Here's the traditional Christmas Tree with rattan balls from Bluewater Maribago. Isn't it nice?

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Christmas Tree has been a symbol of joy and happiness to everyone - children, young and old. When there's a Christmas Tree, all we think is a very happy and magical Christmas! In 2004, Pope John Paul called the Christmas tree a symbol of Christ. This very ancient custom, he said, exalts the value of life, as in winter what is evergreen becomes a sign of undying life, and it reminds Christians of the "tree of life" of Genesis 2:9, an image of Christ, the supreme gift of God to humanity. (Wikipedia)

Christmas Trees All Around Cebu This Year, 2018!

But in some houses, some could not afford to put up a Christmas Tree even a little one. But don't worry, here in Cebu there are a bunch of public or private venues such as Malls, Hotels or Parks which we can visit and strike a pose for some Holiday photos! Now, check out our list!

Christmas Tree in Ayala Center Cebu by Miong Pelimon

Christmas Tree in SM City Cebu by Novereich Agustin

Christmas Tree in Insular Square Mall

Christmas Tree in Jpark Island Waterpark Cebu. Pic by Sinjin Pineda

Christmas Tree in Marco Polo Plaza Hotel Cebu. Pic by Sha-Sha.

Christmas Tree in Radisson Blu. Pic by Doc. Xavier Solis.

Huge Christmas Tree of Robinsons Galleria Cebu. Pic by Jed Aries Yu.

Christmas Tree by Summit Galleria Cebu Hotel

Christmas Tree in Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino

Christmas Tree in Waterfront City Cebu and Casino

Hello Starbucks Lovers! Our much-awaited Planner from SB is coming next week. Yesterday, Thirteen Cebu Bloggers Society Members were invited to witness the revelation of the highly anticipated Starbucks 2016 Planner together with their special Christmas Cards designed with Swarovski Crystals and featured Coffee, Foods and Beverages for this fave Holiday Season.

Starbucks 2016 Planner  Follow us at FACEBOOK , TWITTER  (@FaceCebu) and INSTAGRAM (@mmonta)

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Cebu Bloggers Society Member Bloggers

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

1. The highly anticipated, limited edition, Starbucks annual planner will be available starting November 2, 2015. This year’s planner is collaboration between Starbucks and Moleskine®.
2. A customer can avail of a Starbucks Christmas Traditions Promo card from November 2, 2015 to January 7, 2016 with no purchase required.
3. One sticker is awarded for each Starbucks handcrafted beverage purchase. Holder must accumulate a total of eighteen (18) stickers, to redeem one (1) Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2016 Planner.Customer must present the Starbucks Christmas Traditions card to the barista upon purchase to get the corresponding number of stickers.
4. A customer must complete the required number of stickers to qualify for the redemption of one (1) Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2016 Planner. A combination of up to two (2) promo cards will be allowed, provided that the 9 featured plus 9 core beverages have been purchased. Excess stickers for combined cards will be forfeited.
5. Once all stickers are completed, customer submits the Starbucks Christmas Traditions Card/s to redeem one (1) Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2016 Planner from any Starbucks Coffee store in the Philippines.
6. Tampering with and/or transferring of stickers to obtain the required number of stickers will render all promo cards null and void.
7. Every purchase of a handcrafted beverage using a Starbucks Card will be awarded one (1) sticker and one (1) Beverage Star. Terms and conditions that apply to the Starbucks Card are available on www.starbucks.ph/card.
8. Single receipt bulk purchase of food and other retail items (merchandise, whole bean, Starbucks VIA®) worth at least ₱7,000 will entitle the customer to one (1) Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2016 Planner. Combination of receipts is not allowed.
9. Bulk purchase of gift certificates and Starbucks Card load/reload of at least ₱7,000 will not entitle the customer to a planner.
10. The following transactions and discounts are qualified for this promotion.
• Senior Citizen discount
• Handicapped discount
• VAT Exempt
• Personal Cup/Tumbler ₱5 discount
11. The following coupons and discounts are disqualified for this promotion.
• Service Recovery Coupon
• Free Tall Beverage Coupon
• Coffee Companion Guide Coupon
• Customer Voice Redemption
• Rustan Coffee Partner discount
• Rustan Group of Companies discount
• Starbucks Card Registration Treat
• Starbucks Card Beverage Treat Redemption
12. Promotion starts on November 2, 2015. Stickers may be obtained from November 2, 2015 to January 7, 2016.
13. Redemption of the Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2016 Planner starts November 2, 2015 up to March 7, 2016, at Starbucks stores in the Philippines only.In case any of the Holiday featured beverages are not available (ex. Toffee Nut Latte), customers can substitute it with any of the remaining holiday featured beverages (ex. Christmas Panettone Latte or Peppermint Mocha). Should all three (3) not be available, only then can customers substitute with any espresso-based or Frappuccino® blended beverage of their choice.
14. Promotion starts on November 2, 2015. Stickers may be obtained from November 2, 2015 to January 7, 2016.
15. Redemption of the Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2016 Planner starts November 2, 2015 up to March 7, 2016, at Starbucks stores in the Philippines only.

 

 HOLIDAY MINI WITH SWAROVSKI® CRYSTALS

The special limited edition Starbucks x Swarovski Card design is dazzling with 29 Swarovski crystals. Swarovski® is a leading producer of precision-cut crystal. Available starting November 2 for an initial consumable load amount of ₱2,500.



HOLIDAY TREE AND SNOWMAN CARDS

Last year's favorites make a comeback. These classic Christmas designs make them the perfect gift for anyone on your list. Available starting November 2 for an initial consumable load amount of ₱300.


 STARBUCKS PHILIPPINES 18TH ANNIVERSARY CARD

This design is inspired by our chalk art and the different communities where we are in the Philippines. Local phrases translate to "Have a nice day" - a way to thank customers for inviting us into moments of their day in the last 18 years. Available starting December 4 for an initial consumable load amount of ₱300.



 MERRY CHRISTMAS CARD

Say "Merry Christmas" with this Card - a design spark for a last-minute gift idea. Available starting December 15 for an initial consumable load amount of ₱300.




 CHRISTMAS PANETTONE LATTE | Short - ₱ 155 Tall – ₱ 165 Grande ₱ 180 Venti– ₱ 190

Its bread and butter flavors are perfectly paired with steamed milk and roasted espresso. We then top it off
with whipped cream and a medley of dried fruits for a textural and delicious twist on a classic holiday tradition.

*Also available in Frappuccino® blended beverage. | Tall – ₱ 175 Grande ₱ 185 Venti– ₱ 195

TOFFEE NUT LATTE | Short - ₱ 155 Tall – ₱ 165 Grande ₱ 180 Venti– ₱ 190

Ring in the Christmas season with steamed milk, espresso and toffee nut syrup, topped off with whipped cream and beloved toffee nut sprinkles.

*Also available in Frappuccino® blended beverage. | Tall – ₱ 175 Grande ₱ 185 Venti– ₱ 195

PEPPERMINT MOCHA | Short - ₱ 155 Tall – ₱ 165 Grande ₱ 180 Venti– ₱ 190

A chocolaty coffee beverage highlighted with peppermint notes which brings up memories of candy canes and Christmas festivities. Topped off with whipped cream, mocha drizzle, and red and white candy bits.

 *Also available in Frappuccino® blended beverage. | Tall – ₱ 175 Grande ₱ 185 Venti– ₱ 195




 DARK BELGIAN CHOCOLATE CAKE | ₱ 190 (slice) ₱ 1,695 (whole)
Layers of dark Belgian chocolate cake, mousse, meringue and frosted dark Belgian chocolate with gold powder dusting.


 WHITE CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CHEESECAKE | ₱ 150 (slice) ₱ 1,595 (whole)
A smooth velvety white chocolate cheesecake on graham cookie crust.


 BIRTHDAY CAKE | ₱ 130  (slice) ₱ 1,150 (whole)
Moist and light vanilla cake and cream cheese frosting with pastel colored sprinkles.
 

 ROCKY ROAD COOKIE STUFFED WITH OREO | ₱ 65
A chewy double chocolate chip cookie with walnuts, marshmallow and stuffed with Oreo.
 

ITALIAN CHEESE POCKET | ₱ 120
A flour tortilla filled with pepperoni, sausage, olives, mushroom, bell pepper, tomatoes and cheese.


 ROASTED CHICKEN AND TURKEY WRAP | ₱ 170
A tortilla filled with chicken breast fillet, roasted vegetables and turkey drizzled with cranberry garlic dressing.



 SPINACH LASAGNA | ₱165
Layers of al dente lasagna with creamy tomato spinach filling.



 PENNE AL FORMAGGIO | ₱ 165
A childhood favorite, al dente penne pasta with creamy and sharp cheese sauce made with cheddar, parmesan and mozzarella.
 
STARBUCKS® BISCOTTI COLLECTION | ₱ 545
Greet the Christmas season with a new Starbucks® packaged food featuring three almond biscotti and three chocolate chunk biscotti. These classic, twice baked cookies – a delicious complement to your favourite coffee have a subtle sweetness and satisfying crunch you can enjoy.



Starbucks® Christmas Blend combines lively Latin American beans with mellow Indonesian coffees and rare aged Sumatra. Artfully roasted and expertly blended to be both spicy and sweet.

 STARBUCKS® CHRISTMAS BLONDE ROAST
Starbucks® Christmas Blonde Roast is specially crafted by Starbucks master roasters, this coffee is roasted for a shorter time bringing out the warm, woodsy aromas and flavors of brown sugar, sweet oranges and all-spice.

STARBUCKS® CHRISTMAS ESPRESSO ROAST
Starbucks® Christmas Blend Espresso Roast is inspired by the tradition of Christmas blend, this coffee starts with Latin American beans perfect for a darker roast, then adds Indonesian beans from Sumatra that add herbal and spice notes. A common misconception is that this is Christmas Blend, only roasted darker. This isn’t the case, but this coffee was inspired by the taste profiles of both Christmas Blend and Starbucks Espresso Roast.

Kalag-Kalag comes from the word "Kalag" that means Ghost. It is famously known and observed in Central Visayas, specifically in Cebu. In other part of the Country, this tradition is followed during All Souls' Day (November 2, after All Saints' Day - November 1) which Filipinos visit their departed loved ones in Cemetery. Even the Catholic Church always suggests to say prayer during these Solemn Days, we always tend to follow our Ancestors' traditions like offering Flowers and lighting of Candles outside our House or near the Doorstep and lighting at the Cemetery's Big Cross. In addition to this custom, Cebuanos prepare and offer Foods in the Altar and in Tombs. But why do we prepare foods and celebrate a little feast during Kalag-Kalag?

Food Offerings for the Soul. Photo Credit: Sunstar Cebu

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I've done research online and even came to the point on asking Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Consultant, Ka Bino Guerrero regarding this random question.

According to TheHolidaySpot.com, "The customs and traditions associated with All Soul's Day are various and differs from culture to culture. It is the common belief that the dead partake of the food in spirit which the living eat later. Therefore an altar is prepared at home with an offering of food upon it. The offerings (ofrendas) are beautifully arranged with flowers such as marigolds which are the traditional flower of the dead."

One of our traditions during All Souls Day is to light a candle in Cemetery's Big Cross. Photo Credit: Philstar.com

According to Ka Bino, "Philippine Catholicism is quite unique. Many of our pagan practices were not eradicated by the Spaniards. Offering Food as well as the Sinulog are all but vestiges of our animistic religion during the pre-colonial period. I can't say it was allowed by the church, but there were no conscious effort in stopping it. Thus it continues until these days"

According to belief, as we put lighted candles on our departed loveones' tombs the brighter the lights they can see as guide going to heaven. Photo Credit: Sunstar Cebu

So, if you have your idea why we offer or prepare foods in the Altar during Kalag-Kalag, please submit using comment box below. :)