With its business community fuelled by Chinese-Filipinos, locals and tourists can expect a colorful Chinese New Year in Cebu. To celebrate the occasion, they can eat sticky foods like tikoy (glutinous rice cake) and masi (sticky rice peanut-filled balls) or visit a Buddhist temple in the city. Other activities like an album tour by an international singer and a marathon for a cause are also slated for the weekend.
Stricter requirements for South Bus drivers
A bus parked at the North Reclamation Area
Image: Vallacar Transit, Inc.
The management of the Cebu South Bus Terminal has set stricter requirements for all bus and minibus drivers this February. To ensure passenger safety, they will require all bus and minibus drivers, conductors, and staff to submit drug test results and a police clearance. They are also required to secure a letter of endorsement from their operators. These more stringent requirements were set in place to make it easier for bus operators to do background checks on their personnel.
Unique dining experience at Food Central
Interiors of Food Central at J Centre Mall
Image: The CEBU Fan Page
Shoppers can have a Venetian-inspired dining experience at Food Central inside J Centre Mall. Food Central was unveiled last February 1 and features concessionaires which offer various food items like fruit shake, fruit juice, liempo (grilled pork belly), soft-serve ice cream, ramen, and shawarma, among others. Food Central features a painted ceiling, street lamps, and classical architectural details. Though the food court is now open, mall management has announced that they are still working on further improvements to the place. J Centre Mall is open daily from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Chinese New Year at Chu Un Buddhist Temple
Chu Un Buddhist Temple has been around for 20 years.
Image: Chu Un Buddhist Temple
Locals and tourists who would like to know more about Chinese culture in time for Chinese New Year can visit Chu Un Buddhist Temple. Every Chinese New Year, dance and cultural presentations by students from various schools are staged at the temple. Visitors can also enjoy a fireworks display by midnight. Other cultural activities include horseback riding, calligraphy, and writing on a wishing tree. Weekly meditation and tai chi classes, plus English dharma services are also held at the place. Chu Un Buddhist Temple is located at 246-3 V. Rama Avenue, Cebu City.
Sticky sweets for Chinese New Year
Boxes of tikoy in various flavors
Image: Mardoney’s CDO
Locals and tourists who want to bring take-home treats or pasalubong from Cebu can buy Chinese delicacies like tikoy and masi. Tikoy is typically eaten for the Chinese New Year because the name of the food sounds like “higher year” in Mandarin, and thus signals better fortune ahead. On the other hand, masi is a delicacy similar to the Japanese mochi. Tikoy is sold at major grocery stores in Cebu City and at Cebu La Fortuna Bakery, Inc. Masi can be bought from roadside vendors at Liloan, or at stores near the plaza.
Shane Filan concert plus SM Run Year 8
Two exciting events will be happening this weekend.
Image: MCA Music
Aside from Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year events, locals and tourists can see an international artist or join a marathon this weekend.
Former Westlife lead singer Shane Filan will be in Cebu to promote his album Love Always. Filan will serenade fans this Saturday, February 10, 4:30 PM at Robinsons Galleria Cebu.
On Sunday, February 18, fitness enthusiasts can join the SM Run Year 8. The run will have 4K, 8K, 12L, and 21K categories. The event is for the benefit of the Cebu Newsworkers Foundation, Inc. (CENEWOF) and the Children of Cebu Foundation.
Partly sunny weather this week
Fairly good weather is in the forecast.
Locals and tourists can expect partly sunny weather for Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year. Though Monday and Tuesday will start off with rain showers in the afternoon, the skies will clear up by Wednesday. This fairly good weather is forecasted to continue until Sunday. Minimum temperature for the week is at 23 °C while maximum temperature will be at 32 ºC.
Liquor ordinance in Mandaue
There will be stricter liquor requirements soon for businesses in Mandaue.
The Mandaue City Government will soon regulate the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages by business establishments.
A proposed ordinance entitled An Act Regulating the Sale and Consumption of Intoxicating Liquor in the City of Mandaue was approved on first reading last Jan. 31. The ordinance requires establishments to secure both a license to sell and a license to serve liquor from the Mandaue City Treasurer’s Office Business Licensing Division. The ordinance will ban the sale of liquor in public places such as playgrounds and sports centers. Establishments open 24/7 will likewise be prohibited from selling liquor from 12:00 MN to 7:00 AM.
