Featured

We Can’t Wait to Fly Off From Mactan-Cebu International Airport’s Terminal 2

For Cebuanos and travelers, Terminal 2 is something they’ve been waiting for with bated breath—and it’s a breath that they’ll be releasing soon, as T2 is set to open on July 1. It’s time to plan your next exodus overseas!

As someone who travels pretty frequently, it’s no surprise that I find myself going in and out of airports around the country and across the globe.

Each airport has its own charm; often, I’d find that many of those in the country are quite small, simple and straight-to-the-point, serving as gateways to and from other islands. To their credit, they’re well-maintained and well-managed.

In other countries, like Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airport, for example, their airport is of decent size, divided into areas of the lower-end airlines and higher-end ones. Of course, I can’t forget Singapore’s Changi Airport, which was named by Forbes as the world’s best airport for the sixth year in a row this 2018. Then there’s South Korea’s Incheon Airport, the eight busiest airport in the world, which personally, was my best airport experience. Other notable airports include Hong Kong’s International Airport and Japan’s Haneda Airport.

These airports have left positive, lasting impressions on me not just for their world-class facilities and services, but their designs, as well. It’s interesting to note that many other Cebuanos echo the same sentiment.

Mactan Cebu International Airport Terminal 2 at night

That being said, my excitement was palpable when I caught wind of talks about plans of expanding the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) into a world-class airport, three odd years ago. Who wouldn’t be excited about a world-class airport, right on this tiny island of Cebu?

Cebu is a jump-off point to many other destinations not just in the Visayas region and in the country, but to international destinations as well—with the likes of Hong Kong and Singapore. It was only natural that congestion (the airport was operating over half its capacity, at 10 million last year in 2017) and the need for better facilities became a concern over the years, which in turn, cemented the decision to establish Terminal 2 through a public-private partnership between the Philippine government and the GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC).

The MCIA Terminal 2, or T2 as we fondly call it, is set to become the friendliest gateway to the country—not just to Cebu, but to the Philippines. The addition of T2 is expected to accommodate 12.5 million passengers per annum, a huge jump from the 4.5 million capacity that the airport initially had.

Inaugurated last June 7, President Rodrigo Duterte and other key political figures were also in attendance for a first look at T2.

“It’s a beautiful airport. Cebuanos are very lucky,” Duterte says at the press conference after the inauguration ceremony.

Lucky, indeed, considering how much of the terminal is largely Cebu-influenced—from its design down to the materials used for construction; even the floors have mother of pearl shards embedded into them, which glisten like the sand of the island’s beaches when the light hits them. Fun fact: it takes about twelve polishings to achieve that particular shine.

At first look, the most recognizable element of the terminal is its arched roof, made out of Glulam timber and reminiscent of the waves of Cebu’s popular beaches. Complementing the wood is the tempered glass facade and high ceiling, which will keep the passengers entertained with the view as they wait for their flights. Mahogany wood, a true Cebuano trademark, can also be found in the terminal’s interiors, perfectly mimicking the beauty of Cebu. Rattan, which is embedded in the history of Cebu’s furniture industry, are weaved onto the check-in counters, showcasing an excellent mix of Cebuano history and beautiful craftsmanship.

Terminal 2’s check-in counters

A little greenery plays a big role in livening up a space, and Terminal 2 goes the extra mile by placing live moss on the walls of their comfort rooms, which help stabilize humidity as well as improve the quality of air. Take it from us—this is definitely going to be the most-instagrammed spot of T2!

As a Cebuana and a traveler, Terminal 2 is something I’ve been waiting for with bated breath—and it’s a breath that I’ll be releasing soon, as T2 is set to open on July 1. It’s time to plan your next exodus overseas!

Related Topics:Mactan-Cebu International Airport MCIA Terminal 2

Up Next

From Shell Off-Cuts to Exquisite Shell Jewelry: Susanne Verallo

Don't Miss

Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa Celebrates Global Wellness Day with Healthy Meal Choices and Activities

621 Comments

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Events

An Ocean of Flavors: The Bada Opens Their Second Branch

A trail of white smoke, along with the scent of roasted pork and the sizzle of the flaming grill will welcome you once you enter the tinted doors of the second branch of The Bada Korean Restaurant.

A trail of white smoke, along with the scent of roasted pork and the sizzle of the flaming grill will welcome you once you enter the tinted doors of the second branch of The Bada Korean Restaurant. Located at A.S Fortuna, Mandaue City, The Bada is sure to leave you with a satisfied appetite and a full stomach.

The name “bada,” which is Korean for ocean, was used since it started out by selling more seafood items than meat. Later on, the restaurant pursued on selling more meaty items on its menu. Although, no different than their first branch, The Bada gives its customers the opportunity to experience Korean food culture at a fair price of P299.00 only per person. With that, you already get an unlimited amount of the coveted samgyeopsal. But what makes the second branch much better than the first one? The A.S Fortuna branch is more spacious, well-ventilated, and vibrant; perfect for when you want to take some selfies or Instagram-worthy photos.

More than that, The Bada offers a round up of your favorite Korean dishes such as gimbap (seaweed rice roll), samgyeopsal (grilled pork), bulgogi (which literally means “fire meat”), bibimbap (mixed rice), and the like. Pair all of that with some soju and you’re good to go!

What makes them different from other Korean restaurants in the metro, owners and brothers Paul, Mason, and Min Ho Kim say that it’s their marinated bulgogi. While other Korean restaurants offer it just as it is, theirs is made with a special Korean marinade sauce; a recipe created by their own mother.

And while the Korean cuisine, in general, may be a bit foreign to our Filipino palate, The Bada’s bulgogi gives a slight familiarity to the taste.

“We’ve got [Korean] food that Filipinos also like,” says Paul.

What to do when you get there

Since the The Bada is an all-you-can-eat restaurant, we recommend you to bring your coworkers, friends, or family since they serve a generous amount of food (remember, they’re unlimited).

Getting there may take you on a few rides should you choose to use public transportation, but all that will be forgiven once you enter the brightly lit and steamy room. You’ll find yourself hungry for a decent amount of meat after taking in the sweet and savory scent of sizzling samgyeopsal. Take your time in choosing from an unlimited choice of Korean food, there’s no need to wait since the friendly staff will serve them almost right away with a smile.

Once the food arrives at your table, you’ll find yourself with an array of side dishes, lettuce wrap, and, of course, the meat. Start off by grilling the meat on the stove to your desired doneness. Once cooked, put one or two pieces on a lettuce wrap, add some side dishes, and wrap them all up. In one big satisfying bite, expect a burst of different flavors will definitely hug your taste buds.

Make sure to also try their bibimbap, gimbap and their authentic seaweed soup, you’ll surely feel satisfied after doing so. And what is Korean food without the famous kimchi, right? The Bada’s kimchi is unforgettable with just the right and balanced blend of fermented vinegar and spice, the perfect pair for your orders.

With its promising and delectable menu, The Bada will surely feed the Seoul-ful foodie that’s inside you.

The Bada opens from 11 A.M. to 12 M.N.
Visit them at A.S Fortuna, Mandaue City, right beside Benedicto College.

Featured

Bringing businesses together: Lalamove paves way for SMEs across the globe to “Make a Winning Move”

The local episode #LalamoveItToWinIt to support MSMEs across PH

To inspire businesses around Asia and Latin America, Lalamove has launched a regional branding campaign “Make a Winning Move” to showcase its various B2B services, strong driver-partner network, and wide-ranging fleet for fast and reliable delivery solutions. Locally, the on-demand delivery platform has kicked off the campaign by inviting its patrons, old and new, to #LalamoveItToWinIt.

Now more than ever, businesses are focusing their efforts on an experience-led customer journey. With deliveries as undeniably crucial for businesses to fulfill their services and win over customers, the central creative idea behind the regional campaign revolves around such scenarios where Lalamove’s services and B2B features help entrepreneurs stay ahead of the intense competition.

Lalamove, as the trusted delivery partner, has been servicing businesses of all sizes in the Philippines. Lalamove’s corporate clients can enjoy the on-demand delivery platform’s variety of business solutions, such as multi-stop delivery, API integration, real-time GPS tracking, a wide variety of fleet for on-demand, same-day, long distance, and last-mile delivery, and a dedicated account manager.

“The Philippines has more than 900,000 businesses, over 99% of which are MSMEs. What Lalamove offers businesses of all sizes is faster, easier, and a more seamless delivery experience to help them save time and costs. Our dedicated partner drivers, the economic frontliners of today, are here to deliver to an even wider reach across Luzon and in Cebu. This campaign is the visualization of what we can do to help businesses jump over hurdles – simply put, just ‘Lalamove It to Win It!’” remarked Dannah Majarocon, Lalamove Philippines Managing Director.

First-time users of the Lalamove mobile delivery app can get up to Php 150 off when they sign up and use the code LALAWINIT. New corporate clients, on the other hand, can also receive a welcome bonus of up to Php 1,200 when they sign up and top-up their Lalamove corporate wallet. Moreover, with Lalamove Rewards recently launched, each delivery for every user is now made even more rewarding.

Find out more about what Lalamove offers by visiting www.lalamove.com/lalamoveittowinit, or follow the official Lalamove Facebook page, Instagram account, and TikTok account for more information.

***

ABOUT LALAMOVE

Launched in the Philippines in late 2016, Lalamove is an on-demand logistics company that matches drivers with customers and SME businesses to fulfill same-day deliveries. Lalamove’s mission of making local deliveries faster and simpler across North, Central, and South Luzon, and in Cebu is achieved through innovations such as instant order matching, real-time GPS vehicle tracking, 24/7 services, and a driver rating system. Lalamove also allows businesses to scale their deliveries and operations at an accelerated rate. Lalamove now operates in over 30 markets across Asia and Latin America. Visit Lalamove’s website: http://lalamove.com

Featured

King-size Treats Await Dad this Father’s Day at Seda Central Bloc

Misto Restaurant at Seda Central Bloc

King-size Treats for the King!

by Ryan Daniel R. Dablo

Seda Central Bloc celebrates the hardworking hero and steadfast lynchpin of the home with its offerings for Father’s Day weekend.

At the Misto, Seda’s restaurant, Dad gets to sample the delicious international cuisine for free when dining with five full-paying adults. If an evening dine-out is more the family’s speed, the Straight Up bar offers a dinner buffet with a continental menu and mocktails, all enjoyed amid a backdrop of excellent cityscape views from the rooftop. Staycation at the hotel comes packed with perks for the weekend as well, such as complimentary lunch at the Misto, drinks at the Straight Up bar, and breakfast for two.