Go grand at this year’s Pasigarbo sa Sugbo by booking these incredible Airbnb Stays

Osmeña Boulevard will erupt in colors and festivities once again as Cebu’s magnificent ‘Festival of Festivals’ makes its much-awaited comeback this year on August 28. A total of fifty festivals are joining this year’s Pasigarbo sa Sugbo — making it the biggest and grandest to date!

If you’re going to the Queen City of the South to witness the jaw-dropping talent and creativity of the Cebuanos, why not book an equally stunning Airbnb Stay hosted by Cebu’s top Airbnb Superhosts? They may even fill you in on the newest hole-in-the-wall gems and intriguing side-trips to explore after all the merriment and street dancing!

Luxurious pool villas in the heart of Cebu

If you’re bringing the entire family or the whole barkada, you might want to check out Superhost Chad’s modern luxury villa. With seven bedrooms spanned across three floors, a home theater, a kitchen stocked full with delicious supplies for breakfast, and an infinity pool with spectacular ocean and city views — this villa will definitely not disappoint.

For a secluded yet luxurious experience,  Luxury Villa in Busay may be your go-to. Nestled in the mountain town of Busay, this villa boasts top-notch amenities and in-house staff ready to accommodate any needs, including delectable meals prepared by your personal chef. The guest favorite? Definitely the infinity pool with panoramic views of the city.

Nature sanctuaries in the outskirts for longer Cebu getaways

If you crave peace and quiet after the festivities, Nala’s Farm lies within just an hour’s drive from the city. Perched on a hill, the stay provides incredible views of the surrounding mountains and resplendent sunsets. Guests can opt to dip in the pool for a quiet afternoon, or sweat it out with a game of volleyball, basketball, or table tennis in the recreational area.

Get closer to the water and stay at Sam Xander’s Stone Beach Villa located just by the beach. Enjoy dinners and picnics al fresco on the patio, a crisply manicured lawn, and a bonfire area for late-night smores roasts. The villa also sits close to great diving spots if you and your loved ones are up for an underwater adventure after Pasigarbo.

Another seaside Cebu gem is Playa Norte located in Danao City. This expansive designer beach home can comfortably accommodate up to ten guests, and features rustic wood furnishings and multiple seaview rooms.  Guests can soak up the sunshine in an outdoor tub, swim, and kayak at the beach, or curl up with a book or two on the sofa.

For an enjoyable and hassle-free Pasigarbo sa Sugbo experience, all Airbnb Stays now come with AirCover — the most comprehensive protection in travel and included for free in every stay. To discover more incredible places to stay in Cebu, visit airbnb.com or download the Airbnb app.

Relax like BTS: IN THE SOOP Estate Now on Airbnb

●     An exclusive getaway to rest and recharge in the countryside at the place where BTS stayed during the filming of HYBE’s original content.

●     The expansive property will immerse guests in the serene natural rhythms of PyeongChang, South Korea, a mountainous region famed for its lush forests and rolling hilltop vistas.

●     Two lucky guests from around the world will enjoy leisurely experiences that authentically recreate those BTS participated in while on the show

K-Pop fans rejoice! The expansive property where 21st-century pop icons BTS stayed during the filming of HYBE’s original content, IN THE SOOP BTS ver. Season 2, is now on Airbnb for an overnight stay for the first time ever. Guests will get the chance to find a moment of peace in the lush countryside of South Korea’s Gangwon region – just as the seven members did while enjoying everyday life and rest on the original content produced by HYBE.

During the second season of IN THE SOOP BTS, the band members experienced leisurely moments and reconnected with nature amidst their busy schedules. Guests will stay at the property, which is a part of a larger estate, and relive their favorite IN THE SOOP BTS moments, such as:

●  Reading books in the study like RM or relaxing, Jin-style, on the unicorn-shaped float in the home’s pool

●   Finding creative inspiration and strumming guitars like SUGA, snapping selfies with a Polaroid like j-hope or painting on a canvas as V does

●    For more high-energy entertainment, weight training like Jimin, flying high on a trampoline like Jung Kook or bouncing a ball in the basketball court like Bam, Jung Kook’s dog

 

About the stay

The one-night stay* on August 29 for only $7** — a nod to the band’s seven members — will immerse two lucky guests in the various elements the K-pop group personally enjoyed during their time on property only a few months ago, including:

●    Some of the same furniture and amenities that appeared on the show so guests can truly channel the lifestyle of BTS

●    A karaoke machine, sound system and all of BTS hit tracks and albums, including “Permission to Dance”, “Butter” and their just-released album, Proof

●    Specially catered dishes like charcoal grilled Korean beef (which the band referred to as “the best taste in the universe” in the show), and tteokbokki, or simmered rice cakes. Plus egg tarts produced by Bang & Bakers, currently  served at HYBE INSIGHT, HYBE’s music museum.

How to book

Guests can request to book this stay on Tuesday, August 2 from 11 AM KST (10 AM PHT) at airbnb.com/inthesoopbts. Guests are responsible for their own travel to and from Seoul, South Korea. Round trip car transportation will be provided for the 20-minute journey from KTX PyeongChang station to the IN THE SOOP BTS property.

While only one overnight stay will be offered, “geok jeong ma” — there will be an opportunity to check out the IN THE SOOP BTS property while staying at other listings near the property soon.

For those looking to discover similar stays surrounded by nature, Airbnb recently introduced a new way to search and discover homes through Airbnb Categories. With 200,000 countryside homes available around the globe, there are plenty of “in the soop” inspired getaways.

Those hoping to stay in the IN THE SOOP BTS ver. ‘Pyeongchang’ Filming Location should note that this stay’s rules require following applicable local rules and guidelines as well as Airbnb’s COVID-19 Safety Practices, which will include wearing a mask and practicing social distancing when required by local laws or guidelines. Staff will also comply with local rules and guidelines while on-site, and will abide by our five-step enhanced cleaning process.

 

*This one-night stay is available for one participant and their fellow guest and is not a contest.

**Plus taxes and fees

Airbnb is closely monitoring Korea COVID-19 infection rates and government policies and will offer booking guests a US $1,000 Airbnb travel credit if Airbnb determines it is necessary to cancel the stay.

 

 

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 900 million guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer one-of-a-kind stays and unique Experiences that make it possible for guests to experience the world in a more authentic, connected way.

 

About HYBE

HYBE, rebranded from Big Hit Entertainment in March 2021, is a global entertainment lifestyle platform company that seeks boundless expansion in order to innovate the music industry. Ever since, HYBE has been expanding its multi label system including BIGHIT MUSIC, BELIFT LAB, SOURCE MUSIC, PLEDIS Entertainment, KOZ ENTERTAINMENT, ADOR, HYBE LABELS JAPAN, while HYBE AMERICA also manages its affiliate labels including Big Machine Label Group. In addition to the label business, HYBE established an integrated structure with its  solution business that creates concert, video content, game, original story and retail, as well as a platform business through Weverse, a global fandom platform. Composed of its three headquarters based in Korea, Japan and the US, the company works towards bringing innovative change throughout the global music industry.

 

About BTS

BTS, an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Beyond the Scene,” are a GRAMMY-nominated South Korean boy band that has been capturing the hearts of millions of fans globally since their debut in June 2013. The members of BTS are RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. Gaining recognition for their authentic and self-produced music, top-notch performances, and the way they interact with their fans, the band has established themselves as 21st century pop icons breaking countless world records. While imparting a positive influence through activities such as the LOVE MYSELF campaign and the UN ‘Speak Yourself’ speech, the band has mobilized millions of fans across the world (named ARMY), collected six No.1 Billboard Hot 100 singles in a span of a year and just over a month, and performed multiple sold-out stadium shows across the world. They were also named TIME’s Entertainer of the Year 2020. BTS were nominated two years in a row for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 63rd and 64th GRAMMY Awards and have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards like the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards (Artist of the Year 2021) and MTV Video Music Awards.

 

About IN THE SOOP

IN THE SOOP, an original content produced by HYBE, features artists embarking on a break in the woods as they step away from their regular work routines. Starring artists reconnecting with nature, HYBE released a series of shows from “In the SOOP BTS Ver.”, “In the SOOP BTS ver. Season 2”, “IN THE SOOP SEVENTEEN ver.”, to its spin-off “IN THE SOOP : Friend-cation”. Based on the concept of restful and healing break from the series, HYBE introduces off-line pop up stores with lifestyle products in multiple cities around the world including Seoul, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. Fans will also be able to experience a unique accommodation and F&B experience at IN THE SOOP BTS ver. ‘Pyeongchang’ Filming Location starting August 2022. Through IN THE SOOP, HYBE continues to provide immersive entertainment lifestyle experiences through original content featuring artists, merchandise and offline stores.

2GO Travel brings back Php99 Sea Sale

 2GO Travel, the Philippines’ largest premier sea travel provider, gives passengers another chance to score promo fares for Safe, Sulit, Saya voyages to various destinations via a Sea Sale with one-way fares for as low as Php99.

The Php99 promo fare covers voyages from Manila to Tagbilaran vice versa. Meanwhile, passengers can avail tickets for as low as Php399 for voyages from Manila to Bacolod, Cebu, Dumaguete, Iloilo, as well as Palawan (Puerto Princesa and Coron) vice versa.

Passengers traveling from Manila to Butuan, Cagayan De Oro, Dipolog, Ozamiz, and Zamboanga vice versa may also avail of fares for as low as Php499.

2GO also offers promo fares as low as Php299 for voyages from Cebu to Cagayan De Oro vice versa, Cebu to Butuan and Ozamiz, and Dumaguete to Zamboanga.

The seven-day sale runs from August 15-21 for voyages from September 15-October 11. The promo fare includes a generous 50kg Baggage Allowance and accommodations.

With 2GO, travelers can begin their sailcations the minute they step onboard. 2GO offers cruise-like experiences, such as exciting activities onboard, spacious and clean accommodations, hot and fresh meals, a variety of food and drink, and views of the country’s beautiful islands from its famous sundeck.

2GO Travel also continues to emphasize that safety remains an utmost priority. Aside from being fully vaccinated, all crew members of vessels coming from Manila have received at least one booster shot.

“We have always been consistent with our health and safety protocols. We have made sure that this is a continuing effort because what matters to us is that our passengers can go on with their sailcations to their desired destinations in a safe and enjoyable manner. It has always been our goal for passengers to have a memorable experience onboard,” said Blessie Cruz, 2GO’s Group Head for Marketing.

Companies and groups can also arrange fun team buildings before festivals on 2GO vessels, particularly on MV 2GO Masagana and MV 2GO Maligaya. The two ships serve as unique and enjoyable MICE venues with facilities that can accommodate gatherings with exclusive use of the meeting rooms with audio and video set-up and live entertainment during evening functions.

Work Week Enders at Richmonde's The Exchange

 If your work week is constantly hectic, then you need to end it right by having a night or two of unabashed good time. Give yourself a well-earned pat on the back and get some after-office perks as Richmonde Hotel Ortigas’ bar lounge reopens its doors to welcome back the city’s busy workforce. Every Thursday and Friday, The Exchange creates a fun hotspot where you can let your hair down, reminisce the good ol’ times, and even let your singing fantasies come true!

All eyes will be on stage as The Exchange holds Thursday Jamming Night and Friday Retro Replay with resident pianist Bobbet Bernades and ‘80s cover band, Big Bash Band, respectively.

Celebrate the almost-weekend with your pals at The Exchange’s Thursday Jamming Night with the bar’s resident pianist, Bobbet Bernades, and take your karaoke sessions to the next level. From 7:00pm to 10:30pm, sing your heart out on stage and take the spotlight with live piano accompaniment or cheer on your lounge-singer-wannabe friend. From acoustic sounds and bossa nova vibes to pop tunes and standard ballads, wow the crowd with your wide range of repertoire.

Relive and rediscover the smash hits of the 70’s and ‘80s as The Exchange’s resident crowd-drawer make its long-awaited a comeback. The Big Bash Band resumes its live performances at the Friday Retro Replay all Fridays of August and September. At no cover charge or minimum consumption, The Exchange will transport you in time as you groove to the band’s infectious beats from upbeat disco, funky pop, and hip new wave songs. The throwback tunes continue all throughout the night with cool remixes and vintage MTVs for an old-school kind of night.

Just a few of the must-try bar chow at The Exchange:  Queso Fundido, Onion Rings, Moules Marineres, and Caroline Pulled Pork Pizza.

Queso Fundido

Onion Rings

Moules Marineres

Caroline Pulled Pork Pizza.

And as you enjoy the bar’s entertainment, get your fix of bottomless fun with drink-all-you-can offers. Happy Hour, available from 6pm to 9pm, gives you limitless orders of local beers and select cocktails, served with chips, crackers, and nuts, for only PhP 850 nett. Wine lovers also get a treat with Unli Pours of house red and white wine for two (2) consecutive hours at PhP 800 nett.

End the week with bottomless fun at The Exchange: Drink-all-you-can Happy Hour from 6pm to 9pm for PhP 850nett and Unli Wine Pours for 2 hours straight for PhP 800 nett.

Complementing your drinks is The Exchange’s bar chow choices which consist of a mix of all-time faves like the classic sisig kapampangan (pork mask, chicken liver, citric acid, chilies, sea salt), sinugba (cured marlin, grilled pork belly, pinakurat, red onions), the popular onion rings (beer-battered onion rings, house-blend ranch, srirachianaise), and Angus burger (beef steak, mozzarella, cheddar, pretzel bun); and house specials like queso fundido (spiced queso dip with pulled pork), moules marineres (sauvignon blanc steamed New Zealand mussels), and jojos & chili con carne (spiced potato wedges, homemade chili, mozzarella), from Richmonde Ortigas’ Executive Chef, Tristan Galang. All takers of Happy Hour and Unli Pours get 20% off on bar chow orders.

The Exchange, located at the 2^nd floor of Richmonde Hotel Oritgas, is open Thursdays and Fridays from 6pm to 11pm. For inquiries and table reservations, call +632 8638 7777 or +63 917 534 4352

As the initial venture of leading real estate company, Megaworld Corporation, into the hospitality business, Richmonde Hotel Ortigas is a proud local brand that opened in 1999 at the heart of the then-burgeoning Ortigas Center. It is now a member of the steadily growing stable of homegrown brands under the Megaworld Hotels and Resorts group. For more information on Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, log on to www.richmondehotelortigas.com.ph and for the latest news on the hotel, follow @RichmondeHotelOrtigas on Facebook and Instagram.

Fly and Live Anywhere for 30 days in the Philippines with Airbnb & AirAsia

 One special winner and three guests will rediscover home by living in the most unique Airbnb Stays, and flying with AirAsia to their bucket list destinations

Ever dreamt of a long leisurely getaway to live and work from anywhere, or simply enjoy the vacation of a lifetime? For the first time ever, Airbnb and AirAsia Philippines are teaming up to offer one Filipino (and up to 3 companions) the ultimate dream adventure to Fly & Live Anywhere in the Philippines for 30 consecutive days.

From remote workers to creatives, families, empty nesters, vacationers and more; Airbnb and AirAsia are seeking one special winner who will fly and live anywhere in the Philippines for one month between September to October 2022.

The winner will win an incredible Php 200,000 worth of Airbnb travel credits and 12 round-trip domestic flights with AirAsia, and can bring up to three companions on the trip.

During their month-long adventure, the winner and their guests will get to live in some of the most unique Airbnb Stays in the country, and travel with AirAsia to their bucket list destinations.  Get ready to discover home in a new light while exploring new cities and hidden gems with your loved ones like never before.

“As more Filipinos enjoy greater flexibility to work from anywhere, the blurring lines between travel and living have led many to embrace remote work and more spontaneous getaways with their loved ones. As travel rebounds, we are thrilled to partner with AirAsia to offer this amazing once-in-a-lifetime adventure. We know travel connects people and brings significant economic opportunities for local communities, and we hope this contest ignites greater excitement and appetite to rediscover home,” shares Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s General Manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Steve Dailisan, AirAsia Philippines’ Head of Communications and Public Affairs, notes, “The tourism industry of the Philippines boasts diversity and richness across many facets – culture and heritage, scenic spots, exclusive adventures, and culinary delights. These drivers position the Philippines as a viable destination for travelers living a nomadic lifestyle away from the usual metros. Digital nomads, barkadas, or families who have the liberty to travel while keeping their grind must know that the Philippines is ready to welcome them. We are glad to partner with Airbnb to underscore this very message.

How to apply for your dream adventure

Starting today, August 11, through August 21, 11:59 p.m. PHT, eligible applicants may apply by visiting airbnb.com/flyandliveanywhere and completing the application form.

Participants must be over 18, have an Airbnb account and available to travel within the Philippines from September to October. The successful participant will be contacted directly by Airbnb on August 29. For more information, see the Contest Rules.

Traveling more and venturing further

For the first time since the pandemic, travelers can now fly and live anywhere and Airbnb and AirAsia are making this possible in the Philippines.

Recent Airbnb data revealed that more than a third of local Airbnb guests polled stayed with Airbnb in the Philippines to travel and work remotely¹, and that travelers are now venturing further with Filipino Hosts in over 60 new Philippines cities and towns welcoming their very first guests since the start of the pandemic².

Searching for travel inspiration for your Fly & Live Anywhere application? Check out Airbnb’s first-ever Travel Guide to the Philippines. Travellers are also encouraged to check the travel requirements of each destination, which can be found on AirAsia’s Fly Safe Page. 

 

Note

¹ Based on a survey of 250 Airbnb home guests who booked a listing in the Philippines between June 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021, and were surveyed between February 17, 2022, and March 31, 2022.

² According to internal Airbnb data between March 2020 and March 2022.

 

Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-148895 Series of 2022.

 

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.  

https://news.airbnb.com/philippines

 

About AirAsia

Philippines AirAsia, Inc. (PAA), doing business as AirAsia Philippines (with flight code Z2), is one of the country’s top low-cost airlines. It flies to a total of 16 domestic destinations and 15 international destinations as of June 2022. It was officially launched as the fourth Airline Operations Center (AOC) of the AirAsia group in 2012. Under the AirAsia Aviation Group Limited, it offers all its flight and ancillary products on the fully-integrated platform airasia Super App. Through this, guests can enjoy seamless booking of flights and hotels, and other features such as delivery, ride hailing, and online shopping.

https://newsroom.airasia.com/

Emirates Skywards makes a splash this summer with thousands of Skywards Miles on offer

 

· Fly, stay, rent, shop this summer and earn thousands of Skywards Miles

· Enjoy discovering the world and earn more Miles wherever you go - in the air and on ground.

Dubai, UAE: Emirates Skywards, the award-winning loyalty program of Emirates and flydubai, is giving members even more reasons to explore the world this summer with exclusive bonus Miles offerings. Enjoy splurging and rack up Miles this August on flights, hotel stays, car rentals, lifestyle partners and much more.

Earn up to 15,000 Miles on hotel stays*

 

• Emirates Skywards Hotels: Earn up to 15,000 Miles per night with more than 400,000 hotels, in more than 900 destinations worldwide.
• Atlantis The Palm, Dubai: Earn up to 10,000 bonus Miles for a three-night stay.
• IHG Hotels & Resorts: Earn 1,000 bonus Miles per stay at any of the Intercontinental Hotels worldwide.
• Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts: Earn double Miles per stay at any of the Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts worldwide.

 

Earn up to 6,000 bonus Miles on car rentals*

 

• Avis: Earn 6,000 bonus Miles per rental worldwide.
• Hertz: Earn up to triple Miles on car rentals worldwide.
• SIXT: Earn up to 3,000 bonus Miles per rental worldwide.

 

Earn thousands of Miles on shopping*

 

• The Bicester Collection: Earn thousands of Miles this summer at the popular luxury shopping destinations within The Bicester Collection. Members can earn double Miles on all spends and triple Miles based on achieving the minimum spend criteria.
• utu: Get a chance to win a whopping 100,000 bonus Skywards as well as earn up to 1,750 bonus Miles with utu Tax-Free. Continue to earn Skywards Miles on Tax refunds in 50 countries across Europe, Asia and the Middle East with utu Tax-Free app.

 

Click here to learn more about Emirates Skywards’ summer specials.

 

Emirates Skywards has more than 29 million members worldwide. The loyalty program offers four tiers of membership: Blue, Silver, Gold and Platinum, with each tier earning exclusive privileges. Members can earn Skywards Miles with partners ranging from airlines, hotels and car rentals to financial, leisure and lifestyle brands. Skywards Miles can be redeemed for an extensive range of rewards, including flight tickets on partner airlines, flight upgrades, hotel stays, tickets, hospitality at sporting and cultural events, tours and money-can’t-buy experiences.

 

For more information, visit www.emirates.com/skywards.

 

*Terms and conditions apply

 

*Offer is valid during the specified booking period

León Gallery, UnionBank team up for talk on convergence of traditional and NFT art

Filipino NFT artist Jose Antonio Reyes and UnionBank’s Digital Asset Markets Unit to lead discussions

The merging of traditional art and non-fungible token (NFT) art has undoubtedly unlocked new possibilities for artists and collectors today. However, with NFT technology being relatively new especially in the Philippines, many are still wondering what this is and are trying to understand the technology. Such a scenario may be preventing the full realization of its potential to revolutionize art.

To address this, Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) and León Gallery have collaborated for a discussion to facilitate timely and relevant conversations on NFT art. Focus will be the convergence of the traditional and NFT art spaces and how artists and collectors can navigate the emerging landscape much easier.

The talk is part of an exhibit by Filipino abstract artist Jose Antonio Reyes, a.k.a. JAR, whose previous NFT art collection ‘JAR Heads’ on the Cardano Network was a success. It generated over 1 million in ADA sales in the secondary market within a span of six months. The exhibition is being hosted by León Gallery with the participation of UnionBank's Digital Asset Markets Unit (DAMU).

Reyes together with key experts from DAMU will discuss NFT art and cryptocurrencies, and where these converge with traditional art. UnionBank will also talk about possible channels to enter the NFT space, including its very own Virtual Asset Over-the-Counter service, which allows customers to fund their crypto wallets in order to buy and sell NFT art.

"Through this event, we want to educate people on the developing convergence of traditional art and NFT art," said RJ Dela Cruz, UnionBank Head of DAMU. "It is not uncommon to have traditional artists transition into the world of NFT art, but it is rare for a traditional artist to have a successful project. JAR is an example of the latter, and him coming from the local scene is definitely something worth paying attention to."

León Gallery is an auction house based in Makati City that specializes in art, antiques, and collectibles. Founded in 2010, the gallery offers "historically important and museum-quality Philippine art" and is considered one of the most prestigious auction firms in the country.