Many countries were overwhelmed by the record number of the covid-19 variant omicron cases and it seems like Europe has had enough.
Photo from Undsplash
Gone are the days where panic and strict restriction is the immediate answer to surges in the pandemic as they are now considering the way of “acceptance”.
Spain
Leading this call for a new strategy is Spain. Their government is planning to treat the upcoming covid-19 surges as an illness that is here to stay.
Dr. Salvador Trenche, head of the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine also stated that COVID-19 “must be treated like the rest of illnesses” and that the public should accept that some deaths from COVID-19” will be inevitable”.
Photo from Unsplash
Portugal
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa have declared that Portugal had “moved into an endemic phase.” Endemic means a disease that is present permanently in a region or population.
As one of the countries in the world with the highest vaccination rates, their hospitalizations and deaths are much lower compared to previous surges.
Photo from Unsplash
United Kingdom
In the UK, mandatory wearing of masks and covid-19 passports will be no more mask-wearing in public places on Jan. 26.
Isolation requirement will also soon follow if their virus data continues to improve according to their Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. He also says to replace legal requirements with advice and guidance as COVID becomes endemic.
Photo from Unsplash
Covid-19 is starting to be viewed as an endemic not only in Europe but all over the world.
The Oslob Tourism Office has recently reopened its most-visited tourist attractions — the whale shark watching and Sumilon Sandbar — starting on January 22, 2022.
This marks the start of the gradual recovery of one of the hardest-hit towns by Typhoon Odette last December 16, 2021.
Did you miss the pristine and clear water of sumilon island? How about the world’s famous giant whalesharks? Good news! We’re now opening our door again who wish to see these beautiful tourist attractions of Oslob.
– Oslob Tourism Office on a Facebook post
Now is the time more than ever to support and travel local. Here’s everything you need to know to experience these wonderful attractions in Oslob, Cebu.
Oslob Whale Shark Watching
Witness the peaceful whale sharks in their natural habitat with this whale shark watching tour in Oslob.
SCHEDULE:
• Whale Shark Watching is available daily from 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM only.
FEES:
TOURISTS
INCLUSIONS
PRICE
Filipino Tourists
Whale watching (no swimming) + Life Jacket
No longer available
Filipino Tourists
Snorkeling with the Whale + Life Jacket
₱500
Foreign Tourists
Snorkeling with the Whale + Life Jacket
₱500
NOTE:
The activity is good for 30 minutes only.
Diving and snorkeling are limited in time and people. The activity is by batch.
TIP: If you don’t want to wait in the line for too long and avoid the horrible traffic in the city and the southern parts, make sure to leave Cebu City or Mactan at around 2 or 3 AM.
THE RULES
All whale shark watchers must undergo orientation at the Briefing Center on the rules for interaction with whale sharks.
No feeding of whale sharks by unauthorized personnel.
Do not touch, ride, or chase a whale shark.
Do not restrict normal movement or behavior of the shark.
Do not use flash photography.
Do not create splash when entering the water.
Do not wear sunscreen if you are going to enter the water.
Motor boats are prohibited in the area. Only paddle boats are allowed.
Viewing is limited to 30 minutes.
Maintain a minimum distance of 5m from the head, 6m from the tail (this differs from the 2m from the head, and 5m from the tail stated in the ordinance).
HOW TO GET THERE?
BY BUS: From the South Bus Terminal (near Emall), ride a Ceres bus going to “Bato-Oslob”. All buses bound for Oslob operate 24/7. Bus fare is ~₱155 /head (one-way). Inform the driver to drop you off at the main Whale Shark activity site.
BY CAR: Road trips are fun, especially if you’re going south. Make sure to navigate via Waze or Google Maps and set your destination to “Oslob Whale Shark Watching”.
Sumilon Sandbar (Day Tour)
Sumilon Island is popular as a small sandbar island perfect for that exclusive beach escapade, very far away from the bustling and stress brought by the city life. With pristine white sand and crystal-clear blue water, the island has been a favorite spot for tourists both local and international.
Photo by Aligato John Ray of The Island Nomad in partnership with Sugbo.phPhoto by @thomito12Photo by Jeff Despi
RATES:
Sumilon Island Boat Transfer Fee – P1,500 per boat
Environmental Fee – P50
Sumilon Island Day-Pass – $30 or P1,440 based on Klook
Link to Purchasse Bluewater Sumilon Day Pass: Online booking
HOW TO GET THERE:
Exact Location: Sumilon Island, Oslob, Southern Cebu — approx. 3-4 hours away from the city.
BY BUS: From the South Bus Terminal (near Emall), ride a Ceres bus going to “Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort”. All buses bound for Oslob operate 24/7. Bus fare is ~P155 /head (one-way). Inform the driver to drop you off at the main Whale Shark activity site or to the resort you’re heading.
BY CAR: Road trips are fun, especially if you’re going south. Make sure to navigate via Waze or Google Maps and set your destination to “Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort”.
Traveling is a joy. It’s always a delight to go to new places, have new experiences, and brave the outdoors. Although as much as it is a joy, there are minor inconveniences every now and then.
Photo from Unsplash
One such inconvenience that can quickly rise to a matter of safety is phone signal. Sometimes we travel to places with poor or unreliable reception. Especially after typhoon Odette ravaged cellphone towers in Visayas, certain areas still have no cell signal.
The Satellite Phone, or Satphone as others call it, is an excellent solution to this concern. Satphones are reliable communication devices that work just like a keypad phone, except not having to rely on cell towers for signal.
Satellite phones typically work in any geographical area on Earth at any time while you are outdoors.
Emergency calls and location tracker
When our phones can’t find cell signal, we see the warning, “Emergency Calls” only. This means that the phone cannot find signal for your SIM, but emergency calls can still be made by connecting to the next available network tower. Think of it like hitching a ride.
But what if there absolutely no other network towers to hitch a ride on? What if you find yourself traveling to a remote area in the wilderness or in the mountains? Your phone becomes completely useless in this case, and satellite phones will be your saving grace.
Satphones transmit and receive signals via satellites orbiting the earth. Your text or call is sent directly to the nearest satellite, which then sends that signal to the nearest land-based center (gateway), and then the gateway transmits that signal to the receiving phone. This receiving device can be a landline phone, a cellphone, or a satphone.
Most satphones also come with a built-in GPS tracker or a location sender. This allows the would-be recipient of your message to know your general area and will make locating or even rescuing you so much faster.
Photo from Unsplash
Coverage over wide locations
A satphone’s biggest benefit is that it is not limited to areas covered by cell towers; it can be used in most geographic locations on the Earth’s surface. As long as you are outdoors, near a window, or under a thin-roofed shelter, the satphone will be reliably usable.
Most satellite phones have near-worldwide coverage, expensive models have global service, while selected satphones have limited area coverage. So, if you’re planning to travel locally, the cheaper models with coverage near the equator will suffice.
A satellite phone is a great investment if you plan to engage in plenty of maritime activities and far inland adventures.
Photo from Unsplash
Where to purchase your satphone
There are various service providers and sellers for satellite phones now in the Philippines, from online international traders to local sellers. Even Smart Communications has launched their own satellite phone. There are many places to look, and here are a few to get you started:
Online selling platforms Shopee and Lazada also has listings for satellite phones.
We recommend that everyone considers purchasing a satellite phone. Even when staying at home, satphones can be highly crucial for communication during times of calamity or disasters. It’s definitely another tool that helps ensure your safety at any time.
At just the age of 19, Zara Rutherford has flown around the world solo becoming the youngest woman to do so.
This young pilot who has a dual British-Belgian nationality flew above 41 countries spanning over 52,000 kilometers (32,300 miles) and landed at Kortrijk-Wevelgem Airport in western Belgium.
Plagued with challenges like weather, visibility, visas, and unscheduled landing she persevered and completed her journey in making history.
She broke two Guinness World Records and beat the record held by American Shaesta Waiz, who was then 30 as she made her flight.
Rutherford now holds the titles for the (1) Youngest woman to fly around the world solo, (2) First woman to circumnavigate the world in a microlight aircraft, (3) First Belgian to fly around the world alone.
Photo from Geert Vanden Wijngaert
Personal Information
Born into a family of aviators.
She holds FAA and UK private pilot licences plus.
She holds Slovakian and French microlight licences.
She is a member of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots since 2019
She hopes to go to university to study computer science/computer engineering.
One of her biggest dreams along with flying around the world, is to be an astronaut.
Photo from Beatrice de Smet
Greater visibility for women in aviation
Zara shares on her personal website that she wants to inspire others and encourage girls and young women to pursue their dreams and promote aviation and STEM-related careers (science, technology, engineering, mathematics).
“With my flight I want to show young women that they can be bold, ambitious and make their dreams come true.”
On Wednesday 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 26, 2022.
The whole island of Cebu — Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and Cebu Province — recorded 1,245 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 1,033 new recoveries, and 17 new deaths. Cebu’s total active cases jumped to 14,291 (from 13,980).
Cebu City – Total confirmed: 49,916 (+519 new) – Total recoveries: 41,042 (+351 new) – Total deaths: 1,561 (+3 new) – Active cases: 7,313
Lapu-Lapu City – Total confirmed: 15,798 (+152 new) – Total recoveries: 13,726 (+210 new) – Total deaths: 477 (+2 new) – Active cases: 1,595
Mandaue City – Total confirmed: 14,321 (+162 new) – Total recoveries: 12,565 (+159 new) – Total deaths: 448 (+0 new) – Active cases: 1,308
Cebu Province – Total confirmed: 42,393 (+412 new) – Total recoveries: 35,702 (+313 new) – Total deaths: 2,616 (+12 new) – Active cases: 4,075
SUMMARY OF COVID-19 CASES IN CEBU:
Total Active Cases in Cebu: 14,291 (from 13,980)
Total Confirmed Cases in Cebu: 122,428 (+1,245 new)
Total Recoveries in Cebu: 103,035 (+1,033 new)
Total Deaths in Cebu: 5,102 (+17 new)
A total of 3,276 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.
The whole population of the internet went “aweeeeee” as pictures of an adorable cat went viral. Its resemblance to the cat “Puss in Boots” of the famous animated film Shrek is truly uncanny.
Photo from Pisco the Cat Instagram
Pisco is a 2-year-old golden British shorthair cat. He holds up his paws and begs for food with this huge moon-like eyes that is the exact replica of the animated cat “Puss” when he turned on his adorable cute phase to serve as a distraction for him to attack the enemies. It was was one of the most unforgettable scenes of Shrek so there’s no wonder that people recognizes the similarity right away.
Photo from Pisco the Cat Instagram
Puss who is voiced by actor, Antonio Banderas was introduced in the second Shrek film and have been part of the gang ever since.
Pisco on the other hand won’t be out staged as he is also a social media superstar. He has an Instagram account, a Tiktok account and the talk of many sponsorship deals. If you want to be jealous of a cat, now is the right time.
Photogenic is a small statement when it comes to the adorable face of Pisco which makes his large number of following valid. Snaps and snaps of those saucepan round eyes, soft chubby cheeks and we are done.
Pisco’s tiktok video contents are him doing acting challenges, playing computer games, trying on costumes and sleeping in boxes in the most lazy way that only a cat can do.
Speaking of his countless offers on sponsorship deals and promotions, he has it all covered from pet goods (Petsin, petsafe) to the famous TV show Stranger Things.
The response to the very cute cat was also in variety. Here are some of them and their apt title.
Fawning and befriending: “SO CUTE! Wanna be furr friends?”
Denial of adorability: “I refuse to believe this cat is real.”
The informed ones: “I see the cat from puss and boots.”
Seen Shrek a thousand times: “I cant unsee puss in boots in that scene where he holds his hat and begs”
Doesn’t take Puss seriously: “Shrek’s cat”
All of us: “This made me smile so much.”
Photo from Pisco the Cat Instagram
A cat that lives a cosmopolitan life in the big apple, New York city, and loves to cuddle? Who wouldn’t want to click the heart button?
“Lahi rajud ang kape sa Starbucks.” [Iba talaga ang coffee sa Starbucks.]
The pandemic basically made many of us coffee makers — whether simply mixing instant coffees or learning a new skill to brew on our own or making Dalgona coffee.
Sure it’s fun to make coffee at home but the taste and smell of coffee in coffee shops, plus the good service and great smiles of the baristas, are just so satisfying we keep coming back for it over and over.
One of my favorite coffee shop brands is Starbucks. And there’s really no explanation needed why I do. I’ve been to several Starbucks branches in Cebu and out of the many, here are my top 5 picks of the most beautiful Starbucks stores in Cebu.
1. Starbucks Reserve – Cebu IT Park
Starbucks Reserve is a premium, elevated store category of the global brand that, in a nutshell, showcases the rarest yet the best coffees and beverages Starbucks can offer. These are intriguing offerings that are only available for limited times at Starbucks Reserve stores.
The first-ever Starbucks Reserve in Visayas and Mindanao officially opened at the AyalaMalls Central Bloc in Cebu IT Park on December 22, 2019. It offers an “ultra-premium coffee experience” with its new experience bar.
This place flaunts beautiful murals that are inspired by Cebu’s tropical scenery and beaches.
Exact location: AyalaMalls Central Bloc, Cebu IT Park, Cebu City
2. Starbucks Primeway
When Sugbo.ph featured the opening of this branch last September 2019, Starbucks Primeway in Ramos St., Cebu City trended on Facebook and garnered more than 4,000 reactions. Its beautiful facade and spacious interiors speak a thousand words why coffee lovers just love it here.
Exact location: Primeway Plaza, Ramos St., Cebu City (near Robinsons Fuente and Raintree Mall)
3. Starbucks BPI Tower
The relatively new Starbucks branch in Cebu Business Park is quite spacious and usually not crowded. Most of the customers that frequent the place are workers from nearby offices.
You will fall in love with the cozy vibe and ambiance in this branch.
Exact location: BPI Corporate Center, Cebu City (across Metro Ayala Center Cebu, near One Montage Tower)
Photo by Ram MancelitaPhoto by Henry Ian OctobrePhoto by Heidi WangPhoto by Heidi WangPhoto by Heidi Wang
4. Starbucks SM Seaside
Consider taking a coffee break in between shopping sprees.
This Starbucks branch in SM Seaside City is one of the biggest in Cebu. There’s also an al fresco area by the garden where you can sip your coffee with the view of SM Seaside’s iconic tower.
Exact location: UG/F Mountain Wing, SM Seaside City Cebu, South Road Properties, Cebu City
5. Starbucks Ayala Terraces
Although crowded most of the time, this branch at Ayala Center Cebu is the go-to coffee place among shoppers. There’s also a spot where you can enjoy the city view.
Exact location: 2/F The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City
Photo by Cinnamoroll PuffPhoto by Karen VelasquezPhoto by WandercrickPhoto by Wandercrick
On Tuesday 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 25, 2022.
The whole island of Cebu — Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and Cebu Province — recorded 1,225 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 985 new recoveries, and 11 new deaths. Cebu’s total active cases jumped to 13,980 (from 13,754).
Cebu City – Total confirmed: 49,386 (+531 new) – Total recoveries: 40,726 (+378 new) – Total deaths: 1,558 (+5 new) – Active cases: 7,102
Lapu-Lapu City – Total confirmed: 15,648 (+164 new) – Total recoveries: 13,535 (+1 new) – Total deaths: 475 (+0 new) – Active cases: 1,638
Mandaue City – Total confirmed: 14,160 (+141 new) – Total recoveries: 12,422 (+235 new) – Total deaths: 448 (+0 new) – Active cases: 1,290
Cebu Province – Total confirmed: 41,965 (+389 new) – Total recoveries: 35,411 (+371 new) – Total deaths: 2,604 (+6 new) – Active cases: 3,950
SUMMARY OF COVID-19 CASES IN CEBU:
Total Active Cases in Cebu: 13,980 (from 13,754)
Total Confirmed Cases in Cebu: 121,159 (+1,225 new)
Total Recoveries in Cebu: 102,094 (+985 new)
Total Deaths in Cebu: 5,085 (+11 new)
A total of 3,762 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.
Well, if there is one thing good that came out in this pandemic, it is the lowering of the skyrocketing population growth in the Philippines.
The year 2020 recorded 914,797 births which is a far cry from the 2021 data of 324,000 births. This means that the Philippines’ population increased only by 0.3 percent which is the lowest record in history since 1946 and 1947 which was 254,000 births, according to the Commission on Population and Development (PopCom).
Photo from Unsplash
Photo from Unsplash
Now PopCom says that the reason for this may be related to the economic crisis and covid-19 pandemic as Filipino continues to delay having children or form families. They also point out that the number of couples who avail of family planning commodities and services is also growing with 8 million users in 2020.
The annual “natural increase” data is from the computations based on the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) reports from January 2020 to August 2021.
Filipino population increase short timeline
2020: 914,797 births
2021: 324,000 births
2022: Estimate of 109,991,095 by the end of 2021
“If integrated population and development measures are sustained, we can look forward to a more stable population that can effectively support Philippine development. Smaller family sizes need to be supported by a national living wage structure that also allows parents to save for their households’ unmet needs in food, housing, and education. Uneven regional wage structures only lead to individuals falling further behind than those in progressive areas such as the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon,”
– – Dr. Juan Perez III, PopCom Chief
Photo from Unsplash
Though births sure are a blessing to the families, it is also a good thing that we have control over the population growth in our country. The recovery of each household and of the government from the pandemic will be greatly affected by the population as well.
When two titans joined forces, they can create a city within a city.
This is what to be expected as two of the country’s real estate giants, Ayala Land Inc. and SM Prime Holdings, had partnered with each other in their newest property development venture in the South Road Properties of Cebu City – the South Coast City.
South Coast City, a P300-B project of the SM-Ayala consortium, is eyed to become the newest entertainment center of the Visayas region, boosting attraction, tourism and businesses within the area. It will highlight an Arena, Convention Center, and 1-hectare park, among many other mixed-use facilities, to support Cebu’s growing demand for convergence areas.
Moreover, the said project is to generate about two million jobs.
FEATURES
South Coast City sprawls a vast land area of 26 hectares, enough to house state-of-the art facilities, attractions and services that will give more vibrance to this part of the metro.
1. Seaside Arena and Convention Center
The Arena is set to be the preferred destination for major local and international entertainment and sporting events while the Convention Center will be one of the largest in Cebu once completed.
Official render
2. District Square
This is the progressive commercial district of South Coast City. This area is planned for mixed-use commercial offerings which will complement the entertainment and recreational facilities of the broader community. It offers investment opportunities through commercial lots.
3. 1-Hectare Park
This linear park will serve as a refreshing green oasis in the middle of the master-planned development.
Fronting the Cebu Strait, South Coast City will take pride of its spectacular waterside views and features. A pedestrian network will link the main areas of the development. Other amenities also include:
A 36-meter wide and 320meter long green space.
Road networks with primary street widths of 30 meter wide.
Underground utilities
Underground Telecommunications System duct banks with fiber optic cable capable to handle multiple service providers.
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology-cable telecommunications.
Photo by Cedric Maquilan
THE SM-AYALA CONSORTIUM
A consortium led by ALI and SM Prime won the new landbank at SRP (lot number 8-B-1) with a winning bid of P10 billion.
This tactical alliance of the two largest developers in the country is a strategic move to unlock the full potential of the 26-hectare prime property they acquired at the South Road Properties.
In a report, top officials from Ayala Land Inc. and SM Prime Holdings said that they decided to work together on this big project to hasten the development of this area, which the Cebu City government was grooming to be a new central business district.
Project Brief
Groundbreaking date: July 2019
Target completion date: Phase 1 on 3rd Quarter of 2025
Lot sizes: 1,777 – 2,601 sqm (11 commercial lots)
Developer: Ayala Land & Cebu Holdings
Location: South Coast City, South Road Properties (SRP), Cebu City
Transit Connectivity Map:
500m from SM Seaside, Cebu’s biggest mall
2km from South Bus Terminal
4km from Cebu Port
11km from Mactan Cebu International Airport
PROJECT UPDATES
As of January 2021, groundworks are still ongoing while the city is under community quarantine status. Bore piling works have already begun at the site of the convention center and arena.
The Convention Center’s target opening date is on October 2024 while that of the 16,000-seater Arena will be on July 2025.
Photo from Cebu HoldingsPhoto from Cebu Holdings
There is always something more to look forward to in Cebu City even with the pandemic scare looming around us. South Coast City of the Ayala-SM Consortium is a proof that we are destined to achieve bigger and better things in the coming years, as it has always been for the last years.
