Premier Cebu blogging group Cebu Bloggers Society Inc., makes it through another year and is set to celebrate their 4th year Anniversary this February 11, 2012 at Azkals Sports Bar and Grill.  This dinner celebration is a get-together party among old members and new ones.

In its 4^th year, CBSi is still true to its commitment to the Queen City of the South – promoting the Cebuano culture and the city’s diversities both offline and online.

In lieu with this year’s theme – It’s More Fun in CBSi, the organization aims to bring more fun to its members by creating events and activities that would benefit them as bloggers and as individuals.

Fun and Bonding through the Years

Since CBSi’s creation four years ago, there have been countless testimonials from members published on their blogs on how great and fun it was spending time and working with the growing CBSi family.

From attending the US Election Watch on 2008, being interviewed in radio and TV shows, to organizing and doing outreach activities like helping the poor fire victims through gift giving and staging a mini-concert, teaching students in mountainous areas on how to use a computer to feeding the less fortunate and abandoned elders and children.  It’s always more fun and heartwarming doing all these activities with the CBSi family.

“Cebu Bloggers Society Inc. is more than an organization for me, it is a family of different kinds of people but of the same bloodline, blogging. In CBSi, we don’t see each other as competitors, instead as brothers and  sisters who might need help in their corresponding fields or who can help the family (organization) grow into a more organize and respectable blogging institution. As a founder, I am so blessed that CBSi has gained such name and is patrionized by members who make working in the group more fun and enjoyable.”, stated Mark M. Monta, Founder of Cebu Bloggers Society, Inc.

Aside from outreach activities, and fun-filled events by invitations, CBSi has also organized various events that tighten the bond between its members like the Wild CBSi Camp Out in Busay, World Bloggers’ Day Offline Celebration here in Cebu, the CBSi 2010 Election Coverage, the Filipino Blogosphere and Political Participation Forum, and most recently the 2^nd Visayas Blogging Summit, one of the largest social media summits in the country.

CBSi, along with its current set of leaders and active roster of new and old members, will be more visible in Cebu’s online scene, rocking 2012 and the blogosphere, enjoying one another’s company while having more fun and glam.

Cebu Bloggers Will be Checking In at Azkals Sports Bar and Grill

Azkals Sports Bar and Grill’s foursquare map on February 11 will surely be filled with black dots as members of CBSi would simultaneously check in for their 4^th anniversary dinner celebration.  The whole CBSi gang would surely love to fill their foursquare page with fun photos and comments.

Visit Cebu’s newest and coolest hang out place at Treehouse Bldg, Ramon Aboitiz St, Cebu City. (right next to backgate of St.Theresa’s College). They are open Mondays through Thursdays at 4PM – 1AM and Fridays to Saturdays at 4PM to 3AM.  For reservation contact them through these numbers: +639153433251 / +63 32 2391967, or email them at azkalssportsbarandgrill@gmail.com.

Race Distances:
3K/6K/12K/21K

Registration Fees:
3k/6k = Php 300
12k = Php 350
21k = Php 650

Registration Center:
SM fronting BDO of the Northwing, SM City Ceb
Centre for Sight – CDUH
SAPPRO Ofc – CDU
Aldo Goodyear Servitek at Basak, Mandaue before Corner Canduman

SM 2 SM RUN II will be taking the same route as last year. The SM 2 SM RUN II will start at SM City Cebu, then it will pass through the South Road Properties then to the are where SM Seaside City Cebu will rise then go back to SM City Cebu.

All 21K participants of the SM 2 SM RUN who will finish the race will receive a heart-shaped medal made by Suarez & Sons.

The SM 2 SM RUN II will also highlight the 21K and the 12K Radisson Blu Hotel Couples Run Category.

The winners of the SM 2 SM RUN II will receive the following prizes;

SM 2 SM RUN II 21K (Male and Female)
1st Place – P30,000
2nd Place – P25,000
3rd Place – P15,000
4th to 10th placers – P1,000 SM Gift Certificates

The winner of the 21K Radisson Blu Hotel Couples Category will receive 1 Gift Certificate for an overnight stay for 2 in a deluxe room with breakfast at Feria plus P3,000 worth of SM Gift Certificates.

SM 2 SM RUN II 12K (Male and Female)
1st Place – P10,000
2nd Place – P7,000
3rd Place – P5,000
4th to 10th placers – P500 SM Gift Certificates

The winner of the 12K Radisson Blu Hotel Couples Category will receive 1 Gift Certificate for an overnight stay for 2 in a deluxe room with breakfast at Feria.

SM 2 SM RUN II 6K (Male and Female)
1st Place – P5,000
2nd Place – P3,000
3rd Place – P2,000
4th to 10th placers – P500 SM Gift Certificates

All finishers of the SM 2 SM RUN II will receive an SM sando bag filled with goodies from sponsors.

Awarding of the winners of the SM 2 SM RUN II will be held at the Northwing Atrium of SM City Cebu and the proceeds of the run will go to the Run for Sight Foundation and the Cebu City Task Force on Streetchildren.

Cinema One Originals have provided opportunities to Indie filmmakers to have their films realized, and recently have given grants to 3 Cebuano films, namely Damgo ni Eleuteria, Di Ingon Nato and My Paranormal Romance.

It is now our time to support Cebuano films during the staging of the Cinema One Originals Cebu Film Festival in SM City Cebu this Feb. 11-16, 2012. During the event, 3 Cebuano films will be premiering, while also screening the other Cinema One Originals produced films.

Here are the 3 Cebuano film titles joining the Cinema One Originals Cebu Film Festival.

DAMGO NI ELEUTERIA

The award winning film by Remton Siega Zuasola. Shot entirely in ONE TAKE (from start to finish.) It has won awards in international film festivals, and has not yet been shown locally. This will be the opening film of the festival. It stars Donna Gimeno, Greg Teczon, Eden Villarba and among others.

Synopsis:
Terya, a simple island girl is about to leave her home to marry a foreigner. Her journey ignites a series of events and introduces certain characters that affect her eventual decision to stay or go. The story takes place in the scenic Olango Island in the midst of the Baliw-Baliw Festival that hold parallel to Terya’s state of mind as she walks towards her destiny.

Awards and festivals
Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Music- 2011 GAWAD URIAN
Special Jury Prize- 12th Jeonju International Film Festival, South Korea
Jury Prize, Cinema One Originals film festival 2010
Best Southeast Asian Film, Cinemanila Int’l Film Festival 2010
Golden Hanoman Award, Geber Award, Best Asian Feature film- Jogja-NETPAC, Asian Film Festival 2011

About the Director:
Remton Siega Zuasola is a graduate of Fine Arts major in Advertising at the University of San Carlos. His films before Eleuteria have won already won awards (To Siomai Love, mga Damgo). He is the youngest to have ever received a GAWAD URIAN award.

Trailer:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=449475456746

FB page (photos and more information)

http://www.facebook.com/AngDamgoNiEleuteriaFilm

MY PARANORMAL ROMANCE

Feature film debut of Victor Villanueva. MPR is a quirky romantic comedy adventure, starring Phoebe Kaye Fernandez, host of Local Magazine show, MAGTV, in ABS-CBN Cebu. Also stars Publio Briones III (Confessional, Wanted Border), Van Roxas (Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 finalist) and Paul Jake Castillo (PBB: Double UP). The film also features soundtracks from some of Cebu’s talented bands namely: Bethany, Shuffled, Rescue a Hero, Piero Vergara and Missing Filemon.

Synopsis:
After numerous heartbreaks, Merry P. Pascual decides to move on by transferring to her dream school, Super Hard University. She discards everything illogical and nonsensical and decides to focus! Until one day, a bizarre string of events leads to Merry receiving the Third Eye.

About the director:
Also a graduate of Fine Arts major in Advertising (University of San Carlos, TC), Victor Villanueva has been exposed to both indie and mainstream productions. He was the co-producer of the Indie film Confessional (2007) and the new media virals producer for Kimmydora (2009). He has been coined the special child, since he always receives a special award (his short film, Saranghae my Tutor won Special Mention at the Cinemanila Int’l Film festival, just a week after his Special Citation award at the Cinema One Originals 2011 awarding).

Awards and festivals
Best production design, Best editing, Special Citation Award for directing (Victor Villanueva)
Cinema One Originals 2011 Film Festival

Trailer:

FB (photos and information)

http://www.facebook.com/MyParanormalRomance

DI INGON NATO

A zombie film set in a remote mountain village. It is directed by Brandon Relucio and Ivan Zaldarriaga. Starring Rez Cortez, Mercedes Cabral, Donna Gimeno (from Damgo ni Eleuteria) and Franco Reyes (from the band FRANCO).

Synopsis:
In a remote mountain village in Cebu, a farmer will commit murder, a young doctor will lose her first patient, and a barangay captain will find a girl brutally murdered. The entire community is drawn to the mystery, and they will have to rely on each other to survive. It’s one thing to deal with the deaths of loved ones, but how should they react when these same loved ones return?

About the directors:
Brandon Relucio majored in Literature and Film Theory at Rutgers University. Majoring in Literature and Film Theory. Before moving to Manila in 2009, he lived in Manhattan and Brooklyn, freelancing for film projects, as well as other odd jobs. He has directed, shot, and edited films such as “Duo”, a documentary about an immigrant couple living in Brooklyn, and short films like “The Elephant Walk” and “The Unwanted Here”. He has also collaborated with street various artists and musicians as well as many non-profit projects. Ivan Zaldarriaga studied Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines in Cebu. He won the Best in Production Design Award for the movie, “The Leaving”, at the Cinemalaya New Breed Full Length Competition in 2010Di Ingon Nato is their first collaborative effort.

Trailer:

FB (photos and information)

http://www.facebook.com/DiIngonNatoFilm

Here is the complete schedule of films to be featured in the Cinema One Originals Cebu Film Festival:

SM CINEMAS CEBU, FEB 11-16, 2011
Feb 11, Saturday
6:30 PM OPENING COCKTAILS/CEREMONIES
8:15 PM ANG DAMGO NI ELEUTERIA

Feb 12, Sunday
11:00 AM IMBURNAL
3:00 PM SA ILALIM NG TULAY
5:00 PM CONFESSIONAL
7:00 PM ANG DAMGO NI ELEUTERIA
9:00 PM DI INGON ‘NATO

Feb 13, Monday
12:00 PM LAYANG BILANGGO
2:25 PM ISHMAEL
4:50 PM ANG DAMGO NI ELEUTERIA
7:10 PM ANATOMIYA NG KORUPSION
9:30 PM SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION FROM LILIA CUNTAPAY

Feb 14, Tuesday
12:00 PM SA KANTO NG ULAP AT LUPA
2:15 PM CARTAS DE LA SOLEDAD
4:50 PM ANATOMIYA NG KORUPSIYON
7:10 PM DI INGON ‘NATO
9:30 PM MY PARANORMAL ROMANCE

Feb 15, Wednesday
12:00 PM DI INGON ‘NATO
2:25 PM MGA ANINO SA TANGHALING TAPAT
4:50 PM SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION FROM LILIA CUNTAPAY
7:10 PM MY PARANORMAL ROMANCE
9:30 PM KA ORYANG

Feb 16, Thursday
12:00 PM BIG BOY
2:25 PM ANG DAMGO NI ELEUTERIA
4:50 PM MY PARANORMAL ROMANCE
7:10 PM KA ORYANG
9:30 PM DI INGON ‘NATO

Anyway, here is the list of the Sinulog 2012 Photo Contest Winners.

SINULOG 2012 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS:

Sinulog 2012 Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner
1st LOUIS ENARIO
2nd DAN DOUGLAS ONG
3rd MARK PHILIP DALES

Contingent Category
1st MIKHAIL ARROGANTE
2nd MIKHAIL ARROGANTE
3rd ERNESTO “JOJO” SUDARO, JR.
4th REYMOND PADRIGA
5th Paul Gotiong
6th JAY YBAÑEZ
7th DENNIS SACO
8th DERREK CRISOSTOMO
9th FREDERICK SALAZAR
10th ALLAN JARINA

Fluvial/ Solemn Procession Category
1st FORMACION ROBO
2nd RYAN DOMINIQUE ARANETA
3rd TED MADAMBA
4th DAN DOUGLAS ONG
5th MIKHAIL ARROGANTE
6th LOUIS ENARIO
7th ANTHONY HEJEI SURALTA
8th MIKHAIL ARROGANTE
9th JAY YBANEZ
10th CHESTER BALDICANTOS

Float/ Higante/ Puppeteers Category
1st CHRISTINE ENTONE
2nd JOSEPH MARINAS, JR.
3rd ERIC SAGUIN
4th ERWIN CHOACHUY
5th Alex Badayos
6th Erwin T. Lim
7th Val Bonjoc Casuco
8th PAUL GOTIONG
9th CATHERINE ANGELES
10th LEONARD TAGANAS

Sidelights/ Route Décor/ On Site Décor Category
1st MIKHAIL ARROGANTE
2nd RALPH GABRIEL YBAÑEZ
3rd LEO SIBI
4th DAN DOUGLAS ONG
5th TED MADAMBA
6th JOHN PAUL MANANSALA
7th MARETZEL SUDARIO
8th DAN DOUGLAS ONCA
9th GERALD SERBISE
10th JOHN HAROLD TAN LUCAS

Sinulog Festival Queen
1st FRANCIS DUNGQUE
2nd JOANNA ANGELITA SALAZAR
3rd DAN DOUGLAS ONG
4th CHRISTOPHER RAMIREZ
5th MICHOL SANCHEZ
6th ALLAN DEFENSOR
7th GERRALD DUMANGUERA
8th MIKHAIL ARROGANTE
9th FRANCIS DUNGQUE
10th CHRISTIAN EDWARD CORONADO

PLDT in cooperation with the Cebu City Government will be transforming Cebu City into a FREE WiFi hotspot for Sinulog 2012. So get your WiFi gadgets ready, take and share a picture and/or post a status to your social media accounts about your whole Sinulog experience with Cebu City’s FREE PLDT WiFi Zones.

Cebu City’s FREE PLDT WiFi Zones will be free for everyone and users simply need to go to the PLDT booth to register. Here is a list of the locations of the FREE WiFi Zones for Sinulog (and beyond)

· Gen Maximlom Ave (Mango Ave) from Gorordo Ave to Fuente Osmena Circle – permanent
· Fuente Osmena Circle – permanent
· Osmena Blvd. from Fuente Osmena Circle to P. del Rosario St. – permanent
· N. Bacalso Ave from Cebu Provincial South Bus Terminal to P. del Rosario St. – permanent
· P. del Rosario St (covering USC) from Osmena Blvd to Sikatuna St – permanent
· Cebu Sports Complex – temporary installation until Jan. 16 only
· Cebu City Hall covering Magellans Cross and Sto. Nino, Basilica – permanent
· Ceby Provincial Capitol – permanent
· Plaza Independancia – permanent

If you’re main reason of not witnessing the Sinulog Grand Parade is that you just want to spend the day connected to the Internet, then you may want to look for other reasons as the FREE WiFi by PLDT is the answer

After the Sinulog, you can still use the FREE WiFi server by signing up for it. You may visit this page: http://www.pldtwifizone.com/register.html.

Note that PLDT Wifi is a wifi service available in Cebu and Manila for all PLDT subscribers. Charging applies on Jan. 16 and will be as follows:

DSL subs- 150 php on top of their monthly bill
Landline subs- 300 php on top of their monthly bill

Please be careful while using your gadgets while using the WiFi service in the specified locations.

SEE YOU AT THE STREET FOR SINULOG 2012. PIT SENYOR!

Skechers GoRun (Male)

The Skechers GOrun elevates the natural running experience, allowing you to interact with and respond to practically any surface, while offering the additional benefit of real world protection. skechers GOrun features SmartShoe™ technology for a mid-foot strike and GOimpulse sensors for enhanced sensory feedback.

We were invited to experience the Skechers GoRun firsthand. On first look, the GoRun just looks so appealing and just looking at it made me want to take it home right away. It’s very light which means that there will be less stress on your feet from running long distances. With a lot of colorways to choose from, you’ll be running in style too.

STYLE DESCRIPTION

• Guides body to efficient mid-foot strike.
• Impulse sensors isolate points of contact to deliver sensory feedback.
• Radically lightweight with just enough Resalyte™ cushioning to protect on practically any surface.
• Mimics barefoot experience AND provides impact protection.
• High-abrasion rubber at strike points for extra stability and traction control

The shoe is priced roughly at 4,000PHP+ . If you want to try it on, you may visit your nearest Skechers outlet store and I’m pretty sure that you’ll fall in love with it. I have placed the Skechers GoRun as part of my wishlist for 2012.

Please click here for the full set of Skechers GoRun pictures

Photo by Tiborsho of www.tiborsho.com

Smartphone manufacturer, HTC, has finally opened up it 1st Concept Store in Cebu, Philippines. It is located at Cyberzone of SM City Cebu. The concept store will be server as a one-stop HTC-exclusive shop to let consumers experience the full range of HTC Products.

The HTC concept store in Cebu is the first in the Visayas and is the company’s sixth concept store in the country. Other HTC concept stores are located in Gaisano Mall, Davao, SM Mall of Asia and SM North Edsa.

The HTC Concept Store will feature HTC’s latest product offerings including the newly launched HTC smartphones – HTC Radar™, HTC’s first Windows Phone 7 with Mango Update; HTC Rhyme™, which carries a refreshed HTC Sense™ experience and HTC Explorer™.

If you want a full range of HTC offerings – from interactive product demonstrations, personal consultation with technology-trained staff., to on-the-spot sales as well as being a redemption center for HTC promotions, then go ahead and visit HTC’s concept store at the Cyberzone of SM City Cebu.

The HTC concept store is managed by the company’s retail partner, Aerophone.

ELEMENTARY:
5th: Santa Filomena Elementary School, Alegria (last year’s 2nd placer)

4th: Bogo City Division

3rd: San Roque Elementary School, Talisay City (last year’s champion)

2nd: Tuyan Central Elementary School, Naga City, Cebu (first time to join)

1st: Danao City East District, Danao City Central School
Best in Costume: Danao City East District, Danao City Central School
Best in Musicality: Danao City East District, Danao City Central School

SECONDARY:
5th: Maslog National High School, Danao City

4th: Medellin National High School (first time to join)

3rd: Lawaan National High School, Talisay City

2nd: Toledo National Vocational School (last year’s 5th placer)

1st: Carcar City Division (defending champion)
Best in Costume: Carcar City Division
Best in Musicality: Carcar City Division

Sinulog sa Kabataan-Dakbayan will be held on January 8, 2011. Watch out for the 2012 Sinulog sa Kabataan-Dakbayan winners to be posted here

Captain Morgan Spiced Rum (by Tiborsho)

There is one thing that Cebuanos love to do and that is to drink to their hearts content and it was just fitting that a new Rum brand was introduced to the party-goers at Alchology Bar in Mango Avenue, Captain Morgan Spiced Rum.

Captain Morgan is a brand of rum produced by alcohol conglomerate Diageo. It is named after the 17th-century, Welsh privateer of the Caribbean, Sir Henry Morgan. Since 2011 the label has used the slogan, “To Life, Love and Loot.”

Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum is one of the top-ranking spirit brands in the world. And it is now officially in the Philippines.

The character behind the brand, Captain Henry Morgan, is a larger-than-life personality; a lovable rogue known to spark the spirit of legendary adventures among friends. He has been hijacking bars in Manila since mid-November and is now in Cebu with his Morganettes to start bringing legendary times to more parts of the country.

First impression, it smelled so sweet I wanted to drink it straight right away. Captain Morgan Spiced Rum is a perfect fit to be mixed with Coca-Cola thus creating the signature mix Captain Cola. It tastes really sweet but the mix should never be underestimated. I was drinking like a fish deceived the sweet taste of the mixture and 4-5 shots later, I was looking for the exits.

If you want to try how Captain Morgan Spiced Rum tastes, you can head to your nearest Supermarkets and buy one or you can head on over to Alchology Bar in Mangoe Avenue.

It retails at around 300++ PHP on supermarkets and groceries and roughly around 900++ in Alchology Bar.

If you are a fan of rum or beer or any alcoholic beverage, let your taste buds soak into the new taste Captain Morgan Spiced Rum brings and you’ll be asking for more after.

Captain Morgan and his crew (by Tiborsho)

Join Captain Morgan’s crew at http://www.facebook.com/captainmorganphilippines

Just a friendly reminder: Please drink moderately.

Photos by Tiborsho