Check out the April 2007 Issue of Smile: Inflight Magazine of Cebu Pacific. I, Marcos Caratao Jr. a.k.a “chymera”, has just been featured as their local guide for Iloilo. My 1/4 of a page spread (hmmphhh) is found on the 89th page of the mag.
Smile has actually contacted and sent me a bunch of questions months back but I was only able to answer them last month, thanks to Bernimacksouthcentral incessant plea for me to do it. The write-up I sent was actually longer but the editor removed most of what I wrote so my ideas weren’t captured very well.
Here’s the text on the first feature about me, ever. I hope more people will be able to notice me and what I do.
Marcos Caratao Jr.
Student, owner of www.exploreiloilo.com
Best breakfast…
Noodle soup, served at Ted’s Old Timer La Paz Batchoy stimulates the senses! It’s been serving the original since 1945. Find them at the corner of Diversion Road and General Luna St., popularly called “Stoplight”.
Famous visitors…
Pope John Paul II. His visit in 1982 stirred up the hearts and souls of all Ilonggos.
Exclusive hotel…
There are no 5 star hotels in Iloilo yet, but you can get a touch of exclusivity at the Iloilo Centennial Hotel Resort and Convention Center, formerly the Marikudo Country Club. It boasts amazing facilities and a Convention Center that can accommodate 2,700 persons, the largest in Iloilo.
Unusual fact…
Iloilo has been known since the Spanish period as “The City of Love”.
Best night out…
Smallville offers a lot at night for everyone. If you’d like to dance go to MO2 or Shipwreck. For singing there’s MO2 Annex. Dinner with the family is good at the Riverside Boardwalk, Krua Thai, and Maki while Blue Jay is the perfect place for a cup of coffee and conversation with friends.
Congrats poh! Proud 2 b Ilonggo
Congratulations CHY!!..am proud to be an alumna of West Visayas State University too..thanks for d updates about ILOILO..it’s easier now for fellow ilonggos here in the United States to find what’s new about the place in general and d recent improvements made so far….job well done..God bless!!
Thanks RD and INHS, I appreciate it :)
I’m proud of you son, introducing Iloilo to the whole world.
Good work Chy! Bravo!
Thanks ………. mom
and Bad_wolf :)
Great work by a great artist!!! Congrats!!!
Ay sus nahisa ako sa imo chy ah… :) joke lang! Keep up the good work dude!
Hehehe!!! Madame Ensor saw your promotional efforts and it seems that its paying off. And all the way to local dailies and soon, DOT? :D Well done Marc!
By the way, I’ll be sending you your copy. :)
Have a happy summer and see you in May! :)
Congratz! I also read that article when I went to Cagayan de Oro City aboard Cebu Pacific plane. It’s nice the magazine featured my beloved province. Hope I could go back to Iloilo again. The last time I was in Iloilo was in February and managed to take some pictures of the Capitol, Museu Iloilo, despite my busy schedule. It was a short visit so wasn’t able to see many beautiful places in Iloilo.
I dunno know what to say, but I am helping this website though. Since I posted the link in My Profile, I noticed the difference in the Message Board. A lot of people log in and write their messages in the board too, like what I do regularly. I hope and pray that it will continously pours success in the present and in the future. Good luck Chymera and Marc, and God bless us all! Cheers!:)
Thanks Joy,
BTW, me and chymera are the same person :) Glad you’ve discovered the forums section of the site, hope you register. It only takes 5 minutes or less :)
Hey Ronnie, I didn’t realized people will be reading it since it’s only 1/4 of the 98th page … cool
good article,good job!
hoooray! good job! we are all so proud of you. could you please e mail me that article?
tita lucy
Great site on the web.Overseas Ilonggos had the chance to explore their beloved place wherever they are like me who now reside in Canada.
Congratz, I’ve read about your article, I even have a copy at home…some passengers are not aware that you can actually bring the magazine ^_^…
By the way …May I submit some interesting facts about Iloilo here on your page?
Take Care and more power!
bebe,
so proud of you..:) heehee
i was surfing the web looking for inexpensive hotels, and viola! i found your site!:) it was most helpful..:) however, it’s not featured on the yahoo! search angine yet..work on that..:)