Koomi is an Australian brand that’s loved by a lot of people for its simple yet solid promise of Guiltless Goodness. Originating from the Land Down Under, Koomi came to the Philippines in 2019 to let every Filipino experience sinless indulgence—they will now demonstrate this commitment by setting foot in the Queen City of The South.
Koomi Philippines and SM Supermalls are bringing the unique Koomi experience to Cebu City. Koomikadas can look forward to two Koomi stores opening at SM City Cebu on October 23 and SM Seaside City Cebu on October 24.
Photo from Koomi PH Facebook Page
Photo from SM Seaside City Cebu (Official) Facebook Page
Photo from SM Seaside City Cebu (Official) Facebook Page
Photo from SM Seaside City Cebu (Official) Facebook Page
The venture of SM Supermalls and Koomi Philippines will be the first this iconic Australian brand to the shores of Visayas—extending accessibility to sinless yogurt treats to Cebuanos.
Aside from their aggressive expansion, with over 40 stores nationwide in less than two years, Koomi is also introducing a new line of products on their menu. From bringing natural drinking yogurt drinks packed with health benefits to healthy yet indulgent yogurt cakes, Koomi Philippines is stepping up its game with the new Koomi Froyo! It’s made with their signature yogurt that comes in three fun and delicious flavors — Simply Koomi Froyo, Waterberry Wonder Froyo, and Snowy Fuji Froyo. Their prices start at P115.
Photo by Koomi PH
Photo by Koomi PH
Photo by Koomi PH
Photo by Koomi PH
Photo by Koomi PH
Photo by Koomi PH
Photo by Koomi PH
Photo by Koomi PH
Photo by Koomi PH
Photo by Koomi PH
Make sure to drop by SM Seaside City Cebu and SM City Cebu to get a taste of these sinlessly indulgent treats.
Like and follow on Facebook @koomiph and Instagram @koomi.ph to get the latest #GuiltlessGoodness updates on their new upcoming stores closer to you!
For the whole month of October, Ayala Malls Central Bloc is dedicating a line-up of events and promos to raise awareness on mental health and well-being as part of its feel-good Padayon campaign.
Padayon is a Cebuano word which means “to keep going,” “to move on,” and “ to continue.” The Padayon campaign is Ayala Malls Central Bloc’s way of joining the observance of World Mental Health Day last October 10 especially since mental health has been impacted by the effects of the pandemic these days.
Photo from Ayala Malls Central Bloc Facebook Page
Photo from unsplash.com
PROMOS
Padayon features Retail Therapy which offers hefty price markdowns of various items. Research has shown that retail therapy fights persistent sadness and gives people sheer joy instantly. This is because it gives people a measure of control amid the anxiety.
Enjoy buy one, take one deals & discounts up to 70% on selected items in Aerophone, Bavin, Complex, Glam You, JK Footwear, Multiplier’s Clothier, Surplus Shop, and Toys R’Us.
Get a free limited edition Padayon Tote Bag until October 15! Present a P500 single receipt purchase from any non-food and food merchant in the mall to the Concierge booth located at the Ground Floor, near Adidas.
Join the Positivitea promo and get a chance to win milk tea drinks for you and your friend. Simply post a picture of you holding a message of encouragement. Tag AyalaMalls Central Bloc in your post and include the hashtag #CentralBlocPadayon. Entries are accepted until October 25!
Enjoy Good Mood with Good Food! Food discounts are up for grabs over the whole month of October at our Trading Bloc merchants – Farine, Inglorious Cookies, and Only Vegan Food.
Photo from Ayala Malls Central Bloc Facebook Page
EVENTS
The mall also features Be Kind to Your Mind, a series of support sessions with topics about Positive Self-Talk, Energy Boosters, and Confidence Builders on all Sundays of October at Ayala Malls Central Bloc’s Facebook page every 5 p.m. These topics about mental well-being are conducted by the mall’s partner group, LightMinds Mental Health Service, a team of Cebu-based psychology professionals and advocates who are passionate about raising mental health awareness and providing services to those in need.
Get moving to better health and wellness right from the comforts of your home every Wednesday of October when you check out the mall’s Facebook page every 6 p.m with It Will All Workout! The workout series feature Cebu fitness enthusiasts that share the importance of exercise that’s good for both the body and mind.
Music is another form of therapy under the Padayon campaign. Ayala Malls Central Bloc also introduces Pause and Play, everyday live busking music sessions at the Corte every 5 p.m. and a Spotify playlist dedicated to uplift your mood. The mall’s social media pages also give regular feel-good movie recommendations too! Ayala Malls Central Bloc also features comfort catalogs online for self-care and relaxation finds available from their mall merchants!
For more updates, visit the Ayala Malls Central Bloc Facebook account to get more of the good vibes and positivity.
On Friday night, the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH-7) released its official, consolidated data of the COVID-19 cases in the region as of October 22, 2021.
Today, the whole island of Cebu — Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and the Cebu Province — recorded 72 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 146 new recoveries, and 75 new deaths. This brings Cebu’s total confirmed cases to 103,342, while the active cases increased to 2,093 (from 2,001).
Cebu City – Total confirmed: 40,937 (+19 new) – Total recoveries: 38,701 (+28 new) – Total deaths: 1,475 (+13 new) – Active cases: 761
Lapu-Lapu City – Total confirmed: 13,584 (+9 new) – Total recoveries: 12,951 (+71 new) – Total deaths: 463 (+27 new) – Active cases: 170
Mandaue City – Total confirmed: 12,068 (+8 new) – Total recoveries: 11,487 (+46 new) – Total deaths: 431 (+5 new) – Active cases: 150
Cebu Province – Total confirmed: 36,753 (+36 new) – Total recoveries: 33,373 (+1 new) – Total deaths: 2,460 (+30 new) – Active cases: 920
SUMMARY OF COVID-19 CASES IN CEBU:
Total Active Cases in Cebu: 2,001 (from 2,093)
Total Confirmed Cases in Cebu: 103,342 (+72 new)
Total Recoveries in Cebu: 96,512 (+146 new)
Total Deaths in Cebu: 4,829 (+75 new*)
A total of 3,624 laboratory results were released for 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.
Cebuanos will soon witness the rise of the newest mall in town – the Gaisano Mall (G-Mall) of Cebu. This newest addition to the league of malls in the metro is situated in place of the old White Gold Club Inc. in North Reclamation Area, Cebu City.
Gaisano Mall of Cebu, earmarked at P1B, will become the first G-Mall brand in Visayas. In Mindanao, there have been various G-Mall brands already like the Gaisano Mall of Davao, Gaisano Mall of Tagum, and Gaisano Mall of GenSan to name a few.
The new mall has 5 stories and an expansive more or less 200k ground floor area. One of the mall’s highlights will be its cinemas. In terms of accessibility, it’s approximately 300m from Robinson’s Galleria and 400m from SM City Cebu.
Presently, massive construction is still ongoing while the city is under a quarantine status.
Photo by @johnluke via Skyscraper City CebuAs of October 2020 | Photo by @mabolo.cebu via Skyscraper City CebuAs of October 2020 | Photo by @mabolo.cebu via Skyscraper City Cebu
Whitegold Club, Inc. was a supermarket along A. Soriano Avenue, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City, near SM City Cebu and right across the Queen City cemetery. This supermarket had provided Cebuanos affordable and quality products such as home furniture and fashionable clothing.
It ceased its operations end of June last 2018 “to undergo a two-year renovation which will transform the property into a four-level mall with basement parking.”
“We want to modernize it a little bit more. It’s been overdue. We will upgrade the looks and everything. What we’re looking at is there will be a mall area, an atrium. We are also looking at putting movie theaters and a food area. But the full design is still fluid as of now,”
Joseph Gaisano Jr., White Gold Club general manager
G-Mall Cebu is expected to be completed by fourth quarter of 2022 or early 2023.
Exact location: A. Soriano Street, N. Reclamation Area, 6000 Cebu City (replacing the old White Gold Club)
Known to be the travel industry’s most prestigious awards program, World Travel Awards have announced the nomination for 2021 and the Philippines didn’t just get one but five nominations.
Yes, our country was nominated five times in different categories for the prestigious 28th World Travel Awards. The recognitions of the world’s top-tier destinations was pushed through despite the setback on travel because of the pandemic.
The Philippines 5 Nominations are:
World’s Leading Beach Destination 2021
World’s Leading Dive Destination 2021
World’s Leading Island Destination 2021 (Siargao Island)
World’s Leading Tourist Attraction 2021 (Intramuros)
World’s Leading Tourist Board 2021
World’s Leading Beach Destination 2021
The Philippines has one of the best collection of beaches in the world so we have a great chance on grabbing this one but there are a lot of beautiful beaches out there as well.
Some of the other nominees for the Leading beach destination are Maldives, Cancun in Mexico, Maui in Hawaii, Miami Beach and Key West in Florida, Diani Beach in Kenya, Galapagos Islands in Ecuador and Peleponnese in Greece.
Photo from unsplash.com by Ramon Kagie
Photo from unsplash.com by Ramon Kagie
Photo from unsplash.com by John Simon Fondevilla
World’s Leading Dive Destination 2021
Our country is rich in biodiversity and have many marine protected areas to protect the beauty underneath. Some of the best diving spots you need to explore in the Philippines are Moalboal in Cebu, Coron Bay in Palawan, Anilao in Batangas and Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan
Other nominees are the Azores Islands, Bora Bora in French Polynesia, Cayman Islands, Fiji, Galapagos Islands, Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Maldives, and Mexico.
Photo from unsplash.com by Aviv Perets
Photo from unsplash.com by Farhan Sharief
World’s Leading Island Destination 2021
The Philippines’ Siargao island have been included in the Time Magazine’s list of the “world’s greatest places” for 2021 with its short description “Surf’s up”. So, we will have a strong contender here.
Photo from unsplash.com by Alejandro Luengo
Photo from unsplash.com by Joshua Dueñas
Vote for the PH
All these nominations make us proud and brings pride to our country but it also needs our support through voting. The Department of Tourism have also announced a call to all Filipinos and foreign travelers to vote for the country in all its nominated categories.
You can vote by registering for free at www.worldtravelawards.com/vote. Voting closes on October 25 at midnight so cast your votes now for our country’s gems.
Boasting a rating of 4.7 stars out of 5 on its Facebook page, the restaurant Top of Cebu keeps a top rating despite the challenging times.
And really, who wouldn’t rate the restaurant highly when it provides a splendid dining experience over a spectacular view of Cebu City?
Stellar view and mellow ambience
Tops Lookout is a name that will ring a bell with any Cebuano, and many of us have been to the sightseeing attraction that flaunts an almost 180-degree panorama of Metro Cebu.
Sure enough, the Top of Cebu restaurant shares not only the name of the famous lookout, it shares the impressive view as well!
Whether day or night, the scene will be just as breathtaking. Gaze over the miniaturized signature skyscrapers of Cebu City behind the contour of the lush mountain range.
Photo From Top of Cebu Facebook Page
Photo From Top of Cebu Facebook Page
Photo From Top of Cebu Facebook Page
Photo From Top of Cebu Facebook Page
Photo From Top of Cebu Facebook Page
During the day, the view is a refreshing contrast of the green forest, city backdrop, and the blue sea in the far distance. After sunset when the colors die down and night takes over, the view transforms into a sparkling sea of city lights – a glittering image that truly never gets old.
The view alone makes the trip up worth it, yet the ambience adds more to the Top of Cebu experience. A wide open-air setting intermingles the surrounding forest scenery with the dining area, creating a cozy space with cool weather at any time of day.
Honestly, staying in Top of Cebu will make you lose track of time.
Top-class cuisine
Top of Cebu has remained in its place not only because of the view, the restaurant’s unique appreciation of food and elevated approach to cooking is definitely a large contribution to its regard.
The restaurant takes local favorites and famous international food and adds their own refreshing twist. Recipes that stood the test of time and thousands of tastebuds are enhanced to a whole new level of flavor!
Photo From Top of Cebu Facebook Page
Their specialties are such delightful surprises, here are just a few of their remarkable recreations:
Pancit de Cebu: spicy and savory pancit canton noodles and crispy fried noodles stir fried with meats, seafood, and vegetables that create a perfectly balanced array of flavors.
Salted Egg Calamares: the crowd favorite, perfectly breaded and fried with a soft chewy squid waiting inside. The Top of Cebu touch is a generous sprinkle of salted egg powder and a tasty mango salsa and aioli dip that match perfectly with the calamares.
Frutti di mare, Aglio e olio: It’s often said to avoid seafood when it’s sold more than 5 kilometers away from the ocean. Disregard this advise and order this dish, trust us. The savory quality of this classic pasta dish is amplified and a dash of spiciness is added, while it keeps its lightness. If you’re not fond of eating shellfish, this might very well change your mind.
Crispy pata: A true favorite loved by the masses. On this one, they stick to the usual and adhere to the classic recipe, but their execution is just perfect. The pork leg is seasoned flawlessly, and the texture is just right – crunchy on the outside, chewy and soft in the inside.
Photo From Top of Cebu Facebook Page
Photo From Top of Cebu Facebook Page
Photo From Top of Cebu Facebook Page
Photo From Top of Cebu Facebook Page
Top of Cebu has an extensive menu featuring more of their creative renditions and more favorites. We highly recommend exploring them and tasting them firsthand!
Now, before you enjoy the view and the sumptuous food, make sure to dress up or bring a sweater!
Exact location: Brgy. Busay, Cebu Transcentral Highway, Cebu City – just beside the popular Tops Lookout (20 to 30 minutes from JY Square Mall in Lahug)
BY CAR: Navigate with Waze or Google Maps and set your destination to“Top of Cebu” in Busay. The restaurant can be found just beside the popular Tops Lookout. Spacious parking space is available.
BY MOTORBIKE: Habal-habal drivers are available near JY Square Mall (Jollibee area) and offer rides to Tops for around ₱100, depending on your negotiations.
On Thursday night, the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH-7) released its official, consolidated data of the COVID-19 cases in the region as of October 21, 2021.
Today, the whole island of Cebu — Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and the Cebu Province — recorded 56 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 61 new recoveries, and 75 new deaths. This brings Cebu’s total confirmed cases to 103,272, while the active cases increased to 2,093 (from 2,126).
Cebu City – Total confirmed: 40,915 (+28 new) – Total recoveries: 38,681 (+20 new) – Total deaths: 1,462 (+13 new) – Active cases: 772
Lapu-Lapu City – Total confirmed: 13,575 (+3 new) – Total recoveries: 12,903 (+0 new) – Total deaths: 438 (+6 new) – Active cases: 234
Mandaue City – Total confirmed: 12,069 (+6 new) – Total recoveries: 11,450 (+60new) – Total deaths: 425 (+4 new) – Active cases: 194
Cebu Province – Total confirmed: 36,713 (+19 new) – Total recoveries: 33,391 (+41 new) – Total deaths: 2,429 (+52 new) – Active cases: 893
SUMMARY OF COVID-19 CASES IN CEBU:
Total Active Cases in Cebu: 2,093 (from 2,126)
Total Confirmed Cases in Cebu: 103,272 (+56 new)
Total Recoveries in Cebu: 96,425 (+61 new)
Total Deaths in Cebu: 4,754 (+75 new*)
A total of 3,293 laboratory results were released for 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.
The global goal is to conserve at least 30 percent of the planet by 2030.
Earth is continuously being overexploited for its resources especially by the 1st world countries and other rich countries in the world. Their actions have greatly affected the state of the earth now and there is no going back from that but there is still hope if us humans can prioritize saving our planet rather than taking from it.
Yes, it is a known fact that when it comes down to it, it is up to the countries part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to lead the way.
Photo from shutterstock.com
As the region with the richest biodiversity and protected marine ecosystems, we have stricter environmental laws and programs to carry the weight of the world in saving the environment.
And even that wasn’t enough as even now, member states are being urged by the Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) to build more partnerships that would help increase their capability to better conserve our marine resources.
The Philippines, our country being one with the richest biodiversity having a total of 72 marine protected areas (MPAs) established covering at least 3.1 million hectares of the country’s waters. This is a great number already but as always, it isn’t enough, so the country through Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) plans to increase this number by covering other regions such as the West Philippine Sea Offshore areas.
With Southeast Asia being the home to approximately 33.33% of the world’s coastal and marine habitats, its resident species can provide breeding, nursing, and feeding grounds for not only marine plants and animals, but also for the food, and resources that are important to the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Some of the resident species are:
coral reefs
mangroves
estuaries
sandy and rocky beaches
seagrass and seaweed beds
other soft-bottom communities
Photo from unsplash.com
Photo from unsplash.com
Photo from unsplash.com
Photo from unsplash.com
Photo from unsplash.com
Photo from unsplash.com
That being said, this rich ecosystem is also the world’s “most threatened” mostly due to habitat change and pollution, that will be a problem in the future of our food security, tourism, and global warming mitigation.
“The seas connecting the Asean encourage the member states to unite and forge stronger linkages in addressing the climate crisis and the pandemic we are currently in. Thus, the protection and sustainable management of our biodiversity––our common natural heritage, serve as our compass as we set sail towards recovery,” -Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim, ACB Executive Director
To effectively manage ecological networks of marine protected areas (MPAs) in Southeast Asia, Asean will increase conservation efforts in key marine ecosystems in Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Let us all be aware of our environment and aim to raise awareness and appreciation of the Philippines’ marine biodiversity and conservation efforts. These things are what keeps sustainable development of the country and the Asean region alive.
Daanbantayan, as known by many, is the home of fascinating resorts and the entryway to newfound pearls of the north. On the other hand, not known to many, this resort is the shoreline in Daanbantayan. Without a doubt, Golden Sands Beach Resort is truly worthy of the spotlight!
Nestled in Maya, Daanbantayan, Golden Sands Beach Resort is an open shoreline boasting her long stretch of white sand shoreline and crystal clear water.
Previously named as Del Sands Resort – Sandoval Beach Resort, Golden Sands Destination Resort is being developed as a luxurious resort in northern Cebu boasting topnotch accommodations, facilities and amenities.
Photo from Golden Sands Destination Resorts Facebook Page Photo from Golden Sands Destination Resorts Facebook Page Photo from Golden Sands Destination Resorts Facebook Page Photo from Golden Sands Destination Resorts Facebook Page Photo from Golden Sands Destination Resorts Facebook Page Photo from Golden Sands Destination Resorts Facebook Page
Hot Kettle with coffee and tea bags per room night
Safety Deposit Box
Laundry Bag
Bluetooth Speaker System
Photo from Golden Sands Destination Resorts Facebook Page
Fidela’s Restaurant
To top it all off, they have an exclusive restaurant that showcases eclectic gastronomic creations of culinary genius anticipating and satisfying the discriminating taste buds of food connoisseurs.
Other activities:
Paddle Boarding
Kayaking
Biking
Photo from Golden Sands Destination Resorts Facebook Page Photo from Golden Sands Destination Resorts Facebook Page
Exact location: Sitio Suba, Brgy. Maya, Daanbantayan, Northern Cebu — approx. 4 hours away from the city.
BY CAR: Navigate on Waze or Google Maps and search for “Golden Sands Destination Resorts”. Parking space is available.
BY PUBLIC COMMUTE: From the North Bus Terminal in Mandaue City, ride a bus bound for Maya-Bagay Daanbantayan, or you can simply ask and conductor around the bus terminal and tell them that you’re going to Maya Daanbantayan. Travel time is around 4 hours and fare is ₱212 per head per way (airconditioned bus). Tell the driver to drop you off at Maya Public Market where you can also buy some food and stuff.
From there, ride a habal-habal or tricycle going to Golden Sands Destination Resorts (formerly Sandoval Beach Resort). This is a popular destination among the locals. Fare is ₱20-30 per person.
Cebu City is eternally a busy space with lots of hustling and bustling. Every now and then, we deserve to break away from the tumultuous sea of stress and noise in Cebu City!
What better way to break away and rest up than booking a staycation where you can totally unwind and put your cares aside? The ideal stay is one that provides maximum comfort, cleanliness, and coziness – and that’s just the experience Flying Fish Hostel delivers.
Given its located in Banilad, the Flying Fish Hostel sits in an accessible area that’s close to the main roads of the city. Still, guests can expect serenity in this pocket of peace and quiet.
Photo by Margarette Agbay
Old charm and timeless comfort
This boutique hotel has all the charm of an old-time house with simple yet attractive décor and easy on the eyes interior design. The blend of neutral colors with rustic elements within the premises creates an atmosphere of restfulness and ease.
While the décor is somewhat a nod to the easier, more stress-free living of the past, the hotel by no means falls behind on providing that comfort to its guests. Their selection of furniture and fixtures were picked to keep guests cozy and comfortable.
Photo by Margarette Agbay
Photo by Margarette Agbay
Photo by Margarette Agbay
Processed with RNI Films. Preset ‘Kodachrome 50’s’
Photo by Margarette Agbay
Photo by Margarette Agbay
Photo by Margarette Agbay
Photo by Margarette Agbay
Photo from Instagram Account of misatour
Its laidback chairs and benches and its inviting beds make The Flying Fish the perfect pit stop for an adventure, or a place to slow down and unwind. Its own private swimming pool also helps for those who are seeking to relax and take it slow.
While you’re staying here, make sure to try their kitchen specialties out. On Tuesdays to Sundays, Pukot Kitchen cooks delicious comfort food and on Fridays, Papachalupa fries up some tasty chalupas.
For your next de-stressing trip or adventure in the city, remember the homey haven that Flying Fish Hostel has ready for you!
Photo from The Flying Fish Hostel Cebu Facebook Page
Photo by Margarette Agbay
Photo by Margarette Agbay
Photo by Margarette Agbay
Photo from The Flying Fish Hostel Cebu Facebook Page
Photo from The Flying Fish Hostel Cebu Facebook Page
Photo from The Flying Fish Hostel Cebu Facebook Page
RATES & OTHER INFORMATION
Room Rates:
Dorm style rooms: Starts at ₱500 per head per night (minimum of 4 persons)
En-suite private rooms:
Standard: ₱1,100, good for 2 persons;
Deluxe: ₱1,400, good for 2 persons
Extra beds can be rented for ₱750 each.
Other information
Pukot Kitchen is open to serve Tuesdays through Sundays from 11AM to 9PM.
Papachalupa opens a pop-up store every Friday 4PM to 10PM.
