Arts & Culture

Insta-Worthy Spots in the Historic Resort City

While it’s dubbed as “The Historic Resort City”, Lapu-Lapu has more to it than its famous 5-star beaches.

While it’s dubbed as “The Historic Resort City”, Lapu-Lapu has more to it than its famous 5-star beaches. This weekend, the city will be celebrating its 498th Kadaugan sa Mactan festival to commemorate the historic victory of Datu Lapu-Lapu against Spanish invaders.

Aside from joining in on the fun of street parties and dances, here’s a round up of the different “instagrammable” spots you can visit that are away from the hustle and bustle of the metro. So go ahead, wear your summer OOTD and grab a pair of comfy shoes to start snapping and posting!

Outlets at Pueblo Verde

Located in Brgy. Basak, the Outlets at Pueblo Verde has been a one-stop shop for a hodgepodge of all things sporty, fashionable and mouth-watering. The place makes it a hangout hub for people especially during the weekends as it’s a perfect place for drinking the worries of the week away.

Not only do the lined-up outlet stores give you all the Rodeo Drive feels, but the big mural stationed across its mini food park is all the rage as it bursts with color and form.

Azon Scape Skydeck

Ever wondered how it feels being on top of the world? Well, Azon Scape Skydeck makes you feel just that as its rooftop restaurant presents a perfect view of Lapu-Lapu City along with its iconic bridges. It’s a perfect place to wine and dine with a lustrous view from sunset until the city lights form.

Mactan Newtown

This is probably the new place to be—it has a gym, an infinity pool, loads of food choices, different coffee shops and a beach! A micro-city in itself, if you were to live here, you’d never have to leave home! The sky-high condominiums and work places give you all the New-York-City-concrete-jungle feels.

10,000 Roses Cafe

What could be better than a rose from a lover? A whole garden of roses! Insta-worthy photos in this unique cafe can be taken anytime of the day. Enjoy coffee by the bay of Cordova and see how the lit-up ten thousand roses can complete your night.

Mactan-Mandaue 2nd Bridge

This one’s a unique pick, as it is usually underrated, but the bridge that connects Lapu-Lapu City to Mandaue City and the metro is the perfect place for sightseeing, jogging, and, you guessed it—”instagrammable” posts. The lights would beam during the night time and the anticipation of the sunrise proves to be much better overlooking the horizon.

Mactan Shrine

This one’s surely a tourist’s favorite as it features the beauty and heritage of the city. The statue of Lapu-Lapu stationed at the heart of the shrine is a show stopper for most visitors. The other posts located within the shrine takes you back in time through narratives written in each monument. One could also check out the pasalubong choices within the area, and patronize locally-made products by the Oponganons.

As most “millennials” would say, one should “..do it for the ‘gram!”. So go on and brave the summer heat and feed your Instagram with some colorful sights and scenes on the other side of the bridge!

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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.

Arts & Culture

Kimsoy’s Canvas of a Lifetime in Full Display

by Diana Gillo

There is nothing more fascinating than seeing an artist’s lifetime of work in one room. Such is the experience in Jose “Kimsoy” Yap’s third solo exhibit entitled “Kimsoy: Episodes of Mastery,” at Galerie Raphael Cebu. This serves as the truest form of homage to his enduring journey, showcasing works that span over decades.

The exhibit speaks greatly of Kimsoy’s evolution as an artist, with his shifting mediums and remarkable variety of subjects. His creations range from heartfelt portraits of individuals he encountered along his journey to detailed landscapes inspired by the different walks of his life. The room’s layout carries the weight of his years of craft with one wall lined with pastels, another with watercolors, and another with oil painting.

As the River Flows Onward by Kimsoy Yap 2020 | Oil on canvas | 82×48 inches

The exhibit transcends beyond just the commemoration of Kimsoy’s masterful periods. It wanders more into a sense of intimacy reflecting Kimsoy’s life’s journey—from his roots as a young boy in Negros Oriental, through his pursuit of greater artistic mastery in New York, to his prominence in Cebu’s art scene. All his work freehanded, created both with his left and right hand, depicts the ways in which we all leave traces of ourselves in our work and in the world.

A Friend of Mine 1979 | watercolor on paper | 24×18 inches

In a Relaxed Mood 1977 | water color on paper | 16×19.5 inches

The opening ceremony featured Ambassador Jose Mari Cariño, alongside special guests Ivy Ang Gabas, Paolo Li, Angbetic Tan, Laurie Bouquiren of the Visayas Art Fair, and Valerie Go of Galerie Raphael Cebu. The exhibit is open until March 21, 2025.

Arts & Culture

Art Fair Philippines 2025: A Celebration of Creativity

by Emcee Go

Art Fair Philippines 2025 transformed the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City into a dynamic showcase of contemporary and modern art. From February 21 to 23, art enthusiasts and collectors were treated to an eclectic mix of visual masterpieces, interactive installations, and thought-provoking exhibits.

This year’s fair features an impressive lineup of local and international galleries, including renowned names like Leon Gallery, Metro Gallery, Orange Project, J Studio and from Cebu, Qube Gallery.