By bringing together a mix of Cebu’s well established creatives as well as up-and-coming businessmen that shook different industries of the Queen City, this paved way for inspired learning and meaningful interactions. From the likes of Steve Benitez, founder and owner of Bo’s Coffee, to creatives like Cattski Espina of 22Tango Records, an afternoon filled with sparked conversations filled the Performing Arts Hall of UP Cebu last June 16, Saturday, for The Spark Project’s Sparkfest Cebu 2018.
Making a mark in various industries in Cebu, several successful handpicked speakers were present to share their insights on their journey towards a successful business venture. Ken Ngo, founder and CEO of Travelbee and Hammerland, urged the audience to “find their tribe” when knowing what type of business to put up. He shares that you should surround yourself with people who have the same goals and traits as you do, so that it may propel you forward.
The most talked about weekend market, Sugbo Mercado, is known to be a home of various food choices and stalls that is an ultimate go-to for foodies. Charm de Leon, Director at Sugbo Mercado, shares that the weekend market provides an avenue for small and medium-sized enterprises to live sell and interact with their customers. It allows start-ups to know their market and incubate the sellers for them to be able to expand through healthy competition within the confines of the Sugbo Mercado.
On enabling local entrepreneurship, DTI Provincial Director Nanette Arbon shares the importance of having to protect your business by protecting your brand. The government agency also provides the public various shared service facilities that enable them to materialize their products for their market.
Known for its “homegrown brew”, Bo’s Coffee is a local coffee shop brand which started in Cebu and is now with over a hundred stores nationwide. Steve Benitez, founder of the coffee shop brand, shares insights to start-ups and young entrepreneurs.
“The limit we have is the limit we put on ourselves,” shares Steve, on his journey as an entrepreneur with that entrepreneurial mindset.
Creatives in different fields– from the richness of the arts and crafts in the city, to its divergent and talented artists thriving in the world of music, film and theater–shares the importance of putting oneself out there to the world and actually making your audience love you. The value of the artists’ brand is emphasized in the different topics on these creatives, from starting movements that create good, on emergence of sustainable social enterprises, as well as using creativity and the power of innovation as a tool for entrepreneurship.
Patch Dulay, the founder of the Spark Project
Cattski Espina of 22Tango Records shares that the company was able to create a thriving community of not only music creators, but also a community of music consumers. With the movement of #GrowCebuMusic, it strives to achieve a sustainable highly creative local music industry in Cebu, which not only provides for various artists but gives pride to Cebuanos.
Jude Gitamondoc, more famously known for his work on VISPOP songwriting campaign and having produced the famous vispop song HAHAHAHasula, also took part in sharing his journey in building a community of musicians and making these musicians touch hearts and be hits.
In the creative scene, the common denominator is that one should make the audience love and adore the talents and pieces, as well as the overall brand being put out to the market. The power is in knowing what’s hip and trendy, as well as what’s going to last, in the contemporary world.
Creative businesses like these are also movements for social change. Anthill Fabric Gallery, represented by its Creative Operations Officer, Cham Lopez, is driven by this idea. It makes its mark in the local scene of clothing and garments as a social and cultural enterprise in the with the goal to preserve local weaves through contemporary and zero waste design to sustain livelihood.
Ceeli Martinez-Miranda, Co-Founder of Create Cebu
“The whole purpose of Sparkfest really is to create that “spark”, to get people excited about entrepreneurship, creativity and creating social good”, says Ceeli Martinez-Miranda, Co-Founder of Create Cebu, a team with a vision of “urban revitalisation and reclamation” with the help of collaboration through art. Being able to be present with different speakers who have made things happen in their respective fields would then be able to ignite and inspire business-minded and creative-minded people under one roof to allow them to collaborate and start their own businesses and movements.
Aside from the bustling field of business, Sparkfest brings to the spotlight the importance of creativity and the value it brings to each product and service. The marriage of a product/service and the marketing dilemmas that go with it show that there is an incorporation of creativity in businesses, and a way to make a business out of the creative ideas you put out to the world.
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“For now, we’re starting off with 15 vendors. We’ll be putting out all their items on the Honestbee app so that people won’t have to come to Sugbo Mercado,” says Michael Karlo Lim, marketing director of Sugbo Mercado.
Chimney Alchemy’s chimney cone topped with a scoop of ice cream
The partnership between the two will help Sugbo Mercado access the markets that are not within its immediate vicinity, so if you are from areas that are a little bit far like Mandaue or down South, you will be able to order on Honestbee.
Honestbee will be extending their hours of operation until 1:00 AM, which coincides with Sugbo Mercado’s 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM operations.
Special Phad Thai from Banana Pancake Trail
“We’ll have our dedicated Honestbee concierge, or the shopper bee, and she has priority access to all our vendors,” Karlo says. “When the orders come in, she’ll get it first, and our driver bee picks it up and takes it to your doorstep.”
Some of the Sugbo Mercado vendors that will be available through the Honestbee app include Hebrews Shebrews, Kuzina Guadalupe, Jamal’s Lechon, Took Lae Dee, Sugba-Sugba, Cribs, Lemon Boss, Banana Pancake Trail, Chimney Alchemy, and Papa Churros.
Hebrews Shebrews offers a variety of milk tea flavours to choose from
Karlo shares that they’re coming up with a new project.
“We’re also opening a container van food park, it’s The Market by Sugbo Mercado,” he divulges. “It’s under construction right now. We’re targeting opening by end of April or early May. That’s going to be a six-day food market and we will have 25 vendors, each one unique, some of them from here and some of them new.”
Garden Bloc, Cebu IT Park
Open from 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM on Thurdays to Sundays.
After a decade of success, event organizer Alliance Franciase de Cebu (AFC) is back with the continuous effort to spread music in the spirit of France’s ideals of liberty, equality and brotherhood. Along with co-presenters Marco Polo Plaza Hotel and Sugbo Mercado, they continue to reassure audiences of an extensive showcase of talents. With more dates and stages, more Cebuanos can come to their favorite spots and catch their favorite local bands play genres ranging from jazz and funk to rock and pop.
This year, participants of Fête de la Musique 2017 will display their talents on 3 separate stages with a 2-day prequel event. The World Music Day celebration will kick off at Sugbo Mercado (Garden Bloc, IT Park) on June 16 and 17 at 7 p.m., and will feature acts such as Forgetful Bob, Jerika Teodorico, Paola San Diego and Uly Tenchavez, Foc Fashion, and Loop.
The city will come alive with the Fête de la Musique 2017 main events on Friday, June 23 at 7 p.m. with simultaneous stages at La Vie Parisienne and Sugbo Mercado (Garden Bloc, IT Park). Local favorites Indangan will open the show at La Vie Parisienne (Gorordo) and will be joined by August Afternoon, Silingan in Felicity and Bethany, among others. Alternatively, Sugbo Mercado audiences can enjoy their food with a side of music from Juanita Romualdez, Aaron Domingo, Ivy Gallur & Mike Fegi, and many more.
Fête de la Musique began in France on June 21, 1982. It has since spread across the globe with each event holding to the same simple set of principlees: each year on or around June 21st, musicians, both amateur and professional, are invited to perform on stages or streets. All musical styles are welcome, all musicians perform for free, and there are no entrance fees for audiences.
The event has, right from the beginning, struck a proper balance between supporting local established artists, and fiscovering new ones. For ten years, Fête de la Musique Cebu has attracted thousands of concert-goers, and hundreds of bands, ensembles and soloists, which performed on several stages and venues around the city.
Fête de la Musique 2017 is proudly presented by Alliance francaise de Cebu, Sugbo Mercado and Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, in cooperation with A Space, and is sponsored by MLhuillier, La Vie Parisienne, Zee Lifestyle, MLhuillier Wine & Food, Cebu Beer Factory, La Maison Rose, World Pizza, Fitness Nation, ZeroThreeTwo, BaiTV, Cebu Daily News, The Freeman, Sunstar Cebu.
For further information, contact Alliance Francaise de Cebu at (032) 232 1311.
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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.
Sugbo Mercado
DATES:
Thursday-Saturday, January 12-14, 2017 (Cebu I.T. Park)
Friday-Sunday, January 13-15, 2017 (Cebu Business Park)
Saturday-Sunday, January 14-15, 2017 (South Road Properties)
Well, for starters, you’re going to need to fuel up before you go party. Experience the best of the local culinary scene at Sugbo Mercado, Cebu’s favorite weekend food market. Located in very strategic locations, there’s no reason you can’t pass by for a hearty fill of delectable dishes from late afternoon to late evening.
LifeDance
DATE: Friday, January 13, 2017
LifeDance gets bigger and better each year. This year, the event gives partygoers the chance to experience music in all its forms, with three stages: EDEN, the underground music stage which will feature house music; SOLARIS, the indie bands stage; and UTOPIA, the main stage which fill feature international sensations and the country’s top acts.
Experience music by DJs Jan Areno, Maxie Perez, Hans, Deuce and Ace Ramos; as well as performances by Up Dharma Down, Missing Filemon, Wonggoys, Womb, Bethany, and Drop Decay.
City Di Mare, SRP | Facebook
Plus 63 Music and Arts Festival
DATES: Saturday and Sunday, January 14-15, 2017
Last year, there was Steve Angello, 1/3 of of the Swedish House Mafia. This year, Plus 63 Music and Arts Festival brings in DJ Mag‘s number seven DJ in the world and head honcho of DIM MAK records, Steve Aoki. In a two-day event, get thrown a birthday cake by Steve Aoki and party with the bright names in the music industry and the country’s top artists, DJ Carlo Atendido DJ Daiki, DJ Ashura, Martina San Diego, DJ Short, El’O and The Zoids.
Cebu Business Park | Facebook
Sinulog Invasion
DATE: Sunday, January 17, 2017
As Spectrum Philippines celebrates its seventh anniversary of the Invasion Tour, they return to Cebu to bring the ultimate music festival right at the heart of Sinulog. On January 15, experience the Sinulog Invasion and go wild as music and people celebrate the grandest festival of the year.
Sacred Heart School-Jesuit Gym, Mango Avenue | Facebook
Hyper Wonderland
DATE: Sunday, January 15, 2017
Kicking it back to the retro 80’s, Hyper Wonderland delves into the wonders of the era: colorful, vibrant and groovy music. With all the parties going on around the city, Hyper Cebu gives Cebuano and tourist ravers to experience the ultimate dance party decade.
Axis Entertainment Avenue at Vibo Place, Escario | Facebook
Sinulog 2017 is coming up soon, and Zee Lifestyle is feeling extremely generous! Grab a copy of our December-January 2017 issue ahead of time—you’ll need it if you want the chance to win tickets to LifeDance, Hyper Wonderland 2017 and Sinulog Invasion 2017. Mechanics to be posted on our Facebook and Instagram accounts soon.
MORE ON #ZEENULOG
- Here’s everything you need to know about Sinulog 2017 (via zeelifestylecebu.com)
- The ultimate Sinulog survival guide (via zeelifestylecebu.com)