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

Aug212015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Vacation Ownership Is The Hottest New Travel Trend

Although the concept of vacation ownership has been known and practiced in the United States since the 1950's, there are a host of new companies that are taking this tried and true concept to a whole new level of accessibility and efficiency. Blue Green Resorts Vacations is only one of many new and innovative companies that offer this exciting new arrangement, and the list of providers is growing by an exponential factor as the 21st century continues to unfold. While other vacation arrangements are slowly falling by the wayside, vacation ownership is becoming more and more the accepted custom for travelers. The Source And Secret Of Vacation Ownership's Long Term Appeal If you have been searching for the source or the secret of the long term appeal of vacation ownership, look no furth...

Aug212015 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Cool, affordable Higalaay Festival shirts from Islands Souvenirs

Advocacy, Bisaya, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Corporate, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Freebies, Gifts, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Society, Style

Looking for Higalaay Festival Kagay-an Festival shirts? Islands Souvenirs CDO has them! Plus they're offering irresistible discounts for all of you! Islands Souvenirs joins in on the Cagayan de Oro fiesta / Higalaay Festival 2015 festivities with a lot of exciting in-store promos and activities. Shoppers can look forward to a whole line of limited edition Higalaay Festival 2015 shirts with all-new designs and colors for that ultimate festival #selfie and #ootd. Grab these exclusive tees today and feel the festival vibe with your friends and family. Prices of these shirts start at only Php 199.75! As a special treat, GET A WHOPPING 50% discount on all regular coloured shirts and 20% off on all special effects and regular black & white shirts! Islands Souvenirs is als...

Aug152015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Chef Nadine Tengco in CDO for Marca Leon cooking demo

Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Events, Food

U.S. certified fitness nutritionist and the Biggest Loser Philippines' resident food coach Chef Nadine Tengco was in town a few days ago for a Marca Leon-sponsored cooking demo. Chef Nadine Tengco shared some tips on healthy eating, diets and good food preparation. One of my favorite take aways from the event? According to Chef Nadine, avoid eating steaming hot rice if you want to lose weight. Better to eat cold or room temperature rice! Hmm...quite a challenge but pretty doable, don't you think so? She also said that it's best to use Marca Leon corn oil because it's good for the heart :) As you can see in the photos I took, the svelte 48 year old sure does know what she's talking about! She is, after all, the diet coach of top celebrities Anne Curtis, KC Concepcion, Julia Barretto, ...

Aug112015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Kadayawan 2015 schedule of activities

Arts, Beauty, BIMP-EAGA, Culture, Davao City, Davao del Sur, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Fiesta, Society, Style, Tourism, Travel

The King of Festivals is here once again! Kadayawan Festival 2015 or the 30th Kadayawan sa Dabaw will be held in Davao City from August 17 to 23, 2015. Kadayawan Festival is Davao City's grandest and most colorful celebration that highlights Davao tribes' culture, tradition and everyday lives. Kadayawan is also where we all thank the good Lord for bountiful harvests! :) Here's the Kadayawan 2015 schedule of activities (please feel free to SHARE!): It's also a special non-working holiday in Davao City on August 24, 2015 so plan your trip well! Happy Kadayawan Festival! See you in the streets! :)

Aug112015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Kagay-an Festival Marathon 2015

Cagayan de Oro City, Events, Fiesta, Misamis Oriental, Sports

Every Northern Mindanao runner worth his or her salt looks forward to this every year - the most-awaited Kagay-an Festival Marathon! This year, the Kagay-an Festival Marathon 2015 will be held on August 23, 2015 at Ayala Centrio Mall, Cagayan de Oro City. Organized by Circle Productions, the same guys who organized the first ever fun run I joined, the 2015 Kagay-an Festival Marathon will have 4 categories - 3K, 5K, 21K and 42K. Check out the corresponding registration fees: Three mountain bikes will also be raffled off! Register now at Sprint Multisport Shop, Centrio Mall, La Cabana Spa and online via Race.ph * Photo of the medal courtesy of event organizer Circle Productions See you all there! :)

Aug112015 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Somalia, Africa and Cabanglasan, Bukidnon sign sister LGU agreement

Announcements, Bukidnon, Government, Headline, Mindanaoan Update

Cabanglasan, Bukidnon and Bal'ad, Somalia are now sisters! Sister LGUs, that is :) On July 27, 2015, about two weeks before Cabanglasan's founding anniversary, a historic local government unit (LGU) sisterhood agreement was forged between Cabanglasan and Bal'ad in the Shabelle region of Somalia. This town sisterhood pact is truly historic as this is not only the first to be established in the Philippines but within entire Asia as well. Cabanglasan, a third class municipality located at the second district of Bukidnon, is the third foreign LGU to partner with Somalia since 1991, the year the civil war started. Recently, the country formalized sister-city agreements with Istanbul, Turkey and Minneapolis, United States of America. The Cabanglasan - Somalia sisterhood agreement aims to d...

Jul312015 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Japan Home Center CDO mini-haul – do you love wastelands, too?

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

I have a confession to make. I love, love, LOVE wastelands. Wasteland as in a place that has a lot of stuff that more often than not you don't need but really want! You can leave me at a wasteland and I'll be fine for several hours. Believe it or not, I get inspired whenever I'm inside one :D In Manila, I have a couple of favorite wastelands but it's difficult to find one here in Mindanao. I guess the closest one I could think of are the 88-peso stores. Like the Japan Home Center at the Ground Floor of Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro or the Daiso store at Ayala Centrio Mall. These stores are akin to the dollar stores in the U.S. (which reminds me - I also frequently visited those dollar stores when I visited America. I'm a certified wasteland nut!) Anyway, if you've been to one of the...

Jul302015 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Wine Cellar CDO brings back drink-all-you-can wine nights

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Events, Features, Food, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Society, Style

Fond of wines? In Cagayan de Oro, the only place to indulge in bestselling fine wines is at The Wine Cellar. Located at Door 6, Great Spot Arcade, JR Borja Extension, The Wine Cellar is considered a must-visit in CDO. Not only is The Wine Cellar CDO stocked with fine wines from all over the world (prices start at Php 390 per bottle), they also exclusively carry imported beers (including 1906, voted the best beer in 2014) as well as spirits. And, with the Kagay-an Festival 2015 drawing near, this CDO wine bar has come up with various special promos. This weekend, they're offering a DRINK-ALL-YOU-CAN red and white wines treat! For only Php 249.00, customers will be served with unlimited red and white wines plus FREE pizza slices courtesy of Oliver's Pizza next door. The promo will be o...

Jul292015 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Bukidnon Kaamulan Festival 2015 schedule of activities

Announcements, Bukidnon, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Malaybalay City

The Kaamulan Festival 2015 schedule of activities is finally out. Kaamulan Festival, a yearly festival that aims to gather Bukidnon’s 7 hill tribes, is usually held every March but in 2014, the Kaamulan Festival was held in August so that it would coincide with the Bukidnon Centennial Celebration. This 2015, the Bukidnon government decided to move it to October. The Kaamulan 2015 festival schedule of activities can be found below but please do “like” the Kaamulan Festival Facebook Page to be constantly updated. Need a place to stay in Bukidnon? BOOK YOUR BUKIDNON HOTEL ROOM HERE OCTOBER 1 - GRAND OPENING 6 AM - Opening Ritual (Pamukalag), Grandstand Malaybalay – Motorcade (to be participated by festival sponsors) – School Band parade - Food Fest, Agri Fair, Indigenous Ba...

Jul212015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

AirAsia, Nikon launch #IamAirAsiaTravelPhotographer contest

Announcements, Contests, Corporate, Flights

AirAsia and ThinkDharma, Inc. (exclusive distributor of Nikon digital cameras) have formally launched the search for the first Air Asia Travel Photographer 2015. Two office workers, a car salesman and a barista are stepping out of their comfort zones and into the challenges of becoming the first AirAsia Travel Photographer for 2015. The #IamAirAsiaTravelPhotographer contest is in partnership with AirAsia’s global loyalty program, BIG, which will award winners with over 200,000 BIG Points or its equivalent free flights to any of AirAsia Group’s 100 destinations. Assisted by multi-awarded photographers from the Philippines and Malaysia as their personal coach, four pre-selected contestants, namely Velvet Lagman-Macasaet, an executive assistant and marathon runner; Sarah Garcia, hotel f...

Jul182015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

#Come2CDO social media campaign launched

Advocacy, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Internet, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Society, Technology, Tourism

The Cagayan de Oro Bloggers launched the #Come2CDO social media campaign today, July 18, 2015, in an effort to help promote the city online. The #Come2CDO online campaign, a yearly social media initiative of the CDO Bloggers, Inc. that began in 2013, aims to promote the city's best in terms of adventure destinations, food selections, hotels and other accommodations, tourist spots and ultimately, the warmth of a Kagayanon's friendship. By sharing photos, stories and other posts on social media and by adding the hashtags #Come2CDO and #CDO, the public can help populate the Internet with helpful entries about Cagayan de Oro. These entries can aid would-be and existing visitors as well as investors of this dynamic city. You can monitor the results of this social media campaign on ...

Jul142015 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Wao-Maramag road project to be completed by 2016

Announcements, ARMM, BIMP-EAGA, Bukidnon, Davao City, Davao del Sur, Government, Headline, Lanao del Sur, Travel

A 53-kilometer, Php 485 Million road project stretching from the municipalities of Molundo, Maguing, Bumbaran and Wao, Lanao del Sur, to the municipality of Maramag, Bukidnon is seen to be completed by 2016. Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto Adiong, Jr., who lobbied for the completion of this Wao to Maramag road project to President Benigno Aquino III, was quoted as saying that he is "hopeful that the project shall be fully completed by 2016." Adiong said that the said road is expected to enhance business, fair trade and livelihood between Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon, which are both known to be rich in agricultural lands and farms. “Farmers and buyers shall benefit as crops can be sold and bought at cheaper prices,” he added. Currently, 12 out of the 53-kilometer road are...

Jul142015 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Review: High Ridge overlooking CDO Philippines

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Features, Leisure, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Society, Tourism

High Ridge CDO offers a panoramic view of the city. High Ridge is where you go when you want that "overlooking CDO" experience. High Ridge CDO actually re-opened last year and the changes are substantial - the place now has a spacious al fresco restaurant, small landscaped areas and airconditioned function rooms. High Ridge CDO reminds me of Jack's Ridge and Shrine Hills in Davao City. Anyway, I was with my family last weekend and we decided to have dinner at High Ridge. This is the kind of view you see from what could be the highest point in urban CDO: Entrance fee, by the way, is Php 100.00 per person. This is consumable at the restaurant. During dinner with family, we ordered the PCM soup (potatoes, carrots, mushrooms). This was Php 99.00. We ordered one for each and we had a...

Jul132015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Meet Craig Revel Horwood

Announcements, Mindanaoan Update, Society

Born in Ballarat, Australia, Craig Revel Horwood, who started out as a dancer in Melbourne, moved to the UK in 1989. That move proved to be a fateful one as he received lots of success in his professional life. However, Craig Revel Horwood also had his fair share of controversies and ups and downs in life. At the tender age of 17, he earned money by appearing as a drag queen in bars and clubs. Later, in a magazine interview, he was quoted as saying that he was “bisexual for a long time.” “I flitted between men and women quite a lot between the ages of 17 and 26. My wife Jane left me for another man. Then I fell in love with a bloke. I have been gay ever since." He also underwent two plastic surgeries. The first was for a nose job at 18 years old. He also underwent a breast re...

Jul122015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Daniel Matsunaga at Planet Sports Limketkai

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping, Society, Sports

Brazilian-Japanese and naturalized Filipino heartthrob Daniel Matsunaga will again be in Cagayan de Oro City! The handsome Daniel Matsunaga will be at the Rotunda of Limketkai Mall on July 24, 2015. His CDO visit is made possible by Planet Sports in partnership with the said mall. Want to meet this cutie? The first 100 customers with valid receipts issued by Planet Sports - Limketkai dated July 1 to 24 get to meet and greet him. Planet Sports is located at the mall's Ground Floor, North Concourse. I'm pretty sure this hunk will create quite a stir again. I remember when I got to be with him up close and personal about two years ago (during the opening of another Planet Sports store, come to think of it!), there were so many people outside the store that the staff even had to prot...

Jul112015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Here’s an Italian restaurant amidst Bukidnon mountains

Bukidnon, Davao City, Davao del Sur, Features, Food, Tourism

If, like me, you often traverse the Davao to Bukidnon highway, chances are, you've also spotted this quaint, unassuming place at Barangay BuDa (Bukidnon - Davao border), Marilog District. Marked by an Italian flag proudly swaying along with the wind, La Toscana Il Cielo is an authentic Italian restaurant run and owned by the Lucarini couple. Apart from the fact that this Italian restaurant is located in the middle of lush vegetation, mountainous area in Bukidnon and at the outskirts of a small, quiet town, La Toscana Il Cielo BuDa's other beauty is the fact that they only use ingredients straight from Italy and the herbs and vegetables come from their 3-hectare farm right there at BuDa. Click here to see the menu By the way, "La Toscana" means "the Tuscan" whi...

Jul92015 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Why SkinStation CDO rocks

Beauty, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Events, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping, Society, Style

SkinStation CDO is finally open! The popular skin care, slimming and firming treatments clinic chain, opened its 23rd branch in the Philippines at the 2nd Floor of SM CDO last June 27, 2015. SkinStation CDO is a sister company of Dermax Laser Center CDO, located at Ayala Centrio. I was invited to the opening and blessing of SkinStation Cagayan de Oro. A mini press conference was held prior and there, I again met SkinStation founder, CEO and award-winning chemist Fred Reyes, his wife Carleen, son Gedric, and SkinStation's amiable PR Nardene Garcia. I met them just a few months ago during Dermax CDO's opening. I also met the clinic chain's latest celebrity endorser, Julian Flores (model and Binibining Pilipinas 2014 semi-finalist). According to Mr. Reyes, various procedures includi...

Jul42015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Miss Cagayan de Oro 2015 bets go water rafting with Great White

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Features, Leisure, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Society, Tourism, Travel

The Miss Cagayan de Oro 2015 candidates recently made the wise choice of going white water rafting with Great White Water Tours. The lovely Miss CDO 2015 candidates had the best time with the said top CDO rafting outfit. Great White Water Tours is the only CDO water rafting outfit that guarantees two professional river guides per raft (safety is their main concern), 100% clean record (no deaths), high quality gear and equipment, free snack and lunch, available photo and GoPro video coverage services and countless celebrities and notable personalities as regular and satisfied customers. Great White Water Tours is also a sister company of Dahilayan Adventure Park, home of Asia's longest dual cable zipline and the exciting 8-storey Skyjump base jump platform. As such, they offer the che...

Jul42015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

How to spot fake rice

Business, Consumer, Controversial, Crime, Food

This fake rice controversy is really very alarming. News reports have so far stated that these alleged fake rice grains entered the Philippine market from China. Although there have been no reports of death, authorities say that people who may have digested these plastic rice grains may experience dizziness, stomach ache and vomiting. Hence, it's really important that we all be extra careful when we buy rice these days. Here are some tips on how to spot fake rice: 1. Regular and well-milled rice are white and long-grained 2. Fake rice looks too shiny, too round and are uniform in shape and size 3. Real rice does not smell like plastic 4. Fake rice may weigh less than the usual at a certain volume 5. Real rice have "bran streaks" Please buy from National Food Authority-lice...

Jun262015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

4 Must See Places in Rome that Are Uncommon for Visitors

Tourism, Travel

Italy is home to some of the most influential people and artwork throughout thousands of years of history. It is an ancient location as remnants of the past tell stories of events that have shaped humankind today. Rome is full of locations that everyone wants to experience for themselves. However, there may be some that are uncommon that you must see in order to appreciate the multiple facets of historical Italy. In addition to Hipmunk's guide to Rome, you can get more out of the experience by exploring places you never knew existed. Largo di Torre Argentina Site of an ancient series of temples and believed Theater of Pompey, Largo Argentina also hosts one of Rome's more humanitarian aspects. Hundreds of cats find these ruins as shelter as a no-kill area for homeless felines. Operato...

Jun242015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Meet the new Sony Bravia TVs powered by Android

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Corporate, Features, Internet, Technology, Television

I remember that my family's very first TV set was a Sony. It served us really well. That TV set survived well into my early college years. That alone was testament to just how high the quality of Sony TVs were back then. It's no different these days. In fact, Sony has even taken things to a higher level in terms of sound and home entertainment technology. Meet the new lineup of Sony Bravia TVs - the Sony Bravia 4K and Full HD televisions powered by Android. They're all designed to provide the most immersive and high-resolution cinematic experience for customers. And because these new Sony Bravia units support Google's latest Android TV operating system 5.0 or Lollipop, users can easily stream video, use it as a gaming device, access Google Play or transfer content from mobile devices...

Jun242015 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Thoughts on that peace process forum invitation

Advocacy, ARMM, Basilan, BIMP-EAGA, Bisaya, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Controversial, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Muslim Mindanao, Northern Mindanao, Opinion, Society

Sometimes it fascinates me how certain people especially those who advocate sensitive causes seem to downplay bloggers. These people tend to think that "just because" you write about food, fashion and lifestyle, you don't "contribute" to relevant, important conversations. I think they have this misconception that "just because" bloggers like us hardly write about politics and news and current affairs, we don't at least try to do our part in nation building. Take the case of an invitation sent to me and my fellow bloggers here in Northern Mindanao. This was for a supposed "peace forum" from 8:30 am to 12 noon. "Looking for young lifestyle bloggers, bloggers in general, opinion shapers and writers who want to deploy your skills and influence for the peace process in Mindanao. This is an ...