Startup Weekend 3 photo courtesy of Start Weekend Cebu

Startup Weekend 3 Cebu is now celebrating the 3rd year of its inception thanks to the organizing committee, key persons, and sponsors who believe in their cause. A press conference was made last April 30 at Acoustica Grill in Mandaue City to announce that they are already accepting participants for the competition.

The Basis for Startup Weekend 3

Startup Weekend 3 was created to allow marketable tech ideas from Visayas and Mindanao region to be incubated.

Startup Weekend 3 will commence on June 7-9 and will be held in one of the premier universities in Cebu City, the University of San Carlos (Main Campus).

The demand for startup weekends has increased since more and more people are now aware of the benefits that they can get from it. The May 2012 leg was very successful that the organizers eventually decided to have a subsequent event on the same year, which was held in November.

Startup Weekend 3 is a launchpad of ideas for tech communities and interested investors, where competitors will be given 54 hours to present their marketable tech ideas.

“Startup Weekend is an event driven by the grassroots community – not corporations. Part of the SWC3 story is that I or we
have passed the baton over to the new organizers. By this, we have accomplished one of our goals: to
do skills transfer and share best practices with others,” shared Miss Tina Amper, Startup Weekend 3 organizer/adviser and founder of TechTalks.ph.

Startup Weekend 3 Press Conference photo courtesy of Cebu Business Guide

Startup Weekend 3 Co-Organizers

In partnership with TechTalks.ph, DOST-ICT, and JCI Mandaue, Startup Weekend 3 was organized.

Paul Villacorta, creator and owner of All Cebu.ph and Cebu Directories Co., acted as the head of the organizing committee.

“We will try to duplicate, if not surpass, the achievement of our predecessors in successfully staging Startup Weekend Cebu. We, the new Startup Weekend Cebu organizers, are inviting technopreneurs and startups in the Visayas and Mindanao to join in this year’s gathering,” Villacorta said.

Ramil Montealto, Junior Chamber International Mandaue Executive Vice President – Internal, and Keith Lumanog, Web Ninja Mobile creator,
also played vital roles in organizing Startup Weekend 3 with Villacorta.

Startup weekends were first intended in USA to be a platform for creative tech ideas for possible investors to launch.

Startup Weekend 3 Press Conference photo courtesy of Sun.Star

Activities for Startup Weekend 3

June 7 will be the warm up day where all competitors, mentors, and judges alike will get acquainted with each other. Ideas will be pitched by competitors while investors choose which team they would like to work with. Ideas then will be polished with the help of mentors and prototypes will be made and finally presented on the 3rd day of the event.

To grace on the first day of Startup Weekend 3 is none other than DOST-ICT commissioner Monchito B. Ibrahim.

Frank Largo and Lourdes O. Montenegro of USC Department of Economics also works as organizers of this event.

Bunny Pages of Moon Cafe & Thirsty, Rhett Jones of Synacy, Calen Legaspi of Orange and Bronze Software Labs, and Jean Patrick Bisson of ClickingLabs are the judges.

Jerome Locson of Luto.co, Kenneth Ruelan of Caresharing, Elmar Valmores of Zoomstra Inc., Val Villar of UX, Fleire Castro of Third Team Media, Kahlil Corazo of SWNext, Bert Padilla of TekWorx, Ruben Licera of RLComm International, and Wilson Ng of Ng Khai are the mentors.

Globe Telecom, Kickstart Ventures, University of San Carlos,Sym.ph, All Cebu.ph, Web Ninja Mobile, PRWorks, Mynimo, Third Team Media, Sun.Star, e27, SGEntrepreneurs, Webgeek.ph, and Cebu Bloggers Society are the sponsors.

Startup Weekend 3 Press Conference photo courtesy of Startup Weekend Cebu Facebook Page

To grab more info, visit the official website of Startup Weekend 3, Facebook page of Startup Weekend 3, or follow Twitter account of Startup Weekend 3 (@swcebu).

Cebu Media Excellence Awards 2013 (photo courtesy of Cebu MD)

With it’s inception 2 years ago, Cebu Media Excellence Awards 2013 was aimed to distinguish the excellent media practitioners in the metropolis today.

The awarding of deserving nominees will coincide with the Cebu Press Freedom Week which is celebrated every year, specifically on the 3rd week of September.

Cebu Press Freedom Week is a celebration dedicated for the freedom we earned from the Martial Law days.

Cebu Media Excellence Awards 2013 was brought to life by Globe Telecom to award media men that possess excellence in civic, investigative and explanatory journalism.

By the end of the Martial Law tyranny, Globe Telecom has been keeping the flame of freedom alive!

Globe Telecom’s humble origin can be traced back during the Philippine Commonwealth era, when the US Congress made the Act No. 3495 final and executory in 1928. It gave Robert Dollar Company the right to own a wireless long-distance message service from one of their colonies, the Philippines.

After being renamed as Globe Wireless Limited, they branched out to radio and telegraph services until World War 2 stopped their operations.

The company was revived as Globe-Mackay Cable and Radio Corporation (GMCRC) in 1965 but company operations were being halted once again when Martial Law’s effectivity took over. For 8 years, the company was closed but was brought to life again in 1980 when it received a new grant for refranchise.

Origin of Cebu Media Excellence Awards 2013

Back in 1986, the people brought down Martial Law through EDSA People Power. This event made Globe realize that championing the rights of man and keeping alight the flame of freedom is just as important as staying alive.

Freedom of the Press was a right that was suppressed but was brought back to action in 1986.

Since then, Globe Telecom has been partnering with Cebu Press Freedom Week for quite some time already.

As a private institution, Globe is one of the very few entities that support press freeedom and excellence in promoting it.

“We cannot overemphasize the critical role of the media not only in their daily coverage of events but also in shaping the minds of the society on important issues. The Cebu Media Excellence Award seeks to further enhance active participation of the press in pushing for social and civic concerns as our country moves towards economic development,” shares Yoly Crisanto, Globe Telecom’s Corporate Communications head.

Cebu Media Excellence Awards 2013 is a platform formulated by Globe in the hopes of establishing an area where the media practitioners can advocate their cause and excellence.

Cebu Media Excellence Awards 2013 (photo courtesy of Cebu Events Blog)

Cebu Media Excellence Awards 2013 Presents Their Areas of Concern

Qualified nominees or entries shall exhibit one area of concern or a combination of any of the following:

• Environment and Disaster Response
• Business and Entrepreneurship
• Youth and Education
• Information and Communications Technology
• Governance and Social Progress

Cebu Media Excellence Awards 2013 Presents Their Award Categories

Globe has presented 9 Award Categories for this year’s Cebu Media Excellence Awards 2013.

1. Columnist of the Year
2. Blogger of the Year
3. Social Media Advocate of the Year
4. Photojournalist of the Year
5. Reporter of the Year for Television
6. Feature Story of the Year for Television
7. Reporter of the Year for Radio
8. Reporter of the Year for Print
9. Feature Story of the Year for Print

July 2013 will be the deadline for search of qualified entries while July 26,2013 will mark the end for submission of entries.

Participants need to comply 2 entry forms including their entry and must send them to Globe Media Excellence Awards by way of Jerry Yntig of Globe Telecom in Cebu IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City.

Send an email at globecmea@gmail.com or contact (02)730-4617 or (02)7302630 for Manila residents and (032) 4167159 for Cebu residents for more inquiries on Cebu Media Excellence Awards 2013.

The summer may almost be over but there’s definitely more reasons to make it more colorful, thanks to McDonald’s well-loved McFloat Rainbow Medley.

Xian grabbed my Coke McFloat when a fan asked to have a photo opportunity with him.

McFloat Rainbow Medley Cebu Tour

As for the people of Cebu, their summer was sent to a degree centigrade higher than usual when Xian Lim, the McFloat Rainbow Medley ambassador of McDonald’s, paid them a visit last May 12. Aside from giving his fans the attention they truly deserve, Xian also served them with their favorite McDonald’s menu items.

The people went gaga over Xian Lim as he served them with their orders. McFloat Rainbow Medley madness it was (photo courtesy of Foodiecraft)!

Xian is currently touring the country to promote McFloat Rainbow Medley in the hope of reaching out to more people. He wants to spread positive values and share McDo happiness to all ages and he feels great doing it. So far, he has visited 2 cities outside Manila: Davao and Cebu.

When I asked how he felt when he was chosen by McDonald’s to be their McFloat Ambassador, he enthused, ”So this is my 2nd year with Mcdonald’s so I’m really happy that they gave me the trust. Siempre nakakatuwa kasi last year we had this and I’m part of this product na. It’s evolving. Now we have different flavors to share. Sobrang masaya. I’m really happy.”

On the part of McDonald’s, they decided to make Xian part of their family because refreshing and a genuinely happy person.

With the summer sun posing a threat to melt our summer happiness away, there’s a sure way to fight it and send our summer to a whole new level. The McFloat Rainbow Medley is McDonald’s limited-time offer summer drinks to cool you this summer season.

McFloat Rainbow Medley has 5 flavors for you (photo from McDonald’s Philippines Twitter Account)

McFloat Rainbow Medley Variants

Your beach and hang-outs will surely be made special because the McFloat Rainbow Medley will fill your conversation and imagination with vibrant colors. Fruity flavors of green apple, strawberry, lychee, and melon will be much to your delight.

As for Xian’s favorite McFloat Rainbow Medley flavor, it’s green apple!

Xian Lim poses for Rude World (blog) to endorse McFloat Rainbow Medley.

Each serving of McFloat Rainbow Medley is made up of soda fizz and soft ice cream that will surely make the top of your summer dessert list.

The all-time-favorite Coke McFloat is still set to make huge waves for this summer and the months to follow.

You can have McFloat Rainbow Medley all by itself but it is perfect when partnered with world famous McDonald’s French fries. It is a perfect merienda to go with your bonding time for family and friends.

If you are craving for the crunchy French fries and McFloat Rainbow Medley, you are in for a sweet treat! Order the McFloat and Fries Combo to avail a special rate that comes along with the bubbly soda fizz medley. Your medium-sized McDonald’s French fries and flavored McFloat is only Php 60 while having it the classic way of Coke McFloat is only Php 55!

Having your favorite McDonald’s meal doesn’t mean you’re going to miss all the fun. In fact, it will make your meals a lot better! Just make sure to Upfloat your drinks and upgrade to any McFloat variant.

How to Grab Your Very Own McFloat Rainbow Medley

All the flavors of McFloat Rainbow Medley are available in all McDonald’s stores nationwide. You can have them by visiting any McDonald’s store nearest you, visiting McDonald’s Philippines official website, or by dialing 86-2-36 with their McDelivery.

McFloat Rainbow Medley fruity variants are only available up to June 21, 2013.

McFloat Rainbow Medley sent Xian to a world of pure imagination!

Feel free to share wonderful photos by posting them on the Facebook page of McDonald’s or following the Twitter account of McDonald’s (@McDo_ph) while using the official hashtag of #mcfloathappiness to complete your McFloat Rainbow Medley experience!

Gabii Sa Kabilin 2013 yet again will be another night of wonder and mystique. This is the one night of the year when museums and tourist spots in Cebu City, Mandaue City, Talisay City and Lapu-Lapu City will be open for all the world to see!

Gabii Sa Kabilin 2013 is the 7th run of the annual heritage celebration. It started back in May 25, 2007 with only 3 museums and 1 heritage site: Casa Gorordo Museum, Cathedral Museum of Cebu, Basilica del Santo Niño Museum and Fort San Pedro. Fast forward to Gabii Sa Kabilin 2013, the participants are now a total of 33!

Gabii Sa Kabilin 2013 is the culmination of International Museum’s Day (May 18) and National Heritage Month celebrations for the whole month of May.

Gabii Sa Kabilin 2013

What Inspired Gabii Sa Kabilin 2013?

Gabii Sa Kabilin 2013 was inspired by the Lange Nacht der Museen (Long Night of Museums) of Germany and various European countries. Through the initiative of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), the annual celebration in Cebu, the very first of its kind in the Philippines and Asia, was started for the public. Its aim is to encourage the people to learn about their beautiful culture and heritage, with cultural presentations and activities for them to join.

2013 will feature a total of 33 attractions. With a long list of options, it will be very hard for you to choose which attraction you will visit. All of them are fantastic and oozing with history.

Cebu City

1. Museo Sugbo
2. Cathedral Museum of Cebu
3. University of the Philippines Cebu College
4. Cebu Cultural Center
5. Colegio del Santo Niño
6. Don Sergio Osmeña and CAP Art Gallery
7. United Church of Christ in the Philippines – Bradford Memorial Chapel
8. Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House
9. Iglesia Filipina Independiente Cathedral of the Holy Child
10. San Pedro Calungsod Chapel
11. University of Southern Philippines – Rizaliana Museum
12. Plaza Independencia
13. Cebu City Museum
14. Plaza Parian – Aboitizland Heritage Pocket
15. Sacred Heart Parish Church – Alternative Contemporary Art Studio
16. San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church
17. Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum
18. Sugbo Chinese Heritage Museum
19. Fo Guang Shan Chu Un Temple
20. Museo Parian sa Sugbo
21. Casa Gorordo Museum
22. Fort San Pedro

Lapu-Lapu City

1. Plaza Poblacion
2. Nuestra Señora Virgen de la Regla Parish Church
3. Muelle Osmena
4. Mactan Shrine

Mandaue City

1. Bantayan sa Hari
2. Mandaue City Presidencia
3. National Shrine of St. Joseph Parish Church
4. Plaza Complex

Talisay City

1. Sta. Teresa de Aila Parish Church
2. National Historic Shrine Liberation Monument
3. Museo de Talisay

Gabii Sa Kabilin 2013 Press Conference

What can we expect on Gabii Sa Kabilin 2013?

Various activities await all.  There will be cultural shows, culinary wonders, art galleries, and amazing exhibits!

The Gabii Sa Kabilin 2013 ticket will give you an all-in-one pass for entrance to all 33 main attractions, all-you-can ride trips by the Gabii Sa Kabilin 2013 buses, as well as 1 tartanilla ride for you to enjoy in the old district of Cebu.

The Gabii Sa Kabilin 2013 ticket is only Php 150 while children 7 years old and below are free of charge!

Local thoroughfares will be closed to allow you safe and enjoyable  passage in all the attractions.

Gabii Sa Kabilin 2013 Guide

Gabii Sa Kabilin 2013 Guide

Gabii Sa Kabilin 2013 Guide is available for you to download. It will show you tour routes, maps, colorful photos and so much more! Visit the following sites to start downloading the final version of the e-form.

• Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Facebook page
• Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Website 

Gabii Sa Kabilin 2013 Ticket Reservations HERE!

To get more info about Gabii Sa Kabilin 2013 and RAFI, you can dial 418-7234 local 703  and look for Karl Damayo or Florencio Moreño II or you can visit the Facebook page of RAFI and click LIKE, drop by RAFI official website,  or you can be a follower on Twitter @rafiorgph.

Mandaue Business Month  (MBM) 2012  is held for the 8th time in Cebu International Convention Center  at Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines.

For those who are asking, MBM is an annual event organized by Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI). Themed “Staying Ahead Of the Game”, the event is co presented by the Province of Cebu which is also celebrating its 443 anniversary.

Pinoyworld is now covering the event with Bjorn Cebuano.

• Serial Entrepreneur Bunny Pages is hosting this annual event for the 8th straight year.

• Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) new president, Philip Tan welcomes participant to the summit. For the past years, Eric Ng Mendoza has led the organization in organizing industry envigorating activities.

• Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes also acknowledged MCCI’s efforts in advancing public-partnership in the city and inculcating the value of dynamic thinking in addressing local concerns.

• Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia is already introduced as “the next senator of the public” by Mr. Pages. What is remarkable about her talk is how she had lead the Province of Cebu and how this first lady governor of Cebu had highlighted on the focus of engraining to the public servants the value efficiency and effectiveness. Paraphrasing her statement, the most successful and meaningful projects done by the provincial government are those projects that have been done in partnership with the private sector.

• ABS-CBN Chairman and CEO Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III highlighted the value of a company’s foundation, its core values, as he tackles:”Creating a Long Term Competitive Advantage Over Your Main Competitors.” Paraphrasing Mr. Lopez: “An organization must not change its core. It is the anchor and the foundation of all that it does.” For ABS-CBN it is the matra that the great “Kapitan” that stirs this organization to be on top of the game providing content — “In the service of the Filipino Worldwide.”

Do you own a Sari-Sari Store? Do you want to succeed in your business?

Now on its 7th year, the Sari-Sari Store Festival remains to be the landmark event of Prince Warehouse Club. This year, the event will be held at Cebu International Convention Center on July 14, 2012 from 8:00AM – 5:00 PM.

This year’s Sari-Sari Store Festival will be bigger, grander and more fun filled. It aims to bring together members from all over the province through the festival by way of an exhibition, variety show, and helpful discussions on entrepreneurship, micro finance, merchandising and inventory tips as well as sari-sari store best practices and success stories.

This is Prince Warehouse Club’s expression of gratitude to the members continued support in sustaining and advancing the club’s vision.

Click here to view the complete program of the 2012 Sari-Sari Store Festival.

The eye-shaped Mall of Asia Arena is envisioned to be an entertainment landmark in the Philippines, wherein every event is a ‘feast for the eye’.

While waiting for the star-studded ICON event, the centerpiece of the Mall of Asia Arena Launch, a vicinity tour to the new state of the art entertainment and event mega-venue.

PINOYWORLD Founder Ruben Licera, together with The Freeman (TF) Community Editor Divine Ngujo, TF Business Writer Ehda Dagooc, Sunstar’s Community Editor Emily Jade Valero and Business Writer Kat Katcho, Cebu Daily New’s Assistant Lifestyle Editor Niza Marinas and Manila Bulletin’s Malou Mozo, assisted by SM’s Senior Public Relations Manager for Vismin RJ Leduna, we took a peak of this new centerpiece that aims to provide a world-class venue for world-class talents.

Mall of Asia Arena is a 15,000 seat multi-purpose venue that is designed to cater primarily for concerts and basketball games.

The Event Bowl is that volume of space that includes the event floor and the spectator seating surrounding it.

The Coral Way, one of the main entry points to the Mall of Asia Arena.

The directional signage for sections is a unique feature of Mall of Asia Arena because it has a section number that conveniently leads patrons to their designated sections.

Forty-three corporate suite modules are also included in the design of Mall of Asia Arena. Located just above the lower box section, each of the corporate suites is furnished with its own lounge, mini bar, restroom, and a glass-paneled viewing deck complete with plush theater seats.

A view of the Event Bowl from the suites.

The Green Room is a place of relaxation. It may also be converted into a mini bar for socializing purposes.

If your wondering what’s Lady Gaga’s Dressing Room look like, this is your lucky day.The Star’s Dressing Room where Lady Gaga stayed includes a restroom, telephone, 360 degree mirrors, mini refrigerator, and a flat screen TV.

The Meet and Greet Room is a place for the fans and the media to meet the performers before the show.

A Sports Change Room for athletes includes a spacious changing room with storage cabinets and a restroom.

You can also read the details about the Mall of Asia Arena Launching here.

Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines 2012 on Thursday, May 10, at 2 p.m. at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Conference Room?

This year, Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines 2012 targets to plant 220,000 native tree seedlings all over Cebu Province in June 30, 2012, doubling last year’s target of 100,000. The event shall put forward the GREENIN Philippines Program to the next level.

The event will be held simultaneously in 50 municipalities and component cities, including Cebu City, making the event a province-wide endeavor. The Cebu Provincial Government has issued an executive order mandating the implementation and institutionalization of Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines throughout the province.

The central event, which targets 7,500 participants, surpassing the 5,000 target last year, will be held in an eight-hectare forestland in Jaclupan, Talisay City. The area will be planted with 20,000 native tree seedlings and will be developed into a forest model through a co-management agreement among Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Cebu Provincial Government, Talisay City government, and RAFI.

Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines is held annually every last Saturday of June, which celebrates Environmental Month.

Gabii sa Kabilin or Night of Heritage, which is inspired by the long night of the museums in Germany and other European countries, aims to encourage the public to visit museums and understand their position as a venue for cultural understanding. During the Gabii sa Kabilin, participating museums and heritage sites are open until midnight for public viewing. Each of these establishments prepares programs and activities that highlight their unique heritage agenda.

The event is slated every last Friday of May to culminate with the International Museums Day and National Heritage Month celebrations.

This year 21 museums and heritage sites will serve as main attractions, from last year’s 18. New participating sites are Ayala Center Cebu; Fo Guang Shan Chu Un Temple; BPI Museum; CAP Theater; JRG Halad Museum and University of San Carlos Museum. The BPI Museum will be available for viewing to Gabii sa Kabilin guests from 8:00 am t0 4:00 p.m. only.

This year’s Gabii sa Kabilin will highlight heritage routes by “themes” and will feature additional sites along the routes. Cultural performances, exhibits, art fairs, food markets, interactive demonstrations, as well as activities for children in selected sites are activities set, aside from the popular tartanilla (horse-drawn rig) rides.

Gabii sa Kabilin began on May 25, 2007 with four Cebu City museums. Every year the number of participating museums has been growing, as with the participants. In recent years, the Gabii sa Kabilin has drawn a growing number of tourists and locals alike, with the youth making up the bulk of visitors.