Beginning March 4, 2022, fully vaccinated Filipinos including tourists will be allowed entry to Singapore as announced by the Singaporean Ministry of Transport.
Photo from Unsplash
This came after the city-state included the Philippines in its Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) program, which allows travelers to enter Singapore without having to undergo quarantine on designated VTL flights.
Applications for the Philippines’ Vaccine Travel Pass (VTP) will commence on March 1, 2022 at 10 a.m. (Singapore time).
Changi Airport, Singapore | Photo from Unsplash
“As we learn to live with COVID-19 and Omicron, it is essential that we progressively open our air and sea borders. I hope all Singaporeans will understand and support these steps which will help put our careful and calibrated border re-opening back on track,” Singapore Transport Minister S Iswaran said in a Facebook post.
Apart from the Philippines, Singapore also launched new VTLs to Israel and Hong Kong and deepen existing VTLs with Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Marina Bay, Singapore | Photo from UnsplashPhoto from Unsplash
The new Singaporean policy comes less than a week since the Philippines reopened its borders to fully vaccinated foreign travelers, including Singaporeans.
On Friday evening, the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH-7) released its official, consolidated data of the COVID-19 cases in the region as of February 18, 2022.
The whole island of Cebu — Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and Cebu Province — recorded 105 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 1,585 new recoveries, and 11 new deaths. Cebu’s total active cases dropped to 3,067 (from 4,515).
Cebu City – Total confirmed: 53,196 (+42 new) – Total recoveries: 49,984 (+1,346 new) – Total deaths: 1,658 (+10 new) – Active cases: 1,554
Lapu-Lapu City – Total confirmed: 16,918 (+10 new) – Total recoveries: 16,227 (+81 new) – Total deaths: 493 (+0 new) – Active cases: 198
Mandaue City – Total confirmed: 15,282 (+12 new) – Total recoveries: 14,552 (+10 new) – Total deaths: 484 (+1 new) – Active cases: 246
Cebu Province – Total confirmed: 45,677 (+45 new) – Total recoveries: 41,887 (+148 new) – Total deaths: 2,721 (+0 new) – Active cases: 1,069
SUMMARY OF COVID-19 CASES IN CEBU:
Total Active Cases in Cebu: 3,067 (from 4,515)
Total Confirmed Cases in Cebu: 131,073 (+109 new)
Total Recoveries in Cebu: 122,650 (+1,585 new)
Total Deaths in Cebu: 5,356 (+11 new)
A total of 1,530 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 Municipality of Badian announced that its famous Lambug White Beach is finally re-opening to the public starting on February 25, 2022. According to Executive Order No. 3, food, drinks, picnic, and tents will be also allowed at assigned areas.
The reopening came two months after Typhoon Odette badly hit the island of Cebu last December 16, 2021, which severely damaged a lot of establishments, especially in southern and metro parts of Cebu, including the town of Badian.
hoto from Badian Lambug Beach Resort and lodgeshoto from Badian Lambug Beach Resort and lodges
LAMBUG BEACH FEES:
Entrance fee: ₱45 per head
Tent charge: ₱50 per head on weekdays, ₱150 /head on weekends (bring your own tent) — if you are staying near/in a resort.
Cottage: ₱500 per day
Bus fare: ₱140 /head
Tricycle: ₱30 /head
The above rates may change without prior notice. It’s best to call Badian Local Tourism at 0966-556-9065 for any concerns.
Photo by Jerllan Randell LaboraPhoto by Jerllan Randell LaboraPhoto by Jerllan Randell LaboraPhoto from Badian Lambug Beach Resort and lodgeshoto from Badian Lambug Beach Resort and lodges
CANYONEERING ADVENTURE ALSO REOPENS
The Municipality of Badian also announced that the Canyoneering Adventures will also re-open on February 21, 2022.
The new but temporary exit of the Badian Canyoneering Adventure will be along the Kabukalan Spring – Sulsogon access road, but “the tourist has the option to continue the downstream adventure to Kawasan Falls Level 2 only.”
The Canyoneering Adventure package starts at P1,500 per head which already includes the use of protective gears and suits.
PHILIPPINE BORDERS NOW OPEN TO FOREIGN TOURISTS
In hopes to revive the tourism sector and boost the economy, the Philippines opened its borders – including Cebu – to fully vaccinated international tourists without the need to undergo facility-based quarantine since February 10, 2022.
hoto from Badian Lambug Beach Resort and lodges
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.
HOW TO GET To lambug beach?
Exact location: Brgy. Lambug, Badian, Southern Cebu — 3 hours away from the city.
From the South Bus Terminal, take a bus going to Badian or Oslob. Fare is P140. Tell the bus driver to drop you off at the town center or “lungsod” of Lambug Badian. Travel time is approximately 3 hours.
From the town proper, ride a tricycle going to Lambug Beach. Fare is P30 per person. Travel time is 20-30 minutes.
You can park your car or motorcycles for a very minimal fee.
We have all used Canva at some point but did you know that it is co-founded by a Filipina?
Melanie Perkins is a Filipino Australian tech entrepreneur and the co-founder of multi-billion-dollar tech company Canva.
Photo from David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile for Web Summit via Getty Images
Her net worth of $1.3 billion, made her one of the wealthiest women in Australia. According to International Business Times, she is now the third richest woman in the land down under.
She is just 32 years old but owns a company (Canva) that is now worth $6 billion, up from its valuation of $3.2 billion last year.
Born in Perth, Western Australia, Melanie is also one of Pinoy pride. She is the daughter of an Australian-born teacher and a Malaysian engineer with Filipino and Sri Lankan blood.
Photo from CNBC International YouTube Channel
She started Canva with her then-fiancé Cliff Obrecht by creating yearbooks. They launched an online school yearbook design business in 2007 called Fusion Yearbooks.
This program aims to help people who struggle in designing programs making it very simple. To quote them, make the “yearbook creation process easy and fun for everyone”.
Photo from Entrepreneur Asia Pacific
Canva through the years
2010
Perkins was invited by Silicon Valley investor Bill Tai to pitch her ideas then connected Perkins to his other high-profile contacts.
Hollywood actors Woody Harrelson and Owen Wilson both invested in her company.
2013
Perkins and Obrecht, along with co-founder Cameron Adams, founded Canva with the help of Google Maps co-founder Lars Rasmussen and tech developer Dave Hearnden.
2021
Canva has been named to the Forbes 2021 Cloud 100. Ranking 3rd, Canva is the only Australian-based company to appear in the Top 50, moving up the ranks from 7th place in 2020.
Canva’s global team reached to more than 2,500 people with 1,350 new staff joining in 2021 alone.
No doubt, Canva is an efficient tool in our working lives. It has a user-friendly interface and ready-made templates that makes its millions of users’ life easier.
Indonesia’s world-famous tropical paradise is finally re-opening its doors after nearly 2 years.
Ulun Danu Beratan Temple | Photo from Unsplash
Known for its gorgeous beaches and rich culture, Bali welcomed on Wednesday foreign tourists from the first international passenger flight. The Singapore Airlines flight carried 109 international passengers and 47 Indonesians to Bali.
Bali, Indonesia | Photo from Unsplash
In accordance to the country’s travel guidelines, foreign visitors must stay in a quarantine bubble at one of 27 authorized hotels for three to seven days, depending on the number of vaccine doses received.
“I hope that in early March, there will be no more quarantine obligation for tourists as long as they comply with health protocol requirements and show negative test results on departure and arrival,” – Wayan Koster, Bali Governor
Bali Swing | Photo from Unsplash
Singapore Airlines also announced that daily flights between the city-state and Bali will be available to accommodate “high demand.”
Bali Handara Gate | Photo from Unsplash
Other carriers, including Australia’s Jetstar Airways, may also be able to resume flights to the vacation paradise as early as next month.
Photo from Unsplash
Flights have resumed as the Southeast Asian countries relax quarantine laws despite an increase in Covid infections caused by the Omicron form. The Philippines opened its borders – including Cebu – to fully vaccinated international tourists without the need to undergo facility-based quarantine since February 10, 2022.
If you are looking for a place to stay in Bali, head on to this website here.
On Thursday evening, the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH-7) released its official, consolidated data of the COVID-19 cases in the region as of February 17, 2022.
The whole island of Cebu — Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and Cebu Province — recorded 105 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 843 new recoveries, and 6 new deaths. Cebu’s total active cases declined to 4,515 (from 5,253).
Cebu City – Total confirmed: 53,159 (+37 new) – Total recoveries: 48,663 (+179 new) – Total deaths: 1,649 (+2 new) – Active cases: 2,847
Lapu-Lapu City – Total confirmed: 16,909 (+13 new) – Total recoveries: 16,149 (+418 new) – Total deaths: 493 (+0 new) – Active cases: 267
Mandaue City – Total confirmed: 15,269 (+13 new) – Total recoveries: 14,546 (+74 new) – Total deaths: 483 (+0 new) – Active cases: 301
Cebu Province – Total confirmed: 45,620 (+42 new) – Total recoveries: 41,737 (+172 new) – Total deaths: 2,722 (+4 new) – Active cases: 1,161
SUMMARY OF COVID-19 CASES IN CEBU:
Total Active Cases in Cebu: 4,515 (from 5,253)
Total Confirmed Cases in Cebu: 130,957 (+105 new)
Total Recoveries in Cebu: 121,095 (+843 new)
Total Deaths in Cebu: 5,347 (+6 new)
A total of 1,530 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.
Cebu’s biggest travel fair is back and this year’s 3-day sale must not be missed!
If you missed traveling but don’t want to break the bank, then you should be ready to hit the mall this weekend for International Travel Festival (ITF) 2022. Score huge discounts from popular hotels and resorts in the Philippines and the biggest travel deals for local and international tours on February 18 to 20, 2022 at Ayala Center Cebu.
Here are the participating hotels, resorts, travel agencies, and organizations for ITF 2022:
ITF 2022 EVENT DETAILS:
February 18 – 20, 2022
Ayala Center Cebu
Over 100 participating hotels, resorts, and travel agencies will offer great deals and huge discounts during this 3-day event.
Also check out Department of Tourism – Central Visayas Pavilion at The Gallery of Ayala Center Cebu fronting Zara.
Central Visayas Tourism joins the festival
Cebu and the whole Central Visayas region are definitely ready to welcome local and foreign tourists!
A diverse range of activities to engage in and sites to explore – mountains, dive spots, cultural heritage sites, and other locations – will be showcased at the ITF 2022 Central Visayas Pavilion at The Gallery of Ayala Center Cebu (fronting Zara).
An initiative of the Department of Tourism (DOT) – Central Visayas Office (DOT7) in support of the region’s industry players, the pavilion showcases key destinations and new circuits in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
Aside from enjoying its outdoor destinations, visitors to Central Visayas will continue to be enriched by the heritage and cultural experience it offers. Tourism stakeholders have poured resources into strategic interventions to ensure compliance with protocols while minimizing inconvenience to guests.
Congratulations and Happy 100th Birthday to the Centenarians in Bogo City, Cebu!
The Lolos and Lolas of Bogo City received a Letter of Felicitation from the Office of the President and a cash gift of P100,000 from the Department of Social Welfare Development via CSWD as a celebration and honor for reaching the centennial age.
This is in accordance with the Republic Act No. 10868 or the “Centenarians Act of 2016,” that all natural-born Filipinos who have reached one hundred years old and above, residing in the Philippines or abroad shall be honored with the Centenarian gift.
Happy birthday, mga pinalanggang Lolo ug Lola!
Photo from the City Government of BogoPhoto from the City Government of BogoPhoto from the City Government of BogoPhoto from the City Government of BogoPhoto from the City Government of Bogo
REQUIREMENTS FOR CENTENARIANS LIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES
Under the law, relatives of the beneficiaries must submit primary documents such as birth certificates and Philippine passports to the City or Municipal Social Welfare Office and the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in their localities in order to avail of the benefits.
If both documents are unavailable, any one of the primary identification cards issued by OSCA, Government Service Insurance System, and Social Security System; driver’s license; Professional Regulations Commission license; and Commission on Elections voter’s ID, will be accepted. Secondary documents of the centenarians may also be submitted in the absence of the primary documents or identifications.
As of October 2021, the agency reported it has already distributed the PHP100,000 cash gift to 1,130 centenarians nationwide.
Street food are a big part of being Filipino and some we grow to love so much that it becomes a part of our daily lives.
Without us realizing, this street food grows and becomes a lucrative business venture.
Photo from Pera Paraan
Yes. A small stall of good street food will not stay that small forever as if pushed and nurtured in the right direction they can be pretty successful in the food business.
For Jim Delos Santos, it was his stall for mami called Mang Jim’s mamihan. His mami recipe is such a hit that people flock every day to have a taste. It was a bestseller to everyone around.
Photo from Pera Paraan
With its tasty broth, chewy noodles and tender meat, Mang Jim’s mami was a successful business waiting to happen.
Jim or Mang Jim started his mami business on just a “kariton”. Every day he would push his 3-wheeled stall far and wide to sell the delicious mami.
“Nagsimula po ako sa kariton. Galing Cavite ay niluwas ko pa sa Maynila. Mula sa kariton, nakabili ako ng sidecar,” Mang Jim
Photo from Pera Paraan
With the promise of a warm delicious meal, regular customers started pouring in and soon he realized that selling on a trike moving around wasn’t enough and is becoming too hard.
This inspired him to work on building his mamihan, a huge place for his customers. He built a no-hassle, no-fuzz place where customers order, stand and eat their mami. With no chairs in sight, it was dubbed as “maming tayo” as you eat while standing up.
Photo from Pera Paraan
Starting his mami business with only a capital of P2,000, he is now P100,000 a day. Yes, it is possible with hard work and the most delicious mami recipe.
Photo from Pera Paraan
Mang Jim has remained humble and said that he doesn’t buy expensive things and would rather help those in need. He says that he knows the value of money as he comes from poverty.
Mang Jim’s Mami recipe:
Prepare onion, soy sauce, mami noodles, beef meat and bones, pechay Baguio, onion rings, hot sauce, chili and pepper.
The refreshing experience of the rich marine and terrestrial destinations of Central Visayas will be a key attraction at the International Travel Festival 2022 (ITF 2022) at the Ayala Center-Cebu on February 18-20, 2022.
OUTDOORS: Visitors to Central Visayas are now looking forward to discover more destinations and fun activities. Region 7’s exciting marine and terrestrial attractions and coupled with its rich cultural heritage will be highlighted at the International Travel Festival this week.Paragliding in Oslob, Cebu | Photo from Kris TinDiving in Moalboal, Cebu | Photo from Dive 7 Official Facebook Page
Together with the outdoor tourism portfolio, Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) which has gained international popularity, will be an attraction at the event. Filipino martial arts practitioners are scheduled for a demonstration performance on February 18. DOT7 has strongly supported FMA under its FMA7 Program.
Photo from DOT Region 7Sardine Run in Moalboal Photo from DOT Region 7
A diverse range of activities to engage in and sites to explore – mountains, dive spots, cultural heritage sites and other locations – will be showcased at the ITF 2022 Central Visayas Pavilion. An initiative of the Department of Tourism (DOT)– Central Visayas Office (DOT7) in support of the region’s industry players, the pavilion showcases key destinations and new circuits in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
Photo from Sha Hofer Tamano, Regional Director of DOT Region 7
“After two years of having been virtually home-bound, ITF 2022’s theme ‘It’s Time to Travel’ is appropriate. Indeed, it’s time to travel, experience more of our mountains, farms, and lush forests, our beaches and the sea,” says Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, Regional Director of the DOT- Central Visayas.
Photo from Sha Hofer Tamano, Regional Director of DOT Region 7
Tamano adds that the spotlight on outdoor destinations and FMA corresponds to existing health and safety protocols and promotes a more active, natural lifestyle.
Cebu Association of Tour Operations Specialists (CATOS), Oslob Cebu Paragliding Development, KayakAsia Philippines, Inc., Philippine Accessible Disability Services, Inc., Habagat Outdoor Equipments, Inc., Moalboal Dive Association, Malapascua Business Association, Negros Oriental Dive Association, Zamboanguita Diving and Leisure Resort Association, Dive Mactan, Pacifica Dive, Ocean Dive, White Tip and Sea Explorers are representing Central Visayas at the event.
Photo from Kris Tin
Spanning 160 square meters in size, the Central Visayas Pavilion will host in-festival activities, including product presentations, demonstrations, and games for guests. The local government units of the four provinces will host talks with visitors to enable a more immersive look into the new destinations. The activities will be streamed live on the Department of Tourism Central Visayas and Visit Central Visayas Facebook pages.
Aside from enjoying its outdoor destinations, visitors to Central Visayas will continue to be enriched by the heritage and cultural experience it offers. Tourism stakeholders have poured resources into strategic interventions to ensure compliance with protocols while minimizing inconvenience to guests.
Photo from Dive 7 Official Facebook Page
The ITF is the region’s biggest travel convention. Returning for its seventh run after a two-year pandemic-induced absence, it is a promising restart for an industry struggling to recover from the challenges brought by the CoViD pandemic and Super Typhoon Odette.
Hotels, resorts, restaurants, travel agencies, booking platforms, insurance providers, and other industry stakeholders are participating in the fair. As with previous runs, there will be huge discounts on bookings, promotional offers, and innovative giveaways.
Photo from Dive 7 Official Facebook PagePhoto from Kris Tin
ITF 2022 is presented by MyEventology Co. The DOT-Central Visayas Office, together with the Tourism and Promotions Board Philippines are co-presentors. The event is sponsored by Turkish Airlines.
ITF 2022 Event Details:
February 18 – 20, 2022
Ayala Center Cebu
Over 100 participating hotels, resorts, and travel agencies will offer great deals and huge discounts during this 3-day event.
Also check out Department of Tourism – Central Visayas Pavilion at The Gallery of Ayala Center Cebu fronting Zara.
