My Life in Cebu!

Want an IPhone 6? Join the Yamba Beta Test!

2015-07-01T23:44:00.000-07:00

I want an IPhone6! I am sure a lot of you would want one too! Right? Well, a new social networking website is giving away a brand new IPhone6 to 3 lucky beta testers. If you love social networking apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest, I am sure you are going to enjoy using Yamba.

Here is the 2 simple steps that will lead you to your newest phone:

Step 1: REGISTER

Head to http://yamba.rocks/#!/register and create an account.

Step 2: POST

Post as many videos, photos, and links to your Yamba account.

WIN

The Beta Test ends on July 25, 2015 and Yamba will award the beta tests with:

1. The most number of posts at http://yamba.rocks (then post away)

2. The most number of followers (then invite away)

3. The post with the most number of views

How much do you want a new iPhone6 ??? Add me and cya at Yamba.Rocks http://yamba.rocks/main/profile/caloyolano

University of the Visayas High School Batch 1965 Golden Reunion

2015-06-09T06:16:00.003-07:00

My mom went home recently to celebrate her high school batch 50th year anniversary. She has always been a proud graduate of University of the Visayas High School and I always enjoy listening to her when she talks about her adventures in high school.

She was quiet happy to see her old barkada led by Tita Annete Son, Tita Loly Avila and Tita Maria Luz Operation-Aung Thwin.

Some of their teachers were also there.

There were about 15 graduates who attended the reunion and it was night full of joyful reminiscing and celebrations.

Congratulations UV High School Batch 1965 on your Golden Reunion!

It's More Fun in the Philippines: Lake Danao, Ormoc City, Leyte

2015-06-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Ormoc has a special place in my heart as it is the birthplace of my mom. We have been to Ormoc City several times and we just usually stay in the city. In my mom's recent vacation to Ormoc, we decided to check out the beautiful places that the city is known for. One of the first places we visited is Lake Danao National Park. We were accompanied by my aunt and cousins from Ormoc when we went there. We were able to have a lunch that is full of laughter and good food.

Lake Danao is about an hour away from Ormoc city proper. It is located in the mountainous portion of the city. The guitar-shaped lake is very popular among locals and tourists especially during summer. The entrance fee is only 10 pesos.

We rented a floating cottage for P300 an hour. The floating cottage includes a grill area where people can cook some fish or meat. We brought our own food and we even have fresh fish ready for sugba.

+Nezte Virtudazo and I took turns pulling the cottage to the middle portion of the lake. It was such a good workout.

Digoy, our driver, was the in-charge for grilling the fish and meat.

While waiting for the food to cook, I decided to take a dip on the lake. I have never bathed in a lake before and swimming at Lake Danao was an incredible experience for me. The water was cold which was a great cure for the searing heat of summer. The lake is pretty deep and non-swimmers are advised to use inflatables should they decide to go swimming.

Nezte was enjoying the 1- year old Tuba made by Uncle Frank Tobio. He says that it was the type of drink that he was looking for for a long time.

Tita Louella Codilla Tobio and family prepared a bountiful spread for lunch that included halabos na hipon, crabs, lato, boiled saging and camote, kinilaw, and the freshly grilled fish and pork. Eating in such serene setting increased my appetite by leaps and bounds. It was one of the best meals I had in months.

My mom and I had a photo with our relatives from Ormoc who came with us. We are so grateful for their warm hospitality and in making us feel at home.

There are many non-motorized watersports activities at Lake Danao like kayaking, and paddle boarding. We would have to rent a kayak or banca but we were pressed for time. The rent for the equipment is around 200-500 per hour.

After two hours, we decided to wrap up our lunch and head for Albuera. Before leaving Lake Danao National Park, we went to the Lake Danao Viewdeck to see the lake at a different vantage point.

At the viewing deck, one can take photos with the lake at the background.

Lake Danao National Park is an awesome place to stay during the summer. Since it is elevated, the temperature there is cooler than in the city. You might have to travel for an hour to get there and pass by some rough roads but believe me, the trip will be worth it. I also like that the local government is making the place as natural as possible. If you happen to be in Ormoc or in a nearby Leyte town, I strongly recommend that you should check out Lake Danao National Park and have a fun time with your friends and family.

#Summer2015 Adventures: A Day in Palompon, Leyte

2015-06-01T18:25:00.001-07:00

When my mom decided to have a vacation this summer, one of her chosen destinations is the beautiful island of Kalanggaman. To be able to go to the island, you either have to pick Cebu (Malapascua or Maya Port) or Palompon, Leyte as your jump off point. Since my mom also wanted to visit Ormoc, her hometown, we decided to pick Palompon . We spent one day in the town and it was eventful as we were able to experience Palompon up close. Here are some of the things that we did while in Palompon.

1. Lunch Day & Night Catering Services

From Ormoc, our van trip took about 2 hours going to Palompon. Our driver chose the path via Villaba. We left for Palompon at around 10 a.m. and we arrived around 12 noon. Our contact in Palompon is my wife's friend in medical school Camille Lequin. Since we arrived during lunchtime, she suggested that we have lunch at her uncle's restaurant. Day & Night catering services is one of the popular catering businesses in the town and the owner has an eatery that features their delicious specialities.

After ordering several dishes, I took time to take a photo of our hosts with the owner of the business. My mom who works for Coke asked me to take a photo of her posing at a Coca-Cola refrigerator.

We had a filling lunch and I really love their bistek. The owner told me that it is one of their best dishes and he was spot on.

2. Visiting Palompon Cockers and Amusement Center

My mom actually came home to the Philippines for her 50th high school reunion. One of her favorite teachers happened to be now based in Palompon. Engineer Willy Ordesta was their geometry teacher and he also happened to be a good friend of my late Aunt Alice. The teacher/engineer operates the Palompon Cockpit. After having lunch, we decided to check out the cockpit and look for "Sir Ordesta".

My mom and 2 of her classmates were able to reunite with their teacher. Mrs. Ordesta also came from the same high school but she was a batch older than my mom. After minutes of catching up, Mr. Ordesta invited us to watch a cockfight.

I was with a lot of first timers and they were amazed how animated the atmosphere is. It feels like you are watching a UAAP game between Ateneo and La Salle. We were in the VIP ringside seats and we were able to see the action really really close. My mom even won 150 pesos when she bet on one cock. It made her day.

We stayed there for about an hour more and while the grown ups were busy reminiscing the good old days, Nezte, Camille, and I explored the cockfighting arena. We spent a lot of minutes watching a rooster being "operated" after winning a match.

3. Eating Palompon's Salvaro

We finished our visit to the cockpit late in the afternoon and Camille decided to make us try Palompon's version of Salvaro. In Cebu, Salvaro is a thin oval-shaped crispy coconut cracker. Palompon's salvaro is also oval shaped and coconut flavored but the similarity ends there. Their salvaro is more of a bread than a cracker. It has the texture of bibingka but it has the scent and flavor of the salvaro I know.

4. Strolling at San Juan Beach

After enjoying our salvaro, we headed to San Juan Beach. According to Camille, San Juan Beach was the most popular beach in her town before Kalanggaman Island emerged as a viable tourist destination. The beach is open to the public. It is an excellent place for afternoon strolls and having a quick dip to battle the summer heat.

5. Buying Tartlet's at Monette's

One of Camille's favorite pasalubongs when she goes back to Cebu are the creations of Monette's. While we were in Palompon, we were able to drop by the house where the mini-tarts were made and Camille bought several packs.

6. Visiting the Palompon Tourism Office

We also visited the tourism office to confirm our trip to Kalanggaman the next day. I am impressed that tourism in Palompon was organized and everyone os required to coordinate with their tourism office. You can also buy some shirts and hat at the office.

7. Snacks and Dinner at our host's place

After going around the town of Palompon, we ended up at our host's place for dinner. As appetizer, Mrs. Marivic Sequin offered as some freshly cooked budbud with ripe mangoes. After ticking our palates, we ate some delicious sweet and sour katambak made by her sister.

8. Preparing to leave for Kalanggaman

The next day we woke up early and took some photos at the Palompon port before our trip to Kalanggaman Island.

One day is not enough to see all the beautiful places in Palompon but in the one day I spent there, I saw a glimpse how nice the town and its people. My mom even quipped that it would be nice to retire in such peaceful town. I am very sure that I will be back there someday and hopefully, I would be able explore more and find more hidden gems in the Palompon and the nearby towns.

It's More Fun in the Philippines: Kalanggaman Island, Palompon, Leyte

2015-05-29T06:52:00.000-07:00

It has been almost 2 years since +Francine Camille Lequin , a friend of my wife, has been inviting us to visit Kalanggaman Island. Camille is usually animated when she talks about how beautiful the island off the coast of her hometown of Palompon, Leyte. There were times I thought that she was kinda overhyping the place. I finally got to see the island when my mom had a vacation from Australia a couple of days ago. Camille was not lying as the island was simply awesome and my visit to Kalangamman Island became the highlight of my #Summer2015.

Kalanggaman Island is a 90-minute boat ride from Palompon Port. Tourists need to register at the Palompon Ecotours Office before they can go to the island. During peak season, you might need to register a week before so that you can book a boat that will take you to Kalanggaman Island. You may contact the Ecotours Office at +63 917 303 7267.

To visit the island, non-Palompon residents will need to pay Php150 per head while local residents will just pay 20 pesos. The boat rental is 3,500 for a motorized banca that can ferry 20-30 people.

I was with my mom in my trip to the island. We were accompanied by her two high school best friends (Tita Annette and Tita Loly). +Nezte Virtudazo joined us along with Camille, her mom and 3 of her cousins.

We left around 9 A.M. and we arrived around 10:30 A.M. Camille said that sometimes people see dolphins and even whales during the trip to Kalanggaman. (We actually saw a dolphin on our way back). The sea was quite calm and the hot summer heat was somewhat neutralized by a little bit of drizzle. We brought some refreshing rain to the island, but it did not last long.

While our hosts were preparing the food, we explored the island. We all took some selfies while appreciating the pristine white sand beach and then we took a quick dip in the crystal clear water. It was a really beautiful island. I was totally blown away. I am really happy that the local government of Palompon was able to preserve the island by limiting the number of tourists everyday and making sure that people are responsible with their trash.

There is a grilling station at Kalanggaman and people usually bring fresh fish and meat bought from the Palompon Market. There are also cottages in the island, where people can have lunch and rest. We feasted on sinugbang isda, sinugbang baboy, kinilaw, boiled camote, boiled bananas, and many more that the Lequins prepared for us. We really had a massive dose of #happytummy thanks to Camille and her mom, Marivic. Their hospitality was really over the roof.

After a sumptuous lunch, we capped our visit by taking some spectacular jump shots. We really had a great time and even Camille and her cousins had an enjoyable day as well. We will definitely be coming back. Nezte and I are planning to have an overnight with some of our friends the next time we visit.

Kalanggaman Island is now one of my favorite islands and beaches. I would like to go there at least once a year. It is a wonderful place to relax and recharge. My mom called it paradise and I think she is partly right. I would really want you to visit this place and tell me what you think. ;)

#Summer2015: Visiting the Temple of Leah

2015-04-19T01:16:00.001-07:00

The Temple of Leah is fast becoming one of the most popular tourist attractions in Cebu City. This Greco-Roman inspired "temple" was built as a tribute to the late Leah Albino-Adarna, the matriarch of the family behind the Queensland Hotel Group.

Built in Busay, Cebu City, the Temple of Leah is an excellent vantage point to view Metro Cebu from above. For now, there is no entrance fee and the place is open to the public from morning until 6 pm in the afternoon.

Temple of Leah is becoming really popular among the masses that it gets so crowded during weekends. To get there, you may bring your own car and drive towards Busay. Temple of Leah is in the same area of Mountain View Resort and Lantaw Busay. For people who do not have cars, they can ride a habal-habal from JY Square in Salinas Drive, Lahug.

The best time to go there is late afternoon as it is not so hot anymore and the sunset can give your pictures very nice colors. After visiting Temple of Leah, you may have a sumptuous dinner at Lantaw Restaurant. I went there with my wife and friends around 4 pm and we went to Tops afterwards. Temple of Leah could be a good pitstop on your way Balamban.

Have you been to Temple of Leah? Comment and give me a link of your pictures. ;)

Having fun while visiting Robinsons Homes Cebu Project

2015-03-25T01:23:00.000-07:00

As a Business Director for Robinsons Homes Cebu, one of my jobs is to make work fun for my team. I have been in the real estate industry for almost a decade and over the years my Rainmakers Sales teams are known for its fun factor. We always have fun in what we do. In good times and in bad times, we still to manage to smile and enjoy what we do. A few months back, we visited both our projects to take some awesome pictures thanks to my Sony Xperia Z1. Above is Geneve Baldos, Lindaflor Cadusales, and Ariane Alejandro "taking off" towards greater heights. The photo was taken in Aspen Heights Subdivision in Consolacion Cebu.

Next up we went to Mactan and took some stunning action shots and usies at Robinsons Homes' Blue Coast Residences.

The girls had this marvelous jump shot with the newly built Oceana house in the background. Kimberly Yap, Ariane and Lindaflor jumped quite high. Nelfa Alicamen and Gen were still on the ground.

Our group picture with the Marina House Model. From left: Carlo Andrew Olano, Ariane Alejandro, Nelfa Alicamen, Geneve Baldos, Lindaflor Cadusales, Kimberly Yap and Clyde Inso.

We had another group photo. I always love my team for being so game even in the hottest of days.

I did not want to leave the Blue Coast Residences without having a photo with my patented "flying shot".

It has always bee fun with the Rainmakers. There will be new faces in the coming months, but every member will always have a special place in my heart. I am looking forward to more adventures with my team.

5 Cars I want to Own after going to the BPI Auto Madness

2015-03-24T08:35:00.000-07:00

I went to the BPI Auto Madness last week to check on the cars that are being offered to the Cebu market. There were 19 car brands competing for attention and there were 5 cars that caught my fancy.

No.1 on my list is the 2015 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. They say bad boys attract the girls well, if a bad boy were a car, it would be a Jeep. It had bad-ass looks and it features are really suited for an adventure. Some might brand this car as nice, but the appropriate adjectives should be tough and strong. This off-roader will be a perfect partner for road trips to the mountain areas of Cebu. The design is still classic. You can always see the similarities to its previous incarnations.

No. 2 Toyota FJ Cruiser

An uncle of mine used to have land cruiser and it was one my favorites back when I was still in high school. The present version is much sleeker and sportier but nevertheless, a head turner. It is again one of those off-roaders abroad that becomes "cute" here in the Philippines.

No. 3 Chevrolet Trailblazer

The SUV is a great alternative to a Toyota Fortuner or Mitsubishi Montero. For this month, the local Chevrolet dealership is giving out 150,000 worth of accessories if you buy a Chevrolet Trailblazer. That is one sweet deal that will be hard to resist.

No. 4 Honda Odyssey

This is the only non-SUV in the list, but this Honda mini-van does not look like your ordinary mini-van. It has a lower profile for a sportier look. The interiors are really top class and it has a lot of interesting features like the dual power sliding doors. I also love the captain seats in the middle rows that reminds you of La-Z-Boy seats.

No. 5 BMW X4

Germany has to be represented so I picked the show-stopping BMW X4. This is probably the sportiest among the Sports Utility Vehicles in the market. Just by looking at it, you know that it is meant to be driven fast. The aerodynamics of the BMW X4 is just awesome. I really love those shark fin antennas.

These cars are really amazing. These are just actually one of the over 500 units that you can get via the BPI Auto Madness. For the whole month of March, BPI Family Auto Loan is giving special rates to car buyers. For more information, you may check out their website: http://www.bpiautoloans.com or may contact Wilbert Yu, BPI Family Savings Cebu Senior Manager, at 0917-5989273 or 0922-5273731.

My Food Blog's 10 Best Posts in February 2015

2015-03-10T09:53:00.001-07:00

Lately, I have been busy focusing on my food blog. I used to post all my food adventures and it became so many so I decided make a separate blog named Kalami Cebu. The main reason why I migrated most of my food posts to the new blog is mainly due to the free space that Google provides in my other blogger account. I have been making a daily post in my other blog for almost a month and the traffic for Kalami Cebu has overtook this site's traffic. With the help of some Cafe owners who shared my posts, I was able to generate over 10,000 site views last month for the new blog.

Here are the Top 10 blog posts of Kalami Cebu in February 2015:

10. Treat Street Cafe - This cafe in Ayala serves really delicious Illy coffee. They also have a variety of desserts.

9. Cafe Racer - This new diner in the North Reclamation Area is one of the best looking new restaurants in Cebu.

8. Obihiro Butadon - A Butadon place opened near our house and we were one of the first ones to try it.

7. Tazza Cafe and Patisserie - I loved the 1 Peso desserts here if you order a meal and drink. ;)

6. Gibb's Hot Wings - My favorite Wing place in Cebu.

5. Burger King Panagdait - A new fast food restaurant has opened in F. Cabahug Street.

4. Ironbound Coffee - I enjoyed drink the syphon coffee here.

3. Carnivore - One of the best restaurants to go to when I crave for meat. ;)

2. Yolk - One of the newest all-day breakfast places in Cebu. Another gem in the Mabolo-Panagdait area.

1. Camia Street Cafe - This is my number 1 post thanks to the promotion made by the owners of the cafe. 40% of last month's traffic came from the FB promote by the owners of Camia Street Cafe. I really love the Ostrich dishes there and their Yema cake. ;)

For more of my foodie adventures please visit Kalami Cebu

Food Trip: Ngohiong sa Carlos Special Ngohiong!

2015-02-27T02:41:00.000-08:00

Two years ago, I wrote about a Ngohiongan in Fairlane, Guadalupe that has been one of my favourite places to have lunch. This time, I will be writing a long overdue post about another favourite place for ngohiong for Cebuanos. Carlos Special Ngohiong is another small house-based eatery similar to

Doming's Ngohiong. It is located in Mambaling but they now have branches in Mabolo and Guadalupe.

If you are not familiar with the area, you are probably going to miss this place although the trisikad drivers in Mambaling are more than eager to guide you to the right way. Carlos Special Ngohiong practically serves the same crunchy goodness that its main competition offers. They have ngohiong along with fried chicken, fried gizzard, and fried chicken liver. These fried goodies goes so well with the local puso or hanging rice.

As always, what makes ngohiong a favorite lunch viand among Cebuanos is the sauce. The sweet, salty, sour, and spicy flavors of the sauce brings the ngohiong to a different level. The spicy sauce with a gravy-like consistency and color has always been a closely guarded secret. I will probably experiment one of these days and see if I can also make a sauce that I can use everyday.

The meal was expectedly great. It was not as cheap as a few years back but I always love paying for a worthy meal. A ngohiong meal has always been one of my best alternatives for lunch and I always look forward to have one once in a while. How about you do you have a favourite ngohiong place?

Sinulog 2015: The other side

2015-02-14T16:06:00.000-08:00

Aside from the religious aspect of the Sinulog and the a-la-Mardi Gras parade, there has been one other aspect that has grown over the years. Sinulog is known among the younger generation as the grand street party of Cebu. For the past couple of years, the crowds has swelled for the parties at the side streets.

A lot of production companies and establishments have taken advantage of the revelry and they have organized rave events and many stores offer good promos for beer and liquors during the season. Instead of watching the grand parade, many young people cram themselves in the narrow side streets and enjoy being face painted, given shots, taking free hugs and kisses, and greeting strangers Pit Senyor!

It is wet, wild, crowded and dirty but nobody really cares because everyone is having so much. If you are the type that is claustrophobic then I strongly suggest never to go in the Juana Osmena area and the side streets going to Baseline, Redemptorist Church, and the back of STC because you will end up crushed specially past lunchtime. Some people even make a mistake of parking their cars in the area and complained later as their cars somehow got vandalised with poster paint. Also, I really suggest that people with cars should not be stupid enough to go to that area in the afternoon because most likely you will stuck for hours and there is a big possibility to you will run over liquor and beet bottles. You have to learn how to walk to enjoy the Sinulog to the hilt especially in that area.

Some might not like this aspect of the Sinulog but for many, it is the very definition of Sinulog. Sinulog for some is all about the paint, the soiled clothes, the drinking, and the dancing. Some might try to control this aspect but it is actually what makes Sinulog memorable for many. A lot of young people now save up to come to Cebu, not only to watch the contingents or go to Church but they also want to party like nobody is watching. My friends from other provinces even wondered why their city do not hold such fun event. #PartyPaMore

Valentine's Day at Planet Grapes

2015-02-14T07:10:00.001-08:00

Valentine's Day has always been an important "holiday" for my wife. I have been "scolded" many times by her because I do not make preparations for February 14. This year it is a bit different because for the first time in my life, I made reservations for Valentine's Day. I decided that we will have lunch at Planet Grapes in Ayala.

I like it there because there is ample parking at the basement and it is not as crowded during lunch time. We decided to get their Valentine's special set. They prepared 2 special sets for month of love that includes an appetiser, main course, wine, and dessert for 995 pesos. I picked the steak set while Steph chose the fish set.

Sampler in Crime

Your Biggest Mi-STEAK

Never been FISH-ed

Chocolate Devotion

We really enjoyed lunch from the salad to the sampler to the main course to the wine and the dessert. I enjoyed the names of what I ate as well. We were served dishes called Never Been Fish-ed, Biggest Mi-Steak, Sampler in Crime, and Chocolate Devotion. It was one great meal that I did not mind paying for. I am confident that my wife was happy but also nervous that I have to do this every year onwards.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!!!

Sinulog 2015: Enjoying the Grand Parade

2015-02-11T10:23:00.000-08:00

Since I had visitors in this year's Sinulog, I made it a point to let them watch the grand parade and see what Sinulog is all about. A lot of people came here for the street parties and many tend to forget that those parties would now have been possible if there was no grand parade. Sinulog is also about street dancing, floats, giants, and celebrities. Many contingents train for a few months just to perform in Cebu's most popular festival. It would be sad if people would just focus in the beer drinking and the rave parties and forget to cheer and appreciate the amazing dance continents. Many contingents are even from out of town and a few were from areas devastated by Yolanda in 2013.

Our group came early to avoid the traffic and to avoid walking for miles just to get to General Maxilom Avenue. Since we came around 9 AM, we were able to find a taxi to drive us to Redemptorist Church. From there, it was just a 3 minute walk to the parade area. It was not as crowded early in the morning so we were able to find good spots to watch the festivities.

We were able to see some street dancing contingents and we even posed with some of the participants of the Sinulog. We caught a glimpse of some celebrities like Kim Chiu, Aling Dionisia, Ogie Alcasid, Pekto, Maja Salvador, etc. I even got a keychain and a basketball from Cebuana Lhullier.

We walked our way back to Ayala before lunchtime.

While it is good to support the side events of the Sinulog like the parties in some bars, I really think that one of the highlights of the Sinulog should be the Grand parade and the street dancing. I know quite a few friends who did not even see any of the performers of the parade yet they are bragging that it was the best Sinulog ever. I wonder what Sinulog means to them. ;)

Sinulog 2015 Moments: Sinulog 2015 Look

2015-02-01T12:45:00.000-08:00

Usually, I do not care how I look during the Sinulog. I rarely buy new shirts for the event because most likely it will not be wearable after an awesome Sinulog street party. This year is different since I have guests from Manila. I really encouraged them to buy some Sinulog shirts just to get a better feel of our famous festival. Since it was there first time, I wanted them to look the part and that also means that I have to somehow set an example.

Maan and Lot bought shirts from Island Souvenirs and had it cut and styled. Steph and I bought shirts there as well. We went to Mango Avenue very early. I parked my car in Ayala Center Mall then after breakfast, we rode a cab to Redemptorist Church. It was early morning and the taxi was able to reach the Church easily.

We were at the parade a quarter past 9 AM. There were a lot of vendors offering their goods like whistles and other Sinulog accessories. Their were also people offering Henna Tattoes and face painting. Since we had time to spare, we all decided to have our faces painted. It was not that expensive as rates go as low as 20 pesos depending on your chosen design. The complicated ones were like 70-100 pesos.

Steph picked a butterfly design for her face.

I had my hair coloured just for fun. I picked green to match my shirt.

Lot picked a design with flowers.

After 15 minutes, we were all ready to enjoy the Sinulog Grand Parade.

Instagram-Worthy Places in Cebu: Yolk Coffee and Breakfast

2015-01-27T13:00:00.000-08:00

A new all-day breakfast place will soon become an instant hit to Cebuano Instagram users. Yolk Coffee and Breakfast is setting itself up as Instagram hotspot by encouraging diners to post using hashtags #yolkcafeph and #cebueats. The management is also active in social media sites like Twitter and Facebook.

Here are some possible hashtags for you when you are at Yolk Coffe and Breakfast:

The place has a very good wifi connection and they encourage you to use their hashtags or follow them in social media. #YolkCafePh has so far have 2,000 plus posts and it is trending up.

#DOTD #DrinkoftheDay. Yolk has so many interesting coffee creations that you can post several #DOTD or #latteart photos.

The food is quite good. #Foodgasm is expected. Bountiful #Foodporn shots possible. I had #happytummy when I visited this place.

Each table has a different background. There is even one with a world map as a background so you will get unique #selfie pics or #coffeemugshots photos overtime you visit. Just make sure you pick a new seat.

You can somehow feel at home at Yolk Coffee and Breakfast. You can actually pretend to have breakfast at home there. You can pose at "your" new sofa and boast it in instagram.

Yolk Coffee and Breakfast is a nice place to have a feel good meal. It would be nice to go there now while there are still few regulars there. The prices are not cheap but the food has the quality and taste to match the price. Yolk is located at Tres Borces Street, Mabolo, Cebu City. From Ayala you drive/walk to F. Cagabug Street (Panagdait). You turn right at the street after Bread after Bread just a few meters from the J. Luna intersection.

Sinulog 2015 Moments: #Paintensity by ETC

2015-01-25T19:25:00.001-08:00

Because one of my guests got sick on the Friday before the Sinulog, we were not able to go to Life Dance 2015. Good thing, the next day everyone felt reenergised so we went out on Saturday night. I wanted Lot and Maan to see the awesome side events of Sinulog. There was a free dance party courtesy of TV Channel ETC in Cebu Business Park. The ETC #Paintensity was held at the Sumilon Road of Cebu Business Park. It is the area near the CIC back gate. The venue was big but their set-up was not enough for the deluge of people. By 9 PM, the line was so long that we decided to go at the side and just move close to stage and have fun.

We picked the left side and we saw lots of people doing the same thing. Steph and I even saw an old friend Mark Quitos who came over from Cagayan de Oro City just to take photos of the Sinulog 2015 festivities. We have not seen Mark for 4 years.

The party atmosphere extended to our side and a lot of people were dancing and drinking. DJ Funk Abby had a great mix and crowd was pumped up.

Eventually, the barrier going to the main area was removed but we remained in our spot. It was not as rowdy and we were all having fun drinking some Emperador with Iced Tea. There was even a time that the music was stopped because the middle part got too crowded and some people got hurt. The organisers even threatened to end the event early. Eventually, DJ funk Abby resumed after like 30 minutes of silence.

We stayed past midnight in time for Ace Ramos to start his set. I did not want to leave yet but we know that we still have an early day the next day so we have to wrap up. We had a great time and probably we will still attend a similar event in Sinulog 2016.

Sinulog 2015 Moments: I got Visitors

2015-01-22T09:44:00.000-08:00

Sinulog 2015 was very eventful for me. I enjoyed the Sinulogs in the past as a Cebuano who is celebrating his city's biggest festival but in 2015, I became more of a host/tour guide/historian. I got visitors from out of town who are experiencing the Sinulog for the first time.

Maan and Lot are fellow Business Directors of Robinsons Homes. Maan handles a team in Pampanga while Lot is based in the Cavite/Batangas area. Their visit was somehow unexpected because I prefer for them to come in 2016. Last November, they were like saying they are going to come to Cebu and I challenged them that if they can find a flight and a place to stay then I will surely be their tour guide /host here.

First Stop: Sto. Nino Church and Magellan's Cross

They arrived Friday at 5 AM in the morning. It was too early for me but I still manage to wake up and pick them up at the airport. It was the last day of the novena and the first thing we did was to attend Mass at Sto. Niño Church along with Stephie. They cannot understand the mass because it was in Bisaya but nevertheless, they were patient enough to stand, listen, and pray. We took a group photo at the Magellan's Cross upon the insistence of my wife.

After a breakfast in McDonald's, I drove them to their hotel, the Cinfandel Suites in Mandaue. They got a good deal with the hotel. They paid around 4,200 for 3 nights which is a bargain during the Sinulog season. The hotel is located in Cabangcalan, Mandaue which is just 5 minutes from my place.

After a little rest, I took them out for their first Cebuano meal. We headed down to Parkmall and we had lunch at Cebu's Original Lechon Belly. Lechon is probably the most popular dish in Cebu and the lechon belly has been the newest way to enjoy it. Unlike the traditional lechon, the lechon belly is boneless and made mostly of the belly part which is the favourite part of many Cebuanos including myself. I ordered half a kilo of spicy lechon belly and some puso. I thought I ordered too much but boy I was wrong. The two girls really liked it. It was an instant highlight of their trip. Lot told me that she will bring some to Manila when they return home. After finishing all the lechon we headed down to City Times Square and ate some cake in Zucre.

In the afternoon we bought our Sinulog shirts from Island Souvenirs. Stephie then joined us for an early dinner of CNT lechon and steamed rice and siomai from Dimsum Break.

It was an eventful first day which was more of an extended food trip. I had fun and I am sure that my guests were happy. It was a great start of a fantastic Sinulog weekend.

Instagram-Worthy Places in Cebu: Cafe Race Diner

2015-01-14T21:45:00.000-08:00

I have been an Instagram user for a while and that app has helped me in looking for interesting places to go to or #foodporn-worthy dishes. It's also a good app for someone who wants take photos or even #selfies in picturesque places. Instagram has been a platform for bloggers and other creative people to show off their work. It is also an app where some people really try show off about the happenings in their lives and try to generate likes and follows.

For Instagram fanatics or #igerscebu, there's a new place that could really help you get a lot of likes on posts. Recently, I was able to visit a new diner in Ouano Avenue, North Reclamation area. The Cafe Racer Diner is a newly opened restaurant that serves typical diner food like hotdogs, burgers, milkshakes as well as rice meals and barbecue. When I stopped by, I was only expecting to have some decent snacks while waiting for my wife who was coming from the Santo Nino Church.

The place at first looked like an abandoned old gasoline station turned into a chic eatery but I when I went it in, I was in a way floored by how nice it was. Almost every square foot of it is Instagram-worthy. It does not look like your typical restaurant or cafe here in Cebu. It was a like dream concept that turned into reality of someone who is into cars, motorcycles, recycling, and interior decoration. Oil drums turned into chairs in one area then the cashier area is housed inside a classic Volkswagen van. I really feel that this place will be a favourite among Instagrammers.

This wall poster is perfect place for selfies or to take an #ootd pic with a race vibe. Motorcycle riders should visit this place at least once and wear leather jacket and an old school helmet. A couple could even ask the friendly staff for a nice #sundate pic on this table and the staff are more than willing to help you in getting that like-worthy pic.

VW fanboys will definitely have a photo at the counter. It is really hard to find a VW van nowadays but you can find it everyday at Cafe Racer Diner. There are even some tables that have car hood table tops in the outdoor seating area.

Here I am with my solo pic with a Cafe Racer. A Cafe Racer is a light-weight, lightly-powered motorcycle optimized for speed and handling rather than comfort — and optimized for quick rides over short distances. according to Wikipedia. A Cafe Racer is a stripped down bike that became a popular ride of European kids who hopped from one cafe to another. I would probably like to take this one for a spin.

The place is also a #foodporn and #happytummy haven. The price as expected was higher than fast-food burger joints but its Instagram potential is 10 times greater. My burgers came in a wooden chopping board while my Vanilla milkshake was in a "recycled" mayo glass. The owners are probably conscious about social media. I like it. The taste? Well, it was not a #foodgasm moment but it was a great meal. The 205 pesos I paid for the meal and the place is quite a bargain.

Well, well, well, look at where they grill their food. That's a football tailgater's dream. Grilling your food in the hood of your classic beetle is just awesome. Their pork barbecue by the way is only 15 pesos a stick and they also serve beer.

All in all, the place has a lot potential. I have not really tried all their specialties but judging by the crowd traffic, I think they are serving excellent food. Cafe Racer Diner is not only a perfect place to make Instagram posts, it is actually a great place to chill. One of these days, I will definitely go back with a group and have an easy and relaxing beer night there. ;)

Sinulog 2015: Another Awesome Sinulog is in the offing

2015-01-13T23:30:00.001-08:00

Sinulog is the Queen of the festivals in the country. This is Cebu's main fiesta and practically the whole country will celebrate it with Cebu. Local pilgrims and foreign tourists are arriving in numbers here in Cebu to join the festivities.

There are basically aspects of Sinulog, one is the religious side and other is the fun side. Many come for just one aspect but the majority usually have a dose of both. Sinulog is the celebration for Santo Nino or Child Jesus. The Sinulog is celebrated every 3rd Sunday of January.

The religious aspects starts 10 days before the big day as the novena starts with a Walk for Jesus. There are 11 novena masses daily for 9 days and it is packed to the rafters. On the Friday before the Sinulog, the relic of the Virgin of Guadalupe will join the Sto. Nino via Walk with Mary on Friday dawn and then both relics will be moved to the St. Joseph Parish in Mandaue. The transport is called the Translacion. On early morning Saturday, the Holy Family will go back to the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino de Cebu via the fluvial parade. It is participated by several boats that are full of people. Later on that day, the grand procession will commence. There is still masses on Sunday but the main activities in that day will be related to the fun aspect.

5:30 AM is packed

In the fun aspect, Sinulog season is full activities like the Cebu City marathon, the outdoor parties like Lifedance, and many cultural activities. The main highlight though is that grand parade where several contingents prepare amazing Sinulog presentations along with uber-fun street dancing. The contingents are dressed in colourful and creative costumes. In the grand parade there are also floats from major companies. These floats usually have a celebrity guest. There are also giants and it is similar to the Mardi Gras. The grand parade this year will be held this Sunday. There are also a lot of parties along the parade route.

This year, I expect to immerse in the fun aspect of the Sinulog festivities. I have guests coming for the weekend and I know we will have a great time even if a weather disturbance can affect Cebu. Sinulog is like an extended Christmas party for the Cebuanos and it is time for us to showcase our hospitality and make our visitors say that "It is Really More Fun in Cebu!"

I will be posting about my Sinulog 2015 adventure in the coming days.

2014 in Review : Another Island Hopping Adventure

2015-01-04T18:10:00.001-08:00

The second island hopping adventure that I had last summer was with Maikee Demegillo and her friends from Med School. My wife and I joined them as we went to Caohagan Island and Olango Island. We ate a late lunch at stilt restaurant of the coast of Olango. The restaurant served fresh seafood dishes and there were musicians serenaded us while we eat. It was a fun experience for the whole group.

Fly Maikee, Fly!!!

A restaurant at the middle of the sea

Fish photo time!

Lechon Belly - one of her favourite baons

posted from Bloggeroid

2014 in Review: Movenpick Adventures with the Demegillos

2015-01-02T01:00:00.001-08:00

Movenpick Mactan is one of Cebu's premier resorts. We were lucky to have a friend who owns a condominium unit in the resort complex. Our friend lent his unit to my wife's aunt for a couple days and we were able to enjoy the amazing amenities of Movenpick Resort Mactan. Auntie Marilou and her family had a great time in there 2 nights stay at the highly exclusive resort.

We enjoyed the swimming pool and it is one of the best places to have night swimming in Cebu. The lights are cool to look out and I cannot help but take a photo from 1BR unit that we stayed in. This resort has been one of the favorites of celebrity bloggers here in the country.

The next day, my wife and I had a jetski adventure at the Hilutungan Channel courtesy of Aunt Marilou Demegillo. We were really thankful for the treat because it was another #achievementunlocked in the #summertoremember.

posted from Bloggeroid

2014 Flashback : Robinsons Homes Summer Outing

2015-01-02T00:27:00.001-08:00

Last summer, Robinsons Home Cebu hosted a summer party for its loyal agents in Cebu. The event was full of fun and games and the agents were able to bond with each other. The mood was really festive and it was another event in my #summertoremember.

posted from Bloggeroid

2014 in Review : The Great Cronut Hunt

2015-01-02T00:15:00.001-08:00

We were looking for some kind of unique pasalubong that we wanted to take to Cebu. There's JCo Donuts but we wanted something more extraordinary. Suddenly we decided to have some cronuts. What the heck are cronuts? It's a pastry that is a mixed breed of croissant and doughnut. Can you imagine the texture of croissant with the flavours and fillings of a doughnut? That's a cronut. The cornet craze started in NYC and spread around the world with the help of #foodporn addicts. The craze trickled somehow to the Archipelago called The Philippines.

We started looking for these sweet goodies at SM Aura, then explored the coffeeshops and teashops in Taguig. We found none. We ended up at Hotel Intercontinental in Makati where its Jeepney Restaurant have stocks. The great quest of looking for the elusive trees ended in VICTORY and we brought the cronuts home and lived happily ever after. ;)

posted from Bloggeroid

2014 in Review : Ice Skating and Eating at Mall of Asia

2015-01-02T00:09:00.001-08:00

One of most memorable moments in my Manila Summer Tour was my visit to SM Mall of Asia. At Mall of Asia, I was able to try ice skating for the first time. It was something that I wished to do that got postponed by 20 years. I have waited for 20 years and I was disappointed. I should have done this 20 years ago at SM Megamall rink but my wife now did not like seeing me along with her group because she hated me then. 20 years later, I was able to skate and the girl who did not like seeing me is now my wife for then years.

I was sort of in my element at the rink. Among the dozens of skaters and skate wannabes, I was the only one sweating as in really sweating. Can you imagine someone sweating in freezer like conditions? Yep I was sweating. I guess I got challenge by ice skating. I am competitive guy and I am semi-athletic so naturally, I want to master the sport in one go. It's not possible but at least I know now how to move in the ice with out falling. If given another chance, I will take another shot and I hope that Cebu will have its own rink soon.

We capped our day with a lunch at Burgoo. As always the servings are great and we were able to finish 'em all. We had pizza, pasta, ribs, shrimps, and a whole lot more. It was another #happytummy moment for all of us.

posted from Bloggeroid

2014 in Review : Foodtrip at Resorts World

2015-01-02T00:03:00.001-08:00

Last summer, I finally got to see Resorts World Manila. The one thing that I can remember in my time at Newport Mall was the yummy food that I ate there. The mall is filled with excellent dining choices. I only ate 2 but I was really happy.

The first restaurant that we visited there was Recipes. We were looking to grab a fast dinner before watching a movie. Recipes is all about Pinoy food. We had our fill of Filipino favorites like binagoongang baboy, lumpia, and park belly.

The second restaurant was Red Crab. Red Crab has always been my favourite way back when I was working in Manila. I love seafood and I love those big crustaceans. I remember when I was still with Volkswagen, now Atty. Micoy dela Fuente and I would save money just to eat the seafood club buffet at Greenbelt. We ate so much that we felt drunk because of those delicious and humongous crabs. My heart beat faster when I saw the Red Crab logo at Newport mall and I told my wife that we got to eat there sometime. We finally had a chance because we had a late flight back to Cebu and we decided to have our last meal there. No regrets, I really love it there. How I wish it was eat-all-you-can. It was not perfect but I went home to Cebu with a happy tummy. ;)

posted from Bloggeroid

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