Beauty, brew and burgers in Cebu City

It was an out-of-the-ordinary mid-morning, full of wonderful news for women who care to look their very best, when Rustan’s Cebu, represented by its store operations manager Maricar Vasquez Tan and merchandising manager Marilou Villacarlos, hosted a cozy gathering of valued clients and media friends at the Cebu Marriott Hotel for the latest-in-the-market product presentation on dynamic styles for the eyes and easy-to-follow procedures for skin care and repair.

Mara Ceguera, brand manager for Estee Lauder, introduced the Idealist Micro-D, a gentle alternative to micro dermabrasion that can be done in the privacy of one’s home.

"The product," she intimates, "carefully penetrates into the pores to rid the skin of any complexion dulling debris, while minimizing the appearance of pore size and fine lines. It revives and renews the skin that has lost its healthy glow due to sun exposure, stress and dryness."

Manila-based makeup artist Rhaye de la Cruz, using exclusively pure color eye shadow duo, conducted an eye-opener of a workshop and makeover demo that created dramatic looks beyond the traditional definition of eye makeup.

The newest fragrance to hit town, the Beautiful Sheer eau de parfum, was likewise launched. Asked to comment on Estee Lauder’s newly-arrived perfume, a friend of long standing declared it was light, while her companion found it to be contemporary. A seatmate whispered, "It’s so very, very flirtatious." I could not help but smile.

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Bo’s Coffee Club, a certified honest-to-goodness Cebu-born café and undoubtedly one of the city’s fastest growing chains, inaugurated its 10th outlet right at the corner of the entrance to Paradise Village.

Open as early as just-before-seven every morning, it is the perfect first stopover for coffee lovers from the neighboring villages along Banilad who take on early drives to the school, office or gym, or for those who simply can’t start their day without a cup of brew.

Bo’s is known not only for its exceptional coffees with a variety of flavors and blends that include espresso, cappuccino, mocha and latte, but also for its relaxed gentle ambience that exudes warmth and friendliness and superior standard of service.

Hard-driven owner Steve Benitez enthuses that "Bo’s is also perfect for a demitasse. A variety of coffee beans, teas, beverages and specially baked goodies are available for the picking"

And what’s more, "Where else can you enjoy a cup of brewed coffee with an oatmeal cookie for under P50?" Spoken like a true-blue Cebuano!

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Adjacent to Bo’s is Burger Joint, a successful and popular burger shop owned and managed by six young enterprising Cebuanos, namely Jacob Pimentel, brothers Arlo and Marko Sarmiento, Leanne Florendo, Pebbles Villalon and John Syjuco.

They set up shop in December 2000; soon after, with business growing steadily, a second branch was opened on busy Osmeña Blvd.

The Burger Joint in Banilad is the flagship shop, offering bigger and better facilities. The specialties include bacon mushroom cheeseburger, three-cheese double burger and tuna melt, with side orders of potato crisps, onion rings or French fries.

Did I hear right that they are looking for more sites? I wouldn’t be surprised for nothing seems to stop this gang of six.