Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lapu-Lapu City Government has entered into a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with reclamation developer Mactan Bluewaters Development Consortium (MBDC).
This joint venture, according to the announcement, will soon help in solving Lapu-Lapu City’s troubles, including traffic congestion.
The reclamation project will be covering the shores from Brgy. Punta Engaño to Brgy. Canjulao. Moreover, the city will also be allowed to acquire additional revenues “without spending a single peso,” said Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan.
On August 7, 2020, Mayor Chan signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with MBDC for the 203-hectare area.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Chan with Mactan Bluewater Development Consortium on a PPP project signed on August 7, 2020.
“We will build there our coastal highway, a 30-meter wide road,” the mayor said in Cebuano.
The coastal highway is expected to solve the city’s traffic woes since it will serve as the city’s alternative road.
This reclamation project is also the implementation of a socialized housing project for informal settlers, as proclaimed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo years back, said Mayor Chan. There will be a 25-hectare area allocation for socialized housing in Barangay Canjulao.
“We can use the property for this purpose. The developer will build it at no cost to the city government,”
– Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Ahong Chan
Mayor Chan added that the mixed-use reclamation project would host spaces for the following:
Tourism facilities,
commercial and industrial properties, and
a park.
Apart from the aforementioned, Mayor Chan also plans to have a boardwalk under the two Mactan bridges and is considering a construction of a new City Hall building.
According to the JVA, 100 hectares will be developed in Punta Engaño by MBDC while the consortium will develop 103 hectares in Canjulao.
Once completed, 52 percent of the reclaimed area will be turned over to the City, while the remaining 48 percent will be the developer’s share of the land.
The Philippine Reclamation Authority has approved the project and the City Council has authorized Chan to sign the MOA.
Since the time malls were allowed to re-open last month, we noticed many stores in the city have been offering great deals with huge discounts.
So if you’re waiting for the perfect time to shop for new stuff like shoes and bags, then you might want to consider these crazy deals at SM City Cebu’s SM Store (a.k.a. department store) that recently trended online.
In this particular sale, which may be offered until August 31 or until supplies last, you will get additional P300 or P500 off on your purchase with your SM Advantage Card and a minimum P3,000 single-receipt purchase.
Check out some items you can purchase at SM City Cebu:
This seasonal sale is available in most, if not all, SM Stores nationwide. This means, you can also visit the department stores at SM Seaside City Cebu and SM Consolacion. Though of course, items being offered may vary per branch.
SM Stores are open Mondays to Sundays from 11AM – 7PM for walk-ins and delivery through SM Seaside’s dedicated Pabili Service partners.
When going out, make sure to observe the following:
Quarantine pass is required to enter the mall.
Must wear a face mask at all times.
Observe physical distancing.
Also don’t forget to wash your hands frequently and disinfect thoroughly as soon as you get home.
New mall on a shoreline cliff to be highlighted by a man-made lagoon, boutique hotel, garden chapel, beach walk, and rows of retail shops & restaurants including four cinemas.
Property giant Megaworld is building a two-level mall along the beachside cliff of its 30-hectare The Mactan Newtown development in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
With a total gross floor area of 30,000 square meters, the Mactan Newtown Beach Walk will be highlighted by a 1.4-hectare man-made lagoon at the center.
The lagoon will have floating boardwalks and a bridge that will connect both sides of the mall. With a maximum depth of around 1.5-meters, it can also serve as venue for future water sports activities such as jet ski, wakeboarding, stand-up paddling, and boating. It will also have its own man-made shoreline at its perimeter.
The Mactan Newtown Beach Walk, which is designed and to be operated under the Megaworld Lifestyle Malls brand, will also have its own chapel that will be surrounded by a garden by the Cliffside, overlooking the sea.
It will also have four state-of-the-art cinemas, a Food Hall, al fresco areas, Traveler’s Lounge, and a view deck, allowing visitors and mallgoers to have a panoramic view of the sea and nearby islands.
“Megaworld Lifestyle Malls is bringing a fresh, new concept of mall development in Cebu that recreates and innovates the beach lifestyle experience. We take inspiration from some iconic coastline commercial developments in South California, where visitors can enjoy coffee, meet friends over lunch or dinner, watch a movie, or simply shop around in this laid-back beach atmosphere,”
– Kevin L. Tan, Megaworld chief strategy officer
The mall complex will also have its three-storey boutique hotel, offering 48 spacious guestrooms with retail shops at its ground level. This will be operated under the Megaworld Hotels brand.
True to its commitment to sustainability, Megaworld will use solar roof panels for this new mall, and will utilize an open layout scheme for passive cooling and natural lighting in most of the development’s common areas.
Around 40% of the entire development will be dedicated to green and open spaces.
Megaworld will spend P1.5-billion to build the Mactan Newtown Beach Walk, which is expected for completion in 2021.
August is one of the most popular times of the year to observe meteor showers.
According to DOST-PAGASA, if the sky permits, the famous Perseids meteor shower will be observed with its peak in the late evening and early morning hours on August 12-13, 2020 with at least 50 or more meteors observed during peak time.
However, the waxing gibbous Moon may interfere with the observations of fainter meteors.
Meteors are easiest to observe if there is no moonlight, light pollution, and a clear sky.
The Perseids meteor shower radiates out from the constellation Perseus, which is located on the eastern horizon during August as shown in the images below.
On Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia has developed the first vaccine offering “sustainable immunity” against the coronavirus. According to Putin, his daughter is among those inoculated.
“This morning, for the first time in the world, a vaccine against the new coronavirus was registered. One of my daughters had this vaccine. I think in this sense she took part in the experiment,”
– President Putin said during a televised video conference call with government ministers
The vaccine, developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center in Moscow, has an official registration with the Russian Health Ministry after less than two months of human testing.
In addition, Putin also said that the vaccine has proven efficient during human testing and promises to offer “sustainable immunity” against the coronavirus.
In a report, the vaccine is “based on adenovirus and contains dead COVID-19 particles which cannot multiply and are therefore safe”, according to Alexander Gintzburg, head of the center. However, he also said it can provoke an immune response such as high temperature to the introduction of foreign substances.
To date, there are more than 200 COVID-19 vaccine candidates in development globally, including more than 20 in human clinical trials based on the data from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Another iconic building will soon rise in the prime Cebu Business Park in Cebu City and this condominium tower will be designed by no other than Paris-based architecture firm, Vincent Callebaut Architectures.
Aptly named as such, Rainbow Tree, is taken from the “Eucalyptus Deglupta”, an iconic and colorful tree from the Philippines.
The Rainbow Tree features a 32-story building with 300 apartment units; mixed-use residential, condominium with retail and serviced apartments. The Rainbow Tree is a staggered geometric stack of 1,200 modules, each with sides measuring 4 meters sides and a height varying between 3.2 to 4.8 meters.
This project aims to build a residential building with double environmental certification (LEED + BERDE) for a perfect balace of cultural heritage and natural heritage of unparalleled splendor.
“On October 31, 2019, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated 66 new “Creative Cities. Among them is Cebu, awarded for its innovation in design, particularly in the field of fashion, architecture, and the production of eco-responsible furniture,” said Vincent Callebaut Architectures.
“The architecture of the Philippines is both a dynamic combination of multiple influences and a reflection of the country’s historical and cultural heritage. This heritage is based on a mixture of Austronesian, Chinese, Malaysian, American (Art Deco), and Spanish (Baroque) influences.”
“At a time when we need to find radical solutions to reduce the global carbon footprint, we have designed a 32-story, 115-meter high tower built of solid wood, as it is the only natural, abundant, and renewable material,” added the firm.
The Rainbow Tree organic tower integrates the principles of passive bioclimatism and advanced renewable energies.
Adorned with beautiful plant essences from the neighboring tropical forests, the Rainbow Tree draws a flourishing spiral in the colors of the rainbow, bringing a breath of freshness to Cebu Business Park.
The tower will be built by using a CLT (Cross Laminated Timber). As the studio highlights, The Cross Laminated Timber manufacturing process requires much less energy than concrete or steel, and moreover it does not generate greenhouse gases. As a reminder, producing 1 ton of concrete generates 2.42 tons of CO2 and producing 1 ton of steel generates 0.938 ton of CO2.
In terms of fire resistance, remember that wood burns slowly, does not release toxic fumes, and transmits heat 250 times slower than melting steel and 10 times slower than concrete which cracks under the effects of the flames.
“The Rainbow Tree has sinusoidal balconies staggered between the even and odd floors allowing palm trees and deciduous trees to grow on a double height,” explained the office.
“The endemic plant species are listed according to the color of their flowering – pink, purple, green, yellow, orange, red – to draw 5 plant spirals wrapping around the solid wood facades.”
Moreover, the 30,000 plants, shrubs, and trees planted on the tower will capture 150 tons of CO2 in the atmosphere of the Cebu City annually to transform them into oxygen through natural photosynthesis.
The Rainbow Tree is subdivided into:
The basement, level -1 to -3
40 parking spaces per level
120 spaces in the infrastructure
Here are the facilities and amenities to expect in this iconic tower:
Ground floor:
Catering restaurant
Co-working office space
Access ramps to silo car park
3rd to 6th floors:
40 parking spaces per level
160 spaces in superstructure for electric cars
7th floor:
Condominium pool and spa
8th floor:
Mezzanine of the fitness center with a double height over the swimming pool
9th to the 31st floor:
13 apartment units per level with 3-bedroom apartments
An urban skyfarm and its 2 mezzanines aquaponically poducing fruits, vegetables, and algae
On the roof:
1,650-square-meter photivoltaic and thermal solar panels
“By 2050, 80% of the world’s population will live in cities. It is now necessary to produce as close as possible to the consumer-actors and consume the minimum of resources while reducing wastes and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Vincent Callebaut, founder of Vincent Callebaut Architectures.
“Within the framework of the new circular economy, the Rainbow Tree is a prototype of a completely biobased vertical forest respecting the four pillars of the ecological city of the future, namely: energy self-sufficiency (heating, cooling, and electricity); greening of buildings and development of urban agriculture; soft mobility centered on pedestrians, bikes and electric co-mobility; social innovation through spaces for sharing between residents and solidarity services,” added Callebaut.
Good news! Cebu’s most popular food market is back!
On Monday, Sugbo Mercado announced its resumption of operations starting on August 12, 2020 for pick-up, take-outs and delivery every Wednesday to Saturday from 11AM to 8PM.
Sugbo Mercado will also accept walk-ins and dine-ins at 50% capacity starting on August 19, 2020.
This means, you can now enjoy your Sugbo Mercado favorites and even discover new ones while the food market makes sure that safety and health protocols are in place.
Here’s everything you should know about Sugbo Mercado’s re-opening:
Pick-up, takeout and delivery (Foodpanda, LEB) are highly encouraged for this week (Aug 12-15)
Walk-ins and dine-ins at 50% capacity are welcomed on controlled numbers, starting on August 19, 2020.
Registered entry for contact tracing, temperature screening, sanitation and on strictly “No Mask, No Entry” basis.
Safety barriers are in place for the mutual protection of our vendors and guests on top of standard social distancing measures.
Operating hours: 11AM to 8PM, Wednesdays to Saturdays
UPDATE: This promo is no longer valid for Cebu branches. Macao’s only operating branch is at Ayala Central Bloc (which is excluded from the promo). Other Cebu branches are unofficial and not affiliated with MIT. Read the full story here.
Are you ready for a monstrous treat?
As their way to make you smile and make your Mondays feel better in this time of crisis, Filipinos’ well-loved milk tea brand – Macao Imperial Tea Philippines – is offering FREE UPSIZE TO 1 LITER on Cheesecake and Pearl Milk Teas on all Mondays of August 2020, from 1PM to 4PM.
This promo is available nationwide, for both take out and all accredited food delivery services (GrabFood and Food Panda). However, advance/Pre-ordered drinks through third-party delivery apps will not be upsized; order must be placed from 1PM to 4PM only.
Promo Mechanics:
Promo will run on Mondays of August 2020 (August 10, 17, 24,31) from 1 PM to 4 PM only (operating hours may vary per store).
Free Monster Upsize from Maior (700ml) drinks on Cheesecake and Pearl Milk Tea only.
Customers may purchase a maximum of 5 drinks only, if they wish to purchase more, they must fall back in line.
Orders over the 5th cup will not be upsized to monster. This applies to orders booked thru food delivery service apps as well.
Advance/Pre-ordered drinks thru third party delivery applications will not be upsized. Order must be placed from 1 PM – 4 PM.
This promotion is not valid in conjunction with any other promos and discounts.
In the purchase of goods and services which are on promotional discount, the senior citizen can avail of the promotional discount or the discount provided under the Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2010, whichever is higher.
The use of Fredley Elite Card and points is allowed.
The use of gift certificates is allowed for this promo.
Available for take out, and delivery.
Available in all stores nationwide (except Ayala Malls Central Bloc).
Photo from @gp_reyes via Macao Imperial Facebook Page
Since the coronavirus lockdown, we have all been spending our times at home. Other spent their time finding out a new hobby, while others use theirs to sleep. Staying at home orders and anything related to COVID-19 pandemic have impacted our daily lives – including sleeping.
We need not to fret though because if you’ve grown tired of your bedsheets, Uniqlo’s got you covered!
Uniqlo, a Japanese retail brand is set to spice not only our wardrobes, but our bedrooms too with the new: Uniqlo AIRism Sheets and are set to be released in late August.
These Airism Sheets are made from moisture-wrecking and quick-drying material, making it easy to wash.
It comes in three sizes:
Single (₱1,490)
Semi-Double (₱1,990)
Double (₱1,990)
You can opt to choose your own color:
White
Pink
Gray
Dark Brown
And! If you can’t get enough of these sheets, you can also score their pillow cases. Match them with your sheets!
The pillow cases come in two sizes:
Medium (₱390)
Large (₱390)
Uniqlo’s new Airism sheets and pillow covers will be available on their online store at www.uniqlo.com/ph by the end of August 2020.
“We are moving from a chess game – a mere intellectual strategy – to a war strategy: attack and contention.”- Alex Pina, series creator
Money Heist has taken the world by storm with its addictive fast-paced storyline and unexpected plot twists that follow the story of a group of people with special skills that attempt to carry the perfect robbery in Spain.
Led by an intelligent and mysterious man named “Professor”, its final season is said to be the most epic, extreme and savage with the professor being put on the ropes.
Production for the final season reportedly began last August 3.
“Adrenaline is within Money Heist’s DNA. Every thirty seconds things take place and disrupt the characters, a turn of the screw to the action. The adrenaline mixed with feelings arising from absolutely complex, magnetic, unforeseeable characters will continue until the end of the heist to the Bank of Spain. However, the gang will now be pushed into irreversible situations, into a wild war: it is the most epic part of all the parts we’ve shot.”
– Alex Pina, Money Heist series creator
New faces will also appear on the series with Sense 8’s Miguel Ángel Silvestre and Patrick Criado joining the squad. Money Heist’s complete cast are Álvaro Morte (El Professor), Úrsula Coberó (Tokyo), Itziar Ituño (Lisbon), Jaime Lorenzo (Denver), Darko Perić (Helsinki), Miguel Herrán (Rio), Esther Acebo (Stockholm), Hovik Keuchkerian (Bogotá), Luka Peros (Marseille), and Belén Cuesta (Manila).
Money Heist has been a strong performer for Netflix. The fourth season, which was released on April 3 this year, garnered 65 million views worldwide in its first four weeks — more than breakout docuseries Tiger King.
