Ram Felix Rengel, Jr.
Ayala Center Cebu: The "Tourist-Friendly" Mall
Shopping and leisure mall Ayala Center Cebu (ACC) is intensifying its position as a "tourist friendly" mall through crafting new offerings to draw in more tourists to shop.
Panaghoy sa Suba Along Loboc River in Bohol
Enjoy a fascinating boat ride in the serene waters of Loboc River, starting from Loay Bridge which is the outlet of the river, and along the palm-fringed banks inland. The ride via motorized pump boat ends near the Tontonan water falls, where several falls with cascading water provides a pleasant bathing session.
The Year of the Dog
After the turbulent year of the rooster, a year full of surprising and unfortunate events, we welcome a period of relative calm in the Year of the Fire Dog. Of all the animals, the Dog is man’s best friend, and we will therefore see a great deal of humanity and domesticity coming to the fore. But before we reveal our fearless forecast for this year, let us first look at the year just ended, the Year of the Wooden Rooster.
PBB Celebrity Edition Premieres on February 4
Preparations for the much-awaited celebrity edition of Pinoy Big Brother are now in full swing with only few weeks left before the ball starts rolling for the 12 celebrities who will take on the new challenges of Big Brother!
Creating Wealth in a New Environment
A chilling breeze greeted me the moment I entered the door that leads to the main viewing area. The place was filled with local and foreign tourists, all quiet but the amazement in their faces were very visible as they enjoyed watching the breathtaking scenery of the entire Cebu City and neighboring towns.
A View from the Tops, Cebu City
A chilling breeze greeted me the moment I entered the door that leads to the main viewing area. The place was filled with local and foreign tourists, all quiet but the amazement in their faces were very visible as they enjoyed watching the breathtaking scenery of the entire Cebu City and neighboring towns.
Housemate Sam Milby
At 21, not so tall, but handsome and engaging Sam Lloyd Milby is a prized catch for ABS-CBN and Star Cinema -- probably the only genuine showbiz find in the first edition of Pinoy Big Brother last year.
Pinoy Malling at SM ShoeMart
SM Prime Holdings, Inc. is part of the SM Group of Companies, one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines with interests in commercial property development, shopping mall operations, retail/wholesale and merchandising, banking and financial services, and leisure/tourism and real estate development.
Pinoy's Langhap Sarap at Jollibee
Jollibee is one of the Philippines' phenomenal business success stories. Starting in 1975 as a two-branch ice cream parlor, it later expanded its menu to include hot sandwiches and other meals. With encouraging success, Jollibee Foods Corporation was incorporated in 1978 with seven outlets to fully explore the possibilities of a hamburger concept. Thus was born the company that revolutionized the fast food industry in the Philippines.
Kabayan Noli de Castro
Noli de Castro's ascendancy to the second highest post in the republic could rightly be called, as one news report puts it, "the pinoy dream." He transcended his family's poverty and now holds the mandate of the Filipino people.
Destination: Bacolod City
Bacolod City, situated on the northwestern part of the island of Negros, is bounded by the Guimaras Strait on the west, the municipality of Talisay on the north, the municipality of Murcia on the east, and Bago City on the South.
Destination: Tacloban City
Strategically located at the heart of Eastern Visayas or Region VIII, Tacloban City lies along the northeastern side of the island of Leyte. Tacloban`s location and accessibility have made the city the commercial, educational, government and political hub as well as the tourism service center of the region.
Le Spa Massage: Respite in the City
There is the sub-story in these beckoning images at Le Spa, an urban haven amidst the city's hustle and bustle. It is a yarn of battle flesh and spirit come alive because of the indulgent care of the city's undoubtedly posh-iest spa.
Some Outstanding Businessmen of the Philippines in 2005
It's admirable how indefatigable business people defied the nauseating political and economic crises and other problems and made a positive impact on the Philippine economy in 2005. Tycoons like Lucio Tan of Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Philippine National Bank, brothers Jaime Augusto and Fernando Zobel de Ayala of Ayala Land and Globe Telecom, Atty. Felipe Gozon of GMA Network Inc., and others have continuously invested in the Philippine economy. However, here is a list of inspiring mavericks – gutsy business people who were the most innovative – and audacious – in their 2005 investments. This list is not in any order of importance, seniority or degree of charisma.
Tommy's Tale
Rev. John Powell, a professor at Loyola University in Chicago writes about a student in his Theology of Faith class named Tommy.
My Father's Legacy
The dean announced, "Jeanette Blanc, graduate with honors, Doctor of Philosophy."
The Heart of a Boxing Champion: Manny Pacquiao
A bigger, stronger, smarter, and more focused Manny Pacquiao gradually and dramatically wore down and stopped Erik Morales in the 10th round of an electrifying rematch Saturday before 14,618 fans at the Thomas & Mack Arena.
The Miraculous Water of Dauis Church in Bohol
Located in the town of Dauis, three kilometers from Tagbilaran City, Dauis Church is one of Bohol's beautiful churches that has retained its Spanish architecture despite a semi-modern façade. The interior has life-like murals painted on the ceiling. Dauis Church is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. It was built in the year 1697, its design largely influenced by Romanesque and Byzantine architecture. Beautiful frescoes painted in 1916 by a painter named Ray Francia decorate the entire ceiling of the church.
Philippines Wooing Japan's Aged with Skilled, Low-Cost Care
In a spacious room at the Rose Princes Home, a nursing facility on the outskirts of Manila, a caregiver feeds an 81-year-old partially paralyzed Japanese man.
The Treaty of Friendship: Blood Compact of Legaspi and Sikatuna
One of the most important historical events etched in the annals in the Philippine history and immortalized in canvass by the famous Filipino painter Juan Luna as one of his masterpieces, is the famous Blood Compact between Datu Sikatuna, a local native chieftain, and Captain Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the intrepid Spanish explorer and colonizer.
Sinulog: History and Pageantry
Sinulog is a pageantry of faith, a festival held in honor of the Santo Nino, celebrating the origin of the island of Cebu.
Thoughts on Sinulog as a Secular Festival
Festivals are public events celebrated or held either for religious reasons or secular purposes. The activities often involve carefully planned programs or ceremonies, outpourings of admiration, rejoicing, or high revelry. In many cases, especially in pious societies, traditional secular celebrations normally include a religious service.
Comparative Study Between Thailand and the Philippines
In the early 1970s, the Philippines was a leading economic power of Southeast Asia with its growth overshadowing that of its counterparts in the region. One example of its economic predominance was its successful bid to bring in the Asian Development Bank, outplaying a competing bidder, Japan. Other international organizations followed suit by placing their Southeast Asian or Western Pacific regional headquarters in the country. In those days, with Thailand still dismal in its growth, the two countries projected a clear contrast in the state of their economies.
My Wonderful Calendar Cards
It has been a week since my last posting here in my blog. I have been very busy with the three projects I am handling under WebScout--the web design and development company that I am starting. The first project is a website for a company based in Novato, California. I will give you the details of the project as soon as we have formalized the arrangements. The second project is for the upcoming reunion of our batch. This year is the tenth anniversary of DWCT-HS Batch '96 and we are planning a big celebration this coming December 2006. One of the tasks assigned to me is to develop a website for the reunion. The last project that I am doing this week is for the ESL Edu-Tourism Institute, whcih I have partnered with GreatMinds. It is an ESL Program that focuses on the Korean and Japanese market for these people to come to the Philippines, specifically in Bohol, to study the English Language at the same time enjoy the country's tourist destinations and spots.
Drink Water on an Empty Stomach
An email containing something intriguing arrived at my inbox. It talks about water therapy as a possible cure to many of today's illnesses. If I am to follow the guidelines enumerated in the email, I lose nothing. So here I am on the first day of the water therapy. It's really up to you if you would also try the procedures.
Good for the Soul
Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace.
God's Mysterious Ways
It was an unusually cold day for the month of May. Spring had arrived and everything was alive with color. But a cold front from the North had brought winter's chill back to Indiana. I sat with two friends in the picture window of a quaint restaurant just off the corner of the town square.
God Knows Where You Are
Do you believe that God not only loves you, but knows where you are and what you're doing every minute of the day? I certainly do after an amazing experience I had several years ago.
Giving When It Counts
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz, who was suffering from a rare and serious disease.
The Ever-Fragile Tarsier in Loboc, Bohol
The Philippines Tarsier Monkey's are probably the smallest primates in the world. Its Latin name is 'Tarsius Syrichta'. Its diet consists of insects in the main which they eat live. Its height is between 90 to 160 mm (3.5 to 6.25 inches) and its weight is between 70 to 165 grams (3-6 ozs). Its big eyes give them very acute night vision, which make them good night hunters. Their big ears can move in the direction of any noise and their heads can swivel through 180 degrees which all help them in hunting.
That Rotunda Called Fuente Osmeña
Cebu will never be Cebu without that circular rotunda called Fuente Osmeña. Before the boom of the malls in the North Reclamation Area for SM City Cebu and the Ayala Center Cebu in Lahug, the Fuente Osmeña Circle is the place to be. Standing gloriously around the circle are some of Cebu's legacy establishments like Robinsons and Midtown Hotel, Elegant Circle Inn, Rosita's, and Rajah Park Hotel.
Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos
Fidel Valdez Ramos (born March 18, 1928), military hero of the 1986 People Power Revolution that toppled the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, became the 12th President of the Republic of the Philippines on June 30, 1992. He succeeded Corazon Aquino and governed until 1998, when he was succeeded by Joseph Estrada. His six-year term as president was widely recognized in building economic and political growth and stability in the country despite facing communist insurgencies, an Islamic separatist movement in Mindanao and the onslaught of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
Doing a Manny Pacquiao on the Economy
How and when can the Philippine economy become as aggressive and as victorious as the world featherweight boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, the formerly poor tailor and construction worker born in General Santos City, Mindanao? The day the value of the Philippine peso plunged to another historic low due to worries about military coups, the government budget deficit and political uncertainties, the 77-year-old founder of the country’s most diversified industrial conglomerate delivered a rare public speech in the country’s second biggest city, boldly calling for five major reforms to strengthen our weak, heavily-indebted and uncompetitive Philippine economy.
The Hills are Alive at the Chocolate Hills in Carmen, Bohol
The world-renowned cone-shaped Chocolate Hills is Nature's expression of beauty, mystery and romance. Spread over the municipalities of Carmen, Sagbayan and Batuan, the Chocolate Hills is the province's signature attraction. It consists of approximately 1,268 hay cock hills with heights ranging from 40 to 120 meters. Formed centuries ago by tidal movements, the hills are considered as a National Geologic Movement. During the summers, the dome-shaped grass covered limestone hills dry up and turn brown, transforming the area into seemingly endless rows of chocolate "kisses"
SM's Sy Bullish on RP Economy
Doomsayers hear this: one of the country's most successful businessmen is bullish on the Philippines' economic prospects for 2006.
Philippine Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr.
Partisan politics is the public face of democracy, the most visible manifestation of political liberty. It thrives in the Philippines. Yet in the Philippines and everywhere else, as we know, the liberty of partisan politics depends ultimately upon restraints imposed by law and by the authority of governing institutions. Few people understand this paradox of freedom better than Hilario G. Davide Jr., chief justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
3D Pictures on Trucks
I got an email which contained some amusing stuff that I want to share with all of you. The pictures depict trucks whose trailer contain 3D pictures. I was informed in the email that these trucks were vying for the coveted 3D Picture Award. I found the pictures amazing; I hope you will also like them.
Destination: Laoag and Vigan, Philippines
Time-locked Ilocos is a broad hardy country blessed with impressive wide highways and stretches of narrow cobblestoned roads, antiquated towns dominated by heavily-buttressed grand churches and Antillan ancestral homes, and a brave people who, by sheer industry, harnessed a formidable terrain into a source of sustenance.
Easter Story
Jeremy was born with a twisted body and a slow mind. At the age of 12 he was still in second grade, seemingly unable to learn. His teacher, Doris Miller, often became exasperated with him. He would squirm in his seat, drool, and make grunting noises. At other times, he spoke clearly and distinctly, as if a spot of light had penetrated the darkness of his brain. Most of the time, however, Jeremy just irritated his teacher. One day, she called his parents and asked them to come in for a consultation. As the Forresters entered the empty classroom, Doris said to them, "Jeremy really belongs in a special school. It isn't fair to him to be with younger children who don't have learning problems. Why, there is a five-year gap between his age and that of the other students."
Señor Sto. Niño de Cebu
Cebu is starting to warm up to its annual Sinulog celebration. I just came from Cebu today and I have to admit that the place is as festive as ever! The streets at night are jammed with traffic with people going to places within the city that offer entertainment. During daytime, the streets are also crowded with people witnessing various street activities like Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan and Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Sugbu.
Destination: Palawan, Philippines
Palawan is paradise, sanctuary to an amazing variety of fauna and flora found nowhere else in the world. It is blessed with incredibly awesome landscapes that astound even the most indifferent of visitors.
What Your Birth Month Means
Here's some interesting info about the meaning of your birth month. I tried it with my own birth month, and surprisingly 17 out of 21 items listed are true. Try it with your own birth month and see whether or not the meanings will fit your personality.
Don't Let Me Cry
My son Gilbert was eight years old and had been in Cub Scouts only a short time. During one of his meetings he was handed a sheet of paper, a block of wood and four tires and told to return home and give all to "dad".
Different Footsteps
Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.
Developments Along Archbishop Reyes: Banilad Town Center
The stretch from Ayala Center Cebu going to the University of San Carlos (USC)-Talamban in Cebu City is becoming a hub for an assortment of businesses sprouting like mushrooms. It seemed like yesterday when this stretch was only accentuated by the Grand Convention Center near the Ayala Center Cebu end, and the Gaisano Country Mall on the other end near the USC-Talamban.
Destination: Manila, Philippines
The capital of the Philippines - its heart and soul -- is Manila. It sets the rhythm of life in this archipelago and is a pulsating hub that blends the Oriental with the Occidental, the quaint with the modern, the mundane with the extraordinary..
Coat Hanger Angel
A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication for her daughter.
Christmas Spirit
Bobby was getting cold sitting out in his back yard in the snow. Bobby didn't wear boots; he didn't like them and anyway he didn't own any. The thin sneakers he wore had a few holes in them and they did a poor job of keeping out the cold. Bobby had been in his backyard for about an hour already. And, try as he might, he could not come up with an idea for his mother's Christmas gift. He shook his head as he thought, "This is useless, even if I do come up with an idea I don't have any money to spend."
The Amazing Bohol Bee Farm
I just had the most out-of-this world but awesome experience two days ago at Bohol Bee Farm. Imagine yourself eating flowers like gumamela, bougainvilla and others; how about eating a squash muffin or a camote-made slice bread. These are some of the tasteful delicacies that I tried during our day tour at Bohol's only ultra-organic community.
Experiencing Finland-Made Sauna at Le Spa Massage
In most European countries where the sun almost never shine, its people use the most sophisticated equipment—a Sauna—to sweat out and release toxins from their bodies. And this is done entirely in the comfort of their homes while relaxing. But Boholanos need not go to Europe to experience the classiness and elegance of a sauna. That’s because, the first Finland-made sauna is now available in Bohol, specifically in Tagbilaran City at Le Spa Massage.
Experiencing Finland-Made Sauna at Le Spa Massage
In most European countries where the sun almost never shine, its people use the most sophisticated equipment—a Sauna—to sweat out and release toxins from their bodies. And this is done entirely in the comfort of their homes while relaxing. But Boholanos need not go to Europe to experience the classiness and elegance of a sauna. That’s because, the first Finland-made sauna is now available in Bohol, specifically in Tagbilaran City at Le Spa Massage.
TOYM Awardee Francisco Bernardo III, Entrepreneur-At-Heart
He grew up in Tondo among people hungry for food and ideas. But this did not deter Francisco "Jay" Bernardo III from achieving success, which resulted in his inclusion in the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines awards.
Baclayon Church, The Philippines Oldest Stone Church
The town of Baclayon, Bohol, a 20-minute ride from the City of Tagbilaran is where the oldest stone church in the Philippines is nestled—the famous Baclayon Church.
Are You Living in Vain?
It was a cold winter's day that Sunday. The parking lot to the church was filling up quickly. I noticed as I got out of my car that fellow church members were whispering among themselves as they walked to the church. As I got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside the church. He was almost lying down as if he was asleep. He had on a long trench coat that was almost in shreds and a hat topped his head, pulled down so you could not see his face. He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too small for his feet with holes all over them, his toes stuck out.
Are You Blessed?
If you own just one Bible ... you are abundantly blessed. 1/3 of the entire world does not have access to one.
Alona Beach, Panglao Island, Bohol
If you are looking for an alternative to Boracay, then Panglao Island is it! The beaches, the sand and the sun in it are as good as Boracay; but it is half as crowded and the food, the accommodation and everything half as costly. More people know about Boracay because it is heavily publicized but Panglao Island is slowly getting there with good word of mouth reviews from travelers far and wide that have been to this exotic paradise. To some, it is a beach haven par excellence, bar none!
Destination: Davao, Philippines
Endowed with a variety of picturesque landscapes, Davao's topography dazzles: Fruit plantations and orchid farms mantle volcano-fed hills and valleys. Virgin forests nurture rare wildlife. Coral islands lie on mirror flat water. And the country's highest peak magnificently lords over the hinterland.
The DWCT-HS Batch '96 Grand Reunion EXECOM
For the DWCT-HS Batch 1996, this year—2006, will be its 10th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, back then in 1996 before our graduation, everyone has agreed to celebrate the reunion in 2006.
Showbiz Predictions for 2006
I am an avid reader of Ricky Lo, The Philippine Star's resident entertainment writer. I have to admit that his views and commentary are very objective despite his affiliations (with GMA-7 and Philippine Star). And every year, he writes down some predictions for the local entertainment scene. After one year, let us all see which of his predictions will come true and which ones did not.
A Visit to a Butterfly Farm: Sagbayan, Bohol
On New Year's Eve, my family, together with my staff had a tour of Bohol. I have to admit that despite living in Bohol for most of my childhood, and now since last 2003, I have not been to all nooks and corners of the island.
The Hitlist: Only in the Philippines
From the 1896 Revolution to the first Philippine Republic, the Commonwealth period, the EDSA Revolt, and the tiger cub economy, history marches on. Thankfully, however, some things never change. Like the classics, things irresistibly Pinoy mark us for life. They're the indelible stamp of our identity, the undeniable affinity that binds us like twins. They celebrate the good in us, the best of our culture and the infinite possibilities we are all capable of. Some are so self-explanatory you only need mention them for fellow Pinoys to swoon or drool. Here, from all over the country and in no particular order, are some of the best things that make us unmistakably Pinoy.
Destination: Cebu, Philippines
Cebuanos celebrate life like no other. They strum their guitars and sing the "balitaw" when they're happy. They strum the guitar and sing the "harana" when they're sad. And when they pray, they dance!
It therefore comes as no surprise that the guitar is a prime product in Cebu which, quite naturally, has also produced a large share of the country's best musicians and master showmen.
Always Remember Those Who Serve You
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.
Achieving God's Perfection
In Brooklyn NY, Chush is a school that caters to learning-disabled children. Some children remain in Chush for their entire school career, while others can be mainstreamed into conventional schools. At a Chush fund-raising dinner, the father of a Chush child delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended.
A $20 Bill
A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill.
A Smile
I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called "Smile."
