Diamond Suites and Residences in Cebu turns 1

Diamond Suites and Residences Cebu is one of the hotels which supported the Visayas Blogging Summit where some of the speakers stayed.

Last December 6, 2011, this hotel celebrated its first year anniversary with very nice music by a live band (I wish I knew the name of the band), good food and raffle prizes.

During the party, we even met a very friendly guest from Africa (the tall guy on the center).

Once again, thank you to Diamond Suites and Residences for supporting the organizers of the Visayas Blogging Summit.

Diamond Suites and Residences is located in Apitong corner Escario Street, within walking distance of Ayala Center Cebu. They have 102 modern guestrooms with high-speed internet access and many other amenities.

Visit their website for more details.

The Ciudad Project, Beneficial or Bad for Cebu?

Based on the video above, the planned Ciudad Project to be built in the BanTal Road looks promising.

A mall designed to look like Cebu many years ago. Security guards dressed like guardia sibil. Balut vendors, "dirty ice cream" vendors selling their products in the vicinity. Replicas of Cebu's historical sites. Museum featuring works of Cebuano artists. The usual things you see in a mall except for the appearance of old Cebu. More potential job openings.

But traffic appears to be a legitimate issue which the project planners plan to address by putting jeepney stops within the Ciudad and not in the BanTal road itself. The developers, Fifth Avenue Development Corp. claimed the local government do not need to spend for addressing this problem.

There are still many questions you probably want to ask. Like what happens to the Cebu Medical Society office and the ERUF in the area? How exactly will the traffic problem there be eased with the building of the Ciudad Project?

Today, December 2, there will a public hearing to decide whether an Environmental Compliance Certificate will be issued for the project developer to start the work. It will be at the Brgy. Apas, Lahug Gymn at 10 AM. You may want to raise issues or questions during the hearing.

You can do more with Globe Blackberry Social

BlackBerry is more than just the BlackBerry Messenger, or BBM since Globe Telecom has an innovative service for BlackBerry users allowing them to do more with their BlackBerry devices. 

Introducing... Globe BlackBerry Social, another breakthrough offer from Globe. It provides users unlimited access to their favorite social networking and instant messaging sites. Aside from access to the ever popular BBM, BlackBerry fanatics also get unlimited use of Facebook, Twitter and Instant Messaging with Globe BlackBerry Social. Cool! 

TV host Bianca Gonzalez and fashion icon Liz Uy can attest to how the service enables them to do more despite their busy schedules: guestings and hosting stints for Bianca, and pictorials and fashion shoots for Liz. Both manage to squeeze in some time with people who matter most thanks to Globe BlackBerry Social and the exciting services bundled with the offer. 

Bianca makes sure that she’s always equipped with a phone that can let her express herself and keep up with the pace of her lifestyle. Using her Globe BlackBerry Social plan, Bianca keeps friends and supporters close to her regardless of where she is or what she is doing. From sending an inspirational tweet to kick start the day, posting photos of her adventures and day-to-day activities on Facebook or chatting away with her brother JC Gonzalez and godson who are based in the United States.  

Globe BlackBerry Social also empowers style and fashion royalty Liz Uy to do more than what she can handle. Every item in Liz’s wardrobe is chosen with keen precision - and her mobile phone is no exception. Sleek, sexy and with curves in all the right places, her BlackBerry suits her to a ‘T’. As a familiar face in the social scene, Liz knows that she needs more out of her phone than just looks, and as any good stylist will tell you, picking the right accessories is key.

With Globe BlackBerry Social, Liz is always properly accessorized and powered up to keep her 160,000 loyal Twitter followers in the loop, ensuring that all of them are apprised of her latest fashion finds, events she is attending, and clients she is working with.

If you are also on the lookout for a mobile internet plan that can empower you to do more even with your busy lifestyle like Bianca and Liz, to say that Globe BlackBerry Social is the perfect service for you is an understatement. Globe BlackBerry Social gives users full and unlimited access to BBM, Facebook, Twitter and Instant Messaging anytime and anywhere at a cost that’s easy on the pocket - only P299 for 30 days. Text BB SOCIAL ON to 8888 to subscribe now.

For more information, please contact:

Yoly Crisanto

Head, Corporate Communications

Globe Telecom, Inc.

Tel No. (02) 7302627

Fax No. (02) 7393075

globe.corpcomm@gmail.com

Coffee Dream now on its 15th year

The above video is one of the many untold stories that happen in Coffee Dream.

Coffee Dream started out operating as a small kiosk at the 4th level in Ayala Center Cebu. But now it has grown to be one of the country's leading specialty coffee chain with a total of 36 branches not only in Cebu but nationwide thanks to the vision of its President and Founder Glenn Anthony O. Soco. Coffee Dream ventured into franchising in 2001. Currently it has 13 franchised outlets.

Coffee Dream is famous for its regular brews like Cafe Americano, Cappucino, Cafe Latte, Cafe Mocha and Chilled Blends which goes well with its delectable selection of cakes and pastries.Tsokolate, a traditional local recipe using fresh "tableya" is also a favorite. Recently, it has expanded its food selection by offering all day breakfast, sandwiches and pastas in some outlets.

For its 15th year anniversary, Coffee Dream launched the following:

1. Pick-a-prize promo – entitles customers to a freebie/privilege for a minimum purchase of 150 pesos. The customer will pick-a-prize and instantly gets a prize.
2. Capture your dream – an on-line photo contest where entries will be submitted and posted on-line through Coffee Dream’s Facebook fan page. The most creative photo showcasing Coffee Dream will win cash prizes and gift certificates.
3. Coffee Dream extends a 15% discount on a special featured Chilled Blend of the month.
4. Free re-fill of freshly brewed coffee from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. every 15th of every month.

A “Your Piso, My Dream” campaign will also be launched with the cancer-stricken children as the chosen beneficiaries.

With the continued evolution and pursuit for excellence, Coffee Dream aims to further expand its operations nationwide. By the end of 2011, it has opened and renovated a total of 10 stores. Coffee Dream targets to open a total of 7 new stores next year, 4 of which will be in Metro Manila. It estimates to cost 30 million pesos in additional capital. An upgraded commissary is currently being set-up at the central office and another commissary will be set-up in Metro Manila next year to service its branches in the area. The total capital expenditures for the next 3 years is estimated to be around 100 million pesos.

Glenn Soco’s dreams of purveying only the finest coffee to the local communities, sharing the Coffee Dream experience one homegrown cup at a time has gradually become a reality. And the Dream continues…

VBS Participants Going Crazy over Hero Sausages

During the Visayas Blogging Summit 2011 held in SM City Cebu Trade Hall One last November 26, participants were lining up to have a taste for Hero Hungarian Sausages. Well, it's no surprise because looking at it, one cannot resist taking a bite.

Good news for these participants, Hero Sausages offer MSG-free, preservative-free, 100% pure meat sausages. The company behind it is HeroDeli Food founded in December 2005. Hero is actually open to wholesale and distributorship under Hero Great Bites brand and franchising under Hero Sausages brand.

Speaking of Hero sausages, I just learned that they offer different types of sausages like bratwurst, frankfurters, italian garlic to name some. They also have a wide variety of meat selections including pork, chicken, tuna to exotic meats like lamb and crocodile meat. It is the first to offer DUNDEE Croc Sausages which come in 2 variants -- Hungarian and Australian Cheese.

DUNDEE meat are supplied by Coral Agri-Venture Farm, Inc (CAFI) which is HACCP and GMP certified with a AAA-grade slaughterhouse for the highest-quality standards of meat processing. It is the only farm in the Philippines that is certified to process crocodile meat.

CAFI in collaboration with HeroDeli Food Inc. in October 2010 came up with DUNDEE Croc Sausages that are filled with pure farm-bred crocodile meat, completely MSG-free, preservative-free and extender- free sausages.

CONTACT INFORMATION

HeroDeli Food Inc.
67 Banlat Road Tandang Sora Quezon City 1116
T/F 355-5343; T 355-4165; 0922-888-3636

www.facebook.com/herosausages
www.herogreatbitesweb.multiply.com

50 things to do during sem break

by: Dr. Henry L. Yu

1. Go swimming or sunbathing.

2. Read books, magazines, news clippings, etc.

3. Listen to songs that will recapture the memories of yesteryear.

4. Watch the late night TV shows.

5. Do an early Christmas window shopping for friends and loved ones.

6. Connect to friends through email.

7. Text your friends some jokes or thoughts that will make them LOL.

8. Have a food binge with your former barkada.

9. Avail of the 50-70% Sales Promo.

10. Go nature tripping.

11. Wear those outfits that which you haven't worn for the longest time.

12. Assort things in your drawer.

13. Stay idle and lazy for a day.

14. Have a leisure breakfast.

15. Catch up with friends whom you haven't gotten in touch with for quite sometime.

Call for Entries in RAFI's blogging contest

Want to have the chance to win P25,000 while promoting inspiring stories and work of recognized development workers in the Visayas and Mindanao in your blog?

Then join the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated (RAFI) Triennial Awards Blogging Contest.

It is open to bloggers aged 13 to 35 years old

Quoting RAFI's Press Release:

The contest highlights the RAFI Triennial Awards and its awardees and finalists. Guided by the theme, “Shaping the big picture of change”, entrants are expected to do background research on the lives and works of RAFI Triennial awardees and finalists nearest their area.

The RAFI Triennial Awards is an awards program of RAFI given every three years to recognize the philanthropic, humanitarian, and holistic efforts of individuals and institutions in the Visayas and Mindanao in enhancing the quality of life of the communities they serve. It is now on its 5th run with conferment of awards in 2012.

To join the RAFI Triennial Awards Blogging Contest, individuals should register through www.rafi.org.ph. Entrants must have an existing and updated blog for at least six months. 

All blog entries must be original and written in English, with a minimum of 1,000 words and maximum of 4,000 words. Entries should not have been entered or won in previous competitions. Writers must at the end of their blogs indicate, "This is an official entry to the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Triennial Awards Blogging Contest." and include a link to the RAFI website.

The criteria for judging include 50 percent for content (originality and alignment to the theme and research value) and 50 percent for writing style or composition (including technicalities).

A contest participant is allowed a maximum of three blogs that feature different awardees and finalists.

After posting their entries on their blogs, entrants should email application form, URL of the blog post, and electronic copy of at least one valid ID to ellen.red@rafi.org.ph with the subject header: Entry to the RAFI Triennial Awards Blogging Contest.

Entrants must ensure that their blogs are accessible until winners are declared in January 2012.

The blogging contest started last Sept. 30. Deadline for the submission of blog entries is Dec. 15, 2011.

Prizes are as follows:

• First prize: P25,000
• Second prize: P20,000
• Third prize: P15,000
• All entries of winners and finalists will be consolidated and published in a book.

Visit www.rafi.org.ph. for more informtion on the RAGI Triennial Awards.