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Cebu Life, Cebu City (2024)

13/03/2024

SM Malls in Cebu Conduct Simultaneous Fire Drills for Safety Awareness

In a large-scale demonstration of its commitment to safety, SM Supermalls in Cebu has successfully conducted a simultaneous fire drill across all its mall locations.

This significant initiative underscores the retail giant’s dedication to ensuring the readiness of its employees, tenants, and shoppers in the context of fire safety and emergency response protocols.

The nationwide fire drill, which took place this morning, involved a series of coordinated activities designed to simulate emergency fire conditions, allowing participants to engage in realistic scenarios.

These drills were conducted in strict compliance with local safety regulations and guidelines, ensuring a comprehensive and effective implementation.

SM Malls

The drill encompassed various aspects of emergency management, including evacuation procedures, fire extinguisher use, and coordination with local fire departments and emergency services to ensure a seamless and coordinated response in the event of an actual emergency.

The participation and support from these local entities were instrumental in the drill’s success, providing valuable insights and feedback to enhance future drills.

Following the successful completion of the drill, SM Supermalls has pledged to conduct these exercises regularly, with the goal of continually enhancing their emergency response protocols and ensuring that safety remains a top priority across all its retail locations.

12/03/2024

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced an ambitious plan to expand the bike lane network in Metro Cebu, as part of efforts to promote active mobility in the populous Visayan cities.

The groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the construction of new bike lanes totaling 67.19 kilometers across Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, as well as the towns of Cordova and Talisay.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced an ambitious plan to expand the bike lane network in Metro Cebu.

12/03/2024

In a spectacular showcase of skill and determination, the Red Bull Half Court Cebu Qualifiers reached its climax with the University of San Jose – Recoletos (USJ-R) clinching the championship in the 3-on-3 men’s division, and Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) Ormoc securing victory in the women’s division.

The event, held at the Sisters of Mary in Talisay City, Cebu, enthralled spectators with a mix of raw talent and sheer athleticism on the rustic school grounds.

In a spectacular showcase of skill and determination, the Red Bull Half Court Cebu Qualifiers reached its climax with the University of San Jose – Recoletos (USJ-R) clinching the championship in the 3-on-3 men’s division, and Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) Ormoc securing victory in the ...

08/03/2024

Cebu’s Danao City and Ilocos Norte entered into a sisterhood agreement on Thursday, March 7, 2024.

The formal signing ceremony, held at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol Auditorium, was presided over by two key figures: Danao City Mayor Thomas Mark “Mix” Durano and Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc.

This partnership signifies a mutual commitment to advancing their communities through collaborative efforts in various sectors.

08/03/2024

The Honda Riders Convention is making a grand return, inviting motorcycle enthusiasts to gear up for the 2024 Visayas leg of the event in Cebu City.

Scheduled for March 23, 2024, at the IEC Convention Center in Cebu City, the convention promises an enhanced experience filled with interactive games, challenges, and the chance to win exciting prizes.

The Honda Rider’s Convention is making a grand return, inviting motorcycle enthusiasts to gear up for the 2024 Visayas leg of the event.

07/03/2024

United Airlines has announced an expansion of its global network, including the introduction of new non-stop flights from Tokyo/Narita to Cebu, marking a significant enhancement in connectivity for travelers in the region.

This new route, set to commence on July 31, will offer year-round, daily flights operated on Boeing 737-800 aircraft, making United the sole U.S. carrier to provide direct service to Cebu.

United has announced an expansion of its global network, including the introduction of new non-stop flights from Tokyo/Narita to Cebu.

07/03/2024

The eagerly awaited Red Bull Half Court tournament is returning to Cebu, promising an electrifying showcase of basketball talent.

On March 9, 2024, the court at Sisters of Mary School – Girlstown in Talisay will come alive as it hosts the Cebu Qualifiers, where the region’s finest 3-on-3 streetball players will compete for a chance to progress to the National Qualifiers and ultimately vie for supremacy at the World Finals in New York City.

The eagerly awaited Red Bull Half Court tournament is returning to Cebu, promising an electrifying showcase of basketball talent.

07/03/2024

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced the expansion of the “Tara Basa!” tutoring program, set to begin in Cebu City and other regions following a successful pilot in the National Capital Region (NCR) last year.

Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez revealed plans for the ceremonial launch on March 8, signaling the program’s broader implementation across the country.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced the expansion of the “Tara Basa!” tutoring program, set to begin in Cebu City and other regions following a successful pilot in the National Capital Region (NCR) last year. Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lo...

07/03/2024

The Cebu Institute of Technology – University (CIT-U) has been distinguished as the grand winner in the national finals of the 2023-2024 Huawei ICT Competition, earning a spot to represent the Philippines in the upcoming regional finals.

This achievement places CIT-U alongside teams from Bulacan State University (BulSU) and MAPUA University, both of which secured the 1st prize in the competition.

The Cebu Institute of Technology – University (CIT-U) has been distinguished as the grand winner in the national finals of the 2023-2024 Huawei ICT Competition, earning a spot to represent the Philippines in the upcoming regional finals. This achievement places CIT-U alongside teams from Bulacan S...

06/03/2024

In a vibrant celebration of Women’s Month, the Tindahan ni Nanay (TNN) Trade Fair, a testament to the resilience and creativity of women microentrepreneurs, has opened its doors at SM City Cebu.

This initiative, brought to life through a partnership between the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Microfinance and SM City Cebu, aims to highlight the contributions of women to local entrepreneurship by showcasing a diverse array of locally crafted products.

In a vibrant celebration of Women’s Month, the Tindahan ni Nanay (TNN) Trade Fair, a testament to the resilience and creativity of women microentrepreneurs, has opened its doors at SM City Cebu. This initiative, brought to life through a partnership between the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI)...

01/03/2024

Cathay Pacific Airways, the flag carrier of Hong Kong, is planning to increase flight frequencies from Cebu, aiming to return to pre-pandemic operations levels by year’s end, the Inquirer reports.

Vishnu Rajendran, the airline’s country manager, expressed the intention to elevate the Cebu-Hong Kong route from its current five weekly flights to daily, with an optimistic view on air travel’s rebound.

Cathay Pacific Airways, the flag carrier of Hong Kong, is planning to increase flight frequencies from Cebu, aiming to return to pre-pandemic operations levels by year’s end, the Inquirer reports. Vishnu Rajendran, the airline’s country manager, expressed the intention to elevate the Cebu-Hong K...

28/02/2024

USC Hosts URC 2024 Focused on Sustainable Futures

The University of San Carlos (USC) is gearing up to host the 8th University Research Conference (URC 2024) with a focus on “Sustainable Futures,” in conjunction with its 75th anniversary celebration.

Scheduled for April 18 and 19, 2024, at the Talamban Campus, this year’s conference promises an engaging lineup of over 50 research presentations that delve into sustainability and its impact on future generations.

Full story in comment section.

28/02/2024

Cebu Pacific Wins Airline Category at Routes Asia 2024 Awards

Cebu Pacific emerged victorious in the Airline category at the prestigious Routes Asia 2024 Awards, held in Langkawi, Malaysia.

The award ceremony, celebrating excellence in airport and destination marketing, recognized the Philippine low-cost carrier for its innovative strategies and collaborative efforts in expanding its network and services.

Full story in comment section.

28/02/2024

Cebu City Launches Online Portal for Tax Services

Taxpayers seeking services from the Office of the City Assessors (OCCA) now have the convenience of accessing these services through the palm of their hand, thanks to the city’s new online portal.

Full story in comment section.

27/02/2024

In a landmark move that underscores the robust potential of the Philippines’ hospitality and real estate sectors, Accor has partnered with Tytans Properties Development to unveil the Pullman Mactan Cebu Hotel & Residences.

This ambitious project, set in the vibrant city of Cebu, marks a significant milestone as one of the largest of its kind in both the Philippines and the world.

In a landmark move that underscores the robust potential of the Philippines’ hospitality and real estate sectors, Accor has partnered with Tytans Properties Development to unveil the Pullman Mactan Cebu Hotel & Residences. This ambitious project, set in the vibrant city of Cebu, marks a significan...

27/02/2024

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) ContactPoint 360, celebrated the opening of its latest facility in Skyrise 4, IT Park, Cebu City, on February 22, 2024.

The new site is equipped with cutting-edge contact center technology, emphasizing ContactPoint 360’s commitment to leveraging a data-driven approach and a mature workforce to optimize business processes for its diverse clientele across various industries.

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) ContactPoint 360, celebrated the opening of its latest facility in Skyrise 4, IT Park, Cebu City, on February 22, 2024. The new site is equipped with cutting-edge contact center technology, emphasizing ContactPoint 360’s commitment to leveraging a data-driven app...

27/02/2024

Cebu Congressman Edsel Galeos has introduced a bill in the House of Representatives, advocating for the return of four historic pulpit panels to Boljoon town from the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), highlighting a significant cultural repatriation effort within the country.

Representing Cebu’s Second District, where Boljoon is located, Galeos’s legislative move responds to a request from the municipality for the NMP to investigate how the panels, believed to have been stolen from the town’s church in the 1980s, ended up in the museum’s possession.

Cebu Congressman Edsel Galeos has introduced a bill in the House of Representatives, advocating for the return of four historic pulpit panels to Boljoon town from the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), highlighting a significant cultural repatriation effort within the country. Representing Ce...

25/02/2024

Schedule Set for “Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Enchanting Camotes” Event in May

The much-awaited “Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Enchanting Camotes” event, a highlight in Cebu’s tourism calendar, has been scheduled for May 11 to 12, as announced by the Provincial Government of Cebu.

This immersive tour aims to showcase the rich cultural heritage and breathtaking beauty of the Camotes Islands, offering participants a unique exploration of one of Cebu’s prime tourism gems.

Full story in comment section:

18/12/2023

Globe enhances SIM registration platform with 24-hour data verification

Globe has upgraded its SIM registration platform to enable data verification in as fast as 24 hours, a key step to deter fraud.

This is in line with fresh guidelines from the National Telecommunications Commission, after tests showed how fraudulent IDs and details pass telcos’ SIM registration platforms. This bolsters the platform’s existing security features such as Optical Character Recognition, its data-matching capability that compares information between SIM users’ IDs and submitted forms, and the selfie requirement.

“With improved verification, Globe will be able to immediately w**d out fraudulent submissions and avoid issues we had to confront in the first year of SIM Registration, including the use of fake IDs and fraudulent information. Our goal is to complete validation within 24 hours, and we’ll continue to fine-tune our solution as we test out this process,” Atty. Froilan Castelo, Globe Group General Counsel.

Globe has also started undertaking vigorous verification of all SIM registration data covering an estimated 61.4 million SIM users, with the review expected to be finished within 2024.

“In light of red flags that law enforcement authorities raised on the vulnerabilities of telcos’ SIM registration platforms, this stringent review aims to retroactively remove questionable submissions. With this step and our improved verification for all future submissions, our goal is to ensure the integrity of SIM registration data,” he said.

Globe also reiterated its call on the government to give telcos access to its official ID database to make SIM registration verification fool-proof. This step is critical in cross-referencing ID submissions as it would help telcos verify which IDs are real or fake.

“As we take our own steps to improve the SIM registration process, we continue to seek help from the government to boost our data verification capabilities. Access to government ID data is key in this process,” said Castelo.

Globe launched its SIM registration platform on December 27, 2022, two weeks after the release of the implementing rules and regulations of the SIM Registration Act, a crucial measure to deter online fraud and scams.

Since the start of SIM registration, Globe registered 53.7 million SIMs existing at the time of the registration period, and 7.7 million new SIMs since the deadline on July 30, 2023.

On top of its full compliance with the SIM Registration Act, Globe has long been undertaking stringent measures against fraud, including proactive SMS and SIM blocking, a 24-hour Security Operations Center, partnerships with banks and financial institutions, the reporting portal, and awareness campaigns to help customers protect themselves.

Through these efforts, Globe blocked 5.31 billion spam and scam SMS from January to end November 2023, and over 208,000 SIMs from the same period over fraud links, including 200,686 blacklisted SIMs from other networks , and 7,403 deactivated SIMs from within its own network.

04/11/2022

Congrats!

The global pandemic might have minted depressing and unfortunate stories of lives lost and loved ones suffering but it also created inspiring stories of kindness, selfless dedication, and going beyond one's comfort zones to serve others. For the nine teachers at Abellana National School (ANS), a pub...