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

Jan262022 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

At the Mura Bora (“Like Boracay”) Initao white sand beach

Features, Leisure, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Tourism, Travel

It's named "Mura Bora," shortcut for "Murag Boracay" or "Like Boracay" and it's my family and I's new fave white sand beach getaway. I suppose not a lot of people have really discovered the place yet (it's either that or the owner isn't in a hurry to develop Mura Bora) because as of this writing, this white sand beach property just has a couple of huts under coconut trees, a few friendly dogs who have seemingly been trained to melt your heart with their eyes so you can share your food and a rudimentary bathroom and shower area. I know this description doesn't sound much but for my family and I, we liked Mura Bora and its rawness. Like a virgin beach spot. Mura Bora is located at Initao, Misamis Oriental, about an hour and a half from either Cagayan de Oro City or Iligan City. It's ...

Jan172022 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Live Safe with Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol

Features, Health, LifeStyle, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews

Here's a brand of isopropyl alcohol that my family and I have been using for months now - Defensil! With many establishments slowly re-opening and allowing people to resume their pre-pandemic lifestyles, Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol encourages Filipinos to live safe. With the nationwide vaccination program in full force, Filipinos can slowly enjoy various activities such as more dining options as well as doing physical activities by going to the gym. However, health experts continue to remind everyone to not let their guards down even as we gradually go back to normal. As there are reports of new and potentially more contagious variants, everyone must remain vigilant through following established health protocols and getting vaccinated so we can all continue to live safe and prevent ...

Dec212021 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Hot Tips for Hiring a Pop Band for a Special Event

Music

Choosing the appropriate live dance band for your event may make or break it. Your guests will be dancing to the music all night long if you choose the perfect live dance band, and your event will be one to remember. Finding the appropriate dancing band necessitates more than just musical taste; it also necessitates a skill for anticipating what your guests will enjoy and dance to. You may be a major Thad Jones/Mel Lewis lover, but if your guests can't dance to jazz, the dancing portion of the event could be a flop. Read on for tips for hiring a pop band for a special event. Music Genre When considering hiring a live band, it's critical to select the ideal musicians for the project. Consider what type of music would be appropriate for the occasion you're hosting. A corporate gather...

Dec182021 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

The Loop by Power Mac Center arrives in General Santos City

Features, General Santos City, Technology

Premier Apple partner Power Mac Center (PMC) opened its first store in General Santos City last November 26, 2021 to bring fans in the region even closer to Apple technology. The expansion is a continuation of Power Mac Center’s goal of increasing its geographic footprint across the nation to serve more people through its retail stores, service centers, and training centers. “New beginnings are always good. Despite the difficulties of the current situation, it’s important for us to power through the challenges and be there for our customers in the different channels they prefer. With our inaugural store in General Santos City, we hope to help more people in the south in their need to access Apple technology for their day-to-day lives, especially amid the shift to digital for productivi...

Dec182021 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Play classic Solitaire online – no fuss, no hassle, no need to download any app!

Mindanaoan Update

I don't know about you but mental health has become one of my major priorities these days. Ever since the onslaught of this pandemic, I have changed my lifestyle a lot. I have also undergone some kind of shift in perspective. Paradigm shift, if you will. I also try not to stress out too much especially over little, nonsensical things. If I think I can just chill, just let things take their course and don't get angry, then I will. Also, if there are things that I can do that can make me feel at ease, then I'll choose that, too. Life, to me, has become unpredictable because of this pandemic. And, yes, life's too short to fuss over things you don't really need to! One of the ways that has helped me mentally and emotionally is to take small breaks and either eat or drink whatever I want (n...

Dec142021 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Philippine Senate approves Solo Parents Act

Announcements, Government, Headline, News, Personalities, Politics

The Senate of the Philippines approved the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act on third and final reading Monday, December 13, 2021. It amends Republic Act No. 8972, An Act Providing for Benefits and Privileges to Solo Parents and the Children, to improve government services for solo parents. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, co-author and co-sponsor of the bill, said that about 15 million solo-parent families in the Philippines are set to benefit from the Act. "we need to make sure that they are receiving the help that they require in raising healthy, educated children with happy home lives." “I thank and congratulate Sen. Risa Hontiveros for her efforts behind this, as sponsor of the bill. We’re really very excited that this is going forward," Zubiri added. “Parenthood i...

Nov152021 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

JOIN FOR FREE! Ford Philippines Brings Driving Skills for Life in Mindanao

Events, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Technology

Ford Philippines is bringing its Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program in Mindanao this month as part of its commitment to create better and safer drivers on the road. With the theme “Safe Driving in the New Normal”, this year’s DSFL will cover timely topics including pandemic car care and maintenance tips, car sanitation and disinfection, and driving techniques during the rainy weather. These are in addition to the existing DSFL training module which covers basic vehicle dynamics and handling, driving in various conditions, anti-distracted driving, and fuel-efficient driving. This year’s DSFL sessions will be conducted virtually in order to foster a safe and physically-distant learning environment. The DSFL is back this year after its postponement in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pande...

Nov82021 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

How to protect your blog from viruses and hackers (writing from personal experience)

Business, Events, Internet, Mindanaoan Update, News, Technology

A few days ago, I shared via an Instagram post that some of my websites recently incurred malware and were down for days. Not a lot of people knew about this and I also didn't really have the energy to share because, at the time, I mostly felt exhausted and disappointed in myself. It was truly a horrible time and I was so downtrodden. Truth be told, the worst part of that entire experience was realizing that the cause of the downtime was actually preventable! If only I spent a minute or two every month to do routinary tasks! Alas, that’s now in the past and I now just consider that an expensive learning experience. Now, I'm extra careful especially when it comes to data privacy, online security and digital protection measures. Cybersecurity threats are real, folks! And it can be finan...

Nov42021 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Senator Joel Villanueva: Surge of passport applications in the millions expected as COVID retreats

Features, Government, Mindanaoan Update, News

As the easing of COVID-19 cases prompts OFWs to job-hunt again, the government should open more off-site passport processing centers in malls outside of Metro Manila, Sen. Joel Villanueva said. Villanueva said the move of the Department of Foreign Affairs to open six Temporary Off-Site Passport Services (DFA-TOPS) in NCR last month is “a great solution that should be replicated and scaled up” nationwide. Passport processing, the senator added, is “an important employment assistance not only to OFWs but to first-time job seekers.” “Well, in a sense, you can view it as job generation activity,” Villanueva said. As travel restrictions get rolled back globally, this will open up economies that will take back furloughed workers, many of whom were Filipinos, the chair of the S...

Nov22021 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz joins BDO as financial education champion

Business, Consumer, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, News, Sports, Technology, Zamboanga City

BDO Unibank has formally welcomed Hidilyn Diaz, the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic Gold medalist, to its family of brand ambassadors. Three months after ending the country’s nearly 100-year quest for Gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the Zamboanga City native joins forces with the Bank to champion financial education, not only for her fellow athletes but also for the unserved and underserved markets including overseas Filipinos. Though unexpected, Hidilyn is thankful for having received a string of incentives and gifts for her historic feat. With this in mind, she sees the golden value of handling these incentives responsibly, which BDO has been espousing through its financial education advocacy. “Importanteng magbukas ng account sa bangko, kahit maliit lang ipon mo sa simula. Pa...

Oct262021 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

New partnership in town: Kenny Rogers Roasters and Coca Cola

Business, Consumer, Corporate, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update

A cheerful toast is in order! Kenny Rogers Roasters, one of the country’s largest restaurant chains and one of my personal favorite places for rotisserie-roasted chicken, has partnered with Coca-Cola, the leading beverage company in the country, to deliver perfect dining pairings to Filipinos across the Philippines. After more than a decade, these 2 powerhouse brands reunited for diners to enjoy their favorite Kenny Rogers Roasters meals with their favorite Coca-Cola products. Kenny Rogers Roasters’ unique recipes for rotisserie-roasted chicken, complemented by a rich variety of hot and cold side dishes and beloved corn muffins, are now paired with much-loved Coca-Cola products. The partnership supports the restaurant chain’s commitment to innovating their product offerings and con...

Oct262021 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

My personal tips on budgeting

Advocacy, Musings, Personal

I've been there. And I'm still actually here. The whole wide, tricky world of budgeting. It's a task that we don't necessarily want to do but HAVE to do. However, you might be wondering - why do we really need to have a budget? Shouldn't we just take it day by day or enjoy life to the fullest without worrying about money? If only, right? First off, we don't want to fall into the scary trap of overspending and massive debt. I personally know some folks who prefer to just get by. For me, however, I prefer to have savings, some sense of financial security for the future and be able to know what I earn and what I can only spend. Let me tell you right now, however, that budgeting may sound simple but it's not necessarily easy. If you're not used to doing this, you might feel overwhe...

Oct62021 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

#Eleksyon2022: Lacson – Sotto officially file COCs

Mindanaoan Update

Senator Ping Lacson has officially filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for president in the upcoming 2022 elections. He was joined by his vice presidential running mate, Senate President Tito Sotto. The Lacson - Sotto tandem filed their COCs today, October 6, 2021. The tandem officially launched their 2022 bid last September 8, presenting themselves as a viable option to ensure that the country would arise from difficulties brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their filing officially debunks fake news that has been circulating in the provinces, saying that Lacson and Sotto are backing out of the national elections. To this, Lacson replies, “Laban kung laban, hindi susuko!” In his speech after the filing, Lacson, who earlier declared that the Philippines needs a president that w...

Sep232021 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Coffee at the Abbey

Mindanaoan Update

The Monastery of Transfiguration, located in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, also known as the Benedictine Transfiguration Monastery, is my most favorite place for spiritual refuge. It's an ideal place if you want to go on a spiritual retreat. The centerpiece of this Mindanao monastery is a popular cone-shaped chapel, designed by the late National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin. There are no entrance fees. Just make sure that you're appropriately dressed. They have a dress code. I've written extensively about the monastery and what you can see and do there (READ: Revisiting the Monastery and 3 Things You Can Do At the Monastery of Transfiguration) but there's a new and nice development there. They have a new coffee shop slash gift shop! It's called the Abbey Giftshop and now ...

Sep232021 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Panagatan Restaurant Opol now offers breakfast

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Restaurant, Reviews

Breakfast with a view? How about breakfast by the sea? Yes, please! Panagatan Restaurant, considered as Northern Mindanao's culinary gem and everyone's favorite seafood restaurant in this side of Northern Mindanao, Philippines, now offers breakfast and now opens at 6:30 AM (closes at 9 PM). For only Php 150 (US $3.00), your main viand (choose from bacon, corned beef, beef tapa, crispy danggit or daing na bangus) comes with 2 eggs and rice (or toasted bread). Value for money! There are also other breakfast options on their menu so go ahead and try this Cagayan de Oro breakfast place. Enjoy your breakfast by the bay! Panagatan Opol is atop the water so you can enjoy the morning sea breeze with delicious breakfast. Want to reserve tables or have inquiries? Just call Panagatan Resta...

Sep92021 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Join this year’s Virtual European Higher Education Fair 2021

Mindanaoan Update

The COVID-19 pandemic has given us many challenges but this does not mean that the pursuit of higher education should stop. In fact, let's go higher with the EU! The European Union Delegation to the Philippines in collaboration with the EU Member States’ Embassies, education services and Institutes, will hold again this year the “Virtual European Higher Education Fair 2021” from 1 to 2 October. Since last year, the Fair has embraced the digital transformation by staging the most exciting higher education fair online. This makes the event more accessible to Filipino students, academicians, researchers and university officials from across the country. This year’s theme, “Go Higher with EU” puts the spotlight into the EU as the Fair bec...

Sep92021 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

My guaranteed stress-buster: Free browser-based online games

Mindanaoan Update

The world has changed so much. Many, if not all, of the people I know have had to change their lifestyles, their places of work, their livelihood, and even their family dynamics in order to deal with the challenges of today. This pandemic has also forced all of us to undergo quarantine and look for many, various ways to deal with the stress that goes along with this. In my case, I also faced a lot of challenges and had to look for “positive” methods that could help me beat mental stress. One of my tried-and-tested ways is to take breaks in between work and indulge in my favorite online games. I treat this as a “prize” for successfully accomplishing some tasks and errands. Luckily, I recently discovered a site that offered free browser-based online games. Plays.org is perfect – not o...

Jul82021 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Galanong-lanog ang pagdayeg sa BDO

Bisaya, Consumer, Corporate, Mindanaoan Update

Dili lalim ang gina-agian nato karon hilabina nga panahon sa pandemya. Apan kinahanglan pud siguro nato matagaan ug bili ang mga negosyo nga padayon lang gihapon sa pagserbisyo. Isa na diha ang BDO. Galanog-lanog ang pag-dayeg sa BDO karong mga panahuna. Ang BDO bank ang pinakadakong bangko sa tibuok Pilipina. Daghang financial ug banking solutions alang sa mga Pilipino ug langyaw nga naa diri sa atong nasud ang gina-offer sa BDO. Kung inyong namatikdan, gihupot na sa BDO ang kanhing One Network Bank nga ubay-ubay pud ang mga branches sa tibuok nasud. Paspas gyud ang pagtubo sa BDO. Good news ni siya hilabina kay mas daghan na pud dayon ang maserbisyohan sa maong bangko bisan pa naay pandemya. Susama na lamang sa pagpadayon sa serbisyo sa maong bangko bisan pa nagkadaghan ang m...

Jul52021 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

How Globe Business forges SMEs to proceed fearlessly into the digital future

Advocacy, Business, Television

Every business that has survived and beaten the pandemic odds carries an inspiring story of creativity, grit, and resilience worthy of recognition. By capturing and telling these stories, Globe Business honors the local micro, small and medium business owners through this year’s Saludo SMEs campaign, cheering them on with the message “Through The Changing Times, Tuloy Tayo!”, and supporting them as a trusted partner does so that they can confidently move their business forward. The ‘Saludo SMEs’ campaign is Globe Business’ annual initiative to recognize the contribution to sustainable economic development made by micro, small and medium businesses. It was first launched in 2019 to shine a spotlight on SME challenges and successes and inspire other entrepreneurs facing similar strugg...

Jul52021 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanao-based Hineleban Foundation launches healthy, creative cooking group “Lutu Lutu Kuy Ra”

Bukidnon, Consumer, Contests, Features, Fitness, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Society

Mindanao-based reforestation NGO Hineleban Foundation, a non-stock, non-profit organization, has launched “Lutu Lutu Kuy Ra,” a Facebook group that aims to feature easy, healthy, creative cooking demos and recipes and promote the consumption of local crops, backyard gardening and easy-to-replicate garden-to-table food preparation. The Facebook group, which can be accessed via http://www.facebook.com/groups/lutulutukuyra, will highlight tips and tricks from local cooks and videos from guest chefs. There will be live cooking demos of budget-friendly and healthy meals. A Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey published in December 2020 indicated that the average hunger rate for 2020 in the Philippines is double the average of 9.3 percent for 2019. The highest hunger rate in 20...

Jul42021 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Unsaon pag-pilde sa mga loan payment scammers

Bisaya, Business, Consumer, Corporate, Features, Mindanaoan Update

Ubay-ubay na pud ang mga nabiktima sa mga "loan payment scammers." Mao ni sila ang mga magpaila nga kuno konektado sila sa mga bangko or lending organizations ug kuno makatabang sila aron mapadali ang pag-proseso sa mga loans. Apan ang mga payments o bayad kay mupaadto na man hinuon sa scammer ug dili sa bangko o lender. Pildeha ang mga "loan payment scammers" pinaagi sa mga nagsunod: Pagbayad lang kanunay sa angay nga bank channels Lakip niini ang over the counter sa branch sa imong bangko o dili ba kaha automatic debit arrangement. Buhata kini para sa imong car loans, home loans o business loans. I-maximize ang auto debit payments Pangutana lamang sa imohang bangko mahitungod sa auto debit payment kay kini ang pinaka-secure ug kombenyente nga option. Sa BDO pananglitan,...

Jul22021 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Himig 11th Edition grand winner receives Lumina Homes house and lot

Bukidnon, Butuan, Compostela Valley, Cotabato, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Occidental, Pagadian, Society, South Cotabato, Zamboanga del Sur

ABS-CBN’s Himig 11th Edition winning song Marupok delivered empowering lyrics and performer KZ Tandingan’s great musicality, which blended beautifully with Filipino ethnic music. And behind this refreshing song is composer Daniella Anne Balagtas, who received a brand-new house and lot from Lumina Homes, as part of the competition’s grand plum. Lumina Homes is one with the annual songwriting contest in celebrating OPM Music as well as supporting composers, singers and all the music artists who are affected by the pandemic. For years, it has been sponsoring television contests, giving away any Filipino’s top dream—a safe and secure home that one can call his own. Balagtas won an Aimee house and lot, Lumina Homes’ best-selling rowhouse which has 22-sqm. floor area, 36-sqm. lot, and...