Boracay named top winter escape destination

MANILA, Philippines — Boracay continues to gain global recognition as it was named the top winter escape destination in the world by an international travel magazine.

Conde Nast Traveler recently ranked the 30 “Most Beautiful Winter Escapes in the World,” which included Boracay.

“Voted the world’s top island in our 2017 Reader’s Choice Awards, this itty-bitty speck (just under four square miles) in the western Philippines is as close to a tropical idyll as you’ll find in Southeast Asia, with gentle coastlines and Instagram-worthy sunsets,” Conde Nast Traveler said.

The international travel magazine also lauded Boracay for its thriving night scene, making it another attraction for tourists.

Among the other world destinations joining Boracay in the top 30 list are Baja California Sur in Mexico, Cape Town in South Africa and Hawaii.

Last October, Boracay, along with Cebu and Palawan, were voted as the top three best islands in the world outside of the United States by readers of Conde Nast Traveler.

Boracay’s powdery white sand and shallow azure water ideal for swimming and snorkeling were identified as among the main draws of the island.

Meanwhile, Cebu and the Visayan islands were recognized for the more personal vibe they gives off and the many up-and-coming restaurants and shopping options.

In contrast, the magazine highlighted that Palawan is home to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

“Palawan’s natural wonder is one of the longest underground rivers in the world, traveling five miles through a subterranean cave system. Guided boat tours take visitors down a portion of the waterway, where karsts, natural rock formations created by dissolving limestone loom in every direction,” the magazine said.

Last July, Boracay and Palawan were voted by readers of the international Travel+Leisure magazine as the third and first best island in the world, respectively.

Palawan received a score of 93.15, while Boracay scored 89.67.

source: beta.philstar.com

WATCH | Pretty Fil-Am wows ‘The Voice’ judges with audition

Her father used to be in a Grateful Dead cover band while her mother comes from a political family in Cebu.

So it was just a matter of time before 26-year old Amy Vachal would embrace the spotlight herself. Last Monday, October 5 (Tuesday, Manila time), she did just that at the popular reality talent show “The Voice” when she passed the blind auditions and moved on to the Battle Rounds phase of the competition.

Vachal is a granddaughter of Cebu political kingpin Pablo Garcia and niece of ex-governor and Cebu 3rd District representative Gwendolyn Garcia. The pretty Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter breezed through the Blind Auditions of “The Voice” with a breathtaking rendition of the 1930s classic standard “Dream A Little Dream of Me.”

Her reading of the song, accompanied only by her acoustic guitar, was obviously influenced by the 1968 version of The Mamas & The Papas featuring the late Mama Cass Elliott on vocals.

“There was an effortless beauty to Amy’s audition — in the way she made little tweaks to the classic melody, through her starry-eyed connection to the lyrics, by virtue of her decision to avoid the reality-competition trap of making everything (or anything) about pure bombast,” wrote Michaeal Slezak of TVLine.com in his review of the show.

All four judges were just as mesmerized as three of them turned around for her while a fourth judge expressed regret for not pressing his buzzer.

Adam Levine sounded apologetic for not turning around but pointed out that his team was already full.

“Not only am I sad that I didn’t get to turn for you, but you could win this whole thing,” the Maroon 5 frontman boldly declared.

Gwen Stefani was next to comment and said, “First of all, I don’t have a beautiful Pocahontas, fairy princess, angel-like singer on my team. You’re creative with the way that you’ve performed and you seemed like a real honest artist…“I can really help you on this journey, because I did this already. I feel like we could have such a connection.”

Pharell then asked Amy what she wanted to do and what genre she wished to specialize in. When she replied that she wanted to “blur lines,” citing crooners like Ella (Fitzgerald), Billie (Holliday), Frank (Sinatra) and Sam Cooke, he pitched, “I would be unbelievably appreciative to have the opportunity to aid you in that journey…Let me be the guy that can help you explore that side.”

And finally, there was Blake Shelton who seemed to be the judge who wanted Amy the most and was already exclaiming, “Please, Lord! Please pick me!” even while she was singing.

Comparing Amy to Norah Jones and Colbie Caillat, the country superstar said, “I’m already sad right now, just thinking that I don’t probably seem like the right guy for you. But let me say this, I know that I’m looking at a superstar…I’m so impressed, please pick me”.

In the end, Amy picked Pharell but Shelton was happy she made it on the show and looked forward to the prospect of stealing her in a future episode.

Here in the Philippines, “The Voice” airs every Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:50PM.

Watch Amy Vachal’s sensational blind audition performance in “The Voice” here:

source: interaksyon.com

Fil-Am ‘Glee’ star Darren Criss asks fans to donate to Yolanda victims

“Glee” star Darren Criss took to Twitter (@DarrenCriss) Friday to urge fans to donate to the victims of supertyphoon Yolanda, which wrought destruction in Eastern Visayas a week ago.

He asked that they give at least $25 to the United Nations World Food Programme, which will help fund emergency meals for the survivors of the disaster.

Donors can then take a photo of their transaction, e-mail it to dcnotalone@gmail.com, and in return, Criss will send them an autographed postcard that says “You’re not alone”. All the donors’ names will also be printed on the same.

In a post on his website, he said his mother and most of his family hail from the Philippines, specifically Cebu. “…As a result I have always been proud of my Filipino heritage, as well as lucky enough to feel the tremendous support of the Filipino community throughout my life as an artist,” he wrote.

Criss, who plays the openly gay student Blaine Anderson on the musical show, thanked those who made their concern about his family back in the Philippines known, and conveyed at the same time his solidarity with the victims of the calamity.

He added that he hoped people would pass on his plea for donations, saying, “People are in need now.” He encouraged them to send their donations by Monday, November 18.

As of early afternoon Friday, Manila time, more than 150 have donated — less than an hour after his post.

Criss is quite close to Lea Salonga. In 2011, the two performed Aladdin’s “A Whole New World” on stage at the Billboard/Hollywood Reporter Film and TV Music Conference in Los Angeles. This week they were at a New York piano bar together, where they also performed a few songs.

source: interaksyon.com

CNN's Cooper takes on Korina as netizens weigh in

MANILA, Philippines -- After ABS-CBN anchor Korina Sanchez twitted him for supposedly not knowing what he was talking about when he reported on the inadequate government response five days after super typhoon “Yolanda” struck Tacloban, CNN’s Anderson Cooper took to his show, "AC 360°" Friday morning in Manila to respond.

Social media wasted no time weighing in, with Sanchez apparently faring worse as netizens noted that she was in an air-conditioned booth as she criticized Anderson, who was on the ground in Tacloban.

On Friday, Cooper tackled the issue head-on, saying: "Miss Sanchez is welcome to go there," and suggesting that, since her husband, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II is in charge of government efforts in Tacloban, he might arrange a flight for her.





Sanchez actually went to Ormoc, on the opposite side of Leyte from Tacloban, on Thursday.

Cooper also clarified that he had never said there was no government presence or leadership on the ground.

At the same time, Cooper said that his reports were also a tribute to the strength of the Filipinos caught by Yolanda’s path.

"Filipino people, the people of Tacloban, and Samar, and Cebu, and all these places where so many have died, they are strong not just to have survived this storm, but they are strong to have survived the aftermath of this storm," he said. "They have survived for a week now, often with very little food, with very little water, with very little medical attention. Can you imagine the strength it takes to be living in a shack, to be living, sleeping on the streets next to the body of your dead children?"

Like they did earlier, netizens quickly jumped into the fray, with many praising and thanking Cooper for his coverage and others defending Sanchez who, they said, only intended to stress that government has been acting to respond to the disaster.

But even more called for an end to the bickering and for everyone to focus on helping the victims instead.

storify.com/interaksyon/netizens-still-riled-up-over-korina-sanchez-but-so?utm_source=embed_header

source: interaksyon.com

Engineers working to fully restore Sun Cellular mobile services in Bohol, Cebu

Operations of Sun Cellular in Bohol and Cebu—which were hard-hit by a major earthquake this morning—have been affected, the company said in a statement.

However, engineers are “working to normalize services shortly,” said Smart Communications Inc., which acquired Sun Cellular, in a statement.

Smart also said that its mobile phone service in Bohol and Cebu remains “remains largely operational despite the damage inflicted on some cell sites and network facilities by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit Central Visayas early this morning.”

Since electricity is unavailable in parts of Bohol and Cebu, Smart will be “deploying generator sets to power key cell sites and keep mobile phone and internet services running,” the company said in an announcement.

“We are also setting up free call services and free mobile phone charging stations in affected towns and municipalities to assist residents as well as emergency agencies involved in rescue and relief operations,” it added.

Smart Communications Inc. is the mobile phone unit of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), which is led by Manuel V. Pangilinan, who also chairs TV-5.

source: interaksyon.com

Earthquake shuts down Cebu BPO industry for a few hours

MANILA – Business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in Cebu have resumed operations hours after a strong quake struck many parts of Central Visayas this morning.

In a statement, the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) said call centers in Cebu temporarily stopped operations this morning “to ensure the safety of thousands of employees.”

A 7.2-magnitude quake shook Central Visayas around 8:00 a.m., causing damage to many structures in the provinces of Cebu and Bohol.

Citing a report by the Cebu Educational Development Foundation for Information Technology (CEDF-IT), Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) president and chief executive Jose Mari P. Mercado told InterAksyon.com that there were “no reports of damage” so far among BPO companies operating in Cebu.

“Evacuations occurred, but [operations] back to normal now. All on heightened alert for aftershocks and prepared to evacuate if necessary. Safety of our employees is paramount,” Mercado said.

“Several buildings have been safely evacuated immediately after the earthquake and are undergoing structural assessments for safety by the building owners and their engineers. Re-entry into the buildings will only commence once the buildings have been cleared that they are safe,” CCAP president Benedict C. Hernandez said, adding that “the safety of contact center employees in the affected provinces is its number one priority.”

Cebu hosts about 100 BPO firms, while the rest of Central Visayas is home to about 20 companies, Mercado said. About 70,000 people are employed by Cebu-based outsourcing firms.

Most of the firms within the Cebu Business and IT Park are contact centers, which “have business continuity plans that we follow for such events… ensuring their employees are guided to ensure their safety and welfare,” Hernandez said.

Cebu City ranked 8th in global advisory firm Tholons’ 2013 Top 100 Outsourcing Destinations report.

source: interaksyon.com

Quake destroys Cebu, Bohol historical, tourist sites

MANILA, Philippines -- The 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Central Visayas including Bohol and Cebu destroyed centuries worth of history and valuable tourism assets.

In Bohol, the quake left portions of the Loon and Loboc Churches in rubble. Local officials said it would take time to rebuild.

"Loboc Church is a 17th century church which is a major tourism draw," Rep. Arthur Yap of Bohol's third district, where the church is located, told InterAksyon.com.

In a separate interview, Cebu Representative Ace Durano said the churches of Bohol are very much part of the heritage of Boholanos.

"This reflects the Boholanos' deep appreciation of their cultural assets and reflects their deep religiosity. The fact that these churches are very much part of the lives of the Boholanos render them valuable tourism assets," Durano, former secretary of the Department of Tourism, said.

The Church of San Pedro in Loboc, the second oldest church in Bohol, was built in 1602 but was damaged by fire. In 1638, a more sturdy structure was built, according to the website www.bohol.ph. As it was located near the river, it has survived a number of floods, but remained standing.

The church features paintings on the ceiling, and a Spanish coat of arms can be found in the stone wall near the entrance of the convent. Its bell tower is about 100 meters from the church. Attached to the structure is a three-story convent, which houses the Museo de Loboc on the third floor. The museum keeps old statues of saints and some religious artifacts.

The church is also famous for the Loboc Children's Choir, a school-based chorale of school children from the Loboc Central Elementary School. Founded in 1980, the choir has held concerts all over the country and abroad, and has won several awards.

The Church of Our Lady of Light in Loon, the biggest church in Bohol, was built during the term of Fray Manuel de Elizalde in 1753. The building has two octagonal bell towers, and is fully symmetric. From Loon Church is a long stairway of 174 stone steps connecting it to Napo, the former seat of the town.

The other old churches in Bohol are the Baclayon Church and Dauis Church--both of which were also damaged by the quakes--and Maribojoc Church and Panglao Church.

Unfortunately, according to Australian experts, these beautiful historic churches in Bohol and Cebu were obviously not built to withstand a magnitude 7.2 earthquake.

In Cebu City, the Basilica Del Sto Nino also was not spared as its belfry crumbled during the quake while the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral also sustained damage.

source: interaksyon.com

Everything you need at Quest Hotel-Cebu

MANILA, Philippines - It’s an exciting time to be in Cebu City right now. The Queen City of the South lives up to its name, thanks to its robust economy and booming tourism industry. A major destination in the country for locals and foreigners alike, Cebu offers plenty of opportunities for businesspeople and vacationers all year-round. Answering the need for a perfect place to stay in the city is the Quest Hotel Conference Center-Cebu.

The first, and important, rule of running a business is having a good location. Quest Hotel has that and more. The hotel, located along Archbishop Reyes Avenue, is just minutes away from the central business district. And right across the street is Ayala Center-Cebu, one of the premier shopping malls in the city. Less than half an hour away is the famous Magellan’s Cross as well as the seaport. Travel time from the Mactan International Airport to the hotel is about 45 minutes.

Quest Hotel is a three-star establishment that strives to give guests the best value for their money. From the location to the hotel’s clean and modern design aesthetic, many will be delighted at what they will see. “We call ourselves the ‘Great Value Hotel,’” says Karen Mendoza, executive assistant manager. “We have been doing so well in terms of occupancy, considering the competition surrounding us. Our rates are really very reasonable.”

Aimed at the corporate market, Quest Hotel offers a simple yet adequate kind of stay for people who place a premium on value. Ten state-of-the-art meeting rooms can accommodate anywhere from 10 people for small meetings to 150 people for large corporate events, celebrations, and other gatherings. Four different room types offer basic amenities, but all are outfitted with king-size beds and are covered with free Wi-Fi. Wide-screen TVs, a safe, and mini bar come standard for the deluxe, premier deluxe, junior and corporate suites — basically all that anyone needs for a comfortable stay. Mendoza says, “Room amenities are basic. There are some you need to request (if you need them) like dental kits, etc., but we don’t want our guests to worry about anything because everything is here. We have a pool on the seventh floor and one big restaurant at the lobby level.”


That would be the Pusô Bistro & Bar. Named after Cebu’s unique “hanging” rice, which is wrapped and cooked in young coconut leaves shaped like a human heart, the restaurant serves many local and international dishes with an all-you-can-eat buffet at P499 per person. The name serves a double purpose for Quest Hotel and, according to Mendoza, it is reflective of the “uncomplicated” type of service they offer.




For a three-star hotel to truly shine, the efficiency and quality of service of its staff has to be excellent. And that’s a level that Quest Hotel employees all strive for. “It’s service from the heart,” Mendoza continues. “It speaks for itself.” And according to her, they must be doing something right in that regard. Karen shares that on review site TripAdvisor.com, Quest Hotel ranks fourth in positive guest reviews among the 68 hotels in Cebu. “Most of the guest comments say they like staying at Quest because of the great location, value for money, great service and modern feel.” That’s the kind of feedback that every hotel dreams of.

“We want guests to enjoy their stay and to come back,” says Mendoza. “And we have been very successful in achieving that because we have a lot of returning guests.” That’s great news for a hotel that has been around for only a little over a year. It shows how a little quality service goes a long way. The journey has just begun for Quest Hotel, but already, the future looks bright.


 Quest Hotel and Conference Center-Cebu is located along Archbishop Reyes Avenue in Cebu City. For inquiries or reservations, call (+6332) 402-5999, fax at (+6332) 402-5998, e-mail at CebuInfo@Quest-Hotels.Com or log on to Cebu.QuestHotels.com.

source: philstar.com

SM Cebu celebrates Sinulog

MANILA, Philippines - SM City Cebu is celebrating Sinulog festival until Jan. 20 by showcasing the best of Cebu through exhibits, contests, street dancing, and by bringing some of the country’s hottest young talents to Cebu.

Traditionally held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City, Sinulog is named after the dance ritual in honor of the miraculous image of the Santo Nino.  The dance moves to the sound of the drums, and this resembles the current or sinulog of what then known as Cebu’s Pahina River.

SM City Cebu in partnership with the Sinulog Foundation brings back Cebu! Cebu!, a showcase of its best products and most talented artists and designers.  These include the stunning jewelry collections of Gladys Young; creative lamp designs by Hive; creative furniture display by sisters Paula and Vikki Rodriguez; exquisite clothes by designer Cary Santiago; and photos of the Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod by master photographers Dan Douglas Ong and Dr. Erwin Lim.  The Cebu! Cebu! exhibit runs until Jan. 31 at the Northwing Atrium.

Shopping is also more fun during the festival with the ongoing Sinulog sale of up to 50 percent on selected items until Jan. 20.



Not to be missed is the 5th Sinulog fireworks competition on today, Jan. 19, at 8 p.m. fronting the Northwing.  Six pyrotechnic experts from all over the country will compete to for the grand prize of P100,000.  Participants will be judged according to the beauty, style, timing, and audience impact of their works. Pyrospectacular will also dazzle mall goers, as colorful fireworks are synchronized to music by Pyroworks International at 9 p.m. on Jan. 20.

Some of the country’s top young talents will be visiting the mall to join in the celebrations. The Blackberry Barkada — Enrique Gil, Gerald Andersen, and Rayver Cruz — will have a mall tour today 19 at the Event Center.  Aimee Torres, the singer behind the hit song Pusong Bato, will have a show on Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. at the Event Center.

source: philstar.com

DOTC eyes World Bank loan, seeks consultants for Cebu bus rapid transit

MANILA - The Department of Transportation and Communication is eyeing a loan from the World Bank to finance the construction of a bus rapid transit service in Cebu.

In a statement, the DOTC said the BRT system - the first of its kind in the Philippines - is patterned after those in Bogota, Colombia; Curitiba, Brazil; Seoul, South Korea; and Guangzhou, China.

The Cebu BRT system will have 176 buses that will run through dedicated and exclusive bus-ways from Bulacao to Talamban, with a link to the South Road Property.

The service will benefit 330,000 passengers a day when it starts operations in 2015.

The buses will also traverse Cebu City’s business districts, residential areas, shopping centers and key tourist sites. It will have 33 stations along the corridor, with buses arriving at each station every 2-5 minutes.

The DOTC is inviting bids for consultancy services for the BRT project, which will have 2 phases, namely:

- Detailed engineering design and preparation of bidding documents for the engineering, structural, civil, architectural, electrical and mechanical design; and

- Supervision of the transit way and the supporting infrastructure during the construction.

source: interaksyon.com

New Condo Project Earmarked P4-B

CEBU CITY, Cebu — Owing to the bullishness in Cebu’s real estate landscape, Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) and affiliate Cebu Property Ventures Development Corp. (CPVDC) have earmarked P4 billion for five-tower condominium development spread in the next four to five years at the Cebu IT Park.

The new condominium development dubbed Avida Riala is an expansion of the Avida Towers Cebu, which has 1,045 units launched in 2010.

Avida Riala, siting on a 21,000 square meter property, will have a total of 3,300 condominium units of studio-type and one and two bedroom units. The rooms are priced between P1.8 million to P5.5 million.

It is located right across eBlock Tower 1, home building of JPMorgan & Chase Co.

The projects’sTower 1 to cost an estimated P800 million, will have 621 units and is set for groundbreaking in November this year. Completion target is set first quarter, 2016.

“Our success of the Avida brand in Cebu has prompted us to boost expansion with this new project, Avida Towers Riala,” said Avida Land Corp. president Christopher Maglanoc told local media.

He said the shift to a bigger residential community is due to the increasing demand for condominium properties in the area, which has a rapidly growing outsourcing sector.

Avida Riala project is a mixed-used development in partnership with the landowners, VH Properties.

On top of the residential amenities, the company will also add shopping and dining outlets to the property and a 5,000-square meter amenity area including a grand lawn, lounge pool, shooting court and jogging trail.

source: mb.com.ph