One of the reasons why I love Cebu is, I could be working in the office in the morning, and then relaxing by the beach in the afternoon. This is exactly what I just did few days ago. I went straight from work to Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu for a quick beach escapade.

This summer, Mövenpick Cebu has prepared exciting packages and new offers to make summer even more fun and enjoyable. You can choose from the Day Tour or Cabana Rental packages.

Day Tour Package

• Access to white sand beach and swimming pool from 8am to 8pm
• Use of gym, Little Birds Club and Game Room
• Complimentary breakfast or lunch buffet at The Sails Restaurant or 15-course Balearic dinner at Ibiza Beach Club

Cabana Rental Package

• 4 hours of exclusive rental of one Cabana for 2 guests
• Access to white sand beach and swimming pool
• Includes a beach kit with cold towel, beach towel, toilet and bath amenities and a pack of sweet treats

All guests who availed these packages will also get access to the fun group activities scheduled at various times at the Beach Garden. These packages will surely make your beach escapade at Mövenpick Cebu more relaxing, hassle-free and enjoyable.

After a long day of swimming, head out to Ibiza Beach Club for some Happy Hour cocktails while enjoying the golden sunset in the Jacuzzi or on the net pods. From 4pm to 6pm, enjoy Buy-One-Get-One-Free on a glass of beer, juice or cocktail.

Ibiza Beach Club also recently introduced their Premium Gin and Tonic Collection featuring 6 drinks. All these are at Buy-One-Get-One-Free exclusively on Sundays during Happy Hour.

Come dinner time, don’t miss Ibiza Beach Club’s nightly themed shows featuring Cebu’s local talents. Enjoy the one-of-a-kind theatrical experience while savoring Ibiza’s Balearic-inspired signature 15-course dinner. Indulge with generous serving of meat and seafood – Filet Mignon, Angus Rib-Eye Steak, Ostrich Meat, Lamb Chops and Tiger Prawns, to name a few.

Don’t forget to pair your meal with Manny O. Wines, or if you want to be creative, order Ibiza’s “Cocktail in the Box” where you can craft your own drink. Each box comes with cocktail ingredients, a full bottle of spirits, and mixers.

If you’re are looking for a quick beach escapade near the city, Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu is waiting to welcome you.

For reservations and inquiries, contact +63 32 492 7777 or email hotel.cebu@movenpick.com. For updates events and promotions, visit www.movenpick.com/cebu or follow @movenpickcebu and @ibizacebu on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

At 44, Elizabeth Lopez Unlay, Abeth as she is fondly called by her friends, is a wife to Dave, mother to four kids and a businesswoman. Being all that, she says it’s a blessing and an everyday challenge, and in all the roles she scores high. Though her days are centered around the family, she manages to find herself me time, which is good.

My name is Francine Cassandra Unlay. I’m 15, the second child and the eldest daughter. Let me tell you why I have the best mom in the world.

Here’s the big picture. We are four siblings, two boys and two girls, aged six to 18. Imagine what my mom is faced with? School work, teenage dilemmas, varying hobbies, age gap management, varied food preferences and mom manages them all quite well.

She takes care of dad, too. When he’s away, mom plays dad and looks after the business in however way she can.

On weekdays, a day starts by seeing us four kids to school. In between, mom does her paperwork and errands. She picks us up for lunch and asks how our day was, sees three kids off to school again and looks after Daphne, the youngest. It’s during Daph’s nap time that mom gets to go to the gym. She gathers us again at the end of the day to bond while waiting for dad for dinner.

The weekend is a different story. With everyone having their own itinerary, mom turns into a driver, cook and the “palengke queen”. She insists going to the wet market herself to choose the items for her menu.

Stingy? No, thrifty and wise. She said she only purchases what benefits our health. Quality will always be her priority. The palengke is where she finds the freshest of ingredients at the best price. Imagine how good and balanced her home-cooked meals are. But we do eat out on Sundays after Mass. Though she says it’s family time, I see it as her official day-off from the household chores.

After all the hard work she rewards herself by shopping. It’s her way to relax.

I adore my mom’s sense of fashion. Like her palengke stints, she is as wise in shopping for great deals on clothes. She hunts for the best looks with value for money. This is why she sticks to the classics—elegant and simple yet powerful, and always stylish. She’s a jeans-and-linen-top kind of girl, goes for the safe tones of black and white, and pastels, which makes her feel young and vibrant.

Let me share a secret. She loves to hoard on the linen tops and bottoms of Marks & Spencer. She said she gets a good deal on the store’s new, lowered price lines. For the same budget, she gets a couple more pieces in the basket than the usual. Her picks in classic styles and good quality can last a long, long time, she says.

Here’s another secret. Why I love her fashion sense so much? We’re pretty much on the same wavelength—and size. I can ransack her closet anytime. She doesn’t mind sharing. Like I said, she’s one wise mama. Letting me borrow her clothes saves us both on shopping money. Like mother, like daughter.

That’s my mom, Elizabeth. There may be a million adjectives to describe her but I’ll write one—her love is unconditional. That’s what matters most to me, to the family.

Happy Mother’s Day, mom!

Fashion: M&S Collection Spring/Summer 2019 available at the Marks & Spencer stores in Ayala Center
Photography: Wizbren Ang
Make-up & Styling: Otoy Mercado

I’ve been to Radisson Blu Cebu a couple of times to cover some events but it was my first time staying in their property and seeing their rooms in person.

Radisson Blu Cebu is a 400 room property located in one of the busiest areas in Cebu City. The hotel is strategically located near the city’s tourist spots, business hubs and port area. It is also connected to one of the biggest malls in the country, SM City Cebu.

Getting hungry is also not a problem at Radisson Blu Cebu. They have five dining outlets that will surely satisfy your cravings- Feria, Sushisake, Urban Table, The Lobby Lounge and Dilmah T-bar.

Part of our staycation at Radisson Blu Cebu is for them to reintroduce their newly renovated and refreshed 55 Business Class guestrooms. Their refurbishment program started last year on the Business Class floors 19 through 21 of the 21-storey property. They are currently working on the rest of the guestrooms.

I stayed in a corner Business Class room on the 21st floor. The first thing I’ve noticed is how spacious and bright the room was. I love the pop of cool blue color on grays mixed with the warm and inviting shades of woody tones. The room comes with a queen-size bed, modern room amenities, and a fully equipped spacious bathroom. I really love the views from high rise buildings. The panoramic windows of my room provides ambient lighting and amazing views of Mactan Channel and Cebu City skyline.

During our staycation, they also showed us how the old guestrooms look like so that we can compare it to the newly renovated rooms. The old rooms were okay but I really love the renovated rooms because they look fresh, bright and more relaxing to stay in.

The next morning, we were too lazy to go down to Feria for our breakfast and decided to order in-room breakfast. The spread includes complimentary coffee and freshly baked breads.

Since we stayed on the Business Class floors of the hotel, we were able to access the Business Class Lounge on the 20th floor. Here, guests can enjoy daily breakfast, afternoon snacks and early evening cocktails for free. Guests can also check-out here instead of going to the lobby.

I had a short but a very relaxing stay at Radisson Blu Cebu. Now it’s your time for a staycation! Stay overnight in a Superior Room with breakfast for two persons at Feria for only Php5,555 net per night. Promo is valid until June 30, 2019. Terms and conditions apply. For inquiries and reservations, please call (032) 402 9900 or email reservations.cebu@radisson.com.

RedDoorz is an online budget accommodations platform based in Singapore. They currently have operations in Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and here in the Philippines. In the country, they are already visible in Manila, Pampanga, Davao, Tagaytay, and their most recent expansion, Cebu.

How RedDoorz works is they partner with local hotel owners and help them transform their property to become more competitive by upgrading its amenities. Each room is guaranteed to have WiFi, drinking water, television, clean bathroom, clean linen, basic toiletry kit, and 24/7 front desk. Customer service and English courses are also part of the program to upgrade the quality of service the staff provides.

In the Philippines, RedDoorz currently has more than 100 property partners in Cebu, Manila, Davao, Pampanga, and Tagaytay. In Cebu, they now have 15 property partners located near the key destinations around the metro like Cebu IT Park, AS Fortuna, Cebu Capitol Area, Mango Avenue and downtown area.

Traveling soon? Visit RedDoorz.com to check if there’s a RedDoorz property partner in your destination.

Coinciding this year with the highly anticipated Sinulog Festival week, Plus63 Music & Arts Festival is an annual event that aims to support local talents and musicians by giving them the opportunity to perform alongside the world’s top performers. Plus63 refers to the Philippines’ country code and numerical global identifier.

Previous headliners include Swedish House Mafia’s Steve Angello in 2016, Steve Aoki in 2017 and last year, Showtek, who performed before over 10,000 fans.

House meets hip hop

This year, hip hop meets house as hit American rapper and producer Kid Ink and show-stealing Swedish act Dada Life is sharing the stage with the country’s top beatmakers Ace Ramos, MC Pao, DJ Short, Victor Jao, MC Benson, DJ Rich Rubillar, and MC Mak G.

Kid Ink is known for his chart-topping singles, multi-platinum albums, and collaborations with artists like Chris Brown, Steve Aoki, Little Mix and Fifth Harmony. His first studio album Up & Away landed on the US Billboard 200, while his second album debuted at No.3 on the Billboard 200 with hits like Show Me featuring Brown and Iz U Down featuring Tyga. Kid Ink dropped his last studio album in 2015, and has since released a mixtape and an extended play record.

On the other hand, Olle Cornéer and Stefan Engblom formed Dada Life in 2006, and rose to popularity with their humorous stage antics and happy-go-lucky approach to music. Dada Life has released three studio albums with their second Gold-sellingalbum, The Rules of Dada, reaching the Billboard 200. They also hold a Guinness World Record for the Largest Pillow Fight ever.

World-class music powered by country’s fastest LTE

The Plus63 Music & Arts Festival is just the beginning of a yet another star-studded and jampacked year for Smart Music Live as it sets out to bring more globally renowned music acts closer to Filipino fans.

All set for the festival? Get into the groove by streaming the music and videos of Kid Ink and Dada Life using Smart’s data-packed promos powered by Smart LTE, the country’s fastest LTE network as recognized by UK-based firm OpenSignal and certified by Internet testing and analysis leader Ookla.

Festivalgoers can hang out at the Smart Music Live Zone, which features Instagram-worthy installations that show top YouTube content you can enjoy with Smart’s Video Every Day promo. As a big treat, subscribers who can also claim free Instagram printouts at the Smart Zone using the official hashtags #SmartPlus63 and #SmartMusicLive.

Smart customers can also get updates and get a chance to win tickets by following Smart’s official accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For ticket information, check out the Plus63 Festival official Facebook page and official website.

I’ve been using a BackJoy SitSmart in the office for over 3 years now and I could not seat well without it anymore. I believe it it really improved my posture and I said goodbye to back pains every since. You can read more about my BackJoy SitSmart experience on my previous blog.

During the event, we did a simple posture correction yoga using a BackJoy SitSmart Posture Core. We were first taught on how to sit correctly using the BackJoy SitSmart Posture Core and I can really tell the difference. We then proceeded with some yoga poses in a sitting position. It was short but an eye opening experience on how we should take care of our posture and how easy it is to exercise using BackJoy.

The BackJoy SitSmart Posture Core is a bit bigger compared to the one I currently own. I already replaced my old BackJoy SitSmart in the office and hopefully this will improve my posture even more.

BackJoy also introduced their new products during the event.

SitSmart Posture Core

This is a revolutionary active sitting device with a patented cup-design that tilts the pelvis and tips the body forward. Visual indicators on the seat guide the users to sit correctly, while built-in finger grip allows easy sit adjustments. Made from closed-cell EVA, it is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

SitzRight Seat Cushion

Made of soft, supportive EVA material, it was designed to help you sit with better posture, alleviating fatigue and discomfort. The contoured design has higher pillars in the back that prop your pelvis up and open the angle between the upper body and legs, reducing strain on the hip joints and encouraging proper posture. SitzRight also features a unique cutout that provide pressure relief for your tailbone.

Perfect Fit Lumbar Support

An excellent support cushion with a patented port and pillar technology that encourages the natural curvature of the lower back, and dual panels that help soothe spine pressure. For added convenience, it comes with adjustable straps that can be easily attached to the user’s chair or car seat.

BackJoy products are available in SM City Cebu and SM Seaside City Cebu.

I visited Coron during my birthday with my blogger bestie, Doyzkie. I usually plan whenever I go on a trip but since I don’t have anything planned for my birthday, I decided to book a flight to Coron for a weekend trip.

We arrived in Coron early in the morning and we went straight to The Funny Lion, our home for 2 nights. It took about 30 minutes to get to the resort from Busuanga Airport, and we paid Php150 each for the fare. We were welcomed by Earl, the friendly and accommodating receptionist of The Funny Lion. He also allowed us to check-in early since there’s an available room.

The Funny Lion is a modern boutique resort located along the coastline of Sitio Jolo, Poblacion V that is teeming with virgin mangrove trees. The resort has this modern yet rustic and relaxing vibe. It’s truly a perfect venue to for a relaxing getaway.

The Room

The 31 room boutique resort has 3 room categories – Cub Room, King Room and Pride Room. We stayed at their Cub Room, the most affordable among the 3 for 2 nights. The Cub Room features 2 twin beds, and pull out bed. It can accommodate up to 2 adults and 2 children below 6 years old or 3 adults. The room has a modern contemporary interiors featuring woods and earth tone colors. This gives the room a relaxing and rustic ambiance.

The Cub room is also complete with amenities like TV, mini refrigerator, AC, hot and cold shower, toiletries, and hairdryer. I love how they use refillable glass bottles for their shampoo, body wash and drinking water.

We also received complimentary The Funny Lion sling bag and bandana which are perfect accessories for an adventure filled day in Coron. Snacks and drinks inside the mini refrigerator are also complimentary.

There’s WiFi in the resort but for some reason it doesn’t work inside our room. Data signal is also weak. Good thing there’s a bench just right outside our room where we can lounge and connect to WiFi. You know, social media duties, ahah!

The Pool

It was the pool area of The Funny Lion that made me want to stay at this resort. The Funny Lion has a stunning infinity pool and jacuzzi with a view of the mangrove forest just outside the resort. It also has lounge chairs for some tanning sessions or relaxing while sipping your favorite cocktails.

We actually dipped in the pool as soon as we finished settling in our room because it was truly inviting. The hotel staff also gave us free cocktails and organic body sprays for a more relaxing experience.

Pride Rock Deck

The Pride Rock Deck is probably my favorite spot in the resort because of the sunset, and view of the bay and near by islands. After our adventure-filled island hopping activity during our 2nd day, we went straight to rooftop of the resort for some happy hour cocktails and brick oven pizza. They offer buy one take one on cocktails from 4pm to 7pm. The Pride Rock Deck also has one of the best sunset views in Coron.

Cocktails, pizza, jacuzzi and sunset! What a way to end the day!

Hunt Restaurant

We had our complimentary daily breakfast at Hunt Restaurant. The breakfast buffet spread features traditional Filipino and international selections. They have rice, eggs, waffles, pancakes, sausages, cereals and breads. The Hunt Restaurant also serves ala carte dishes for all-day dining.

Coron Tour

A trip to Coron is not complete without experiencing it’s beautiful spots. On our first day, we visited Maquinit Hot Spring and Mt. Tapyas.

Maquinit Hot Spring is quite far from the town and we booked a tricycle for Php500 which is the standard rate. Each tricycle can accommodate up to 4 persons. The entrance fee to Maquinit Hot Spring is Php200 per person. Please note that outside food and drinks are not allowed to be brought inside.

After Maquinit Hot Spring, we asked our tricycle driver to drop us at the foot of Mt. Tapyas. Getting to the top requires physical endurance as you are required to conquer 724 steps. The view from the top was worth the climb though. It will give you a panoramic view of Coron town and nearby islands. We made it just in time for sunset and it just keeps getting better and better as the sun goes down.

On our second day in Coron we went island hopping and booked Coron Ultimate Tour 1. We visited CYC Beach, Skeleton Wreck, Coral Garden, Atwayan Beach, Twin Lagoon and Kayangan Lake. The island hopping tour cost Php1300 per person and it already comes with entrance fees, guide fees and lunch.

Palawan is truly one of the best islands in the world because of it’s beautiful islands, underwater scenery, and friendly locals. I really had one of the most memorable birthday trip, thanks to The Funny Lion.

Also Read: El Nido, Palawan Getaway and Sample Itinerary

“We want today’s man to not settle for the bland and the conventional. Today’s man should be able to stand out and be fully confident of themselves. With Old Spice, you get to spice up your ride, making you feel confident in whatever endeavor you are in to, whether it is about your career, your sport, your social life, or your personal life. We want you to take charge. And with our friends in Ducati, you get to do this by elevating your game with the limited edition Old Spice Ducati SuperSport”, shared Old Spice Philippines at the launch event in Social House, Circuit Makati, Makati City.

However, what does it means to be today’s man, a man’s man? Old Spice has scouted the nation in search for Filipinos who have spiced up their rides by going the extra mile in the things they are passionate about while looking good and feeling confident. Two standout men were recognized, Noel Agra, who is not just a well-trained chef but also an avid obstacle course racer, and Christian Busby, a model whose passions include blogging and going on adventures.

They were asked what drove them to confidently pursue the things they love. “As a fat kid, I have always loved food so I decided to become a chef. While for obstacle course racing, I did one with my dad two years ago and ever since, we got hooked and we wanted to share this love for obstacle course racing here in the Philippines”, explained Noel. Christian, a Filipino-English model and travel-oriented blogger shared, “Since I was young, I already love exploring new things, learning about new cultures. The thing that fascinates me is just seeing a different culture and trying to adapt. “

Now as guys who are not only pursuing what they love but excelling in them, they imparted meaningful pieces of advice for those who want to man-up and become a man’s man. Noel, recalls a memorable quote from Kung Fu Panda 3, “If you only do what you can, you will never be more than what you are now”. That, for him, has always kept him growing and has always challenged him. For Christian, he has two secrets for success. First, you have to set goals that are really high and then reach it. Second, he said, “You got to be confident in yourself. Groom yourself well, put Old Spice on you and smell good. Confidence is a huge key.”

Just like Noel and Christian, you can also spice up your ride, and one way is by participating in this initiative. The ‘Spice Up Your Ride’ promo is perfect for a man’s man, someone who wants to feel fresh and at their best in not just the personal level, but also when it comes to exploring the world through the bikes they ride.

To join the promo, all you have to do is man up and purchase any Old Spice product. You can submit your entry at www.oldspiceph.net, where you will have to fill out your personal information, contact details, and the receipt number of the purchased product. For the complete mechanics of the promo, as well as more information about Old Spice, you check out the website (www.oldspiceph.net) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/OldSpicePH). The promo runs from July 15 to October 31, 2018 with the draw happening on November 5, 2018.

Old Spice is the authority on the male grooming experience and it brings authenticity, performance, and confidence to men all around the world. It offers a wide array of products for the modern man such as antiperspirant deodorants, deodorants, bar soap, shower gel, body sprays, after shaves, and colognes. It comes in various scent collections, allowing the man to choose the perfect man-smell for oneself given any and every situation. You can man-up today as Old Spice is found in all leading supermarkets and stores nationwide. (PR)

With our busy and career-driven lifestyle, sometimes we forget to relax and enjoy. Nailaholics thinks everyone deserves a little pampering every now and then that’s why they are bringing back #NationalPamperingDay. A day dedicated to self-care, and relaxation.

Nailaholics is set to celebrate #NationalPamperingDay this coming October 17, 2018. On this day, everyone is invited to choose from their dedicated menu of #NationalPamperingDay services, which include a manicure, hand spa, hand massage, foot spa, or foot massage. These services will only cost your Php10, and can be availed between 10am to 2pm. This year, you’re not only treating yourself to a pampering day but you also get to help Nailaholics community partner, the La Verna Aged Care and Dementia Village. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to charity.

“All work and no play is no way to live life. Take the time to pamper yourself—it’s more important that you do so in these modern times. Relax, refuel, reinvigorate and pamper yourself—you deserve it,” ends Arvin Amaro, Marketing Head.

For more information, visit Nailaholics Facebook page.

One of the most sought after technology that is being introduced to homeowners today is home automation. This technology enables home owners to control their electronics and appliances devices using a single device, whenever, wherever they are.

Home automation sounds really cool, but what are its benefits to one’s lifestyle?

Security and Safety
One of the greatest benefits of home automation is security and safety. Through automated doors, you can lock/unlock your doors in a single tap of your fingers from your device wherever you are. Smart home owners can also convert their conventional locks to a more secure biometrics locks.

Home automation system also enables home owners remotely monitor their homes through their security cameras, giving them increased safety and peace of mind.

Cost Effective
Home automation will help you save lots of money by minimizing energy usage. The home automation system will let you configure your lights and electronic devices to automatically switch off when not in use. By using less energy, you will be able to reduce your monthly electric costs.

Convenience
With the benefits of remotely accessing your home’s electronic devices and appliances, home automation adds convenience to one’s lifestyle. For example, on your way home, you can already turn on your air-conditioning system to pre-cool your unit.

Peace of Mind
With all the combined benefits mentioned above, home automation leads to its biggest benefits, peace of mind. Now you don’t have to worry if you forgot to lock your door or turn-off the lights and electronic devices, because now you can do everything remotely with a simple tap on your device.

Converting a home to a smart home can cost a lot of money because of the required home automation system, installation and configuration. Why not invest in a home that is home automation ready instead?

The Median is the first and only condominium property in Cebu offering basic home automation-ready units without an extra cost. Stay on top of your life by investing in a home automation ready condominium unit so that you can do more and be more.

Visit The Median showroom located beside The Link building in Cebu IT Park to experience
home automation first hand. It is open from 9am to 6pm daily. Follow The Median on Facebook
and Instagram for more updates.