“We are delighted to continue our expansion in the country with the opening of our largest store in the Philippines here at Ayala Center Cebu in Cebu City,” shared Skechers Philippines country manager Sue Pasustento. “With its prime location and an extensive offering of Skechers footwear, apparel and accessories, this store will be a showpiece for the brand and allow more Cebuanos to directly experience the comfort, style and innovation that defines Skechers around the world.”

Located on the 1^st Floor of Ayala Center Cebu in Cebu City, the latest Skechers store in the Philippines features a mid-century modern style inspired design, opening the interior space to bring in the outdoors. The 3,400-square-foot store will offer a wide range of Skechers footwear, apparel and accessories including fashion product, lifestyle looks and Skechers Performance shoes for sport enthusiasts, including Skechers GO WALK, one of the brand’s best-selling categories.

Skechers’ offering is enhanced with the company’s signature comfort innovations—including its patented Skechers Arch Fit Technology, Skechers Max Cushioning Technology, Skechers Hyper Burst Technology, Skechers Air-Cooled Memory Foam®, Skechers Relaxed Fit Technology and Skechers Stretch Fit Technology.

Skechers’ wide selection of versatile and functional apparel, which include hoodies, jackets, sportswear and shirts, as well as socks, backpacks and hats, allows consumers to dress head-to-toe in active lifestyle looks. 

Established in 1992, Skechers’ reputation for style, innovation, quality, and comfort have helped the brand expand worldwide. In 2021, the company transitioned its operations in the Philippines, becoming a directly owned operations and expanding its capital investment in the country. Skechers now has five stores in Metro Manila and seven total retail destinations across the Philippines.

New revolutionary TV and digital channel PIE, short for Pinoy Interactive Entertainment, is here to give the traditional viewing experience a digital upgrade. Launched last May 23, 2022, prepare to have the ride of your life with PIE’s exuberant jocks and be among winners of cash prizes from a total pot of P10 million by tuning in to BEAM on TV or via the PIE website.

Get ready to win the day as everyone’s favorite neighbor, “Mayora” Frances Cabatuando of Home Buddies Facebook community, brings you relevant information, inspiring stories, and positive energy every 7 a.m. at PIESILOG. With her are resident “Kikay” Sela Guia, “Kwelang Kuya ng Lahat” Tristan Ramirez, “Bibong Artist” Raco Ruiz, “Good Boy Charmer” Jae Miranda, and “VJ na Laging May Say” Eryka Lucas.

Come noon, BARANGAY PIE will be your jolly lunch buddy.  Join the antics of “Ang Tito Mong Mayor” Mayor TV, “Ang Muse ng Barangay” Abby Trinidad, “Barangay Talak-Tokerist” Ruth Paga, “Sawsawera ng Barangay” Sunshine Teodoro, “Barangay Queen Sirena” Inah Evans, “Barangay Sexy-Tary” Patsy Reyes, and “Sizt-mosa ng Barangay” Coco Cordero.

This mix of personalities found in an ordinary Pinoy community offers off-center news in amusing and witty ways– the perfect break from tiresome work and school stuff.

The excitement continues at 4:00 p.m. daily.  PIEGALINGAN, a different kind of talent variety show, runs on air to celebrate the uniqueness of contestants not usually highlighted on TV. PIEGALINGAN hosts “G sa Lahat ng Gimik” and “Try-It” actor/streamer Ralph Malibunas, “Reynang All-Out ang Support” beauty queen/actress Sam Bernardo, and “Bidabro” and “Promotor ng Trip” actor/host Eris Aragoza will be around to cheer on the achievements of contestants, may they be big or small.

Aside from non-stop fun and entertainment, PIE’s winning block PIENALO offers an interactive experience wherever you may be in the Philippines, with numerous prizes at stake. 

You can enjoy this interactive experience via your mobile phone with “Goal-Oriented Achiever” Eian Rances, “Ang Raketerang Breadwinner ng Visayas” Nicki Morena, “Happy-Go-Lucky Bunso ng TroPIE” Kevin Montillano, and well-loved chef, Ninong Ry. These PIENALO jocks understand how difficult certain choices can be and the realities of those from various backgrounds.

Classic game show “Pera o Bayong” levels up on PIE with a new interactive format, with prizes given away every hour to viewers at home. On “Palong Follow,” PIE viewers will work together to find the Philippines’ next big digital content creator.

If you have the inner “Marites” in you, then PIE Night Long is your perfect evening partner. The program features buzz-worthy, modern Pinoy stories where you can share your views and feelings and be involved in the storytelling process. On “UZI,” the country’s first interactive teleserye, viewers have a say on what happens next and write the story together.

Hosted by “Fun-Loving and Woke Gen Z” Aaron Maniego, “The Hopeless Romantic Love Guru” Karen Bordador, and “The Sweet and Conservative Musician” Renee Dominique, PIE Night Long is a place where you can comfortably share your deepest fears and insecurities or your life’s greatest highs.

To celebrate the launch, PIE is giving away P10 million in cash prizes to viewers for three months, starting from its launch date. So be engaged with our shows, join our games and stand a chance to win!

The channel also launched its official song and station ID last May 22, featuring artists KD Estrada, Alexa Ilacad, P-POP Girl Group BINI, Renee Dominique and John Roa.

“Filipinos long for collective fun, and PIE hopes to fill that gap. On PIE, those who watch become not just viewers but a well-engaged community that plays an active role in storytelling, game shows, and talk shows. Whether on their TV sets, laptops, desktops, or mobile devices, PIE is accessible to Filipinos who want to try a new way to consume—and play with—the shows they love,” said KROMA Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Ian Monsod.

“Here at PIE we are excited to introduce to you a new kind of viewing experience that combines the strengths of content and technology. We designed our shows for the young and young-at-heart! We made our programs interactive so viewers can participate through TV and mobile devices because we believe that they are integral slices of the PIE. Get ready for 21 hours of fun game shows, talent and variety programs, series, and talk shows every day in this new entertainment channel,” said Cory Vidanes, ABS-CBN Chief Operating Officer of Broadcast.

PIE, the Philippines’ first multiscreen, real-time interactive TV channel, brings together BEAM, 917Ventures, tradigital entertainment company KROMA, and the country’s leading storyteller and content creator ABS-CBN. It starts airing on May 23, from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, accessible to 11 million digital TV households in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Zamboanga, Naga, Baguio, and nearby provinces through partner station BEAM. 

Find the PIE channel by scanning your digibox, watch via its website pie.com.ph, YouTube (http://youtube.com/iampieofficial) or via Sky Cable Channel 21. You can also watch PIE live on GCash GLife beginning May 28, 2022. Follow PIE (@iamPIEofficial) on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok for updates.

Many of us have become dependent on online shopping when the pandemic started. Thanks to online shopping websites like Shopee, almost everything we need is now available online. Shopee’s exclusive deals, coins cashback, and discount vouchers are just some of the things why I kept shopping on their platform. I also always look forward to their monthly sale like their upcoming 6.6 and 7.7 Mid-Year Sale!

Speaking of 6.6-7.7 Mid-Year Sale, Shopee offers exclusive “Visayas Barato Deals” and promos on 6.6.

“We are thrilled to launch the 6.6-7.7 Mid-Year Sale here in Cebu. Our double day campaigns have become something that shoppers look forward to, and we want more Pinoys to experience fun, excitement, and affordable deals that come with these. By giving shoppers in Visayas better access to their shopping needs, we continue our mission to make e-commerce for everyone, wherever they may be,” shared Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines.

With the platform’s bolstered presence in the region, users can expect faster and cheaper delivery, especially when they shop from local sellers. As a special treat for the mid-year sale celebration, shoppers in Visayas can also look forward to these exclusive Visayas Barato Deals when they download and use the Shopee app on June 6:

• Save up to ₱75 on shipping on select shops
• Score deals for as low as ₱6 from a wide range of product categories
• 10% off discount vouchers from participating shops

Score “mas mura sa Shopee”* deals as low as ₱66 at the 6.6 – 7.7 Mid-Year Sale

Users can look forward to a memorable mid-year shopping celebration at the 6.6 -7.7 Mid-Year Sale from May 27 to June 8. As shoppers fill up their Shopee carts with their favorite finds, they can also discover “Mas Mura Sa Shopee”* [It’s cheaper on Shopee] deals with low-priced items that are guaranteed to make their haul worth every peso. 

With 6.6 just around the corner, take your pick from the following items at only ₱66 that fit your everyday lifestyle.

Stay warm during cold nights with a stylish button down cardigan. Want to cook with ease? consider this multi cooker hot pot to be your helping hand in the kitchen. Upgrade your storage space with a multifunctional shoe rack organizer, which keeps your favorite pairs neat and orderly.

Say goodbye to wrinkled clothing with this handheld steam iron, which you can use either at home or on your next trip. Improve your gaming experience with these noise cancelling gaming headphones, giving you that high quality sound without sacrificing comfort. Beat the heat when you buy this anti-heat portable clip electric fan, a compact, trendy item that lets you chill comfortably while being on-the-go. Be sure to check out these deals quickly as they’ll be on limited stocks on 6.6.

Shop with up to 66% cashback and send money for free using ShopeePay

This mid-year celebration is made even more special with ShopeePay, Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet that allows you to conveniently pay for your purchases and settle transactions with no hidden fees. With ShopeePay, you can send money to any bank, e-wallet or any Shopee user for free and save more with cashback promos for bills payment, as well as cheap mobile load and data offers. 

Here are some ShopeePay offers users can check out during the 6.6 -7.7 Mid-Year Sale:

• From May 29 to June 1, join ShopeePay’s QR Code Giveaway and get the chance to win up to ₱50,000.
• On May 30, get free ₱100 when you send money for the first time using ShopeePay (valid for new users).
• On June 6, get up to 66% cashback when you check out using ShopeePay. 
• On June 6, check out “ShopeePay Near Me” to enjoy ₱1 and ₱6 deals from partner merchants ranging from food & beverage outlets, lifestyle brands, and more!

Also mark your calendars for the following dates:

To know more about the 6.6 – 7.7 Mid-Year Sale, visit the 6.6 Mid-Year Sale page on Shopee.

Featured in The Summer Pop-up at City di Mare were musical performances by electronic artist Wicked Adobo, and talented homegrown acts Vincent Eco and the Wonggoys. Another highlight of the event was the live art activity by commissioned Cebu based artists where the 21x6meter wall near the Open Park has been transformed into a colorful mural and portions of the two-lane roads now have street arts perfect for snaps. City di Mare also launched its life-sized game installations which are available every day for kids and kids at heart to play for free. This park, along with the events grounds, is a testament to CDM’s desire to create functional green spaces.

“Summer Pop-up at City di Mare aims to bring the community together in this park where everyone can chill and enjoy. At City di Mare, we would want to redefine city living by introducing a live-work-play lifestyle all with nature as the backdrop,” Filinvest Alabang Inc Vice President for Townships Don Ubaldo shared. “We at City di Mare would want to provide the residents, locators and visitors not only a progressive, master-planned township set in relaxed setting, but one that enriches lives as well,” Ubaldo furthered. “The Summer Pop-up event is just the beginning to a more dynamic and inclusive
community. In the years to come, we intend for people to expect more life, more spaces
and more choices here in City di Mare.” (PR)

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.

December is the busiest month for Debbie, if not challenging. The calendar is marked with social engagements for the family, business associates and the several cliques she’s part of. Most of the affairs may be themed, including the ones she’ll be hosting in her hilltop home with a scenic view of the city. That will require getting creative with the closet and cupboard contents.

How does she keep up? Debbie has several tricks under her sleeve, and she’s willing to share it.

“I enjoy hosting informal and relaxed dinners. For formal gatherings, which doesn’t happen too often, I go the whole nine yards and give full attention to detail. My aim is to make sure all my guests are well entertained and would want to stay until the wee hours,” said Debbie.

Here’s what I do:

1. 1. Know the guests, their preferences, their allergies. From there, I create my menu. I
      bring out the bone china and set the theme according to my mood. I can’t cook, but I
      know where to order good food.
   2. I always have my mini grazing table for my guests before they enjoy the dinner
      course. I’m huge on desserts and I make sure I have a good selection, including my
      favorite M&S chocolates. These are what guests can nibble on to pair with coffee,
      tea or wine should the party linger until late.
   3. I set the mood with my personal touches—fresh flowers, a nice tablescape, ambient
      lighting, and a soothing music playlist. On rare occasions, I hire a pianist to play live
      music, which we can sing along to as well. More importantly, the powder room
      should be at its best.
   4. I prepare in advance to look my best when welcoming guests, that goes for the staff
      as well.

On dressing up to any occasion, here are her personal rules:

1. The silhouette should be sleek and uncluttered, a classic look with a twist and accessorized minimally. The shoes play an important role. Remember, it can make or break the outfit.
2. Dress your age. You may be able to afford any clothing in whatever trend, but does it suit you? Every season, Marks & Spencer comes up with a good line-up of classic designs women my age will love. Choose the pieces that suit you and bring out the best in you.
3. Invest on good clothes. Buy that dress that you look great in, be that inexpensive fast fashion label or that costly brand but of superb quality. If you can wear all the time, over time, and bring out that inner glow in you, then that’s an investment.

Fashion: M&S Collection 2018 Autumn/Winter Collection available at the Marks & Spencer in
Ayala Center Cebu
Photography: Wizbren Ang
Make-up & Styling: Otoy Mercado

Set in the vibrant seaside town of Dumaguete, the play revolves around Charlene, who’s dream of becoming a star seems to be within reach until a series of unfortunate events compels the young dreamer to sell chicharon and mani. Her life as a vendor intersects with other children and characters who are striving to define their life purpose.

Scharon Mani was a musical hit from Dumaguete, and now it’s the Cebuano’s turn to witness this masterpiece. The Cebu show was produced by Cebu’s premiere theater communications company, 2TinCans Philppines, Inc. and front-lined by some of Cebu’s topnotch theater actors.

Here’s a sample performance of the song Dumzville by the cast of Scharon Mani.

Scharon Mani was an adaptation from a book by Junsly Kitay and utilizes songs by The Belltower Project. It will be staged at the Centerstage of SM Seaside City Cebu on December 7, 8, and 9, with Matinee performance at 2pm and Gala performance at 7:30pm.

Tickets are priced at ₱350, ₱600, ₱1000, and are available via Yapsody and Ticket2Me websites. For more details, visit 2TinCans.ph and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

“Being a mom keeps me busy as I’m very hands on and at the same time, I enjoy spending time with my little boy, India. My five-year old keeps me entertained for sure,” said 41-year old Nikki Serrano-Honasan.

Her yoga practice keeps her occupied as well. She starts each day on the mat, whether it’s ten minutes or two hours. Yoga and meditation keep her anchored wherever she is. This sets the tone and energy of the day as she goes about her mommy and teacher duties.

With Christmas around the corner, Holiday decorating and gift shopping adds up to the must-do list.

“Growing up my siblings and cousins would all spend it in our lola’s house in the province, gathered around the table for Noche Buena followed by the much awaited part of the evening, the gift giving. Now living in Boracay with a small family of my own, I find myself carrying this tradition with me while sharing it with her island family. We have Noche Buena and open gifts together.” shared Nikki.

As for decorating, Nikki’s home is quite open to the outdoors that she finds a little is all it needs. She has all these individual Christmas trees, handmade wooden and metallic ones, which she’s very fond of. She starts placing them around the house in the beginning of December.

Shopping can be a challenge when you live in an island and little access to shopping areas. So when does she make her Christmas list and shop for gifts? She said when inspiration hits her. It could be as early as September or as late as December.

“I have family, friends on the island, plus my travel buddies who happen to be my closest friends from college on my gift list. I like giving them handmade gifts, as well as personally curated presents like a picnic basket with all the essentials included, from food to a picnic blanket.”

Having a theme helps her narrow everything down. She believes one can never go wrong with a “food showcase”. Food is the wisest gift to give. It’s practical and leaves zero waste. But she makes sure it fits the recipient’s preference.

“I shop at Marks & Spencer for clothes, but I never forget to stop by the food section to pick up my favorite bites and hunt for new wines to taste. During the holiday season, this is where I go to select food and wine items to give as gifts. More often, they have my themed choices in a Christmas hamper.”

Here are five of Nikki’s Christmas shopping tips.

1. Keep it personal. Remembering random tidbits about the person and incorporating that in your gift adds a special touch. A coffee person will always love everything about coffee, chocolates for chocolate lovers, to mention a couple. M&S has Coffee Lovers’ Surprise, Chocolate Indulgence and Tea-Time Treats even a breakfast-themed Sunrise Bliss packed for you.
2. Instead of buying Christmas wrappers and bags, use what you already have at home and get creative! Or choose food presents in decorative hampers. They will find a use for a nice hamper. The M&S gold basket this year is quite elegant.
3. Whenever you can, support local makers and artisans. They make some of the most unique gifts. I wrap my food hampers with inabel blankets, which can also give the present an element of surprise. This way they get to enjoy two gifts, both they can take to a picnic.
4. Hit the bookstore ~ cookbooks and other books make great presents. Example, I incorporate a cookbook with an Italian selection. Pointers on new ways to cook pasta will always excite any home chef. Plus, the red wine is always great company while cooking and dining.
5. Sometimes the best gifts aren’t material things, but experiences. Tickets to the museum, a yoga class, or a macramè workshop are sure to be appreciated. Shopping is an experience too, if not an art. Besides everybody needs retail therapy. A gift card from their favorite store can always excite, and if it’s from M&S, they get to choose their preferred apparel or fill their basket with the Christmas foodstuff they want to indulge on.

Fashion and food: M&S Collection and Christmas hampers are available at the Marks & Spencer store in Ayala Center Cebu
Photography: Wizbren Ang
Make-up and Styling: Otoy Mercado
Location: M&S store and T’nalak Home at Abreeza Mall