[INFOGRAPHIC] 10 Amazing Business Moms
- By Moneymax
- May 10, 2015
She brought us into the world, kissed us goodnight when we were kids, and taught us how to be better people as we outgrew our toys and colouring books. Our mothers rank high among the most important people in our lives, and their powers of child-rearing and household management practically make them superhuman in our eyes. Read More: The Ups and Downs of Working Mom vs. Stay-at-Home Mom In honor of these unsung heroines, we’ve listed down ten amazing women who rock both in business and motherhood. They show us that the Working Mom’s dream is alive and well. Happy Mother’s Day! 10 Amazing Business Moms to Inspire You Women have come a long way from being plain housewives to global leaders and influencers. Here’s a list of ten inspirational “business moms” who have managed to achieve entrepreneurial success, while continuing to inspire us as great family role models. Because who run the world? Moms, of course! 1. Estée Lauder Born Josephine Esther Mentzer, Lauder started her business ambitions when her chemist uncle taught her how to make beauty creams when she was a teen. She married Joseph Lauter and had their first child in the 1930s, establishing the company that would become Estée Lauder Cosmetics nearly a decade later. 2. Susan Wojcicki A surprising candidate for one of the most powerful women in tech, Susan Wojcicki previously worked behind the scenes at Google before becoming the new CEO of YouTube in February 2014. This mother of five is a proud advocate of work-life balance, having written an op-ed in the…
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[INFOGRAPHIC] A Guide to Driving in Makati
- By Moneymax
- May 4, 2015
Imagine a city’s population swelling from around 500,000 to over 4 million in a matter of hours. One might think that people were trying to get away from something when they’re just trying to get to work. That’s the state of Makati City every morning. Read More: Tips for First-time Filipino Drivers There’s a lot about Makati that makes it appealing: the nightlife, the sprawling urban architecture, places to eat at, and work at. Makati’s central business district houses much of the corporate headquarters of bigger businesses in the country, and many of the country’s young professionals make the City of Makati their growing ground. The roads of Makati generally connect to each other in ways that make the city a maze of interconnected one-way streets. To the new-ish driver, Makati might seem like a labyrinth of one-way streets that make getting around a little difficult – but only at first. It may take some time to get used to knowing which roads connect to which, and which roads you need to take to get out of Makati and into the surrounding cities. If it’s your first time driving, know that Makati is subject to much stricter enforcement of traffic laws and regulations, the same way that pedestrian traffic is managed. For example: the number coding scheme for vehicles usually allows for certain periods in the day when vehicles that are not allowed to travel actually can. Makati does not have this leeway. The coding scheme is wholly enforced, and the fine can cut over PHP 1,000 if the law is violated….
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Tips on Planning Your Next Summer Getaway
- By Moneymax
- May 3, 2015
“I’ve got a well-thought out plan for our summer getaway” said no one ever, and more than a month in advance. It often becomes the job of one particular person in the family or among a group of friends to plan and coordinate a summer getaway. It’s a kind of a tough job to hunt down a place that everyone will like, the accommodation, and plan activities. Read More: How to Perfectly Plan Your Summer Getaway You think more than a few things when you’re the one making the plans, but here are five things that go through your head when you plan a summer getaway. Why does it always have to be me? Take heart, if you’re the one who gets approached by friends and family to plan the annual summer getaway, it just means that they trust your choices. They know that you’ve got the most organized mind and the most patience when it comes to making plans on this scale. What you can do: One way that might get you to stop to stop thinking this way is to rope in a few more family members or friends in the planning. Okay, where are we going this time? Odds are this isn’t the first time you’re planning a summer getaway, and you’ve probably built a set of bookmarks and other possible references for places to go for a summer vacation. What comes next is simply asking everyone would like to do this summer, and making plans based on the consensus.\ What you can do: Once you’ve decided where…
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What Type of Crazy Driver Are You?
- By Moneymax
- April 21, 2015
Even the most responsible drivers can get a little stir-crazy when sitting in slow or unmoving traffic, or when they encounter other kinds of crazy drivers. Here are five types of crazy drivers that you can normally encounter when driving in the Philippines. The Road Rager This is the kind of driver that’s almost constantly swearing at cars that cut him off, or when other drivers refuse to take advantage of a situation. As a result, the Road Rager is at the biggest risk for getting into a traffic accident because their tempers flare faster. How to deal: Drive defensively when you encounter this kind of driver. If you happen to be in the car with this person, ask them to take a breath and calm down. Remind them that you can get into an accident if he or she keeps this up. Read more: 3 Sustainable Traffic Solutions the Philippines Can Learn From Other Countries 3 Real-Life Drivers Saved By Car Insurance The Speed Demon The Speed Demon just has to go fast, and not like I’m-going-to-be-late fast, more like I-just-gotta-beat that-traffic-light fast. The tendency of a speed demon is to weave through traffic at the fastest possible speeds, which makes for a bumpy ride. How to Deal: If you happen to be in the car with a speed demon, exorcise them by asking them to drive a little slower. These kinds of drivers are likely to just pass you by if you encounter them on the road – usually on the open highway – so driving carefully is…
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3 Cautionary Tales of Irresponsible Credit Card Use
- By Moneymax
- April 8, 2015
We all hear stories about using and misusing credit cards, and often, we wonder how one can use a credit card responsibly. A credit card is a big responsibility. It takes more than being aware that you can manage it properly, more than knowing you can potentially get in trouble if you can’t handle it. A credit card is a big responsibility. It takes more than being aware that you can manage it properly and knowing that you can get in trouble if you can’t handle it for one to handle it properly and avoid bad debt. Read more: Credit Card Dos and Don’ts for the Financially-Savvy Filipino Stories from other people can help inform one’s decision to use their credit card. Note that their names have been altered to protect their privacy. What Happens After You Get A Credit Card? “I’d never really used my credit card for anything beyond small, insignificant purchases that didn’t amount to much. But then I’d gotten plastered after a bad breakup, and in that drunken state… I’d decided that the four years we’d spent together were four years that I spent giving her all of my time, leaving nothing for myself. I probably shouldn’t have started the drinking early on in the day, and not so close to a mall. My friends said that I was lucid and I seemed to know exactly what I was doing. Next thing I knew, I’d gone home with a forty-inch flatscreen and a new console, and a bunch of games. I was lucky that the TV and the…
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5 Fun Car Games that Don’t Require Smartphones
- By Moneymax
- April 3, 2015
Traveling always involves a certain amount of restlessness, especially when you’ve got company along. Most people are okay sitting in the silence of a car, with almost everyone just scrolling through whatever they want to on their smartphones. But even that gets boring and repetitive after a little while, but then, what do you do? Play some Car Games, of course! While there are plenty of apps that allow for that sort of thing, let’s get back to basics for a second, and here are 5 fun car games that don’t require smartphones. Read more: What You Can Do When Stuck in a Traffic Jam 20 Questions This one’s a classic game that’s got very few rules and doesn’t really take the driver’s attention off the road, and keeps everyone thinking. How it works: Someone thinks up an animal, mineral or vegetable (or person, place, thing) – and everybody else asks a question that can only be answered with a yes, or a no. After 20 questions have been asked, that’s when everyone gets to guess. Laugh A Lot If you’ve got a friend who laughs easily, or someone who laughs at the slightest provocation, then this is the game you’ll want to play. Feel free to be as silly as you like to get someone to laugh a lot. How it works: Choose a player who’s got to keep a straight face. Everyone else has to choose a silly answer for that player to use, then everyone else asks a question and the player can only answer using that phrase…
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Philippine Celebrities and Their Cars
- By Moneymax
- March 27, 2015
We’ve got a lot of high profile celebrities—a lot of them, filthy rich. Some of them, though, are car enthusiasts that really have a passion for driving or just have cars to show off how much they have in their bank accounts. A lot of us here at MoneyMax are actually big car fans, so we decided to look at which stars drove what, and what we think of their cars! From what we’ve seen, though, a lot of actors seem to choose their cars for form AND function! Who says you can’t be stylish while driving an SUV anyway? Read more: Pinoy Celebrities Involved in Car Accidents Anne Curtis – Audi Q5 and Audi A3 Last November 2014, Christmas came early for Anne Curtis since she drove off with an Audi A3 1.8 TFSI which dubbed as the safest car and the 2014 World Car of the Year[1]. There are also constant occasions where she drives other Audi models since she is the official Ambassadress of the brand. Doug Kramer – Isuzu MU-X With his countless basketball practices and matches, together with the duty of keeping his 3 adorable kids and lovely wife safe on the road, Doug Kramer has chosen to drive an Isuzu MU-X, but he went out of his way to have it customized at Baguio with new rims, bumpers, customized body paint, to make this look as bad-ass as its owner. Georgina Wilson – Jaguar F-TYPE Coupé It girl Georgina Wilson can’t just drive a car not as fierce as her, right? This may be the reason why…
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The 5 Coldest Places in the Philippines to Go and Chill
- By Moneymax
- March 19, 2015
Most people can easily escape to the many malls of the metro to walk around, eat some ice cream, and stay in the cold. But then, malls fill up fairly quickly, and large crowds can easily equal the possibility of the air-conditioning in a mall flipping out. Read More: DIY Hacks to Beat the Summer Heat If you’d like to go someplace to – quite literally – cool your heels, here’s a list of five coldest places you can totally go to chill out this summer. Sagada Baguio’s one thing, Sagada is another. The town mimics winter well enough after dark given that the temperature here can drop to as low as 10 C. Given that Sagada is 5,300 feet above sea level, it’s bound to stay cool throughout the summer months. If you’re feeling adventurous, there’s also wading into the waters of Sumaguing Cave – which are apparently freezing – and if you want to warm up, you can try out the Kape Alamid. Other activities include climbing the Kiltepan. You can get to Sagada from Baguio’s Dangwa terminal, the ride takes about five hours via bus or jeepney. Read more: Sama All This Summer: Best Outdoor Activities in the Philippines for ₱3,000 or Less Don Salvador Benedicto Lion monuments and pine trees line this town, located 2,500 feet above sea level on Negros Island. It’s also been called “Little Baguio” at times given the fact that the temperature here drops to 16 C. What’s awesome is that unlike Baguio, there is way less of a crowd here. Visitors driving…
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Five Popular Second-Hand Shops in the Metro
- By Moneymax
- March 16, 2015
Getting something at a second-hand shop doesn’t always mean that they’re lack quality or are inferior to brand new items. In fact, some of the rare vintage items, hard-to-find books, and phased-out collectors’ items can be found by trawling through second-hand specialty stores. There are plenty of stores in other countries that cater exclusively to storing and selling second-hand or pre-loved items. Here are 5 second-hand shops you can go if you want to hunt for some rare items you want to add to your collection: Tresorie at Accessory Lab, Power Plant Location: Poblacion, Makati, Metro Manila Contact: +632 890 9011 If designer handbags and clutches are your thing, but can’t find it in yourself to spring for a brand new Louis Vuitton, why not drop by Ingrid Chua Go’s Tresorie? The shop sells second-hand designer bags and high-end clutches that may have once been in a collection somewhere in the world. Tresorie also hosts several high-end clothing and accessory brands if you happen to drop in. Books, Books, and more Books at Bookay-ukay Location: #78 Maginhawa St., Teacher’s Village, Quezon City Contact: 0917 647 4956 Everyone’s been to Book Sale at least once trying to find a book for their collection, or to hunt old issues of favorite comics. Bookay-ukay might be your place to go if you can’t find it at Book Sale. Movies, Music, and More at MRI Music Location: Rm. 604, Travelers Inn, 7880 Makati Avenue Contact: (02) 895 7061 ext. 604 There’s a certain charm to vinyl records and cassette tapes as a format for music. If…
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Brunch? Five Restaurants that serve Cocktails
- By Moneymax
- March 10, 2015
Brunch is basically breakfast and lunch, and sometimes brunch may also call for a few drinks. It’s not always a thing to drink over a meal, but some brunch gatherings are best served by having drinks that aren’t high on the alcohol content and helps cool down in this summer heat. There are lots of places you can get brunch, or cocktails, but have you ever wondered where you can get both? We’ve got five places that are restaurants that serve cocktails. Walrus Katipunan Where: 318 Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City, Metro Manila Contact: 0917 808 8332 This place mostly caters to the student crowd from nearby schools, but before the kids roll in, this place is a wonderfully kitschy place to have some lunch and a drink or two to go with it. Cocktails here also have interesting names – like the Strawberry Fields Forever, and the Beautiful Chocolate Man. Their food is just as tasty, try the Honey Chicken Wings and the Pizzadilla. LeBar at Sofitel Where: CCP Complex Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Manila Contact: (02) 551 5555 Sofitel is known for having awesome places to eat, drink, and their accommodations aren’t half-bad, either. LeBar is known for having a quiet, more intimate ambiance to it, perfect for when you want to have quiet drinks over a light lunch with friends. The Manila Bay Breeze comes highly recommended by almost anyone who has brunch there. The Rocket Room Where: GF, Quandrant 4, Bonifacio High Street, 9th Ave, Taguig Contact: n/a The Rocket Room is chic little place in Taguig…
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[INFOGRAPHIC] The Ten Most Badass Cars from Movies
- By Moneymax
- March 7, 2015
Movies and cars are a long-standing tradition, cars from movies are often the stuff childhood memories are made of. There are cars that make the movie, and movies that revolve specifically around fast cars and high speed chases. Some of these cars are iconic, and you can never remember a movie without mentioning the car the hero (or heroes) used. Debates have raged on often enough regarding the various incarnations of the Batmobile, for example. People generally didn’t like the Green Hornet movie, but loved the fresh incarnation of the Black Beauty; and while the Delorean is famous for being a Time Machine in Back to the Future, it isn’t exactly a wonder in real life. For a shot of nostalgia, or just to see if your favorites match up, here are ten of the most badass cars from movies. [tags] MoneymaxWith a goal to help Filipinos lead healthier financial lives, Moneymax regularly publishes tips and tricks on personal finance and lifestyle, among many other topics. For more finance-related news and articles, follow Moneymax on Linkedin. www.moneymax.ph
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DIY Hacks to Beat the Summer Heat
- By Moneymax
- March 5, 2015
One of the largest issues that most people face during the summer is how to keep cool. On most days in summer, the heat in the country is enough to cause dehydration; long exposure to the sun without any protection can result in prickly heat and sunburn. While most people flock to the high-powered air-conditioned malls of the country, there are ways you can beat the summer heat without having to spend too much. Here are DIY ideas that’ll help you beat the heat: Hack your Hydration Keep a water bottle with you at all times. While you could buy a small insulated water jug, a cheaper alternative is to put uncooked rice in a small Ziploc baggie or a clean sock and stuff it in your freezer. It’ll come out cold and stay that way for a couple of hours which is enough time to cool your bottle. Cool down Speaking of cooling yourself down, the best places to make sure the cold seeps into your body well are your pulse points. The back of your neck, the insides of your wrists and knees, and your temples are where blood circulation is densest. If you want to cool down, you can run water to these points or use the rice bag hack previously mentioned. One great thing about the hack is that the rice pack doesn’t leak and molds to your body parts. Another trick you can do, especially if you don’t have an air-conditioner, is to grab a big bowl of ice and stick it behind your fan to cool…
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7 Cheap Barkada Destinations Around Metro Manila (Updated)
- By Moneymax
- February 19, 2015
Getting your friends together is like herding sheep. Instead of needing a pen to keep them rounded up, what you need is a destination–something you can all visit and enjoy. While catching the latest movie and going somewhere relaxing are usual for most barkadas, you can never run out of places to visit that are just a few hours drive. Here are seven cheap barkada destinations that you can head to: Breakout Philippines An offshoot of the Outbreak Manila marathon series, Breakout Philippines[1] is a place you can go to if you want to experience a few thrills. Their rooms feature zombies and other supernatural phenomena that you should break out of in 45 minutes or less. Rates for five people and above are PHP 400 per head. Breakout adheres to a strict schedule, so if you book, make sure to be there on time. Where to Find Breakout Philippines: Ground floor, Paragon Plaza, Reliance St. Corner EDSA, Mandaluyong City 2nd floor Serendra, Taguig City 315 Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City 2nd floor The Block, SM City North Edsa, Quezon City 3rd floor Greenbelt 5, Makati City 2nd floor Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City Contact: Email support@breakout.com.ph or call 0927-2571602 for Globe and 0928-8214531 for Smart. Mystery Manila If Breakout specializes in the thrill of escape, Mystery Manila[2] is all about, well, mysteries. Here, you need to solve the mystery of a room in an hour or less or else it’s game over. Rates in Mystery Manila are also PHP 400 per person for five people and above. You’ll also be best…
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5 Driving Distractions You Need to Avoid
- By Moneymax
- February 16, 2015
The possibility of getting into an accident is a reality drivers (and passengers) have to live with. In the Philippines, aside from not having strong basics on safe driving, 79% of car crashes are caused by human error, and one of these errors can be in the form of driving distractions. There are times when even a split-second glance away from the road is enough to put you in danger. Here are five things that can get you distracted from driving: 1. Texting and Calling Driving requires focus and texting is a distraction that takes it away from the road. A call on speaker mode or through a hands-free headset makes driving just as difficult. With your mind on the conversation and not on the road, the odds that you get to a fender bender rise, so put it away. If you do have to make a call or text owing to an emergency, find a space to park first. Read more: The Anti-Distracted Driving Act: How Helpful Is It in Preventing Road Accidents? 2. Passengers Younger drivers with their friends in the car are more prone to getting into an accident if the driver gets distracted by everyone else’s conversation. Backseat drivers and fidgety passengers (mostly children) can distract the driver. One thing you can do is make it clear that it’s your car, so it’s your rules to ensure that the backseat drivers and the road-raging ones check themselves. Give the fidgety passengers something to distract themselves with during the trip. Read more: 5 Things That Could Happen Once MMDA Implements…
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Organizing the Best Prom Party on a Budget
- By Moneymax
- February 4, 2015
February is known for a grand plethora of things; Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year, Red Day. For those still in school, it’s time for Prom. The Prom Committee generally takes the brunt of this, as it’s their job to acquire venue, catering, and deciding whether Prom gets a Band or a DJ. The one common factor that both the committee and the prom-goer have in common is that they have to run on a budget. There a lot of ways you can cut costs for Prom, but still have it as fun as possible. The Prom Theme The all-important theme is something that the committee first debates on, then releases a set for the general populace to vote on (or at least that’s how it normally goes). Consider themes that aren’t too outside the realm of possibility, like color sets or fashion from the last two decades. Easier themes will be less difficult to plan clothes and décor for. The Venue Scouting for venues may be a little less difficult, given that you’ll have assistance from the school, but all the same, make an effort not to break the bank. The average cost for a venue with space for a dance (and includes food) around Php 650 to Php 1,200 per head. Multiply that by a hundred or so students for both the Junior and Senior classes, and staff or parents who are to function as chaperones. So consider acquiring a venue separate from food. If your school’s auditorium happens to also have air-conditioning, use that. Seeing as it isn’t…
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10 Best Affordable Buffet Restaurants in Makati
- By Moneymax
One of the highest priorities in any gathering of friends or family is food. Larger groups often go for buffet restaurants, as they offer more variety when it comes to food, though some restaurants specialize in one form of cuisine. Check also some credit card promos if there are discounts in any buffet-style restaurants near you. Read more: Hungry? Take Note of These Buffet Promos in Metro Manila Here’s a look at some of the best yet super affordable restaurants that go buffet style: Yakimix Specialty: Japanese, Korean, Chinese Budget per Person: Weekdays – Php588 (Lunch) and Php688 (Dinner), Saturdays – Php628 (Lunch) and Php728 (Dinner), Sundays and Holidays – Php728 (Lunch and Dinner) Location: Greenbelt 3 Nobody’s a stranger to Yakimix and its fusion of Asian flavors. This particular restaurant highlights grilling all kinds of meat and seafood in certain flavors endemic to Japan, Korea, and China. One of the fastest dishes that go is the seafood tempura, so look out for it when you visit. Buffet 101 Specialty: Asian, European Budget per Person: Php900 Location: Greenbelt 2 This restaurant boasts a large selection of Asian and European dishes, and cutely arranged gourmet desserts. The ambiance is quaint, and for foodies who like a little beer with their seafood, draft beer is among the drinks you can have when dining here. Dad’s/Kamayan/Saisaki Specialty: Multiple Budget per Person: Dad’s – Php688 to Php888, Kamayan – Php638, Saisaki – Php638 – Php838 Location: Glorietta 3 A fusion of three different restaurants, this place offers three huge sections of food to choose from. The one…
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The 5 Types of Bad Drivers You Encounter in the Philippines
- By Moneymax
- February 2, 2015
There’s a video making the rounds on social media of a Pinoy driver “teaching” other drivers how to turn the “beast mode” on while driving. Reactions to the video are (naturally) mostly negative with the one of the most common comment calling for authorities to revoke his license. In the video, you could see the driver getting into an argument with another driver who he bumped into then you could see him laughing at the camera after driving off and leaving the other driver. The driver in the video later apologised saying that his wife and child have been threatened because of the viral video. Bad drivers are out there and you encounter them every day on the road on your daily commute. Here are five types of bad drivers you see on the roads of the Philippines. Drivers Who Don’t Use Turn Signals Turn signals are a requirement for your car to be road worthy so drivers can’t really give an excuse that their turn signals are not working. Other drivers are not mind readers and can’t tell if you plan to change lanes unless you use your turn signal, so please, use your turn signal and let’s avoid accidents. Drivers Who Cut Other Cars Off That “beast mode” driver’s tutorial was about how to cut other cars off. Here’s a tip, DON’T follow his advice! Drivers who do this are bullies and are a hazard on the road. He bumped into another car in the video and got into a heated argument with another driver so that just…
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7 Signs You’re Right Where You Want to Be
- By Moneymax
- January 26, 2015
These days, most people tend to ignore that their emotional well-being is directly tied to how satisfied they are with their experiences. If you’ve ever wondered whether or not you’ve found the right set of circumstances to build a life around, here’s a short checklist: You have a regular set of friends As you age, you find that you gravitate more towards people with the same interests as you, or at share similar views. You’ll find that having a regular crowd is a great source of comfort and encouragement. You have a hobby that lets you de-stress Everybody has a hobby. Some may be pricier than others, but hobbies can help regulate your stress. It can be reading a book or playing an instrument, or a hobby that you can throw yourself into to forget about the daily stress of work and life. Your stress levels are manageable Stress is part of life, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to manage them. Factors that affect one’s stress levels include job satisfaction, day-to-day interaction, and even what you eat. Managing your stress comes in various forms and you must find what works for you. You’ve got a job that you like Liking what you do is very important, and often affects your stress levels. If you’re working a job that just pays the bills, you may be trapping yourself. Find a job that makes you happy or puts you on the path towards the career you’ve always wanted. You’ve made plans for the near future Whether it’s investing in life…
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8 Healthy Food Items You Should Put On Your Grocery List
- By Moneymax
- January 9, 2015
Ready to start over a new leaf this new year? One of the more popular new year’s resolutions is living a healthier lifestyle, an important foundation of which is a balanced and healthy diet. Many of us regularly buy food from the grocery or market, where we can get easily overwhelmed by the vast selection of foods—both good and bad—on offer. Here we look at some of the most affordable healthy food staples you should keep an eye out for the next time you go grocery shopping. Whole wheat bread As much as you can, avoid buying white bread. While these tend to come in plentiful supply, they also use highly processed flour. Instead, opt for healthier whole-wheat or whole-grain varieties. This applies not only to bread but also to other sources of grain like breakfast cereal and oatmeal. Brown rice A food staple throughout many parts of Asia, rice is a cheap and effective shortcut to a filling meal. When given the choice between white rice and brown rice, go for the latter whenever you can. Brown rice takes longer to cook, but offers more health benefits than white rice. Pasta Like bread, pasta also comes in alternative whole grain varieties for the health-conscious. Pasta dishes are an easy way to feed families their necessary carb intake. Pasta is also an easy last-minute party food to prepare and serve, with a variety of shapes and sauce pairings to choose from. Some stores carry specially-made vegetable pasta, which incorporates ingredients like spinach and carrots. Ground beef Less expensive than steak…
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Biggest Philippine Festivals to Visit this Year
- By Moneymax
- January 7, 2015
Festivals are among the best tourist attractions in the Philippines besides its hospitable people. While every town has its own fiesta celebrated at various dates, below are among the biggest festivals in the Philippines you can plan a trip for this year. 1. Ati-Atihan Festival Kalibo, Aklan | Every 3rd Sunday of January It is a festival in honor of the Sto. Nino, originally adopted from a pagan animist festival by the Aetas, a Philippine Aborigine. Ati-Atihan means “to become Aetas” who were the first to celebrate fiestas with eating, dancing, and merry-making. It is celebrated with performers wearing colorful costumes and bodies painted black and dancing to the distinctive drum beat and shouts of “Hala bira!” 2. Sinulog Festival Cebu | First Sunday of January Sinulog In Cebu is a celebration of the feast of Child Jesus, Santo Nino de Cebu. Its main feature is a dance ritual in honor of the miraculous image of the Santo Nino. The dance is performed to the beat of the drums, during the parade, expressing the strong current movement of Cebu River, hence the name Sinulog. A special event during the Sinulog is the Sinulog Fluvial Breakfast, where the lechon is the centerpiece along with native delicacies – rich chocolate dips, puto maya suman, chunks of mangoes, and hard-boiled eggs. 3. Panagbenga Festival Baguio City | Febuary 1 – March 1 This festival is a showcase of flavors and agricultural products of the city. Panagbenga literally means “season of blooming.” The main attraction of the festival is an awesome parade of floats decked…
