models turned-DJs and a popular sexy-girl dance troupe for entertainment. So this group of men did just that, but there was more to it—the Sacred Heart School (SHS) homecoming party last December 29, 2012, hosted by Batch ’87, was an awareness and fund-raiser for their foundation that gives families the chance for new beginnings.

SHS Batch ‘87 has been known to take a seemingly common idea and turn it into a whole new experience, such as throwing a sold-out benefit concert instead of the typical high school “mission fair of the usual jail or marriage booths.” They think outside the box again,
and this time affecting a great deal of change by partnering with non-profit organization Gawad Kalinga to create homes for relocated illegal settlers.

Gawad Kalinga(GK) gives displaced families a second chance at owning the roof over their head, creating not just houses but “communities” all over the Philippines. They build homes and eventually build up spirits of its dwellers. But the homes are not simply dole-outs, instead they are earned through sweat and blood, almost literally: sweat equity (manual building), coupled with values formation programs and livelihood education are the keys to owning a GK house. This is the first time a Sacred Heart School homecoming batch has partnered with a non-profit organization to celebrate a homecoming party and it has turned into the idea they wanted–to have a meaningful activity and have something to look back at after the “homecoming high.”

Last December 8, 2012 in the Sacred Heart School Ateneo de Cebu Gawad Kalinga Village in Sitio Sudlon in Maguikay, Mandaue, a celebration saw 13 houses turned over to beneficiaries, as well as the inauguration of a multi-purpose building that also houses a classroom and a clinic. The 13 houses were built through the generosity of SHS batches ’71, ’74, ’77 and ’85, all inspired by SHS 87’s initiative. To top off that special occasion, SHS alumni doctors conducted a medical mission performing minor surgeries, and gave out free medicines and vitamins. In a village that can accommodate a little over 30 houses, the foundation is calling out to generous hearts to help them build a new community and give more families a brighter future.

Inspired by this altruism, the SHS 2012 elementary class passed around a bottle to help raise funds for this housing project and in as little as 3 weeks came up with a little over the amount it costs to build a whole GK house. The cost of one house is roughly PhP 115,000 to build a simple but sturdy 45-sqm, two-level house. The foundation also accepts donations of construction materials.

Partnering with an organization that means “to give care” was nothing short of a modern day bayanihan effort to live up to the school’s ideals of being men and women for others.

by Ian E Baol

Business

bai Hotel Cebu named 2024 PH’s Leading Business Hotel at World Travel Awards

bai Hotel Cebu VP Operations and General Manager Alfred Reyes with World Travel Awards Founder and President Graham Cooke.

bai Hotel Cebu has emerged victorious as the Philippines’ Leading Business Hotel at this year’s prestigious World Travel Awards. Standing out among the nine other contenders from across the country, bai Hotel Cebu claimed the coveted title, solidifying its position as a premier business hospitality destination in Cebu.

The award was presented to VP Operations and General Manager Alfred Reyes Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications Carlo Rivera in an awarding gala ceremony held last September 3, 2024 at City of Dreams Manila.

Held at the City of Dreams Manila, the award was handed over to VP-Operations and General Manager Alfred Reyes and Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications Carlo Rivera last September 3, 2024 at City of Dreams Manila.

This accolade, being the first of many this year, reaffirms bai Hotel Cebu’s steadfast commitment to providing world-class Filipino hospitality. “I would like to thank our guests for continuously supporting and for patronizing bai Hotel Cebu,” GM Alfred Reyes said. “This win is also yours as your loyalty inspires us to deliver the exceptional service bai Hotel Cebu is known for,” he continued.

bai Hotel Cebu’s department heads celebrating its accolade as PH’s Leading Business Hotel.

Operating since 2018 with 668 rooms, 8 restaurants, and over 13 function halls, bai Hotel Cebu has established its presence in the industry having just been awarded as Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Tourism Standard Awards – ASEAN MICE Venue (Meeting Room Category).

We also extend our heartfelt congratulations to the country’s Department of Tourism headed by Secretary Hon. Christina Garcia Frasco for being recognized as Asia’s Leading Marketing Campaign award for its “Love the Philippines” campaign and as Transformation Leadership in Tourism Governance.

Based in London and established in 1993, the World Travel Awards is dubbed the Oscars of the travel industry that acknowledges, rewards, and celebrates excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. It is recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Events

A Feast for the Senses

Crimson Chefs - Masahiro Kinoshita, Naoki Eguchi, Daniel Johnston, Javier Garcia, Allan Barios, Andrew Simpson

By Joanna Cuenco

June 8 – Mactan, Cebu | For one of its biggest dining events of the year as part of the highly anticipated Cebu Food and Wine Festival, Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan curated an epicurean journey that brought guests on gastronomic flights of fancy, fine cuisine. A Feast for the Senses showcased the creativity and excellence of the resort’s culinary team through a dine-around event at its four dining destinations that invited guests to sample the best that each restaurant had to offer: international cuisine at Saffron, Spanish at Enye by Chele Gonzalez, Japanese at Aka by Naoki Eguchi, and desserts and more drinks at Azure Beach Club.

Maria Paz Perdices, Ambra Anzani, Ema Onda,Kate Anzani, Kumiko Onda, Daisy Barns

Tamsin Booth, Didier Belmonte, Frances Siao, Celeste Miranda, Bert Miranda, Bob Booth

Spirits were high and beverages flowed freely the whole evening, thanks to Philippine Wine Merchant, A Wine Company, The Wine Club, Don Revy, Sommelier Selection, Engkanto Brewery, M. Lhuillier Food Product Inc., Future Trade International, Happy Living Philippines, Equilibrium Intertrade Corporation, and Bauhinia Brewery.

Allan Barios at Saffron dessert station

Ulysse Jouanneaud

Margarette Lhuiller and Perl Jacalan

For the after-party and entertainment at Azure Beach Club, renowned mixologist Ulysse Jouanneaud took over the bar, crafting cocktails with Bacardi, Don Papa, Cointreau, and Sula Brands. Chef Allan Barrios presented a dessert spread that included key lime pralines, vanilla bourbon truffles, honey coconut cryos, and tiny flower-potted bamboo shoots that turned out to be made of pistachio. These little works of art were planted alongside vibrant green foliage, smooth stones, and a faux fog effect that created a tropical rainforest diorama out of the dessert table.

Lechon belly station at Saffron

Dessert display at Azure Beach Club

Yellowfin tuna tataki

Grilled mackerel with laksa boullabaise

The night sky and the distant lights of neighboring islands were the perfect backdrop for a high-energy LED dance performance and fantastic fireworks display that left guests in awe and applause.

Rose Hudson

Chele Gonzalez

Brava potato with chorizo at Enye

LED and Tron Dance

Aka Private Room

The Cebu Food and Wine Festival is supported by the Department of Tourism – Philippines, Visit Central Visayas, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu Business Month, and Cebu Pacific Air.

Events

The First NUSTAR BALL

Janine Taylor, June Alegrado, Jackie Lotzof, Frances Siao, Ina Ronquillo and Christine Pelaez

The NUSTAR Ballroom, a magnificent venue at the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu, sets the stage for last night’s first-ever NUSTAR Ball.

Black was the color of night at the Zee table.

Glamorous guests from Manila and Cebu converged at the NUSTAR Ballroom, an exquisite venue within the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu. The evening unfolded with a seated 5-course dinner. The opulent feast started with Beetroot Salmon Gravlax, adorned with caper berries, caviar, set with delicate edible flowers; and a main course of Compressed Pork Belly with Crackling Skin and Baby Scallops. Another highlight was the auction of coveted items like Dior and YSL handbags, a limited-edition Bulgari watch, and an exclusive 2-night stay in Nustar’s opulent 3-bedroom villa—complete with a private pool and a dedicated butler. The charity evening benefited the Cameleon Association, an NGO based in Iloilo City created in 1997 that developed a global approach to act on the causes and effects of sexual violence against children.