I never heard or rather...read before, that there's such building called Club Ultima which is the tallest in cebu as what others claimed to be or just the Emporis is quiet unknowledgable about this, or nevertheless these two buildings are the same??? Could anyone tell me???

Is Park City and Club Ultima are one?

Park city is different from Club Ultima. Club Ultima is a cebu-based Leisure membership club. Club ultima in cebu is their headquarters (20-storey and the 36-storey building) soon expanding in mactan island, makati, baguio, davao and others -- all are high-rise buildings. :)

im more excited about King's Island in mactan, i saw the rendering when my dad availed the membership... it's really awesome. i wish i could see a photo somewhere online. :) by the way, you could visit their website at www.clubultima.com

cebu city looks good

at last!!! whew! i am so glad. You know what guys? i've been searching for such site that will gratify my enthusiasm about skycrapers and buildings. I found Emporis Database but it is absolutely unreliable source, coz they are not upated. They don't have datas about some of our strcutures. But then, at last i found this site and it got what all it takes. Para akong nakumpleto. Since i was a child i love to draw buildings and even into their designs, unfortunately i wasnt able to show with you guys. This is my first time to join the forum and i am so thankul for those who shared their awesome pictures of Cebu. I never heard or rather...read before, that there's such building called Club Ultima which is the tallest in cebu as what others claimed to be or just the Emporis is quiet unknowledgable about this, or nevertheless these two buildings are the same??? Could anyone tell me???

(sorry, still don't know how to post an image)

http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=131329

http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=131329

this is the Emporis data about Park City Central Hotel in Cebu. Is Park City and Club Ultima are one?

Well, maybe if they have a dedicated editor in Emporis for Cebu, they can update the site with more info.... ;)

well even MM doesn't have one. or at least someone that has been able to constantly update it for a long time.

Market Cebu as haven for retirees: Fil-Am group
Saturday, January 22, 2005

Aside from being a preferred tourist destination and a hub for business process outsourcing (BPO) activities, Cebu can also market itself as a haven for retirees and a shopping mecca of the world.

National Federation of Filipino American Associations chairperson Loida Nicolas-Lewis said the province can start attracting the eight million Filipinos living abroad, who are set to retire.

“Most of us (Filipinos living abroad) would want to live the rest of our lives in the country, not necessarily where we really come from,” she told a press conference for the 3rd Global Filipino Networking Convention at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

In a separate interview, Annie Chen, president of A.C. Signature Developments Inc. (ACSDI), confirmed Nicolas-Lewis’ statement. She said the concept being followed by ACSDI in the development of its maiden project, a retirement village, is based on her own experiences as a Filipino based in Singapore.

“I based the amenities and the development on the needs I had when I decided to buy a house in the Philippines a few years ago and the problems my friends in Singapore shared with me when they also planned to buy a property in the country. The Philippines lacks a place where balikbayans can experience home (Philippines) yet still enjoy the luxuries (such as fresh air, silence and security) they had abroad,” Chen said.

In a separate event, Joe Berardy of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce in Hawaii (FCCH) shared Nicolas-Lewis’ sentiments, saying Cebu and the Philippines in general can take advantage of the strength of the US dollar and the other currencies in the Philippines and the Filipinos’ value of being good caregivers.

“American retirees and those from Japan, Korea and Europe want to spend the rest of their lives where their dollar can go far” and where they can be well taken care of, he said.

According to Berardy, retirees also put a premium on places where there is a friendly population and their security can be assured.

During a business seminar with the FCCH Wednesday, Cebu Investment Promotions Center (CIPC) managing director Joel Mari Yu asked the help of the chamber to market the retirement village that the Cebu City local government plans to develop at the South Road Properties (formerly South Reclamation Project), in the United States. The CIPC is tasked to market the 300-hectare SRP.

Berardy said the retirement village industry is a sunrise industry all over the world. He said the industry is growing in Hawaii and Mexico. Nicolas-Lewis said she will urge President Gloria Arroyo to build a retirement facility in the country.

Wow...great pictures Robville! Provides a lot of new insight to Cebu, which is really underexposed. I tried taking that same shot from the bridge of the Cebu skyline, it didnt turn out well also.

cool photos robville.

few questions, club optima looks high, is this a condo?

what's the story behind the sheraton hotel by sm?

cool photos robville.

few questions, club optima looks high, is this a condo?

what's the story behind the sheraton hotel by sm?
The Sheraton Hotel (as it is referred to) was build by the SM Prime Group but Sheraton apparently backed out so the hotel sits empty. The Exterior is nice and complete. In fact if you are standing across the street from it, it is a very impressive building. As I hear, there are no plans yet to open it.

The club Optima will be a condo and hotel. I believe the picture I took will be the smaller of the two buildings and the 36 storey building not yet built will carry the hotel.

The Cebu Plaza Hotel also remains empty. It is quite sad to see in its current condition as it was once the place to stay in Cebu. I didn't get any pictures of it becuase of that. So, there are two great hotels in Cebu that sit empty.

Now would be the perfect time for Sheraton to open their hotel since the short supply of hotel rooms in Cebu is not fulfilling high demand.

Hotel/Condominiums seems to be popular, or at least multi-purpose high-rises. Could one of those hotels be fit for say a condotel or a hotel with retail in the ground floors? I have very little knowledge of Cebu scrapers so I'm using general knowledge for this :)

The Sheraton Hotel (as it is referred to) was build by the SM Prime Group but Sheraton apparently backed out so the hotel sits empty. The Exterior is nice and complete. In fact if you are standing across the street from it, it is a very impressive building. As I hear, there are no plans yet to open it.

Everytime I passed SM and saw this Sheraton Hotel, a question always pops out of my mind why is it just standing there for years now without functioning? I have always heard those rumors but I'm not sure of its validity. How true is it the reason Sheraton Hotel did not open because the structure of the building is not safe? They say there's a fault in the design that it could not withstand a strong earthquake and also it was constructed on a reclamated area that additional weights on the building would make it sink. Another buzz that I have heard is that the place itself is not suitable for a 5 star hotel with squatters around and very close to a dirty pier making the ambience a not really comfortable sight.

sm must be losing a lot of money on this sheraton hotel, maybe they should convert it into condotel or condo, sayang naman.

all this high rise goin on cebu makes me worry that it might become MM (traffic, pollution) in the future.....

thanks robville, so what happend to cebu plaza hotel?

Hey guys, I found this, Lancaster Cebu, a bit, actually a lot like Forbeswood in BGC.

http://www.condomillion.com/listings/philippines/Towers/lancaster-cebu/lancaster-cebu-swimmingpool.JPG
http://www.condomillion.com/listings/philippines/Towers/lancaster-cebu/lancaster-cebu-courtyard.JPG
Completion 2nd quarter 2005. Fully fitted and furnished units with air con included.

Lancaster Cebu is an existing development located in Mactan Island, close to the Days Inn Hotel in Barangay Pusok, Mactan (Cebu City). The location is within 10 minutes from Cebu International Airport , 20 minutes from Cebu City center, and a few minutes from the an exclusive private beach reserved for residents of Lancaster Cebu.

Lancaster Cebu consists of 1.2 hectares of land with five medium rise buildings and 540 condo units in total. These buildings are situated around two central courtyards. The first will have a water feature and Swimming Pool with Spa and Massage Facilities. The second will have an elevated deck, casual restaurant, relaxation area and an open-air bar. A Mediterranean inspired terrace fronting the property will provide Cafes and Coffee Shops for “Alfresco” casual dining.

All Lancaster Cebu units will be fully fitted and include superior quality furnishings. Appliances such as air-conditioning, electric range, refrigerator, television etc will be included in the price.

hi pls show me the pictures of all cebu malls!~

welcome to the forum!!!

^Lancaster Cebu is not bad...looks pretty luxurious.

hotel ba un sa cebu? or a condominium?

Its a condo:)

THE founder of US-based information technology (IT) company Cipher-Trust has put his trust in Cebu by investing P20 million for the research and development center of his own IT company, Info-weapons Corp. (IWC).

IWC chairman and chief technology officer Lawrence Hughes, who is married to a Cebuana, said the investment would cover the operational costs for the company’s for one and a half years, during which it will develop its first product, the Trusted DNS/DHCP server appliance.

CipherTrust is the manufacturer of the IronMail Hardened E-mail Proxy appliance.

Hughes told a press conference at IWC’s office in Keppel Center last Monday that he is trusting Cebuano software engineers and network specialists for the development of the company’s product, which is poised to become the ultimate solution to the security problems of the networks of the world’s enterprises.

“When launched, IWC’s product will be the first in the world to be compatible with the IP (Internet Protocol) version 6 configurations. First World countries like Japan and those in Europe that are adopting the Ipv6 will soon be importing technology developed by Filipino IT specialists from the Philippines,” he said.

A number of multinational companies, including Atlanta-based NCR and Japan-based Epson Precision, have set up their R&D centers in Cebu.

NCR-Cebu Development Center is the site for its retail solutions division. NCR manufactures point-of-sale terminals, barcode scanners, scanner-scales, electronic shelf labeling products, applications software and other computer products found in checkout areas of retail stores.

“Aside from Cebu’s business-friendly environment, (we put the research and development in Cebu) because of the availability of an English-speaking labor force,” NCR vice president for engineering and development Jeff Cegalis said.

The software development lab of Epson Precision, on the other hand, develops software for all kinds of Epson products—printers, projectors, electronic devices and precision products.

Epson Precision (Phils.) Inc. general manager Hirokazu Ishida said that aside from the presence of highly skilled IT workers in Cebu and their good working attitude, Epson chose to establish its software development laboratory in the area because of its lower cost of living compared to Manila.

Meanwhile, IWC president and chief executive officer Luis Gopez said the company aims to export its product initially to Japan and Korea, then to the United States, Canada and countries in Europe.

IWC has 15 staff members. It has a marketing office in Manila.

Gopez said the company also plans to set up marketing offices in its target countries. (JBN)

Global hotel management company Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has chosen Cebu to be the site of its first venture in the full spa service.

According to Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort director of communications Neil Rumbaoa, the Chi spa village at Shangri-La Mactan is the first of its kind in the Shangri-La family all over the world.

“This (Chi) is an indication that the company trusts Cebu so much. The company also believes that Cebu will be a spa destination in the future,” he said in an interview.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is the largest Asian-based deluxe hotel group in the region. It manages hotels and resorts in Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong, among other areas.

Rumbaoa said the one-hectare Chi spa village at Shangri-La Mactan is set to open within the second quarter of this year.

He said the resort hotel is targeting not only its in-house guests but also spa enthusiasts in the country and abroad.

The spa industry in Cebu has been thriving amid calls from tourism industry stakeholders for Cebu to develop other areas of tourism, such as historical, ecological, health and sports tourism.

Japan Association of Tour Industries-Cebu president Masataka Hashimoto earlier said Cebu’s spa services, which are offered at lower rates than in other countries, are good for Cebu tourism.

“But we need to encourage the spa operators to be more hygienic because Japanese are particular about health and safety,” he said.

Hashimoto said Indonesia and Thailand have been getting many Japanese tourists due to the “spa-resort concept,” which offers travelers luxurious packages focusing on physical rejuvenation.

Spa, which means health through water, is now getting the interest of many entrepreneurs in Cebu.

Companies in the spa services include the Meddah Day Spa and Body and Sole. Plantation Bay Resort and Spa has also invested in the expansion of its spa facility, dubbed the Mogambo Springs. (JBN)

ang cute ng lancaster cebu

:applause: Go Cebu!

Jati ra... Pagkanindot gayud sa Sugbu...

I will be there... para hanapin mga relatives ko...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v644/sleepwalker_uno/shangrilacebu2.jpg

go cebu,balita ko marami talagang mga tourist napumupunta dyan lalong lalo na ang mga russian.may charter flight from russia going to cebu

nice photo of cebu, now i wish i am there! =(

http://www.hiltoncebu.com/scalemodel.jpg

Cebu Hilton Resort and Towers

http://www.hiltoncebu.com/midpic1.jpghttp://www.hiltoncebu.com/midpic2.jpg
http://www.hiltoncebu.com/midpic3.jpghttp://www.hiltoncebu.com/midpic4.jpg

Ayala Cebu (2001)

http://mobilemediaph.com/visayas/PhotoGallery/Cebu/image/02hotelview_ayala2.jpg

cool. nice place. :cool:

http://www.citysportsclub.com/images/theproject1.jpg
CITY SPORTS CLUB, CEBU
The only world class sports club in the Philippines

http://www.citysportsclub.com/images/facilities.jpghttp://www.citysportsclub.com/images/facilities2.jpghttp://www.citysportsclub.com/images/facilities3.jpg

http://www.citysportsclub.com/images/facilities4.jpghttp://www.citysportsclub.com/images/facilities5.jpghttp://www.citysportsclub.com/images/facilities6.jpg

http://www.citysportsclub.com/images/facilities7.jpghttp://www.citysportsclub.com/images/facilities8.jpghttp://www.citysportsclub.com/images/facilities9.jpg

http://www.citysportsclub.com/images/facilities10.jpghttp://www.citysportsclub.com/images/facilities11.jpghttp://www.citysportsclub.com/images/facilities13.jpg

http://www.citysportsclub.com/images/facilities14.jpghttp://www.cebuholdings.com/images/fgu_1.jpghttp://www.cebuholdings.com/images/chc_1.jpg

http://www.philippine-travel.co.uk/media/bohol2/building1.jpg
Waterfront Cebu City Hotel

http://www.philippine-travel.co.uk/media/bohol2/building3.jpg
Cebu Skyline

http://www.philippine-travel.co.uk/media/bohol2/building2.jpg
Cebu Business Park

http://www.philippine-travel.co.uk/media/bohol2/shopping1.jpg
Ayala Center Cebu

http://www.philippine-travel.co.uk/media/bohol2/shopping_ayala_mall_.jpg
Ayala Center Cebu

http://www.philippine-travel.co.uk/media/bohol2/Mactan_bridge.jpg
Fernan Bridge

http://www.philippine-travel.co.uk/media/bohol2/capitol_sharp.jpg
Cebu Governor's Palace

Sweet!! Very nice:)

I like the sports club, but is it really one of a kind in the philippines? Im sure there are top facilities like that in MM also (maybe not as good, but is up there)

yup! definitely there are top sports facilities here in MM but that's what they say on their website :) hehe

cool pics...!! Ayala Center Cebu looks nice... very unique. and some of the other buildings remind me a lot of Bangkok or something... haha. it's weird how the designs are quite different from those of MM's buildings. or maybe it's just me imagining things...

I find it funny that the lady in the dress is playing with the bloke in the formal clothing:lol:

Cebu nowadays won't be spared from my google searches:D

http://www.imachination.com/orchidpark/album2003/images/cebu_city_from%20Mactan.jpg
http://www.cebu-city.com/STADT3.JPG
http://www.philippinesflowershop.com/files/Cebu.jpg

What about...cebu real estate?

http://www.garcesrealestate.com/

:eek2:

Cebu is looking fantastic

maganda daw talaga ang Cebu..kaso mainit din sabi ng kaibigan ko. :?:

maganda daw talaga ang Cebu..kaso mainit din sabi ng kaibigan ko. :?:

Yes, its true mainit ang Cebu... But u can stay at freezing (exag!) Malls by day... sa gabi ka na lang mag-night-swimming.

ayaw mong mainitan?

I've been to Cebu a few times over the years, and its really beautiful ... I hope other parts of the country can replicate what Cebu has done over the few decades

maganda daw talaga ang Cebu..kaso mainit din sabi ng kaibigan ko. :?:

That sounds really funny. Siyempre mainit, like most cities in the Philippines. But better than Manila, because we receive an adequate amount of rainfall each year. Unlike in Manila where it rains very rarely.

...we receive an adequate amount of rainfall each year. Unlike in Manila where it rains very rarely.

that's true. napansin ko yun when i stayed in Cebu for a week. even in mindanao ganun din. sa pangasinan napakainit.

what's the update with cebu hilton? is it built?

edmundtanso, you can find the latest update on cebu hilton in the good news thread, it's already opened last week or so i think. you can read the details in the article.

Construction of P1.6-B tunnel for Cebu subway starts 2005



CEBU CITY (PNA) — Construction works at the kilometer-long subway component of the Cebu South Coastal Road project that is set to be bored by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under the historic Plaza Independencia will start by the first quarter of next year.

At the same time, the Department of Tourism (DOT) will also undertake a major face-lift of the Plaza Independencia complex and integrate it with the Office of the President (OP)-Cebu now known as the Malacañang sa Sugbo.

DPWH 7 Project Monitoring Office Chief Gloria Dindin said that an ocular inspection had already been conducted on the park grounds by DOT Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, Cebu City Acting mayor Michael Rama and DPWH 7 officials.

The DPWH said that the 0.973-kilometer subway project was not included in the foreign-loan freeze ordered by Malacañang as part of its austerity measures.

It was reported that the government is just waiting for a notice from the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) to wrap-up the pre-construction stage of the project, which had been estimated to cost R1.6-billion.

The project is financed by the 27th Yen loan facility through JBIC.

The subway — called Segment 3B-2 of the South Coastal Road — will connect the R8-billion highway and the South Reclamation Project (SRP) coastal road.

Boring of the tunnel will begin at the present gate going to the coastal road, then level off under Plaza Independencia and comes out of MacArthur Boulevard.

The 21-meter wide tunnel will include a four-lane road, with a dividing wall in the center. Construction is expected to last three years.

The Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC) and the DOT are also mapping out plans on how the restoration and improvementof the park grounds would proceed.

Cebu City Acting mayor Michael Rama said that DPWH, DOT and the city government are preparing a master plan that would integrate all of the historical sites in Old Cebu, with the development of Plaza Independencia.

The master plan would then be presented to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Included in the face-lift are the old Compana Maritima building, Plaza Independencia, Casa Gorordo, as well as the City Hall grounds.


:eek2: :runaway:

Moves to divide Cebu opposed
By Fred Languido, Wenna Berondo and Ferliza Contratista
The Philippine Star 02/09/2005

CEBU — Local political pillars have voiced strong opposition to proposals in the House of Representatives to divide Cebu into several provinces.

"Dividing Cebu is not good for the Cebuanos," said first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas who, however, admitted that the proposals have a great chance of being approved in the House and Senate.

Gullas said he frankly told the proponents that he cannot accept the reasons behind splitting Cebu into several provinces.

Two Cebuano legislators — Reps. Antonio Yapha (third district) and Clavel Martinez (fourth district) — have filed separate House bills creating the provinces of Occidental Cebu and Cebu del Norte.

Yapha reportedly filed the first bill last Jan. 21, while Martinez filed the second on Jan. 26.

Yapha’s House Bill 3632 seeks to convert the entire third district, which is composed of the towns of Asturias, Tuburan, Balamban, Pinamungajan, Barili and Aloguinsan and Toledo City, into the province of Occidental Cebu.

Martinez’s House Bill 3657 wants to create the Cebu del Norte province out of the fourth district, which is comprised of the towns of Bogo, Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Tabogon, San Remegio, Madridejos, Medellin, Santa Fe and Tabuelan.

Aside from Yapha and Martinez, second district Rep. Simeon Kintanar and sixth district Rep. Nerissa Soon Ruiz are also planning to file their own bills converting their respective districts into separate provinces.

Former fifth district Rep. Joseph Ace Durano, who is now the tourism secretary, is reportedly in favor of converting his district into a separate province.

Gullas admitted that the bills could succeed because they would not be subjected to an extensive debate and interpellation since they are considered local measures.

He, however, said he would rise against the bills when they are formally presented during the plenary session.

"Even if I’m alone, I’m against it. It’s not good for Cebu," he said.

Gullas said the bills would have no difficulty passing through the Senate. Yapha claimed that Sen. Serge Osmeña, a Cebuano, and Sen. Aquilino Pimentel would sponsor their Senate versions.

Former governor Pablo Garcia said Cebuanos would not allow Cebu to be divided.

Describing the proposals as "impractical and unwise," Garcia said they are self-serving and politically motivated because their proponents want to have a turf of their own.

Yapha and Martinez are both last-termers who cannot run for re-election in 2007. Garcia said Cebu would lose its clout once it is divided into several provinces.

He said the proponents’ argument that dividing Cebu would hasten the development of the towns is totally baseless.

Garcia cited the case of Samar, which was divided into three provinces but remains a laggard economically.

Cebu Municipal Mayors’ League president Ronald Allan Cesante of Dalaguete town said a scientific study should be done to determine if dividing Cebu would be good for Cebuanos.

"An honest-to-goodness study is needed and a scientific study should be done," Cesante told The Freeman.

Cesante said the league will discuss the proposals during its general membership meeting on Feb. 17.

If the purpose of dividing Cebu is to get more financial assistance from the national government, he said, "They may be in the right direction."

Garcia, who served as governor for nine years, said some towns receive less financial assistance from the provincial government because congressmen who have control over the mayors, do not want them to go to the governor for political reasons.

Garcia asked Yapha and Martinez to rethink their proposals and set aside their personal political agenda.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, for his part, described the proposals as a "very selfish move" by some politicians.

"I’m against it. I’m willing to make a proposal to make Cebu City under the province because that’s the way it should be. Look at the provinces that split up, are they better off today?" Osmeña asked, citing the provinces of Northern and Southern Samar, Northern and Southern Leyte, North and South Cotabato, and Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur.

"If we don’t understand our history, we would be victims of wrong circumstances. Let’s not be selfish, let’s think about the future, let’s think about unity than divisiveness," he said.

Capitol legal consultant Pablo John Garcia, speaking in behalf of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, said the proponents’ motive is purely political.

Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez also opposed the proposals, saying they would make Cebu more prone to political dynasties. — Freeman News Service

/\ One helluva bad idea! :down:

Yapha, Martinez and Kintanar wanted to become GOVERNORS on their respective DREAM provinces...coz they knew that they have the slightest advantage if they will run against the Osmena's or Garcia's in the whole Cebu province...SELFISH POLITICIANS!!! :bash:

RP’s first medical university


The first medical university in the country is now in Cebu City, but education officials admit there is not much they can do to prevent the loss of health professionals in the Philippines to better-paying jobs abroad.

Commission on Higher Education (Ched) Commissioners Carlito Puno and Haja Luningning Misuarez-Umar, in an interview during yesterday’s investiture ceremonies of Cebu Doctors’ University (CDU), admitted the problem is economic so it will be hard to address.

Puno, however, believes that with the country losing so many medical professionals, those who are still here could take advantage of the situation by improving their practice so they could earn more.

“We could convince them that it is still better here. In other countries, they are treated as second-class citizens and they pay very high taxes,” Puno, who is also a doctor, said.

Umar, for her part, said the commission could not mandate but could only encourage schools to strengthen the teaching of values and to promote patriotism among their students.

CDU president Potenciano Larrazabal Jr. said it will be hard to compete with what health institutions in the US, Europe and Canada could offer.

Turnover

He revealed that last year alone, 200 nurses from Cebu Doctors’ Hospital left for work abroad.

“We’re really having difficulty now. We used to train new nurses every year. Now we train them every two months. The turnover is very fast. Patient care will suffer,” he lamented.

They are coming up with innovations by training midwives and by introducing clinical pharmacy, which will teach pharmacists so they can be assigned at nurses’ stations to dispense medicine for patients.

But Larrazabal said there is a great demand for health professionals abroad due to aging populations and the lack of students who want to take up medical courses.

“The need for nurses in the US is up to the next 20 years. In Europe, it’s as bad,” he said in an interview.

In his inaugural address during his investiture as the first university president of CDU at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral yesterday, Larrazabal said he believes that education is not easy and it calls for service and commitment.

“We are confronted, not with a new challenge, but with making a difference,” he added.

32 years

A new CDU building is expected to rise in the Mandaue Reclamation Area by next year.

At present, CDU is offering graduate courses, medicine, dentistry, optometry, nursing, allied medical sciences, commerce, arts and sciences and rehabilitative sciences to about 5,000 students.

Its students can train in its five affiliate hospitals, the CDU Hospital, the 160-bed Mactan Doctors’ Hospital, the 180-bed North General Hospital, the 127-bed San Carlos Doctors’ Hospital and the 250-bed South General Hospital, which will open sometime this year.

It earned the university accreditation after it met the requirements for the number of library books, research papers published locally and internationally, board passing percentage and the required number of faculty members with masters and doctorate degrees.

The Larrazabals established the Cebu Doctors’ College in 1973 and it produced a total of 12,627 graduates before it became a university.

i thought we had a medical university? cebu doc university would actually be the first? hmmm...

haha.

I don't know about the accuracy of that Sunstar report. UP Manila's colleges are mostly medical related.

Timex picks RP as distribution, logistics hub
By Marianne V. Go
The Philippine Star 02/14/2005

TMX Philippines Inc., a unit of Connecticut-based Timex Corp., has chosen the Philippines as its distribution and logistics hub for its worldwide operations.

In line with this, the firm is expanding its production at its manufacturing facility inside the Mactan Economic Zone in Cebu City.

TMX Philippines is constructing a new factory building at the MEZ to increase the capacity of its existing production facility.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has already approved the expansion project of TMX Philippines.

Timex reportedly chose the Philippines as the site of its distribution hub owing to its proximity to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport as well as due to the incentives being offered by PEZA.

TMX Philippines is engaged in the production of mechanical watches and watchbands.

It also assembles quartz and digital watches, as well as watch dial, lenses, and cases.

It started operations in the country in 1979 as Timex Philippines. TMX also manufactures watches under the famous brand names such as Benetton, Guess, Nautica, and Timberland sports watches.

The TMX expansion project is expected to generate employment for 200 workers.

TMX Philippines currently employs 4,600 workers and is the biggest employer inside the MEZ.

In 2003, the gross revenues of TMX Philippines dropped 16.6 percent to P827 million, while its net income plunged 77.3 percent to P10 million.

TMX Philippines is one of the 110 companies operating inside the MEZ.

Any news about the Cebu Boardwalkd?

^great! looks very modern :) thanks for the photos.

edit: ooppss, where did all the rendering photos you posted earlier go?
--ty

Here it is again. I thought it didn't come out earlier.
Anybody knows if this is almost done?

Bldg. D, Cebu Boardwalk
http://digitalarchitect.tripod.com/Images/CBW-CAM_2-3.jpg
View from Ouano Ave.
http://digitalarchitect.tripod.com/Images/CBW-CAM_5.jpg
View from Mactan Channel
http://digitalarchitect.tripod.com/Images/CBW-FRONT_PERSPECTIVE.jpg
Aerial view
http://digitalarchitect.tripod.com/Images/CBW-CAM_4-1.jpg

I found this article after I posted the pictures. So it seems the project has been delayed again. This project was supposed to be done middle of this year.
I'm so into this project and I hope it gets done right away.


********************

Cebu Boardwalk to be leisure hub


MANILA-based developer, FF Cruz & Co, is building a major project in Cebu’s Mandaue City, Cebu Boardwalk.

The anchor development of this tourism and leisure hub will take up 14 hectares of FF Cruz’s more than 50-hectare share of the 200-hectare Mandaue reclamation project.

Cebu Boardwalk will include one hotel, a visitor centre, souvenir shops, duty-free shops, restaurants, retail shops, banks, a themed flea market, an 8,000m2 amphitheatre park, cinemas, art galleries, a marina and yacht club, and a Zen centre with gyms, health spas, skin and body care salons.

According to FF Cruz director for property management, Ms Yvonne Gomos, the masterplan of Cebu Boardwalk will be finalised by end-February.

The project will open in phases, with the first phase scheduled for completion by November. The entire Cebu Boardwalk project is expected to open by late next year.

Among the proposed projects of the development are a retirement city and a theme park. Ms Gomos said there were groups interested in managing the theme park.

The Mandaue city government will also be opening a trade and exhibition centre at the reclamation area. Ms Gomos explained that when FF Cruz reclaimed the land, it was required by law to turn over 30 per cent (60 hectares) of the project to the local government.

OOps the pics don't show up :runaway:

^good news...cities that use their waterfront well turn up to be great cities.:)

Old Cebu Urban Plan during the Spanish Occupation...

Cebu town Plan 1880
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu/cebutown1880.jpg

Cebu 1841
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu/CEBU1841.jpg

Fort San Pedro Plan 1739
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu/fortsanpedrocebuplan1739.jpg

Cebu Cathedral 1719
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu/cebucathedralplan1719.jpg

House of the General Government 1876
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu/Houseofthegeneralgovernment1876.jpg

I have a few more but can't post it here coz its Jolo, Iligan, zamboanga, & cavite....

The Cebu Boardwalk pictures I posted the other day disappeared. I have the pictures saved in my hard drive. What's the best website to host these pictures?

The Cebu Boardwalk pictures I posted the other day disappeared. I have the pictures saved in my hard drive. What's the best website to host these pictures?

www.photobucket.com

quite good havnt xperienced any downtime...

Here it is again. I thought it didn't come out earlier.
Anybody knows if this is almost done?

Bldg. D, Cebu Boardwalk
http://digitalarchitect.tripod.com/Images/CBW-CAM_2-3.jpg
View from Ouano Ave.
http://digitalarchitect.tripod.com/Images/CBW-CAM_5.jpg
View from Mactan Channel
http://digitalarchitect.tripod.com/Images/CBW-FRONT_PERSPECTIVE.jpg
Aerial view
http://digitalarchitect.tripod.com/Images/CBW-CAM_4-1.jpg

the still unnamed mandaue reclamation area is also where cebu megadome, a japanese hotel, trade & exhibition center, theme park, retirement city and doctors' university will be built. im really excited about the recent developments! :)

Cebu Boardwalk
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/CBW-FRONT_PERSPECTIVE.jpg
Cebu Boardwalk from Ouano Avenue
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/CBW-CAM_5.jpg
View from Mactan Channel
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/CBW-CAM_4-1.jpg
Bldg. D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/CBW-CAM_2-3.jpg

Looks cool, plus it's by the coast.

wow, nice, something modern!

I don't think the hotel, trade exhibition center & the ampitheater are shown in that rendering. It only shows the shops & the marina.

cool

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/SouthCoastalHi-way.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/CebuSouthRoad1.jpg[/IMG]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/CebuSouthRoadbirdseyeview.jpg

Soon to be the tallest building in Cebu with 35 storeys.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/ClubUltima.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/ResidenciaVistamar.jpg

Club house
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/Clubhouse.jpg

Beach front. To the far right is the Cebu Hilton Hotel & Towers
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/Vistamarbeach.jpg


Pool
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/Vistamarpool.jpg

another bunch of cool pictures

what's the cebu south road properties? too bad they have to do reclaimation, it's like cebu have no place to expand anymore.

club ultima looks really good! :)

Great! Cebu's development is really promising.

Underwater tunnel in wish list for Cebu

Cable cars to Tops, family theme parks, a train linking northern and southern Cebu and an underwater tunnel to Cordova town are among the infrastructure projects regional planners are envisioning for Cebu in 15 years.

The projects are included in the Cebu Masterplan 2020, conceived by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) tourism core group in June 2004.

CCCI president and Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 co-chairman Robert Go, who presented the plan last Friday, said it is aimed at making Cebu the information hub, maritime center and tourism capital of the country.

Cebu Masterplan 2020, which was adopted by RDC 7’s infrastructure development committee in its meeting, will encompass the Metro Cebu corridor: the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Talisay and the Mactan Boardwalk to Kawit Island in the South Reclamation Area.

The tourism corridor “centerpieces” will include Cebu and Mactan Boardwalk, Cebu Heritage and Cultural Center and the Kawit Island tourism facilities.

The Cebu and Mactan Boardwalk will showcase an ampitheater, a family theme park, a marine yacht club, a marine promenade, Zen centers and restaurants.

The heritage and culture center will cover the area near the Malacañang sa Sugbo, including the Compaña Maritima building, which will be converted into a maritime museum.

Move Carbon

In Kawit Island, there will be a seaplane landing area, an open-space concert hall and an enclosed windsurfing facility.

With the development of the downtown area, planners are proposing the relocation of the Carbon Public Market to the South Reclamation Project to complement the Cebu Village Tourism Project of the city.

Plans and pictures presented by Go showed the vision of cleaner fish, meat, fruit, vegetable and flower stalls for the city’s public market.

As for ambulant vendors, Go said he will leave it to the City Government to solve the problem.

“I hope this will be the dream of our other friends around, a modern and bustling city of Cebu,” he told the committee.

Better transport

Improvements in transportation were considered necessary for the projects, so they also envisioned an International Port and Cruise Ship Terminal, which will complement Cordova’s development of 3,500 hectares into ecozones and information technology parks and will be interlinked with a north-south light rail transit (LRT) via the Cebu Harbor tunnel crossing.

Go admitted that the underwater tunnel will be costly but he believes it’s the “only way” to connect mainland Cebu to Cordova.

The LRT is also seen to connect the Mactan Cebu International Airport to the proposed international port and the tourism corridor.

In Cebu City proper, they are proposing to put up a cable car system that will start at the foot of Nivel Hills in Barangay Lahug to Tops and will offer passengers a panoramic view of Cebu City and will be an additional tourist attraction.

Aside from these areas, a portion of Punta Engaño in Lapu-lapu City will be developed into a tourism eco-zone, that will house hotels, amenities and other attractions.

Go assured the projects will be self-liquidating so they could fund other projects and will create a large multiplier effect on the economy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/LancasterCebu-1.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/LancasterCebu.jpg

Structure wise, I believe UC is the most modern university in the Visayas & Mindanao.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/UniversityofCebu.jpg

Keppel Building
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/KeppelBuilding.jpg

Citibank Building
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/Citibankbuilding.jpg

Living in the Philippines
by Don Herrington don.herrington@livinginthephilippines.com

My dollars stretch here in the Philippines so far even I don't believe it. And the quality of life is fantastic.

I am former US Peace Corps staff, former owner of my own company in the US. I only have a small pension, a little social security and some savings. But I am living in good style, on a budget, with hospitable people who speak English. I do feel like a king. And, I am putting away a few dollars every month.

My two live in maids cost $35 per month, and of course their food. Having maids make me feel like a king and take all the mundane chores out of my life. Actually, they are more like daughters. My Filipina wife enjoys the freedom from housework and errands as much as I do, and the maids appreciate their jobs, and us.

I pay $160 for a small three bedroom, three bath house, with a nice yard that the maids keep up with the help of the neighborhood kids. It is in the university area of Cebu City, the Paris of the Philippines, where the mountains meet the sea. The land of scuba diving and beaches, rain forest wandering and night club hopping. There are excellent hospitals nearby. My next door neighbor is a MD, her husband, an engineer. They are not rich, but the neighborhood is mostly professional, upper middle class. Houses in big guarded subdivisions with swimming pools can be had for about $1,000 per month, but besides the cost, I like the friendliness of the people in the more modest neighborhoods. Finding a house like mine as such a good price will take a month, maybe, but you could get lucky and find one in a day.

Public transportation is great in Cebu City, a city of about 500,000 hospitable souls. The Philippines is the only English speaking Christian country in Asia, so communicating with the driver is not a problem. Taxis are air-conditioned, new, and readily available. You can go to anywhere in town for $2.00 and a long trip to the airport is about $5.00. Make that even less with the recent continued devaluation of the peso. Yesterday I went to visit a friend and my taxi fair was 25 pesos. I gave him 30 pesos, .75 US cents. He chased me when I got out of the car to give me the change, about .10 cents. He could not understand why such a big tip, or a tip at all. I guess I am just a spendthrift. I do not recommend buying or driving a car here. BTW, today's peso rate was 43 to 1 US dollar.

Jeepneys are the way most people travel. They are lokal (local) ornate or gaudy, depending on your taste, jeep style vehicles that carry from 16 to 18, on each side in the back. Two ride with the driver. They have flags, decorations, colors, family and nicknames, logos, mud flaps, and other ornaments covering them. And even altars on the dashboards. The shotgun seat is best and reserved for the disabled. You can travel across the whole city for about .05 US cents. Jeepneys are harder to get at rush hour, though there is not too much rush here. Have you heard of Filipino time? Jeepney travel is a good way to meet a lot of nice local folks. They do love Americans and all foreigners here, perhaps to a fault. You can do no wrong, if you are a guest in their country. Jeepneys and taxis are safe. In fact Cebu City is a lot safer generally than most places I have lived in the States. You can walk the streets at 2:00 in the morning and have no problems, male or female, in almost all parts of the city.

I got a haircut and short massage yesterday from my best barber in his air- conditioned shop for .75 cents. My dentist has put caps on my teeth for $65 per cap. He practiced in the States, Century City, as a cosmetic dentist for five years and brought all his equipment back with him. That is why he is so high, compared to other dentist here, he says. I can't let him know how outrageously low I feel his prices are, now can I? A face lift, the works, eyes up and down included, is about $4,000 including three day stay in a quality hospital and the many costly tests required prior to qualifying for this elective procedure. Airfares are low here, so if one is considering dental work or cosmetic surgery, they could save a bundle just coming here for that work. The saving would more than pay for the airfare and other expenses in most cases. Now if you are only going to have one gold heart implanted in a tooth, it may not be a good idea. But I don't know recent US dental prices. It may pay.

There are two major shopping malls here with almost everything you can get in the States. Some of the imported good are higher priced but some are lower. Books, reprints for sale only in the Philippines, can be very cheap. There are the local markets that are more "old Filipino" in nature where a lot of bargaining goes on. At the malls the prices are fixed price. The local markets are much more colorful, but you have to be a skilled negotiator to survive. Southeast Asians are known for their bargaining skills.

If you get crazy for American food it is all here, from McDonald's to the Marriott Hotel's best restaurant I have ever eaten in. The Hyatt is pretty good too. Radio Shack is here, and other discount US retailers have just gotten permission to move in, including banks. There are Casinos, all the latest movies (movies are about a dollar for the best, in English) and thousands of computer diskettes for just a couple of dollars, though not quite legal, I understand. Playstation games are less than $1.00 but only run on the 220 voltage. I trained one of my maids who was formerly a cook for a group of Japanese students how to cook American. She is excellent. And I get my hot whole wheat bread fresh from the oven every day.

Filipino men are very handsome and romantic. The women are beautiful and a delight to be around. Nightlife is fantastic and cheap. I guess the Philippines is known for that, more than anything else is. I don't so much nightlife because I married one of these beauties seven years ago. She is the best thing that has happened in my life, next to moving here.

Universities abound in Cebu. It is an excellent place to get a very cheap but good education. You may know of the many Filipino MD's, nurses, CPA's, lawyers, etc. working the States on their Filipino credentials after taking a state test of certification. The courses here are geared to US requirements. Computer schools have sprung up everywhere in the last few years. A private tutorial on Corel Draw or PhotoShop or some such by a local computer school teacher, is about $50 if they come to your home: about $5.00 less if you go to them. Language lessons, if you want to learn just about any foreign language can be had for about $1.00 per hour.

There are some political and economic problems, but they do not seem to be a threat to me here in Cebu. All of that seems as about as remote to me as the States. All I know is the peso continues to weaken and the dollar gets stronger every time some radical group makes a bomb scare in Manila. I do not recommend even visiting Manila. It is dirty, expensive and unfriendly, compared to the rest of the Philippines. This isolated violence, mostly in Manila and a large island far to the south, Mindano, is recent and hopefully short lived. I feel sure it will not spread, but that as all of this above, is only my opinion.

If you would like more information about visiting or relocating here, drop me e-mail at don.herrington@livinginthephilippines.com. I will answer you as soon as I have time. If you need any products, books or information, let me know.

A great book to read before coming is "Culture Shock: Philippines." Also the Lonely Planets Guide series, Philippine Survival Guide is very good, but very different. Search engines are yehey.com and edsa.com. There are others. Filipino English newspapers are available on the Web. I recommend the Cebu Sun.Star for information on Cebu. Another good one is the Freeman. The web is full of information on Cebu and the Philippines.

Please be aware there are no jobs available to foreigners. So you must have some income to live here.

@ Cebu's 2020 plans - :eek: Wow..thats quite ambitious. If they are able to implement those projects, Cebu will surely attract more tourists and investors. It will probably make the city have some of the best infrastructure in the country.

And nice pics...:)

I'll be in Cebu from March 11 to 14. Any suggestions from the locals? Also, does anybody know anybody from or knowledgeable about Carcar who might be willing to be interviewed about the beautiful old houses there? I'd be really grateful for some contact info. I plan to do a feature about them for the Manila Bulletin.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/KeppelBuilding.jpg

Interesting post-modern stuff. Makati has no guts to build something like this.

That is ambitious indeed. Tilted to the tourism sector... the cable cars hehe, sounds like Sentosa 20x bigger :D

I'll be in Cebu from March 11 to 14. Any suggestions from the locals? Also, does anybody know anybody from or knowledgeable about Carcar who might be willing to be interviewed about the beautiful old houses there? I'd be really grateful for some contact info. I plan to do a feature about them for the Manila Bulletin.

ey bro, you can get more contact info thru:

http://www.istorya.net

its a cebu-based community forums. enjoy your stay in cebu! :)

more nice buildings in Cebu!! the UC facility looks awesome...!! and the Citibank building looks quite good too...

those plans for Cebu 2020 sound great. yeah, I believe it really will give a big boost for Cebu. they've already progressed a great bit down there in the last couple years as compared to Metro Manila, as seen in the pictures here, and they can go even further with this... I hope the national and local governments will endorse and support the plan and ensure its success.

wow! great plan. cebu will surely prove itself as prime tourist destination in asia.

Latest update on the country's first
METRO-SCALE WI-FI ZONE

CEBU-based company ASA Enterprises has just set up the city’s first wireless Internet zone.
ASA launched the Dominion Wireless Broadband Access at Mango Square Mall Friday last week -- Cebu’s first wireless-fidelity (wi-fi) zone, more popularly known as “hot zones.”

This means that owners of wi-fi-compatible gadgets like laptops, personal desk assistants, mobile phones, and even personal computers can now access the World Wide Web without a telephone or cable connection.

These hot zones cover a large area, unlike wi-fi spots powered by other telecommunications companies limited to certain establishments like malls.

There is a demand for faster and cheaper wireless Internet access in Cebu, said Jed Fidellaga, Dominion special operations manager.

He said that their goal is to make the entire Metro Cebu a hot spot, a first in the country, with the city as the starting point.

Now Dominion services, which can be used for free until March 31, covers a big part of uptown Cebu.

"We want the Cebuanos to enjoy 24 hours of cheaper, but definitely faster than DSL, seamless Internet access," Fidellaga said.

ASA is negotiating with telecommunication firms to use ASA wi-fi facilities.

Thats awesome...by making Cebu a wi-fi zone, it would boost investment!

HELP! Is there a language school in Cebu like Spanish???

AIDE-MOI! Y a-t-il une école de langue à Cebu comme l'espagnole?

Yes, Spanish Language classes are being held at the Casino Espanol.

THE EFFORTS of the Cebu Visitors Convention Bureau (CVCB) paid off as its bid for Cebu to host the Advertising Congress this year has won the nod of the Ad Congress organizing committee.

CVCB president Patrick Gregorio said he received a telephone call from Advertising Board vice chairperson Alvin Manacsa informing him about the decision to award the event to Cebu.

Cebu edged out other cities like Bacolod, Davao and Baguio which had also showed interest to host for the big event. Cities all over the country vie for the chance to host Ad Congress, which is viewed as a huge event that would pour in millions of pesos into the economy of the host city.

The AdCon committee chaired by Greg Nilles of the Advertising Suppliers Association of the Philippines (ASAP) had decided on Wednesday evening that Cebu will be the venue of the AdCon on November this year, according to Advertising Board (AdBoard) outgoing chairperson Cerge Remonde.

Remonde cited several reasons Cebu was chosen to host the event.

He said Cebu is really the best choice because of its complete facilities and available amenities, plus the hospitality of the Cebuanos and the efficiency of the city government.

"Cebu is really the best, the convention city in the Philippines right now. It has the facilities that are perfect for a very big and classy Congress like the Ad congress which the other cities do not have, plus the hospitality of the Cebuanos and the efficiency of the city government," Remonde said Thursday.

Remonde said officials of other cities bidding for the event, especially Bacolod City, have tried to convince him the event should be held in their area. However, he said he has no control over choosing the venue.

Remonde, who also chairs the oversight committee of the AdCon, said he did not openly participate in the discussion to dispel speculations that he used his influence to let Cebu again to host the next AdCon.

"I'm keeping a very low profile on this, I did not openly participate in he discussion and no one can accuse me of that," he said.

Remonde said he was not surprised when Cebu is chosen because Cebu always topped in the surveys conducted by the nine organizations under the AdBoard.

But Remonde said the credit should be given to the men and women behind the CVCB headed by hotelier Patrick Gregorio and Regional Director Patria Aurora Roa of the Department of Tourism and also the City government.

CVCB has aggressively pursued the hosting of the event due to its impact on Cebu's tourism industry as well as the other sectors.

"I am happy that we won that," said Gregorio who added that he went to Manila three times to present Cebu's bid.

He also gave recognition to the support of Cebu City Marriott Hotel general manager Karl Hudson and the Cebu City government, which expressed support for the bid through a city council resolution.

Hey I remember the last time they had the Ad Congress in Cebu. Danggit bai! Danggit bai! Donut Bai!

Yeah i remembe that...that was funny.

Hey I remember the last time they had the Ad Congress in Cebu. Danggit bai! Danggit bai! Donut Bai!

yeah i remember. there was even Candles bai and Mangoes bai! hehe

hello Pinoys..

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=187620

:bleh: :runaway:

Very impressive fusionist...guess you've never been to cebu or other cities in cebu.

^ Of course Pinoys won't pay attention to fusionist.

CEBU's got the fresher air, lovely beaches, and the people smile and smell nicer too...

LOL - smell better.

and the people smile and smell nicer too...

..and hows that ? ;)

Yes I havent been to Cebu but I heard it is the second city in the Phils and got some of the best beaches of the world, good resorts and some lovely islands nearby. Colombo is similar too with some nice beaches nearby and some good architecture. Thats why I compared both cities

i think theres no point in comparison here, since most are not familiar with each other city, sri lankans are nice people and so are the cebuanos and the pinoys in general, ive been to cebu many times in fact during my childhood years i live there there, ive never been to sri lanka but i heard that colomobo is a nice city the people are very friendly and the country is often described by tourists as unspoiled paradise on earth

Cebu Plaza is to the left and the City Light Gardens are to the right. The Cebuano tourism minister is agressively asking Metrobank to re-open Cebu Plaza.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/cebunonagame4.jpg

SM Group to invest P1B to finish Sheraton project

The SM Group, headed by Henry Sy, is now interested to pursue the construction of Sheraton Hotel, recognizing the dire need of Cebu for more hotel rooms.

SM Group will have to invest an additional of P1 billion more, in order for the hotel to be fully completed, said Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary Joseph Ace Durano.

“I spoke with the Sy family last week and they are now interested to pursue the Sheraton project in Cebu,” Durano said in an interview.

The Sheraton Hotel project, the first hotel project of the Sy group in Cebu, has been badly affected by the regional economic crisis. The group decided to stop the construction although it already cost them about P3 million, because the tourism industry that time was very bleak.

Now, the tourism prospects for Cebu is very upbeat, Durano said the Sy family are now aggressively moving on and is determined to re-open the project, in probably about a year from now.

Likewise, the Sy Family he said is also seeing good tourism prospects for Cebu, and had been feeling the market to consider the re-opening of Sheraton project construction.

According to Durano, the DOT is now pushing investors, especially taipans to be confident in the Philippines, and pour their investments in the country, especially in providing tourism-related infrastructure.

He said DOT is actively convincing the Sy Family of SM to revive the Sheraton project, as well as pressure, George Te of Metrobank to immediately dispose the Cebu Plaza Hotel to interested buyers.

In July of last year, DOT-7 regional director Patria Aurora Roa said she wrote a letter to the SM Group, via SM vice president for Visayas and Mindanao operations Marissa Fernan expressing Cebu’s dire need of hotel room accommodations.

“We are pushing for the continuation of the Sheraton project. I hope this desperate appeal will reach to ears of Mr. Henry Sy,” Roa said in an interview.

Durano said additional hotel accommodation for Cebu need that must be addressed now, because Cebu has been turning away thousands of tourists every year, because of room accommodation shortage.

Cebu has only about 6,000 hotel and resort room accommodations. This number according to tourism players is smaller than the arriving tourists, both from domestic and overseas market seeking for rooms everyday.

The problem worsens, especially when Cebu is celebrating special events like Sinulog, big international conventions, among
others.

Early this month, five-star resort Hilton International, opened over 100 rooms ready to accommodate guests. Cebu Hilton Resort and Spa, has a total of 246 rooms, all rooms will be operational within the year.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/pic_cebu2000b.jpg

Yes, Spanish Language classes are being held at the Casino Espanol.


Thanks...JudeD

I really hope SM will decide to proceed with finishing up the hotel. the building looks quite nice. simple but classy and somewhat modern. when did they first start construction? (I think i've asked this before... sorry. =D)

once it's done, are they gonna have Sheraton operate and manage it? really too bad that tourism growth in Cebu has to be hampered because of the lack of hotel rooms... how is the new Hilton doing?

Good news...its about time they finish the much needed (because of hotel demand) Sheraton hotel!:)

i think theres no point in comparison here, since most are not familiar with each other city, sri lankans are nice people and so are the cebuanos and the pinoys in general, ive been to cebu many times in fact during my childhood years i live there there, ive never been to sri lanka but i heard that colomobo is a nice city the people are very friendly and the country is often described by tourists as unspoiled paradise on earth

well said. I weont mind visiting the Phils if ever I earn enough to take that long plane journey ;)

Cebu Business Park

http://www.trekearth.com/images/photos/13295/208_0850_2.jpg

LOOKS GOOD! glad they decided to finish the project

The world will soon witness the ingenuity of Cebuanos in future cinema standees, DVD tower casings and website content for movies of Hollywood movie production companies.

According to Versagrafx Designs Philippines Inc. president Larry Collins, Cebuano artists will be behind the upcoming products of his company in the Versagraphic Design group.

“Our office will be at the forefront of our company. The conceptual designs for the promotion collaterals of movies in Hollywood will be made by artists here in Cebu. Their works will be exported to our company in the US (United States) for execution,” he said on the sidelines of the opening of Versagrafx at the Asiatown Information Technology (IT) Park last Monday.

Collins said Versa-graphic Design Group initially invested $350,000 to set up the office at Asiatown and acquire the needed equipment, such as computers and servers.

He said the Cebu office is the group’s first branch outside of the US.

If business is good, the company plans to buy a lot in Asiatown and construct its own building after a year or two.

During the opening, Cebu Investment Promotions Center (CIPC) managing director Joel Mari Yu brought up the complaint by local software developers about the pirating of their Cebuano artists by foreign companies.

“They told me to stop promoting Cebu because large companies are pirating their talents. But that is life. There is no stopping development,” he said.

Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) Director General Lilia de Lima urged the officers of Versagrafx to tell their friends and business associates in their respective countries about the “many good things found in the Philippines.”

Collins discovered the capability of Cebuano talents during one of his visits as a tourist in Cebu.

“My love for scuba diving brought me to Cebu. When I came here, I was surprised to see the talents of the people and the very warm culture of the Cebuanos,” he said.

Collins said the ability of the Cebuanos to speak English and the good pool of designers in the area are two of the factors that made him decide to expand to Cebu.

The other factors include the low cost of doing business in the country and the time difference between the US and the Philippines.

“The time difference between our countries will enable the company to operate 24 hours. By the time our office in the US closes, our office in the Philippines also opens,” he said.

Collins said the company’s designing process will involve a review of cinematographic materials and on-location shoots and still photographs to be used in the conceptualization and design.

The finished products will be the visual and construction designs of the cinema standees, DVD tower casings in electronic files and the movie Web-page designs.

These will be used for the manufacture of cinema standees, which are the promotional materials for movies placed at cinema entrances and DVD retailers.

The target market of the project will be Hollywood movie production companies, such as MGM, Universal Studios, Warner Bros. and Columbia Tristar.

“The company’s strength lies in the long and satisfying working relationship between its American investors and Hollywood movie producers,” Collins said.

Real estate developer J. King and Sons Co. Inc. has opened its Crown Regency Suites in Mactan.

This development has added some 112 rooms to the supply of rooms for tourists in Cebu.

Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 Regional Director Patria Aurora Roa has been encouraging investors to invest in hotel and resort developments to solve Cebu’s room shortage problem.

Crown Regency Suites general manager John Eric Mendoza said the hotel will have its grand opening next month after the completion of its medical spa facility, which is one of the major come-ons of the hotel.

“People are becoming more health-conscious so hotels have to be innovative to satisfy this need. Our medical spa will have a complete line-up of spa services, such as wart removal, acne treatments and skin treatments with a touch of medical treatment,” he said.

Crown Regency Suites has allocated the hotel’s 10th and 11th floors for the medical spa. The guest rooms are on the second to eighth floors, while the five function rooms are on the ninth floor.

Each of the hotel’s rooms—from the one-bedroom suite to the three-bedroom suite—has cooking facilities, such as a stove, microwave oven and oven toasters.

The hotel’s facilities and amenities include full-size posture-pedic beds, in-room broadband Internet access, 24/7 convenience store and gift shop, and fitness gym and sports complex.

Crown Regency Mactan by the way is an affiliate of Club Ultima. Members of the club could enjoy full privileges in Crown Regency Mactan. The hotel chain is recently building the much bigger hotel in Fuente Osmeña.

Any comments on the new Hilton there, may have to put some guests there.

I'm off to Cebu this friday! I haven't been back since 2000 so I guess it'll feel really different to me now. Any special picture requests from you forumers?

Photos of Mactan International Airport would be nice (both interior and exterior shots)! :)

Photos of Mactan International Airport would be nice (both interior and exterior shots)! :)

haha! yeah... I'd love to see the Mactan Airport at Cebu too.

btw, I read that the runway overlay there is finally being worked on...!

Photos of Mactan International Airport would be nice (both interior and exterior shots)! :)

Yes please...I want to see those..

Hey Jude (parang kanta ano). Please check out hilton for me as it'snewly opened and want to see if it's nice. no pix needed just your comments.

I just spent the long People Power holiday weekend in Cebu. My wife and I spent it at the Hilton. The place is amazing!! The project consists of one hotel and two residential towers. The hotel is already half open. The residential apartments are still being constructed, though it seemed like there were one or two apartments that had furniture already.

Good points:
1. The rooms on the Punta Engano side of the island have amazing views of the Mactan island, Cebu and the sea beyond. Each floor has two rooms that directly face the ocean. These are the best rooms. But they are not open yet.
2. The development is all pink! Pink! Which at first grates the eyes but after a while gives you a sense of peace. The colors contrast perfectly with the sky on a cloudless day.
3. The fixtures in the room are top of the line.
4. The place is compact. You can get from your room to the beach within 10 minutes. In contrast with Shangril, which is sprawling.
5. Food is great. Service still needs work. But it should be noted that they had only been open two weeks when we were there.

Bad points:
1. There is a construction site at right beside the hotel and the workers love to sing karaoke throughout the day, even at night.
2. The common areas -- beach, lobby, pool -- are small. The place could get really full once all three towers become operational.

Things to look forward to.

Management claims that the entire resort -- spa, all rooms, restaurants will be open by April 1. When we went there, only one coffee shop was open. No spa yet. The spa is right by the sea and should be amazing as well.

I would really want to go back there once the whole resort opens. I would not recommend that anyone stay there until that happens. Still too many teething problems at present.

HETO REQUEST KO:

otap, maharial?, danggit, gitara.

photos from beverly hills, temple (i have one), hilton, sheraton, marriott, waterfront, dami na to.
pati the oldest street in the philippines.

il be in cebu this 3rd quarter pa.

Thank you peksman, good to have first hand experience , at least maganda ang lugar and di tayo mapapahiya kung doon nating ilagay ang aming guest.

I'm off to Cebu this friday! I haven't been back since 2000 so I guess it'll feel really different to me now. Any special picture requests from you forumers?


Jude, I would appreciate it very much if you could post pictures of the following:
In Mactan
1. Hilton Hotel
2. Crown Regency Hotel
3. King's Island (a rendering would do)

In mainland Cebu
1. Banilad Town Center (across Gaisano Country Mall)
2. Cebu Boardwalk (Mandaue reclamation)
3. Parklane International Hotel (somewhere in Escario)
4. Asiatown IT Park (across Waterfront Hotel in Lahug)

Daghang salamat.

Ok, just got back from Cebu. Had a great time! I'm sorry I wasn't able to take any pictures of the buildings you requested. I was sort of distracted. :)

Anyway, I got to take a peek at the Hilton and in my opinion, its color scheme (bright pink and blue-green) is not as classy-looking as the Shangri-la's. To me it looks kinda garish and reminds me of the MMDA urinals and pedestrian flyovers.

There seems to be only one building standing in the Asiatown IT park so far.

Here are pictures I took from Tops, the highest point in Cebu City.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid161/p5ae540b304bff16492dc85f827a999b7/f4d582b6.jpg

Cebu City and Talisay, you can see the new highway along the coast to the right

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid161/p7dadc4baa2b14300be445a9f0999fda4/f4d57e08.jpg

Mandaue City and Mactan, you can see the two bridges and the resorts

Nice pics, Jude!:) Well done. Waterfront Hotel is huge...i can clearly see it in the center of the first pic.

ei... I just heard in the news this morning something about the change of political boundaries for Cebu... what is this all about? any info on these?

^maybe that's related to the proposal of some Cebu congressmen to subdivide Cebu province into several provinces (Cebu Occidental, Cebu del Norte, something like that if i remember it right).

yeah... that's it... that's what I heard in the news.... currently, the whole Cebu island is under one province right?....

anyways.. while trying to look for that news in the net... I saw this article...


Garcia to sell Cebu in Europe
By Jhunnex Napallacan
http://www.inq7.net/globalnation/sec_cdn/2005/mar/new/mar14_06.htm

CEBU Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is planning to go to Europe to sell Cebu there.

Garcia said that after her well-received presentation at the two-day Philippine Investment Conference in Mactan last week, she plans to conduct a "road show" in Europe, visiting different countries to promote Cebu.

Garcia said that if this plan pushes through, she would market Cebu as a good investment site for information and communication technology (ICT).

The governor said such a road show would not cost the provincial government much, since she would be inviting sponsors to shoulder some of her expenses.

She said the Euromoney Institutional Investor has promised her to help look for sponsors.

Garcia said she plans to tap numerous Cebuano personalities for the European road show, much like what she did at the Philippine Investment Conference.

She named Cebu Investment Promotion Center managing director Joel Mari Yu, hotelier Patrick Gregorio and ICT business leader Wilson Ng as those she would ask to accompany her.

Yu, Gregorio and Ng helped the governor in her presentation last week.

British Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Beckingham said he supported the governor's plans, saying Britons have a great potential to be investors in the Philippines.

Garcia was the only local official who was allowed to make a presentation during the Philippine Investment Conference.

The conference brought together top executives of Asian and European multinational companies who were interested in investing in the Philippines.

Garcia claimed that her presentation was very successful based on numerous requests she has reportedly received from participants to the conference asking for a one-on-one meeting.

She said that UBS, International Finance Corp., United World, several investment houses and a number of German-based companies were among those who contacted her.

She said that most investors expressed interest in outsourcing, financing, and putting up hotels in Cebu.

currently, the whole Cebu island is under one province right?....



that's correct.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has drafted an executive order that will give incentives to establishments that upgrade their facilities.

During last Thursday’s Philippines Investment Conference at Shangri-la’s Mactan Island Resort, Tourism Undersecretary Evelyn Pantig said this was done in response to the clamor from the private sector to upgrade the hotel facilities in the country.

Waterfront Philippines Inc. president Patrick Gregorio invited potential investors to invest in hotel facilities in Cebu, saying: “Gross operating profits (before tax and depreciation) are as high as 50 percent for hotels in Cebu.”

He said Cebu needs “10,000 to 15,000 rooms right away,” or a more than doubling of the province’s current capacity because local hotels are now hitting 80-85 percent occupancy.

According to the DOT 7, Cebu had 5,485 rooms as of January, while the entire Central Visayas had 6,979 rooms.

Central Visayas comprises Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and Negros Oriental.

For years, Cebu tourism players have been complaining about a lack of rooms, which has forced them to turn away foreign tourists, especially during the peak tourist seasons.

Peza

Pantig said incentives are also available from the Board of Investments and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza).

Bohol Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera gave the example of Panglao Island Tourism Estate, which is registered with the Peza.

According to Water-front’s Gregorio, more rooms are also immediately needed in Panglao island.

To encourage investment, Vice Gov. Herrera said the Bohol Investment Code provides a seven-year tax holiday on real property taxes.

In addition, 10 percent of the cost of tourism infrastructure is also not subjected to local taxes, he said.

DOT Undersecretary Pantig said there is a need for tourism development not only in terms of hotels, but also in terms of transportation facilities, restoration of cultural heritage projects, and the development or upgrading of seaports, airports and roads.

Earlier, DOT Secretary Ace Durano said the Philippine Government would spend $3 billion in tourism infrastructure in the next six years, to include the building and upgrading of airports, roads and seaports.

Airports

There are plans to make international airports in Palawan, Panglao in Bohol, Iloilo and Bacolod City, he said.

Gregorio, who is also chairman of the Cebu Visitors and Convention Bureau, told the international and local delegates at the conference that Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia is planning to build a major highway to the south of the province.

It will be funded by the Provincial Government and the local government units because the National Government does not have the money, he said.

Herrera said that in Bohol, work on a circumferential road is ongoing.

Ecotourism

To make sure that its efforts to increase tourism will not result in the destruction of the tourist spots as more and more tourists descend on them, Pantig said the Philippines is also promoting ecotourism.

The masterplan for northern Palawan, a popular tourism destination, is for the control of the influx of the population into the area.

In Boracay, she said, political will may be needed to allow people to work in Boracay, but not to live there.

She said the Philippine Tourism Authority, the DOT’s implementing arm for physical infrastructure, has already embarked on solid waste, sewerage and water systems projects to address the concerns of environmentalists. (CTL)

grabe...! the country is losing so much in tourism because of the lack of these facilities. it's good to know that the gov't is at least making an effort to entice the private sector to help remedy these. it's worked with SM and their Sheraton Cebu so far...

and new Bacolod and Iloilo Airports are also already under construction...

wow, Cebu is indeed becoming a major destination in Asia =) I hope the new developments get pushed through asap, along with the redevelopment of the Mactan Airport.

Convention bureau plans gay and lesbian festival
by Ehda M. Dago-oc
March 19, 2005

In its desperate effort to push Cebu not only as a convention site, but also as “festival” destination, the Cebu Visitors and Convention Bureau (CVCB) is planning to hold the first ever “International Gay and Lesbian festival” in Cebu to attract worldwide third sex market.

CVCB chairman Patrick C. Gregorio announced its consideration to hold this unique, yet expected to be a “controversial” festival, during the General Membership Meeting of the CVCB held recently at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Mactan.

According to Gregorio, although CVCB is expecting negative reactions from other sectors in holding its “tourism extravaganza” event, he said he will see to it that the festival will be held in a very well-behaved manner.

This planned “International Gay and Lesbian Festival” in Cebu if pushed, is expected to attract thousands of tourists from all over the world, in this kind of market.

Gregorio said CVCB has been conceptualizing this kind of event for one year now, and they already have ideas how to go about it, in order not to hurt sensitive sectors such as the church and other non-government organization (NGO) groups.

He said the holding of this unique festival is just to attract domestic and foreign tourists in this kind of market, and further stress Cebu’s bid in becoming the festival destination in the Philippines.

Tourism promoters, including Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said earlier that Cebu should make at least a monthly or bi-monthly festival activities in whatever forms, in order to give tourists another attraction, aside from beaches, tourists spots, and culture.

According to Osmeña, festival travelers from other countries is a big tourism market, Cebu should take advantage of this area to maximize the province’s tourism advantage.

Gregorio said the International Gay and Lesbian Festival may be set sometime this year or next year, depending on the completion of very detailed activity plan to be prepared by the CVCB to make it a professionally-done event.

CVCB, which is the first private sector-led tourism promotion arm in the Philippines, has lined up several big events this year, including the biggest Advertising Convention 2005 this coming November, the Asian Youth Volleyball, Asian Beach Volleyball, the Queen City Run, SEA Games, Culinary Convention, among others.

Gregorio emphasized that CVCB will be pushing sports in order to boost tourism, saying “tourism and sports go together, they go hand in hand.”

^ Gay & Lesbian Festival is not good. The next thing you know, Cebu will be haven for Sex Tourism. One scary scenario will be the increase of aids and other std. This will only create a bad image.
We want to attract good tourists.

sorry babes but they are part of our society and we must treat them fairly. Sex tourism is not only for gays it is also for straights. It is very hypocrite if we live our everyday life like they dont exists. I'm sure all of you go to the salon to have your haircut and most of them who do your hair are gays and you dont have a problem with that? Thailand has lots of gays but guess what, they have the most number of tourists arrivals in Southeast Asia.

and i was just starting to like sandrin. too bad she had to post without really putting any thought into what she is writing. nakakahiya na kapwa pilipino kita. it hurts the gay community who are all EQUALLY supportive as you of whatever good happens to the philippines. what a disgusting and idiotic comment....

kick her ass solblanc...

another comment. that kind of thought is what leads to stagnation of a region. first you ban the gays because of "wicked tourists." then you ban the muslims because of possible terrorism. then where do you stop. it's such a slippery slope. ugh i'm so pissed now.

you know, people get banned/their posts deleted from forums who have said LESS IGNORANT things such as this. can we boot this lady out?

thanks.

i promise this is the last thought. do you know that per EDUCATION and SALARY that the gay community is head and shoulders above the straight community? it goes to show you how successful and untapped this part of the demographics is. Nbcmand, thanks for the post but alot of them are not just hair dressers. In fact, a good many are doctors, lawyers, researchers, politicians, etc. Educated and not some drunk from the barrio. do you know that here in the states, particularly philadelphia, they are targeted as a market because the have HUGE SPENDING POWERS? that doesn't stop in the US, but also europe. also, did you know that gentrification follows gay migration? prime examples - the Meat Packing District in NYC, Washington Square West in Philadelphia, and DuPont Circle in Washington, DC? These were all once really shabby areas of town, then they became populated with gay people who really kept the areas clean, opened their own business, and brought a lot of money to the old local ones. Then families started moving into these areas and created a more homogenous, but IMPROVED PRIOR TO GAY MIGRATION community. Now wouldn't it be wonderful for something like that to happen in the SLUMS of Manila, or the RURAL AREAS of Cebu? Just think a little bit before you post.

P.S. what do you do for a living, Sandrin? Are you a professional? I am currently finishing up medical school and going to be a physician here in the states (my family was originally from the philippines).

i'm sorry rdm, i am not against you or sandrin i just reacted to her post. We cannot blame her for that especially if she is a devoted catholic. I just stated that i dont agree on her opinion and i think it is unfair for her for you to call her like that. Im sure she means no harm. We are all have different views in certain issues in our society and eventhough we dont agree with somebody's post I think we should respect their own opinion also. In a conversation we call it "a slip of the toungue", which means sometimes we say words which we shouldnt say but we mean no harm. Im sure she is a very intelligent and mature person. PEACE. :)

P.S.
Eventhough Im straight I love to watch fab5

i was not chastising you nbcmandy, but infact reinforcing your statement and was in agreement with you. i apologize that my comment was misinterpreted by you, who infact deserves some thanks and support. i too am a devout catholic, in fact born and raised (i would pull our family's saint's cart during the prosesyon).

yes, people are entitled to their own opinions, but one's faith or their zeal DOES NOT excuse them from idiocy. and if you are going to post an "opinion," i suggest it should be backed up with some arguments as i have so people from other nations reading our post don't think that the philippines is a backwards country.

sorry for this early saturday (but evening saturday for you guys) rant. i have a very low tolerance for this kind of stuff...

rdm, she was just stating her opinion which is valid. She did not attack anyone. And looking at her post, she did not attack the gay community. She just said that she does not want Cebu to attract large scale sex tourism. Which i agree with. I would also agree with her that this could possibly lead to higher AIDS and prositution levels which we do not want.

But then again, i do agree with you that they are equal and have the same rights as us. I also agree with you that we shouldnt ban them just like "banning muslims because of possible terrorism". I agree that is wrong.

ncbmandy is right:)

i was not chastising you nbcmandy, but infact reinforcing your statement and was in agreement with you. i apologize that my comment was misinterpreted by you, who infact deserves some thanks and support. i too am a devout catholic, in fact born and raised (i would pull our family's saint's cart during the prosesyon).

yes, people are entitled to their own opinions, but one's faith or their zeal DOES NOT excuse them from idiocy. and if you are going to post an "opinion," i suggest it should be backed up with some arguments as i have so people from other nations reading our post don't think that the philippines is a backwards country.

sorry for this early saturday (but evening saturday for you guys) rant. i have a very low tolerance for this kind of stuff...

thanks for the clarification rdm and to sandrin...peace and we love yah here.

for her to assume that ONE gay and lesbian festival will automatically equate into a sleazy sex industry? and "WICKED" tourists? do you guy KNOW HOW much gay and lesbian festivals all these major cities in the world which are FAR LARGER TOURIST DESTINATIONS than cebu is? and are far more successful?

yes, she has posted some very nice posts on here before. but you guys sound like you are almost justifying this argument - to ban the gay and lesbian festival from coming because of a collective thought like sandrin's. what a shame... watching the philippines from the news, you hear so much progress and headway. but it's now clear that you get a better sense where it ultimately is headed towards when you feel the implicit ideas posted on by its citizens, like those just expressed in this forum.

maybe i am over reacting, but it seems that in ANY OTHER FORUM, this kind of comment would be looked down upon and she would be a kin to a social pariah... i guess it works differently here... and it makes me sad...

Yes, you are right...on that this festival wont necessarily equate to increased sex industry activity. What i was just mainly pointing out is that she is entitled to her opinion as long as she does not make any attacking remarks. You however, suggested that she should be banned, which cannot be justified. However, if she did attack anyone or a community directly with harsh remarks, i would consider an appropriate action (brig or ban).

for her to assume that ONE gay and lesbian festival will automatically equate into a sleazy sex industry? and "WICKED" tourists? do you guy KNOW HOW much gay and lesbian festivals all these major cities in the world which are FAR LARGER TOURIST DESTINATIONS than cebu is? and are far more successful?

yes, she has posted some very nice posts on here before. but you guys sound like you are almost justifying this argument - to ban the gay and lesbian festival from coming because of a collective thought like sandrin's. what a shame... watching the philippines from the news, you hear so much progress and headway. but it's now clear that you get a better sense where it ultimately is headed towards when you feel the implicit ideas posted on by its citizens, like those just expressed in this forum.

maybe i am over reacting, but it seems that in ANY OTHER FORUM, this kind of comment would be looked down upon and she would be a kin to a social pariah... i guess it works differently here... and it makes me sad...

thank you for supporting my post, actually i agree with you about the issue and i support you 100 percent and i'm sure most of us agree with you also. it's the word "idiotic comment" that i replied for because i dont think she deserves to be call like that because only idiot people put idiotic comment and i'm sure she is not one of them.

not make any attacking remarks?!??

"... stoop down to that level..."

"... international gay pagent is held ... one scary scenario will be the increase of aids and other std..."

calling gay tourists as "wicked?"

now grey, you don't have to be gay or straight to find these offensive. it's offensive to straight people and to people who are capable of intelligent thought. this is not merely a "slip of the tongue." i understand if you guys have a certain "loyalty" towards sandrin - she posts relatively confectionary posts (up until now), posts pictures of herself on here. but you guys know that there is something malign in what she wrote, and just because you're friends with here doesn't mean you have to justify it. it seems that cronyism isn't just within the confines of the countries political halls, huh...

The only thing i see that could be regarded as "attacking" is the wicked part. The first two are definitely just opinion, i've seen more controversial posts than that but are tolerated.

But what i will do is give her a warning. I understand your position in this, but i also see what Sandrin is saying. My job is to be objective as much as possible. And a reaction such as "booting her out" as you said is not appropriate. I am not basing this of me "being friends with her". I'm just doing what a mod should do.

and for the record, i am personally not that close to sandrin yet.

Anyways...please go back to topic. We shouldnt exprapolate the situation. This is a great Cebu thread, and it doesnt deserve tension.

not make any attacking remarks?!??

"... stoop down to that level..."

"... international gay pagent is held ... one scary scenario will be the increase of aids and other std..."

calling gay tourists as "wicked?"

now grey, you don't have to be gay or straight to find these offensive. it's offensive to straight people and to people who are capable of intelligent thought. this is not merely a "slip of the tongue." i understand if you guys have a certain "loyalty" towards sandrin - she posts relatively confectionary posts (up until now), posts pictures of herself on here. but you guys know that there is something malign in what she wrote, and just because you're friends with here doesn't mean you have to justify it. it seems that cronyism isn't just within the confines of the countries political halls, huh...

nope. this is not cronyism. as a forumer i am not really friend with sandrin in fact i am more attach to you since we respond as of today with each others post he he he. The thing is IMO it is better if we object! with exclamation point with somebody's comment which we dont agree without "insulting" them by saying such words in order for us to have a very intelligent and peacefull discussion in our forum. IMO we are the most peacefull subforum i think. love you man love you all peace. lets make love and peace in this forum. :love:

i agree, let's go back to cebu, because this is what this thread is about.

but before we do that, i guess my main concern was that not more people jumped on the band wagon and reacted as much as i did regarding her comment. to me, personally, it's a scary situation when comments like these are tolerated. i really don't know what else to say except that, guys, the amount of skyscrapers and hotels and roads and airports don't bring a third world country into the echelon of developed nations... it's the attitude and thinking of its people, which starts at the core and permeates the rest of society. This attitude and thinking is what makes or breaks societies and cultural groups.

i really like cebu and am very proud of it. my partner and i have friends who are a striaght, amercian, couple, very wealthy, very gay friendly, very liberal, and always in support of these types of nations (third world/developing) to visit - they recently just toured malaysia. the male asked me about cebu and of course, not being from there i really had nothing to base my opinions on except what i read from things like this forum. it was all positive at that time. i wonder what they would think of the place then after they read something like sandrin's comment?

I edited her post to make it less insensitive. I totally agree with you that the level of development of a country is not just through appearance and quantitative figures but also the mentality of the people. I did not disagree with you regarding the issue of gays, but it was the manner in that you reacted that i disagreed with. Ncbmandy's first sentence in his first reply to sandrin is more acceptable. Thanks for understanding my position in this.

I edited her post to make it less insensitive. I totally agree with you that the level of development of a country is not just through appearance and quantitative figures but also the mentality of the people. I did not disagree with you regarding the issue of gays, but it was the manner in that you reacted that i disagreed with. Ncbmandy's first sentence in his first reply to sandrin is more acceptable. Thanks for understanding my position in this.

thanks guys, does it include the word BABES..... ;) just kidding.

P.S. what do you do for a living, Sandrin? Are you a professional? I am currently finishing up medical school and going to be a physician here in the states (my family was originally from the philippines).

Excuse me RDM. I graduated from UP Diliman holding a double degree. I attended Elementary, High School, and College at UP Diliman, like my sisters. Yes, I was born and bred in UP Diliman. My father worked in UP Diliman. I still have family in UP Diliman. I’m working as a researcher, both in marketing and technical in the East Coast. I also attended school at NYUSCP. All my best friends are doctors both in the Philippines and US. I did not pursue medicine because it’s not my interest. My best friends are doing their residency at Jacobi, Yale, and Einstein (NYC). Honestly, I’m not that impress and will never trade my career.

I don’t want Cebu or any place in the Philippines to end-up a Sex Tourism destination.

And as far as I’m concerned, other countries in Asia are against sex tourism as what is printed in Business World. And why do you think Sweden has alloted Millions of funds for HIV and STD awareness to the Philippines last month. They know that tourism is booming in the Philippines and they don’t want the country to be like Thailand in the 90's when a huge portion of their workforce was plague by Aids. I can post the article here if you want to.

I probably know more of the Philippines than you do. Don’t compare the situation in the Philippines with the first world countries like the US and Europe where the Aids situation is under control. With all the problems facing the Philippines right now, sexual diseases will be hard to address.

God's own country has no room for backpackers
By P. VISWA NATHAN, Special to BusinessWorld

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India -- Kerala, India's top tourist spot that has won seven out of 10 national awards and earns over $200 million annually from foreign tourists alone will be picky from now on about the kind of tourists it would like to see on its shores.

Call it, if you may, arrogance of success. The National Geographic has rated this southwestern state of India known for its scenic beauty and great beaches along the Arabian Sea coast as one of the world's 50 greatest destinations of a lifetime. Kerala wants to build on that reputation by elevating its standing on the international tourist market.

Talking about this goal and a new thrust in the global campaign for greater revenue, the director of the Kerala Tourism Board, B. Suman, said, "We are not pitching for backpackers and low-end tourists. We are very, very choosy; we want to develop Kerala as the up market tourist attraction."

Countries that have pitched for all sorts of tourist have learned that such scramble for the tourist dollar also opens the floodgates for unpleasant social impact. Girlie bars, pimps pushing sex-for-sale and drugs are just some of them.

"You won't find anything like it in Kerala; we will not allow them," Mr. Suman said, stressing on Kerala's social structure. "Our community bonding," he added, "is strong."

So the kind of evil that some have feared has not raised their ugly heads in this land of captivatingly beautiful women. To ensure that it won't, license to operate bars are granted grudgingly to selected hotels, which are checked periodically.

"We're totally opposed to putting a sex-appeal to tourism," Mr. Suman said.

Nevertheless, tourist inflow into this territory, which is just over one-tenth of the Philippines in land area, has been rising impressively

I am not against this GAY & LESBIAN INT'L FEST but most HIV carriers are homosexual and this could increase the AIDS problem in the country, remember...only a few thousands are infected in the Phil. and only about 1,000 died so far. We don'T want to have anymore...

Oh and at least I have the strength to post my face and not hiding behind the key boards.

you are excused, sandrin.

but what makes you think gay people are only interested in sex and the sex industry? do you know that one of the pitches for the gay tourism market here in philadelphia is its history? also, did you know that contrary to popular belief, that gay community are one of the biggest patrons of the arts, fine dining, retail? You are from NYC? wow, i am surprised that you wouldn't have surmised all of this being that you are an intelligent and very educated woman.

p.s. i didn't say you should be in the medical profession. we are glad that it is not for everyone...

^Huminahon po kayo Miss Sandrin. Naoffend lang siguro siya sa comment mo.

Baka nakakaoffend rin ang comment ko. But I am really not attacking anyone and hopefully I didn't say any insults.

I have nothing against homosexuals, so peace and I am not aiming for flame here.

another comment. that kind of thought is what leads to stagnation of a region. first you ban the gays because of "wicked tourists." then you ban the muslims because of possible terrorism. then where do you stop. it's such a slippery slope. ugh i'm so pissed now.

you know, people get banned/their posts deleted from forums who have said LESS IGNORANT things such as this. can we boot this lady out?

thanks.

Who do you think you are to kick me out eh?!!!
Who is Solblanc, your sidekick. We're both in the East Coast and I'm not afraid for a kick boxing OK. At least I have the strength to show my face and not hiding behind the key boards.

i promise this is the last thought. do you know that per EDUCATION and SALARY that the gay community is head and shoulders above the straight community? it goes to show you how successful and untapped this part of the demographics is. Nbcmand, thanks for the post but alot of them are not just hair dressers. In fact, a good many are doctors, lawyers, researchers, politicians, etc. Educated and not some drunk from the barrio. do you know that here in the states, particularly philadelphia, they are targeted as a market because the have HUGE SPENDING POWERS? that doesn't stop in the US, but also europe. also, did you know that gentrification follows gay migration? prime examples - the Meat Packing District in NYC, Washington Square West in Philadelphia, and DuPont Circle in Washington, DC? These were all once really shabby areas of town, then they became populated with gay people who really kept the areas clean, opened their own business, and brought a lot of money to the old local ones. Then families started moving into these areas and created a more homogenous, but IMPROVED PRIOR TO GAY MIGRATION community. Now wouldn't it be wonderful for something like that to happen in the SLUMS of Manila, or the RURAL AREAS of Cebu? Just think a little bit before you post.

P.S. what do you do for a living, Sandrin? Are you a professional? I am currently finishing up medical school and going to be a physician here in the states (my family was originally from the philippines).

Again don’t compare the situation in the first world country with the situation in the Philippines.






i promise this is the last thought. do you know that per EDUCATION and SALARY that the gay community is head and shoulders above the straight community? it goes to show you how successful and untapped this part of the demographics is. Nbcmand, thanks for the post but alot of them are not just hair dressers. In fact, a good many are doctors, lawyers, researchers, politicians, etc. Educated and not some drunk from the barrio. do you know that here in the states, particularly philadelphia, they are targeted as a market because the have HUGE SPENDING POWERS? that doesn't stop in the US, but also europe. also, did you know that gentrification follows gay migration? prime examples - the Meat Packing District in NYC, Washington Square West in Philadelphia, and DuPont Circle in Washington, DC? These were all once really shabby areas of town, then they became populated with gay people who really kept the areas clean, opened their own business, and brought a lot of money to the old local ones. Then families started moving into these areas and created a more homogenous, but IMPROVED PRIOR TO GAY MIGRATION community. Now wouldn't it be wonderful for something like that to happen in the SLUMS of Manila, or the RURAL AREAS of Cebu? Just think a little bit before you post.

P.S. what do you do for a living, Sandrin? Are you a professional? I am currently finishing up medical school and going to be a physician here in the states (my family was originally from the philippines).

Again don’t compare the situation in the first world country with the situation in the Philippines.

thunderflip,

do you know that after the AIDS epidemic that the gay community had and still has the biggest decline and smallest increase in percentage as far as new acquired infections? the gay community is continually being praised for their pulling together and really educating each other about transmission and progression of the disease? and also, did you know that the biggest rise in the infection world wide is in the heterosexual population, particularly in women? and that is what actually is triggering the rise in the infection rates OUTSIDE OF DEVELOPED NATIONS?

again, please do more research when you put posts on here...

sandrin,

how does posting your face make you courageous or make me a coward? i might see your face, but it's not like i know anything about you. i could just as easily put on an arbitrary picture of anyone's face on as my avatar, and that would make me less of a coward? c'mon, think of better arguments than that...

and since we are officially beyond the bounds of not insulting anyone, as you just called me a coward, if anything it makes me severely embarrassed for you... people can pick you out on the street now after you made such an assumption about an able community.

geeeeze. I felt guilty. Is my love not enough to have peace in this thread? ;) kiddin'

you are excused, sandrin.

but what makes you think gay people are only interested in sex and the sex industry? do you know that one of the pitches for the gay tourism market here in philadelphia is its history? also, did you know that contrary to popular belief, that gay community are one of the biggest patrons of the arts, fine dining, retail? You are from NYC? wow, i am surprised that you wouldn't have surmised all of this being that you are an intelligent and very educated woman.

p.s. i didn't say you should be in the medical profession. we are glad that it is not for everyone...

The situation in NYC is different and not to be compared with the situation in Philippines.
In the Philippines, I'm all for prevention of the spread of diseases, sexual or otherwise, before the problem becomes out of hand. God forbid, the country has no capability to wipe this out once it spread.

sandrin,

do you know in my little sociology experience, i learned that all nations in the world follow the same path, i think if i remember correctly that it is (this is gonna be very crude and rough around the edges) agrarian --> farming --> industry --> commercial/service. this model worked the best for western nations, and the philippines being the most western influenced out of all the developing nations will most likely follow this path. so, point is that it would behoove the country to learn from examples of the developing nations. i'm not making a comparison, i am merely giving examples of the how gentrification was started by the gay community and how welcoming gay people could be a positive thing.

it's okay, it's tough to swallow my pride and admit that i'm wrong sometimes... you have to do that in medicine a lot. but if you don't admit that you make a mistake and that you don't know something, you're patient dies... much like your argument has.

sorry, you might know more about the philippines than i do, but you just don't come off as an intelligent debater or writer.

p.s. kickboxing? you are kidding, right?

p.s.s. solblanc is another forumer. i don't know who he is, but i think (although i am totally assuming - he could careless about what wrote, who knows) he might be rubbed the wrong way about your comment.

p.s.s. how old are you? i am curious to see how old the person is i am having this discussion with. i myself am only 25 years of age.

???

wha?

how did I get dragged into this? :D

err, you guys have to understand Sandrin's point of view, even if I may not agree with certain portions of it. Sex tourism of ANY kind should be avoided. Thailand may be getting more tourists than us, but they are in the middle of a MAJOR image cleanup.

Incidentally, as for the HIV/AIDS thingie, there are loads of people in this country who don't even know where babies come from. How are we supposed to prevent an HIV epidemic at this rate? (besides, HIV/AIDS is not limited to homosexuals. I'm thankful that the dalliances of the soldiers of clark and subic didn't spread the disease here that much)

Sandrin's comments may have had some ignorance behind it, but let's face it: there are a gazillion number of people who think the same way. Shouting at Sandrin isn't going to change her views. She's smart, and she'll respect our opinions, as we respect hers. We may disagree, but a tirade is most certainly not going to help.

uhmmm... once again, Cebu is planning to hold a Gay and Lesbian Festival.

At least the City Government thought of having one, which means, most of the people there are open-minded. Our bros and sis of the third-sex community are most welcome in Cebu. :)

thanks. on that note, maybe i'll come to visit sometime. do you guys have a banana republic there? also, is there like a symphony hall/performing arts center in cebu? probably not a bad idea to have one.

deleted ko

@rusty18

out of topic:
I noticed your avatar and i think the smiley face should be facing backwards.... :) joke..dont take it seriously.

:) thanks. on that note, maybe i'll come to visit sometime. do you guys have a banana republic there? also, is there like a symphony hall/performing arts center in cebu? probably not a bad idea to have one.

soon at cebu boardwalk which is still under construction. but im sure there are several performing arts center in the city that im not familiar with. :)

@rusty18

out of topic:
I noticed your avatar and i think the smiley face should be facing backwards.... :) joke..dont take it seriously.

OT: the smiley would be in trouble, might choke to death. hehe :jk:

uhmmm... once again, Cebu is planning to hold a Gay and Lesbian Festival.

At least the City Government thought of having one, which means, most of the people there are open-minded. Our bros and sis of the third-sex community are most welcome in Cebu. :)


never say third sex ever again. please.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

never say third sex ever again. please.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

errr. if there is third world, there is third sex..hi hi hi..

Do you guys have any pic of the so called Malacañang of the South which is in Cebu?

errr. if there is third world, there is third sex..hi hi hi..

Do you guys have any pic of the so called Malacañang of the South which is in Cebu?

eh? a capitalist sex, a communist sex, and a developing country sex? :tongue3:

do you know in my little sociology experience, i learned that all nations in the world follow the same path, i think if i remember correctly that it is (this is gonna be very crude and rough around the edges) agrarian --> farming --> industry --> commercial/service. this model worked the best for western nations, and the philippines being the most western influenced out of all the developing nations will most likely follow this path. so, point is that it would behoove the country to learn from examples of the developing nations. i'm not making a comparison, i am merely giving examples of the how gentrification was started by the gay community and how welcoming gay people could be a positive thing.

it's okay, it's tough to swallow my pride and admit that i'm wrong sometimes... you have to do that in medicine a lot. but if you don't admit that you make a mistake and that you don't know something, you're patient dies... much like your argument has.

sorry, you might know more about the philippines than i do, but you just don't come off as an intelligent debater or writer.


p.s.s. how old are you? i am curious to see how old the person is i am having this discussion with. i myself am only 25 years of age.

I admit that my perceptions are brutal at times. I’m not anit-gay because I had so many educated gay friends in college. I’m also against the pedophiles and sex-offenders of any genders. But sadly, unlike the US, the majority in the Philippines (gays or not) are not that highly-educated especially now that the quality of education has deteriorated ( the government is responding to this problem as of late). The majority of the people are naive. Oh, and I'm 3.5 yrs. older that you. I only mentioned that I know more of the Philippines because I'm responding to the real life situation and not based on Social theory.

Let me give you a true to life example of a South East Asian Country that followed that same theoretical path and at the same time have a liberal sex change tourism:

“The participation of Asian Development Bank, as Dr. Peter Fedon of the ADB explained, is because AIDS is not just a medical problem but a social and economic problem that effects the whole society. The "price of inaction’’ by the government, for example, when AIDS first hit Thailand was a sudden decimation of the work force, a situation which the Thailand government has now actively addressed, to prevent further spread of the disease. Mr. Fedon does not anticipate that Asia will experience the devastation which has occurred in a number of African countries, where entire nations workforce have been wiped out, and children orphaned by the disease, but, however small the percent of infection it will affect the economy of the country. So now is the time to accelerate the fight against the disease.”

Let me quote the situation in the Philippines right now:

THE PHILIPPINES is sitting on the tip of an HIV/AIDS iceberg and worried health authorities have no idea how big the problem facing the country is, a top official told an international conference here Tuesday.
Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit said that the Philippines has 2,200 confirmed cases of HIV and 676 cases of AIDS according to latest figures, but officials feared that the true level of infection could be far higher.
"We in the Philippines are sitting on the tip of an iceberg and we don't know how big the base is," Dayrit told the conference organized by various bodies including the World Health Organisation and UNAIDS.
Dayrit said that up to one million prostitutes and an estimated one to two million of their clients were vulnerable to HIV/AIDS but emphasized that the problem was no longer limited to the sex trade.
"It cuts across all boundaries... rich and poor," Dayrit said, saying that the fight against the disease in this Roman Catholic nation needed to be brought out into public domain.
"What we need in the Philippines is a public face to the HIV/AIDS fight. Something which will galvanize the nation. What ever the government says will have little impact."


???

wha?

how did I get dragged into this? :D

err, you guys have to understand Sandrin's point of view, even if I may not agree with certain portions of it. Sex tourism of ANY kind should be avoided. Thailand may be getting more tourists than us, but they are in the middle of a MAJOR image cleanup.

Incidentally, as for the HIV/AIDS thingie, there are loads of people in this country who don't even know where babies come from. How are we supposed to prevent an HIV epidemic at this rate? (besides, HIV/AIDS is not limited to homosexuals. I'm thankful that the dalliances of the soldiers of clark and subic didn't spread the disease here that much)

Sandrin's comments may have had some ignorance behind it, but let's face it: there are a gazillion number of people who think the same way. Shouting at Sandrin isn't going to change her views. She's smart, and she'll respect our opinions, as we respect hers. We may disagree, but a tirade is most certainly not going to help.

I agree with Solblanc who knows the actual situation in the Philippines- that the majority are naive. I commend the clean-up when the sex workers in Olonggapo, Malate, and Angeles City decimated due to the closure of US Mililtary Bases and the Anti-prostitution ordinance implemented by the government. I don’t want the bars and sex pimps to take advantage of the lenient laws in the Philippines again.

good quotes. however, both don't really address the gay-link to aids issue. in both of your examples, it seems that the spread (and this is not news to me) is through prostitutes - prostitutes patronized by heterosexual men. to me, what was missing was the bridge that allowed you to leap from gay/lesbian festival to spread of aids specially since both the quotes you used imply spread/transmission via heterosexual practices.

furthermore, this type of association of AIDS only related to gay men is one of the stigmas that still make everyone cringe about the disease when in fact there are therapies that are allowing people to handle this disease as a chronic illness. do you know that there are worse off diseases that you can have, that absolutely have no treatment or cure? to put in perspective, let me bring this up. would you you rather have Lou Gerig's Disease (ALS - NO CURE, DIE RIGHT AWAY), Diabetes, or AIDS. Most of people would say diabetes - chronic, treatable, preventable, can have good quality of life. Then Lou Gerig's Disease, then AIDS. The fact that AIDS now is treated much like diabetes - chronic, treatable, preventable, can have good quality of life will always be last choice because of the social stigma associated with it.

You are right, in the philippines it is just the tip of the ice berg, and most people are naive about the matter. I did not need to go beyond this forum to realize that...

Prostitution is patronized by both heterosexual men and gay men (patrons of the gay bars), and the bisexuals. The quotes do not single out heterosexual practices because prostitutes include both call girls and call guys. In the Philippines, gays are known to be sexually promiscous. In the early stage of Aids in the Philippines, the disease was even associated with gays because a large number of them were infected.

Diabetes and ALS are not contagious while Aids can be spread through sex, blood transfusion and infected needles. The spread can either be a domino effect or logarithmic growth. Unlike the first world countries, the Philippines in not capable of solving this issue once it becomes full blown. I'd rather die of ALS or diabetes right away, than suffer with all kinds of infections from Aids for a long period of time.

now that's a stretch. you don't have to be a UP grad to realize that those articles imply that most of these establishments cater to the heterosexual population, as with the crisis in africa and the sex trade scandals in thailand. THAT'S WHAT ALL THE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN. yes, there are gay escorts, but NOT NEARLY AS POPULAR AS STRAIGHT PROSTITUTION RINGS.

do you know that the complications of AIDS are very, very end stage? like + 15-20 years, maybe even more, after treatment? that once these people get treated and are given meds, the complications go away? watch the CD4 counts of these individuals go up and see their thrush go away. give them some antivirals and the kaposi's literally melt away. no, i am not saying that having AIDS and being on treatment is a glamourous life. YOU WILL DIE. However, it is not as bad as it once was and the whole medical society can vouche for that. why do you think that there is such a push to send cheap meds to africa and all these other places? to say you want to die of a quick death from ALS rather than suffer from AIDS complications is COMPLETELY nihilistic and is indicative of you not having anything else intelligent to base your argument on.

you know what bothers me the most about this whole thing? is that you CANNOT even partly recant your statement knowing that what you said had very little thought behind it and is blatantly offensive. what the heck is the matter with you? would you say to your gay "friends" from your college exactly what you just wrote on this forum that started this whole discussion?

For a while, I thought I was in the wrong thread. LOL
Hope this picture (albeit old) will cool things off here.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/HiltonShangrila.jpg

now that's a stretch. you don't have to be a UP grad to realize that those articles imply that most of these establishments cater to the heterosexual population, as with the crisis in africa and the sex trade scandals in thailand. THAT'S WHAT ALL THE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN. yes, there are gay escorts, but NOT NEARLY AS POPULAR AS STRAIGHT PROSTITUTION RINGS.

do you know that the complications of AIDS are very, very end stage? like + 15-20 years, maybe even more, after treatment? that once these people get treated and are given meds, the complications go away? watch the CD4 counts of these individuals go up and see their thrush go away. give them some antivirals and the kaposi's literally melt away. no, i am not saying that having AIDS and being on treatment is a glamourous life. YOU WILL DIE. However, it is not as bad as it once was and the whole medical society can vouche for that. why do you think that there is such a push to send cheap meds to africa and all these other places? to say you want to die of a quick death from ALS rather than suffer from AIDS complications is COMPLETELY nihilistic and is indicative of you not having anything else intelligent to base your argument on.

you know what bothers me the most about this whole thing? is that you CANNOT even partly recant your statement knowing that what you said had very little thought behind it and is blatantly offensive. what the heck is the matter with you? would you say to your gay "friends" from your college exactly what you just wrote on this forum that started this whole discussion?

Who are you to dictate my choice of death. I read in the newspapers that the complications are cyclical. I have yet to talk to my friends regarding this issue and the hiv patients they handle. The complications do not really go away but actually comes back in a period of time. So in my opinion, it 's better to die right away than suffer from these complications. And it's not only rash or kaposis but also pneumonia, fever, flu, cold because of the immune deficiency. I'd rather die right away.
The prostition rings have already decimated in the Philippines, so is the number of HIV cases. We don't want the promotion of sexual promiscuity to be back on track. And yes I read according to the report of Swedish Aids fund allocation that the virus is spread through homosexual activities and sharing of needles in most countries,

Go ahead and defend your gay views here in America but don't drag it down to the Philippines. We don't need another plague. You cannot change my views no matter what kind of attack you make. What I've said is actually from the literature I've read of the actual situation and the danger of the threat happening to a poor country. You describe Aids like it's not that bad because you live here in the states where it is under control and most people are aware and educated. As I've said you cannot apply the same situation in the Philippines.

Who are you to dictate my choice of death. I read in the newspapers that the complications are cyclical. I have yet to talk to my friends regarding this issue and the hiv patients they handle. The complications do not really go away but actually comes back in a period of time. So in my opinion, it 's better to die right away than suffer from these complications. And it's not only rash or kaposis but also pneumonia, fever, flu, cold because of the immune deficiency. I'd rather die right away.
The prostition rings have already decimated in the Philippines, so is the number of HIV cases. We don't want the promotion of sexual promiscuity to be back on track. And yes I read according to the report of Swedish Aids fund allocation that the virus is spread through homosexual activities and sharing of needles in most countries,

Go ahead and defend your gay views here in America but don't drag it down to the Philippines. We don't need another plague. You cannot change my views no matter what kind of attack you make. What I've said is actually from the literature I've read of the actual situation and the danger of the threat happening to a poor country. You describe Aids like it's not that bad because you live here in the states where it is under control and most people are aware and educated. As I've said you cannot apply the same situation in the Philippines.

One Gay Festival in Cebu will not cause an AIDS epidemic. For goodness' sake, ever been to flyertalk.com? A LOT of people, Gay or Straight refuse to visit the Philippines because of the so-called "peace and order" situation. We have more to worry about with regards to tourists coming in, period.

Besides, Thailand was able to educate its population very well about AIDS. Why can't we do the same? We can't live forever under the threat of AIDS. With or without an influx of sex tourism, the lack of sex education needs to be addressed, with or without the Catholic Church's blessing (I swear, that move of the Church to refuse communion to health workers is downright stupid. Besides, I've never really respected the opinion of so-called "celibate" people with regards to sex, but I digress...)

While a gay festival may or may not have a lot of sex involved, gay festivals are also about AIDS awareness. Bringing the festival here should help the education bit.

I thought i was in a wrong thread.

CEBU BY NIGHT

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v644/sleepwalker_uno/cebubynight.jpg

For those who think that Cebu City is a sex tourism destination, it will be a disappointment. It is true, Cebu City was one of the rest and relax destinations of the American GI during the peak days of the Vietnam War. This created an extensive nightlife. After the war, however, this changed gradually. For a while American, European and Australian tourists tried to keep up this image, but in time Asian tourists took over. Cebu’s Nightlife adjusted to that.

How safe is it for a foreigner to go around Cebu City at night? Actually there is no safety problem at all in Cebu. Criminality is much, much lower than in Manila or some other parts of the country. The Cebu police corps is quiet and often invisible, but is known in the country for its efficiency. Big time criminality is virtually non-existent.

by http://www.ngkhai.com/pointcebu/nightlife/

This is the last time I'm gonna speak of that gay festival or whatsoever.

rdm, my gay friends did not join or watch gay parades. They were even hesitant on discussing Aids issues and didn’t want to be associated with such issue.

Solblanc, for me the best way to educate people on Aids Awareness are:
by incorporating the issue in Health Classes in both the elementary and high school level
by an intensive media campaign: tv, radio, and print ads commercials as what the Swedish ADB fund is intended for.

That is all.

thank goodness! bring on the gay parade and let's make cebu the new bangkok.

lol, honestly i would love to visit cebu. i hope i don't wear a pink triangle as a badge though. :horse:

sorry but i can't help myself...

"gay friends" that don't want to speak about the issue. if you have gay friends, you probably already know that they are very vocal, SPECIALLY about this issue. lol, i had lots of "friends" too when i was younger, too bad they were imaginary.

okay, say you are sorry sandrin and i'll let you get away this time... :guns1:

lol....I'm not gonna say sorry for something I really believe in.
And no my gay friends in college did not talk about gay issues because to them it's not really an issue, unlike your friends here in the US where they need to prove something out, like they are "educated" too....

Topic closed...this has gotten out of hand. I already told you guys to go back to topic. Some people are going to be reviewed for appropriate action.

Hilton Residential Tower
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/HiltonTower1.jpg


Hilton Hotel
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/HiltonHotel.jpg

Beachfront
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/Beachfront.jpg

Pool
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/Hiltonpool3.jpg

I've been to cebu for the past three weeks. I have tons of picture to share here. I'll be posting it as soon as i can....cheers

nice pics. :cool:

nice pics. :cool:
I didn't know Hilton likes *pink* that much. They might be scaring potential male customers. :)

phil's second metro is back. yeepee. ^^hilton's so feminine.

I didn't know Hilton likes *pink* that much. They might be scaring potential male customers. :)


Not if Paris is out there sunbathing, he,he.

It's a great hotel/resort. Too bad that it's a Hilton. Thanks to that piece of trash with cheap peroxide, it's been cheapened.

It's really great to know that the Queen City thread is back! got more pics here, will upload soon! :)

SINULOG 2005
Cebu City

http://66.194.40.250/gallery/albums/userpics/10003/normal_dancingqueens.jpg

http://66.194.40.250/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_gwen2.jpg

http://66.194.40.250/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_sibulan.jpg

http://66.194.40.250/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_compostela.jpg

http://66.194.40.250/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/duljo-fatima.jpg

http://66.194.40.250/gallery/albums/userpics/10003/normal_p1.jpg

http://66.194.40.250/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_basak.jpg

http://66.194.40.250/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_krystala.JPG

http://w.ex-designz.net/gallery/images/amandagriffin03.jpg
Amanda Griffin
Cebuana Mestiza

The only information technology (IT) park outside Metro Manila will soon have more buildings to accommodate locators this year.

According to Cebu Holdings Inc. (CHI) president Rene Almendras, lot owners in the Asiatown IT Park have decided to construct the buildings on their own.

“They have awakened to the fact that the demand for more buildings in the park is increasing,” he told reporters.

Almendras said Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corp. (CPVDC) is also willing to develop Phase 2 of Asiatown and construct buildings on it if the need arises.

Phase 2 will be about five hectares.

CHI is the mother company of CPVDC, the developer of Asiatown.

In a separate interview, Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) expert Atsuo Mizayaki said the facilities in the IT Park, specifically the buildings, “are poor” compared to those in China.

Almendras conceded that this was so.

He, however, said China’s IT parks, the construction of which is supported by the Chinese government, have many available buildings for locators because the Chinese government builds without considering the demand.

IT people

“We (in Asiatown) build according to demand. Our facilities might not equal those of China, but we have the people (needed by IT and IT-related companies),” he said.

Mizayaki earlier said Cebu has “very good” software engineers.

Almendras said Asia-town has been receiving lots of inquiries from foreign companies planning to outsource some of their backroom operations, such as accounting, medical transcription and software development, to Cebu.

Lifestyle

He also said retail development in Asiatown will be made to suit the lifestyle of the employees of locators in the IT park, especially the call center agents.

“Call center agents mostly work at night and go out of their offices at six or seven in the morning. We will be opening restaurants and coffee shops that open during these times of the day to suit their needs,” Almendras said. (JBN)

Cebuanos’ good (computer-aided) design talents has bring in United States based investor to Cebu, and establish a conceptualization and design facility for cinema standees, and other promotional collaterals for Hollywood movie production companies.

VersaGrafx Designs Philippines Inc., has opened its first and only facility outside of United States in Cebu at the Asia Town IT Park.

This means that Cebu will be one of the brains for design requirements of Hollywood movie production companies, such as MGM, Universal Studios, Warner Bros, Columbia Tristar, among others.

VersaGrafx president Larry Collins said the good pool of talented people in Cebu, especially the high-skilled designers pushed him to initially invest about US$250,000 to set up the facility in Cebu.

The company’s designing process will involve a review of cinematographic materials and on-location shoots and still photographs to be used in the conceptualization and design.

The finished products will be the visual and construction designs of the cinema standees and DVD tower casings in electronic files and the movie webpage designs.

These will be used for the manufacture of cinema standees, which are the promotional materials for movies placed at cinema entrances and DVD retailers.

The web pages on the other hand, will be posted on the Internet to advertise the specific movies.

Collins who also maintains companies in Los Angeles, California, specifically in Beverly Hills, called VersaGrafix Design Group, and the VersaStack Merchandising, has been doing business for big Studios in Hollywood for over 15 years.

“The company’s strength lies in the long and satisfying working relationship between American investors and Hollywood movie producers, which has been developed over the past years,” Collins said.

With the high-quality designing talents of Cebuanos, or Filipinos, he said he is hoping to expand its facility here, and will make the Asia Town-based office as its headquarters.

Collins, who just came to Cebu for scuba diving vacation was impressed by the pool of talented people here, whose works can be well marketed in the most demanding and sophisticated industry in the world, the Hollywood entertainment industry.

VersaGrafx Design, is using CAD, 2D and 3D software solutions. And it will be importing more state-of-the-art and the most updated hardware and software products to aid the production in Cebu.

Aside from expanding its talent pool here, the company is also looking at establishing its own building within the Asia Town I.T. Park in the next one to two years.

The opening of this facility, which offers a new dimension to IT investments in the Philippines, has made the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) director general Lilia de Lima flew to Cebu just to grace the grand opening, Tuesday.

De Lima urged Collins to spread the news to his colleagues and business partners in the U.S., especially in Hollywood of the capability of Filipinos to do outsourcing jobs may it be in design, animation, among others.

She also assured Collins, that the government both in the national and local levels is committed to support in these kinds of investments.

Visit Cebu!!

http://www.hotelinformation.com/html/philippines/cebu/tambulivilla/photo1b.jpg
Plantation Bay
http://plantationbay.com/Picture/main/joypost.jpg
Shangri La
http://cebu.jocv.net/diary/sfs2_diary/58_1.jpg
http://www.daaaaa.com/cebu/cebu054.jpg
Cebu Taoist Temple
http://www.angel.ne.jp/~nisikori/ceb/pic_chtemple1.jpg
Cebu White Sands
http://image08.webshots.com/8/2/30/13/116623013djKuqY_ph.jpg
Cebu Waterfront Hotel Lahug
http://www.airfares.com.sg/graphics/Cebu_Waterfront_City_Hotel_facade.jpg
Kawasan Falls Badian
http://www.angel.ne.jp/~nisikori/ceb/pic_kawafall1.jpg
Marcelo Fernan Bridge
http://cebu.da.gov.ph/Images/bridge.jpg
Ayala Center Cebu
http://www.ayalamalls.com.ph/images/gallery/Cebu/cebu3.jpg
Sinulog Mardi Gras
http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph/images/Explore/Gallery/Big/CEBU/Sinulog-FestivalCebu2.jpg
Cebu City
http://www.daaaaa.com/cebu/cebu019.jpg

Beautiful!

I've been to Kawasan. Very cool place.

I've been to a lot of those places ... My fave would be Plantation Bay and that Hill Top, where you can see the whole city.... Beautiful :)

I have posted on the other cebu threads that im gonna post my pics that iv take there. I stayed there for 3 weeks and manged to get a few shots...hopefully can find time to post it...

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/cebupics/pcr-jyosei.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/cebupics/pcr-3-divinglesson.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/cebupics/ayalamallmarriott.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/cebupics/ayalamall.jpghttp://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/cebupics/img61.gif

Cebu’s retail industry has shown a positive movement as manifested by the increased in sales of Ayala Center Cebu’s (ACC) mall merchants.
ACC, a mall operation arm of the Cebu Holdings Inc. (CHI) reported an average of 10 percent increase of sales, some merchants’ even experienced 100 percent sales increase because of several innovative promotions and come-on strategies initiated by the mall.

CHI president Rene D. Almendras attributed the positive sales performance of the mall’s merchants not only to the effective marketing promotions initiated by the ACC, but also to the innovative efforts of the outlet owners to draw in customers.

Ayala’s tri-mall events which will bring in well-known national and international performances to the three malls operated by the Ayala Group, the Ayala-Alabang, Glorietta and the Ayala Center Cebu generated a good sales effect to the merchants.

Last year, according to Almendras said company spent P30 million for events alone, an increased of P5 million from P25 million events’ budget in 2003.

During the 7th Annual Ayala Merchants Rewards meeting held recently, Almendras urged the mall’s merchants to further enhance its customer service relations, and continue to provide Cebuano market value for money promotions.

Along with its zoning re-structuring to give mall goers convenience in shopping and leisure outing, Almendras said ACC has continued its effort to invite more tenants carrying well-known national and international brands.

Last year, ACC welcomed the entry of foreign brand retailers such as Locoste (accessories), Charles and Keith, Watsons, Converse, and recently, the United Colors of Benetton.

Renowned national brands also put up their presence in Ayala Center, included; Bayo, Plains and Prints, Kamiseta, Folded & Hung, Free Way, among others.

“We would continually provide shops that would give shoppers convenience,” Almendras said.

Soon, the back-front of the mall which is called the Ayala Lagoon will be transformed into a garden park destination that would give shoppers an option of dining, wining, and coffee drinking ambiance.

Aside from the improving retail consumers in Cebu, Almendras said the mall is also counting on the increasing number of tourists both domestic and foreign, as the big contributor for sales growth.

Thus, he said the ACC is very supportive in any tourism-related events in Cebu, because retail industry is one of the beneficiaries of tourism.

“Tourism is another fuel for growth in our business,” he said adding that aside from posting tourist-friendly signage, such as Chinese and Japanese written information in strategic part of the mall, ACC has also embarked on active marketing promotions and advertising campaign in the different areas in the Visayas.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/edifice_complex/internationalacademyoffilmtelevision-1.jpg

Anybody knows where in Mactan is this school located? The website where I got this picture said that it is almost done.

hey.. that's the int'l film school that we read about sometime last year or so... I never knew they really pushed through with it pa la... cool! the rendering on the billboard is incredibly weird though... hehe..

oh yeah, ganda rin pa la ng Ayala Center Cebu! I never knew that... is it new? the inside looks kinda like Market! Market!

great pictures of Cebu City. Ayala Center .. really nice and cozy mall. How I wish I can go back to visit Cebu City again. Last time I visited the city was in 1995 during our national board examination. Been there for more than 2 weeks. I really like the place. Cheers to all Cebuanos!

Asiana Airlines serves Cebu
by Ruth G. Mercado

Starting April 28, Asiana Airlines will fly to Cebu twice weekly, heralding a bright spot in Cebu’s cloudy aviation industry. Korea-based airline Asiana will service the Korea-Cebu-Korea routes on Mondays and Fridays arriving here at 12:30 midnight and departing at 3 in the morning.

Adelberto Yap, general manager of the Mactan Cebu International Airport, made the announcement saying that the new flights create the impetus for more airlines to come here.

Asiana Airlines becomes the fifth airline of the 65 foreign carriers with air rights to serve Cebu to have actually used these rights. The other four are Cathay Pacific, Silk Air, Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways. Asiana’s entry lights up a bright spot in Cebu’s cloudy aviation industry.

One-way attraction
In recent years, initiatives at enticing foreign airlines to fly to Cebu have been protracted with few takers. The Civil Aeronautics Board has been proactive in promoting Cebu and other provincial points as destinations for foreign carriers but the attraction did not seem to be mutual. What appears to have discouraged foreign airlines from flying and doing business here are dearth in hotel facilities, expensive hotel rates and thinning security confidence.

With his security-focused management, Yap has heightened airport perimeter security when he ordered curbside parking prohibited. He launched employee credential checks and ordered restrained issuance of airport access cards. Baggage screening has improved with two new gamma scanners that can detect explosives, currencies, drugs and guns. The scanners can detect suspicious items in three-dimension. Serious about making the facility a hard target for terrorists, Yap has mounted closed circuit television in strategic areas of the airport.

Yap’s security-focused airport management matches with Asiana’s mission of “safety will never be compromised. In July 26, 2003, Asiana Airlines attained the remarkable feat of “perfect flights” for 10 years and continues to set long-term safety goals aiming to become the “ world’s safest airline.”

Asiana holds its main office in Manila although it plans to put up a satellite office here.

As promised....Cebu pic I took during the 3 weeks I was there....enjoy guys...

Batch1:

ayala center
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture050.jpg

ayala center
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture051.jpg

ayala center
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture149.jpg

ayala center
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture145.jpg

ayala center
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture144.jpg

God's Comin Down (Taken from Shangrila balcony)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture103.jpg

Shang pool...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture101.jpg

Shang Interior Court
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture100.jpg

Superferry (taken from shang beach front)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture054.jpg

Stone Islet at shang
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture050a.jpg

Citibank Building
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture096.jpg

Keppel Building
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture049.jpg

Sunrise with Waterfront Hotel at far right
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture084.jpg

Hilton Condotel (taken from shang beachfront)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture066.jpg

Guadalupe Church
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture063.jpg

Guadalupe Church with the new provincial Jail on far left
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture059.jpg

Provincial Capitol Statue (I think its Lapu-Lapu)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture058.jpg

Provincial Capitol
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture057.jpg

Part of Marcelo Fernan Bridge
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture048.jpg

:eek2: W :eek2: O :eek2: W :eek2:

I'm speechless! Cebu is amazing! Thanks for the awesome photos! :okay:

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

Batch 2:

Marcelo Fernan Bridge
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture047.jpg

View of the old Mactan Bridge from Marcelo Fernan Bridge
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture046.jpg

The huge cables of the bridge
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture045.jpg

Marcelo Fernan Bridge (from Airport)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture044.jpg

One of Shang's wing
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture065.jpg


Shang Beach front
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture046a.jpg

My Sis n Me @ shang
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture042.jpg

Aerial Shot1
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture036.jpg

Aerial shot2
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture035.jpg

Aerial Shot3
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture034.jpg

Aerial Shot4
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture033.jpg

Aerial Shot5
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture032.jpg

Bridge to SRP(South Reclamation Project)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture031.jpg

A building (forgot the name...lol)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture010.jpg

Waterfront Cebu
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/Picture001.jpg

Hilton Pano from Shang Balcony
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/HiltonPano.jpg

Cebu City Night Pano
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march/cebunightpano2.jpg

I hope u guys enjoyed....

Wow, from the last picture, Cebu's roads are very clean.

:bow: :bow: Thoroughly enjoyed viewing the photos! Thanks again! :bow: :bow:

Awesome pics Olineil, especially Cebu City at night sort of Hong Kong looking from top of Victoria Peak. Hilton reminds me of pink condos lining South Beach, Miami its looks so out of place in the island of Mactan. Shang is totally cool. When did they open a Mark and Spencer on Ayala Center? I don't remember that store being there back in 1999?

Stunning pics!!! Wow... wow... wee... For several seconds, I was speechless...
Whew! Truly, Cebu is one of Asia's best resort city...

Thank you Olineil. Nice job.

Thanks guys...cebu is really awesome...Glad ur enjoying it....

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/cebupics/bigfootschool.jpg
International Academy of Film and Television
The Hollywood of Asia

The IAFT is currently constructing an 8,200 square meter campus on the historic Mactan Island in Cebu, Philippines. A 600-square meter soundstage is almost completed! It is conveniently accessible to all of Southeast Asia by plane.

Bigfoot owner to open film school in Mactan

VENTURE capitalist Michael Gleissner, owner of communications powerhouse Bigfoot, has again showed his confidence in Cebu, by investing in $5 million for an international film school, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.

The International Aca-demy of Film and Television (IAFT), which will be based in Mactan island, will not only help the Philippines attract large movie producers in Hollywood to shoot here, but bring in more tourists to the country as well.

According to IAFT president and chief executive adviser Kacy Andrews, one of the school’s objectives is to attract film students from all over the world to study in Cebu.

This is one of the reasons why Gleissner and his advisers decided to put up the film school in Cebu.

“Cebu (with its tourist attractions) is a good place to start to attract people from all over the world to come and study in our film school,” Andrews told a press conference at the La Gondola restaurant, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino Tuesday.

She said the prices of the courses of the film school, which is patterned after the Los Angeles film school, are one-third of those of other international film schools.

The courses are also short term, unlike in a film school in Singapore that offers four-year courses.

She said Cebu’s scenic spots will also help IAFT achieve one of its visions of encouraging Hollywood films to be shot in the country, once the school produces graduates.

Andrews said some reasons international films are not shot in the Philippines are the lack of highly competent and skilled talents and technical people, and the unavailability of technical movie equipment.

Expensive

“Because of the lack of human resource and the equipment, shooting movies in the Philippines is very expensive because producers will have to bring their own pool of talents and equipment here. If we have these ready for them, then they will want to shoot here,” she said.

Andrews is a producer on Miramax’s “Playing by Heart,” starring Sean Connery and Angelina Jolie. She has been actively involved in the entertainment industry for over 16 years.

The IAFT will begin offering short-term courses in April, at the office of its sister company Bigfoot located on Ramos St., Cebu City.

But it will fully operate as soon as the construction of its campus situated on an 8,200-square-meter facility in Mactan will be completed.

The facility will include a Dolby surround sound-equipped movie theater, recording studio, Foley stage, six digital editing suites, a computer laboratory with animation and sound design software and a 600-square meter soundstage.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/cebupics/07292004_1.jpg

Ogie Hit For International Launch By Bigfoot Entertainment
April 13, 2005

OPM monster hit BAKIT NGAYON KA LANG by Ogie Alcasid has been licensed to Cebu company BIGFOOT ENTERTAINMENT to introduce the song to the international music scene. BIGFOOT PRODUCTIONS developed the project and created a music video produced entirely by a Cebuano production team trained by leading Hollywood mentors at Cebu’s INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF FILM AND TELEVISION (IAFT).

The video features Cebu’s very own Angela Calina and Wendie Sacedon on vocals and interpreted for the screen by Manila talent Noel Reyes and Lauren Shapiro, an LA-based actress. Mick Gleissner, Antwerp-based director/producer and the first graduate of IAFT, couldn’t help but personally direct the music video of his favourite Pinoy song at BIGFOOT ENTERTAINMENT’S brand new, state-of-the-art soundstage in Mactan.

The new remix gives the song a European-style with a pop dance feel and is nearly ready for play on radio and in dance clubs both here and overseas. The song will be marketed under the name BAKIT REMIX. BIGFOOT ENTERTAINMENT, lured cutting-edge Swedish club music composers Mats Glaad and Per-Erik Gustavsson for six months to come to Cebu to, among other things, re-work Ogie’s song with a new identity and bi-lingual lyrics to invade the club scene world-wide.

The entire BIGFOOT family is extremely excited about this project and feels that it has tremendous airplay potential and possibly, billboard listing on charts all over the music world.

Awesome pics Olineil, especially Cebu City at night sort of Hong Kong looking from top of Victoria Peak. Hilton reminds me of pink condos lining South Beach, Miami its looks so out of place in the island of Mactan. Shang is totally cool. When did they open a Mark and Spencer on Ayala Center? I don't remember that store being there back in 1999?

Marks & Spencer has been operating in Ayala Center for several years already. early 2000 i think.

NICE PIX OLINEIL!!!
:eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2:

great pictures from Cebu .. wow ... Ayala is really nice !

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/cebupics/07292004_1.jpg

Ogie Hit For International Launch By Bigfoot Entertainment
April 13, 2005

OPM monster hit BAKIT NGAYON KA LANG by Ogie Alcasid has been licensed to Cebu company BIGFOOT ENTERTAINMENT to introduce the song to the international music scene. BIGFOOT PRODUCTIONS developed the project and created a music video produced entirely by a Cebuano production team trained by leading Hollywood mentors at Cebu’s INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF FILM AND TELEVISION (IAFT).

The video features Cebu’s very own Angela Calina and Wendie Sacedon on vocals and interpreted for the screen by Manila talent Noel Reyes and Lauren Shapiro, an LA-based actress. Mick Gleissner, Antwerp-based director/producer and the first graduate of IAFT, couldn’t help but personally direct the music video of his favourite Pinoy song at BIGFOOT ENTERTAINMENT’S brand new, state-of-the-art soundstage in Mactan.

The new remix gives the song a European-style with a pop dance feel and is nearly ready for play on radio and in dance clubs both here and overseas. The song will be marketed under the name BAKIT REMIX. BIGFOOT ENTERTAINMENT, lured cutting-edge Swedish club music composers Mats Glaad and Per-Erik Gustavsson for six months to come to Cebu to, among other things, re-work Ogie’s song with a new identity and bi-lingual lyrics to invade the club scene world-wide.

The entire BIGFOOT family is extremely excited about this project and feels that it has tremendous airplay potential and possibly, billboard listing on charts all over the music world.

This is very cool news....its really true that we are 1 of the biggest film producing countries in the world....I hope this will be a start of the revival of the Golden age of film in the country....I know we have the potential to produce exellent films that can be released internationally....Look at "Rizal" the movie...that movie is my most admired film that our countrymen did...imagine what we can produce given the right tools....Cheers :cheers:

Are you ready for this!!!!

Batch 3:

Ayala center Interiors once again
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture134.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture133.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture132.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture131.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture130.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture125.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture124a.jpg

Ayala Center Atrium
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture089.jpg

Another view of Marcelo Fernan Bridge
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture092.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture091.jpg

The Marriot Hotel
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture090.jpg

Citibank & Waterfront Hotel
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture088.jpg

Cebu Convention Center (Sorry for the blurry pics was in the car taking it and it was nearly dark so I cant use Night Shot or else it will really blur....or if I use fast shutter it'll be too dark....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture087.jpg

University of Cebu
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture086.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture085.jpg

Gaisano Country Mall
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture084.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture082.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture081.jpg

Some nice cute Building along our way...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture080.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture078.jpg

Thanks for the pics .... we really really really appreciate it...
Cebu has come a long way :)
I hope it lives up to its potentials

Again... wowowee! gaisano mall's facade looks romatic.

i was listening to my old CD... heard "cebu" in the lyrics...

Enya - Orinoco Flow

Let me sail, let me sail, let the orinoco flow,
Let me reach, let me beach on the shores of tripoli.
Let me sail, let me sail, let me crash upon your shore,
Let me reach, let me beach far beyond the yellow sea.

Sail away, sail away, sail away. (x3)

From bissau to palau - in the shade of avalon,
From fiji to tiree and the isles of ebony,
From peru to cebu hear the power of babylon,
From bali to cali - far beneath the coral sea.

Turning up, turning up, turning up, up I do. ohh. (x3)

Sail away, sail away, sail away. (x3)

From the north to the south, ebudae into khartoum,
From the deep sea of clouds to the island of the moon,
Carry me on the waves to the land I’ve never been,
Carry me on the waves to the lands I’ve never seen.

We can sail, we can sail... with the orinoco flow
We can sail, we can sail...
Sail away, sail away, sail away.

We can steer, we can near with rob dickins at the wheel,
We can sigh, say goodbye ross and his dependencies
We can sail, we can sail
Sail away , sail away, sail away

We can reach, we can beach on the shores of tripoli.
We can sail, we can sail
Sail away , sail away, sail away

From bali to cali - far beneath the coral sea.
We can sail, we can sail
Sail away , sail away, sail away

From bissau to palau - in the shade of avalon,
We can sail, we can sail
Sail away , sail away, sail away

We can reach, we can beach far beyond the yellow sea.
We can sail, we can sail
Sail away , sail away, sail away

From peru to cebu hear the power of babylon,
We can sail, we can sail
Sail away , sail away, sail away

We can sail, we can sail
Sail away , sail away, sail away (x5)

Ahhah, aahha, ah.

I love enya....cheers!!!

WoW :eek2:



imagine what cebu will look like 20 years from now

woah...!! amazing shots, olineil!!

Ayala Center Cebu reminds me so much of Glorietta in Makati. haha! quite nice... and all the high rises in Cebu look good. very unique and surprisingly different from the ones we usually see in Metro Manila. I love the Citibank building... and, oh yeah... Shangrila looks like its being maintained real well... still looks so new. and the areas surrounding it are so green and lush... I wanna go to Cebu!! haha!!

re: the IAFT. sounds awesome!! I hope it does well... great chance to further improve the local movie making industry in the Philippines. hopefully it will attract big foreign producers to go and film in Cebu and around the country too...!

Amazing photos, olineil!! Cebu has such great potential; investors like Bigfoot should keep coming in!:okay: Thanks for all your efforts in taking those pictures. Shangri-la is beautiful.

Ayala Center Cebu look sooo much like Glorietta.:D

I especially like the aerials...If only Cebu had a dense cluster skyline:okay: The bridge to the south reclamation area is long! wow.

Once again, incredible pics...took my computer ages to load all of them, and it killed my internet connection..but it was well worth it:)
i wish i stayed in Shang when i was in Cebu:D

Ayala FGU building is where citibank is. it is very much similar to Ayala FGU in Alabang. the color, size and all. hehe

surprisingly, shangrila is still the grandest resort hotel for more than a decade.

it is pretty amazing... foreign company bigwigs first visited cebu as tourist and came back to pour millions of dollars of investments. a classic example is the mactan export processing zone (MEPZ) mostly with japanese companies. the american Bigfoot guy first took a vacation in cebu and now has the Bigfoot communications office. and with much confidence in cebu's potential, he even decided to put up IAFT in mactan. another american who loves to dive in cebu put up a multimedia company for promotional wares in hollywood. filipinos indeed have world-class talent, i guess we are only waiting to be discovered.

its funny the cebu city government is planning to put up chinese and japanese signs in main establishments such as restaurants and malls but the problem is, koreans are invading cebu. if a sign says RESTROOM, there's a chinese translation, and then japanese. how about korean? good thing most koreans visit cebu to have fun and learn english. :)

double post :)

a lot japanese sure think cebu is a separate country.

"is the philippines part of cebu" :bash: LOL

a lot japanese sure think cebu is a separate country.
Just like how some of them think Bali is separate from Indonesia and Phuket is separate from Thailand. :)

They also have the tendency to group ASEAN countries into one entity.

Thanks for posting the pictures! Ayala Center Cebu really looks like Glorietta from the inside, but I'll be nice to Ayala Center Cebu, it looks like its own in terms of height with all those floors. But other than that, each floor itself is like the Glorietta.

Thanx again guys...

Here's batch 4:

The Marriot Hotel
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture008.jpg

Street level shot somewhere around ayala area
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture011.jpg

SM city Cebu (Sorry minimum interior pics...my cebuano companions told me not to flash around my digicam in SM they said its not as safe as Ayala center...but when I was inside i found it to be ok, anyway i just obliged para wala na lang prob.)
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SM bowling center (My wife & me havin a blast)
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A few more cute buildings along the way
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Stakili Beach Resort in Danao city
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This is what I like in Cebu...Its very seldom that I can see the traditional jeepneys in the city...Cubuanos modify L300's, Isuzu Elf's, and Multi-cab's to passenger vehicles...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/cebu%20march%202/Picture012.jpg

:lol: I like the advertising on the jeep:D Gameboy Advance, hehehe

Cebu has come into its own! :okay: Stepping out of Manila's very long shadow. ;)

Cebu Plaza to reopen soon
By Cebu Daily News



ABOUT two years after it stopped operations, Cebu's first ever world class hotel will open its doors before the year ends.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano told Cebu journalists the Metrobank group has decided to operate the hotel through an international management firm.

According to Durano, Metrobank group executives informed him that they will be opening the entire hotel before the end of the year.

Durano said the group want the hotel open for the Advertising Congress, which will be held in Cebu this coming November.

The Advertising Congress is estimated to bring in at least 2,000 delegates.

This figure will be on top of the foreign and domestic tourists that come to Cebu.

"They saw the strong demand. In fact, Cebu has been turning away thousands of tourists because of the lack of enough rooms to accommodate them," said Durano.

He noted that the Koreans alone will take the entire hotel capacity.

The 340-room Cebu Plaza Hotel closed two years ago when its owners Pathfinders Holdings Philippines decided to pay off its loan to Metrobank using the Nivel property.

At the time, Metrobank refused to operate the hotel since according to the bank management their expertise is in banking.

The hotel closure was a blow to Cebu's tourism industry since it resulted in a shortage of accommodations at a time when the tourists have started coming back to Cebu.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president Robert Go has personally talked to Metrobank chairman George S. K. Ty last week during the Cebu State Dinner with the China's president at Malacañang Palace confirming that the bank would personally operate the hotel.

"He said that they are targeting to be fully operational for business before December this year," said Go.

Durano also said that Metrobank will make available all rooms immediately to tap the market.

He recalled that the initial plan was for Metrobank to open the low-rise portion of the hotel but he was informed during a succeeding meeting about the decision to open the entire hotel.

In fact, the hotel is planning to build a lagoon, which forms part of its plan to market Cebu Plaza as a city resort, Durano said.

However, he said, Metrobank is planning to operate under a new name for the hotel.

"Right now, they're looking for an international chain to manage the hotel," said Durano.

Hopefully they could open by September just in time for the Ad Congress on November, he added.

Durano has been working on the reopening of Cebu Plaza and other hotels to address the growing shortage of rooms.

Aside from talking to the Metrobank group, Durano said that they are working on existing hotel properties operate again to address immediately the shortage of accommodations in Cebu.

He said that he met with Lucio Tan to discuss the possibility of reopening the Coral Reef Resort in Mactan.
The reopening of the two properties will add about 500 rooms to Cebu.

Durano has also urged the Gokongwei group to look at the possibility of opening its hotel property beside SM City Cebu.

Whoaaa...I can't help but join the conversation. This is my first time guys to post a message. For a couple of months I just kept myself busy reading your messages and enjoying those pictures..but my sheer propensity to talk about cebu dictates me to join here..besides how can we discover new oceans if we are scared to leave the seashore? hehe. You know Cebu has always been very close to my heart. The mere thought that she has developed dramatically has inspired me already.

So this is for now. I promise to give my in depth contribution in the days to come...hehehe

Welcome here @dominique. Keep on posting. :okay:

Durano lauds Cebu Pacific’s efforts

TO support Cebu’s tourism endeavors, Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) is actively participating in the Cebu Biyahe Muna Project, as the program’s designated carrier.

“Through the years, Cebu Pacific has proven to be a dynamic and invaluable partner in the various initiatives of the DOT to spur domestic tourism. Its well-designed products and promotions offer Filipinos a welcome alternative, encouraging them to travel and explore what the Philippines has to offer,” Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said in a statement.

Secretary Durano added: “Last year, the province of Cebu outshone all others when it posted the biggest number of tourist arrivals in the country. With the support of Cebu Pacific, we expect Cebu to surpass this outstanding performance.”

A joint project of the DOT, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cebu Association of Tour Operators, Cebu Biyahe Muna features attractive and convenient tour packages meant to promote the city as a premiere tourist destination in the country.

Under this program, travelers can choose from a mix of packages, depending on their budgets.

The packages are the “Cebu Short Break,” “Island Getaway,” “Heritage and Country,” “Adventure Go Golf” and “Adventure Go Dive.”

“Cebu Biyahe Muna offers not only convenience but budget flexibility as well,” said CEB general manager Bong Mojica.

“This is to encourage more and more people to experience Cebu’s abundant beauty and rich culture. There is just so much to see and enjoy in Cebu,” he said. (PR)

Malapascua promoted as dive spot in US expo

May 9, 2005

Malapascua Island in Daanbantayan is being promoted abroad by the Department of Tourism as a distinctly different dive spot.
Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said Malapascua is included in the list of dive spots being promoted in this year’s dive exposition in the United States and will be included again in another dive exposition next year in the United Kingdom.

Durano said that while Malapascua and Boracay share a few similar attractions such as white sand beaches, Boracay is being promoted as a leisure district and not as a dive spot.

Infrastructure would be undertaken by the national government through the Department of Public Works and Highways and the local government.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo congratulated Cebu during her recent visit for being the number one tourist destination in the country. Cebu attracts 1.2 million tourists a month.

Malapascua promoted as dive spot in US expo

May 9, 2005

Malapascua Island in Daanbantayan is being promoted abroad by the Department of Tourism as a distinctly different dive spot.
Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said Malapascua is included in the list of dive spots being promoted in this year’s dive exposition in the United States and will be included again in another dive exposition next year in the United Kingdom.

Durano said that while Malapascua and Boracay share a few similar attractions such as white sand beaches, Boracay is being promoted as a leisure district and not as a dive spot.

Infrastructure would be undertaken by the national government through the Department of Public Works and Highways and the local government.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo congratulated Cebu during her recent visit for being the number one tourist destination in the country. Cebu attracts 1.2 million tourists a month.

Malapascua is often featured on diving mags. Aside from fine white sand beach, its underwater garden has so much more... including rays & thresher sharks.

Cebu is definitely the country's prime mover in tourism. Keep it up Cebu. Ato ni bay!

cool stuff...! thanks for the pictures again, olineil!

SM Cebu actually looks pretty good... haha! and cebu looks pretty clean. and it doesn't seem to be as populated as in Metro Manila.

anyways, it's awesome to see that tourism in Cebu is continuing to boom. I wonder which int'l chain will manage the Cebu Plaza hotel....

a lot japanese sure think cebu is a separate country.

"is the philippines part of cebu" :bash: LOL

That's stupid ... Cebu is right in the middle of the country ...
Well to add to that ... Some think the Philippines is part of China

oh well, another high-end resort-condo to rise in Mactan.

Garces Rental and Property Management Corp. and Garces Realty will combine their resources to gain enough capital to finance a high-end project in Mactan Island, Cebu.

According to a statement, the project involves the development of a resort condominium that will have fully furnished one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom units.

The development will feature a clubhouse, two swimming pools, sports facilities and other amenities.

Edmund Garces, president and general manager of both firms, said: “This new project will bring in more dollars since ready buyers are coming from different countries. Cebu is still a very viable location for these buyers.”

Garces Rental and Property Management Corp. and Garces Realty have networks in the international market, particularly in Japan, Singapore, Korea and Australia, the statement said.

The units can be sold outright or rented out.

cool stuff...! thanks for the pictures again, olineil!

SM Cebu actually looks pretty good... haha! and cebu looks pretty clean. and it doesn't seem to be as populated as in Metro Manila.

anyways, it's awesome to see that tourism in Cebu is continuing to boom. I wonder which int'l chain will manage the Cebu Plaza hotel....

U are welcome and its my pleasure...

nakita ko sa google:

cebu at night:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/mbassy2003/cebu1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/mbassy2003/cebu2.jpg

Judging by those photos, it looks like Cebu City is densely populated and a sprawling metropolis. An optical illusion perhaps? :dunno:

nice photos of cebu!!! a virtual trip...i like those aerials and the hotel pics :okay: thanks a lot olineil :)

and lots of good news for cebu...i think cebu still has the fastest growth rate in the entire country, it was for several years...lots of good infrastructure, export processing zones, tourism is booming...shangrila even included mactan shangrila in its tv ad...really great! :nocrook:
was there three years ago...really had a good time and would love to come back...soon!!! :)

btw, what could be that brightly lit or floodly lit area (upper left) in the first image... cebu is practically blazing :eek2:

btw, what could be that brightly lit or floodly lit area (upper left) in the first image... cebu is practically blazing :eek2:

its the huge SM cebu and other bldgs in north reclamation area. lower right of SM on the second image is the waterfront hotel, casino filipino, asiatown IT park and some bars. on the right side is the cebu business park (notice the tall buildings).

thanks rusty18...didn't go there the last time, didn't have time for shopping...just laze around the resort...maribago bluewaters...and some night singing :clown: dancing :banana: and drinking :drunk: :D

cebu city panorama

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