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

Dec302013 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Mindanaoan.com wins at CDO Bloggers Awards 2013

Advocacy, Announcements, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Education, Events, Features, Internet, Make Money Online, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Technology

The year 2013 has truly been a good year for me, especially in terms of my passion for blogging and social media. Aside from being tapped as a resource speaker during social media day, national social media summits, Google events like GDayX and the like, I also garnered some awards. Last October 2013, this Mindanao blogger bagged not only the Best Lifestyle Blog award but the most coveted Mindanao Blogger of the Year 2013 recognition! And just last night, December 29, 2013, luck was again on my side. During the CDO Bloggers Awards 2013, I received two awards including the Most Active CDO Bloggers Member of the Year plaque! Thank you very much to my CDO Bloggers family! Truly honored and grateful! Daghang salamat :)

Dec292013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Havaianas Holiday 2013 Collection

Cagayan de Oro City, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Artists, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Society, Style

As a certified Havaianatico, I always get really excited whenever Havaianas releases new designs. And this Christmas season is no different! Havaianas is bringing more joy and happy memories as they release the new and stylish Havaianas 2013 Holiday Collection! What's also great about this is that Spruce, my favorite go-to place for everything Havaianas, is carrying these styles. Their sister store, All Flip Flops, also has these pretty Havaianas Christmas designs! Brought by inspiration from conventional trends and infused with a modern twist comes the military-inspired Havaianas Camuflada, geometric-styled Havaianas Trend, ever-savvy Havaianas Slim Fresh and the quintessential Havaianas Striped styles. Lovely colors, right? Ready to treat yourself t...

Dec262013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Foodspotting: Famous Belgian Waffles

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Reviews, Society

Famous Belgian Waffles. Just how "famous" and delicious are these waffles? Well, Famous Belgian Waffles Limketkai CDO is just one of the more than 100 outlets all over the Philippines and there's always a bevy of hungry and eager customers at each of their waffle stores so I guess they're doing something right! :) I got to try these delicious treats a few days ago when the CDO franchisee invited this Mindanaoan blogger for a visit. I also brought along several blogger friends and my brother, the Tennis Guru, who was also in town for a vacation. To say that we all enjoyed our freshly baked, delicious, crispy golden brown waffles is actually an understatement. All of us absolutely LOVED our treats! Most of us tried the blueberry creamcheese while one tried the banana hazelnut variety. ...

Dec262013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

PRM Data Quest call center Cagayan de Oro is hiring

Cagayan de Oro City, Jobs, Northern Mindanao, Technology

Need a job in CDO? A fast growing call center in Cagayan de Oro City is hiring and they're offering lots of job opportunities! PRM Data Quest Corporation, a CDO call center located at the heart of the city, is expanding real fast and they need more customer service representatives (call center agents), trainers and managers. Think you fit the bill? Join the PRM Data Quest call center CDO team today! Bring your resume and other credentials at the PRM Data Quest office located at Knightsbridge Building, Tomas Saco - 15th Streets, Nazareth, CDO (near the new bridge/Paseo del Rio area). Landmark is a Mercury Drug branch in front of our office. Kindly look for Pinky. For faster processing, please email [email protected] or you may call (0917) 328 1548 for inquiries.

Dec262013 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Merry Christmas from Bamboo and Mindanaoan.com

Announcements, Features, Mindanaoan Update

Merry Christmas to all of my dear Mindanaoan.com readers, subscribers, followers! I sincerely hope that you had a meaningful and blessed Christmas. For me, Christmas is when you realize that you have so many things to be thankful for and that there are many things money simply cannot buy. Christmas is a great reminder that the basic things in life are truly the most important. What about you? What does Christmas mean to you? :) I also have an extra thing to be thankful for this Christmas. Someone I admire sent me a very sweet video message congratulating me for my recent win as Mindanao Blogger of the Year 2013 and Best Lifestyle Blog awardee ! Hi Bamboo :) [yes, my face is a little beet red right now *blush*] Bamboo made this cute fan sign, too! Super special thanks to ...

Dec222013 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

EXCLUSIVE: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Live In Manila, Philippines 2014 #MacklemoreRyanLewisPH

Announcements, Entertainment, Events, Features, Manila, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Society, United States of America

UPDATED: Very affordable ticket prices below! YES! MACKLEMORE IS HEADING TO MANILA!!! Superstar duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Live in Manila on March 16, 2014 at the Mall of Asia Arena! Who's ready to go to the "Thrift Shop" and "throw our hands up like the ceiling can't hold us"? If you've been following Mindanaoan on Twitter, well, folks, this is the exciting news I've been dying to share with you all! Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are bringing their multi-platinum hits "Can't Hold Us," "Same Love," "White Walls" and of course, "Thrift Shop," called by Forbes as "one of the biggest sleeper hits of the decade, earning certification for 7 million downloads sold in the United States" alone. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' "The Heist" album also sold more than 1 million copies, perform before SOLD...

Dec152013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Travel: New way to explore Davao and Samal Island beaches

Advocacy, Blogging, Business, Consumer, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Features, Island Garden City of Samal, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Resorts, Reviews, Society, Tourism, Travel

One of the many joys of living in Davao City is that it is just several minutes away (a 15-minute ferry ride away, in fact) from Samal Island (Island Garden City of Samal or IGACOS), home of white sand beaches, great resorts, clear water, healthy marine life and dive spots. A lot of tourists usually go to just one resort in Samal Island but did you know that there's now a new, fun way to explore Davao and the beaches around Samal? Why not go island hopping aboard Explore Davao? Explore Davao is an outrigger boat (bangka) complete with an expanded sun deck, bean bags, iPod dock and a cooler. Explore Davao island hopping banca even has its own comfort room and a nifty trapdoor! To show you just how comfortable Davao island hopping aboard Explore Davao is, here are my cool friends an...

Dec142013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

New sexy breakfast choices at Missy Bon Bon #MissyBonBonCDO

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Food

Mornings with Missy Bon Bon are now sexier and extra special! Aside from their delicious pastels (a popular Cagayan de Oro pasalubong) and gelato, Missy Bon Bon now also serves new breakfast choices! They now have new omelettes, pancakes and toasts and even honest-to-goodness longtime local faves. The yema pancake de Cagayan, for instance, is surely heaven for those with sweet tooth. The danggit pamahaw de Cebu, composed of sun-cured salted fish, garlic rice, fried egg and vinegar dip, is sure to remind you of how simple life really is and how simple food brings us joy! You might also like to try the Karambola - crispy pork adobo flakes with sweet bagoong rice and fried egg. Perfect for those who want something that could help kickstart the day. Omelettes are also sexie...

Dec132013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Monster Kitchen CDO offers FREE baking lessons

Announcements, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Corporate, Events, Food, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao

With the holidays coming up, wouldn't it be nice if you get to whip up Christmas cakes, pastries and other goodies yourself? How about preparing AND selling goodies to earn extra income? Luckily, the most trusted culinary and baking school in Cagayan de Oro City is currently offering FREE baking lessons! Monster Kitchen Academy, an award-winning CDO baking school, is offering FREE baking demos until December 21, 2013. All you need to bring? Just a pen and paper, please! Learn how to create special red velvet cake pops, tableya brownies, carrot nut bars, soft mamons, mango crepes and other yummy treats. Monster Kitchen CDO will also teach how you can prepare molded chocolates - a perfect business idea, by the way! Check out this schedule of demos at Monster Kitchen Cagayan de Oro c...

Dec92013 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

South Border, Side A, Freestyle in 1 concert – Yolanda fundraiser

Advocacy, Announcements, Davao City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Music, Society

It's been a month since deadly typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) struck the Philippines. The death toll so far - 5,260. Unfortunately, that number is still increasing. Haiyan, a category 5 super typhoon, left thousands of people homeless and hungry. While it's true that billions of dollars in aid have started to pour in, the fight is still not over. Far from it. Hence, every fundraising event, volunteer movement and donation drive really counts. One upcoming fundraising event for typhoon Yolanda survivors, dubbed "Pag-Asa Sa Pag Gising," is close to my heart. I love all of the performers, yes, but one of the bands is my most favorite ever - South Border. I wrote a post earlier about just how much I love them and why they will always have my love and support. Additionally, thi...

Dec42013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Speaking at GDayX CDO – a Google event

Mindanaoan Update

Thanks to the invitation from Google Business Group - CDO, I was one of the speakers during the highly successful gDayX CDO event held last November 16, 2013 in Cagayan de Oro City. gDayX is a big Google event and the Northern Mindanao, Philippines leg was held in CDO. gDayX is an event format patterned after Google Days or gDays, and is a collaboration of various Google communities. There were 10 speakers and topics ranged from how to use Google products to maximize your business, how to start a tourism business and market it online (that was my topic! :) ), crisis mapping, technopreneurship, how to start a business blog, planning and launching your own startup company and measuring success with Google Analytics. These are just some of those who attended that fun-filled d...

Dec42013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

New night food market in Cagayan de Oro: Mercato de Oro

Mindanaoan Update

Just a few more days before Mercato de Oro, the night food and lifestyle market of Northern Mindanao opens! Are you as excited as I am? :) Actually, I already shared this exciting piece of news several weeks ago (read: Mercato Centrale introduces CDO version) but I wanted to write about Mercato de Oro again because there are new marketing collaterals out and Mindanaoan.com can be found on all of them! Yey! :D Check out the poster below ;) There are also several lamppost banners, billboards and in-mall standees within Ayala Centrio Mall where you can find this. I even posted a photo on Instagram! Cool, huh? :) Mercato de Oro will start on December 7, 2013 (Saturday) and will be located at the Garden area of Centrio Ayala Mall, Corrales Street corner CM Recto Avenue. The nigh...

Nov282013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Buy a #BangonPilipinas shirt and help typhoon Haiyan victims

Advocacy, Blogging, Cebu City, Corporate, Fashion, Features, Headline, Society, Style, Visayas

If you've been following me on Twitter or Facebook (I hope you are :) I would love to connect with you there!), you'd know that I just came back from a 6-day trip to the Visayas. I flew to Cebu City first. My trip was mainly because I wanted to volunteer in various Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) relief/donation efforts and to turnover some cash donations that I received. I will share more about that trip in succeeding blog posts. In the meantime, please allow me to share a great fundraising drive that I hope you will also support :) The Islands Group, the company that runs Islands Souvenirs and Islands Pasalubong outlets, has released special #BangonPilipinas shirts. What's so special about these t-shirts? ALL OF THE PROCEEDS of these Bangon Pilipinas t-shirts will be dona...

Nov272013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

How to look for reliable New York City limo service

America, Travel, United States of America

Whether you need to transport your family to the airport, are booking a limo for your wedding, or just want to enjoy a special night out on the town, hiring a good limousine service can really make a huge difference in how your special event unfolds. It is very important to have reliable and professional service any time you invest your hard-earned money into luxury transportation. Here are some tips on how to find a good limousine service. The main thing you want to do is research several different limousine companies so that you can compare them in terms of services offered, rates, experience level and other important criteria. You can find limousine companies in your area by getting recommendations from people you know, consulting your phone book or doing Internet searches online. For ...

Nov192013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Photos: Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray at ABS CBN ASAP

Entertainment, Events, Headline, Manila, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Photos

One of the highlights of my October 2013 was meeting Mark McGrath and the rest of Sugar Ray band and playing a role in the staging of the SugarSmashGin concert in Manila. Anybody who knows me can attest that I am one very big Mark McGrath fan and that I have a big crush on him. So meeting him in person, having the chance to hang out with him, having the chance to talk to him and discuss so many things and getting lots of hugs and kisses in the process is like my heaven on earth! :) Since I know that my kuwentos related to Mark McGrath, Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth and Gin Blossoms will require several blog posts, for now, let me start by sharing some of the photos I took when Mark went to ABS CBN to promote the concert at ASAP, a Sunday variety show. I went along. Needless to say, he was the ...

Nov172013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Gin Blossoms to hold Haiyan benefit concert #GBFansRockPhilippines

Announcements, Entertainment, Events, Mindanaoan Update, Music

Last month, during a concert in Manila, I met really cool, talented, down-to-earth and generous guys. Those guys were Robin Wilson, Scott Johnson, Jesse Valenzuela and Scott Hessel a.k.a. Gin Blossoms. Yes, the very same guys who made "Hey Jealousy," "Till I Hear It From You," "As Long As It Matters" and "Follow You Down" smash hits worldwide. Never mind if their "As Long As It Matters" song is a Grammy-nominated creation and that it has earned the band more than 9 Million in sales in the US alone. They were very sweet, approachable and have hearts of gold. In fact, during their stay in the Philippines, they, along with the bands Smash Mouth and Sugar Ray, donated more than 400 official concert t-shirts to the victims of the 7.2 earthquake that hit Bohol and Cebu. Check out Robin...

Nov22013 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Review: Fersal Hotel Makati – homey budget inn

Hotels, Leisure, Manila, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Travel

Looking for accessible, affordable yet very homey hotels in Makati can be quite a challenge. Most Makati hotels within the business district can be pricey and for budget-conscious travelers like myself, it may mean that I can only stay in cheap Makati inns in seedy areas. So I was really very grateful when I had the chance to stay for two nights at Fersal Hotel Makati during my most recent trip to Manila. This comfortable bed and these seriously soft pillows welcomed me. I knew there and then that it was going to be a cozy two night-stay. Fersal Hotel Neptune Makati is just a stone's throw away from Makati Avenue, one of the city's main thoroughfares. Although it is also very near a lot of dining choices, Fersal Hotel also has a cafe near the lobby where you can enjoy sumptuous m...

Oct312013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanaoan.com wins Best Lifestyle Blog in 2013 Mindanao Blog Awards

Announcements, Blogging, Features, Headline, Internet, Leisure, Media, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Personal, Society, Technology, United States of America

My lucky stars truly shone on me during the recently concluded Mindanao Blog Awards 2013. Apart from bagging the Mindanao Blogger of the Year award, Mindanaoan.com also won the Best Lifestyle Blog award :) Thank you so much, daghang salamat to all of my fellow Mindanao bloggers who nominated and voted for me and to all of the judges as well. I am really grateful for this recognition! Such an honor, such an honor. I remember when I won the Best Lifestyle Blog award in the 2010 Philippine Blog Awards and became a national finalist in the 2011 PBA. Those citations truly inspired me to help more people understand the power of blogging and social media. In just a span of 2 years, I have organized a bloggers group, organized some blogging and mapping workshops, traveled to several a...

Oct312013 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Mindanaoan is 2013 Mindanao Blogger Of The Year

Advocacy, Agriculture, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, America, Announcements, ARMM, Arts, Bacolod City, Banks, Basilan, Beauty, BIMP-EAGA, Bisaya, Bislig, Blogging, Broadcasting, Bukidnon, Business, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Campus, Caraga, Cebu City, Commentary, Compostela Valley, Consumer, Contests, Controversial, Corporate, Cotabato, Culture, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Dipolog, Education, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Flights, Food, Freebies, General Santos City, Gifts, Government, Headline, Hongkong, Hotels, Humor, Iligan City, Internet, Island Garden City of Samal, Jobs, Journalism, Kaamulan Festival, Koronadal, Kuala Lumpur, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Leisure, Macau, Maguindanao, Make Money Online, Malaybalay City, Malaysia, Manila, Marawi City, Media, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Movies, Music, Musings, Muslim Mindanao, Negros Occidental, News, North Cotabato, Northern Mindanao, Opinion, Ozamis, Pagadian, Personal, Personalities, Photos, Politics, Radio, Recipes, Religion, Resorts, Reviews, Sarangani, Shenzhen, Shopping, Sindangan, Singapore, Society, SoSCksargen, South Cotabato, Sports, Style, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacurong, Tangub City, Tawi Tawi, Technology, Television, Tourism, Travel, United States of America, Videos, Visayas, Weddings, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga Sibugay

It still feels a bit surreal, truth be told. Winning the 2013 Mindanao Blogger Of The Year award and the Best Lifestyle Blog award during the Mindanao Blog Awards 2013 held last October 26, 2013 in Davao City was the farthest thing from my mind. I was there to meet my blogger friends, have a good time, maybe drink a cocktail or two and cheer for other finalists. My mindset that night was (and I actually wrote this days before the finals): Win or lose, you are a champ. What's important is that you did your best in letting more people understand and appreciate the power of social media and blogging in sparking more conversations, making better communities and harnessing better understanding. Social good, folks. Only the good. So when my name was called, you could just imagine my shock. Yup...

Oct292013 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Mercato Centrale introduces CDO version – Mercato De Oro

Mindanaoan Update

One of the things I usually do whenever I visit Manila is check out food markets and one of those that my friends and I usually go to is Mercato Centrale at the Bonifacio Global City. There, you can find a great selection of interesting food choices - from donut burgers (yep) to oversized isaw (chicken intestine) to really delicious bagnet (and bagnet bacon!) You can also find fresh fruits, seafood, pastries and cakes, organic products and even arts and crafts. Mercato Centrale is really a must-visit especially when you're in Manila. Good thing the guys behind Mercato Centrale, food blogger Anton Diaz and popular TV host and columnist RJ Ledesma (known as Joey in the Royal Tru-Orange series back in the 80's!), are bringing the popular food market to Mindanao. Dubbed "Mercato de Oro,"...

Oct292013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Spooktacular Halloween at Seda Hotel CDO – win an overnight stay!

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Hotels

It will truly be a spook-tacular Halloween on October 31, 2013 as Seda Hotel CDO holds its "Halloween Fright Night Costume Party"! Wear your scariest costume and party at Seda Centrio! For only Php 599 per person, you get to enjoy a sumptuous dinner buffet and a special Halloween cocktail. Party-goers also get the chance to win an overnight stay with breakfast at Seda Hotel Centrio! BOOK A ROOM AT SEDA HOTEL CAGAYAN DE ORO HERE Buy your Halloween Fright Night tickets now by calling (088) 323 8888. See you at the Seda Hotel Centrio Pool Side on October 31, 2013, 6 PM!

Oct112013 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Excited to meet Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth and Gin Blossoms! #SugarSmashGin

Announcements, Blogging, Entertainment, Events, Features, Music, Musings, Personal, Personalities, Society

Just a few days more and I'll finally meet and be with popular and iconic 90's bands Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth and Gin Blossoms in Manila! Yes, I am officially stoked for the #SugarSmashGin concert! Woohoo! :D I previously shared with you all that I will play a little role in the staging of the much-awaited SugarSmashGin Live In Manila concert on October 21, 2013 at the Araneta Coliseum. Yup, that's just a few days away! WHO AMONG YOU ARE COMING TO WATCH? :) Did you see Sugar Ray lead singer Mark McGrath's tweet to me in this article? :) Very sweet, right? That tweet alone was enough to send me on my little merry way for days! :D By the way, since that blog entry, the official Gin Blossoms Twitter account has followed me on Twitter, Scott Hessel of Gin Blossoms has also followed me and ...