Cebu hotel wins Luxury Business and City Hotel award

bai Hotel Cebu recognized at World Luxury Awards, wins Luxury Business and City Hotel

Cebu Daily News

26 October 2024

bai Hotel Cebu recently secured multiple prestigious accolades at the 2024 World Luxury Hotel Awards, further solidifying its reputation as a leader in the industry. 

The prestigious award ceremony, held in the vibrant city of Bali, Indonesia, recognized the hotel’s exceptional standards and its unwavering commitment to delivering an unparalleled hospitality experience.

These awards are a true reflection of our team’s dedication and our unwavering commitment to providing our guests with an unrivaled hospitality experience.

bai Hotel Cebu was honored with two major awards, cementing its position as the Philippines’ Luxury Business Hotel and Luxury City Hotel. 

These prestigious titles are a testament to the hotel’s relentless pursuit of excellence, as it continues to set new benchmarks in the realm of hospitality, accommodation, and service.

Commenting on this remarkable achievement, the hotel’s management team expressed their profound gratitude and appreciation. 

“These awards are a true reflection of our team’s dedication and our unwavering commitment to providing our guests with an unrivaled hospitality experience. We are honored to be recognized on the global stage, and this achievement further strengthens our resolve to consistently exceed the expectations of our discerning clientele,” said Alfred Reyes, bai Hotel Cebu’s VP Operations and General Manager.

The World Luxury Hotel Awards, established in 2006, is widely regarded as the pinnacle of achievement in the luxury hotel industry, offering international recognition as voted by guests, travelers, and industry experts alike. 

Annually, over 300,000 international travelers participate in the rigorous voting process, which spans a three-week period, to select the most deserving winners across various hotel categories. 

This prestigious accolade provides luxury hotels like the bai Hotel Cebu the opportunity to showcase their unique selling points, exceptional services, and distinctive destinations to a global audience.

The bai Hotel Cebu‘s latest honors not only highlight its commitment to excellence but also its ability to consistently deliver a memorable and exceptional hospitality experience for all its guests. 

This recognition further solidifies the hotel’s position as a premier luxury destination, not just within the Philippines, but on the global stage, attracting discerning travelers from around the world.

Philippines’ CJ Opiaza secures 1st Runner-Up in MGI 2024

India’s Rachel Gupta wins Miss Grand International 2024; Philippines’ CJ Opiaza secures 1st Runner-Up

LionhearTV
26 October 2024

India’s Rachel Gupta emerged as the Miss Grand International 2024 winner in a spectacular finale held in Thailand, surpassing 68 other contestants to claim the title.

Representing the Philippines, CJ Opiaza finished as 1st runner-up, continuing the country’s journey to win its first Miss Grand International crown.

In the Q&A portion, Gupta highlighted global poverty and resource scarcity, calling on world leaders to address overpopulation and equitable resource distribution.

“The most critical issue today is poverty due to overpopulation and limited resources,” Gupta stated.

 “World leaders need to take responsibility to ensure that resources are enough for everyone by promoting birth control methods globally.”

Reflecting on her background, Gupta added, “In India, not everyone has access to essentials like food, water, and education, which is the case in many parts of the world. We must stop conflicts and work together to secure resources for all.”

Myanmar’s Thae Su Nyein placed as 2nd runner-up, with France’s Safiétou Kabengele and Brazil’s Talita Hartmann completing the Top 5 as 3rd and 4th runners-up, respectively. Delegates from the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Peru, Spain, and the United Kingdom were recognized as 5th runners-up.

Despite the Philippines’ strong finish, the elusive Miss Grand International crown remains out of reach, with previous close calls by Nicole Cordoves in 2016 and Samantha Bernardo in 2020/2021.

Miss Grand International 2024 Official Results:

Placements

Miss Grand International 2024: India (Rachel Gupta)

1st Runner-Up: Philippines (CJ Opiaza)

2nd Runner-Up: Myanmar (Thae Su Nyein)

3rd Runner-Up: France (Safiétou Kabengele)

4th Runner-Up: Brazil (Talita Hartmann)

Top 10 (5th Runners-Up)

Dominican Republic (María Felix)

Indonesia (Nova Liana)

Peru (Arlette Rujel)

Spain (Susana Medina)

United Kingdom (Amy Viranya Berry)

Top 20

Thailand (Malin Chara-anan)

Colombia (Maria Angelica Valero)

US Virgin Islands (Samantha Keaton)

Malaysia (Melisha Lin)

Mexico (Tania Estrada)

Guatemala (Cristina Gonzalo)

El Salvador (Giulia Zanoni)

Curacao (Akisha Albert)

Paraguay (Sharon Capó)

Japan (Luma Naomi Shigemitsu)

Special Awards

Best in Evening Gown: Ghana

Best in Swimsuit: Brazil

Miss Popular Vote: Indonesia

Country’s Power of the Year: Thailand

Grand Voice Award: Trinidad and Tobago

Best National Costume: Brazil, Ecuador, and Honduras

Charming by Chat Cosmetics: Indonesia

Beauty Skin by Hya Booster Serum: Thailand and Myanmar

I’Aura Queen: Myanmar

Jollibee emerged as the top food brand in Southeast Asia

Jollibee ranks first in top 50 best Southeast Asian food brands — regional media platform

Story by Cali Asajar 

Interaksiyon

25 October 2024

Filipino fast food chain Jollibee emerged as the top food brand in Southeast Asia out of 50 companies this year, according to research from Campaign Asia-Pacific and marketing survey company Milieu Insight.

Recognized as the second fastest-growing restaurant brand across the world, Jollibee yielded an overall score of 67.35% in the report.

“Overall, local fast-food chains scored the highest in SEA. It suggests consumers are more willing to support homegrown brands. Jollibee has become a source of national pride in the Philippines as it continues to expand and find success internationally,” Campaign said in its article.

Jollibee obtained the highest number of recommendations and highest purchase frequency score in the country (72.25%), which ultimately led to it besting other global giants such as McDonald’s (66.65%), KFC (56.3%) and Starbucks (54.95%).

Apart from its home market, Jollibee also earned a spot in the top food brands in Vietnam, placing third in the market.

Other Filipino companies that made it to the top food brands globally are Mang Inasal (7th), followed by Chowking (11th), Max’s Restaurant (16th) and Greenwich (18th).

The brands were measured based on the following attributes: awareness, purchase, quality, buying experience, customer service, trustworthiness, innovation, brand touchpoints (ease of use across all digital and offline interactions) and advocacy (degree of recommendation). 

Founded in the Philippines in 1978, Jollibee operates a network of more than 1,500 stores in 17 countries. Among its best-selling menu items are Chickenjoy, Jolly Spaghetti and Yumburger.

Campaign Asia-Pacific is an online publishing platform that reports on the region’s marketing and communications industry since the early 1970s.

Maymay Entrata featured in Grammy

Maymay Entrata featured in Grammy’s ‘It Goes To 11’ series

Anne Pasajol 
Inquirer.net
25 October 2024

Maymay Entrata was over the moon after she was interviewed by the Recording Academy and was featured in its “It Goes to 11” original series.

The actress-performer spoke about how in-ear monitors improved her vocal performance in the interview clip shared on Grammy’s YouTube channel on Thursday, Oct. 24.

Entrata recalled how she was out of tune when she was still learning how to sing three years ago, which led her to observe other singers and notice their in-ear monitors.

She said she approached Gary Valenciano, whom she described as “one of the most iconic music artist in the Philippines,” who then explained to her how such device can help singers while performing.

“I have the biggest realization that no magic or equipment will make you skip learning on something that you want to pursue or something that you want to be passionate about,” she said. “It will always take hard work, perseverance and patience for you to have it, for you to learn it.”

Speaking about being an artist, she added, “I love to be a blessing to others—to be able to give inspiration to those people who sing my songs.”

In a separate post on her Instagram page, Entrata raved about her experience while giving a glimpse of her visit to the Grammy studio.

“My heart bai! I still couldn’t believe we made it to Grammy studio,” she wrote. “Thank you so much Recording Academy for having me. This is definitely one of my most unforgettable memories.”

Prior to Entrata, several Filipino artists have also been featured in Grammy’s original series. Among them were SB19 members Felip and Josh who respectively performed for Grammy’s “Global Spin” digital series.

Meanwhile, P-pop groups BINI and BGYO were also featured by the Recording Academy as part of its 2024 list of “12 Rising Girl Groups to Know Now” and its 2023 list of “Asian pop artists to check out,” respectively.

Taiwan Considers Joining Luzon Economic Corridor in the Philippines

Taiwan Considers Joining Luzon Economic Corridor In The Philippines

The News Lens (Taiwan)
24 October 2024

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) told the Legislative Yuan last Monday that the government is considering joining the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) project in the Philippines. The LEC is a vast endeavor for commercial cooperation, announced last April after a meeting in Washington with leaders from the Philippines and Japan.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kisihida joined United States President Joe Biden at the White House in the summer for a trilateral summit on security and trade. Besides discussing security measures to counter China’s influence in the South China Sea, they also discussed the LEC.

The LEC entails reactivating old US military facilities like in several provinces including Pampanga, Zambales, Batangas and Manila for heaps of foreign investment commitments.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told reporters that "Taiwan could play a pivotal role in the LEC.”

The LEC is also a major project of the G7, with emphasis on infrastructure, manufacturing, green industries and agriculture.

Lin said that for the future, Taiwan was interested in semiconductors, renewable energy, and also rail systems.

In a statement after the trilateral meeting, Japan and the US pledged “high-impact infrastructure projects” and “civilian port upgrades” for it as well.

The leaders added that “The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation also intends to open a regional office in the Philippines to facilitate further investments across the Philippines. The Luzon Corridor is a demonstration of our enhanced economic cooperation, focused on delivering tangible investments across multiple sectors.”

Activists in the Philippines have previously protested the LEC, claiming it is a gateway for more military intervention by the US as it matches China’s provocations with its own military displays. The US and Philippines have the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) allowing American military operations and stationing of troops in Philippine facilities.

Renato Reyes Jr of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) or New Patriotic Alliance in the Philippines said the LEC “practically turns the country’s biggest island into an EDCA site servicing thousands of foreign troops at any given time. It is purported to be an economic zone but it is linked to the installation of EDCA sites and the repurposing of Subic and Clark into military hubs for joint exercises with foreign troops.”

Palawan among world's best islands for 2024

Palawan among world's best islands for 2024

Melanie Uson
Philstar Life
22 October 2024

Palawan was named among the best islands to visit by a New York-based travel magazine. 

Banul Beach, Coron

In Travel + Leisure's World’s Best Awards for 2024 list, Palawan ranked 13 with a reader score of 90.59. 

The island, known for its “unparalleled natural beauty,” boasts stunning limestone cliffs, lagoons, and rainforests.  

Kayangan Lake, Coron

Barracuda Lake, Coron

Travelers can explore preserves such as the Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, and learn about cultural practices from Indigenous communities like the Batak and Tagbanua tribes,” the description reads. 

Subterranean River National Park, Puerto Princesa City

Topping the list is the ever-famous Maldives, followed by Phú Quốc, Vietnam, and claiming the third spot is Bali, Indonesia. 

Palawan is also included in the travel magazine’s five favorite islands in Asia this 2024. 

In the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards, readers were surveyed about their travel experiences in hotels, resorts, cities, islands, airlines, and more, and rated it either excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. 

Islands were evaluated based on their natural attractions and beaches, activities and sights, restaurants and food, people and friendliness, and overall value.

In January, Palawan was also included in TripAdvisor’s Trending Destinations for this year, following Tokyo, Japan in the first spot; Seoul, South Korea in second; and Halong Bay, Vietnam in the third spot.

In March, the Hidden Beach in El Nido, Palawan placed 19th in Condé Nast's Traveler's 34 best beaches worldwide. 

Filipina won the United Nations’ Women’s International Network for Disaster Risk Reduction Rising Star award

Pinay, 23, wins UN award

Bella Cariaso
Philstar Global
21 October 2024

MANILA, Philippines — A 23-year-old Filipina won the United Nations’ Women’s International Network for Disaster Risk Reduction Rising Star award during the recent Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Pasay City.

Robyn Mijares, founder and executive director of Youth Uprising, a non-profit organization which provides free environmental and agricultural education to marginalized Filipino youth in public schools across the country, bested five other finalists from other countries.

The Philippines hosted the five-day international disaster event, which serves as the main platform in Asia and the Pacific in monitoring, reviewing and enhancing cooperation for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 to 2030, the global blueprint for preventing and reducing disaster risks in the world’s disaster-prone regions.

Other finalists include Nayyab Ali from Pakistan; Nairwita Bandyopadhyay from India, Mediatrich Triani from Indonesia; Jewel Luti Leao Tuitama from New Zealand and Liva Shrestha from Nepal.

“Each story we’ve shared is not just a testament to resilience, it’s a call to action. This award is not only meant to recount their experiences, but to ignite change,” Mijares said in her speech.

She said that her group’s “Oh my, GARDEN: Grow Your Own Food Contest” served as a pioneering effort in response to the urgent food insecurity threat brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating the power of grassroots movements in addressing global challenges.

“A simple classroom assignment from a 19-year-old girl grew into a powerful movement to combat hunger – one of the slowest yet most persistent disasters we face on a day to day,” she added.

According to Mijares, the project highlights the critical need to empower the youth through sustainable agriculture, underscoring the importance of self-sufficiency and resilience in overcoming challenges.

Mijares also founded the Grow School Philippines, the first bamboo farm school located in Nasugbu, Batangas which provides free accessible environmental and agricultural programs to public schools across the Philippines.

She received a plaque and $7,500 cash prize.