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WHO reports new version of Omicron Variant “BA.2”

Marel Baluyos
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0
WHO reports new version of Omicron Variant “BA.2”

The Omicron variant truly have spread all around the world like we thought it would and we are now just getting back up from its effect but a new version of it is being observed yet again.

The World Health Organization have reported on January 24 that a new version of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is “increasing in many countries”. The organization further states that it urges researchers to investigate whether this latest strain poses any new threats to the current state of the pandemic.

Photo from Unsplash

The new version is known as BA.2, this name comes from of the Omicron variant which was named BA.1. As a descendant of Omicron, it has some differences in some of its mutations—including ones on the spike protein—than BA.1.

It has been detected in many countries like India, Denmark, Britain, and many others. Though in Europe, it appears the most widespread in Denmark.

Photo from Unsplash

BA. 2 is now getting close attention as little is known about it yet and if this child of omicron is more advanced than the original omicron characteristic of evading preexisting immunity from vaccines and other variants exposure.

“Variants have come, variants have gone. I don’t think there’s any reason to think this one is a whole lot worse than the current version of omicron.”- Robert Garry, a virologist at Tulane University School of Medicine.

Photo from Unsplash

Indeed it is a new version but there is still no data that suggests whether or not BA.2 is worse than Omicron in terms of transmissibility or any other type of advantage so continued monitoring will be done.

Cebu logs 415 new cases on January 31

Sugbo.ph Contributor
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0
Cebu logs 415 new cases on January 31

On Monday evening, the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH-7) released its official, consolidated data of the COVID-19 cases in the region as of January 31, 2022.

The whole island of Cebu — Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and Cebu Province — recorded 415 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 703 new recoveries, and 17 new deaths. Cebu’s total active cases declined to 15,002 (from 15,264).

Cebu City
– Total confirmed: 51,479 (+183 new)
– Total recoveries: 42,519 (+222 new)
– Total deaths: 1,583 (+6 new)
– Active cases: 7,395

Lapu-Lapu City
– Total confirmed: 16,317 (+49 new)
– Total recoveries: 13,714 (+0 new)
– Total deaths: 479 (+1 new)
– Active cases: 2,124

Mandaue City
– Total confirmed: 14,803 (+61 new)
– Total recoveries: 13,064 (+170 new)
– Total deaths: 458 (+6 new)
– Active cases: 1,281

Cebu Province
– Total confirmed: 43,714 (+122 new)
– Total recoveries: 36,876 (+311 new)
– Total deaths: 2,636 (+4 new)
– Active cases: 4,202

SUMMARY OF COVID-19 CASES IN CEBU:

  • Total Active Cases in Cebu: 15,002 (from 15,264)
  • Total Confirmed Cases in Cebu: 126,331 (+415 new)
  • Total Recoveries in Cebu: 106,173 (+703 new)
  • Total Deaths in Cebu: 5,156 (+17 new)

A total of 1,281 laboratory results were released.

NOTES from DOH-7:

  • *As per DOH-7, the additional deaths in the report are not due to the overnight spike in deaths but due to more accurate data collection and validating efforts. Not all of those deaths occurred today but occurred more than a week ago.
  • Reports maybe subject to change as these claims undergo thorough validation by the local healthcare offices and health personnel.

DOH-7 FULL REPORT (CENTRAL VISAYAS):

Top 5 Lucky Food to prepare this Chinese New Year 2022

Marel Baluyos
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Top 5 Lucky Food to prepare this Chinese New Year 2022

We Filipinos eagerly celebrate the new year twice. The Chinese culture has been intertwined with ours too deep that this is our normal.

The Year of the Water Tiger approaches and it’s time to prepare our tables for its welcome feast.

Photo from Unsplash

A feast that would symbolize all our hopes and wishes for 2022. Don’t know what to prepare? Worry not for we have here a list of the most important food to prepare to bring in all the luck and blessings.

1. Tikoy/ Glutinous rice cake

“Getting higher year-after-year by year”

Tikoy is the most popular treat for the Chinese New Year in the Philippines and even on regular days, this treat is a favorite snack for us Cebuanos. It is made from sticky or glutinous rice and even has a variety of flavors from the original white tikoy to green pandan and purple ube. It is believed that Tikoy will bring you higher, more prosperous on your business and a general improvement in life. 

Photo from Manayon Christie

2. Fish

“May you always have more than you need!”

A whole fish in your tables will bless you with more than what you need.  In Chinese, “fish” sounds like ‘surplus’ or extra. It’s the belief of having managed to save something at the end of the year that will continue into being able to make more in the next year.

Photo from Unsplash
Photo from Unsplash

3. Spring Rolls

“A ton of gold, Wealth”

Spring rolls are a staple on our tables as well especially during a dine-in dim sum.  Preparing these cylindrical-shaped rolls filled with vegetables and meat is a wish for prosperity. This is because fried spring rolls look like gold bars given their golden-yellow color.

Photo from Unsplash
Photo from Unsplash

4. Noodles/Pancit

“Happiness and Longevity”

This comes as a no shock for noodles and pancit always symbolizes a wish for longevity. To live long, one must not cut them during preparation. Though noodles with broth are also prepared, the two favorite noodle dishes during the Chinese New Year in the Philippines are the all-time favorites pancit bihon and pancit canton.

Photo fromUnsplash
Photo from Unsplash

5. Tangerine/Orange- Fullness and Wealth

Round and “golden” fruits like tangerines and oranges symbolizes fullness and wealth. Eating and displaying these fruits is believed to bring good luck and fortune and surprisingly this is due to their pronunciation, and writing. In Chinese, orange and tangerine sounds the same as the Chinese for ‘success’ and writing tangerine contains the Chinese character for luck.

Photo from Unsplash

Preparing and wishing for luck is not really a sure thing but there is no harm in trying and you get to indulge in all delicious food anyway so it’s already a win.

5 Well-Known Authentic Chinese Restaurants in Cebu

Marel Baluyos
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0
5 Well-Known Authentic Chinese Restaurants in Cebu

Our ancestry won’t lie and no matter what bloodline you came from it’s pretty sure that you have Chinese genes in you.

The presence of Filipinos of Chinese descent has always been strong and felt especially here in Cebu which is why the Chinese New Year is well celebrated by Cebuanos too.

Preparing your own food is good and fulfilling but sometimes there is just no time which is what makes takeout and deliveries convenient to us.

Here are some of the well-known and well-loved Chinese restaurants that will prepare your delicious table food for the start of the year of the Black Tiger.

1. Luy’s Classic Tea House

Authentic Chinese cuisine with a touch of local feels, Luy’s Classic Tea House have become a constant in the dining sector in Cebu. They have live seafood up the front wherein you can choose what you want.Two of their rare offers are Ham Sui Kok and Shanghai hairy crab. They have a huge space that can cater to your family and friends and dine with their favorite Dim sum and Chinese dishes.

Photo from Luys Classic Teahouse Facebook Page
Photo from Luys Classic Teahouse Facebook Page
Photo from Luys Classic Teahouse Facebook Page
Photo from Luys Classic Teahouse Facebook Page
Photo from Luys Classic Teahouse Facebook Page

OTHER INFORMATION

2. The Ching Palace

Ching Palace stands out with their elaborate red design and is very well-known for their many function rooms. Chinese food may look strange to someone who haven’t tried them yet but they arer always unequivocally good. Their must-have in this resto are the tasty live crab steamed with garlic, Lobster Sashimi and of course their claypot rice.

Photo from The Ching Palace Facebook Page
Photo from The Ching Palace Facebook Page
Photo from The Ching Palace Facebook Page

OTHER INFORMATION

  • Exact location: Along Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City
  • Opening hours: 10:30AM to 8PM on Mondays to Saturdays; until 7pm on Sundays  
  • Contact number: (032) 233 8833
  • Email address: [email protected]
  • Facebook Page: The Ching Palace | Facebook

3. Majestic

The well-loved and go-to Chinese restaurant for family dinners and gatherings that it has become a fixture in every Cebuano family. Its branches are in big malls as well which is what makes it a favorite after shopping. Their must-try offers are Butter Chicken, Pata Tim with Fried Bread, Beef Steak Chinese Style and Bird’s Nest with Quail Eggs

Photo from Majestic Restaurant Facebook Page
Photo from Majestic Restaurant Facebook Page
Photo from Majestic Restaurant Facebook Page

OTHER INFORMATION

  • Exact location: Branches at Ayala Center Cebu; SM City Cebu; and SM Seaside City Cebu
  • Opening hours: 11AM to 11PM Daily  
  • Contact number: (032) 255 1112
  • Facebook Page: Majestic Restaurant | Facebook

4. Tin Gow

Tin Gow is Waterfront Cebu’s premier & elegant Chinese restaurant. It gives off fancy vibes and specializes in a combination of Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine.  If you ever have formal private parties, this is where you’ll go but rest assured they have affordable meals like their Eat-All-You-Can Dim Sum Promo for lunch and sets of classic dishes and all kinds of seafood plated beautifully.

OTHER INFORMATION

Photo from Majestic Restaurant Facebook Page
Photo from Majestic Restaurant Facebook Page
Photo from Majestic Restaurant Facebook Page
Photo from Majestic Restaurant Facebook Page
  • Exact location: Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, Lahug, Cebu City
  • Opening hours: 11AM to 3PM/5PM to 9PM Daily  
  • Contact number: (032) 232 6888 
  • Facebook Page: Tin Gow | Facebook

5. Tim Ho Wan

Tim Ho Wan is one of those restaurants that are top of its class when it comes to taste as they are serving your favorite Michelin-starred Pork Buns and dimsum. Known to be the most affordable Michelin-starred restaurant in the world, it certainly won’t disappoint. Superb Chinese food for a superb start of the year sounds delicious.

Photo from SM Seaside City Cebu Facebook Page
Photo from Tim Ho Wan PH Facebook Page
Photo from Tim Ho Wan PH Facebook Page
Photo from Tim Ho Wan PH Facebook Page

OTHER INFORMATION

  • Exact location: Upper Ground Floor, Mountain Wing, SM Seaside City
  • Opening hours: 10AM to 8PM on Daily  
  • Contact number: 0917 118 6453/ (032) 341-5770
  • Email address: N/A
  • Facebook Page: Tim Ho Wan PH | Facebook

Gong hei fat choy! May your new year be fruitful and full of happiness.

Cebu now accepts vaccinated foreign tourists without undergoing quarantine

Ram Mancelita
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0
Cebu now accepts vaccinated foreign tourists without undergoing quarantine

In hopes to revive the tourism sector and boost the economy, the Philippines will open its borders to fully vaccinated international tourists without the need to undergo facility-based quarantine starting February 10, 2022.

Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia also announced on Friday that it will start accepting arriving fully vaccinated overseas Filipinos and foreign nationals on February 1, 2022. The memorandum also lifts the facility quarantine requirement.

Mactan Cebu International Airport Terminal 2

Tourism is one of the badly hit industries caused by the global pandemic and continues to struggle after two years due to travel restrictions. Worse, many areas in the Visayas and Mindanao region were devastated by Typhoon Odette last December 16, 2021 and damaged many tourism-related establishments.

The tourism industry can now recover and it can contribute big to jobs, livelihoods and the country’s economic growth

Presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said in a press briefing

Approved on January 27, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution 159 suggests acceptance of visa-free travel for short visits from 157 countries with lighter requirements.

Mactan Cebu International Airport Terminal 2

Fully Vaccinated Travelers Requirements:

  • Travelers can visit either for tourism or business purposes
  • A passport valid for at least six months
  • Return or outbound ticket to their country of origin
  • Proof of vaccination verified through IATF-approved channels
  • Negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin

Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated Travelers Requirements:

  • Travelers can visit either for tourism or business purposes
  • A passport valid for at least six months
  • Return or outbound ticket to their country of origin
  • Negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin
  • Be swabbed upon arrival
  • Undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of their second RT-PCR test taken on the 5th day from arrival

Children 12 years old and below who cannot be vaccinated should follow the quarantine protocol of their adult companion.

Here’s the memorandum from the Cebu Provincial Government based on IATF Resolution No. 159:

IN PHOTOS: Sneak Peek of the new Carbon Market in Cebu City

Ram Mancelita
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0
IN PHOTOS: Sneak Peek of the new Carbon Market in Cebu City

On January 28, around 100 displaced vendors have been temporarily relocated to the newly inaugurated Interim Market Stalls at Unit 2 of Carbon Public Market while the redevelopment of the Modernized Carbon Market is still ongoing.

The temporary stalls are part of Phase 1 of the Carbon Market Modernization Project, which is a Public-Private Partnership between the Cebu City Government and Megawide. The photos, shared by Cebu City counciler Jerry Guardo, highlight the cleaner and more organized stalls, wider spaces and walkways, and cleaner comfort rooms.

One of the modernization project’s objectives is to be able to help Carbon market vendors by constructing a new market building that will centralize the trade of goods in a single space. The population of the previous Carbon Market consists of about 1,300 stall owners and at least 5,000 ambulant vendors who all depend on their goods for income.

Render of the Proposed Carbon Market

The new market will serve as Cebu’s Heritage District and will be composed of a restored Compania Maritima, an improved Freedom Park, and a modernized Carbon Market. It also aims to highlight the natural gifts and rich heritage that Cebu City possesses.

The Sto. Niño Chapel at the Senior Citizens Park, which highlights a 30-foot image of Sto. Niño, is also part of the modernization project and was inaugurated on the same day, January 28.

Photo by Jesse Jake Visuals
Photo by Jesse Jake Visuals
Photo by Jesse Jake Visuals
Photo by Jesse Jake Visuals

Cebu logs 517 new cases on January 30

Sugbo.ph Contributor
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0
Cebu logs 517 new cases on January 30

On Sunday evening, the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH-7) released its official, consolidated data of the COVID-19 cases in the region as of January 30, 2022.

The whole island of Cebu — Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and Cebu Province — recorded 517 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 510 new recoveries, and 4 new deaths. Cebu’s total active cases slightly increased to 15,264 (from 15,262).

Cebu City
– Total confirmed: 51,315 (+229 new)
– Total recoveries: 42,315 (+312 new)
– Total deaths: 1,577 (+2 new)
– Active cases: 7,423

Lapu-Lapu City
– Total confirmed: 16,268 (+71 new)
– Total recoveries: 13,721 (+0 new)
– Total deaths: 478 (+0 new)
– Active cases: 2,069

Mandaue City
– Total confirmed: 14,742 (+56 new)
– Total recoveries: 12,900 (+70 new)
– Total deaths: 452 (+0 new)
– Active cases: 1,390

Cebu Province
– Total confirmed: 43,592 (+161 new)
– Total recoveries: 36,578 (+128 new)
– Total deaths: 2,632 (+2 new)
– Active cases: 4,382

SUMMARY OF COVID-19 CASES IN CEBU:

  • Total Active Cases in Cebu: 15,264 (from 15,262)
  • Total Confirmed Cases in Cebu: 125,917 (+517 new)
  • Total Recoveries in Cebu: 105,514 (+510 new)
  • Total Deaths in Cebu: 5,139 (+4 new)

A total of 2,102 laboratory results were released.

NOTES from DOH-7:

  • *As per DOH-7, the additional deaths in the report are not due to the overnight spike in deaths but due to more accurate data collection and validating efforts. Not all of those deaths occurred today but occurred more than a week ago.
  • Reports maybe subject to change as these claims undergo thorough validation by the local healthcare offices and health personnel.

DOH-7 FULL REPORT (CENTRAL VISAYAS):

Thailand approves move to declare COVID-19 endemic this year

Ram Mancelita
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0
Thailand approves move to declare COVID-19 endemic this year

Thai health authorities recently approved the new guidelines outlining the criteria for classifying the coronavirus pandemic as an endemic disease, as the current wave only shows minor symptoms and people are cooperating with the vaccination campaign.

Three criteria are included in the guidelines developed by the ministry’s National Communicable Disease Committee:

  1. There should be fewer than 10,000 new cases per day
  2. Death rate should be not be higher than 0.1 percent of those who are admitted to the hospital with an infection
  3. More than 80 percent of at-risk people have had at least two vaccinations

Thailand has already met all three criteria based on official data. However, the Ministry of Public Health said it would take 6 to 12 months for the government to really decide if COVID-19 should be treated as a chronic condition like the flu or measles.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious diseases expert in the United States, also said that the COVID-19 will not be considered endemic until it lowers to “a level that does not disrupt society.” Despite the caution from the World Health Organization (WHO), Thailand has now joined Spain and Switzerland in considering declaring COVID-19 to be endemic.

Loha Prasat, Bangkok, Thailand

An immensely popular Southeast Asian tourist destination, Thailand announced last week that it will be resuming its quarantine-free visa entry for fully vaccinated visitors starting this February, in an effort to revive its crippling economy.

Thailand has administered 113.6 million doses of the vaccine so far with 70% of the population or roughly 48.3 million people being fully vaccinated.

In the Philippines, 58 million Filipinos or around 53% of the country’s population have been fully vaccinated as of January 2022. The government is said to ramp up its goal to 90 million by the first half of the year. The majority of the areas in the Philippines are still placed under community quarantine.

‘Secret button’ on iPhones goes viral on TikTok; here’s the tutorial  

Ram Mancelita
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1
‘Secret button’ on iPhones goes viral on TikTok; here’s the tutorial  

“You’re using your iPhone wrong if you’re not using the back tap feature.”

These were the words of TikTok creator @ellyawesometech after she shared this “secret button” on iPhones. The video went viral with more than 1 million views after 24 hours as many iPhone users were intrigued and did not know about this special feature. In fact, one user commented that the secret button “changed (their) life forever.”

Back Tap feature

The so-called ‘secret button’ is actually the ‘hidden’ Back Tap feature on the iPhone, which is available on any device running iOS 14.

Available since September 2020, this feature allows users to just double-tap their phone near the Apple logo on the back, and their phone will perform whatever function they’ve set into the settings menu such as opening the flashlight, camera, taking a screenshot, or opening Shazam.

To do this:

  1. Make sure you’ve updated your iPhone to at least iOS 14.
  2. Go to Settings then scroll to ‘Accessibility’ and tap ‘Touch’
  3. Scroll at the bottom and select ‘Back Tap.’ Select either double-tap or triple-tap.
  4. You will then choose the functionality of the Back Tap feature. These are some of the options:
    • App Switcher
    • Camera
    • Control Center
    • Flashlight
    • Home
    • Lock Screen
    • Siri
    • Shazam
    • …and more!

P.S. The Back Tap feature also works with a phone case.

@ellyawesometech

Back Tap is an insane hidden iPhone feature! 🤭😳 #iphonetips #iphonetricks #apple #techtok #tech #ellyawesome

♬ original sound – ellyawesometech

Look! This Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 costs P3.5 Million

Ram Mancelita
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0
Look! This Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 costs P3.5 Million

Even with a hefty price tag of US$70,000 (about P3.5 million), there’s actually someone in the US with size 11 that wants a pair of the Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 sneaker created by the late American fashion designer Virgil Abloh.

Louis Vuitton recently partnered with Sotheby’s for the bidding of 200 special edition pairs of the Louis Vuitton and Nike “Air Force 1” sneakers. The auction starts at US$2,000 (about P80,000) per pair and a portion of the proceeds will benefit The Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund.

The majority of the 200 pairs have met their reserve prices. It’s worth noting that the rarest sizes (5, 5.5, 16, 17, and 18), which will only be produced in one pair per size, are currently priced between $24,000 to $35,000. The next highest bid is $50,000 for a US 10.5 — lot 172. Only four other pairs have sold for more than $45,000 USD on Sotheby’s at the moment.

The Scholarship Program awards academically promising Black, African-American, and African students that will help advance diversity, equality, and inclusivity within the fashion industry. The scholars will also receive fashion career mentoring and support.

This auction is a significant addition to Sotheby’s lengthy history of auctioning some of the world’s most valuable and coveted sneakers. It will also serve as a springboard for a series of events that Louis Vuitton will host throughout 2022.

Those interested in seeing the current auction prices can go to the offiical auction website.

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