Events

24 hours in Cebu: Sinulog edition

Sinulog can get quite overwhelming, even to those who’ve experienced it several times. Here’s an itinerary of sorts to help you make the most out of the festival.

Sinulog can get quite overwhelming, even to those who’ve experienced it several times. Here’s an itinerary of sorts to help you make the most out of the festival.

6:00 a.m. – ATTEND THE NOVENA MASS AT STO. NINO

Novena Mass at the Basilica (2016 photo contest entry by Daniel Ybanez)

At the heart of the Sinulog Festival is a celebration in honor of the Santo Nino. Head over to the Basilica for the last of the nine-day Novena Masses to kick off the festivities properly.

7:30 a.m. – BREAKFAST AT JOLLIBEE

With a crazy day ahead, breakfast is non-negotiable. Jollibee is already well-loved by locals, but tourists definitely need to try this fast-food favorite. A breakfast steak with sunny side up eggs will fuel you through most of the morning.

9:30 a.m. – WATCH THE STREET PARADE

Street parade (Photography by Lito Lapure/Sinulog.ph)

Find your way to the Grandstands or look for a nice spot along Mango Avenue for the unique spectacle that is the street parade. Don’t forget your cameras for all those photo opportunities with the creative floats and the colorful costumes of the street dancers.

11:30 a.m. – BUY FACE PAINT AT NATIONAL BOOKSTORE

Sinulog partygoers (Photography by Erick John Cuevas/Sinulog.ph)

If you haven’t gotten around to it, we recommend a stopover at the National Bookstore along Mango Avenue to stock up on some non-toxic poster paint for all those parties in the afternoon. Make sure to pick out the most colorful ones!

12:00 n.n. – LUNCH AT THE BROWN CUP

Tucked in one of the smaller streets within the area, this homegrown coffee shop is the perfect place to cool off (or dry off, if it rains) while you refuel your stomachs. The pesto butter pork chop is hearty and filling.

2:00 p.m. – PARTY AT ALEJANDRO’S

Century Plaza is one of the best places to party during Sinulog. We highly recommend getting a VIP pass at Alejandro’s Crispy Pata. With it comes access to the restaurant (read: decent bathrooms and actual chairs), moderately priced drinks, and it helps that it’s home to the best crispy pata in town.

5:00 p.m. – PARTY AT INVASION TOUR

Spectrum’s Invasion Tour is one of the most anticipated events during the festival. Battle through the crowds and get yourselves to the SHS-J Gym for the most hip and happening party this side of the streets. P.S. Zee Lifestyle will be there with a nifty charging station, so make sure you like our Facebook and Instagram for exclusive access.

8:00 p.m. – DINNER AT HIGHLIGHTS

If you’re still up and about (and relatively sober), then good for you! Reward yourself with dinner at the roof deck of Harold’s Hotel, where you can enjoy a nice view of the city over more drinks, in a quieter setting.

9:00 p.m. – FIREWORKS AT AYALA CENTER CEBU

You can linger at Highlights to watch the show, or walk a couple of blocks to Cebu Business Park for Ayala Malls’ exciting fireworks spectacle to conclude one epic day.

10:00 p.m. – PARTY ON!

Honestly, Sinulog lasts up until the next day. If you’re still game to continue partying, it’s worth going back to Alejandro’s or the Invasion Tour. Alternately, you can hang out in pubs, like Politics in Escario Central, or at Sugbo Mercado at either Cebu Business Park, Cebu IT Park, or heck maybe even South Road Properties.

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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