One Sunday at Insular Square North Road Mandaue

Last November 23, after mass we trooped to Insular Square to dig out our very last money from the ATM, and planned to go home and curled up and watch TV. There was no budget for gallivanting. Unknowingly there were small surprises in store for us...

Insular Square is a decent mini-mall which is approximately about 10 minutes from our place. It is already populated but I guess it still needs to flex a lot of muscles to invite more interesting locators. It is in a good location and has a parking area, but for those who don't have cars, it is difficult to get a taxi - a problem if we buy a lot of groceries from Save and More.

Front Facade of Insular Square

The Signages are quite obvious from the road, you won't miss it when you pass by

There are only 2 levels, and this is the second level

View of Ground Level from Second Floor

Parking Area

Our favorite Mooon Cafe

Beauty Parlor and Store for the Doggies

I love this branch of  Rose Pharmacy because there are fewer customers and waiting time for orders is not too long...

We decided to have our lunch at Jonies, because we were hungry and in need of a quick bite. Food was okay and a bit cheaper compared to other restos around... which is just great!

Because we were happy that our lunch was affordable and within budget, we ventured around and went upstairs to the second level. There were 2 beauty salons but Franzy offered haircut at 50 Pesos. Really? 100 Pesos for both of us?Hmmm.. even an additional tip is still within budget.

The salon from the outside

Lovely Chandeliers

Franzy is ostentatious in its overwhelming decor. But heck, I'd willingly pay 50 pesos to sit infront of those ornate mirrors and be treated like a queen.  

Gilded Mirrors and bright red paint

Kit having her hair cut by a sweet stylist

She got sleepy...hahaha

Our day did not end at Franzy Beauty Salon, we went down and had a back and arm massage for 30 minutes by the Blinds for only 75 pesos each... It's not the Spa of course, but we wanted to give huge support to the Blind Masseurs, in our small way.

Went afterwards to Save and More for some fruits and veggies... and decided to call it a day!

The roads were surprisingly empty... But of course, because Manny Pacquiao's fight will be shown on the TV that day! That's why.

When we got home we were able to catch Manny's fight with Algeri on Ch 7, and surprisingly for me - He won! I was actually expecting him to lose this fight, but Manny can be quite unpredictable. 

That Sunday was full of small and happy surprises for us...

Cinema 5 - Ayala Center Cebu

I think it has been years since we last watch a movie in a cinema theater. The DVD player and home theater is giving the movie cinemas a very good competition. But passing the Ayala cinemas on some Sundays from the chapel, my sister and I became curious on the new trends and developments that went about while we were not looking...

True enough, there is a new movie theater in Ayala Center, the Cinema 5. Last Sunday, finally we decided to try and watch the Interstellar in the latest and newest theater addition.

Bought tickets in a central station

The queue is carefully being monitored by a guard

Buying tickets is fast and easy

Food is available nearby

Cinema 5 is located in the newly added wing near Fudge Restaurant

That's the entrance to the cinema, another guard on watch

We are going in...

Sorry, we were not able to take photos inside, but let me describe the place... Because it is new, it is very clean. It is carpeted. Seats are designed like stairs so that no head block one's view. The new seats are bigger and comes with a head rest. There is a bigger allowance between seats, so that legs can be comfortably stretched. The airconditioning is very cold. And the sound system is great! Everybody is seated, and I noticed nobody comes in the middle of the show. That's good! We should be encouraged to watch a movie from the beginning. When we went out, there was a long line of people waiting to go inside. That should be the way to go. No pushing, no shoving... Overall my sister and I enjoyed our movie that Sunday afternoon.

Honored and Humbled ... BCBA Awards 2014

When I found out I was chosen as a finalist for the Best Cebu Personal Blog Category for 2014, I couldn't believe it! Hohoho-hoho! Crazy happy feeling ... I felt honored and humbled at the same time.

"The Best Cebu Blogs Awards (BCBA) is a yearly Awarding Ceremony of Cebu-based Bloggers. BCBA is the only and pioneering award giving body that recognizes the existence of blogs and bloggers in Cebu’s blogosphere. It acknowledges the existence and importance of Cebu Bloggers in the Visayas and in the Philippines. BCBA aims to recognize the finest blogs by Cebuanos and Cebu-based bloggers which are at par even with their foreign counterparts."

Last November 18, I received the much anticipated Invitation from BCBA for the Awards Night to be held on December 07, 2014 at Avalon in Cebu Business Park. I couldn't contain my excitement at the prospect of meeting Cebu's finest bloggers and the prime movers in promoting Blogging in Cebu.

This is the 7th Awards night, and it is made possible with the help of the following sponsors:  

Best Cebu Blogs Awards Sponsors and Partners

BCBA Official Logo

GOLD SPONSORS

Globe Telecommunications Inc.

 

The Best Cebu Blogs Awards Night Venue is at The Avalon by Primary Homes Incorporated, Your Reliable Partner.

SILVER SPONSORS
 

Greenwich Philippines

Krispy Kreme Philippines

DONOR SPONSORS

Starbucks Philippines

Payag Payag located at Talamban, Cebu City (near Family Park)

 

Island Grill Express available in Ayala Center Cebu and SM City Cebu

Cebu Projectors for Rent

MEDIA PARTNERS

Your trusted Blogging Organization in Cebu

OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER:

Alvin Asayas Photography

BLOGGER VOLUNTEERS

Cebu Fitness Blog

FaceCebu.Net

EmpressofDrac.com

Geemiz: Accounting Blog 

ChannelImperial.com

 The Gum Shoes Blog
One Frozen Mind

Thank you BCBA for giving me a chance to be part of this wonderful event! My Salute to all who gave their valuable support!

As for me, couldn't stop myself from counting the days towards December 07, 2014...  

Lemon Grass (Ayala Center Cebu)

Lemon Grass is a personal favorite. It is located in the Ground level of Ayala Terraces, overlooking the gardens. It is a small and cozy restaurant that served Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. My favorites are the noodles and the spring rolls, while my sister finds their pork belly very soft and yummy. Yes, I find their food tasteful, and I wouldn't mind coming again and again. 

Cebu IT Park

About 10 to 15 minutes drive from Cebu Business Park sans traffic, along Salinas Drive is Cebu IT Park. It is just a stone throw away from another popular Cebu landmark, the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. 

For those not very familiar with Cebu IT Park, it is the hub of Cebu's Business Process Outsourcing Industry (BPO) and home to most of the information technology and related services companies. Majority of the new working force in Cebu City find jobs here. Hence it can be said, it is the new and vibrant economic hub of Cebu City.

Let's take a peek inside Cebu IT Park...

Arch at the entrance of  Cebu IT Park 

TGU Tower near the entrance of IT Park

My sister watching the turtles in the water pond along the sidewalk

A turtle playing in the water pond

People love to sit here when the afternoon is cooler

Sidewalk 

Cafes at the sidewalk

Taxis are very accessible at the doorsteps

Nice looking skyrises

Plants integrated in the sidewalk landscape - love it!

New Building undergoing construction

Roads interconnecting inside the IT Park

Some jeepneys are allowed to pass within for convenience in moving from one area to another

The Walk

There are many fast foods and restaurants available to choose from

Pretty landscape and trees that provide shade

Pretty fishes in the cute water pond

A high rise building

Globe has its Building here also

   

Qualfon Building

I'm sure this area is filled with people in the evenings

 

Skyrise Building 4

Going further inside IT park, more open spaces 

The silhouette of some mountains from where I was standing...

I find Cebu IT Park pretty with its tree-lined avenues and beautiful landscape. It has a good location too in the city. It reminds me so much of Makati when I used to work there, only a smaller version. But I think it is in fact much prettier compared to Makati because Cebu is quite small that one can easily see mountain or sea views from the sky rise buildings. It is a good reminder that we are not in a purely concrete jungle. However the only thing that can mar its advantages is - during rush hours in the late afternoon and early evening, traffic in Salinas Drive and neighboring Banilad is really terrible.