Islands Souvenirs unveils new line of customizable shirts

CEBU, Philippines -  We Cebuanos love promoting our hometown, and we love sharing our passions even more. Cebu’s coolest homegrown brand Islands Souvenirs makes it even easier to show what we love doing without having to speak a word with their newest line of completely customizable T-shirts.

Dubbed 101 Reasons Why We Love Cebu, their latest campaign taps local enthusiasts, hobbyists and professionals who have pursued their dreams and are now go-to guys and household names in their respective fields.

Aside from conveying that you too can be at the top of your game, the campaign promotes Cebu as the perfect place to practice any leisure pursuit you enjoy, and essentially live the lifestyle you want to live, whatever it may be.

The personalities in the campaign each have their own story to tell, from when they started following their dreams and how, through pure tenacity and dedication to their goals, they are now living the life they had only first dreamed of. Best of all, the common thread in their stories is how Cebu allowed them to make their dreams come true.

Creative minds agree that being in Cebu brings out the best of their imaginations. “I love doing art and designing tattoos in Cebu because I feel that I am most creative here. When I am home, my mind is free to wander,” reveals tattoo artist Divine Maitland-Smith, while innovative master chef Raki Urbina of the Laguna Group of Companies declares, “Cebu paved the way for me to hone my craft,” and fashion designer Cary Santiago proudly proclaims, “Cebu is a fashion destination in Asia.” Singer/songwriter Kate Torralba affirms, “I love Cebu because I get to do what I love the most with the people I love the most. I have been so fortunate to have traveled the world and seen so many amazing places, yet Cebu is the place that is closest to my heart.” 

The unrivaled lifestyle which Cebu affords is tops for dessert lover and Architect Mirella Gallego of the La Marea chain of pastry shops: “Even after a stressful week at work, it’s not too far to go to the beach, the mountains or nearby islands to relax and unwind. Family and friends are close by so it’s easy to catch up with them on short notice,” and she sums it up perfectly: “Cebu is just the perfect balance of everything.” Master diver and underwater photographer Bo Mancao simply says, “I love Cebu for its world class diving. We have the 3 M’s – Mactan, Moalboal and Malapascua.”

A spin-off from their ultra successful “I Heart” campaign, 101 Reasons Why We Love Cebu features different icons in place of their celebrated heart design, which represent the different activities, hobbies, advocacies and “likes” of the Cebuano community. Also wearing the new T-shirts with pride are some of Cebu’s best-loved personalities, each one a sensation in the community, such as Yogahub founder and instructor Jenifer Martinez, Ms. Tourism International 2014 Angeli Gomez, marathon runner Dr. Yong Larrazabal, triathlete Tenggoy Colmenares, pet lover and multi-media personality Jude Bacalso with his beloved dog Shadow, local music producer and advocate Kaloy Uypuanco of Sonic Boom Philippines, entrepreneur Lorenz Florendo of Tatang’s Boneless Lechon Belly, Instagrammer and Zee Lifestyle photographer Lea Duhaylungsod, and gadget guy Ryan Yu of Cliptech. (FREEMAN)