Carlo Borromeo & Sheryl Osmeña-Borromeo
“Last year we watched Deadpool and ate at Chicken Deli in Robinsons Galleria. We’ll probably do the same this year: Movie and cheap dinner. Will check what’s showing this week.”
Jesse Jake Daan & Sophia Sanchez
Virgin Island, Bantayan
“We would probably go to Bantayan. It’s close to the city but far enough from the hustle and bustle. We just love to bike around the island, chill by the beach, and simply enjoy each other’s company. We guess that’s what Valentine’s is all about.”
Mark Deutsch & Johanna Velasco-Deutsch
“For Valentine’s we like going on road trips to the beach with our daughter or staying home, cooking lots and lots of bacon and watching old movies (like The Princess Bride)”
Jeremy Huang & Dianne Gandionco-Huang
“In the nine years we have known each other, I’d say we’ve sort of graduated from the passé Valentine’s date night outs. This year may be different as we are planning to spend that weekend by going out of town at our family’s beach house with our pet Finn, away from the hustle bustles of the city. And since my husband has started to love cooking steaks off the grill, he wants to venture into experimenting with another cooking feat for that weekend. Here’s looking forward to that celebration!”
Carlow Montecillo & Veronica Chiongbian
“We don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day, but we always make sure to take spontaneous trips throughout the year. Preferably in the waters since we’re quite fond of freediving. However, for this year’s Valentine’s Day we might spend it at a nearby island.”
Michael Karlo Lim & Vanessa East
The Henry Hotel
“We’d usually staycation and head out only to try Valentine set menus at different restaurants throughout the weekend. Plantation Bay‘s Romantic Rendezvous proved interesting. The Henry is our perennial favorite and offers a honeymoon/romantic weekend package. Anzani Mediterranean Restaurant is a good bet for a full-course dinner any given day. The Pig & Palm would be, too. We enjoyed their recent tasting dinners tremendously. I’d also suggest the upcoming pop-up Blind Date: Dinner in the Dark at District On 53rd. You don’t have to limit yourself to one. Trying a variety of places makes Valentine’s even more fun and meaningful.”
Insoy Niñal & Rei Sarmiento-Niñal
“We’re going to Argao Wharf on a pilgrimage of sort. There’s a spot there where we sealed our relationship. We realized we had already done all the crazy things imaginable together, and there was only one crazy thing left to do: get married.”
Edu Rama & Jaja Chiongbian-Rama
Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa
“Our love for Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa goes back to the time we first got together as a couple in high school over 20 years ago and so it has always held a special place in our hearts. From having the best beachfront in Mactan, its amenities and facilities, selection of delectable eats and excellent service that ensures we always feel at home, Shangri-La continues to be our happy place in Cebu. If we had the time, we would love to take a quick break there with our kids. Valentine’s has evolved for us through the years from romantic dates to group dates. We are celebrating Valentine’s at Café Sarree with colleagues and their other halves with a special menu created by Chef Sarree.”
Jan & Karen Rodriguez
“We used to eat out in the previous years, but the last 3 years, I cook for her at home. And the last three years, we would be working on the day itself. She would be at Ilaputi, and I would be at Irie—except for 2016 where we both just stayed home.”
Ichael Serneo & Hanz Coquilla
Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton of The Pig & Palm
“We’d love to spend Valentine’s in the beach down south. A quick getaway would be awesome, but Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year and we have work and appointments. A fancy dinner at The Pig & Palm would be lovely!”
Michael Sharpe & Kym Maitland-Smith
“Last year, we spent Valentine’s Day in Siargao and it was wonderful! This year, we’re planning to have a quiet and romantic dinner in the mountains, where we can look down at the city lights and see the stars. Mike loves to sing, so I hope to be serenaded!”
Lor Torres & April Rama
“We don’t over-plan for Valentine’s Day. We just make it a point to do something or go somewhere for the first time together as couple. This year, we’re planning to go to Vine Molave, a beautiful bed and breakfast at Pagadian, Zamboanga Del Sur. Other than being attracted to sleep and food (get it? Bed and breakfast?), we’re planning to go to Puting Balas sand bar and the Dao-Dao Islets there.”
Slater Young & Kryz Uy
Abaca Boutique Resort
“We both lead very busy lives so when we do get to spend QT together, we prefer more relaxed environments. This Valentine’s Day, we might head to a more private beach like Abaca. But honestly, it doesn’t really matter where we go as long as we’re together.”
Kirby Yu & Jennifer Sarmiento
“Since Jen loves peace and quet places, I’ll probably take her to Maru Restaurant inside J Park since they serve the best Korean food and sulbing. At the same time, only few people go there.”
What do you have planned? Share your ideas on Facebook and Instagram and tag us!
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The Honest Henry at the lobby of The Henry Hotel Cebu
Inspired by the Honesty Coffee Shop in Batanes, The Honest Henry is a retail outlet that banks on the basic concept of honest purchasing. You just take what you need and then pay “honestly”. This plays in line with the hotel brand’s support for Philippine-made products.
The first ever The Honest Henry opened at The Henry Hotel Manila earlier this year, partnering with Gifts & Graces. For its branch in Cebu, the Alternative Nest and Trading/Training Hub for Indigenous/Ingenious Little Livelihood seekers (ANTHILL) serves as its partner. ANTHILL aims to preserve and promote Philippine weaving traditions by applying contemporary design to attract younger generation of weavers and weave wearers and provide sustainable livelihood to partner communities. It sells fabrics, apparel, accessories and dolls.
Dolls by ANTHILL
“We could have opted to put a convenient store in our lobby but that’s not who we are,” says The Henry Hotel Cebu’s general manager Joan Osabel. “As a lifestyle and creative boutique hotel, we work on continually introducing new and exciting things to our guests. We always want to keep it quirky so they do not only take souvenirs when they leave but also memorable experiences to share.”
The Henry Hotel has long partnered with social enterprises like ANTHILL ensuring inclusive business practices in their supply chain. ANTHILL has supplied beam cover installations and one of a kind bed runners for all of the rooms of The Henry Hotel. ANTHILL and The Henry Hotel share common values of celebrating authenticity and creativity. The Honest Henry was the perfect venue to mesh both brands.
Minaudières with ANTHILL’s signature hand loomed fabric
“ANTHILL loves innovations and so as risky as it may sound to leave our valuable weaves and inventory unattended, we were more excited to the surprises The Honest Henry Store will give us. We are very grateful to The Henry Hotel for weaving quirky and exciting dreams with us.” shares co-founder/managing and creative director Anya Lim.
THE HENRY HOTEL
Maria Luisa Road, Banilad
website | Facebook | Instagram
Style and comfort ‘like no other’ are two distinct qualities that both Yosi Samra and The Henry Hotel have pioneered, with both brands raising the bar in their respective industries.
Yosi Samra’s newest collection of bold, urban designs, juxtaposed with some of its timeless styles are showcased against the backdrop of colorful murals, quirky decor and industrial architecture of The Henry Hotel Cebu. This is the ultimate marriage of fashion and design.
Established in New York City in 2009, Yosi Samra has become the go-to brand for comfortable and chic ballet flats, for every spectrum of the modern woman. These luxurious and innovative flats can be folded into a compact 4.5″ x 3″ pouch – effortlessly taking the modern Filipina from day-to-night. Yosi Samra is distributed exclusively in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore by Green Tee, Inc.
Groundbreaking Filipino boutique hotel brand The Henry offers an experience “like no other” with its distinct properties and personalized service.
YOSI SAMRA
2/F SM City Cebu Northwing
2/F Ayala Center Cebu New Wing
Facebook | @yosisamra
THE HENRY HOTEL
Paseo Saturnino, Ma. Luisa Road, Banilad
6332. 520 8877
Facebook | @thehenryhotel
It’s that time of the year again when the vaginas are coming… to Cebu, that is. Production company 2tincans Philippines, Inc. has been granted the rights for a V-Day Cebu presentation of The Vagina Monologues to raise money and awareness for local organizations that work to stop violence against women and girls.
The award-winning play is based on V-Day founder and playwright Eve Ensler’s interviews with more than 200 women. With humor and grace, the piece celebrates women’s sexuality and strength.
Through this play and the liberation of the word ‘vagina’, countless women throughout the world have taken control of their bodies and their lives. For more than sixteen years, The Vagina Monologues has given voice to experiences and feelings not previously exposed in public.
With a script that has, for the most part, remained unchanged, the challenge is how to put on a different show every time. This year’s producing artistic director, Sarah Mae Enclona-Henderson has assembled a diverse cast of 20 women to bring the Monologues to life—Joan Saniel-Amit, Maxi Bolongaita, Laurie Boquiren, Cattski, Pami Estalilla, Bea Evardone, Chai Fonacier, Margo Frasco, Deborah Hayes, Candice Hintz, Gem Icamen, Gingging Navarro-Laude, Aleah Lim, Regal Oliva, Andrea Pateña, Stephanie Sitoy, Patty Taboada, Brazzy Valdez, Charlene Virlouvet and Jo-Ann Zaldumbide.
“With The Vagina Monologues being known more than ever as a successful, award-winning play, it is important to see that vagina monologues happen everyday,” says Enclona-Henderson, who first brought The Vagina Monologues to Cebu back in 2001. “The stories are real and both women and men need to hear them.”
This year’s production will be for the benefit of Bidlisiw Foundation, Inc., a local non-government organization focused on helping the urban poor families and supporting women’s causes.
The V-Day Cebu 2015 production of The Vagina Monologues is supported by The Henry Hotel, 22 Tango Records, Candice Hintz Photography, Castilex Industrial Corp., Hair by Gino Fonghe, Isidra Comfort Cantina, Jamaica Markets Corp. Koncepto Events, Makeup by Arnauld, MyAdvocacy, Saraban and Your House Doctors. Media partners include Y101 Always First and Zee Lifestyle.
THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES
Directed by Sarah Mae Enclona-Henderson
8:00 p.m. on May 23 and 30, 2015
Space 150, The Henry Hotel
For tickets and other queries, call 6332. 512 3134 or 260 7080.
Like V-Day Cebu on Facebook.
Meet the cast of this year’s The Vagina Monologues
sittings editor Patty Taboada photography Candice Hintz graphics Ehds Javier makeup Arnauld hair Gino Fonghe locale The Henry Hotel
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