Arts & Culture

Three Restaurants in Cebu Everyone Should Really Try

Have you tried these yet?

When it comes to food, we only one thing – we have to try it! This time, we bring you three restaurants in Cebu that we, heartily, believe everyone should try. No exceptions.

Flavored Puso

“Flavored Puso started with a simple idea,” says Rae Cabradilla, one of the Entrepreneurship students at the University of San Carlos who came up with this new version of the Cebuano staple. “We wanted people to try different flavors and dishes, and enjoy the convenience of having a meal in one.”

With pork sinigang and chicken adobo flavors infused into the banana leaf-wrapped rice, they’ve redefined the meal on the go. Rae continues, “In our puso, you will find an array of seasonings and meat that capture the essence of Filipino cuisine, while preserving that home-cooked vibe, proving that the most ordinary thing can be extraordinary.”

Schotel Extension

University of San Carlos-Main Campus

+63 933 679 8933

Facebook: Flavored Puso

Tongara Ramen

Open for just a few months, Tongara Ramen Tonkotsu + Torigara has easily become a favorite amongst the city’s ramen-philes. Together with Barney and Aubrey Borja, of the family behind restaurant chain Dong Juan, Japanese chef Makoto Okazaki brings his unique soup that combines pork and chicken broth flavors—tongara is actually a portmanteau of tonkotsu, which refers to the pork bones soup, and torigara, the chicken.

Other than the restaurant’s namesake bowl, the Tongara Tantanmen is a must-try—the noodle soup has chili paste and sesame oil for a savory spicy taste. This writer particularly enjoyed the Tsukamen Ramen, a unique dish where cold noodles are dipped into a hot, thick soup.

Escario Central, Cebu City

+63 32 254 6374

Facebook: Tongara Ramen

Sweet Little Things

What started as a small shop in a quiet nook in Escario has now established a strong presence in the city’s top malls and supermarkets, drawing a legion of both old and new fans of their cupcakes. Today, Sweet Little Things changes the game with the addition of entrées on their menu. PJ and Sandra Lee explain that the dishes offered by the SLT Café are mostly comfort food such as pastas, sandwiches, and casseroles. Light yet filling, their meals are hearty enough while leaving enough room for dessert. After all, who can resist a piece of their Chocoroons, or a Lemon Poppyseed cupcake?

J Block, Apitong St., Cebu City

sweetlittlethings.net

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.