cdo blogger Archives - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Apr162024 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

WATCH: the amazing Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra LIVE in Bukidnon

Advocacy, Arts, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Government, Mindanaoan Update, Music

The world-class Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Herminigildo Ranera, recently performed live in Bukidnon. A very first in the Province of Bukidnon, considered the food basket of the country. The two live performances, one at 2 PM and another at 7 PM of April 12, 2024, were made possible by Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri and the Cultural Center of the Philippines in celebration of the inauguration of the Bukidnon Center for Culture and the Arts, located at the new Bukidnon Sports and Cultural Complex, Barangay Laguitas, Malaybalay City. I was able to attend both performances, thanks to my dear friend Senate President Migz Zubiri. Daghang salamat, SP! I was also given all access passes for other events that weekend, which I will soon share on th...

Jan232024 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Big Bad Wolf to bring world’s largest book sale to Cagayan de Oro

Cagayan de Oro City, Events, Features

Fellow bookworms, rejoice! Big Bad Wolf will take the world’s largest book sale to Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. This is truly groundbreaking as this marks the first time Big Bad Wolf will bring its world-famous collection of books to CDO. There was a press conference a few days ago but I was in Cebu City (look at what I've been up to!) so I wasn't able to attend. However, I'm pleased to share information about this much-awaited book sale! Big Bad Wolf CDO will be a testament to BBW's never-ending commitment to spreading the joy of reading. As a book lover myself, I can say that Big Bad Wolf Cagayan de Oro will help foster a deeper appreciation for literature and support the ever-expanding community of avid readers. Big Bad Wolf CDO will take place from February 2 to 18, 2024 at ...

Dec42023 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Marudori: two thumbs up for this halal-certified, chicken ramen place

Features, Food, Manila, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews

One of the things I don't mind doing on my own is go on a solo food trip. Enjoying food with family and friends is great, of course, but there are times when you just want peace, quiet and just time for yourself, your thoughts, your plans in life and whatnots. Anyway, one of the places I visited on my own was Marudori, which serves chicken-based ramen. I went to Marudori's newer branch located at Salcedo Village, Makati. Their other branch is located at Rockwell. A sister company of Mendokoro Ramenba, which serves pork-based ramen, Marudori also has an open kitchen where you can observe how they prepare the gyozas and the ramen bowls. To start your meal, you might want to try the tsukune. It’s similar to chicken tocino but you dip it into this egg yolk and special sauce mixture an...

Nov152023 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Catch the Ayala Centrio Mall CDO Magical Nights of Lights 2023

Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Misamis Oriental, Society, Tourism

It's the yearly tradition you and your loved ones don't want to miss! Our favorite mall in Cagayan de Oro, Ayala Centrio Mall CDO, is back with their most-awaited Magical Nights of Lights! This Christmas light show runs daily every 30 minutes starting at 6 PM. Also, this nightly Centrio Mall CDO light show will run until January 6, 2023. It’s a truly festive, beautiful time to create and celebrate traditions with loved ones! Go ahead and visit! This CDO content creator also recommends that you check out the shops and restaurants at Centrio and treat yourself and your loved ones. After all, it's the Christmas holidays! Check out what happened when Ayala Centrio invited me, your friendly Cagayan de Oro influencer, during the launch: (as always, big thanks to Centrio for always remem...

Aug302023 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Coca-Cola Zamboanga plant marks 56 years of service

Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur

Did you know that Coca Cola Zamboanga is half of Coca Cola Philippines' age? You see, Coke Philippines was established in the country 111 years ago. This year, Coke Zamboanga marks its 56th year! Cool, huh? Since its establishment in the Philippines 111 years ago, Coca-Cola has upheld its mission of providing happy refreshing moments to Filipinos across the country and making a difference to local communities. The company has been consistently implementing sustainability efforts and undertakes programs for the communities that it operates in - a way of giving back to the Filipinos that have opened their homes to Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola Zamboanga Plant, which celebrates its 56th anniversary this year, is one of the leading examples of the company’s operational philosophy. Located in...

Aug92023 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

New IELTS on Computer lab now open in CDO

Mindanaoan Update

Here's great news for those who need to take the IELTS exam! IDP Philippines and 9.0 Niner IELTS Review Center have partnered up and recently opened the first ever IELTS on Computer Lab in Cagayan de Oro City! This new lab provides test takers the ease and convenience of booking their IELTS test, having access to numerous test preparation and review materials and taking the test itself all in one place. Plus, of course, if you live within CDO and nearby areas, there's no need for you to travel far to take the exam. IELTS on Computer offers a convenient way of completing the Reading, Listening and Writing parts of the test using a computer, together with the Video Call Speaking test with an IELTS examiner, allowing test takers to complete the entire test in only ONE DAY. Test...

Jul152023 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Healthcare for fur babies – where to buy insurance for our pets

Society

Filipinos love their dogs and cats now more than ever. The numbers even bear this out. Here are few interesting facts about Filipino fur parents and their fur babies, according to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale: Highest in Asia-Pacific. An amazing 67% of households in the Philippines have one or more dogs. There are more dog owners in the country compared to the rest of the Asia-Pacific region. Cat owners aren't far behind; 43% of Filipino households have cats. By the millions. In 2020, it was found that there are 11.6 million dog owners in the Philippines who stay with 10.8 million dogs in their homes. That number includes 1.57 million registered purebred dogs. Still growing. More dogs (and presumably cats, too) are joining Filipino families as the years go by. In 20...

Jun242023 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Why you need to catch the culinary offerings of the new Seda Centrio Chef

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Events, Features, Food, Hotels, LifeStyle, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Society, Sulu

I was recently invited to meet the new Executive Sous Chef of Seda Centrio Hotel and try his culinary creations. Chef Benzar Joe Aradani, who hails from Jolo, Sulu and who brings with him a wealth of culinary experience and expertise in various regional cuisines, impressed me and the food served that night was equally impressive! Coming from a Christian-Muslim background with an Indonesian father and Filipino mother, Chef Ben has earned him a reputation for creating unique and creative dishes, proven by the numerous awards he has received throughout his 33-year career. The tuna dish he prepared right before our very eyes that night was undoubtedly so tender and very flavorful. CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS POSTED ON THE MINDANAOAN FACEBOOK PAGE In the video I took below, yo...

Jun192023 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

How to apply as GrabCar driver or operator CDO

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Corporate, Jobs, Mindanaoan Update

Private hire car hailing service Grab will again operate in Cagayan de Oro! And if you own your own vehicle and want to earn at your own schedule, you may want to apply as a GrabCar driver or operator. You can earn as much as Php 3,000 per day or Php 40,000 per month. GrabCar drivers also enjoy free accident insurance. Download the Grab app here Here's how you can apply: 1. Check if Vehicle / Unit meets the requirements: Unit / Model should not be older than the year 2020 Unit / Model is a non-Honda Brand Unit / Model Vehicle Body Type should be either: Sedan, SUV, MPV / AUV 2. Comply the necessary documents: For PA Requirements 1 Orange Folder for the Documents 4 Copies of Accomplished Verified Application Form - APPLICATION FORM LINK HERE Governme...

Jun132023 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Ready to take the MUSPO Bukidnon ULTRA challenge?

Bukidnon, Events, Fitness, Mindanaoan Update, Sports

Registration is now open for MUSPO Bukidnon (a.k.a. Musuan - Lake Apo Bukidnon) ULTRA, an endurance race generously supported by The North Face Philippines. For runners / trail runners, endurance aficionados and fitness junkies, this will definitely bring out the best in you. Are you ready to accept the challenge? You even have the chance to avail of discounts on The North Face items and additional discounts when you trade-in your old trail or running shoes! Race days: July 22 to 23, 2023 Official registration link: https://racetechph.com/raceinfoview/10197 (please only register via RaceTech) Avail of these unbeatable offers: 20% OFF on ALL regular priced items by showing you’re a registered participant of MUSPO - Baby Trail and MUSPO ULTRA 100 - THE NORTH FACE PH ...

May152023 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

This CDO overlooking cafe serves turon latte

Business, Cafe, Cagayan de Oro City, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews

As of this writing, Cagayan de Oro is now home to over 200 cafes. Can you imagine that? So many coffee shops to choose from! For the owners of these cafes, however, that means stiffer competition. So what do you do so you can stand out of the crowd? Here's one tried-and-tested way: make your menu really interesting and serve something out of the ordinary. Something that you know your customers might want to purchase again or at least talk about with their friends and loved ones! Take August Cafe, for instance. This cafe, which offers a nice overlooking view of the City of Golden Friendship, is the only one I've visited so far that serves turon latte. Yup, you read that right. Their version of turon latte is basically this: banana milk topped with 2 shots of espresso and, yes, the drink...

May82023 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanaoan.com continues to land on top Pinoy blogs by worth list

Blogging, Internet, Mindanaoan Update, Technology

Very grateful and absolutely excited to share with you all that this humble blog, Mindanaoan, has continuously landed on BlogMeterTop's top Philippine blogs lists. I think I last posted about this in 2020 but mind you, Mindanaoan.com has consistently landed on their awesome lists all through these years and I can't be more proud! Daghang salamat for all the support! This truly means a whole lot. For the April 2023 lists, Mindanaoan.com landed on the "Top" overall (among the top 50) and on "Travel and Leisure." (among the top 12) I also ranked pretty nicely overall. BlogmeterTop is a Web analytics service that tracks and reports website traffic for all Philippine blogsites. According to BlogmeterTop, they track the user’s activity on the site such as page visits and statistic...

Mar212023 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Hulak Cafe at Subida CDO aka the cafe owned by Mark Bautista and family

Business, Cafe, Cagayan de Oro City, Food, Mindanaoan Artists, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Society

Let's face it. When people find out that a celebrity owns a certain business, people have the tendency to flock to it and patronize it. That means publicity, strong recall and of course, strong sales. Great! Unfortunately, this may also work the other way around especially if the products aren't good, the prices are way too expensive or if the business owners themselves don't exercise proper customer service. In the case of Hulak Cafe, however, a business owned by internationally renowned Kagay-anon singer, actor, host and theater actor Mark Bautista, they didn't disappoint! Located at the Subida Complex along the South Diversion Road in Taguanao, Hulak Cafe serves breakfast, mains, vegan-friendly breads, cakes, sandwiches, pastas, coffees and juices. It's a nice, cozy place where...

Mar212023 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Vehicle owners will love these freebies at S&R Tire Center (I sure did!)

Automotive, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Shopping

Just a few weeks ago, the tires of my vehicle finally gave in and had to be replaced. I only had one tire installation center in my mind - S&R Membership Shopping. Now, I know you may think --- S&R? Of all places? YEP. And it was the best decision! Let me tell you why. So I went to S&R Cagayan de Oro and went to their tire installation center, which was located at the back of their facility (parking area). I consulted their friendly staff member and he checked my vehicle and told me the kind of tires I needed. He checked their inventory and told me they had some in stock. Then, I proceeded to pay for the tires at the cashier inside the store, presented the receipt to the staff and was told to wait for about an hour. I had the option to wait at the installation area whil...

Feb12023 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Now open: POPS Seaside in El Salvador, Misamis Oriental

Cafe, Cagayan de Oro City, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Tourism, Travel

POPS All Filipino Eatery, known for their eat-and-drink-all-you-can offers at affordable prices, has opened their 5th branch. This time, in El Salvador, Misamis Oriental, just across the Asia Brewery, Inc. El Salvador plant. It's a great pitstop if you're heading to the Laguindingan Airport or if you just like to chill in a place at the outskirts of CDO and enjoy the sea breeze! For now, they don't offer buffets at the El Salvador branch but who knows, they might do so soon! So please follow their page for updates: http://www.facebook.com/popsseasideelsalvador You can also visit their page to see their menu (I highly recommend you try the seafood boil!) In front of Asia Brewery, Inc. El Salvador plant Operating hours: 10 AM to 10 PM Please call (0917) 716 7200 for in...

Jan42023 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Honored to be elected as the new CDO Bloggers President 2023

Advocacy, Announcements, Blogging, Features, Internet, LifeStyle, Media, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Personalities, Society

I'm very excited and humbled to share that I have been elected as the NEW PRESIDENT of the Cagayan de Oro Bloggers Network or CDO Bloggers, a 14-year old organization (yep, OG!) that's home to many award-winning and internationally-recognized bloggers, vloggers, influencers, social media practitioners and content creators. The election of officers/annual general membership meeting/Christmas party was held at The Cistern, Xavier Sports and Country Club, Masterson Avenue, Cagayan de Oro. I recommend the venue for small and intimate events, by the way! Here's the list of the 2023 CDO Bloggers Officers: President - Maria Irene Aserios of Mindanaoan.com - Mindanaoan Meets World VP for Membership - Chen Siwagan of Laag & More w/ Awesome ChenS VP for Events - Irene Dayo of...

Dec192022 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

The 6 buena mano local businesses at the SM CDO Downtown StartUp Market

Mindanaoan Update

There's a special area at the SM CDO Downtown Premier where you can buy local and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) shine ever so brightly! If you love supporting local brands just like me, come check out the SM StartUp Market at the 5th Floor! The 7th StartUp Market of SM in the entire Philippines, the one at SM CDO Downtown Premier has 6 buena mano MSMEs. These local businesses are actually pretty lucky especially because the StartUp Market package includes very friendly rates, free use of the kiosks, free online and offline exposure, financial assistance from BDO etc. I also learned that the brands that can participate in the StartUp Market program are ones that do not have brick-and-mortar shops yet and have only operated online or through bazaars and pop-up shops...

Dec102022 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Seda Centrio has these awesome room and food packages for your Yuletide celebration

Cagayan de Oro City, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Society

Thinking of celebrating your Christmas and New Year at Seda Centrio Cagayan de Oro hotel? You're in for a treat! Seda Centrio is offering awesome food and hotel room packages for you and your loved ones that are guaranteed to elicit #TheBestFeelingsInTheWorld! Whether you want to go solo (self-care aficionados, hello there!), with a partner/significant other or with family and friends, you definitely have amazing choices that would fit your budget and schedule. They even have packages that include cinema passes at neighboring Ayala Malls Centrio! Check out the Seda CDO packages below: Call (088) 3238888 or send an email to [email protected] for inquiries and reservations. If you happen to book after the holiday season, you may want t...

Nov282022 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Teaching social media and digital marketing in 8 towns around Mindanao (during the pandemic!)

Advocacy, Blogging, Business, Education, Features, Internet, Media, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Technology

When the pandemic hit, we all know that the entrepreneurs were among those who got affected the most. Some businesses went to a screeching halt, some were forced to pivot just to survive and some tried to continue operations but with owners, very sadly, feeling they were running around like headless chickens. I should know because I heard numerous of these stories from business owners themselves. Yes, it was heartbreaking to listen to them but you know what? I still held on to that spark of optimism. I knew that somehow, each and every one of us can help these businesses. After all, you and I know very well that the success of just about anything never depends on the hands of only one man. Instead, it has always rested on the collective shoulders of many. I wanted to help esp...

Nov232022 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Tips on how to protect seniors against cybersecurity risks

Events, Mindanaoan Update, Technology

Cyber criminals definitely do not choose their victims. This means that senior citizens or the elderly, especially the non-tech savvy ones, are super prone to online scams, fake news, online identity theft, romance scams and other cybersecurity attacks. In fact, I actually personally know a senior citizen who fell for a bad online scam. Sadly, the elderly are easy targets! This topic is also sensitive to me because my senior citizen Mama blogs and she dabbles in social media so I want to always help protect her from cyber crooks. So how do we make sure that our beloved senior citizens are safe from cybersecurity threats? First off, let's help them with their passwords. They should have strong passwords ideally containing a mix of upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. ...

Nov202022 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

REVIEW: Testing the narzo 50i prime super affordable smartphone during a flight

Features, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Technology

Does the narzo brand sound a little new to you? I can't blame you. The narzo brand is a new, standalone brand (officially launched in the Philippines just last July 2022!) borne out of the realme ecosystem. However, trust me, narzo is fast (and I mean FAST) gaining fans not only because of their really affordable price points but also because the smartphones are, hands down, value for money. Just take the case of the narzo 50i Prime. The fact that their units sold out in a record-breaking time of under 3 minutes at their Shopee store is saying something! Priced at less than Php 4,000 (around US $75 --- yes, you read that right) and with a remarkable product rating of 4.9/5 on Shopee, the narzo 50i Prime really is a quality sulit smartphone. Just recently, I took this gamechanger ou...

Oct182022 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mukbang CDO – where you can enjoy authentic, unlimited Korean samgyupsal

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews

Ever since they started operations, I've already brought a lot of my relatives, friends and colleagues here! Check out Mukbang CDO - this is where you can enjoy authentic, unlimited Korean samgyupsal or samgyeopsal in Cagayan de Oro. Located inside the King's Food and Music Expo (just behind the SM City Uptown parking lot along Beacon Avenue, Cagayan De Oro), Mukbang CDO offers authentic Korean samgyupsal with over 20 side dishes. Their food is prepared by a chef from Korea! Whenever I dine there, I can't help but remember my trip to Korea. Can't wait to go back very soon. Anyway, what I like about the setup at Mukbang CDO is that you yourself can go ahead and refill your preferred meat and side dishes (they also have soup, BTW!). Lessens the wait time for refills (in other establis...