Home Blog Page 6

Marcos Names Cebu Gov Baricuatro RDC Chair

By
CebuBusinessNews
-
0
CEBU ASEAN Summit 2026
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Cebu Governor Pamela Silagan Baricuatro as chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC)–Region VII (Central Visayas) for a three-year term.

An Oct. 24, 2025 transmittal letter from the Office of the President, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin and addressed to NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, said the RDC chair’s term will coincide with Baricuatro’s tenure as a local elective official. The document was stamped received by NEDA’s Central Receiving Unit on Oct. 27, 2025.

Baricuatro confirmed she has accepted the role. In a media ambush on Oct. 28, she described the appointment as “a welcome surprise”, noting she had earlier yielded her nomination to support Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival “for the sake of unity.”

She added that the move reflects a vote of confidence from the administration and pledged to “do [her] best” in the post.

The RDC is the primary regional planning and policy-coordinating body that aligns local development priorities with national strategies.

As chair, Baricuatro will preside over council meetings, help set investment priorities, and coordinate with national agencies and local governments across Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.

The Malacañang letter requested that the appointee be notified and furnished with the appointment within seven days of receipt. No immediate changes to the council’s current agenda were disclosed.

Baricuatro’s selection comes two months after her public withdrawal from consideration for the chairmanship.

Her appointment is expected to accelerate coordination on ongoing infrastructure, tourism, and social development programs in Central Visayas, while providing a single point of leadership for regional planning alongside NEDA and line agencies.

Cebu Business News

PAL Launches Cebu–Calbayog Flights, Expands Domestic Network

By
CebuBusinessNews
-
0
PAL, the local government of Calbayog and other industry officials officially open the new daily service with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Calbayog Airport (CYP). From left (1st row): Mr. Carmelito Escuadra, CAAP Manager; Mr. Joery Falloria, PAL Tacloban Branch Manager; Hon. Rex Daguman, Calbayog Vice Mayor; Mr. Matthew Tamaray, PAL express VP-Ground Operations; Ms. Roselia Sumagang, City Councilor; Mr. Bombie Enriquez, City Councilor; Ms. Aileen Cuevas, PAL express Manager Ground Services Outstation. From left (2nd row): Mr. Jessie Gianan, City Councilor; Mr. Rosendo Morales, City Councilor; and Mr. Dan Quincy Moquia, PAL Airport Associate Manager Tacloban.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has launched a four-times-weekly service between Cebu and Calbayog, expanding its domestic network and adding connections through its Cebu hub, the flag carrier said.

The inaugural flights on Oct. 26, PR 2668 from Cebu and PR 2669 to Calbayog, marked the start of the route, which will be operated with 86-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400 Next Generation turboprops.

Officials from PAL, airport operators and tourism agencies attended send-off and arrival events at Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Calbayog Airport.

“This new route between Cebu and Calbayog boosts leisure and business travel, promotes economic activity, and strengthens Cebu’s role as a gateway to various parts of the Philippines and the rest of the world,” PAL Express President Rabbi Vincent Ang said in a statement.

PAL said the service offers same-day links via Cebu to domestic destinations including Bacolod, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Siargao, Davao and Cagayan de Oro, with onward international connections available through its Cebu and Manila hubs.

The carrier credited cooperation with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority, Aboitiz InfraCapital’s GMCAC and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines for facilitating the expansion.

PAL is continuing to add point-to-point routes as it rebuilds capacity in key regional markets.

Cebu Business News

Gov Pam Sets Up Cebu Committee to Steer ASEAN Summit Prep

By
Neil Villa
-
0
CEBU ASEAN Summit 2026
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro

All roads will soon lead to Cebu, as the province prepares to host activities of the ASEAN Summit next year.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro has established the Cebu Organizing Committee through Executive Order (EO) No. 62, Series of 2025, to oversee the province’s preparations and coordination efforts for the international gathering.

The order directs the committee to ensure that Cebu meets the logistical, security, and diplomatic standards required for the successful conduct of the ASEAN Summit Meetings.

The creation of the committee comes as the Philippines readies to host the 2026 ASEAN Summit, which will bring together regional leaders, diplomats, and thousands of delegates from across Southeast Asia and partner countries.

Baricuatro emphasized the need to mobilize local resources, strengthen inter-agency coordination, and maintain Cebu’s standing as a leading venue for international conferences and events.

The governor will chair the Cebu ASEAN Committee, with Provincial Administrator Atty. Joseph Felix Mari Durano serving as her alternate. Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival Sr., Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito M. Quano, and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Ma. Cynthia King-Chan have been designated as vice chairpersons.

Baricuatro retains the authority to invite other agencies, private sector representatives, and resource persons as needed to support Cebu’s hosting activities.

The executive order defines the committee’s scope of wor, which includes from planning and logistics to inter-governmental coordination and public communication.

It will oversee all aspects of Cebu’s hosting, including transportation, accommodation, protocol, and event management.

The committee will coordinate with national agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Presidential Security Group (PSG) to ensure compliance with international standards.

“Coordinate with relevant national government agencies, local government units, private sector partners, and international organizations involved in the ASEAN Summit,” the EO states.

Security will be a central focus, with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) expected to play key roles in safeguarding delegates and communities.

The EO authorizes the committee to manage its own budget, which will come mainly from provincial funds, supplemented by grants, sponsorships, and donations.

To support its operations, a Secretariat will be formed under the supervision of an Executive Director to be designated by the Chairperson.

pThe Secretariat will handle administrative, technical, and logistical tasks, as well as documentation and coordination among agencies.

Baricuatro’s order also directs the committee to implement public information programs that promote transparency, counter misinformation, and highlight Cebu’s readiness to host the event.

Progress reports will be regularly submitted to the Office of the Governor and relevant national government agencies to ensure accountability and timely updates.

The 2026 ASEAN Summit will be the first time in nearly a decade that the Philippines hosts the event, following the country’s last hosting in 2017 under then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

“This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon signing and shall remain in force until the completion of all activities related to the ASEAN Summit 2026,” the EO states.

Cebu Business News

Cebu Setting Up Satellite Bus Hubs Oct 30–31 to Ease Kalag-Kalag Rush

By
CebuBusinessNews
-
0
Photo from Cebu Provincial Government.

The Cebu provincial government will open two satellite bus terminals this week to ease congestion as thousands of residents travel home for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, which fall on a weekend this year.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro ordered the move to help decongest the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) and Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT), where heavy passenger buildup is expected ahead of the long weekend. The initiative marks the first time the province has set up satellite terminals for the Undas season.

Ahmed Cuizon, manager of both CSBT and CNBT, said the temporary terminals will operate from Oct. 30 to 31 to disperse crowds from the main hubs during peak hours. Northbound passengers can head to the Ceres garage beside S&R in Mandaue City, while those bound for the south may go to the Ceres garage in Kinasang-an, Pardo.

“The goal is to lessen queues and waiting times at the main terminals by providing nearby alternative sites,” Cuizon said. “This is a dry run that we hope to replicate during Christmas and other peak travel seasons.”

Cuizon said the arrangement adheres to Cebu City’s “discipline zone” policy since all loading and unloading will occur within the satellite terminals, not along public roads. Traffic enforcers from Cebu and Mandaue will be deployed to maintain order and ensure safety.

Governor Baricuatro commended the terminal management’s initiative, saying it supports the provincial government’s broader effort to improve commuter experience and reduce holiday traffic bottlenecks.

Cuizon added that the province will evaluate the results of the two-day operation and use the findings to guide transport planning for future holidays.

Cebu Business News

CLI, NTT UD Break Ground on ₱9.2bn Wave Towers in Cebu

By
CebuBusinessNews
-
0

Cebu Landmasters Inc (CLI) and Japan’s NTT Urban Development (NTT UD) have broken ground on The Wave Towers in Cebu City, a joint venture that developers say will deliver the city’s first Japanese-inspired residential community.

The project’s first phase centres on Nagomi, a 40-storey tower with 709 units and an estimated project cost of 9.2 billion pesos under their JV company, CLI NUD Ventures Inc.

The development, consulted by Japanese architecture firm Nikken Sekkei and structurally designed by Philippine firm SY2, is positioned as fusing Japanese design sensibilities with local preferences.

CLI said the scheme targets enhanced resiliency and long-term performance standards for high-rise structures.

“The groundbreaking and launch of phase one of The Wave Towers mark a significant milestone for both Cebu Landmasters and NTT UD,” CLI chairman and CEO Jose Soberano III said, adding the partnership combines “innovation, craftsmanship, and respect for culture and community.”

Nagomi’s unit mix includes smart-lock access and AV intercoms, split-type air-conditioning, and provisions for washer/dryer, water heater, cable TV and internet.

Bathrooms will use TOTO fixtures, while two- and three-bedroom layouts add a Japanese-designed multipurpose room and shoe cabinets. A commercial podium will include dedicated parking, five elevators and 1.8-metre corridors.

Planned shared facilities feature a sixth-floor amenity deck with spa, pool complex, fitness centre, Japanese garden, children’s play area and game room.

A 37th-floor sky deck will add a gym, library lounge and open-air viewing area. Retail spaces at the ground and podium levels are intended to serve residents and the neighbouring Cebu I.T. Park community.

The Wave Towers marks the first JV between Cebu-based CLI, one of the most active residential developers in the Visayas-Mindanao region, and NTT UD, a subsidiary of NTT Group with property holdings in Tokyo, New York, London, Boston, Melbourne and Ho Chi Minh City.

The partners said the collaboration reflects NTT UD Asia’s confidence in CLI’s local execution and aims to set a new template for urban living in the city. No timetable for completion was disclosed.

Cebu Business News

Cebu Marathon to Swap Single-Use Cups for Reusable Ones in 2026 Push

By
Neil Villa
-
0
Cebu Executive Runners Club organizer John Pages presents the collapsible cup to Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival during their meeting at City Hall on October 23, 2025.

Organizers of the Cebu Marathon 2026 will replace single-use cups with reusable collapsible ones to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainability in partnership with Cebu City Hall.

The Cebu Executive Runners Club (CERC) will distribute the reusable cups for free to more than 10,000 participants.

The initiative supports Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival’s environmental campaign for a cleaner and greener city. CERC organizer John Pages said runners discarded around 200,000 disposable cups at 20 hydration stations during the 2025 marathon.

“This year, we’re giving every participant a collapsible cup. We hope they’ll bring it, use it, and help us cut that number drastically,” Pages said. Pages, along with Meyrick Jacalan and CERC president Jesse Taborada, presented the reusable cup to Archival during a meeting at City Hall on October 23.

Former councilor Mary Ann de los Santos also joined the meeting. Archival commended the initiative, calling it a simple but powerful way to make the city more sustainable.

“This is the first time I’ve seen something like this. It’s simple, but powerful. These cups aren’t waste, they’re resources. If we want Cebu City to be sustainable by 2035, we need to start now,” the mayor said.

He emphasized that the city must stop relying on plastic, which causes pollution and flooding, and urged other event organizers to adopt similar sustainable practices.

In a Facebook post, Archival expressed his support for the marathon’s eco-friendly program.

“I’m really happy with this initiative, especially now that people keep using plastic, which greatly pollutes our surroundings and often causes flooding. Let’s continue promoting a cleaner and greener Cebu,” he added.

The collapsible cups are lightweight, refillable, and designed for easy use at hydration stations to help runners stay hydrated without producing waste.

The Cebu Marathon 2026 will take place on January 11 at SM Seaside City Cebu. The event is now AIMS-certified, allowing runners to qualify for international races.

Registration for the 5K, 10K, 21K, and 42K categories is open until November 14. Earlier, Archival revived the city’s anti-plastic campaign by requiring City Hall employees to bring reusable tumblers to work and installing water dispensers in offices to reduce bottled water use.

Cebu Business News

Discover lyf Cebu City: A Budget-Friendly, Experience-Led International Hotel brand

By
CebuBusinessNews
-
0

Even for a place as vibrant and alive as Cebu, the travel experience gets all the more exciting in every way with lyf.

At the strategically located and creatively designed lyf Cebu City, the pulse of the Queen City of the South beats the loudest, where guests enjoy lifestyle-driven living spaces at affordable prices, along with community-centric social amenities and a unique hospitality experience.

lyf Cebu City is developed by Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI), awarded by the PropertyGuru Awards as Best Developer in Visayas and Mindanao, and managed by The Ascott Limited.

The dynamic hotel in Cebu City radiates fun and youthful energy with its bright-coloured interiors, appealing to the adventurous spirit of travellers who live for immersing in different cultures.

Located in midtown Cebu, lyf Cebu City places its guests at the heart of the action. It presents modern convenience with surrounding commercial enterprises, from restaurants to malls, along with essential establishments like hospitals and universities.

Access to Cebu’s business centers and tourist destinations is made easy as well. A few kilometers away are Cebu Business Park and Cebu IT Park, while everything else is accessible via local public transportation or through private shuttle services.

Meanwhile, within lyf Cebu City awaits an equally rewarding journey. The brand’s experience-led hotel concept comes to life through its budget-friendly rooms.

Each one is designed and decorated with the brand’s signature values of curiosity, togetherness, authenticity, creation, and freedom. Layouts include the One of a Kind (Studio), Side by Side (twin room), and All Together (two-bedroom or four-bedroom).

To promote a true sense of community and cater to guests seeking a unique Cebu experience, lyf Cebu City also hosts regular, exciting events.

Some of which to look forward to are the Spellbound Halloween Bazaar on October 31, the Cebu Landmasters Inc. run with special lyf Cebu City room promotion on November 9, and the Tree Lighting event featuring FilFabric by Get Spotted on November 28.

Cebu Business News

SM Seaside City Cebu Unwraps ‘The Grand Gift of Christmas’

By
CebuBusinessNews
-
0
SM Seaside City Cebu Unwraps “The Grand Gift of Christmas”

SM Seaside City Cebu ushered in the holiday season in the Visayas with the unveiling of its grand Christmas centerpiece, “The Grand Gift of Christmas,” on October 22 at the Mountain Wing Atrium.

The launch marks the start of SM Supermalls’ regional celebration themed “Unwrapping Magical Christmas Tales.” The 40-foot Christmas tree, designed as a massive present tied with an elegant red ribbon, opens to reveal an enchanted holiday book — symbolizing the mall’s tribute to shared stories of joy and wonder.

The event transformed the atrium into a living storybook, with lights, music, and festive displays welcoming hundreds of mallgoers. Running until January 4, 2026, SM Seaside City Cebu will host a lineup of activities including the Holiday Bazaar, Spin & Win, Christmas Souvenir Station, Santa Meet & Greet every Saturday, and Storytime with Mrs. Claus every Sunday.

Special events will include the SM Seaside Holiday Magic Parade on November 9, the nationwide Santa Run on November 16, World Choral Day on December 8, and a Christmas Day show featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus.

SM’s annual charity campaign, Bears of Joy, also returns as the “Besties of Joy,” featuring bunny plushies where every purchase donates one toy to a child in need.

SM Supermalls said more “magical chapters” will unfold across other malls in the Visayas in the coming weeks.

Cebu Business News

Cebu Seeks Tieza Aid to Restore Quake-Hit Heritage Churches

By
Neil Villa
-
0
Photo: Archdiocesan Shrine of Sta. Rosa de Lima.

Centuries-old churches that once anchored faith and history in northern Cebu now sit scarred, walls split, pediments fallen, after the magnitude-6.9 earthquake on Sept. 30.

To jump-start recovery, the Cebu Provincial Board has appealed to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) for funding support to restore and reconstruct damaged heritage churches.

The request, filed by 7th District Board Member Paz Rozgoni, was approved at the board’s regular session on Monday, Oct. 20.

The resolution said the churches are not only centers of worship but “vital cultural landmarks that drive local tourism,” adding that prompt repairs would hasten the province’s economic recovery.

“The faster these churches or structures are restored, repaired, reconstructed, and developed, the faster the tourism industry of the Province of Cebu can recover,” it read.

Among the affected are the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish (Bantayan), Capelinha de Fátima replica (San Remigio), St. Ignatius de Loyola Parish (Kawit, Medellin), San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish (Malabuyoc), and Our Lady of Odlót Parish (Bogo City).

Several sustained major structural cracks; others partially collapsed.

The Bantayan church, one of Cebu’s oldest landmarks, was among the hardest hit, with its pediment and cross partially collapsing.

Authorities have cordoned off the site and declared it unsafe. Parishioners now hear Mass outdoors under temporary setups, bringing their own chairs and umbrellas.

Reports that devotees took bits of fallen debris as anting-anting prompted parish team moderator Fr. Edmar Marcellones to call the act theft and a violation of sacred heritage.

“Every fragment of stone and material is part of our sacred heritage and must be preserved,” he said, urging the faithful to leave restoration to experts.

Parroquia de San Pedro Apóstol (Bantayan) is the first northern Cebu heritage site to undergo a Rapid Assessment and Evaluation by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, in coordination with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, the University of San Carlos Conservation and Heritage Research Institute, and the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church.

Marcellones described it as the start of a “long, technical, and scientific process” toward full restoration. An Earthquake Repair Project is being organized, with a dedicated bank account set up for transparent fund management.

According to the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the quake affected 203,400 families (645,570 individuals) across northern Cebu.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government confirmed 79 deaths and 1,325 injuries. Infrastructure losses were severe, with 129,170 houses partially damaged and 4,596 destroyed; government offices, schools, health centers, and churches in San Remigio, Tabogon, and Borbon also suffered extensive damage.

Cebu Business News

CCAD Bolsters Creative Collaborations Ahead of 2025 Trifecta of Events

By
CebuBusinessNews
-
0
Cebu Culture, Art, and Design Foundation

The Cebu Culture Art & Design Foundation (CCAD) is set to stage another milestone year as it strengthens its network of partners for the much-anticipated 2025 Trifecta of Events — comprising the Visayas Art Fair, Bodega Design Caravan, and the Blue Mango Awards.

This year’s collaboration underscores CCAD’s commitment to elevate Cebu and the Visayas as a regional creative powerhouse, with expanded support from both government and private sector partners.

Leading the partnerships is the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), as CCAD deepens its collaboration to promote regional artistry and cultural development. Together, the two institutions aim to amplify Filipino creative voices and champion cultural identity on both national and international platforms.

For the fourth consecutive year, Oakridge Realty and Development Corporation remains the official venue partner, providing a premier space where artists, designers, and cultural advocates can showcase their work and connect with the broader community.

Ensuring smooth logistics and operations, Airspeed comes aboard as CCAD’s official logistics partner for the Visayas Art Fair 2025, highlighting how strategic partnerships can move culture—literally and figuratively—across borders.

Further strengthening Cebu’s creative ecosystem, The Company continues its role as a co-creation hub, fostering innovation through co-working and co-learning initiatives for local creatives and entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sustains its vital partnership with CCAD to promote Filipino craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, and the growth of the country’s creative economy.

CCAD also expressed gratitude to its network of event collaborators—including Mata Technologies, NVision, 10 Yellow Milk, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 10 Dove Street, Blooms and Greens, Sugbo PH, Daloy Likha, and 10 Yellow Media—for bringing their diverse expertise to this year’s creative celebration.

Together, these alliances form the backbone of CCAD’s 2025 program, reflecting its unwavering vision to position Cebu as a UNESCO Creative City of Design and a thriving hub for cultural exchange and collaboration across the region.

Cebu Business News

Ukraine’s Cebu Partner Curtis Go Hails Trade, Sister-City Partnerships

By
CebuBusinessNews
-
0
Curtis Go
Ukraine's Cebu partner Curtis Go with Ukrainian Ambassador to the Philippines Yuliia Fediv. Photo: Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“Together, Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Cordova and the Province of Cebu, and our friends in Ukraine, can achieve great things,” businessman Curtis Go said on Monday, pledging to work “hand in hand with both the public and private sectors” to advance partnerships with Ukraine.

Go, Ukraine’s local partner in Cebu, hosted Ambassador Yuliia Fediv during what he described as her historic first visit to Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, the municipality of Cordova, and the provincial capitol.

He said the trip opens a new phase in Cebu–Ukraine ties built on shared values and trust, and follows years of personal involvement that began with friendships formed with Ukrainians in London in 2019.

Go said support he received from Ukrainian friends during the pandemic, and the pain he felt after Russia’s full-scale invasion, prompted a pledge to help when he returned to Cebu.

In 2023, he reached out to the Embassy of Ukraine in Malaysia, which then had jurisdiction over the Philippines, and began assisting its work. He now supports the Embassy of Ukraine in the Philippines.

“One word has stayed with me, resilience,” Go said, praising Ukrainians’ “courage to move forward with hope, dignity, and unwavering spirit.”

Go thanked Fediv for her trust and said the visit lays groundwork for closer engagement across Metro Cebu and the wider province.

He added that cooperation with both government and business would aim to translate shared goals into “a lasting and prosperous reality.”

Cebu Business News

Sen. Bong Go Backs Bill to Accelerate Real Estate Salesperson Registration at Filipino Homes National Convention

By
CebuBusinessNews
-
0
Screenshot

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reaffirmed his commitment to advancing the professionalization of the Philippine real estate sector, pledging to push Senate Bill 1292 or the Real Estate Salesperson Registration Speed Act of 2025.

The announcement was made during the opening of the National Real Estate Convention 2025, held Sunday at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Organized by Filipino Homes, the country’s largest real estate solutions and brokerage network, the convention gathered leading brokers, licensed agents, and major developers from across the Philippines and abroad.

In a recorded address, Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Housing, emphasized that the bill seeks to streamline the registration process for real estate salespersons, describing it as a “significant step forward” in supporting the industry’s workforce.

“Faster registration means more opportunities for Filipinos to build sustainable careers in real estate and to serve clients more efficiently,” Go said.

The measure, if passed, is expected to simplify bureaucratic procedures that have long hampered the entry and accreditation of aspiring sales professionals — a reform seen as crucial amid the continued expansion of the property sector nationwide.

Anthony Gerard O. Leuterio, founder and CEO of Filipino Homes, welcomed Go’s commitment, noting that improved regulation and efficiency will benefit all stakeholders in the industry.

“When the system works for the people on the ground, everybody benefits — developers, brokers, agents, and most importantly, the buyers who trust us,” Leuterio said.

The National Real Estate Convention — also known as NatCon — serves as an annual platform for fellowship, networking, and knowledge exchange within the Filipino Homes community.

This year’s edition will also honor top-performing agents and brokers for their outstanding sales performance and customer service.

“This event is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our agents and equip them with strategies to thrive in an increasingly dynamic market,” Leuterio added.

Beyond recognition, the event underscores Filipino Homes’ ongoing commitment to cultivating innovation and collaboration within the sector.

With over 100 offices nationwide, Filipino Homes has positioned itself as a one-stop real estate solutions provider, offering services that cater to both property buyers and sellers — reflecting the company’s broader goal of professionalizing and modernizing the Philippine real estate landscape.

Cebu Business News

The Lemon Co Opens 61st Outlet, Rolls Out ‘QuickBites’ Chicken Pairings

By
CebuBusinessNews
-
0
The Lemon Co
The Lemon Co CEO Terence Neil S. Padrique (right) leads the formal opening of the company's 61st outlet.

Philippine beverage chain The Lemon Co opened one of its largest outlets at Vibo Place in Cebu’s Capitol Site district and rolled out a new snack line aimed at pairing with its signature lemonade as it accelerates nationwide expansion.

The 61st outlet introduces “QuickBites,” featuring chicken tenders and bite-size chicken pops served with a honey-lemon sauce. A combo tray bundles the chicken with lemonade for on-the-go orders. Company executives, social media influencers, and members of the press attended the launch.

The brand, which began as a 3-square-meter stall at Super Metro in Ayala Center Cebu and booked ₱9,000 on its first day in 2016, has grown to 61 branches with another 60 planned by end-2025.

“Today, we are launching our newest product as a result of requests from our customers whenever they buy our beverage — the usual question is, ‘Do you have food pairing?’” CEO Terence Neil S. Padrique said.

“Our R&D team worked hard to perfect flavors that complement our drinks. We’re starting with QuickBites, chicken tenders with our honey lemon sauce, because it’s the most flavorful of our choices,” he added.

With a roomy dine-in space, the Vibo Place branch is positioned as a flagship for the brand’s evolving format, part refreshment spot, part light-meals destination, signaling The Lemon Co’s next chapter from lemonade kiosk to lifestyle food brand.

Cebu Business News

Bai Hotel Cebu Retains ‘Leading Business Hotel’ Crown in Philippines at 2025 WTA

By
CebuBusinessNews
-
0
Bai Hotel
Representing bai at the InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong, Carlo Rivera, Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications, and Buena Carla Zaldivia, Director of Human Resources, accepted this prestigious recognition with pride.

Bai Hotel Cebu was named the Philippines’ Leading Business Hotel 2025 at the World Travel Awards, marking a second straight win for the property.

Representatives Carlo Rivera, assistant director of marketing and communications, and Buena Carla Zaldivia, human resources director, accepted the award at the Asia & Oceania gala held at the InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong on Oct. 13.

The World Travel Awards (WTA), founded in 1993, recognise excellence across global travel, tourism and hospitality and are billed by the organisers as a hallmark of industry achievement.

Bai Hotel Cebu also won the same national category in 2024.

The 2025 Philippine business-hotel category included nominees such as Discovery Primea, Dusit Thani Manila, Hilton Manila, Hyatt Regency Manila (City of Dreams), New World Makati, Novotel Manila Araneta City, Quest Plus Conference Center Clark, Sheraton Manila Bay, and The Peninsula Manila.

This year’s Asia & Oceania ceremony in Hong Kong gathered regional travel brands and partners, with the hotel awards presented during a black-tie gala programme.

Cebu Business News

Ukraine Envoy Lays Groundwork for Cebu Sister City, Trade Links

By
CebuBusinessNews
-
0
Ukraine’s first resident ambassador to the Philippines, Yuliia Fediv, discusses trade, business, and sister province deals with Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro. Photo: Cebu PIO.

Ukraine’s first resident ambassador to the Philippines, Yuliia Fediv, said Kyiv is laying the groundwork for sister-city linkages, trade and investment ties, and digital and creative-industry cooperation with Cebu after a two-day visit that included meetings with local officials and business groups.

Fediv, who took up her post in March after Ukraine opened its embassy in Manila in December 2024, said regional, “people-to-people” diplomacy is a priority alongside national government engagement.

She was accompanied by businessman Curtis Go, Ukraine’s partner in Cebu, who helped arrange meetings with government leaders and chambers of commerce.

“We decided to build a network of sister cities between Ukraine and the Philippines, with Cebu province as our main partner for the first sister-city community,” she said.

The embassy has held parallel talks with Quezon City and Baguio City and is now seeking matches in the Visayas, including Cebu City, Cebu province, Cordova and Lapu-Lapu City.

Her Excellency Fediv was accompanied by Curtis Go, Ukraine’s partner in Cebu, in a meeting with Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival. Photo: Cebu City PIO.

Cebu’s sister-province pact with Crimea, signed in 2010, is on hold following Russia’s annexation of the peninsula, she noted.

Economic cooperation is expected to center on a proposed cross-government agreement creating a joint commission on trade, investment, and collaboration in science and technology, plus a planned agriculture memorandum of understanding between the Philippine Department of Agriculture and Ukraine’s ministry responsible for economics and agriculture, Fediv said.

Ukraine, which already ships wheat and sunflower oil to the Philippines, aims to expand into meat, beverages and confectionery. “I hope it will be a good start for B2B,” she said.

Fediv also flagged partnerships with Cebu’s technology community, citing Ukraine’s strengths in IT services, fintech, and e-government, including cloud-based storage of civil documents, an approach accelerated by wartime needs.

Digitalization of healthcare and social services is another area of interest, she said.

Creative industries, from fashion and cuisine to crafts and cultural tourism, are on the agenda as well, with “culinary diplomacy” and SME matchmaking envisioned.

During the trip, Fediv met Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro and other local leaders, and discussed with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce plans for a Ukrainian business mission to Cebu in June next year, traditionally a business month for the province.

Pairing Cebu with a Ukrainian region would likely focus on shared priorities such as smart-city solutions, inclusive healthcare and social services, tourism and hospitality, Fediv said.

On her first visit to Cebu, she described the city as “sunny,” easier to navigate than Metro Manila, and marked by strong local pride, factors she said bode well for longer-term people-to-people ties.

Cebu Business News

1...567...11Page 6 of 11