Yesterday’s lunch only cost me Php50.00 (~$1). I was then at Mingnan Chinese Cuisine in downtown Cebu, an area in the city that used to be the ‘Ayala’ or the ‘SM Seaside’ back in the day.

Despite the influx of these supermalls, there are still a lot people who come here to purchase fresh produce at dirt-cheap prices, to pay homage to the Santo Niño, and to just walk around the narrow streets dotted by heritage buildings. Yesterdat was more on the latter, aside of course from finding a cheap meal in these parts.

 

A sulit meal

Mingnan is located at Plaridel Extension, a one-way street that bisects across what looked like the back alleys of business establishments along Osmeña boulevard. But this eatery, beloved by those who know about it, serves very budget-friendly and freshly-cooked value meals. Your Php50 here will get you a cup of rice and 2 kinds of viands. I once brought my colleagues here and they couldn’t believe it themselves.

They also serve seafood items but these are not on display. That morning, the table right across me ordered a soup with thin noodles, squid and clams. I will definitely revisit Mingnan one of these days, if only to try their ala carte dishes.

 

A sulit phone

After my quick lunch at Mingnan, I also unboxed Cherry Mobile’s Comet – a dual SIM, Android, 1 GHz Dual Core smart phone. It sports a 4″ capacitive display, an expandable memory, rear and front cameras with flash. For all these features, this baby is priced at a jaw-dropping Php996 only.

This is then the Big Time Bundle 2.0 – the Comet and a Cherry Mobile Prepaid SIM, powered by Globe Telecom. Yes, the beloved Filipino mobile brand is now providing this service – call, text and data.

I believe that this is a game changer especially to the mass market. Now you can finally have both quality network service on top of a very affordable mobile device. Cherry Mobile can now rightfully claim that they have “Everything for Everyone.”

My lunch at Mingnan and this new Cherry Mobile smartphone indeed provided more value for my money. It was definitely a very sulit Saturday and I definitely look forward for more of these this year.

 

Mingnan Chinese Cuisine
Osmeña Blvd. Cor., Plaride Extension ,Cebu City
+63 32 511 8400, +63 32 253 5522

The Cherry Prepaid phone bundles can be availed at any Cherry Mobile kiosks and concept stores in the Philippines. For more details visit http://cherrymobile.com.ph/

• cebu city
• eatery