Mindanaoan Irene, Author at Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Mar262018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Bukidnon’s Kaamulan Festival 2018 Ethnic Sports Competition

Bukidnon, Culture, Events, Festivals, Kaamulan Festival, Malaybalay City, Mindanao, Society

The Kaamulan Festival has truly evolved. From being a simple celebration whereby representatives from Bukidnon's 7 hill tribes would all gather in Malaybalay City, the capital of Bukidnon, the annual festival has now turned into quite a spectacle. Despite the many changes, however, I'm glad that there are still events that allowed our indigenous brothers and sisters to showcase their rich, unique and truly colorful culture and tradition. One of these events was the Kaamulan Festival Ethnic Tribal Olympics or Kaamulan Ethnic Sports Competition. In Binukid language, ethnic sports is called "Alu-Alu." Representatives from the Bukidnon, Higaonon, Manobo, Matigsalug, Talaandig, Tigwahanon, and Umayamnon tribes challenged each other in at least 18 ethnic sports at the Capitol Grounds i...

Mar202018 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Beautiful Bukidnon tribal dance at the Kaamulan Festival 2018

Bukidnon, Culture, Events, Festivals, Kaamulan Festival, Malaybalay City

As I am writing this, the yearly Kaamulan Festival is currently ongoing in the Province of Bukidnon, Philippines. The Kaamulan Festival 2018 celebration will last until March 24, 2018, on which day the main highlight, the Ethnic Street Dancing Competition, will be held in Malaybalay City, the capital of Bukidnon. If you're heading there, you may want to check one of my other blogs, the longest-standing one about the province, Bukidnon Online. You can also find the Kaamulan 2018 schedule of activities there. Anyway, full disclosure --- I am still here in New York, USA (legally, if I may add) and obviously, I'm thousands of miles away from Bukidnon. Fortunately, I have an awesome brother, Ben, and an awesome cousin, Daniel, and they're both covering the events for my blogs! Yes, I'm very ...

Mar122018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

OFFICIAL LIST: Sale, buy 1 take 1 items during S&R CDO Members Treat

Announcements, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping, Style

Let me cut to the chase - I'm very excited to let you all know that S&R CDO and all other S&R Membership Shopping branches nationwide will again offer its most awaited, super amazing S&R Members' Treat! From March 14 to 18, 2018, our favorite membership shopping warehouse will offer Buy 1, Take 1 offers as well as up to 50 percent discounts. That means big, big, BIG savings for all! Related: What to expect during the big S&R Members' Treat event 2016 (this post received 610 shares!) The S&R Members' Treat is the perfect time for you to stock up on all your favorite health and beauty products, imported snacks, imported grocery items, kids' toys, gadgets, beverages, liquor, small appliances, home furnishings, frozen and fresh produce, apparel, laundry products, hardwa...

Mar92018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Tips for increasing comfort on extended motorcycle rides

Advocacy, Mindanaoan Update

You may love your new motorcycle, but do you know if it is comfortable enough for extended drives? That seat may feel perfect for the first ten minutes, but will it keep you free from aches and pains over several hours? Check out these tips if you need help planning your next cross-country motorcycle drive or simply want to amp up your biking gear. Dress for the Elements If you are too hot, cold or wet, you simply will not be comfortable on your long biking trip. Choose garments that let you move and stretch with ease so that you can stay limber during your drive. During hot weather, try ventilated biking gear. During colder months, use heated motorcycle gear, such as heated grips and heated jackets and gloves. Try Compression Garments If you think that compression socks and garments a...

Feb202018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Abacá Boutique Resort + Spa Cebu garners Travelers’ Choice 2018 awards

Cebu City, Hotels, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Resorts, Reviews, Society, Visayas

The results of the Travelers’ Choice Awards 2018 are in and it's definitely no surprise that Abacá Boutique Resort + Spa made it to the list. A regular on the roster, Abacá Boutique Resort + Spa is recognized once again in this year’s Travelers’ Choice Awards, winning in three categories: #21 on the Top 25 Small Hotels- Asia, #2 on the Top 25 Small Hotels- Philippines, and #1 on the Top 25 Hotels for Romance- Philippines. Who best to trust with Cebu resorts but TripAdvisor's globetrotting users? :) Located in Mactan Island, Abacá Boutique Resort + Spa is the ideal retreat for travellers who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Guests will find themselves tucked away in a tranquil paradise as they relax in the six suites,three villas, and spa that make up the resort. ...

Feb202018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Made in CDO: ACCESS Lifestyle, a gamechanging lifestyle discount and rewards card

Announcements, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Corporate, Features, Mindanaoan Update

If there’s something that I absolutely have so much respect for, it’s a risk taker. I think it takes a whole lot of intestinal fortitude to enter the great unknown, with just your passion, vision and optimism. That’s why when I first heard that a small group of folks in Cagayan de Oro wanted to offer a local lifestyle discount and rewards card that aimed to gather brands that we’re all very familiar with, I wanted to know more. See, ordinarily, whenever we encounter a loyalty or discount card, it’s only for one brand. With ACCESS Lifestyle Card, however, you receive awesome benefits from over 60 establishments (and that number’s growing!). ACCESS Lifestyle Card is the first card of its kind in CDO. Not only do you get to avail of amazing discounts from partner-establishments, you also r...

Feb162018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Quest Cebu Hotel joins Cagayan Travel Exchange, trip to Bali up for grabs

Cebu City, Corporate, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews

How fast time flies! It's been more than 5 years since I got invited to attend the grand launch of one of Cebu's finest hotels - Quest Cebu Hotel and Conference Center. Not only did the lovely folks over at Quest fly me to the Queen City of the South, they also accommodated the rest of my family. It was a grand vacation and we all loved our stay at Quest Hotel Cebu! You can read all about my Quest Hotel Cebu hotel review here. Meanwhile, I have good news! If you represent government agencies or private corporations in Cagayan de Oro or in neighboring areas, you can learn more about Quest Hotel during the Travel Exchange B2B Event on February 22, 2018. Organized by the Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association, the Cagayan Travel Exchange event will be held at Limketkai Luxe Hotel....

Feb142018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

SnippetMEdia introduces blockchain technology in Philippine digital media landscape

Consumer, Internet, Mindanaoan Update, News, Society, Technology

SnippetMEdia has come a long way. I first learned about this mobile app (available in both iOS and Android) last year. Now, after a year providing curated content to over 800,000 users, SnippetMEdia has stepped up to take on the challenges plaguing both content creators and advertisers by launching the SnippetMedia Blockchain – the first blockchain media platform in the Philippines. Blockchain is a technology developed to structure data. Blockchain is set to change and improve the way various fields operate -- from network security, to identity authentication, e-commerce, intellectual property protection, and so much more. In partnership with Superiex, a China-based digital asset trading platform, SnippetMEdia will establish a first-of- its-kind ad platform built upon a blockchain. Wha...

Feb142018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Globe Telecom brings back unlimited Internet plans – no-lock up, no data cap, no throttling

Internet, Technology

This is truly great news! As you all know, I'm a longtime Globe Telecom subscriber. However, while I do like all their services (I am most happy with Globe Roaming), I, too, was not happy with the data cap and the throttling concerns. Well, I'm absolutely excited to share with you all that Globe Telecom heard the clamor of its customers and has brought back an upgraded version of its unlimited internet plans through Go Unli! This means we can now avail of unlimited data! Stream video, play music and games without having to worry about lock-up period, data capping, and speed throttling. EXCITING!!! Go Unli works for all legal sites to make sure that Globe and its customers participate in making the internet safe for everyone. “We want all customers to enjoy a superior internet experie...

Feb22018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Club Clio Korean Beauty Brand New York USA opening

America, Beauty, Blogging, Events, Fashion, Korea, New York, Society, Style

Hello from New York! I actually vlogged about the Club Clio Union Square New York reopening first so apologies if this blog is a tad late :D Anyhoo, I was invited to check out the grand reopening of the Club Clio USA Union Square New York branch late last year. It was an invitation I simply cannot turn down! For one, I absolutely love Korean stuff. They're high quality, very cute, fun and definitely value-for-money. Secondly, I have visited Korea and needless to say, I fell in love! It's a beautiful, modern country with amazing food, friendly people and rich culture. Check out my Mindanaoan In Korea travel series. Thirdly, it's a beauty event invitation for me as a blogger in New York! Enough said ;) Anyways, for the uninitiated, Club Clio is a very popular Korean cosmetics line, repres...

Jan262018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Prepping for an Asian Vacation: Tips and Tricks to Improve Your Trip

Korea, Mindanaoan Update, Travel

Traveling halfway across the globe for a vacation is a once in a lifetime experience. There are so many sights, sounds and tastes that you want to try out. Before you head off to the airport, learn how you can prepare for a vacation into Asia. The cultures and beautiful landscapes will capture your imagination. Pick Your Flights and Tours Carefully Regardless of which country you're visiting, Asia itself is incredibly far from the United States. Select a flight that has a few comforts, such as ample leg room or convertible seats. You might bundle the flight with a hotel so that the costs are much cheaper than scheduling them individually. Take a look at various excursions in your chosen country, such as Asia tour packages. Experience the top attractions while receiving a good deal for fo...

Jan232018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Apps that help me become more productive

Blogging, Internet, Technology

Hi, friends! Don’t look now but almost half of the first month of 2018 is over and done with! Wow! Time is really in a hurry, eh? Are you still feeling all the post-holiday stress? What about in terms of work and life balance - how are you doing in that department? If you’re like me, to earn a lot of money this 2018 is part of your grand plan. I have lots of plans this year and I’m pretty excited to apply all the things I’ve learned here in the US and see my strategies in action! But to do this I need to be more productive. If you also want the same thing, check out some of these productivity apps and extensions that I personally use. Strict Workflow This is a Google Chrome web browser extension. According to its developer, the Strict Workflow time management strategy is simple: w...

Jan232018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Kaamulan Festival | 2018 Schedule | Bukidnon Authentic Ethnic Festival Philippines

Bukidnon, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Malaybalay City, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Tourism, Travel

The yearly festival in the Province of Bukidnon, the Kaamulan Festival, will be a month-long celebration again this year. Kaamulan Festival 2018 will be held the entire month of March. An annual gathering of the 7 hill tribes of Bukidnon, the Kaamulan Festival derived its name from the Binukid word "amul," which means "to gather." Hence, Kaamulan is a gathering for a purpose - be it an indigenous wedding ceremony, ethnic sports competition, rituals etc. The Bukidnon 7 hill tribes, by the way, are: Talaandig, Tigwahanun, Matigsalug, Higaonon, Bukidnon, Manobo and Umayamnun. A former Tourism Secretary even called it the only authentic ethnic festival in the Philippines. The Kaamulan Festival activities will be held in Malaybalay City, the capital of Bukidnon. READ: How to get to Malaybal...

Jan92018 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Bukidnon Mindanao airport construction starts this 2018

Bukidnon, Business, Consumer, Flights, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Tourism, Travel

After decades of waiting, the Province of Bukidnon, my mother's hometown and where I lived for a few years, will finally soon see a fully functioning airport! Not only will the proposed Bukidnon airport be beneficial for the people in the province but for folks from neighboring areas like North Cotabato, Agusan del Norte and Lanao del Sur. The last functioning airport in the Province of Bukidnon was in Malaybalay City (more like a small airport strip) and with all the changes and developments, the once outside-city-proper airport is actually now full of residential houses and pretty much considered well within city limits. Unfortunately, the new Bukidnon airport will not be in the capital of the province, which is Malaybalay. It will be about 60 miles or 98 kilometers away - in Maray Ma...

Jan82018 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

3 social media and business trends to look out for in 2018

Blogging, Business, Mindanaoan Update, Social Media, Technology, Videos

A few weeks ago, I mentioned here on my blog that I will be a part of the “Go Social: A Digital Marketing Tour Boot Camp.” The boot camp tour, a project of the Iligan Bloggers Society and funded by the U.S. Embassy in Manila, was held in Iligan, Cotabato, Cebu and Baguio. It helped hundreds of entrepreneurs learn how they can maximize the power of digital marketing to grow their micro, small, medium and social enterprises. Since I’m still here in the USA, I only sent a video message whereby I spoke about the future of digital marketing in the Philippines. I'm thinking of releasing that video soon --- maybe when I finally do a webinar on blogging, social media and earning online! What do you think? :) Tweet me if you want me to do that. Anyway, for this blog post, allow me to share so...

Dec172017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Meeting Huck / Guillermo Diaz of Scandal

America, Entertainment, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, New York, Personalities, United States of America

Fellow "Scandal" fans - I'm here to make you jealous :P I met someone pretty awesome recently - Guillermo Diaz, the actor who plays “Huck” on the American political thriller TV series “Scandal.” Yes, THAT Huck. The controversial, dark (most of the time) but sweet (at times) Huck we have all come to love. I absolutely love this series! Basically, it evolves around Olivia Pope (played by Kerry Washington) and her crisis management firm. Since I personally do PR (I’ve been doing this for many, many years!), I am quite fascinated with “Scandal.” Anyway, going back to Guillermo Diaz - he was very friendly, smiling and charming, truth be told. A whole lot different from the character that he plays. And to make matters more fascinating, Guillermo is proudly gay in real life so you could jus...

Dec132017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

How to Save Money While Planning a Visit to the Top Vacation Destinations of 2018

America, Society, Travel, United States of America

If dedicating more time to travel in 2018 is topping your list of New Year’s resolutions, this is the year to finally stick to your plans. Whether you are a Filipino traveler traveling overseas or an American who wants to fly across the country to cross a few popular landmarks or destinations off your bucket list, a variety of uncommon adventures are waiting for you. Planning a trip like this can be challenging, especially when it comes to saving money; however, there are ways to save, from finding affordable airfare to finding discounts on hotels and destination restaurants. Make It a Group Adventure One way to offset the cost of traveling to a popular vacation spot during the upcoming year is to plan a group adventure. Splitting the cost of travel, airfare, and other expenses can h...

Dec132017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Meeting Dermot Mulroney of “My Best Friend’s Wedding”

America, Entertainment, Features, Mindanaoan Update, United States of America

I remember the first time I watched “My Best Friend’s Wedding.” That now iconic romantic comedy film made me cry, angry, laugh, irritated but, at the same time, hopeful. Hopeful that even though we don’t get what we want, there’s always a glimmer of hope and great possibilities. That there may be a reason why and that we should always look forward and be optimistic. In that classic movie, Julia Roberts’ character didn’t get her best friend in the end (played by the dashing Dermot Mulroney) but you know somehow that something brighter, possibly even way better, will happen and will come her way. Movie enthusiasts should carry that sense of hope when they catch the handsome Dermot as he stars on Hallmark Channel’s Hall of Fame holiday offering, “The Christmas Train.” Dermot plays a...

Dec122017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Top 10 Winter Destinations for Couples

Travel

Who needs a summer fling when you can have a winter love affair? If you and your sweetheart want to experience a beautifully snowy vacation, here are just 10 places that will get the job done. 1. Nagano, Japan The best thing about Nagano isn't the snow. It's the natural hot springs that are hidden in the snowy mountains and tended by resort owners who are always on hand with towels, tea and tatami mats. If you're looking for a place to cozy up with your lover on a cold winter evening, consider the hot springs of Nagano. 2. Fairbanks, U.S.A. Alaska is known for its freezing temperatures, but what some people fail to realize is that the local population has embraced the cold. They don't hide in their houses all winter; they host dog-sled races and ice-sculpting competitions. If y...

Dec42017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Travel to the Majestic Sights of the Sahara is Easier than Ever

Leisure, Travel

If you really want to plan the ultimate sightseeing vacation, try Morocco. Home to the legendary Sahara desert, this vibrant African nation has even more to offer than you may at first suspect. Of course, everyone remembers the legendary adventure and romance movies that were set in this region of the world. But you are bound to soon discover that a night out in the Sahara has a living romance all its own that no fiction can do justice to. It's up to you to make the trip to beautiful Morocco to see with your own two eyes what this great region of the world has to give. If You've Had Enough of the Ordinary, it's Time to Try Morocco If you really want to treat yourself to a whole new adventure, try visiting the great desert nation of Morocco. There are a number of tour groups, such as ...

Nov292017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

The Best Water and Amusement Parks in Dubai

Musings, Travel

Too much is never enough for adrenaline junkies. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy roller- coasters and joyrides. Amusements parks can pack a punch even for grown-ups like us, who never want to grow up. I'm also a huge fan of water (hello, Boracay beach lover here, reporting for duty!) Hence, when I do decide (and have the privilege) to finally visit Dubai, I'm sure I will allocate a copious amount of time at the waterparks and amusement parks around the city. Fortunately, there are lots of affordable flights now to Dubai. There are cheap flights from Manila now. There's a ton of options! All I need to do is sort out the itinerary - make a list of the amusement and waterparks I plan to visit in Dubai, and I'll be good to go! Now before I share my shortlist, please feel free to...

Nov162017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

At Oyster Bay New York

America, Mindanaoan Update, Tourism, Travel, United States of America

A few weeks ago, I went with my New York City-based aunt to Oyster Bay. The easternmost of all the 3 towns in Nassau County, the Town of Oyster Bay is actually still a part of the New York metropolitan area. It's about an hour and a half away from NYC and is the only town in Nassau County that extends from the North Shore to the South Shore of Long Island. Unfortunately, I only had the chance to visit the Waterfront Center at the West End Ave of Oyster Bay. My aunt and her org-mates had a function at the main hall there and since I was only technically "sabit" (hehe), I just basically took my sweet time as well and laid on the grass beside the hall. Just as well - since I needed to just breathe, relax and enjoy the breeze. Anyway, we took the LIRR train to get to Oyster Bay. LIRR sch...