The University of San Carlos The University of San Carlos is considered to be one of the top universities in the Philippines.

It is governed by the Society of the Divine Word since 1935 and is located at the site of the earliest European settlement in the country, Cebu. It consists of four campuses in different areas of Metro Cebu. The school offers pre elementary and basic education as well as undergraduate and graduate courses, and a broad spectrum of academic programs through its eight colleges. Metro Cebu provides Carolinians (as USC students are called) with a cosmopolitan setting where malls are just a few minutes away from the beaches, heritage towns and mountain resorts. The school basically aims to develop competent and socially responsible professionals and life long learners in an environment that fosters excellence in the academic core processes of teaching learning, research and community extension service. Mactan Economic Processing Zone The Mactan Export Processing Zone 1 is a 120 hectare industrial estate located at Lapu Lapu City. It is known to be one of the most successful economic zones in the Philippines that has proved beyond doubt the viability of the Mactan Cebu area. It started out with 8 companies in 1986. Twenty four years later, MEPZ 1 has 148 locators. This growth reflects the fast paced economic development that is happening in Lapu Lapu City. The Mactan economic processing zone is an inudstrial tax free zone. Now, MEPZ 2 offers new locators the same opportunity to capitalize on these new spring conditions. This project is an inspiring example of the growing number of successful partnerships between the government and the private sector in the Philippines. KIMWA The KIMWA Construction is among the leading pioneers in Visayas and Mindanao area in the field of construction building materials such as ready mix concrete and quality aggregate production. KIMW operates for over 38 years already and is equipped with the latest devices in the field of construction such as the truck mountain train, ssangyong transit mixers, flowcrete, motor grader and flat truck. KIMWA maintains superior value through

Lacto Pafi In the year 2000, arising at the queen city of the south, Cebu, Philippines, the only genuine probiotic health drink Lacto Pafi acceded upward to a worldwide market, saving millions of lives from being affected by several illnesses. Founded by Gregorio G. Sanchez Jr., LactoPafi is a health drink that contains eight strains of Lactobacillus bacteria; namely, L. casei, L. paracasei, L. rhamnosus, L. Plantarum, L. brevis, L. zeae, L. lindneri, and L. perolens. Lactopafi drinks are cultured on nutrient dense soy protein, molasses and fresh milk. Lacto Pafi contains 33 amino acids that play important role for the proper growth of children and in maintaining the body structure, among which are tryptophan, threonine, serine, glutamic acid, praline glycine, alanine, methionine, leucine, and isoleucine, phenylalanine and lysine. The invention of this health drink illustrates Filipinos ingenuity and commitment in finding solutions to real life problems. Gardenia: So Good You Can Even Eat It On Its Own Gardenia produces one of the best tasting breads in the world. Gardenia, being Singapores premire sandwhich loaf bakery, constantly improves and adapts to suit consumer needs while staying true to its core brand values. The brand Gardenia is associated with qualities such as trust, reliability, good taste and freshness. Gardenia first started as a small in store bakery at Bukit Timah Plaza producing variety of bread, with the help of experienced American Baker, Horatio Sye Slocumm, who had 35 years experience in the bakery business. The gardenia bread undergoes a variety of processes that ensures it stays fresh longer and tastes so good you can even eat it on its won. Continuation of KIMWA continuing technical innovation, product complementation, manufacturing cost reduction, market leadership and competitive, responsible pricing.

Taoist Temple Cebus Taoist temple exhibits a unique style among the many different types of Chinese ancient architecture. Built in 1972, the place is located in Beverly Hills Subdivision in Cebu City, Philippines for the places Chinese community. The Taoist temple is open to the worshippers and non worshippers alike unlike the neighboring Phu Sian Temple. The temple is the center of worship for Taoism, the religion which follows the teachings of ancient Chinese Philosopher Lao Tze. With an elevation of 300 meters above sea level, the temple is a towering, multi tiered, multi hued attraction accessible by three separate winding routes. The entrance to the temple is a replica of the Great Wall of China. The temple includes a chapel, a library, a souvenir shop and a wishing well. The spacious balconies offer a scenic view of the downtown Cebu. Magellans Cross 500 years ago, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan planted a huge Christian cross in Sugbu to celebrate the baptism into the Roman Catholic religion of island chief Rajah Humabon, his wife, and some 500 of their followers on April 21, 1521. The 491 year old cross, called Magellans Cross, now stands at a small chapel located across Cebu City Hall and along Magallanes Street. The street is named after Magellan, Magallanes being the Spanish translation of the Portuguese explorers name. The cross is housed in a chapel next to the Basilica Minore del Santo Nio just in front of the city hall of Cebu City. A sign below the cross describes the original cross encased inside the wooden cross that is found in the center of the chapel. This is to protect the original cross from people who chipped away parts of the cross for souvenir purposes or in the belief that the cross possesses miraculous powers. Fort San Pedro The Fort San Pedro is the smallest, oldest tri bastion fort in the country. It served as the nucleus of the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines and has a total area of 2,025 square meters. The walls of the place are 20 feet high, 8 feet thick and the towers are 30 feet high from the ground level. Work was first started on May 8, 1565 with Miguel Lopez De Legazpi breaking the ground. After the battle of Manila Bay, Commodore George Dewey turned the fort to the local Cebuanos, then it became an American Warwick Barracks during the American Regime.

Park Mall Parkmall, the newest cosmo hub in Mandaue, is the home to the finest of al fresco dining and the most refreshing concept shops to ever grace the Queen City of the South. Parkmall is Cebus 1st pet friendly mall. Recognizing the Cebuanos growing fondness of pets, and acknowledging that certain concern for pets, who we treat as family, Parkmall boldly opens all its doors to petowners who wish to bring in their pets with them when they come to Parkmall to dine or shop. Parkmall also advocates the development of well being with its zen inspired gardens, its eco friendly environment and its refreshing ambiance amidst the bustling trade and commerce of Mandaue City. Parkmall now seeks to be the home base for various hobbyists and enthusiasts of Cebu by offering Parkmall as a platform to promote an active lifestyle. The Sto. Nino Church The convent of the Sto. Nio was founded by Fr. Andres de Urdaneta on April 28, 1565, the very same day the Legazpi Urdaneta expedition arrived in the island. Legazpi and his men allotted a place for the church and the convent of San Agustin where the Santo Nio image has been found while planning for the urbanization of the city. In 1599, the convent was made a house of studies of grammar, headed by the Visayan linguist, Fr. Alonso de Mentrida. It also served as a rest house for missionaries working in the province and as a retirement house for the aged and the sick, usually attending to by a lay brother.

Plaza Independencia The Plaza Independencia is located between Fort San Pedro and the building that used to be the Gobierno Provincial in the downtown area of Cebu. The plaza is a popular hangout for many living or working around the area. It is one huge garden filled with trees, ornamental plants and flowers. There is also a public skating rink and a kiosk at the center of the circular skating rink. An obelisk dedicated to the memory of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi is planted at the very heart of the plaza.

Archivals House Nestor Archival, being one of the countrys leading contractors of electrical works with such clients as Cebu Holdings Inc. of the Ayala group, is hailed as Cebus recycling genius. He had so many notable thoughts in recycling; namely, he stitches aluminum doy packs together to become sturdy roof lining. He uses plastic cups and Styrofoam packs to breed plants. Empty cans of paint and milk were recycled into pots; empty, green wine bottles now line the border of plant boxes, while discarded metal and wood were twisted and treated to become the staircase and balustrade of the Archival ecohouse, touted to be the first in Cebu, if not the Philippines. Archival also applies his knowledge in engineering and design in making his home the poster house of energy efficiency. Archival proudly says that his electricity bill runs up to just about P1,500 a month even if he operates a full household with a staff of about eight working around the property. One major reason is the household's reliance on solar energy. The Archivals' water bill is also miniscule because they depend on another of nature's gifts--rain. Even human waste is put to good use as it is added to the waste produced by pigs and goats in the compound, which would be then processed by a P30,000 biogas facility into methane. The gas is used for cooking instead of expensive liquefied petroleum gas.