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

Sep102012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Quest Cebu Hotel and Conference Center grand opening – I will be there!

Announcements, Blogging, Business, Cebu City, Consumer, Features, Flights, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Resorts, Tourism, Travel

I received a really exciting invitation a few days ago - I will be flying to Cebu City for the grand launch party of Quest Hotel and Conference Center Cebu! :D The grand opening of Quest Cebu Hotel is set to take place on September 20, 2012 and I am super excited to be where the action is! Quest Hotel Cebu is located along Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Cebu City - a few steps away from Ayala Mall Cebu. Ergo, it's right within the business district. This Cebu hotel is an 18-storey hotel that boasts of 427 delightfully furnished rooms (deluxe and premier deluxe) and suites (corporate and junior) as well as 8 modern meeting rooms with state-of-the-art facilities. Click on the logo below to find out more about this new hotel in Cebu: I will be live-tweeting the Quest Hotel Cebu grand opening s...

Sep92012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Meeting Aurora Congressman Sonny Angara @sonnyangara

Advocacy, Blogging, Events, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Politics, Society

Sonny Angara. Meeting Sonny Angara. I know he's a 3-term congressman representing Aurora, a lawyer (he was even the spokesperson of the prosecution team during the impeachment trial of former Philippine Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona), the chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education and of course, the son of Senator Edgardo Angara. However, I wanted to see Congressman Juan Edgardo "Sonny" M. Angara in a different light. I wanted to hear him speak spontaneously. I wanted to see how he was without the flurry of Congress beat reporters, without the political supporters, without the TV network studio lights. I also wanted to see how this possible 2013 senatorial candidate would treat "non-traditional" media practitioners - in other words, would he treat us blogger...

Sep72012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Updated: Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 Davao

Beauty, Blogging, Business, Consumer, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Events, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Style

It's Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 Davao time! After the hugely successful Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 CDO leg, it's now your turn, Dabawenyos! The Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 Davao City leg is set to happen on September 14 to 16, 2012 at the Activity Center of Abreeza Mall, JP Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City. A Make Your Own Havaianas event is where you can customize your own pair of Havaianas flipflops. You can choose from various soles (including two specially designed ones called the MYOH Estampas - available in both top and slim designs), straps and iconic pins. So during the Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 Davao event (MYOH Davao 2012), you can design a truly unique pair of Havaianas - one that truly reflects your style! You might want to read my Make Your Own Havaianas 2012...

Sep72012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Norwegian boy band a1 to hold a concert in Cebu City

Announcements, Arts, Cebu City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Leisure, Manila, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Musings, News, Personalities, Society

a1 is coming back to the Philippines! The boys who brought us hits such as "Like A Rose," "Caught In The Middle," "Same Old Brand New You" and their most recent hit in Asia, "Waiting For Daylight," is coming back to the Philippines! Who's excited for the a1 Live in Cebu show? The British-Norwegian group a1, composed of cutie pies Mark Read, Ben Adams and Christian Ingebrigsten, is set to hold an a1 Live In Cebu concert on November 23, 2012 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino Lahug. The boys were in the Philippines last February 2012 for the Greatest Hits Tour with Jeff Timmons and Blue. Are you as excited as I am? If you have been following this blog, I mentioned before that I tagged along with the guys in Manila. And with this latest development, I can't wait to see these gorgeous me...

Sep62012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Let’s tour the US Ambassador to the Philippines Baguio residence

America, Blogging, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Tourism, United States of America, Videos

If you're as curious as I am as to where foreign dignitaries stay while they're stationed in the Philippines, then we're in luck. The US Embassy in Manila has released this brief video featuring the historic and special Baguio residence of the US Ambassador to the Philippines. Special because the US Ambassador's Baguio residence was recently included in the U.S. Secretary of State's Register of Culturally Significant Property. This virtual tour of the US Ambassador's residence in Baguio City is hosted by Manila historian and cultural activist Carlos Celdran. Carlos, in his suit and bow tie, takes us around the historical house and shows the famed "Yamashita Room." You have to watch the video to learn why General Tomoyuki Yamashita chose that particular room. You also have to watch the v...

Sep52012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

General Santos Tuna Festival 2012 schedule of activities

BIMP-EAGA, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, General Santos City, Mindanaoan Update, Sarangani, SoSCksargen, South Cotabato, Tourism, Travel

It's that time of year again - Tuna Festival 2012 in General Santos City! Actually, not only is it the start of the Tuna Festival 2012 celebrations today, September 5, 2012, but it is also the 44th Charter Day celebration in General Santos City. Today is also a special (non-working) day in General Santos City, according to the General Santos City official Facebook page. The theme for the 2012 Tuna Festival is "Tunafest Tunafun sa Magandang Gensan!" Check out the official 14th GenSan Tuna Festival 2012 schedule of activities below. Just click on the image for a larger view: * Schedule from the General Santos FB Page One of the guests during the Tuna Festival 2012 is Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero. According to info sent to this Mindanao lifestyle blogger, Senator Chiz Escud...

Sep52012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

DFA consular office opens in SM Davao City

Announcements, Consumer, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Features, Government, Mindanaoan Update, News, Travel

Good news for all those in Davao City and neighboring areas who need to apply or renew their passports. The Department of Foreign Affairs or DFA has finally opened its new consular office on the 3rd floor of SM Davao City. Aside from serving as the DFA Region XI consular office, the new DFA Davao consular office at SM Davao will also serve as its Mindanao office. The DFA consular office in SM Davao began operations Monday, September 3, 2012. Initially, only passport applications will be accepted. DFA SM Davao consular office hours: Monday to Saturday - 10 AM to 8 PM; Sunday 10 AM to 2 PM You can call (082) 285-4885 or (082) 285-5190 for inquiries. Meanwhile, here's how to renew your Philippine passport or how to get a Philippine e-passport * photo of DFA CDO taken and...

Sep42012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Diyandi 2012 Iligan Festival schedule of activities

Culture, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Fiesta, Iligan City, Mindanaoan Update, Tourism

After Kadayawan Festival 2012 and Kagay-an Festival 2012, it's now time for the much-awaited Diyandi Festival 2012! The 2012 Diyandi Festival is Iligan City's month-long cultural celebration that culminates on September 29, the feast day of Iligan City's patron saint St. Michael the Archangel. Lots of activities have been prepared for this month-long Mindanao festival - the Diyandi Festival 2012 in Iligan City. Among the highlights are "One For Iligan" motocross competition, Iligan City Fiesta Open Basketball Tournament, Pagana: A Taste of Iligan (food and drink festival), Search for Miss Iligan 2012 and the Bloggers Waterfalling Adventure Tour organized by my fabulous Iligan Bloggers Society friends. Check out the schedule of activities below. Please click on the image for a larg...

Sep32012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Cagayan de Oro to Davao flight

Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City, Davao del Sur, Features, Flights, Mindanaoan Update, Travel

I have been meaning to write a mini travel guide for folks who plan to take a Cagayan de Oro to Davao City flight. A lot of readers have been asking me what to expect, what to do etc if and when they do take a CDO to Davao City flight so here it is - a quick and simple guide for travelers. Hope this helps those who will travel from Cagayan de Oro City to Davao City :) Please don't forget to leave a comment below :) The Cagayan de Oro City airport is located in Lumbia (for now - since the Laguindingan International Airport will soon be operational). The CDO airport terminal fee is only Php 30.00 (less than US $1.00). The Davao City domestic airport terminal fee, on the other hand, is Php 200.00 (roughly US $5.00). This is how the CDO airport pre-departure area looks like: The C...

Sep32012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Classic Savory SM Cagayan de Oro

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Food, Reviews

I will make this Classic Savory SM CDO review short. This Mindanao lifestyle blogger ate at Classic Savory SM Cagayan de Oro last weekend. I brought along some blogger-friends and told them that Classic Savory is pretty popular in Manila. Disclosure: paid for the food and this is NOT a sponsored post. Introduced in 1950 by the Ting brothers, Classic Savory opened its 50th branch in SM City Cagayan de Oro. I have eaten at other Classic Savory restaurants but that weekend was the first time that I visited Classic Savory CDO branch. We ordered 1 whole chicken (requested the kitchen folks to chop it into bite pieces but they failed to do so), a platter of Yang Chow rice, kangkong with crispy pork belly and Classic Savory Long Life pancit guisado. The food was all right (a little bit expe...

Sep22012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Visit our One Happy Story booth at Kasalang Filipino 2012

Announcements, Arts, Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Events, Fashion, Features, Northern Mindanao, Photos, Style, Weddings

May I humbly invite you all to please visit the One Happy Story Photography booth at the Kasalang Filipino 2012 bridal fair in Cagayan de Oro City - the One Happy Story Wedding Photography team will have a corner booth at this CDO wedding and bridal fair. The said bridal fair will be held on September 13 to 15, 2012 at the Limketkai Rotunda, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City. So if you're getting hitched soon, you might want to take this opportunity to meet various CDO wedding suppliers, CDO wedding photographers and wedding videographers in Cagayan de Oro (speaking of which, let me know if you want referrals :) ) One Happy Story Photography is led by my brother Bon and his team of skillful CDO wedding photographers. I sometimes serve as a back-up wedding photographer :) Please feel free to ...

Sep22012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Winners of the Mindanaoan – Spruce giveaway

Announcements, Beauty, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Contests, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping, Style

I'm happy to announce the winners of my online giveaway! Much thanks to our very generous friends over at Spruce Designer Network (Mindanaoan's highly recommended fashion and lifestyle store in Cagayan de Oro City) who sponsored two pairs of gorgeous BSIDED hand sewn espadrilles that are 100 percent made in France! :) And without any further ado...this Mindanao lifestyle blogger is happy to announce the two winners of the Mindanaoan - Spruce giveaway: a Rafflecopter giveaway Congratulations Sheila and Vic! Enjoy your new pairs of kicks! :) Thank you Spruce! Please visit Spruce at the 2nd Floor of Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City. Please support the other Spruce-owned stores as well: All Flip-Flops: SM City, Cagayan de Oro PUMA: Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro and Aya...

Aug282012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Miss Kagay-an 2012 winners

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Campus, Contests, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Malaybalay City, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Society, Tourism

The winners of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 beauty pageant have already been declared. The announcement of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 winners was held during the coronation night last August 26, 2012 at the Atrium of the Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City. Mindanaoan.com was there to cover the event since Mindanaoan.com is an official media partner of Miss Kagay-an 2012. The Miss Kagayan 2012 winners are: Miss Kagay-an 2012 - Greanne Trisha Mendoza, a Malaybalay City, Bukidnon-born event organizer Miss Tourism - Lovely Jane Estampa, a legal analyst at the Development Bank of the Philippines First runner-up - Emie Lou Yamba, sales representative of Amore Travel and Tours Second runner-up - Maria Leslie Angelina Ghan, Civil Engineering student at Xavier University Third runner-up - Maria El...

Aug252012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Chowking opens Malaybalay City branch

Bukidnon, Business, Food

Chowking Malaybalay is finally open, making this Chowking branch the second one in Bukidnon. The Malaybalay City, Bukidnon branch of this popular Chinese fastfood chain opened for business just a few days ago. Chowking Malaybalay is located along Fortich Street, the main thoroughfare in Malaybalay City. It's easy to spot it - it's almost right across Plaza Rizal and the Malaybalay Cathedral. Now if you're wondering why Mindanaoan wrote about Chowking Malaybalay, it's because I find things like these a little bit fascinating. You see, Malaybalay may be a city but it's still a small, burgeoning city, with less than 160,000 population (according to a 2010 census). Can a business like this survive in a city like Malaybalay? How many years would it take for Chowking to see returns on inve...

Aug242012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Sereno is the new Supreme Court Chief Justice

Announcements, Controversial, Government, Mindanaoan Update, News, Society

And so the new Chief Justice in the Philippines has finally been named. The new Supreme Court Chief Justice is Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, the first Supreme Court Associate Justice appointed by President Benigno Aquino III. The new Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is also the 3rd most junior justice in the Supreme Court. Her post as the new Chief Justice was announced today, August 24, 2012. Sereno, 52, takes the vacated seat of ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was dismissed May 29, 2012 after allegedly failing to disclose millions in assets. New Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is the youngest appointed justice in the Supreme Court. Below is the official statement of the Presidential Spokesperson on the new Chief Justice in t...

Aug232012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Miss Kagay-an 2012 swimsuit competition

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Contests, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Photos, Society, Style

Along with 2 blogger-friends, I witnessed the Miss Kagay-an 2012 swimsuit competition held last August 18, 2012 at the poolside of a hotel in Cagayan de Oro City. As I previously mentioned to you all, Mindanaoan.com is an official media partner for the Miss Kagay-an 2012 beauty pageant, which is one of the core events for the Kagay-an Festival 2012, the annual fiesta in Cagayan de Oro City in honor of patron Saint Augustine. Check out one of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 billboards (the URL of Mindanaoan.com is there somewhere :P) Anyways, here are some of the photos I took during the Miss Kagay-an 2012 swimsuit competition. Apologies for the poor photo composition - there were a lot of shutterbugs that day and I also failed to bring my DSLR. By the way, you ca...

Aug182012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 CDO – #MYOHCDO2012

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Corporate, Events, Fashion, Features, Gifts, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Reviews, Shopping, Society, Style

As I'm writing this, it's the 2nd day of Make Your Own Havaianas CDO 2012. So that means you have today and tomorrow to join MYOH CDO 2012! :) The Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 Cagayan de Oro leg covers Northern Mindanao and it kicked off yesterday, August 17, 2012. MYOH CDO 2012 will run until August 19, 2012 at the Limketkai Rotunda, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. A Make Your Own Havaianas event is where you can customize your own pair of Havaianas flip flops. It's that time of the year when Havaianaticos are given the chance to choose their desired sole, strap and pins. In other words, it's a chance for Havaianas lovers to design their very own - truly unique - pair. Moreover, it's only during MYOH events when specially designed soles and unique pins can be bought :) This year i...

Aug102012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

The Mindanao Helps Manila campaign #MindanaoHelpsManila

Advocacy, Cagayan de Oro City, Features, Musings, Personal, Society

Much like our Typhoon Sendong relief operations, the Mindanao Helps Manila campaign really started with a tweet, a Facebook message and an idea - an idea to help, to be men and women for others, to be socially responsible citizens. You see, when Typhoon Sendong struck Northern Mindanao, our humble home in Cagayan de Oro was hit. Our family also had to endure business losses. But my mother, my brothers and I still had so much to be thankful for. We were safe. We were alive. Compared to others who lost not only their homes and livelihood but their loved ones as well, we were lucky. Very lucky. And we knew that there was no reason for us not to help. So I tweeted. I tweeted updates, I took photos, I called for donations. My family did the same. What happened next was nothing short of a mir...

Aug102012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Mindanaoan is a Miss Kagay-an 2012 media partner

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Contests, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Style

It's now official! Mindanaoan.com is an official media partner for this year's Miss Kagay-an 2012 beauty pageant! The search for Miss Kagay-an 2012 is one of the core events for the Kagay-an Festival 2012, the annual fiesta in Cagayan de Oro City in honor of patron Saint Augustine. And I'm happy to share with you all that Mindanaoan.com is one of the proud media partners of Miss Kagayan 2012 :) Check out the newly released Miss Kagay-an 2012 billboard: (www.Mindanaoan.com is there somewhere...I'll follow you on Twitter if you successfully spot it :P) By the way, check out my previous blog entry if you want to meet the official candidates of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 pageant. The individual photos of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 candidates can be found there. The 11 lovely official c...

Aug72012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

How Mindanao can help Manila flood victims #MindanaoHelpsManila

Advocacy, Announcements, Bisaya, Blogging, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Davao City, Musings, Personal, Society

UPDATED: This photo designed by @likke says it all. Right now, a lot of areas around Manila are flooded out. Some 200,000 families in 11 regions are affected. News reports say that neck deep floods have forced many residents to flee to rooftops and evacuate. And to make matters worse, PAGASA says that Manila folks should expect more rain. NOW...it is Mindanao's turn to help. Remember how Manila helped us in our campaigns for Typhoon Sendong victims through Help CDO and One For Iligan? Now it is time for Mindanao to give back. #MindanaoHelpsManila So how can you help? Here are a few ways for Mindanaoans to send help to Manila flood victims: 1. You can help spread useful information via social networking websites (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn etc). I collated some...

Aug72012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Manila flood – emergency numbers to call | How to help

Announcements, Mindanaoan Update, Society

Lots of areas around Manila, Philippines are now flooded out. As of this posting, work in both government and private offices in 9 provinces has been suspended due to inclement weather. This morning, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. announced that work in private offices (this includes call centers, BPOs) has been suspended in NCR (National Capital Region), Zambales, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Bataan, Laguna, Cavite, Tarlac, Bulacan and Rizal. Here's a copy of the memorandum circular issued by Malacanan Palace. According to this ABS CBN report, the Philippine government is helping some 199,485 families in 11 regions affected by monsoon rains. Meanwhile, GMA News reports that neck-deep floods have forced many residents to flee to rooftops and evacuate. Interaksyon reports that PAG-ASA h...

Aug22012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

SM Lanang Premier Davao City

Announcements, Business, Consumer, Davao City, Davao del Sur, Shopping

So who else is excited for the much-awaited opening of SM Lanang Premier? It seems everyone in Davao City is looking forward to the opening of SM Lanang Premier, a mall that's supposed to have a total land area of 100,000 square meters. Reports say that SM Lanang Premier Davao City will have 4 storeys and, true to its name, will feature "premier" brands, stores, facilities and amenities. How "premier," you ask? SM Lanang Davao will boast of: 1. The Skygarden - this will be at the front part of the mall and will have restaurants amid a garden 2. The Park - a strip of restaurants at the back of the mall 3. 5 digital theaters, 1 SM Center Stage and 1 IMAX cinema 4. SM Bowling Center and Science Discovery Center (I was able to check out the Science Discovery Center in SM Mall...