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

Nov132010 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Tsim Sha Tsui Ayala Terraces

Cebu City, Commentary, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion, Photos, Reviews

No, this time it's not the Tsim Sha Tsui district found in Hongkong (which I miss but will soon be in again come March 2011! Well, that's another post :D) We're talking about the Tsim Sha Tsui restaurant found at The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu. Tsim Sha Tsui serves, quite obviously, Chinese cuisine. This Cebu restaurant is also known for their Dimsum Conveyor Buffet (an eat-all-you-can thingie for about P350.00 per head). Tsim Sha Tsui (pronounced as sim-shya-tswoy, according to Hongkies or Hongkong locals) is found at the second level of the Ayala Mall Cebu The Terraces. Anyways, on my first day in Cebu City, my brother and I had lunch at TST. And you know what this means. Food shots! The Hakao / Ha Kao / Hakaw or shrimp dumplings were juicy and delicious! (more…)

Nov132010 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Ely Buendia and the rest of Pupil in Cagayan de Oro on December 8, 2010

Announcements, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Shopping, Society

Thanks to PUMA and one of my most favorite lifestyle specialty boutiques Spruce, loyal Ely Buendia fans like me will have the time of their lives on December 8, 2010 at Club TILT, Cagayan de Oro City, Northern Mindanao. Yes, boys and girls, PUPIL will rock Cagayan de Oro on December 8, 2010! PUMA is bringing Ely Buendia and the rest of Pupil in CDO on December 8, 2010! Want to know how you can score entrance passes to the PUPIL Live in CDO event? (more…)

Nov132010 by Mindanaoan Irene10 Comments

Cheap taxi at Mactan Cebu airport

Advocacy, Blogging, Business, Cebu City, Consumer, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Society, Tourism, Travel

I've been to Cebu City countless of times but I think I haven't shared yet one tried and tested travel tip: how to avail of cheap taxi service at the Mactan Cebu International Airport. By cheap I mean the regular, metered taxi service rate and not the fixed or coupon-type of taxi service rate. This tip is especially helpful for first time travelers to the Queen City of the South. But before that, let's talk a little bit about the Mactan Cebu International Airport. The airport, as the name suggests, is in Mactan Island - meaning it's NOT within Cebu City proper. Usually, it takes you about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Cebu to reach the airport. To go to Mactan, you need to cross one of the two bridges that connect Cebu to Mactan - the Mactan-Mandaue bridge and the Marcelo Fernan bridge...

Nov122010 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

SM Cagayan de Oro Digital Theater opens today!

Announcements, Business, Corporate, Davao City, Entertainment, Events, Mindanaoan Update, Movies

Thanks to Kagay-an.com's Mike Banos, I found out that the grand launching of the much-awaited Digital Theater at SM City Cagayan de Oro is set to happen today, November 12, 2010, 5 PM. The SM Digital Theater banners the promise that the movies that will be shown there will be "so clear and so real." At around 6 PM, the blockbuster film "Avatar" will be shown in the brand new SM CdO Digital Theater. Can't help but wonder, though, if they'll show the original "Avatar" or the one that has the extra 8 minute footage. Anyways, the said digital theater isn't the first in Mindanao. Gaisano Mall Davao City already has a digital theater. The one in SM CDO, however, is the first in Northern Mindanao. I've tried watching films in IMAX, 3D and Digital Theaters. And yes, the movies shown in D...

Nov122010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Off to Cebu City! Thank you Air Philippines for saving the day

Bisaya, Business, Cebu City, Features, Flights, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Personal, Travel

This is already almost too embarrassing to say considering what happened just a few weeks ago but really, my deep gratitude to the staff and crew of Air Philippines - Lumbia Airport, Cagayan de Oro City, Northern Mindanao. I was super late for my Cagayan de Oro to Cebu City flight but they still let me board. Now don't be alarmed, though. I wasn't late late. Let's just say that I didn't make the 45 minutes before the flight cut-off. My flight was at 12:50 PM and I arrived at the airport at 12:30 PM. I have a valid reason, though! I was in Bukidnon for the blogging workshop I organized and left a good 4 hours before my scheduled ETD. Unfortunately, the usual 2-hour trip from Malaybalay City, Bukidnon to Cagayan de Oro City became a 3 and a half hour ordeal, no thanks to an 18-wheeler tru...

Nov82010 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Senator Kiko Pangilinan congratulates www.Mindanaoan.com!

Advocacy, Agriculture, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Announcements, ARMM, Arts, Bacolod City, Banks, Basilan, Beauty, BIMP-EAGA, Bisaya, Blogging, Broadcasting, Bukidnon, Business, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Campus, Caraga, Cebu City, Commentary, Compostela Valley, Consumer, Contests, Controversial, Corporate, Cotabato, Crime, Culture, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Dipolog, Education, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Flights, Food, Freebies, General Santos City, Gifts, Government, Headline, Hotels, Humor, Iligan City, Internet, Island Garden City of Samal, Jobs, Journalism, Kaamulan Festival, Koronadal, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Leisure, Maguindanao, Make Money Online, Malaybalay City, 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, Shopping, Society, SoSCksargen, South Cotabato, Sports, Style, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacurong, Tangub City, Technology, Television, Tourism, Travel, Videos, Visayas, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga Sibugay

I must admit that even a few days after my humble Mindanaoan.com blog won as Best Lifestyle Blog for Mindanao in the Philippine Blog Awards 2010, I still am on cloud 9. While a lot of people have already congratulated me (and I still continue to receive several congratulatory messages until now) and even my ever-supportive Mama has already made plans to have a special tarp printed and displayed (yikes! :D), nothing prepared me for an absolutely wonderful surprise I got yesterday. November 6, 2010, the very day of a blogging 101 workshop that I organized, was made extra special when someone sent in this video message that did not only make my cheeks burn but make my heart melt as well :) No less than Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan congratulated me! Yes, THE Senator Kiko Pangili...

Nov72010 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

California Berry Davao – frozen yogurt delight in Mindanao

Blogging, Business, Consumer, Davao City, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews

I was in Manila during the first wave of the so-called "froyo" or frozen yogurt craze. As a self-proclaimed Mindanaoan foodie, I visited almost every available frozen yogurt store (and yep, basically said adieu to my diet!) and I often wondered when the "froyo" craze would invade Mindanao. Fast forward a few months later, the frozen yogurt trend has finally penetrated Mindanao - there are now frozen yogurt businesses in Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City. I'm pretty sure more frozen yogurt businesses will sprout in other Mindanao areas. The froyo outlet I most recently visited was California Berry. Located at the 2nd floor of Gaisano Mall Davao along Bajada, California Berry Davao serves nonfat frozen yogurt. I ordered the seasonal green apple yogurt with, as you can see, three differe...

Nov42010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Where to eat in Davao City Mindanao – CTres Buffet Restaurant and Piano Bar

Blogging, Business, Davao City, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Tourism

More and more buffet places have been sprouting in my hometown Davao City, much to the delight of both Dabawenyo and non-Dabawenyo foodies. One of the buffet places in Davao City that has been receiving great reviews is CTres Buffet Restaurant and Piano Bar. CTres, by the way, is pronounced "seetres." Located along E. Palma Gil Street, Barrio Obrero (although a lot of people consider it part of Bajada), CTres serves buffet lunch and dinner everyday, even on Sundays. If you're planning to have dinner there, I highly suggest that you reserve a table as the place gets packed really quickly. I personally witnessed this. I went to CTres at around 6:30pm and there was only a lone vacant table. About two minutes after I got settled, I saw an entire barkada enter the joint and got disappointed ...

Nov32010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Thank you for Filipino family reunions!

Blogging, Contests, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal

If there's one thing that I've been absolutely thankful for in the past few days, it's the fact that we Filipinos like holding family or clan reunions. There's just something fun and magical about Filipino family reunions, don't you agree? More often than not, these traditional Filipino reunions are noisy, crazy, fiesta-like and absolutely full of food and games! So you can just imagine the craziness if it's a grand clan reunion! Two days ago, I attended our grandest clan reunion yet. It was the most-awaited, too, since my aunt, who hasn't been home in nearly 10 years, has flown in from New York with her new husband. * Loving clasp - photo by www.Mindanaoan.com (more…)

Nov22010 by Mindanaoan Irene8 Comments

Review: Las Casitas Inn | Hotel in Davao City Mindanao

Business, Davao City, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

I first stayed at Las Casitas Inn, Davao City, Mindanao during the campaign season for the May 2010 elections. I only stayed at Las Casitas de Angela Inn Davao City overnight then so I barely had the chance to take photos of my room. Hence, when I went back to Davao City for a special event, I decided to check-in at Las Casitas Inn --- which, by the way, is now known as Casitas Hotel. I got a single room at this Davao hotel and only paid P895.00 (roughly US$25.00) Located along JP Rizal Street, Las Casitas de Angela Hotel is considered a "small hotel." This Davao City budget hotel is conveniently located downtown - at the very heart of the city. From the Davao International Airport, it'll most probably take you about half an hour to reach Las Casitas Inn. This cheap Davao hotel...

Oct312010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Marks and Spencer Cagayan de Oro opening

Announcements, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Events, Fashion, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping

So the much-awaited opening of the Cagayan de Oro branch of Marks and Spencer was finally held last Thursday, October 28, 2010. One of UK's leading retailers, Marks and Spencer CDO can be found at the East Concourse of Limketkai Center, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao. And guess who were among the beautiful guests? (more…)

Oct312010 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Mindanaoan.com wins! Best Lifestyle Blog – Philippine Blog Awards 2010 Mindanao

Advocacy, Agriculture, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Announcements, ARMM, Arts, Bacolod City, Banks, Basilan, Beauty, BIMP-EAGA, Bisaya, 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, Dipolog, Education, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Flights, Food, Freebies, General Santos City, Gifts, Government, Headline, Hotels, Humor, Iligan City, Internet, Island Garden City of Samal, Jobs, Journalism, Kaamulan Festival, Koronadal, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Leisure, Maguindanao, Make Money Online, Malaybalay City, 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, Shopping, Society, SoSCksargen, South Cotabato, Sports, Style, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacurong, Tangub City, Technology, Television, Tourism, Travel, Videos, Visayas, Weddings, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga Sibugay

Woke up to sweet and absolutely wonderful piece of news today! This humble blog - www.Mindanaoan.com - won as Best Lifestyle Blog in the recently concluded Philippine Blog Awards 2010 - Mindanao Division! Yebah! Woot woot! :D My warmest, sincerest gratitude to the organizers and sponsors of the Philippine Blog Awards 2010! Thank you for the recognition and may you continue to uplift the blogging community! And of course, my deepest gratitude to all of my readers and followers! Like I previously mentioned, just the thought of you guys sparing a few minutes of your time each day just to come and visit my little online home brings me so much joy and inspiration. I am humbled. Daghang salamat! And to the readers and followers of my two other blogs that were also finalists of the PB...

Oct292010 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Thank you Philippine Blog Awards 2010!

Announcements, Blogging, Features, Internet, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Personal

About two days ago, I received an email from Juned of Philippine Blog Awards 2010 saying that 3 of my blogs (yup, 3!) are finalists of the Philippine Blog Awards - Mindanao Division and that the same 3 blogs are nominees of the PBA - Main Division! How cool is that? YAY! :D Of course, Mindanaoan is one of the 3 :) Woot woot! Thank you to the people behind PBA 2010! Win or lose, I will cherish this moment forever! NAKS :P Thank you also to the people who have endorsed this humble blog. I think I have the most gorgeous endorsers! :D Just check this out and you'll know what I mean :D But most of all, I would like to sincerely thank... (more…)

Oct272010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

My ultra lucky night at Resorts World Manila casino

Blogging, Business, Corporate, Entertainment, Features, Freebies, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Reviews, Society, Technology, Tourism

Before I do share the AMAZEBALLS and fantabulous thing that happened to me and my lucky stars that night at Resorts World Manila, let me rewind a bit. So remember I recently attended Wordcamp Philippines 2010, right? A few days before my flight from Cagayan de Oro to Manila, I found out that some CDO Bloggers (Jacq, Cherry and Venus) will also stay in the same hotel where I will be billeted...and we will be on the same flight! So that put me at ease somehow. On the day of my our flight, I woke up really early. I had a good 4 hours before boarding time so I decided to laze around the house, surf the web, watch TV...in other words, I became too freakin' lax for my own good. What happened next was a disaster. I was so late for my flight that I was still in the middle of a traffic jam on...

Oct262010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Meet Lola Techie at the Teach Lola event, NCCC Mall Davao City

Advocacy, Announcements, Blogging, Broadcasting, Corporate, Davao City, Education, Entertainment, Events, Internet, Mindanaoan Update, News, Society, Technology

Most, if not all, of us know who Lola Techie is, yes? Lola Techie is that Internet-savvy grandma who we all admire. Check out this cute and funny video of her talking to her apo (and warning him that she'll "drop kick" him if he doesn't poke back LOL) over the Internet: Here's a more recent video of Lola Techie standing her ground against Cherie Gil (first watched this during the 17th National PR Congress, which I attended): Undoubtedly, Lola Techie has endeared herself to a lot of people all over the country. Why, she has a lot of fans (including me ;) ) I actually saw her during the 17th National Public Relations Congress but unfortunately didn't have the chance to talk to her or have a photo taken with her. But ah...I may have the chance to do so real soon ;) For fellow...

Oct262010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Blackberry Playbook is on my wishlist!

Blogging, Consumer, Mindanaoan Update, Personal, Shopping, Technology

Okay, I know everyone's talking about the Apple iPad these days and I guess that as a relatively new Mac user, I should also (quite naturally) want to get one for myself. However, I've also been a Blackberry user for quite a while now - I've come to love my BB and its features - and Blackberry's coming out with their own tablet pretty soon! Presenting the newest entry to my wishlist - the Blackberry Playbook! Isn't it a BEAUTY? Research In Motion (RIM) has launched the so-called “professional-grade” BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. Check out its way, way cool features: (more…)

Oct252010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Did you vote today?

Advocacy, Blogging, Commentary, Events, Government, Mindanaoan Update, News, Opinion, Personal, Politics

I did. Together with my family, this blogger from Mindanao exercised her right to suffrage today, October 25, 2010 - the day of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. Armed with my Panasonic Lumix digital camera, my Flip Mino HD, my Nikon D40, ballpen, voter's ID and ever trusty Blackberry, I went to my polling precinct at around 9:30 a.m. I looked like I was ready for war. As usual, I spotted several odd things during my trip to my polling precinct: 1. There were only a handful of voters. Ergo, low voter turnout. 2. I spotted several candidates only a few meters away from the polling centers. According to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), this should not be. Candidates must be at least 100 meters away from polling centers. 3. I didn't spot any policemen or ...

Oct242010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Golden Cowrie restaurant at Limketkai Center, Cagayan de Oro

Cagayan de Oro City, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews

Finally had the chance to treat my mom and brothers to the newly opened Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant located at the Rosario Arcade, Limketkai Center, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao. This Golden Cowrie CDO branch is a franchise and the first outside Cebu, where Golden Cowrie started in 1982. I'm actually a regular customer at the original Golden Cowrie restaurant along Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City (just a few blocks away from Waterfront Lahug) and I often bring my PR clients there for meetings or small press conferences. In fact, a few weeks before the May 2010 elections, I organized mini press briefings there for three senatorial candidates (all of whom were my clients --- I provided public relations, events, media and marketing services to them). Anyways, going back to the Gold...

Oct242010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Pokwang and Richard Poon – Back-to-back Live in Cagayan de Oro

Announcements, Arts, Blogging, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Contests, Entertainment, Events, Features, Iligan City, Media, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Music, News, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Society

Talented comedianne Pokwang and big band crooner Richard Poon, together with special guest Markki Stroem, are set to tickle Kagay-anons' fancy when they perform together live for the very first time ever in “The Crooner and The Comedianne - Richard Poon and Pokwang - Back2Back Live in Cagayan de Oro.” The much-awaited special show will be held on Sunday, December 19th, 2010, 7:30 pm at The Atrium of Limketkai Center, Cagayan de Oro City. Filipino-Norwegian hunk Markki Stroem of Pilipinas Got Talent will join Richard Poon and Pokwang. This show, a Joey Pelaez Events Production, will definitely be a certified hit! For tickets, call (088) 8584444 / (0915) 4519429 / (0915) 4988941. You may also send an email to [email protected] BUT HERE'S FABULOUS NEWS FOR R...

Oct222010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Havaianas Design A Smile contest – CDO and Davao legs!

Announcements, Arts, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Contests, Events, Fashion, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping, Society

Did you know that October is Smile Month? :) Smiles are the truest expression of happiness. And trust Havaianas to commemorate Smile Month this October with very special events that have equally special causes! Havaianas, the world’s favorite flip-flops, is launching the “Design a Smile” campaign to spread cheer and share thousands of smiles with Filipino children! Havaianas is creating a venue for children to heal the broken smiles of other children who have cleft lip and cleft palate deformities. The Havaianas Design A Smile series of contests will give children the chance to show the world their artistic talents and, at the same time, create better futures for the children of Operation Smile, a non-profit, volunteer medical organization that provides reconstructive surgery and hea...

Oct222010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Statement of Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri on the Cotabato bus bombing incident

Cagayan de Oro City, Cotabato, Crime, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, News, North Cotabato, Society, Tacurong

Yesterday, October 21, 2010, 10 innocent people died when a Rural Transit Mindanao Inc.-owned passenger bus exploded in Dalapitan village, Matalam, North Cotabato, Mindanao. Roughly 30 people sustained injuries, many of whom are still in serious condition because of severe head wounds. The bus came from Cagayan de Oro City and was en route to Tacurong. Authorities believe that alleged extortion group Al Khobar may be behind the explosion. It was a sad day not only for fellow Mindanaoans but for the entire country. Only one question rings in my head --- will Mindanao ever be a peaceful place? A fellow Mindanaoan, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, released a statement about the unfortunate incident today: (more…)

Oct202010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Kraft Eden Cheese Keso de Gallo – I’m campaigning for Balingasag, Misamis Oriental!

Announcements, Blogging, Business, Contests, Features, Food, Headline, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Musings, News, Personal, Photos, Recipes, Society, Tourism

I've written about this year's Keso de Gallo in an earlier post. This time, though, I'm campaigning for a specific town --- the Municipality of Balingasag in Misamis Oriental, Mindanao :) But before anything else, a little info about the Municipality of Balingasag. The said municipality takes pride in its 195.07 hectare Balingasag Mariculture Park which is a sprawling area for its aquaculture, mangrove area, sea ranching, fish sanctuary and navigational lane. Balingasag, which has a total of 30 barangays, is on its way to becoming the “Bangus Capital” of Northern Mindanao and probably the whole of Mindanao with the rapid increase in bangus harvest. It is home to a number of significant and historical edifices like the Vega Ancestral house located in the poblacion, a well preserved Ph...