An Indonesian 17-year-old dubbed as “The Sleeping Beauty” has created a buzz in the netizens.
Nothing nor anyone has been able to wake her up from her sleep. She can sleep from a couple of days to weeks without waking up.
Though it is compared to the fairytale princess who slept for a long time and woke up all perfect and glowing, this condition is nothing but a sad phenomenon.
Siti Raisa Miranda, or Echa, has a rare disorder that causes recurring periods of excessive sleepiness formally called Kleine-Levin syndrome (KLS). People with this condition can sleep for 20 hours to months and will have little to no memory of that time.
This unique syndrome happens only to 1 person in a million individuals and still doesn’t have a cure.
In 2017 when Echa was just 13 years old, was the first time that she slept for 13 days which is what convinced her family to take her to a hospital and there had her diagnosed.
During her episodes, her parents take care of her by feeding her, changing her clothes, and trips on the toilet which is a surprise in her sleeping state.
Sleeping for days might be a good idea or a dream for others who lack sleep but a human’s body will suffer the consequences.
Episodes can trigger symptoms such as:
hallucinations
disorientation
irritability
changes in behavior
increased appetite
excessive sex drive
confusion
Echa, like everyone who has the Sleeping beauty syndrome, has it difficult to live a normal life like attending school, work, or participating in other activities especially as the sleepiness can occur anytime.
Visayas and Mindanao have been wrecked by the super typhoon Odette and are now slowly getting back up. The typhoon has caused a lot of damage but the greatest problem it brought is the lack of resources after the devastation.
One of the most needed resources is drinking water. Water is as essential as being alive itself which is why we have here a guide on how to turn your tap water or water from wells to drinking water with just a tablet.
Aquatabs water purification tablet
Intended for household water treatment, Aquatabs are self-dissolving water disinfection tablets. It is a highly accessible tablet that you can purchase at the following drug stores here in the Philippines:
Mercury Drug
The Generics Pharmacy
Generika Drug Store
They react with water releasing hypochlorous acid which inactivates microorganisms being an efficient purification process to our available water.
Mind that the water treated is not mineral water as it goes through a different process of reverse osmosis but is just called safe drinking water.
Step-by-step guide
Read the instructions carefully and repeatedly to be clear on what to do.
Check if the water is turbid/cloudy and filter it with cloth or let it settle to clear out suspended particles. If the water available is already clear then you can proceed.
Add the tablet on hand to the correct amount of water to be treated.
1 tablet is good for 20-24 liters of clear water
Dosage for clear water: 2 mg/L
Mix it well.
Wait for 30 minutes to allow the chlorine to react with contaminants.
After that, the water has been purified and is ready to be used.
Your water is safe and will not be re-contaminated for 7 days so there is no need to put Aquatabs every day on your water.
Cover your water containers to avoid exposure to contaminants.
Note: It is not advisable to treat very turbid water or not clear water.
Specific Water Requirements
Low turbidity
pH between 5.5 and 7.5; disinfection is unreliable above a pH of 9
Other Information:
Price: P7.00/tab (SRP)
Contact number: (02) 8584-6904 or 09177069123 or message them at
The term Bangon Cebu has been trending and calling to the resiliency of each Sugboanon and we are here to stand back up again after the devastation that is the super typhoon, Odette.
Let us all help Cebu in getting back up by being part of these donation drives. A small donation and action from the heart can do wonders to the crisis faced by the Cebuanos.
1. Typhoon Odette Relief Initiative by MUP 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez
Miss Universe Philippines Beatrice Luigi Gomez, a Cebuana, is heading a donation drive for her home province Cebu.
“I am now knocking on your hearts to help me in partnership with SimplyShare Foundation Inc. and the Naval Reserve Center Eastern Visayas to respond to this calamity and bring back hope and light to my fellow Sugboanons. Your simple act of kindness means a lot.”- Bea, FB post
2. Donation drive for Cebu by Ayala Young Leaders Alumni Association
The Ayala Young Leaders Alumni Association – Pampanga in partnership with Global Miranda Miner Group has conducted a cash donation drive. The recipients of all donations are for the benefit of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu which has suffered great damage in the typhoon Odette.
As Cebu is greatly in need of drinking water, A&A Online Shopping Team organized a fundraising campaign for libreng patubig.
Landbank Account:
Name: Allain Ree F. Torion
Account Number: 0936136079
GCash:
Name: Armando Fernan
Account number: 09395194387
4. Call for Donations by Courage Cebu
Courage Cebu is a fund drive during the Covid-19 pandemic and is now once again knocking on your hearts to help the Cebuanos greatly affected by the super typhoon Odette with their relief goods distributed through the Philippine Red Cross.
Donation slips are sent to [email protected] to account for all donations.
5. #ParaSaSugbo by One Lawis and whole Bantayan Island
#ParaSaSugbo is a donation campaign by OneLawis (Madridejos) together with the other two municipalities, Bantayan and Santa Fe, in Bantayan island.
“When we needed help the most, help came. Now that someone needs it, we will help. May we give hope to those in need and be their light in these dark times. “– One Lawis
6. Set Forth Philippines
Set Forth Philippines is an outreach initiative based in Cebu City, Philippines that aims to support Filipino children through educational opportunities.
They are currently mobilizing for partners, donors, and volunteers in response to the ongoing crisis of food, water, electricity, etc. due to the grieving situation brought by Typhoon Odette.
7. Tabang Cebu by First Standard Finance and Prince Stores
First Standard Finance Corporation and Prince stores are some of the private companies in Cebu that initiated a donation drive to help more families affected by the typhoon.
These are just some of the donation drives going around all social media platforms, but we hope that this list can guide you to the help and support that Cebu needs now.
“What is being required is the utmost showing and demonstration of Barangayan, Bayanihan and Boluntarismo. Let’s all help, let’s not take advantage of others. There are laws that will take care of that,” – Mayor Michael Rama.
The resiliency of Cebuanos amidst the aftermath of Typhoon Odette is commendable but there are also others who are taking advantage of the sad and dire situation.
In the crisis of drinking water and fuel, some resellers and distributors are selling them at unreasonably high prices.
On drinking water in particular, the Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has instructed the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) to monitor its distribution and selling as it is causing more distress to the residents of Cebu.
Pictures are being posted on social media that some are being sold at P1k-P2k per gallon which is just too much and too cruel. People who have encountered this are now urged to report this to the city government or directly to the Department of Trade and Industries (DTI).
The Cebu City government on Dec. 20 are now warning businesses that business permits may be revoked if they will be caught and proven to be selling overpriced water, food and fuel.
Violation of RA 7394
Overpricing is also an illegal act during a crisis according to the Republic Act No. 7394 also known as The Consumer Act of the Philippines.
As stated in the act, it is illegal taking advantage of the consumer’s general conditions of the environment or surroundings, in this case the state of calamity the city is in. It induces the consumer to enter into sales grossly inimical to the interests of the consumer or grossly one-sided in favor of the distributor, supplier or seller.
Bangon Cebu will only be possible if we help each other out and not be selfish. We can do this Sugbo.
Davao Light and Power Co., the sister company of the Visayan Electric Company (VECO), has sent 30-strong organic and contractor linemen to the VECO Engineering Office in Cebu City on Sunday.
This is to speed up the power restoration activities in Cebu which was badly hit by Super Typhoon Odette last Thursday, December 16. They will help in clearing and energy restoration efforts in Visayan Electric’s franchise area.
Central Visayas is among the seven regions in the country where areas hardest hit by Odette, the Philippines’ 15th tropical cyclone in 2021 and the deadliest storm this year. Packing 195-kilometer-per-hour winds, the giant storm, with international name “Rai”, made eight landfalls as it barreled its way through Mimaropa (Mindoro Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan); Eastern, Central and Western Visayas; Northern Mindanao; and Caraga.
Three days after Typhoon Odette wrecked the island, thousands of people in Cebu appealed for food, water, and electricity. To date, civilians are also still struggling to get a mobile signal, gasoline for generators and automobiles, and it is still even hard to pass through some roads especially in the south.
We’ve seen a lot of posts saying there’s not much coverage from the national news about Cebu and other VisMin areas after the ravaging of Typhoon Odette. Well, this is what’s happening in Cebu right now since Thursday night, December 16, 2021.
Happening in Cebu to date:
No electricity
No water
Limited cellular signal
People are lining up for hours for groceries
Vehicles are lining up for hours for gasoline/fuel
Limited ATMs / Banks are available for cash dispensing
Most Cebu tourist attractions are not the same as before. Most are heavily destroyed and seem to take time to recover.
Most roads, especially in Cebu south, are still not passable.
Ports have yet to announce definite travel schedules.
Cebuanos are still trying to survive while waiting for further assistance.
On the brighter note,
Companies with generators are opening their doors for charging, free wifi.
Small businesses with sufficient water supply are offering water refilling.
Several supermarkets have already reopened to accommodate shopping for essentials.
LGUs and other workers are already working on road clearing.
Filipino boy group SB19 climbs another milestone in their career after topping the Billboard Hot Trending Songs with their song Bazinga, overtaking famous Korean boy group BTS for their song Butter.
Photo from SB19 Facebook Page
On Wednesday, December 8, 2021, Billboard released an updated list of their hit songs showing Bazinga as number one. SB19’s song climbed eight steps this week after placing 8th last week.
The #HotTrendingSongs, Powered by Twitter top 10 (chart dated Dec. 11, 2021)
SB19 is a five-member Filipino boiy group that made a debut in 2018. The group consists of Josh, Pablo, Stell, Ken, and Justin. The group was another the management of ShowBT Philippines, which they had their training for three years.
SB19 is the first P-Pop group to make a noise in the Billboard charts.
A new Ayala Land project is about to spice things up in Mandaue City. Ayala Land and the Aboitiz Group plans to develop a joint project that will stand as the city’s dynamic center, the Ayala Gatewalk Central.
Ayala Gatewalk Central is a 17.5-hectare estate that will stand in Subangdaku, Mandaue City. It is a project that does not only show progress but also highlights the development of sustainable and environment-friendly spaces especially in a city with only a few distinct attractions.
According to Bobby Dy, Ayala Land President and CEO, this multi-billion peso investment is a display of his confidence in Mandaue City as one of the emerging cities in the region. The hub will include a network of wide pedestrian streets and vibrant streetscapes that will be a center for gathering and other events occurring within the city.
“We are very excited about this development. Once completed, its character and features is something that the local market has never seen before,”
MAIN FEATURES
30-meter wide pedestrian-only street
The main feature will be a 30-meter wide pedestrian-only street that will link together office buildings, residential areas, family parks, retail selections and the Ayala Mall. The residential areas are targeted to provide shelter to young professionals and families.
Gatewalk Avenue
The Gatewalk Avenue will be the dining and retail area equipped with repurposed shipping containers. These will be boutique spaces that will cater to the retail and startup businesses in Mandaue to advertise local brands in the area.
Garden District
It will also have a Garden District that will serve as a transition to the indoors and outdoors. It will contain a seating area, lawn, and a street space with continuous shade on both sides provided by tree canopies. Twenty-percent of the development will comprise of green and open spaces that feature interactive works, recreational spaces, and socio-cultural areas, all complete with outdoor seating.
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
Ayala Gatewalk Central will be big enough to include a full-service transportation hub that would be convenient for traveling inside with stops that will be placed in the most strategic points in the estate. This makes the entire hub accessible to all even to those without private vehicles.
At the onset of the construction, the project is estimated to generate about 1,300 jobs in Mandaue. Upon completion of the mall and offices, the number may rise to about 9,000 jobs in total.
The Ayala Gatewalk Central is just one of Ayala Land’s progressive projects. It will become a significant catalyst to the growth of Mandaue City with its carefully planned and multi-use community abundant with topnotch commercial and residential buildings that converge with green and open spaces.
The project will merge business and lifestyle in an eco-friendly setting. It will be a first-class facility that will put Mandaue on the map as one of the growing cities in the region and in the country.
Ayala Gatewalk Central was initially targeted to complete by 2019. However, its target completion has been moved to the second half of 2021.
On Wednesday night, the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH-7) released its official, consolidated data of the COVID-19 cases in the region as of December 15, 2021.
The whole island of Cebu — Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and the Cebu Province — recorded 3 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 7 new recoveries, and 1 new death. This brings Cebu’s total confirmed cases to 104,258 while the active cases slightly decreased to 279 (from 284).
Cebu City – Total confirmed: 41,259 (+1 new) – Total recoveries: 39,654 (+0 new) – Total deaths: 1,525 (+0 new) – Active cases: 80
Lapu-Lapu City – Total confirmed: 13,673 (+0 new) – Total recoveries: 13,190 (+1 new) – Total deaths: 472 (+0 new) – Active cases: 11
Mandaue City – Total confirmed: 12,140 (+0 new) – Total recoveries: 11,684 (+1 new) – Total deaths: 442 (+0 new) – Active cases: 14
Cebu Province – Total confirmed: 37,186 (+2 new) – Total recoveries: 34,443 (+5 new) – Total deaths: 2,569 (+1 new) – Active cases: 174
SUMMARY OF COVID-19 CASES IN CEBU:
Total Active Cases in Cebu: 279 (from 284)
Total Confirmed Cases in Cebu: 104,258 (+3 new)
Total Recoveries in Cebu: 98,971 (+7 new)
Total Deaths in Cebu: 5,008 (+1 new)
A total of 1,798 laboratory results were released today.
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.
When we talk about lechon, we can’t deny that Cebu Province has always been known to offer the best lechon in the entire Philippines.
Grilled to perfection, mouth watering flavor from the pigs meat, and a perfect crunch to every bite. It is a taste and experience that no person will ever forget.
Photo from Ruthy’s Lechon Facebook Page
The lechon is also a dish that we Filipinos never forget to serve on our tables no matter what the occasion may be.
Brief history of lechon
Lechon is derived from the Spanish word leche, meaning milk. Before, people used to grill young pigs that were still nursing milk from their mothers, however the popularity of using bigger pigs rose during the Spanish era.
In Cebu, the Garces family, owner of Ruthy’s lechon, were believed to have the first lechon recipe in Cebu. However, it is not yet proven as the popularity of lechon rapidly rose in Cebu.
Photo from Ruthy’s Lechon Facebook Page
But where exactly in Cebu do we taste the best lechon?
One of Cebu’s cities is Talisay City. A city that’s making a buzz in the Philippines to offer the best lechon you could ever taste. In fact the city celebrates their lechon festival in the month of October.
One of the popularly known lechon restaurants in Talisay are the following:
1. Leslie’s Lechon
Featured in Netflix’s documentary series “Street Food ” Leslie’s lechon is just one of Talisay’s pride when it comes to lechon.
Photo from Leslie’s Lechon Facebook Page
Lesliie’s lechon has been providing the best lechon in Talisay since the 1040’s originated by Susana Enjambre, the grandmother of Leslie Enjambre.
Photo from Leslie’s Lechon Facebook Page
Prices of their lechon ranges from 5,500-7,000
MENU:
Whole Lechon
8 Kilos – P4,500
9 Kilos – P5,000
10 Kilos – P5,500
12 Kilos – P5,500
15 kilos – P6,500
17 kilos – P7,000
Photo from Leslie’s Lechon Facebook Page
Kinilo Lechon:
P600 per kilo on Saturday and Sundays only lunch time
Leslie’s lechon does not have a physical store and only offers pre-order at the meantime.
2. 3P’s Lechon
Another popular lechon in Talisay city is the 3P’s Lechon. Holding on to their theme: Crispylicious! Juicylicious! Tastylicious! A lechon you would want more.
Photo from 3P’s Lechon Facebook Page
They offer lechon with the best quality and at a bigger size too.
Also featured in one of Cebu’s media outlets is AKD Lechon. This signifies that indeed, AKD Lechon is making a name in Talisay city out of the many lechon sellers the city has.
Photo from AKD Lechon Facebook Page
Holding on to their goal to be a world class known lechon, AKD has proven that they can be one. Maintaining a crispy, delicious lechon in Talisay city AKD is one of the people’s favorite.
