Biographies of world figures

Hey, wanna find out where the best Affogato places are in Cebu? Let me help you uncover them. You might ask yourself, is it a dessert or a drink? That has been the biggest mystery of the Affogato . For me, I consider it a drink. I enjoy the combination of hot and cold in a glass plus it's wonderful looking at the contrast of the gelato and espresso. Affogato Collection In my endless quest of finding that perfect Affogato drink, I have discovered eight cafes and restaurants in Cebu that offers this unusual treat. My love affair with this Italian specialty started more than ten years ago and it just keeps getting better and better.  I had a former co-worker who used to be a Starbucks barista and she introduced me to the concept of Affogato. She suggested adding a shot of espresso to my ice-blended frappuccino to make it a little stronger. I tried it and immediately got hooked. It's a secret item on their menu. Definition Affogato means "drowned" in Italian. Espresso is ...

A couple of months ago, I was invited to an Art exhibit in Qube Gallery and when I got there I found out that Cebu Brewing Company is located on the ground floor. My craft beer mania has just begun. It was open bar during the exhibit and I got to taste some bottles of craft beer that they were offering. I got a little curious and mentally told myself that I would go back and bring some friends along.  Cebu Brewing Co. The place is small but cozy which I very much like. No blaring music. You can actually have a real conversation. No shouting or texting or doing selfies. Last night, I went back with my friend and we had a nice quiet time. We were just chillin' and swirling our beer to distinquish the ingredients. We ended up comparing our beer choices. I remember my trip to Arizona and we ate in this restaurant which boasted of having more than 50 beer brand options. That's how Cebu Brewing Co. is set-up. Numerous brands that might be unfamiliar to us.  99 bottles of beer on the...

The Annual Cebuano Festival of Sinulog celebrates the Miraculous Holy Child of Jesus. The Holy icon that is found in the Basilica Del Santo Nino is almost 500 years old. Pilgrims and tourists flock to the Basilica to pray and visit. The Basilica is one of Cebu’s treasured Historical Landmarks. There is a small museum located onsite that you should also include in your Itinerary.  The Minor Basilica of the Holy Child of Jesus has a storied past. It is the first Roman Catholic Church built in the Philippines. It traces its roots to the first Spanish explorers who landed in the Island of Cebu. Historical Marker History In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan gifted a statue of the Holy Child of Jesus to the wife of local Chieftain, Raja Humabon. It was lost to History when the Magellan forces were ousted from the island. 44 years later when Miguel Lopez de Legazpi’s expedition arrived in Cebu, a soldier found the Holy Icon buried in a gravesite. Fray Andres Urdaneta and Fray Diego Herrera, both A...

How do you spend your Sunday Mornings when you're on vacation? Do you still wake up early or do you stay in bed late? What activities would entice you to leave the comforts of your big and soft bed? Let me count the ways on how lively mornings can be in Cebu's Montebello Villa Hotel. One of the dilemmas that I encountered when I recently had a staycation in Montebello, was how to wake up early. The night before, I set my alarm to ring before dawn so that I could take pictures of the sunrise. Plus that was the best time to stroll around the hotel since people were still asleep. But I ended up dismissing the alarm and slept another hour or two. With my crazy schedule, sleep is a luxury that I couldn't resist. Anyway, I was still able to salvage my Sunday morning at Montebello because of these four things that you can do in Cebu's only garden hotel. Even if I had to literally drag myself that day, I wouldn't miss any of these. 1. Namaste, Yoga Starting October, Yoga co...

If Americans have coleslaw and the Koreans have Kimchi, Filipinos have atchara. Atchara goes well with grilled and fried food especially pork and chicken. And now, a special atchara is available in Cebu through Andok's Litson Manok. Special Papaya Atchara The other day we decided to have roasted chicken for lunch and the nearest place is Andok's which is right infront of JY Mall in Lahug. And I was happy to find out that they were selling bottles of atchara or atsara(Filipino pickled vegetables). They were offering either Papaya atchara which is the most common type and Labanos (Radish). I like the Papaya atsara since I'm more familiar in eating it. I bought a bottle of it and immediately paired it with the roasted chicken. Once I've run out of the pickled veggies, I would try the Radish one. Pickled Papaya Pickled Radish Atchara's main ingredients are unripened papaya, onions, vinegar, brown sugar, and chillies. You can also add other vegetables like carrots, ampla...

I'm not a great fan of spicy hot food especially if it's a burger or sandwich. If the spiciness is subtle then maybe I could tolerate it. Call me a food philistine but that's how my palate is. McSpicy. McDelicious. McYummy. But yesterday was different, McDonald's brought back McSpicy, it's a slightly spicy breaded chicken patty with lettuce and sauce with soft sesame buns. It's similar to my favorite McDo sandwich, McChicken but McSpicy is slightly hotter, crispier and the sauce has a kick to it. I predict that this would be a hit with McDo fans and patrons. It also goes well with the Coke McFreeze and Garlic Butter-flavored Shaker fries. I could have eaten two of it in a row if I weren't with other people. I didn't want to get the wrong impression. If you have a cheat day or meal, make it the McSpicy, you won't regret it. I guarantee it. I'm like a savant when it comes to fast food. Don't count the calories, just enjoy munching on the McSpic...

A short drive along Trans-Central Highway will lead you to Cebu City's new Botanical Garden Cafe, Terrazas de Flores. This is a new experience for Cebuanos and tourists alike. Curtained cabanas for privacy What is unique with this place is that the garden is built similar to the rice terraces found in Benguet. When you enter Terrazas, it will leave you speechless. I can't imagine the number of hours and manpower it took to create the terraced floral garden. Your eyes will somewhat gravitate to the top of the terraces where the Coffee shop is located but your eyes will then focus on the other elements, you will be surprised to discover new and wonderful things. Water cascading gently Barangay Malubog is the perfect landscape for the garden. The cool climate and high vistas form the breathtaking view that visitors would appreciate. It's situated after Barangay Busay which is famous for it's restaurants. Terrazas de Flores showcases the indigenious flora species of Cebu. T...

"I believe the children are our future." December 3rd will be a fun and memorable event for families and running enthusiasts in Cebu who would sign-up for McDonald's Run for Reading challenge.  To promote reading in kids and show them that learning is easier with books and stories. I'm not a marathoner nor a runner but I am an advocate of reading. And this is one event that I can see myself supporting because of the core theme. There will be 6 different categories for the runners. You can run as an individual or compete in the team challenges. Winners of each category will be awarded prizes. For those who would register, they will be provided a race bib, breakfast meal, T-shirt and red striped socks. You can visit any of the following McDonald's stores and sign-up. Registration is from October 1st to November 24th. The Run for Reading event will start in the Garden Bloc of Cebu IT Park.  This is the best time and avenue for families to spend some quality time for ...