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

Aug22012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanaoan In America: More Washington DC photos

America, Blogging, Mindanaoan Update, Photos, Travel, United States of America

I first shared some of my Washington DC USA photos awhile back. A lot of you have been asking me for more photos taken around the capital of the United States of America. Well, I'm here to please :) The photos below were taken during our Washington DC day tour, which took place a day after my fellow International Visitor Leadership Program 2012 delegates and I arrived in the USA. Like I previously mentioned, never mind if it was freezing cold that day. We were all stoked that we finally set foot in the land of milk and honey! By the way, here's the reason why I was in the States for about a month :) Yep, I was the only Filipino in the group and the only female :) I will share all about my USA and IVLP adventure using the America category. I have previously written about my trip from ...

Aug12012 by Mindanaoan Irene8 Comments

Dinner with Duncan James and the boys of BLUE

Entertainment, Features, Manila, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Photos

These boys from the United Kingdom may have last been in the Philippines February 2012 but the fans want more! A lot of Duncan James, Simon Webbe, Antony Costa and Lee Ryan fans are still asking me for updates so I checked my files and hey, whaddaya know - I found more "Blue" treasures! :) Here are some photos I took during dinner with the boys of Blue. Can I just say that they were all gentlemen and were all very easy to talk to? Apparently the boys love Japanese food. Lee and Duncan like sake (Japanese beverage made from fermented rice), Antony likes yakitori while Simon likes tonkatsu and tempura :) By the way, I really don't know how one can eat properly if gorgeous creatures such as this one is sitting right across you ;) Enjoy the photos and please don't forget to share t...

Jul302012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Schedule of Team Philippines in London Olympics 2012

Announcements, Corporate, Features, News, Sports

Do you want to cheer for the members of Team Philippines who are currently competing in the 2012 London Olympics? The Philippines' London Olympics 2012 contingent may be the leanest the country has ever fielded since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics but these fine Filipino Olympians are talented and they have the heart and they deserve our full support and prayers, don't they? :) The London Olympics 2012 Philippines athletic contingent a.k.a. Team Philippines will surely make all of us proud as they compete for God, country and glory in 9 out of the 26 sporting events in this year’s Games. Here's the list of our 11 Olympians: Mark Anthony Barriga (boxing-49kg) Marestella Torres (track-long jump) Rene Herrera (track-5000M) Jasmine Alkhaldi (swimming-100m freestyle) Jessie Khing Lacuna...

Jul302012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Why you should join Kumbira 2012 in Cagayan de Oro

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Contests, Corporate, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Food, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, News, Northern Mindanao, Recipes

It's Kumbira 2012 time again! Every year, the Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association (COHARA) organizes a professional and student culinary competition and trade show dubbed "Kumbira." Derived from the same Visayan word that means "feast," Kumbira is the largest culinary event in Mindanao - so large that it actually lasts for 3 days! (this is the first reason why you should join Kumbira 2012, by the way! Don't you think it's exciting to be a part of an event so grand?) This year is no different. "Kumbira 2012" will be held on August 15, 16 and 17, 2012 at the Atrium of Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City and - this brings me to the second reason why you should join Kumbira 2012 in Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao, Philippines - Kumbira 2012, which is now on its 16th year, has, accordin...

Jul292012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

My live radio interview at DZIQ Radyo Inquirer

Blogging, Broadcasting, Cagayan de Oro City, Features, Journalism, Manila, Media, Northern Mindanao, Society, Technology

A few weeks ago, I was in Manila to meet up with social media as well as political publicity clients. It was a rather brief stay in Manila but one of the highlights of my trip was a live radio interview at DZIQ 990 AM Radyo Inquirer. DZIQ Radyo Inquirer is a flagship AM radio station owned by Trans-Radio Broadcasting Corp., Inc. and operated by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. My live radio guesting was made possible by a good friend, Miss Noemi of BlogWatch, who was one of the anchors of the program I was set to be a guest in. You may know Miss Noemi as @momblogger on Twitter. She's also the writer behind one of the blogs I regularly read, About My Recovery, which started out as a "grief blog" about her deceased son Luijoe. Now, Miss Noemi is a passionate advocate of the Reproductive Hea...

Jul292012 by Mindanaoan Irene23 Comments

Join this giveaway sponsored by Spruce

Announcements, Blogging, Contests, Fashion, Features, Freebies, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping, Society, Style

Giveaway alert! Mindanaoan is proud to share with you this simple online giveaway courtesy of our generous friends over at Spruce. Spruce Designer Network, Inc. is a company that brings global fashion lifestyle brands to Northern and Western Mindanao. Spruce owns and manages various stores such as PUMA (Limketkai CDO and PUMA Ayala Center, Cebu) and the Spruce boutique lifestyle stores in Limketkai Mall Cagayan de Oro and Tamay Lang Arcade, Valencia City, Bukidnon. Spruce is also the authorized Havaianas sub-distributor for Northern and Western Mindanao --- which means that yes, they're the ones who will make the much-awaited Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 possible! Yep, they're that awesome :) So...on to the big question --- how does a pair of brand new robe soled sandals that are 100 pe...

Jul252012 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Miss Kagay-an 2012 candidates photos

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

Miss Kagay-an 2012 update! Here are the photos of the official candidates of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 pageant. I know a lot of you have been asking me for the Miss Kagay-an 2012 photos so here they are. This Filipino blogger was able to attend the press presentation of these lovely Miss Kagayan Festival 2012 candidates last Monday, July 23, 2012 and the organizing committee released these photos. I will also upload these photos on my Pinterest account. You might want to follow the Mindanaoan Pinterest account here. If you may notice, there are now only 11 official candidates instead of 12. The 11 lovely official candidates are: Lovely Jane Estampa, a legal analyst at Development Bank of the Philippines Sydney Taboclaon, born in Germany and taking up BS HRM at Tagoloan Community Col...

Jul222012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Kagay-an Kalo Festival 2012

Announcements, Arts, Cagayan de Oro City, Contests, Culture, Entertainment, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Tourism

One of the core events in the Kagay-an Festival 2012 is the 3rd Annual Kagay-an Kalo Parade Competition. Kalo is the local word for "hat." So the Kalo Parade Competition this year will feature festive hats made out of native / indigenous materials. If you're interested to join the Kalo Parade 2012 or if you want to join the contest, please check the poster below. Cash prizes and plaques await the winners. Please feel free to share this information with all your friends :) Meanwhile, the Kagay-an Festival 2012 schedule of activities can be found here

Jul222012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Win exclusive invites to Make Your Own Havaianas 2012

Announcements, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Contests, Entertainment, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Shopping, Society, Style

Do you love Havaianas? Or do you want to own a pair of Havaianas? Do you and your friends like taking jump shot photos? Here's a chance for you to not only take fun jump shot photos but to win exclusive VIP invites to the Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 Northern Mindanao leg! And you know what an invite means - you get to design your very own pair of Havaianas! Join the Jump For Joy With Havaianas promo and you stand the chance to receive exclusive invites to the 2012 Make Your Own Havaianas Cagayan de Oro leg. Here's how to join: (fun fact: the models used in this poster are the fun, funky bunch behind Mindanao's best professional photography team - One Happy Story Photography!) I just love, love, love Make Your Havaianas events! It's actually one of the events I look forward...

Jul212012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

1st Kadayawan Wild River Tubing schedule set

Beauty, Business, Davao City, Entertainment, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Leisure, Tourism

Want to embark on a wild and wet adventure this August 2012? Then Davao City is where you should be! The 1st Kadayawan Wild River Tubing event will be held on August 18, 2012. This, in celebration of the 2012 Kadayawan Festival, the grandest, funnest, most-awaited festival in Davao City. For a really good price of only Php 1,000 (roughly US $25), you can experience the fun that is the 1st Kadayawan Wild River Tubing. The fee already includes transportation, river guide, life vest, tubes, helmet, snacks and pictures :) Wild river tubing is where you ride a tube (fancy term for salbabida :D) and you navigate a river. Perfect way to make your Kadayawan Festival 2012 a memorable one! See the official schedule of activities for Kadayawan Festival 2012 here Reserve a spot now!...

Jul212012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

I’m learning how to speak French

Blogging, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal

Yes, I just signed up for French lessons! And believe me, I have not been this excited in a long while. I have always wanted to learn how to speak French but have not had the opportunity to do so until now. Of course, this is not to say that I'm already fluent in English and Filipino hence the interest to learn a new language. I'm still nowhere near being 100% articulate in both languages. I'm not even fluent in Bisaya (Visayan) - the dialect spoken largely in Mindanao, Philippines. There's still so much to learn! Back in college, I learned very basic Chinese (Mandarin) and to this day, I can still manage a few sentences. Anyways, my French 1 lesson would run for about 15 weeks. I'm terribly excited. I have even started listening to French lessons on YouTube. Here's one great basic F...

Jul202012 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Kagay-an Festival 2012 Cagayan de Oro schedule of activities

Announcements, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, News, Northern Mindanao, Society, Tourism, Travel

It's time for the Kagay-an Festival 2012! The Cagayan de Oro City Government has released the schedule of activities for the 2012 Kagay-an Festival. The Kagay-an Festival 2012 or the Cagayan de Oro Festival 2012 will be held in commemoration of the feast of patron Saint Augustine. This year, the Kagay-an Festival activities will be handled by the local government unit unlike in previous years when Promote CDO Foundation handled the task. Accordingly, Promote CDO now wants to focus on other ventures. Nevertheless, I'm sure the Kagay-an Festival this year will be peaceful and successful. I also hope that many of you, my dear readers, would come and visit. Participating in the various activities, purchasing local goods, eating at local restaurants etc during the Kagay-an Festival 2012 w...

Jul192012 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Kadayawan Festival 2012 schedule of activities

Davao City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Tourism, Travel

In a previous post, this Mindanao blogger shared with you the Kadayawan Festival 2012 official logo. How did you find the official 2012 Kadayawan Festival logo? I personally liked it :) Anyways, as I previously mentioned, the much-awaited Kadayawan Festival 2012 in Davao City is set to take place from August 17 to 19, 2012! Yes, folks, the King of Festivals is set to take place in just a few weeks. Have you made plans yet? Here's the Kadayawan Festival 2012 schedule of activities: (you can click on the image for a bigger view) The 2012 Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival will feature the theme: "10 Tribes, 1 Vibe" The 10 Davao tribes that truly celebrate the diversity of Davao City's cultures are: Ata Matigsalug Ovu-Manuvo Tagabawa Klata-Djangan Tausog Maguindanao Kagan Mar...

Jul192012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Meet fellow Mindanaoan KZ Tandingan of Digos

Davao del Sur, Entertainment, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Society

KZ Tandingan. A star is born in Digos, Davao del Sur! I'm sure a lot of you have watched that video of Kristine Zenny "KZ" Tandingan of Digos where she auditioned for "X Factor Philippines." Just in case you haven't, I placed it below. KZ Tandingan is from Digos, Davao del Sur so that makes her a fellow Mindanaoan (person from Mindanao, Philippines). I told you guys time and again, there are a LOT of amazing singers in the Philippines especially in my beloved Mindanao. During her audition for X Factor Philippines, KZ Tandingan sang her very own version of "Over The Rainbow." Her version's so cool that a lot of people now say that she's the Joss Stone of the Philippines. Do you agree? The X Factor Philippines judges Charice, Pilita Corrales, Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano all g...

Jul142012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Multiply goes to CDO

Blogging, Business, Consumer, Technology

Before the big Facebook takeover and during those days when Friendster put a limit to the number of photos you can upload, everyone was at Multiply. Back then, Multiply was where you can find your friends' photos (tons of them!), favorite videos and blog entries. Multiply was also where you can practice simple HTML skills - change the font size, place your "welcome greeting" on the center etc. Multiply also allowed users to see who already "viewed" their sites so unless a person kept his or her account totally private, it was a bit of challenge for everyone to upload comment-worthy or "view-worthy" entries. And yes, Multiply was also the home of so many budding Filipino entrepreneurs - all who maximized Multiply's site features to sell everything from shoes to bags to homemade pastries....

Jul142012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Miss Kagay-an 2012 press presentation set

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

Earlier, I shared with you the list of the official candidates of Miss Kagay-an 2012. Did your bet make it to the list? Now, these lovely ladies will be presented to the media for the 2012 Ms. Kagay-12 press presentation event on July 23, 2012. A press release from the City Tourism Board of Cagayan de Oro says: The CDO City Tourism Board and N Hotel inks an agreement for the highly anticipated Press Presentation of the 12 Official candidates of Ms. Kagay-an 2012 scheduled next week. The candidates will be presented to the media as their first official public appearance. The Darling of the Press winner will be chosen from the Press Presentation. Ms. Gean Cesar, Co-Chair of Ms. Kagay-an 2012 and Chair of Ways and Means, together with CTB Finance Officer Linda Costales signs contract o...

Jul122012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Rep. JV Ejercito visits Bukidnon @jvejercito

Blogging, Bukidnon, Controversial, Features, Government, Malaybalay City, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Photos, Politics

I was in Bukidnon when San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito (or Joseph Victor Ejercito Estrada) told me that he was coming for a visit. I readily told Rep. JV Ejercito that I would be glad to assist him especially since I still had tons of media and government contacts in Bukidnon. I was also very curious to see how the people of Bukidnon would react when they see him. After all, JV Ejercito just recently "patched things up" with former Bukidnon congressman (and resigned Senator) Juan Miguel Zubiri (who is obviously very well-loved in Bukidnon) after the latter apologized to JV's dad, former President Erap Estrada. Migs Zubiri used to be a part of the "Spice Boys," a group of young congressmen who pushed for the articles of impeachment against Estrada in 2000. These days, Migs and JV are now both ...

Jul122012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

US Embassy Manila launches new Mindanao blog

Advocacy, America, Announcements, Blogging, Education, Features, Headline, Internet, Mindanaoan Update, Technology, United States of America

The U.S. Embassy in Manila has launched a new blog that focuses on Mindanao as well as on the many partnerships between the United States, the Government of the Philippines, and the people of Mindanao. The new Mindanao blog, entitled "Peace, Prosperity and Partnership in Mindanao," includes information on how to participate in US Embassy programs that are offered in the Island of Mindanao. Peace, Prosperity and Partnership are the main thematic approaches of the U.S. Embassy in diplomatic engagement with Mindanaoans and the Philippine government. Hence, the name. The new US Embassy Manila blog also features conversations with young Mindanao leaders and updates on cultural programs, health initiatives and business innovations that are supported by various U.S. government agencies. US ...

Jul102012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Davao City Kadayawan Festival 2012

Announcements, Arts, Culture, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Leisure, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Tourism, Travel

It's time for the King of Festivals again! The much-awaited Kadayawan Festival 2012 in Davao City is set to take place on August 17 to 19, 2012! The 2012 Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival will feature the theme: "10 Tribes, 1 Vibe" The 10 Davao tribes that truly celebrate the diversity of Davao City's cultures are Ata, Matigsalug, Ovu-Manuvo, Tagabawa, Klata-Djangan, Tausog, Maguindanao, Kagan, Maranao and Sama. The term "Kadayawan" is taken from the Mandaya word "madayaw," which is a friendly greeting used to explain something that's good, bountiful, superior or profitable. If you'll be in Davao for the 2012 Kadayawan, you will for sure encounter this word often :) In Davao City, the Kadayawan Festival is the grandest, most colorful festival whereby locals gather and celebrate life, tradi...

Jul92012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 CDO leg – come with?

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Events, Fashion, Features, Gifts, Mindanaoan Update, Style

Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 Cagayan de Oro edition! Yes, it's that time of year again! How fast time flies, eh? The much-awaited Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 CDO Northern Mindanao leg is set to happen on August 17 to 19, 2012, 10 AM onwards at the Rotunda area of Limketkai Mall, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao. Who wants to come with me? :) I don't know about you but I'm pretty excited about this one! This will be my FOURTH time to join these fun-filled MYOH events. My very first Make Your Own Havaianas event was in 2009. That pair of flip flops is still, to this day, one of my favorite pairs. For the uninitiated, Make Your Own Havaianas events is where you can create or customize your very own pair of Havaianas flip flops :) I also joined the Make Your Own Havaianas 2010 and...

Jul92012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Better ARMM starts today, July 9, 2012 #ARMMGenReg

Advocacy, Announcements, ARMM, Blogging, Muslim Mindanao, News

Today is a promising day in ARMM. Today, July 9, 2012, is the start of change in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or ARMM. Today, some 1 million Filipino voters are expected to register - or "re-register" - after the Commission on Elections through Resolution No. 9443, aims to purge hundreds of thousands of "fictitious voters" with the nullification of the voters' list in Lanao del Sur as well as in 4 other provinces in the ARMM. COMELEC officials say that after this ARMM general registration, the previous list of ARMM voters of at least 1.7 Million will be trimmed down to just about 300,000. The ARMM general registration, which will take place in various schools, will start today and will end on July 18, 2012. In line with this, a 30-day gun ban in ARMM is also being enforced. ...

Jul42012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

myBRO – latest PLDT, Smart Internet connection offer

Announcements, Business, Consumer, Technology

As a social media strategist, practising publicist, blogger and entrepreneur, I need to constantly be connected. It is very important for me to have fast, reliable and consistent Internet connection not only in my home but also when I'm mobile. You see, I have so many emails to check everyday, a lot of online tasks to accomplish, several blog posts to write and publish, many social networking accounts to update and a couple of websites to manage. Without a reliable Internet connection, I will for sure have a difficult time. Take the case of my social networking accounts. I see to it that I update my Mindanaoan Twitter account as much as possible. My Twitter account played a huge role in my humble Typhoon Sendong relief operations and donation drives last December 2011. Because of good a...