Events

Weddings in Time of Corona

Intimate Venues for Intimate Weddings (Part 1)

Almost every city is on lockdown and the people are being quarantined; plus, gatherings are discouraged or may be limited to family members only, can we still exchange “I Do’s” and make beautiful and memorable weddings to cherish for a lifetime?

The new normal has made us appreciate intimate gatherings and cherish even the smallest of gatherings. If there is any good that this pandemic has brought us, it is to be grateful for what we have, and to make every moment with our family matters. Thus, any good news during this most challenging time is worth celebrating. And what can be better of a news if not for two people deciding to tie the knot?

Here are my suggestions to your unique and intimate wedding venues.

1. SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Situated in the highlands of Busay and Balamban, this private home built on a cliff is just perfect for an afternoon wedding. The lanai welcomes guests to a spectacular view of the hills; and the rustic theme of the house sets the romantic mood. Plus, who cannot fall in love to the landscape of various flora and fauna that surrounds this abode? Sermon on the Mount is just lovely.

Picture grabbed from Sermon on the Mount Retreat Resort: A Relaxing Escape to Balamban (sugbo.ph)

Check out Sermon on the Mount Facebook page. To rate this venue:

Accommodation ★★★★

Privacy ★★★★

Security ★★★

Safety Protocols ★★★★

Romantic Ambiance ★★★★★

View ★★★★★

Value for Money ★★★★

Altar set-up for a wedding ceremony at Sermon on the Mount. Photo by: Camille Fonte-Pojoyo

Dining Table set-up for a wedding at Sermon on the Mount. Photo by Camille Fonte-Pajoyo

2. Halla Cat Yacht Cruises

Halla Cat yacht cruises operate from the Mactan Wharf in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu. The company has two catamaran yachts: a medium size to accommodate 30-35 guests, and a larger catamaran that can accommodate 50-60 guests. They also serve two packages: a 7-hour island hopping package with lunch, or a 4-hour sunset cruise as the Mactan Channel. The yacht has an airconditioned dining hall, an upper deck al fresco dining space, and a bedroom where brides can retouch their make-up and change from their wedding gowns to their sleek reception dresses.

The Bridge of the Halla Cat Yacht. (Photo grabbed from Halla Cat’s Facebook page)

Check out Halla Cat Yacht Cruises at this page: HALLA CAT | Facebook. To rate this venue:

Accommodation ★★

Privacy ★★★★

Security ★★★

Safety Protocols ★★★

Romantic Ambiance ★★★★★

View ★★★★★

Value for Money ★★★

Wedding photo of Darrell John Fonte and Jonah Abella-Fonte on Halla Cat cruise with a view of the CCLEX and SM Seaside in SRP.

Wedding photo of Darrell John Fonte and Jonah Abella-Fonte on Halla Cat cruise with a sunset view of Cebu City’s Skyscrapers.

Plantation Bay’s Bakeshop by the Beach Flavored Croissants and Brownies are served as desserts on a wedding sunset cruise in Halla Cat.

3. Purita Farms Vacation House

Situated in the heart of San Remigio, Cebu, what started as an exclusive family farm of the late Judge Romulo Senining and his wife Madam Purita Senining, is now a go-to-venue for intimate family gatherings and events. The farm is a Mango orchard that stretches to about 4 hectares of land, with adjoined two large hexagonal cottages in the middle overseeing the mystical views of the mango trees. The Vacation house has 5 bedrooms, a large kitchen, open space living area, a medium sized pool and vast view of nature. To locate the Purita Farms Vacation House, ask the locals for “manggahan”. The farm is known to the locals of San Remigio by that name.

Bird’s eyeview of the Villas and Pool of Purita Farms Vacation House (Photo grabbed from Purita Farms Vacation House facebook page).

Check out Purita Farms Vacation House in facebook. To rate this venue:

Accommodation ★★

Privacy ★★★★

Security ★★★★

Safety Protocols ★★

Romantic Ambiance ★★★★★

View ★★★★★

Value for Money ★★★

Rey and Carrie Senining’s 25th wedding anniversary and renewal of vows at the Purita Farm Vacation House.

Elegant dining set-up styled by Brian Aloquin and Tito Zamora for a wedding in Purita Farms Vacation House.

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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.

Nora Sol, Beth Go, Frances Siao and Marylou Ong

Ina Ronquillo, Maryanne Aboitiz and Jackie Lotzof

Designers Jun Escario and Philip Rodriguez

Philip Rodriguez with NUSTAR Malls two power ladies: May Adolfo and Joanna Salazar

Lana Osmeña with Mariquita Yeung

PJ Castillo and Kaye Abad with Cary Santiago

Drew Sarmiento with LV Manager Adrian Decuigan

Cary Santiago with Eva Gullas

Manila socialites Julie Boschi and Ching Cruz with June Alegrado

It was a night of elegance, luxury, and unforgettable memories as ladies in long gowns and gentlemen in black ties danced the night away.

Events

Flying Tiger Copenhagen Lands in Cebu

By Joanna Cuenco

June 13 – Cebu City | Danish lifestyle brand Flying Tiger Copenhagen has landed in Cebu, opening its first branch in the Philippines outside Metro Manila at the upper ground floor of SM Seaside City.

Since its first store in Copenhagen in 1995, Flying Tiger has aimed to share products that not only look good, but make people feel good too. There’s something for everyone aged one to 100: toys, art materials, homeware, party supplies, workout gear, travel essentials, fashion accessories, and more. There will be fresh drops at the store every three to four weeks, so there’s always something exciting to look forward to and share with family and friends.

Product designs range from minimalist and “aesthetic” to cute and kitschy. Find lifestyle essentials like food storage and home organizers, tea towels and toothbrush holders, to some awesome things you didn’t know you needed, like a handheld sewing machine and a beach chair for your phone.

Even though the 200+ square meter space is fully stocked with hundreds of items, the store layout and neat display make it such a joy to look at all of the things and make the shopping experience easy and enjoyable. Flying Tiger believes a richer life does not cost a fortune, so items start at only P30, or even lower with some special promos.

The store opened with a traditional Danish cake-cutting ceremony with Jet Tan, Flying Tiger Copenhagen Store Operations Manager of APAC Region; Gladhys Rodriguez, Merchandising Manager of Flying Tiger Copenhagen Philippines; Billi Jin Esguerra-Perez, Marketing Manager of Flying Tiger Copenhagen Philippines; and JB Tan, Mall Manager of SM Seaside City Cebu.

Zandra Len Salvador and Drew Sarmiento

Sarree Pimentel with Lian

Rizanne Tiongko, Joanna Cuenco and Anya Morrissey

Jen and Jas Sarmiento, Rere Dakay, Kirby Yu with Kayden

Jaja Chiongbian Rama with Sebi and Georgiana

Eleni Paray, Hazel Tirol and Mitchelle Lua

Flying Tiger is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by Stores Specialists, Inc., the country’s largest specialty retailer that handles a network of 593 stores and 94 brands, including some of the most recognized names in the world.

Facebook: @FlyingTigerCopenhagenPH

Instagram: @flyingtigerph