Take a break from all the Christmas bustle and be inspired as Ayala Center Cebu lines up several concerts and fun-filled activities for everyone!

Anyway, Christmas is just around the corner. And, a truly Pinoy Christmas is never complete until you’ve walked home on a frigid morning dawn mass and stopped to sample a warm bibingka from a small stall by the road.

Genuine smiles

Since there was a category for Most Plates Served, each bibingka had to be weighed for a fair competition

Competitive yet cheerful participants

iFM 93.9 DJs Randy and Radcliffe hosted the event

Naturally, with Christmas being so close, SM Hypermarket chose to cap their quarter-long Master Chefs extravaganza with a celebration of one of the most iconic of holiday treats, the bibingka. And where better to do it than in the home of the biggest bibingka in the world, Mandaue City, Cebu.

SM Hypermarket’s very own customer assistants provided free wholesome entertainment!

Rows of bibingka! Amazing!

The very energetic audience.

Known as the source of the best bibingka in the country, Mandaue City is also the home of many ingenious bakers who have taken this delicacy and given it a delicious twist. Some make it with grated keso de bolo on top, others with a layer of salted egg, and still others with a generous heaping of grated coconut and muscovado sugar. But one thing stays the same – all Mandaue bibingka are cooked in the classic “inurno” style. The batter is made of rice flour, coconut milk, yeast and sugar. The mixture is then baked to perfection in a terra cotta container. Red-hot coals placed above and below heat the batter through until it is fully, moist, and delicious, with a dark brown crust on top. It is this unique method of cooking, and the smoke from the coals, that gives bibingka its distinctive flavor.

Mr. Lee R. Jennie, founder of Adam Jennie’s Christian Center for Special Children based in Mandaue City, served as one of the judges.

Ms. Louella Cabanero, head of the Mandaue City Tourism Office, was the only lady in the board of judges

The event was also graced by the presence of one of the country’s celebrity chefs today, Chef John Paulo Sia, who was also part of the esteemed board of judges.

SM Hypermarket wants to kick off the holidays in Cebu by holding a festival for bibingka makers and lovers of the treat. Their Supersized Cookoff competition held yesterday, paid tribute to the many variants of the basic recipe and challenged chefs from all over to create the tastiest bibingka, and to serve up as many plates of it as they can. The competition was open to everyone who wished to join, provided that they formed groups of five and served a minimum of 50 plates.

At the end of the day, two groups were proclaimed as winners. The Best Tasting Bibingka was awarded to the Alang-Alang Group with a very high average score of 93.33%. Meanwhile, the Most Number of Plates Served was awarded to the Mandauenian’s Group for serving 391 plates of bibingka. Each winning group got P25,000 worth of SM Gift Certificates and a plaque of recognition from SM Hypermarket.

This is the final round of the SM Hypermarket’s Supersized Challenges. The previous ones were Iloilo’s Batchoy Challenge, which produced 1,862 servings of the beloved noodle dish; Batangas’ Bulalo Challenge which came up with 522 cups of the beefy broth, and Pampanga’s Sisig Challenge, which produced 1,775 plates of the spicy pulutan favorite. Knowing the Cebuanos’ cheerful fighting spirit, the final round held yesterday bested all the previous cook-offs as there were at least 2,000 plates of bibingka served!

Alang-Alang Group together with Mr. Lee Jennie, SM Hypermarket Cebu branch manager Angelo Carandang, Chef John Paulo Sia, SM Hypermarket senior manager for marketing communications and iFM93.9 DJ Randy

Mandauenian’s Group together with SM Hypermarket Cebu branch manager Angelo Carandang, Mr. Lee Jennie, Chef John Paulo Sia, SM Hypermarket senior manager for marketing communications and iFM93.9 DJ Randy

Fashion Beats takes on the first unique collaboration on fashion and live music on the runway. Launched last March 25, the first installment of the series was recently held at Greenbelt.

Unlock your unique style and witness Style Origin Fashion Beats at an Ayala Mall nearest you. Ayala Center Cebu’s Style Origin Fashion Beats happens this Sunday, May 8, featuring Rico Blanco.

Express and cultivate your unique and personal sense of style as your senses witness and listen to fashion moving to the live local sound at Style Origin.

For more details, you may refer to the event poster below

Marco Polo Plaza General Manager Hans Hauri welcomes guests, media and VIPs to the launch of their Sinulog 2011 activities

Exhibit opening and blessing

San Diego Dance Company

From January 7 to 18, Marco Polo Plaza brings back well-loved Cebuano traditions. In honor of the occasion, they opened the special weeklong exhibit of the “Sto. Niño: Images of Jesus as a Child,” a rare antique collection of the Compañeros de Juego del Sto. Niño, at the hotel lobby.

Ms. Jessica Avila shares about her own culinary journeys

Marco Polo Plaza Cebu Food and Bevarage Manager Stephan Wieprich, Bantayan Vice Mayor Geralyn Escario, 5th District Board Member Agnes Magpale, Ms. Jessica Avila, Aloguinsan Mayor Cynthia Moreno and Mr. Hans Hauri open Sugbusog 2011

The Marco Polo Plaza also relaunches its traditional SUGBUSOG, with this year’s theme “A Culinary Journey to Our Roots.” For lunch or dinner, delight in a sumptuous selection of Cebuano heritage cuisine, featuring the culinary treasures of Cebu’s famous municipalities: Bantayan and Aloguinsan.

Have your fill of all time Cebuano food favorites like lechon, kinilaw, Bantayan’s danggit, pusit (squid) and other seafood fare, as well as Aloguinsan’s popular Pan Bisaya, Salvaro and more. Talented restaurateur and guest chef Jessica Avila also shares well-loved family recipes for traditional Cebuano fiesta dishes such as balbacua (ox tail), humba, adobong baboy and manok, dugo-dugo, tinola and a lot more. All these on top of the regular international buffet favorites at Cafe Marco.

If it’s food you want, it’s food you get… WARNING: PHOTO OVERLOAD!

Linat-ang Manok Bisaya

Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you

Kaldereta

Adobong Baka

Escabeche

Pancit Buko

Guinataang Sugpo

Arroz Valenzuela

Mais

Kinusit-Kusit nga Nukos

Calamares Fritos

Ginisang Pasayan sa Ahos

Lumpiang Ubod

Crispy Boneless Bangus

Pork Chicharon

Chicharon Bulaklak

Kasahos Beef Tapa

Baked Tahong

Puso sa Saging

Itlog Maalat

Nangka Salad

Guso

Eggplant Salad

Green Mango Salad

Lokot

From January 14-16, spend your Sinulog weekend at the Marco Polo Plaza and avail of the special Sinulog room rates, starting at Php 4,818++, per night with buffet breakfast. A Sinulog package is also available, including complimentary shuttle service to the Sinulog grounds, packed meal and priority eating at the Marco Polo grandstand along Mango Avenue. Sinulog dancers, free souvenirs and face painting in the Lobby on Sunday, January 16. Make this week a truly festive affair!

So go up and celebrate Sinulog 2011 at Cebu City’s only five-star hotel, the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu. For inquiries and reservations, call 253111 loc 8249 or email mpplaza@marcopolohotels.com

The exhibit opening was marked by a ribbon cutting with the presence of Msgr. Cristobal Garcia of the Archdiocese of Cebu, Ms. Joy Polloso, General Manager of Ayala Center Cebu, and Mr. Francis O. Monera, President of Cebu Holdings, Inc.

This year’s exhibit theme “Gamhanang Kabilin ni Senyor Sto. Nino” promotes the adoration of the Sto. Nino image through all the altars in Cebu.

The choir

At the central part of the exhibit is an altar where devotees can adore the Sto. Niño and place their petitions at the side of the altar

Consisting of 60 images, the 2011 collection are images that are worshipped and treasured by generations of families, either in Chapels, private altars or in the most sacred places in family homes.

Msgr. Garcia opened the exhibit through a Novena prayer

Msgr. Garcia urges devotees not to say “Pit Senyor” out of “desperation” but out of peace, hope and love

Msgr. Garcia blesses all the images in the Exhibit and a short sharing of his own devotion to the Sñr. Sto. Niño

The exhibit aims to entice mallers to attend the 9-day novena which started earlier as well as venerate their “Kabilin”/Heritage from their parents and great grand parents as a token of love, unity and peace throughout the world.

Msgr. Garcia pays homage to his own image of the Señor Sto. Niño

Msgr. Garcia, officials of Ayala Land, Ayala Center Cebu and the devotees behind the Sto. Niño exhibit

The Sto. Niño exhibit is open daily during mall hours from until January 20, 2011.

First launched in 2002, the Balik Cebu committee puts together activites to help welcome our balikbayans who come home to pay homage to Señor Santo Niño and join in the revelry of the Sinulog festivities.

Earlier today, the Balik Cebu Booth was formally opened with the presence of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Cebu Holdings, Inc. (CHI) President Francis O. Monera, former DOT-7 Regional Director Patria Aurora “Dawnie” Roa, Cebu Province 5th District Provincial Board Member Agnes Magpale, Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete, representatives from the Cebu City Tourism Commission (CCTC), Cebu Association of Tour Operators (CATO), and some Miss Cebu 2011 candidates, among others.

Located beside the Concierge in Ayala Center Cebu (across Rustan’s and Guess), the booth will be open during mall hours to hand out event guides and provide information to balikbayans about the different activities on the Sinulog Festival.

The booth will also be selling dinner cioupons to the Balik Cebu Welcome Party next Thursday, January 13, 2011. For the 10th year now, Cebu Holdings, Inc. (CHI) has been hosting the welcome party for free to 150-300 balikbayans.

The dinner coupons will be sold to balikbayans and their families who can show passports that mark their arrival in Cebu within the past three months.

Also available at the booth are grandstand passes for the Sinulog Grand Parade next Sunday, January 15, offered at a discounted price available for balikbayans only. Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Northern Escapade tour packages will also be available at the booth.

Balikbayans are free to drop by Ayala Center Cebu’s Turista Desk at the South Entrance to avail of various perks and discounts. This is CHI’s and Ayala Center Cebu’s way of giving a special welcome to balikbayans and recognizing their contribution to the economy.

Balik Cebu 2011 Ribbon Cutting

On January 13, 6pm, the Balik Cebu committee, together with the CCTC, Sinulog Foundation, Inc., and CHI, will host the much-anticipated Balik Cebu Welcome Party at Ayala Center Cebu’s The Terraces. Expecting at least 300 balikbayans and family members, the organizers have prepared a Barrio Fiesta Dinner of favorite Cebuano foods. Ofcourse, the Cebu Lechon will be ever-present.

Balikbayans will be serenaded with Cebuano songs in a repertoire by La Mer. Miss Cebu 2011 and her court are also expected to make their first public appearance in the party. The Abellana National High School contingent, last year’s Grand Champion and Best in Costume Winner in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan and 2nd place winner for the Sinulog-Based Category, will parade in The Terraces to give the balikbayans a prelude to street-like partying of the Sinulog Grand Parade. The evening will be a welcome celebration for balikbayans to once again enjoy the best of Cebu with their families and fellow balikbayans.

On it’s 10th year, Balik Cebu has become an institutionalized program strongly supported by CHI, the company which owns and manages landmark projects in Cebu like the Cebu Business Park, Ayala Center Cebu, Asiatown IT Park, City Sports Club Cebu and Amara.

To kick off this year’s Fiesta Senyor, Ayala Center Cebu will open their annual Sto. Nino exhibit on Jan. 6, at the second level rotunda area (between Kamiseta and Celine).

This year’s exhibit theme “Gamhanang Kabilin ni Senyor Sto. Nino” promotes the adoration of the Sto. Nino image through all the altars in Cebu.

The 2011 collection are images that are worshipped and treasured by generations of families, either in Chapels, private altars or in the most sacred places in family homes.

The exhibit aims to entice mallers to attend the 9-day novena starting on January 6, 2011 as well as venerate their “Kabilin”/Heritage from their parents and great grand parents as a token of love, unity and peace throughout the world.

The exhibit will run until January 18, 2011.

Christmas began last Saturday, November 6, as the grandest and most glittering holiday celebration kicked off simultaneously in all the 40 SM Supermalls nationwide. The simultaneous launch around the country gave families and friends a fantastic opportunity to jumpstart and enjoy the most festive time of the year together, at their favorite SM Supermall.

This year, SM Supermalls’ unified campaign revolves on a “Joyful Christmas”. SM City Cebu gives it a twist by making it an “Enchanting” Joyful Christmas…

The launch of SM City Cebu’s Christmas campaign began at 6pm at the Northwing Atrium with the performance of Christmas carols by the University of Cebu Chorus accompanied by the Peace Philharmonic String-Quartet. The 250-member choir was composed by members of the University of Cebu Alumni, University of Cebu Children’s Choir, University of Cebu High School Glee Club and some Nursing students of the University of Cebu – Banilad Campus.

Assistant Mall Manager, Ms. Maria Teresa Mempin opened the program by sharing the exciting lineup of activities shoppers and mall-goers can look forward to this Christmas season at SM City Cebu.

The event was hosted by Ms. Natasha Cang, a known songstress, scribe and master of ceremonies.
“Sing not merely to entertain, but to inspire feeling, to provoke thought, to fuel the pursuit of dreams. Without song, I am a cold rock in a dry desert. Life is mere existence and passion, unseen. Allow music to transport you back to the land of the living. It does so for me.” - Natasha Cang

As the program opened, Luke Mejaras, a proud Cebuano talent, together with the University of Cebu Chorus and together with more than 10,000 voices from all the SM Supermalls all over the country sang SM Supermalls’ Official Christmas Jingle for 2010, “Christmas ChriSMs Bop”

The main highlight of the event was the ceremonial lighting of the “Enchanted Christmas Forest”. A fairytale-y performance from Ballet Center welcomed Cebu City Councilor Margarita Osmena who led the official lighting of the trees.

With just a flick of a wand, the trees came into life! Amazing…

In her message, she, together with husband Tomas and “Son Miguel”, expressed her gratitude to SM City Cebu for making the children the center of the mall’s every Christmas celebration for the past 3 years.

After the tree-lighting ceremony, Santa Claus brought Christmas cheers to the street children under the care of the Cebu City Task Force on Street Children. Each of them was given an early Christmas gift.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Miss Cebu 2011 Finalists, Miss Cebu 2010 Reena Malinao and First Runner-Up Maria Gresa Lugo and Popular Heritage Tour Guide and Radio Personality Ka Bino Guerrero, together with the Cebu City Tourism Commission, also graced the event.

An Enchanting Christmas really awaits everyone at SM City Cebu! Here is SM City Cebu’s line-up of activities this joyful season:

* Have your photos taken at the Red Christmas Chair photo opportunity area located at the lower ground floor of the main mall starting November 6 until December 31, 2010.

* One of Asia’s oldest symphony orchestras, the Manila Symphony Orchestra will do a live performance at the Northwing Atrium on November 11, 2010 at 5:30pm.

* Cebu’s top choral groups will perform on all Sundays of November and on December 3-5, December 17-19, 23-25, beginning at 6pm at the Northwing Atrium.

* SM Department Store brings the Fairy Tale Christmas by the Children’s Wear Department on November 20, 5pm at the Northwing Atrium.

* Catch the Peace Philharmonic Orchestra as they bring Symphony of Joy Series on November 27 and December 18, 6pm at the Northwing Atrium.

All that and more only in SM City Cebu. Gather your family for a Joyful Christmas at SM City Cebu!

Be at your favorite SM Supermall on Saturday, November 6 as all SM Supermalls nationwide simultaneously launch their Joyful Christmas Campaign and Christmas Jingle!

‎’TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOYFUL AT SM SUPERMALLS!

SM Supermalls bursts with fun, joy and a thousand things to do as it welcomes the Yuletide Season with an exciting new Christmas anthem!

Be one of the first to download the exciting jingle by simply following their Facebook page and get the latest updates and what’s happening in all SM Supermalls – Nationwide! To hear the chorus of SM Supermalls Christmas jingle, visit: SM Supermalls Christmas.

Watch out as they post exciting games and online contest that’ll surely make our Christmas more memorable and exciting! ‘Tis the season to be jolly! At SM Supermalls!

Catch the exciting launch of the Supermalls Christmas 2010 on November 06! Merry ChriSMs Everybody!

SM SUPERMALLS 2010 CHRISTMAS JINGLE LYRICS:

Let’s have happy times, good cheers are here
Let’s have some greetin’ and kissin’ my dear
Let’s have the Christmas Chrisms all
Shoppin’, shoppin’, shoppin’ at SM Malls!

Santa Clausin’ , reindeer and sleighin’
Mistletoe-in’ and tableau playin’
All that Christmas chriSMs we do
SM supermallin’, me and you

All you kiddies both naughty and nice
Playing game and zillion surprise!
Toys and candies and chriSMs for you
Shoppin’, shoppin’, shoppin’ are fun and new

Gifts are here, gifts are there
One giant spirit everywhere
Christmas ChriSMs great big fun
SM Supermallin’ and we’re not done

Skatin’, snowin’, movie screenin’ and
Wrappin’, rollin’, feastin’, rushin‘ and
Christmas chriSMs sight and sound
shoppin’, shoppin’, shoppin’ round and round

Gifts are here, gifts are there
Great big lovin’ everywhere
Christmas ChriSMs here to stay
Shoppin’, shoppin’, shoppin’ SM Supermallin’

Merry Christmas ChriSMs all the way !

Merry ChriSMs!

Witches & Wizards Costume Contest

A. Open to all kids 4-12 years old.

B. The contest is on at the following SM Supermalls nationwide:
1.) SM City Fairview
2.) SM City Marikina
3.) SM City Taytay
4.) SM City San Lazaro
5.) SM City Sta. Mesa
6.) SM City Manila
7.) SM Supercenter Pasig
8.) SM City Bicutan
9.) SM City Sucat
10.) SM Southmall
11.) SM Center Muntinlupa
12.) SM City Bacolod
13.) SM Center Valenzuela
14.) SM City Pampanga
15.) SM City Clark
16.) SM City Baguio
17.) SM City Marilao
18.) SM City Baliwag
19.) SM City Sta. Rosa
20.) SM City Bacoor
21.) SM City Batangas
22.) SM City Dasmariñas
23.) SM City Lucena
24.) SM City Naga
25.) SM Center Molino
26.) SM City Lipa
27.) SM City Cebu
28.) SM City Iloilo
29.) SM City Davao
30.) SM City Cagayan de Oro
31.) SM City Tarlac
32.) SM City Rosales
33.) SM City Rosario
34.) SM Center Las Piñas

C. The participant must present a minimum single receipt purchase of P500 from any of the mall establishments including SM Supermarket/Hypermarket and SM Department Store, plus one (1) SM Eco Bag from Oct. 23 – 31, 2010. For SM STORYLAND CLUBBIE MEMBERS, participant must present one (1) Ride All You Can Tag and at least one (1) receipt purchase of an SM Eco Bag. For NON-SM STORYLAND CLUBBIE MEMBERS, participant must present one (1) P175 Ride All You Can Tag purchased on October 30 or 31, 2010 and at least one (1) receipt purchase of an SM Eco Bag.

D. Kids must dress up as a witch or a wizard. There should be no displaying of grotesque, lewd/obscene and/or gory costumes/make-up or special prosthetics.

E. Participants will be judged according to the following criteria:
a) Adherence to the theme – 30%
b) Creativity – 30%
c) Visual Impact – 20%
d) Projection & Style – 20%
TOTAL = 100%

F. Prizes which are up for grabs:
*Funniest Witch and Wizard Costume (1 boy and 1 girl) – P3,000.00 worth of cash cards each
*Most Creative Witch or Wizard Costume (1 boy and 1 girl) – P3,000.00 worth of cash cards each
*Scariest Witch or Wizard Costume (1 boy and 1 girl) – P3,000.00 worth of cash cards each

G. Interested kids may get their application forms and pre-register starting Oct. 23, 2010 at the mall administration office c/o Mall Marketing. There will also be an on-site registration which starts at 10am until 2pm on Oct. 31, 2010.

H. The party will kick off with the grand costume parade around the mall at 2pm along with the Trick or Treat.

I. Costume Party will start at 3:00pm and will culminate with the announcement of the costume contest winners.

J. Participants must be present during the announcement of winners. Claim certificates will be given to the winners upon declaration. Prizes can be claimed at the Mall Administration Office of the corresponding participating mall.

K. A participant can only win once.

L. All SM Supermalls employees, its affiliates, anchors, organizers and advertising agencies up to the second level of affinity and consanguinity are not qualified to join this competition.

To join, you may download the application form below and submit on October 31 together with the receipt:

Click the image to view full-size of application form