Looking for the perfect tropical summer escape? Look no further than Sta. Fe, the vibrant beach hub of Bantayan Island. Situated at the northernmost tip of Cebu and known for its powdery white sand, crystal-clear waters, and laid-back island vibes, it’s the ultimate place to unplug. Last weekend, my friends and I went on a long weekend getaway focused on sun, sand, good eats, and parties.

Here is your tried-and-tested, day-by-day guide to a memorable 4-day long weekend in paradise.

🏝️ DAY 1: Arrival, Beachfront Chillin' & Local Flavors

Welcome to paradise! Drop your bags and immediately switch to island time.

• Check in at Sunrise Beach Club Resort: Nestled right by the shore, this resort offers the perfect beachfront vantage point. Pro-tip: Book their spacious Family Room if you're traveling with a squad—it's cozy, comfortable, and ideal for a mid-day recharge.

• Lunch at Meldy’s Eatery: Highly recommended! For your first meal, head over to Meldy's for some authentic, mouth-watering local dishes that won’t break the bank.

• Siesta Time: Head back to your room at Sunrise Beach Resort for a classic island afternoon nap. You've earned it after the travel.

• Dinner & Drinks at The Hungry Beach Co.: As the stars come out, enjoy a late-night dinner right by the beach. Great food, cool ocean breezes, and a perfectly chilled atmosphere to cap off night one.

🌊 DAY 2: Lagoon Views, Cafes & Island Nightlife

Day two is all about exploring the scenic pockets of Sta. Fe and diving into the local food scene.

• Breakfast at Amihan Beach Cabanas: Start your morning with a gorgeous view and a hearty breakfast at Amihan.

• Lunch at Baigad Lagoon Beach: Spend your midday relaxing by the serene waters of Baigad Lagoon. It’s a fantastic spot to chill, swim, and grab some lunch surrounded by nature.

• Coffee Break at Mauro’s Cafe and Restaurant: ☕︎ Need a caffeine fix? Head to Mauro's for premium coffee and delicious pastries. It’s the perfect aesthetic afternoon pitstop.

• Dinner at Hapit Anay: Stop here for dinner. The verdict? The food is genuinely good, though you might need a little patience as the service can be a bit so-so.

• Party at Suave Bar: End your night by experiencing the Sta. Fe nightlife. Suave Bar is the place to be for drinks, music, and mingling with fellow travelers.

📸 DAY 3: Pristine Beaches, Epic Sunsets & Food Hubs

Get your cameras ready, because Day 3 takes you to some of the most iconic spots on the island.

• Breakfast at Amihan: Back by popular demand because the morning views here are just that good.

• Snap a Photo at Palms Road: Make a quick stop at this famous stretch of road lined with towering palm trees—it's a quintessential Bantayan Island photo-op.

• Beachin' at Sandira Beach: Also known as Paradise Beach, this secluded stretch of sand offers breathtaking turquoise waters perfect for swimming.

• Snacks at The Ruins: Explore the nearby cliff ruins, dive into the water if you're brave, and grab some quick snacks.

• Sunset Chillin’ at Xiringuito Beach Bar: Grab a cocktail and watch the sky turn brilliant shades of pink and orange. This is arguably one of the best sunset spots in Sta. Fe.

• Dinner at Larry’s (MJ Square): Head over to MJ Square, the town's food hub. Make a beeline for Larry's—their curry is absolutely LIT!

• Dessert at Twisted Ice Cream: Satisfy your sweet tooth with a fun, swirled treat to wrap up an epic third day.

🗓️ DAY 4: To Be Continued...

Planning Note: Your epic final day is currently being drafted! Stay tuned for the ultimate departure day itinerary, souvenir shopping tips, and final morning dips.

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FAMILY ROOM TOUR HERE

On a recent look around C. Batiancila Street, we found a spot that perfectly captures this laid-back charm, Sunrise Beach Resort.

For travelers who want the luxury of stepping right from their room straight onto the shore, this beachfront haven offers exactly that. It is tucked away just enough to give you a genuinely peaceful atmosphere, yet it remains incredibly accessible. When you stay here, you are only a short, casual stroll away from the heart of Santa Fe town center. This means you can easily spend your afternoon lounging by the ocean and your evening exploring the local eateries, lively bars, and souvenir shops without worrying about a long tricycle ride back.

The Beachfront Family Villa Experience

Finding a good beachfront accommodation that fits a small group without breaking the bank can be a bit of a challenge in popular island destinations. Sunrise Beach Resort solves this with its Beachfront Family Villa.

The villa is thoughtfully set up to accommodate a base group of four guests, making it ideal for a barkada trip or a family weekend getaway. It features an air-conditioned space with one bunk bed and two double beds, ensuring everyone gets a comfortable spot to rest after a day under the sun.

The room rates are quite straightforward and offer flexible options depending on your morning preferences:

• Room Only: Php 3,900 per night (perfect if you want to explore the local breakfast spots in town)

• With Breakfast: Php 4,500 per night (highly recommended if you prefer waking up and eating right by the water)

If you are traveling with a larger group, you do not necessarily have to book an entire second room. The villa allows up to a maximum of seven guests. Additional heads are charged at Php 800 per night without breakfast, or Php 1,000 per night inclusive of breakfast.

What to Expect Inside and Out

The villa comes equipped with a private bathroom featuring a hot and cold shower, fresh towels, linens, and basic bathroom amenities. There is also reliable Wi-Fi access if you need to upload your beach photos or answer a quick work email while away.

One of the highlights of this specific villa is the private terrace, complete with seating. It faces the ocean, offering a front-row seat to the beautiful beach view. It is the perfect corner for sipping your morning coffee or unwinding at night with the sound of the waves in the background.

To keep the environment fresh and comfortable for everyone, the entire resort maintains a strict non-smoking property policy inside the rooms.

Resort Facilities and Quick Details

Sunrise Beach Resort keeps things convenient for its guests by offering a well-rounded mix of amenities:

• Food available on-site with free breakfast options

• Complimentary linen and towels provided

• Free parking spaces for guests bringing their own vehicles or rentals

• Direct, step-on-the-sand beach access

• A proud gay-friendly and inclusive environment for all travelers

Whether you are planning a quick weekend reset or an extended stay to soak in everything Bantayan Island has to offer, Sunrise Beach Resort provides that sweet spot of beachfront peace and town-center convenience.

How to Reach Them

Planning your next Santa Fe getaway? You can get in touch with the resort directly through the details below.

• Address: C. Batiancila Street, Santa Fe, Bantayan, Central Visayas, Philippines, 6047

• Email: hello@sunrisebantayan.com

• Phone Number: +63 960 627 3477

Hitting the halfway mark of the year typically triggers an inevitable financial reality check for most consumers. After six months of juggling bills, subscription services, and daily living expenses, budgeting can easily begin to feel like a chore. However, stretching the value of a peso does not have to mean sacrificing Friday night takeout or settling for an uninspired pantry. Ultimately, smart financial management is less about deprivation and more about optimization.

To assist everyday consumers with this midyear financial reset, foodpanda’s Pro Weeks is introducing a way to secure daily comforts for less.

Maximizing the Sulit Factor

From June 1 to 7, pandapro subscribers can access an exclusive window of substantial savings across both food delivery and daily essentials. For anyone looking to restock their household or enjoy a curated meal, the event offers a strategic opportunity to slash expenses.

A quick look at the available discounts highlights how subscribers can maximize their budgets:

Smarter Group Orders, Bigger Discounts

For those planning larger group meals, such as barkada hangouts or Sunday family dinners, timing is key. From June 5 to 7, the savings scale up even further. Users can score an additional ₱200 off at select food and grocery vendors, depending on varying minimum spend requirements. This addition makes it entirely possible to host gatherings or manage weekly restocks without facing a steep receipt.

The Bottom Line: Navigating rising daily costs does not mean consumers have to compromise on convenience or quality. It simply requires making smarter, more intentional choices.

By utilizing these limited-time perks, pandapro subscribers can make their money work harder and effectively master the art of the midyear save.

The skyline of Cebu City has a bold new anchor. Rising twenty-one stories above the bustling traffic of Fuente Osmeña Circle, the newly opened BDO Corporate Center Cebu is far more than an impressive piece of modern architecture. It stands as a physical manifestation of a long-term commitment to the southern regions of the Philippines, acting as a unified hub designed to bring local banking capabilities to unprecedented heights.

For years, Cebu has maintained its status as an economic powerhouse, driving trade, tourism, and entrepreneurship across the Visayas and Mindanao. As businesses expand and individual financial goals become more complex, the demand for sophisticated, accessible banking infrastructure has scaled accordingly. BDO has answered that call by consolidating its key regional operations, corporate offices, and client service areas into this single, state-of-the-art facility.

A Built Environment Motivated by Efficiency and Sustainability

The design philosophy behind the new corporate headquarters prioritizes collaboration and agility. Inside, the tower features flexible workplace layouts that break down traditional structural silos, allowing different business units to interact seamlessly. From standard branch banking to exclusive private banking facilities and dedicated event spaces, the building is structured to optimize the way financial professionals work and serve their clients.

The facility integrates smart building systems, renewable energy support, and enhanced indoor environmental quality, ensuring that the company’s corporate footprint is both highly efficient and environmentally responsible. By managing energy use intelligently and embedding employee wellness amenities directly into the design, the building reflects a holistic vision where corporate growth does not come at the expense of ecological or human health.

Moving Beyond the Monologue: The Business Talk Initiative

To mark this structural milestone, BDO leadership chose an unconventional path for their latest engagement with the Cebuano community. Rather than hosting a rigid, presentation-heavy press conference filled with corporate monologues, the bank organized the BDO Business Talk on May 26, 2026. Held directly within the new corporate center, the event functioned as a fluid, conversation-driven briefing with the local media.

The goal was simple: to strip away the corporate jargon and engage in an authentic dialogue about the economic realities facing the region. Led by key resource persons like Senior Vice President Federico "Fritz" Ocampo and First Vice President Pat Alvarillo from the Trust and Investments Group, the discussion mapped out a clear economic and market outlook for the Visayas. Area heads and digital banking executives joined the conversation, offering a multi-dimensional perspective on how local financial behaviors are shifting.

The Interconnected Nature of Modern Wealth

One of the most profound takeaways from the briefing was how deeply interconnected modern financial needs have become. The days when individuals viewed saving, borrowing, and investing as entirely separate activities are largely gone. Today, a single business owner might simultaneously navigate digital merchant payments, explore micro-insurance for their workforce, and seek out capital for enterprise expansion.

To support this fluid financial ecosystem, BDO has deployed a massive physical and digital footprint across the province. With forty-eight BDO Unibank branches and eighteen BDO Network Bank branches operating in Cebu, the physical presence remains robust. Yet, the conversation highlighted that physical proximity is no longer enough on its own. Financial resilience depends on the harmony between human relationships at a branch and the convenience of a mobile application.

Bridging the Gap Between Brick-and-Mortar and Digital Borders

Under the guidance of Digital Banking Group Head Roy Villareal and Cash Management specialists like Romi Ibo, the discussion detailed how digital adoption is streamlining local business operations. Platforms like BDO Pay and Cash Agad work alongside traditional consumer loan departments to ensure that capital and transactional capabilities reach even the most remote communities.

This hybrid strategy addresses a crucial reality of the regional economy: accessibility drives inclusion. Whether it is an enterprise utilizing advanced cash management services or an individual securing financial protection through BDO Insure and BDO Life, the ultimate objective remains the same. By combining localized physical footprints with broad digital access, the bank is actively fostering financial resilience for families and businesses alike.

An Enduring Promise for the South

The opening of the BDO Corporate Center Cebu and the insights shared during the press briefing tell a cohesive story. Cebu is not merely maintaining its role as a regional growth hub; it is actively accelerating. As financial needs continue to evolve, the presence of a dedicated, sustainable regional headquarters ensures that local enterprises and consumers have the stability, infrastructure, and innovative tools necessary to thrive in an unpredictable global market.

The partnership happens in two phases. The first introduced the “WOW BIDA” Battle Emote, a limited-time in-game item that allows players to use a Jollibee-themed emote in MLBB matches, available for redemption until May 20.

The second phase, GameJoy Combos, runs from May 20 to August 19 and is designed to sustain player engagement through a mix of physical hero card collectibles along with exclusive limited-edition in-game rewards available with every Jollibee GameJoy Combo purchase.

“With GameJoy Combos, we wanted to create a fun and rewarding experience that brings together great food, gaming and everyday moments of joy,” said Dorothy Ching, vice president of marketing at Jollibee Philippines. “This collaboration allows more people to enjoy Jollibee in a fresh and exciting way, whether they’re gaming, bonding with friends or simply treating themselves.”

“Filipino players have helped shape MLBB into the cultural phenomenon it is today. With Jollibee, we wanted to create a campaign that genuinely feels local, fun, and rewarding for the community, by combining food, collectibles, and in-game experiences in a way that celebrates how Filipinos enjoy gaming together,” said Kevin Acuña, head of game publishing business development and partnership at MOONTON Games.

Running from May 20 to August 19, the nationwide campaign is made especially for MLBB players, from casual gamers to hardcore rank grinders.

The GameJoy Combos feature a selection of handheld meals designed for convenient, mess-free eating during gameplay. Priced at ₱169 each, the offering includes five options: the Yumburger, Jolly Hotdog, Special Cheesy Yumburger, Crunchy Chicken Sandwich, and Original Cheesy Yumburger. Each combo is served with a regular serving of fries, a regular drink, and a Peach Mango Pie, completing a satisfying, gamer-friendly meal set.

Each combo comes with the GameJoy x MLBB Pack, which contains one collectible hero card and an instruction card with a unique PIN. The PIN can be used to unlock mystery rewards within the MLBB app.

Players can win a range of in-game rewards, including skins, emotes, fragments, and avatar borders, as well as the highly sought-after MLBB All-Skin Unlock.

As the GameJoy Combos launch nationwide, many gamers are expected to collect all hero cards, unlock rewards, and enjoy every match even more with Jollibee and MLBB together this summer.

Craving more Jollibee treats and exclusives? Head to www.jollibee.com.ph for the latest updates, order your favorites at https://order.jollibee.com, and follow us on social media for more JOYful surprises!

 The biannual event returns on May 22 for seven days of gratitude

Manila, Philippines – At the heart of every UNIQLO Thank You Festival is a simple message: gratitude. As a celebration inspired by the customers and communities who continue to support the brand, the biannual festival transforms appreciation into meaningful experiences—from exclusive promotions and innovative essentials to initiatives that create positive impact beyond stores.

Join the UNIQLO Thank You Festival, May 22–28! Enjoy exclusive deals, special gifts, and surprises—our way of saying thanks for your support.

UNIQLO deeply values the unwavering support of its customers and communities. Serving as a heartfelt tribute to those who have made LifeWear a part of their daily lives, the UNIQLO Thank You Festival returns nationwide from May 22 to May 28. 

UNIQLO Philippines strengthens support for education with a new classroom at Tanda Elementary School for T’boli students in General Santos.

This year’s celebration goes beyond seasonal offers, as it also highlights purposeful partnerships, sustainability, and a deep commitment to social responsibility. Every story is shaped by care, innovation, and the people behind the brand who bring LifeWear to life every day.

As part of its Heart of LifeWear initiative, UNIQLO donated AIRism shirts to students and teachers—contributing to over 35,000 items distributed for community and disaster relief nationwide.

A “Thank You” that Pays it Forward

In the spirit of giving back, UNIQLO Philippines is strengthening its support for local education. Recognizing the resource gaps in public schools, the brand recently broke ground on a new classroom at Tanda Elementary School in General Santos to support T’boli students. 

As part of its bigger Heart of LifeWear sustainability initiative, UNIQLO also donated AIRism shirts to students and teachers alike to champion comfort in the classroom. It adds to a milestone of over 35,000 LifeWear items distributed to communities in need and disaster relief efforts across the country, including pre-loved pieces donated by customers. The initiative proves that in UNIQLO’s Thank You Festival, the sense of gratitude reaches far and wide.

Customers can also receive a free packable duffle bag for every single-receipt purchase of at least PHP 3,500 during the festival week.

Customers can also receive a free packable duffle bag for every single-receipt purchase of at least PHP 3,500 during the festival week.

Customers can also receive a free packable duffle bag for every single-receipt purchase of at least PHP 3,500 during the festival week.

A “Thank You” Translated into Curated In-Store Experiences

The UNIQLO Thank You Festival transforms every UNIQLO store into a space of celebration, featuring exciting deals that reflect the brand's promise of quality and practicality. Everyone can join the fun and make the most out of these special promotions:

• Best-Value Everyday Essentials: Over 50 LifeWear items at special prices, with favorites like the Crew Neck Short Sleeve T-Shirt and kids' AIRism Cotton pieces starting at just PHP 390. 

• First-Time Offers: Significant savings on premium staples, now on sale for the first time, including Premium Linen Long Sleeve Shirts (now PHP 1,490) and Oxford Boxy Long Sleeve Shirts (now PHP 990). 

• Exciting Collaborations: The highly anticipated UNIQLO and Cecilie Bahnsen womenswear collection officially launches on May 22, showcasing a line-up of romantic, feminine pieces for both women and girls. Customers are also rewarded with a free packable duffle bag for every single-receipt purchase of at least PHP 3,500 during the festival week.

A “Thank You” That Makes Shopping Online Even Easier

For this year’s Thank You Festival, UNIQLO continues to enhance the online shopping journey for UNIQLO App members. The week-long celebrations showcase exclusive sizes, pre-launch access, and improved "Voice of Customer" feedback features. With specialized online-to-offline corners in select stores, the brand also ensures that convenience and gratitude go hand-in-hand. 

Over 50 LifeWear items at special prices—starting at just PHP 390. Includes favorites like the Crew Neck Short Sleeve T‑Shirt and kids’ AIRism Cotton, plus first-time deals on premium staples.

Over 50 LifeWear items at special prices—starting at just PHP 390. Includes favorites like the Crew Neck Short Sleeve T‑Shirt and kids’ AIRism Cotton, plus first-time deals on premium staples.

More than a retail event, the UNIQLO Thank You Festival is a nationwide moment of connection. By blending customer-focused rewards with community-driven initiatives, UNIQLO reaffirms that the most meaningful way to say "thank you" is by contributing to an inclusive and better everyday life for all. 

Celebrate the UNIQLO Thank You Festival by checking out UNIQLO in-store and online. For more information and to get all the latest updates on UNIQLO, visit www.uniqlo.com/ph/en/ and follow @uniqlo.ph on Facebook and @uniqlophofficial on Instagram and TikTok.