Arts & Culture

Here’s where you’ll find the best Eggs Benedict in Cebu

A charmingly quaint café in the heart of the city is where you’ll want to have breakfast all day.

Alyssa Lao, for as long as I’ve known her, has been very picky about how her Eggs Benedict are done. “The egg has to be cooked perfectly so that it’s just runny enough,” she’d told me once, after I recommended another brunch spot’s version of the dish that she hadn’t been impressed with. “There also has to be the perfect ratio of the hollandaise with the rest of the dish. It’s all the little parts of it that come together.”

Birdseed Breakfast Club’s Eggs Benedict (Photography by Nath Ybañez/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016)

The cozy interiors of Birdseed. (Photography by Nath Ybañez/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016)

It’s easy understand, then, why Birdseed Breakfast Club + Café‘s Eggs Benedict is pretty good stuff. Drizzled with a generous serving of hollandaise, the yolk is rich and thick when it breaks open, spilling over the homemade bacon, wilted spinach and toasted English muffin.

Having opened earlier this year, Birdseed has been tempting diners with its hearty breakfast favorites throughout the day, and many have been giving in. The items on Birdseed’s menus are hearty enough meals for any time of the day, and explore flavors that some dinner outlets may be afraid to tread.

Kimchi silog. (Photography by Nath Ybañez/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016)

The Chicken Log is bacon-wrapped chicken breast, stuffed with Japanese mushrooms, cashew, red pepper and spinach—a filling but incredibly tasty combination that works well with the brown rice pilaf its served with. The Beef Brisket and Kimchi Silog brings spiciness by way of the kimchi fried rice with toasted sesame, while the US beef brisket itself is slow-cooked and is so tender that it’s easily pulled apart with a fork.

The eggs at Birdseed, of course, are masterpieces in themselves. They’re sous vide at 63 degrees, so each one spills perfectly into your rice for what seems like optimal yolk flavor. It’s even more perfect with the Mom’s Beef Tapa Silog. The restaurant’s best seller—and for good reason—the dish features tender and flavorful slices of the Filipino breakfast staple, a family recipe that Alyssa says her mom keeps strictly under wraps. “I have no idea how to make it actually,” she admits, sharing that her mother makes all the tapa herself.

Third-wave artisanal coffee. (Photography by Nath Ybañez/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016)

For something sweet, have the waffles. (Photography by Nath Ybañez/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016)

For something sweet, Birdseed’s chocolate waffles is the way to go. (Photography by Nath Ybañez/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016)

Breakfast isn’t complete without a cup of coffee, and Birdseed serves up drinks that are strictly third-wave, meaning high-quality artisanal coffee. With beans from Plain Sight Coffee for their espresso blend and EDSA Beverage Design Studio for their drops, the restaurant has all the usual coffee-based drinks but follow a strict standard for how it’s made. Their cold brew, created via a fancy-looking three-level contraption at the bar, takes 32 hours to make by steeping coffee grounds in room temperature or cold water.

Wrap up the meal with the Chocolate Waffles, where not only is the treat topped with Chantilly cream, shaved chocolate and toasted cashews—it’s also stuffed with chocolate ganache. If every day started like this, then there’d be no problem about getting up early. Birdseed Breakfast Club + Café makes me especially thankful that Alyssa Lao is such a breakfast snob.

Axis Entertainment Avenue
Escario Street, Cebu City
6332. 254 9463 | Facebook

photography Nath Ybañez

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Arts & Culture

Art Beat: Scenes From the Manila Art Fair 2026

photography by Doro Barandino

“Art is unpredictable and goes in different directions. I have no idea. I would rather live the present moment.” —Bencab, National artist of the Philippines.

Vinta by Protegeri, collaboration art piece by Leeroy New, Solenn Heuseff and Vito Selma

Q&A with interior decorator and jewellery designer Doro Barandino

Which of the participating art galleries had the most unified and exciting theme?
Leon Gallery had the most amazingly put-together collection. Though the gallery engaged various artists, the overall visual effect felt like one unified theme. Leon Gallery used a sack-like cloth (most likely raw linen) as the background for the booth, and it brought the collection together. It had an old-world feel in a chaotic setting.

Who were the artists that were the most visually engaging?
The works of Carlo Tanseco were definitely my favorite. The artist used an eye chart (Snellen chart) as the background for the image of Dr. Jose Rizal giving us the middle finger—such an “in your face” message. The concept of our national hero as a modern-day provocateur was a wake-up call to everyone. Very subversive and underground material. I was also attracted to the works of Japanese artist Tadashi Kogure; they’re very architectural.

Was the choice of venue and its layout helpful in engaging the whole art vibe?
What I noticed was that the masters like Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo, and Fernando Zóbel still attracted the most viewers at the art fair. People are naturally drawn to their masterful strokes and historical significance, or perhaps these artworks are not readily accessible for public viewing. Or maybe those booths that carried the masters’ works were strategically positioned right after the registrar.

The choice of venue at Center One was a good move—it created a total art vibe. Manila Art Fair remains the premier art fair in the country today, showcasing the finest modern and contemporary art while offering curated projects and immersive installations.

The Standard by Thai artist Pitchapa at the Triangular durational, performance art.

Bato Bato sa Langit by Filipino artist Carlo Tanseco

Stocking Proportions Menumpuk Proporsi by Indonesian artist Labadiou Piko

Untitled by Indonesian artist Yunizar

Filipiny, wool tapestry by national artist of the Philippines,Federico Aguilar Alcuaz.

Untitled by German artist Valentin Elias Renner

Interior decorator and jewellery designer Doro Barandino is also a regular contributor for zee.ph

Arts & Culture

Visayas Art Fair Year 5: Infinite Perspectives, Unbound Creativity

by Jing Ramos

This year’s Visayas Art Fair marks its 5th anniversary, celebrating the theme “Infinite Perspectives: Unbound Creativity.” The fair continues its mission of bridging creativity, culture, and community in the country. This milestone edition strengthens its partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and expands collaborations with regional art organizations and collectives—reinforcing its role as a unifying platform for Philippine art.

VAF5 features the works of Gil Francis Maningo, honoring the mastery of his gold leaf technique on opulent portraits of the Visayan muse Carmela, reflecting spiritual awareness.

Gil Francis Maningo is celebrated for his gold leaf technique.

Gil Francis Maningo’s recurring theme of his Visayan muse “Carmela”.

Another featured artist is Danny Rayos del Sol, whose religious iconography of Marian-inspired portraits offers a profound meditation on the sacred and the sublime. This collaboration between two visual artists sparks a dialogue on the Visayan spirit of creativity and resilience. Titled “Pasinaya,” this dual showcase explores gold leaf as a medium of light and transcendence.

Artist Danny Reyes del Sol

Danny Reyes del Sol’s religious iconography.

Now in its fifth year, the Visayas Art Fair has influenced a community of artists, gallerists, brokers, collectors, museum curators, and art critics—constructing a narrative that shapes how we approach and understand the artist and his work. This combination of factors, destined for popular consumption, illustrates the ways in which art and current culture have found common ground in a milieu enriched by the promise of increased revenue and the growing value of artworks.

Laurie Boquiren, Chairman of the Visayas Art Fair, elaborates on the theme, expressing a vision that celebrates the boundless imagination of unique artistic voices:

“Infinite Perspectives speaks of the countless ways artists see, interpret, and transform the world around them—reminding us that creativity knows no single point of view. Unbound Creativity embodies freedom from convention and controlled expression, allowing every artist to explore and experiment without borders.”

Laurie Boquiren, Chairman of the Visayas Art Fair has tirelessly championed the creative arts for the past five years.

Arts & Culture

Kultura. Kapital. Kasalukuyan: Art that Speaks of Today

by Jose Carlos G. Campos, Board of Trustees National Museum of the Philippines

The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently teamed up to prove that money isn’t just for counting—it’s also for curating! Their latest joint exhibition, Kultura. Kapital. Kasalukuyan: Contemporary Art from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Collection, is now open, and it’s a real treat for art lovers and culture buffs alike.

On display are gems from the BSP’s contemporary art collection, including masterpieces by National Artist Benedicto Cabrera (Bencab), along with works by Onib Olmedo, Brenda Fajardo, Antipas Delotavo, Edgar Talusan Fernandez, and many more. Some of the artists even showed up in person—Charlie Co, Junyee, Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, Demi Padua, Joey Cobcobo, Leonard Aguinaldo, Gerardo Tan, Melvin Culaba—while others sent their family representatives, like Mayumi Habulan and Jeudi Garibay. Talk about art running in the family!

Deputy Governor General of the BSP, Berna Romulo Puyat

Chairman of NMP, Andoni Aboitiz

The BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. and members of the Monetary Board joined the event, alongside former BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr., Ms. Tess Espenilla (wife of the late Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr.), and the ever-graceful former Central Bank Governor Jaime C. Laya, who gave a short but enlightening talk about the BSP art collection.

From the NMP, Chairman Andoni Aboitiz, Director-General Jeremy Barns, and fellow trustees NCCA Chairman Victorino Mapa Manalo, Carlo Ebeo, and Jose Carlos Garcia-Campos also graced the occasion. Chairman Aboitiz expressed gratitude to the BSP for renewing its partnership, calling the exhibition a shining example of how financial institutions can also enrich our cultural wealth.

Former Governor of BSP Jaime Laya

Governor of BSP Eli M. Remona and Chairman of NMP Board Andoni Aboitiz

Artist Charlie Co

Before the official launch, a special media preview was held on 5 August, hosted by BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and DG Jeremy Barns. It gave lucky guests a sneak peek at the collection—because sometimes, even art likes to play “hard to get.”

The exhibition Kultura. Kapital. Kasalukuyan will run until November 2027 at Galleries XVIII and XIX, 3/F, National Museum of Fine Arts. Doors are open daily, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. So if you’re looking for something enriching that won’t hurt your wallet (admission is free!), this is your sign to visit. After all, the best kind of interest is cultural interest.