Christmas is here and of course, we won't miss the iconic Christmas Tree! Here in Cebu, Malls and public places are centers of interest for family, friends, and especially children who are hungry for Holiday Treats! Of course, I am giving you a list of beautiful Christmas Trees around Cebu island!

First on the list, is the red-themed Christmas Tree of Robinson Galleria Cebu. Photo by Sinjin Pineda of Sinjin.Life

It is indeed the most wonderful time of the year as bai Hotel Cebu officially opens the Yuletide season with a tree lighting event, "Light Up the Holiday Season" and the reopening of Cafe Bai, one of the largest Buffet Restaurant in Cebu, in a new normal dinning! 

The moment one enters the hotel, the iconic Christmas tree decked out in festive decorations accentuated hues of blue, yellow and red greets you that indeed do not go unnoticed. The design layout is inspired by the native roots encompassing the Filipino, specifically the Cebuano culture as bai Hotel Cebu is local from its name, down to its people. 

Among the highlights of the event were back-to-back performances of acapella group The Basics, singing-duo John Walt and Axel, and ABS-CBN’S Tawag Ng Tanghalan contestant who garnered a near-perfect score of 99.6% from the judges and is still the highest score ever-recorded, the Singing Voice Actress ng Cebu, Marielle Montellano. 

As part of the annual tradition of giving back to the community, the hotel has been collecting funds to its chosen organization, Kythe Foundation Inc as its goal is in line with bai Hotel Cebu's theme for this year and line with their official Christmas Video which touches everyone's heart and brings out the kid-at-heart of every adult.   

The event was also graced by bai Hotel Cebu's Vice-President of Operations and General Manager Mr. Alfred Reyes, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and Mandaue City Vice-Mayor Glenn Bercede 

A double-celebration was it indeed for bai Hotel Cebu, as the most-sought out buffet destination, CAFÉ bai is finally back once again, this was where the delicious dinner buffet was held after the event. It also marked the hotel's 4th anniversary. 

For more information on bai Hotel Cebu's tree lighting event, you may call them at (032)342 8888 or (032) 355 8888 or (032) 888 2500 or check out their Facebook page at bai Hotel Cebu. 

Naaaaaaa! Lake Pingganon or famously known as Lake Bensis is not as equally stunning as New York's Lake Placid but mind you, Bensis has these chill vibes while camping with your friends or even family. Have you been to Lake Bensis?

Last weekend, after a two-year wait, I was able to go out and camped overnight with good friends. We're so lucky our friends have "rides" so we were able to arrive easily. Here are some cool photos I took with my Huwaei Nova 7 and realme 7i. Enjoy!

If you're coming from JY Square Cebu City, you can actually take the road going to transentral highway or simply search on Google Map and follow thoroughly. But if you have no cars, you can actually hire a habal-habal and deal with the driver patiently. 

Rent of the Tent/Camping Fee = PHP 50.00/Tent

Cottages : PHP 300-400

Boating: PHP 50-100

If you wish to go on an early hike around the Lake, just ask for a guide and give them donations. It's definitely a good view especially when you are locked at home for 2 years due to pandemic. Again, enjoy nature, leave no trace and always, stay safe - Covid 19 is still here! 


SIDE TRIP - Charlie's Cup

While we were on our way back to the city, we decided to stop and rest a bit in the famous Charlie's Cup. The place is refreshing with a view of the Lake but heads-up, the drinks and food are a lillte bit pricy but the place is worth it. 

(PRESS RELEASE)  – Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, closes the year with its annual 12.12 Big Christmas Sale, the most joyful year-end celebration in the region. 12.12 is set to bring a smile to users as they shop from the widest variety of products to reward themselves and their loved ones during the happiest time of the year. Through the 12.12 Big Christmas Sale, shoppers can also spread the holiday cheer to their favorite local businesses, with 2 times more items sold by local businesses this year.

Users can look forward to a delightful celebration throughout the festive season. In the past year, Shopee has brought fun to users with exciting giveaways and exclusive content, recording over 13 billion engagements and views across its social media channels. This 12.12, users can expect even more entertainment and engagement with a brand-new commercial featuring international superstar Jackie Chan and performances by popular K-Pop group Tomorrow X Together. To get into the Pinoy family spirit of the holidays, Shopee also welcomes first-ever celebrity father-and-daughter brand ambassadors, Dingdong and Zia Dantes. 

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Every 12.12, Shopee comes together with our users to celebrate the milestones and achievements over the past year. This year, we would like to show our appreciation to all our users for letting us be part of their daily lives. Many more users are now using digital services, and local businesses are increasingly embracing the shift online. We are glad to have been able to adapt to their evolving needs this past year and we will continue to help more people benefit from the digital economy as we head into a new year. We look forward to celebrating the year-end with all our users as we bring smiles to one another this holiday season.”

As shoppers hunt for the best gifts,  Shopee is thrilled to bring users the most exciting deals this 12.12. These include:

Users can also expect non-stop entertainment from today until the big finale on December 12. Highlights include:

Local businesses represent a significant part of local culture and as the need for digitalization increases, Shopee is committed to supporting these sellers and helping them thrive:

Shopee Celebrates Local: Shopee launches ‘Shopee Celebrates Local,’ a special contest to share and promote beloved local sellers. Users can read their stories on the #TatakPinoy page and on Shopee’s social media channels, and vote for their favorites until December 5. Winning sellers stand to win prizes they can use for their businesses, while users stand to win Shopee vouchers. Through the Tatak Pinoy page, users can also enjoy exclusive deals when supporting these sellers. 

Through 12.12, Shopee will continue to uplift local communities through its platform. In the spirit of Christmas, Shopee launches the Frontliner Holiday Package to show gratitude for local heroes. Starting December 10, front liners can avail of this package, which includes vouchers they can use for their holiday celebrations. 

For more information about Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale, visit https://shopee.ph/m/christmas-sale. 

Download Shopee for free on App Store or Google Play Store.

(PRESS RELEASE) Has a celebrity or friend ever influenced you to buy certain items online? The budol is real, as one might say! As shoppers, we’re constantly on the lookout for the best product recommendations so we can maximize our money’s worth. SHOP NOW!

Now that the end of the month is just around the corner, is your shopping cart ready for the upcoming payday sale? If you’re looking for some inspiration on what to add to cart at Shopee’s Nov 30 Payday Sale, take notes from other shoppers. 

According to Shopee’s data on consumer behavior and trends during payday sales, Pinoys consistently spend on essentials and other items for work and play. They tend to use their sweldo to prioritize essentials and splurge on little luxuries from categories such as home essentials, women’s fashion & accessories, health & beauty, gadgets, and mobile accessories. They love shopping for KF94 masks, window curtains, crop tops, headsets, and hair accessories—the most popular items in Pinoys’ online shopping carts every payday. 

Below, check out Shopee’s top recommendations for each of these items:

 

To keep your family safe and healthy for the holidays, stock up on several Health Guard KF94 Masks. Its 3D foldable design makes it easier to breathe and minimizes contact with the lips, while its four-layered structure blocks harmful microparticles. 

 

Sleeping in this weekend? Enjoy a lazy, relaxing day off in bed by hanging up some light-blocking curtains. Siedodo Window Curtains are made of premium cotton and come in a variety of rich, gorgeous colors to give your bedroom an inviting ambiance. 

 

Whether you’re going out or just snapping some selfies at home, look cute and chic with a trendy puffed sleeve top. The Buymore_ph Crop Top features an elegant backless silhouette and ruffled garterized sleeves, perfect for pairing with high-waisted denim jeans. 

 

If you still hold meetings with your colleagues via video calls, it’s important to invest in a pair of quality earphones. SoundPEATS Wireless Earbuds will block off any distractions with its noise-cancellation feature, fit perfectly with its ergonomic design, and last for up to seven hours. 

 

Having trouble focusing while working from home? We’ve got one easy hack that might help: tie your hair! With your hair out of the way, you can concentrate better on your tasks. This silky Scrunchie and Headband Set can help prevent tangles and frizz. 

Give in to the holiday budol and check out these items and more at Shopee’s Nov 30 Payday Sale: https://shopee.ph/m/payday-sale. 

Looking for even more ways to maximize your sweldo this payday? Start using ShopeePay, Shopee’s all-in-one e-wallet, to avail of exclusive deals! At Shopee’s Nov 30 Payday Sale, enjoy free shipping with no minimum spend and 10% off discounts on your Shopee finds. You can also get 20% cashback on your COD orders when you use ShopeePay on Delivery. 

Use ShopeePay beyond your shopping needs! This payday sale, you can buy load at up to 50% off from all networks or get 30% cashback on your monthly bills. Even better, you can also claim discount vouchers to get ₱100 off from participating billers such as Meralco, Maynilad, PLDT, Globe, Smart, and more. 

If you need to stock up on groceries or have a much needed food-trip, get big savings when you avail ShopeePay ₱1 Deals via ‘Deals Near Me’ on the Shopee app. Redeem your discounts by paying with ShopeePay at partner merchants such as Puregold, Potato Corner, Bonchon, National Bookstore, FamilyMart, and more. New brands such as Papa John's, Goldilocks, Chooks-to-Go, Zagu, Wendy's, and Candy Corner have also joined the growing network of merchants accepting ShopeePay QR payments.

And if you’re looking for the ultimate get-away experience this holiday season, how about a staycation? Now, you can also book hotels with ShopeePay! Get 30% cashback on all your hotel bookings, including Grand Sierra Pines Hotel in Baguio, White House Beach Resort in Boracay, Mithi Resort and Spa in Bohol, Waterfront Cebu, White Breeze Palawan, and more. To add to that, you can score up to 50% off on selected hotels.

Enjoy these exclusive deals and more when you activate and cash in your ShopeePay. Now, you can also enjoy free and instant cash-ins and bank transfers with ShopeePay via InstaPay. Get up to ₱25 cashback on your InstaPay fee when you cash in. Buy Load, Pay Bills and Scan to Pay with ShopeePay this payday for a rewarding cashless experience! 

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.