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

Sep242010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Resorts World Manila celebrates Mooncake Festival

Announcements, Features, Festivals, Food, Hotels, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Resorts, Tourism

If you're here in Manila (like me! - I'm currently attending the 17th National Public Relations Congress) then you still have time to catch the Mooncake Festival at Resorts World Manila! Celebrate the Mid-Autumn together with Resorts World Manila (RWM) with its Mooncake Festival! This September, Resorts World Manila has prepared the indispensable delicacy, known as the mooncake, for family and friends to share. The mooncake is a delicious tradition rich in history. The festival is strongly associated with the Moon Goddess of Immortality. It also represents the time of the year when the moon is at its fullest and marks the end of the harvest. It is traditionally celebrated with dances, moon viewing parties, and of course, partaking of mooncakes. If you're a slot player like me (I on...

Sep212010 by Mindanaoan Irene6 Comments

Maxims Hotel Resorts World Manila – only 6 star hotel in the Philippines

Blogging, Consumer, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Resorts, Tourism, Travel

Remember my first Resorts World Manila blog entry? Apparently that garnered a lot of attention not only from my regular readers but from virtually everyone around the world. That was one of the most viewed posts in my blog! So of course that only means that a lot of people are really curious as to what's happenin' over at Resorts World Manila - the latest entertainment destination in Newport City (which is located right in front of Ninoy Aquino International Airport 3 or NAIA 3) Read more about Resorts World Manila here and see why it pays to be a member! (Membership is FREE, by the way :) ) In the meantime, here's a peek of what I'm gonna do later tonight - tour Maxim's Hotel at Resorts World Manila. Maxim's Hotel is the only 6 star hotel in the Philippines! I will join a special to...

Sep212010 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Off to Manila – and I’m attending the 17th National PR Congress!

Announcements, Blogging, Business, Corporate, Events, Flights, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Personal

It's exactly 5:31 AM. September 21, 2010. I'm bound for Manila today. I'm supposed to be at the airport in a few hours' time but I can't resist this chance to go online and blog in order to share one piece of good, exciting news - Mindanaoan is attending the 17th National Public Relations Congress! WOOT! :) Yes, my earlier post got me a free delegate pass to the country's most prestigious PR event of the year! As a practising publicist, social media consultant, blogger and media practitioner, this opportunity to listen to and learn from top PR and media executives is absolutely a blessing! I am looking forward to all the talks - especially those by Weber Shandwick Asia Pacific Chairman Tim Sutton and Ogilvy Southeast Asia Director Andrew Thomas. (more…)

Sep192010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Lychee mojitos at Mu Shu

Bacolod City, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Visayas

I like mojitos. It's one of my favorite cocktails. In my opinion, it's a pretty friendly drink - delicious, sweet and with just the right amount of "kick." For the uninitiated, a mojito is a traditional Cuban drink. The "regular" mojito is usually made up of 5 ingredients - white rum, sparkling water, mint (mint leaves as garnish), lime and sugar. To product a mojito, lime juice is added to sugar and to mint leaves. The mixture is then mashed. The mint leaves, by the way, should not be too minced or shredded. Instead, they should just be sliced or bruised enough to release the leaves' essential oils. Rum is then added and the entire mixture is stirred in order to dissolve the sugar. Sparkling water is then added. Lime and mint leaves can be used as garnish. Now if you're wondering wh...

Sep192010 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Kraft Eden Cheese launches Keso de Gallo – vote for Mindanao cities!

Announcements, Blogging, Business, Contests, Events, Food, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, News, Tourism

100 towns. 100 days. 100 unique dishes. 1 Grand Yuletide celebration. Yes, Kraft Eden, the very same company that ignited the joy and faith of Filipinos nationwide in last year's Keso de Gallo, is back once again to bring the warmest and tastiest Christmas. If last year they toured around 9 different cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, in 9 different churches with 9 carefully selected Pinoy recipes for a total of 9 mornings (whew!), this year Kraft Eden will make things grander - 100 participating towns, 100 unique dishes to be showcased for a total of 100 days! Now that's what you call pushing food tourism to a whole new level! The Keso de Gallo this year has started last September 4 and will end until the first Sunday of January 2011. Through this "100 Days of Christma...

Sep182010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Photos: Make Your Own Havaianas Davao City leg

Davao City, Events, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Style

The Make Your Own Havaianas 2010 Davao City, Mindanao leg is being held at the Gaisano Mall (GMall) along Bajada Avenue, Davao City. It started last September 16, 2010 and will end tomorrow, September 19, 2010. I was able to visit the MYOH 2010 Davao event on the very first day and by the looks of it, the certified Havaianaticos in this side of the country came in full force! The Davao City leg of Make Your Own Havaianas comes after the highly successful Make Your Own Havaianas 2010 Cagayan de Oro leg, which was held last August 2010 (Mindanaoan was there, too, of course, much thanks to our special friends over at Spruce). Check out more photos after the jump: (more…)

Sep182010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Bacolod: Calea for the best desserts!

Bacolod City, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Recipes, Reviews, Visayas

I was told that one's Bacolod City escapade will never be complete without visiting Calea, a famous homegrown cake shop...and it was easy to understand why. Calea Bacolod produces the best cakes, pastries and desserts this side of the world. Calea is Bacolod's answer to Manila's cake shops and bakeries but with better choices and lesser prices. This Mindanao blogger's recent trip to the Visayas was made sweeter when my friends and I stopped by Calea (the branch along Lacson Street, just a few blocks away from Sorrento Piazza, where my friends and I had a sumptuous dinner at Pepe's Grill!). This Calea branch is supposedly the first ever. These days, this cake shop has two other branches - one at Robinson's Place and another one at East Block. And just in case you're wondering about the h...

Sep142010 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Bacolod: Pepe’s Grill | Where to eat in Bacolod

Bacolod City, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Negros Occidental, Reviews, Tourism, Travel, Visayas

So to continue my kuwento about my great big Negros Occidental adventure with three amazing friends, we had dinner at Pepe's Grill, known to be one of Bacolod City's finest restaurants. Located at Sorrento Piazza along Lacson Street (the main thoroughfare in Bacolod City), Pepe's Grill is almost always packed. Lucky for us, there was a spare table good for the four of us when we arrived! A lot of yuppies go to Pepe's Grill for dinner before heading off to a bar for a night of booze and dancing with friends. Families and barkadas also go to Pepe's Grill for weekend lunches and dinners. In fact, when we arrived, there were several parents enjoying meals with their kids. So judging by the many satisfied customers, one can surmise that this Bacolod restaurant is doing something right! Oh...

Sep142010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Make Your Own Havaianas 2010 Davao City leg

Announcements, Beauty, Davao City, Events, Fashion, Mindanaoan Update

It's Davao City's turn! After the very successful Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao leg of Make Your Own Havaianas 2010, MYOH 2010 is set to invade Davao City this time. The Make Your Own Havaianas Davao City leg will take place on September 16 to 19, 2010 at the Atrium of the Gaisano Mall of Davao (GMall Davao) along Bajada, Davao City. Thanks Tisha for the info! Curious as to what happens during an MYOH event? (more…)

Sep112010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Help me attend PR 2.0: 17th National Public Relations Congress

Bisaya, Blogging, Business, Corporate, Features, Headline, Internet, Journalism, Media, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal, Society

The 17th National Public Relations Congress will be held on September 23 and 24, 2010 at the Grand Ballroom, InterContinental Manila, Makati City, Philippines with the theme “PR2.0 Build. Engage. Deliver.” and I absolutely want to attend! I may have been in the public relations/media/marketing/advertising/events industry for several years now and I may own a small public relations agency in the Philippines but I have yet to attend a national conference led by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines. Methinks attending this PR congress will help me as a Filipino publicist and I have a couple of reasons why: 1. I am one who actively incorporates blogging and other forms of social and new media in my work. While I still practise public relations the "traditional" way, I have starte...

Sep102010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

DL8 Pure Herbal Tea – Caffeine free herbal tea that I recommend

Advocacy, Agriculture, Announcements, Blogging, Bukidnon, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Features, Food, Freebies, Gifts, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Reviews, Shopping

Anybody who knows me would say that I'm not exactly the biggest fan of tea except probably when it's iced. And anybody who knows me would also say that I'm also not exactly the biggest fan of so-called herbal teas. Apart from the fact that I'm more of a coffee person and that it's very rare that I don't start my day without coffee, I usually stay away from herbal teas that offer a million and one health benefits. Yes, you could say that I was a skeptic and a cynic. And yes, I used the word "WAS." You see, things changed when a friend of mine introduced me to DL8 Pure Herbal Tea - a caffeine free tea that aims to cleanse, alkalize, revitalize and enrich the body. For the first time in a very long time, I saw myself drinking herbal tea and actually loving it! I enjoyed drinking DL8 Pure H...

Sep92010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Davao City to hold Asia’s first regional bird conservation fair

Advocacy, Announcements, Davao City, Events, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, News

Birdwatch, the official site of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, just announced that my beloved hometown Davao City, Mindanao will play host to Asia's first regional bird conservation fair! Check out the press release below: Birdwatchers, conservationists and eco-tourism promoters from all over Asia and elsewhere have their eyes on the Philippines, which is hosting Asia's first-ever region-wide bird festival. The Wild Bird Club of the Philippines said the First Asian Bird Fair will be held in Davao City from 24-26 September 2010, tandem with the 6thPhilippine Bird Festival, the country's premier avian conservation and eco-tourism event. The milestone event is co-hosted by the Philippine Eagle Foundation and the Davao City government. The First Asian Bird Fair-themed “Nurtu...

Sep92010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Sashimi All You Can during GenSan’s Tuna Festival 2010!

Events, Festivals, Fiesta, Food, General Santos City, Mindanaoan Update, Sarangani, SoSCksargen, Tourism

If you're attending the much-awaited GenSan Tuna Festival 2010 this year and you love tuna sashimi, then consider yourself absolutely lucky! An al fresco "Sashimi Night" will be held on September 25, 2010 at the parking lot and al fresco space of Robinson's General Santos City! For only P150.00, you get ice cold San Miguel Beer drink, access to fab music courtesy of local GenSan artists Centerpoint, Kuerdas, Blackdize and Izek's Quest and of course, all you can eat sashimi! The event is dubbed "Tuna at Tunog." Check out the poster of this GenSan Tuna Festival 2010 Sashimi Night below: Meanwhile, you can check out the official schedule of this year's General Santos Tuna Festival 2010 after the jump. (more…)

Sep92010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Urbandub playing their song “First of Summer” on purely iPods!

Bisaya, Entertainment, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Technology

Be still my heart! I often don't post videos unless they're purely mine or they're absolutely interesting but really, this video of Cebuano band Urbandub playing their song "First of Summer" on nothing but iPods is MAJOR, MAJOR fascinating! Urbandub is really setting a lot of standards in the local music scene. I remember they're the first band to hold a "virtual concert" - one that can only be "attended" online. Now, they're playing songs on purely Apple iPods. YEAAAHHHH!!! Watch the video of Urbandub playing on nothing but iPods and be blown away as well!

Sep82010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanao job alert: Work from home as a customer service rep

Davao City, Jobs

Considering that a previous job opening post of mine about Offsourcing and their job openings attracted quite a number of visitors, I thought another job opening in Davao City post is in order. And yes, it's another job opportunity with Offsourcing, a company that has a branch in Davao City, Mindanao. They're looking for customer service representatives. These customer service representatives will extend support via email or chat. This is a work from home job opportunity, by the way. If you'll be chosen as one of the qualified customer service representatives, you can avail of free Internet connection. According to Offsourcing, the hirees will also receive competitive salary. So if you or someone you know is interested to become one of Offsourcing's Customer Service Representative...

Sep82010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Usher, my beloved Macbook, finally meets his match!

Blogging, Consumer, Corporate, Features, Internet, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Shopping, Technology

After receiving jibes (playful ones, I assure you) from my brother who said I was such a weird cheapskate for having a cheap-0 mouse (i.e. a small silver one I once used during my HP netbook days and one that I got from CD-R King LOL) accompany my new Macbook (which I have decided to name "Usher," by the way), I decided, on a bit of a whim, to purchase the most suitable partner for my new laptop. Introducing my newest (and expensive *gulp*) gadget - the Apple Magic Mouse! I bought this one during my most recent trip to Cebu City: Doesn't it look like it came from outer space? (more…)

Sep72010 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Surigao: Siargao International Surfing Cup on

Announcements, Events, Mindanaoan Update, News, Sports, Surigao, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tourism

Despite the alleged pull-out of Billabong as sponsor, the Siargao International Surfing Competition is still a go. The said surfing cup, Siargao, Surigao del Norte's biggest annual event, will start on September 24, 2010 at Cloud 9, General Luna, Siargao, Mindanao. The Siargao International Surfing Cup will take place for 6 days and will reportedly see the participation of at least 32 international surfers. There will also be 12 Pinoy surfers who will join the said international surfing competition. Siargao is, as we all know, largely considered as the surfing capital of the Philippines. Philippine Surfing Federation Secretary General Zeny Pallugna said that the competition will follow the invitational format. “This invitational format, along with the allure of the wave at C...

Sep72010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Waddy’s Place | Where to stay in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental

Features, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

About an hour and a half away from Bacolod City is San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. It's a small, quaint little city that was the very first out-of-town host of a Presidential cabinet meeting during former President Fidel V. Ramos' administration. San Carlos City is also home to Congressman Jules Ledesma, boxer Gerry Penalosa and singer Jaya's mom, Elizabeth Ramsey. And yes, it was in San Carlos City where Jules proposed to actress Assunta de Rossi. My friends Joyce, Iza, Crissa and I, together with Crissa's parents, went straight to San Carlos City the very same day we all arrived in Bacolod City. It was drizzling that time but the rain eventually stopped once we arrived at our destination - Waddy's Place. Located at Sitio Punod, Waddy's Place is a mountain resort overlooking San...

Sep22010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Cebu: IMAX Theater at SM City Cebu – plus a contest you can join!

Arts, Business, Corporate, Entertainment, Features, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Movies, Reviews, Society

One of the things I did during my most recent trip to Cebu City was watch a movie at the brand new IMAX Theater in SM City Cebu. It just opened last July 2010 - much to the excitement of Cebuanos and tourists alike. The IMAX Theater at SM Cebu is, after all, a major project - one that's been much-awaited for years now. Although the SM Cebu IMAX theater failed to open just in time for the first round of showing of the movie Avatar (this James Cameron masterpiece will be re-released, with additional 8 minutes of footage, according to reports) or Toy Story 3, this didn't dampen Cebuano moviegoers' spirits. My brother, who works in Cebu City (and who's also a blogger! He owns Tennis Guru), managed to get a couple of freebies during the first few days since the opening of the SM Cebu IMAX Th...

Sep12010 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

General Santos Tuna Festival 2010 on September 18 – 26, 2010

Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, General Santos City, Mindanaoan Update, Sarangani, SoSCksargen, Tourism, Travel

General Santos City, Mindanao is set to celebrate the much-awaited Tuna Festival 2010 on September 18 to 26, 2010. This, after the Tuna Festival Council of GenSan decided to change this year's schedule. Normally, the Tuna Fest is celebrated during the first week of September. This year, however, it's set to happen on September 18 - 26, 2010. The 42nd Charter Day celebration of General Santos City will also be held on September 5, 2010. The following is this year's GenSan Tuna Fest 2010 official schedule of activities: Tunafest Schedule as of August 16, 2010 (more…)

Aug312010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Please visit our booth at Kasalan sa Kagay-an 2010 bridal fair!

Announcements, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Events, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Weddings

Are you a soon-to-be-bride? Do you know someone who's interested to look for Filipino wedding photographers? Or do you just want to visit bridal fairs and check out the current rates and some of the best wedding suppliers (especially CDO wedding photographers, of course) in this side of the country today? Then head on down to the Rotunda area of Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City, Northern Mindanao from September 3 to 5, 2010 and check out the much-awaited Kasalan sa Kagay-an 2010 bridal fair :) One Happy Story, a duly registered business owned by my absolutely talented brother (who's a professional wedding photographer, portrait photographer, graphic artist and layout artist) Bon, will be one of the exhibitors :) And I, as the ever-loving and ever-supportive (ahem, ahem) sister, ...

Aug312010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Photos: New Bacolod Silay Airport

Blogging, Mindanaoan Update, Photos, Tourism, Travel

One of the reasons why this blogger from Mindanao had to spend roughly two weeks in Visayas was a fab, much-awaited weekend in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental with my gal pals Joyce, Iza and Crissa! Although it wasn't my first time to visit Bacolod City (the renowned City of Smiles and home of the Masskara Festival), it was my first time to spend three days with dear friends whom I all met in Manila. I'll tell you more about these amazing ladies in the next few posts :) For now, I'll share with you some travel tips should you take the Cebu-Bacolod route soon (the Masskara Festival is just around the corner, after all!) and some of the photos I took at the fairly New Bacolod Silay Airport. I usually book my flights online using a credit card. For my Cebu City to Bacolod City flight, I...