Home

But there is more than just sociability and their willingness to feed guests to bursting to Cebu locals. The place is also home to word-class artists and artisans that create products that are hailed all over the world. Below are excerpts from an article I’ve written for The Philippine Star’s YStyle section, printed last April 09, 2009 under the title “In the ‘Bu”, about some of the great souvenir stops that are worth including in your next Cebu trip itinerary:

Cebu is a fascinating mix of the old and the new. Stone churches and infrastructure dating back to the 16th century co-exist with business parks and stretches of relocated highways, and the Cebuanos’ international-caliber talent and creativity are rooted in traditional wisdom and techniques that have been passed down for generations. Given the richness of what Cebu has to offer to tourists, it’s a disservice to bring home just a measly shirt after a trip to the Queen City of the south. Cebu’s dried mangoes are not its only world-class products—though they are great contenders for the distinction of being the region’s tastiest export. Let yourself be amazed further by Cebu by visiting these stops on your next trip:

Enter the Avatar

Upon entrance at Avatar’s first-floor display, any girl would be hard-pressed not to go a little nuts over the amount of accessories available for perusal—and that is just in the overruns room. Accessories may sell easily in the upwards of thousands at the Atelier Avatar boutique in Greenbelt 5, but here in the company’s Style Center in Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City, a brightly colored geometric-cut resin cocktail ring sells for P100 and a cuff made out of cylindrical pieces strung together in a wave pattern is priced at less than P300.

Read more...