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

Feb242010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Compostela Valley Mindanao celebrates 12th Bulawan Festival

Announcements, Arts, Compostela Valley, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Update, Tourism, Travel

With the theme "Compostela Valley Province: Shining at 12. Promising now and beyond...!," Compostela Valley Province, Mindanao will celebrate its 12th founding anniversary on March 3 to 8, 2010 via the renowned Bulawan Festival. Bulawan means gold in the local dialect. Here are the activities that will be held during the 5-day celebration: March 3, 2010 - Motorcade - Opening Program (Guest speakers are Senators Loren Legarda and Juan Miguel Zubiri) - Trade Fair, Barangayanihan, Techno Demo and LGU Night March 4, 2010 - Social Services - Volunteers' Day (Guest speakers are Senator Manuel Villar and senatorial bet Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. Nacionalista Party senatorial bet and spokesperson Atty. Adel Tamano will also be there) - Lanog sa Kapitolyo - Concert for Peace (featuri...

Feb242010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Review: Highway 21 Hotel in Iloilo City, Visayas

Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

My first night in Iloilo City was spent in Highway 21. Classified as a pension house, I actually thought that this nice place located right in the heart of Iloilo City was more of a hotel. The perfect choice for budget conscious tourists, Highway 21 Iloilo City is located along the busy General Luna Street. Highway 21 is actually right beside the Sarrabia Manor, a well-known hotel in Iloilo. Compared to Sarrabia, though, Highway 21's rates are way cheaper. I stayed at the new wing of Highway 21. The rooms found at the new wing are slightly higher than those found on the annex area but I thought the added expense was worth it. The new wing had an elevator while the annex didn't have one. Plus all the rooms at the new wing had free, fast wireless Internet connection. That was impor...

Feb232010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanaoan goes to Iloilo City

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Flights, Leisure, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Tourism, Travel

Mindanaoan has always been very curious of Iloilo City, the largest province in Panay Island. We've all heard the many stories about this beautiful city - just how malambing Ilonggos are, just how fascinating the tourist sites are, just how delicious their delicacies are, just how booming their business sector is and just how warm and friendly the people in Iloilo are. So when I recently got the chance to travel to this beautiful city located at the Western Visayas Region, I no longer had second thoughts. Off I went to the city formerly called "Irong-Irong." From Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao, I took an airplane ride going to Cebu City (roughly 30 minute ride). From there, I took another flight, this time from Cebu to Iloilo (roughly 50 minute flying time). If you're in a bit of a hurry,...

Feb142010 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Mindanaoan senatorial candidate Atty. Adel Tamano meets Davao media people

Blogging, Broadcasting, Davao City, Events, Marawi City, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Photos, Radio, Society

Nacionalista Party senatorial candidate Atty. Adel Tamano recently met with several members of the Davao City, Mindanao traditional and new media. The young senatoriable, who hails from Marawi City and is the first ever Filipino Muslim scholar-graduate of Harvard Law School, was recently in my hometown Davao City for the 3rd National Ulama Conference. Tamano got the support of the ulamas, by the way, and there are strong talks that the 5 million Filipino Muslims will support the Adel Tamano for Senator Movement. Adel Tamano, by the way, is the son of the late Senator Mamintal Tamano. Atty. Adel Tamano is also the former president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, where he introduced so many changes. A constitutional law professor, a published writer, former spokesperson of the Ge...

Feb142010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Fellow Mindanaoan and Dabawenya Juris releases solo album

Announcements, Arts, Davao City, Entertainment, Mindanaoan Artists, Music

Fellow Mindanaoan and Dabawenya (AND Ateneo de Davao University alumnae) Juris Fernandez has just released her first ever solo album. Simply dubbed "Juris," the album has 14 tracks including the carrier single "I Don't Want To Fall." Formerly part of the acoustic team MYMP (along with Chin Alcantara), Juris is now ready to go solo and share her brand of music with the rest of the world. Here's the track list of "Juris": 1. I Don't Want To Fall 2. Getting Over You 3. Opposites Attract 4. 'Di Lang Ikaw 5. Love Letters 6. Dear You 7. Kailan Kaya 8. Nandiyan Ka Lang Pala 9. You Got me Here 10. Beautiful 11. Who Was I 12. I Don't Wanna Fall (Stripped Mix) 13. Nariyan Ka 14. I Love You Goodbye Good luck to Juris on this new venture! (more…)

Feb122010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Surigao del Sur National High School bags top plum in SMART’s Doon Po Sa Amin challenge

Announcements, Campus, Education, Features, Headline, Mindanaoan Update, News, Surigao, Surigao del Sur, Technology

Kung Mindanaoan gani, lahi ra gyud! This is definitely what you'll exclaim after reading this good piece of news. Congratulations to Surigao del Sur and to Barobo National High School! And of course, congratulations to the coach and to the students who bagged the top plum in the finals of SMART Telecoms' Doon Po Sa Amin challenge. SMART talaga :) For the second consecutive year, Surigao del Sur’s Barobo National High School made it to the finals of Smart Communications, Inc.’s (SMART) Doon Po Sa Amin (DPSA) Learning Challenge. SMART Public Affairs Community Partnerships Senior Manager Darwin Flores (right) awards the team from Barobo National High School composed of (from left) Jade De los Santos, Jennifer Noveras, head coach Romulo Morata and ICT coordinator Alex Mistula for winnin...

Feb112010 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

COMELEC asks celebrity endorsers to go on leave or resign; Mindanaoan says that’s bull

Advocacy, Broadcasting, Commentary, Controversial, Entertainment, Government, Headline, Humor, Media, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Politics, Society

Mindanaoan can't help but comment on the recent resolution of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to urge celebrities endorsing political candidates to either resign or go on leave from their shows. I find it absolutely funny that the COMELEC, amid all their problems, still has the time and energy to think about this. I reiterate Mindanaoan senatorial candidate Atty. Adel Tamano's statement: "this latest COMELEC resolution is a mere ploy to distract the public. The COMELEC has bigger problems to solve – from all these delays in ballot printing and deliveries of PCOS machines to assuring the public that signals won’t be jammed during transmission of election results. Why don’t they concentrate on those first?" Hear, hear! Besides, isn't this unconstitutional? Celebrities have rig...

Feb112010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Havaianas: Loving in Style

Arts, Beauty, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Features, Gifts, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Style

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, have you fellow Mindanaoans thought of what to give your special someone in order to make February 14 extra special? Make this day of hearts special by rewarding yourself and your partner with a pair of fun and colorful Havaianas! Because, really, there’s nothing more fun and more romantic than dressing up to match your partner. This Valentine’s Day, gear up for your date by bringing out your shared sense of style. Match the colorful worlds at your feet with select styles of Havaianas, and add more happiness and romance to your relationship. So whether your little rendezvous will happen in the city or out-of-town, here are some chic style suggestions to make your Valentine’s Day extra special. Take Me to the Beach Most couples he...

Feb82010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Capturing Miss Liceo Emerald | Fashion photography

Arts, Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Campus, Features, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Style

Mindanaoan will again be on a very-proud-sister-mode. My professional photographer brother Bon, along with fellow photographer Onat Neri, was invited to be one of the official sponsoring photographers of Miss Liceo Emerald, a pageant held at Liceo de Cagayan University, one of the bigger colleges in Northern Mindanao. The Miss Liceo Emerald pageant is only held every five (5) years so yes, it's pretty much a big deal. Speaking of SPONSORS --- my brother Bon and I were treated shabbily and, I daresay, rather rudely, in a recent event. More about this in the succeeding days. Stay tuned. Here are some of the photos taken of the Miss Liceo Emerald 2010 candidates: More photos after the jump. In the meantime, if you need a Filipino photographer for weddings, portraits, events etc, p...

Feb82010 by Mindanaoan Irene7 Comments

Mindanao eats: Mooon Cafe in Robinson’s Cagayan de Oro

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Northern Mindanao, Personal, Reviews, Society, Style, Tourism

Mexican themed restaurant Mooon Cafe is one of my favorite eating places in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao. Apart from the yummy food, the prices are reasonable and the ambience is pretty laid back. Whenever there's a chance, I also see to it that I bring my mom and brothers to the said restaurant in CDO and we all share fun, family bonding over hearty meals at Mooon Cafe CDO. Mooon Cafe (yes, it has three "O's"!) Cagayan de Oro branch, located at the first floor of Robinsons CDO, is the establishment's first franchised branch outside of Cebu City where they have outlets in I.T. Park and Ayala Terraces, among others. What I usually order (and what I can therefore recommend to all of you) are: for starters - quesadilla uno, campesinos (see the photo in this entry - these are good!), ca...

Feb72010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Review: Lamar Inn Cagayan de Oro | Budget hotel in Cagayan de Oro Mindanao

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

Hello fellow Mindanawans! Planning a trip to CDO soon? Here's a budget hotel in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao that you might be interested in. Lamar Inn, located at the corner of JR Borja and Velez Streets (just a few blocks away from Divisoria, the heart of the city), is a downtown hotel that offers value for money. Conveniently located at the central business district of the City of Golden Friendship and owned and operated by VIP Hotel (which is located just right across the street), Lamar Inn CDO offers reasonably priced rooms and good amenities. They have 14 tourist type rooms (P750.00 per night), 8 business type rooms (P850.00 per night) and two suites (P1,300.00 per night). The business type room that we stayed in recently was air conditioned, had cable television, had a tel...

Feb32010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Pre-Valentine treat for Mindanaoans: Sitti – In Love With Bossa show

Announcements, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Leisure, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Music, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Society

The much-awaited "Sitti: In Love With Bossa" concert will finally be held this weekend! This event in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao will benefit the Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. "Sitti: In Love With Bossa" will feature the country's premiere bossa nova queen, Sitti Navarro, in a concert that will enchant you all before Valentine's Day. This CDO show will be held on February 6, 2010 (Saturday), 7:30 PM, Grand Caprice Ballroom, Limketkai Center, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao. Ticket prices are as follows: VIP - P1,000 / Patron A - P800.00 / Patron B - P500.00 / Gen. Admission - P300.00 You can purchase tickets at all Dunkin' Donuts outlets, Udangs Restaurant and at the Grand Caprice. Mindanaoan will be there as one of the sponsors. I'll take lots of photos so stay tuned :) Th...

Feb32010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Four Mindanao schools make it to SWEEP finals!

Advocacy, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Announcements, Campus, Cotabato, Davao Del Norte, Mindanaoan Update, Technology, Zamboanga City

Five of the top 10 entries vying for the grand prize at the 6th SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards come from four Mindanao schools. In the running for the best wireless application in line with this year’s theme, ‘Empowering Communities through Wireless Technologies’, are Development and Field-testing of a Digital Agricultural Land Mapping System (Ateneo de Davao University), Development of a Fish Density Detection System for the Fisherfolk of Lianga Bay (Ateneo de Davao University), TimeFree that helps students maximize waiting time during tuition payment (Ateneo de Zamboanga University), Low-cost Microcontroller-based Mobile Home Automation with Bluetooth and SMS (Mindanao State University) and Channelize Election Process (Notre Dame of Marbel University). The public is invite...

Feb32010 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Sen. Ping Lacson’s statement on his absence from Senate

Announcements, Controversial, Government

Press statement of Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson. Senator Ping explains why he left the country and why he has been absent from Senate proceedings amid reports that a warrant of arrest will soon be issued. Mindanaoan reckons that this may be a national issue but this is still something that you and I must also be familiar with. The senator has finally confirmed that he has left the country, amid reports that the courts may soon issue a warrant of arrest against him in relation to the Dacer-Corbito murder case. So fellow Mindanaoan, don't just listen to one side. Listen to both parties and decide who's telling the truth. Let's see if justice truly does still prevail in this country. The following the full text of Senator Ping Lacson's statement. Mindanaoan received this straight f...

Feb22010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Davao City MTS Kanto Bar regular Chad Borja wows Cebu anew

Arts, Bisaya, Blogging, Davao City, Entertainment, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Photos

So during Mindanaoan's Sinulog Festival 2010 escapade, I had the chance to catch one of the performances featured in the "Cebu, Cebu" event held at a large mall in Cebu City. "Cebu, Cebu" is an event that aims to focus the best of Cebu --- from food to designers to jewelry to crafts to artists. And two of the artists that came to perform during that weeklong celebration included singer-actress Pinky Marquez and crooner Chad Borja. Chad Borja may be from Cebu but he has been based in Davao City for several years now. He regularly performs at Kanto Bar over at Matina Town Square (MTS), Matina, Davao City, Mindanao. Kanto Bar, by the way, is a favorite "must-drop-by" place by Manila-based Dabawenyo artists. Artists like Jay Durias and Jinky Vidal and the rest of Freestyle band. Whenever...

Feb22010 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

BlogDavao.com – Davao’s blogging landscape at a glance!

Advocacy, Announcements, Bisaya, Blogging, Davao City, Internet, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Technology

Mindanaoan is super excited to share this great piece of news with you all! As you know, I'm a very proud Dabawenya and I promote Davao City as much as I can and in any way possible. One of the ways that I do this is to blog about my hometown Davao (but of course!). Fortunately, I'm not the only one who loves to write about the world's most livable city. There are a lot of other Davaoenos who are as eager to share updates, news, photos and even the latest chismis about Davao as I am! :D Presenting BlogDavao.com - the most comprehensive aggregator site of Davao-based blogs. Blog Davao features Davao's blogging landscape at a glance! What's great about this site is that you can easily find so many Davao-based blogs and quickly access the entries that may catch your fancy. BlogDav...

Jan302010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Fresh, fun, funky in Ozamiz City! Mindanaoan and the fun Ozamiz wedding photo gig

Arts, Beauty, Humor, Mindanaoan Update, Ozamis, Personal, Photos, Society

All right, Mindanaoan has shown you the "formal" photos taken during a recent Ozamiz City, Mindanao wedding, yes? Now it's time to show you the fresh, fun, funky side! After all, my professional wedding photographer brother Bon is proud of producing "fresh, fun, funky photography!" (I coined this, by the way! :D) I - Mindanaoan - was one of Bon's 2nd photographers during that beautiful wedding in Mindanao. First stop of our fresh, fun, funky wedding photography escapade in Ozamiz City was the groom and groomsmen's preparations. While waiting for Quennie, the bride, and her entourage to get all dolled up, Garry, the groom, along with his groomsmen, was photographed right in the middle of the very busy street near Royal Garden Hotel, where the pre-nuptial preparations were made. Check ...

Jan292010 by Mindanaoan Irene7 Comments

Wedding photo coverage gig in Ozamiz City Mindanao

Arts, Beauty, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Ozamis, Personal, Photos, Weddings

So here's part two of my earlier blog post about my road trip to Ozamiz City, Mindanao. Please do read my earlier post to know how I traveled to Ozamiz City from Cagayan de Oro City, what I rode in order to reach the Ozamiz Port and what my initial impressions of the city named after Jose F. Ozamiz were. I was in Ozamiz City a few days ago for a wedding photo coverage gig with my professional photographer-brother Bon and Onat. My role, by the way, was of a very excited 2nd photographer :) That wedding photography gig was a welcome respite for me as I've been busy as of late with politicians, events, travels and political-related PR and of course, with the campaigns. Thankfully, that chance for me to travel and to take photos came and I immediately joined Bon. My brother Bon's clie...

Jan292010 by Mindanaoan Irene7 Comments

Mindanao job alert: Allied Bank needs people for Mindanao and Visayas

Announcements, Jobs, Mindanaoan Update, Society

Allied Bank, which is set to finalize its merger with the Philippine National Bank in the next few months, is hiring more people these days. So if you or someone you know is in need of a job in Mindanao or of a job in Visayas, then do read on. Allied Bank needs branch heads, branch operations officers, audit associates, tellers, new accounts clerks and branch operations assistants. All these job opportunities are for immediate hiring. Branch heads/branch operations officers (for Northern Mindanao and Visayas areas) - not more than 40 years old - with at least 5 years experience as an officer in a commercial bank or universal bank - successful track record in branch marketing and operations Audit associate (to be based in Cebu City) - certified public accountant or certifie...

Jan282010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Mindanaoan plays wedding photographer in Camiguin Island Mindanao

Beauty, Blogging, Camiguin, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Photos, Weddings

Hi guys! Thanks for visiting my humble blog about Mindanao and Mindanaoans :) I know I haven't been posting much the past few weeks...and I have good reason! Mindanaoan has been traveling here and there and more often than not, I end up being so tired to even lift a finger let alone write about my escapades. Thankfully, this blogger from Mindanao is home (at least for the next few days) and I'm back to sharing with you all the sights and sounds of Mindanao. One of the things that I got to do last week was travel to Camiguin Island, Mindanao. Along with my professional photographer-brother Bon and his assistant Gary, we covered a simple yet very romantic wedding in Camiguin, also known as the "Island Born of Fire." It was the wedding of Erwin and Karen. Erwin's from Bukidnon and Karen...

Jan282010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Region 10 becoming Mindanao’s dominant regional economy

Bukidnon, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Commentary, Consumer, Features, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, News, Northern Mindanao, Technology, Travel

Hi guys, the following is a pretty interesting read. This guest blog entry is from Mindanaoan's friend, Mike Banos, a respected journalist based in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao. Read, read, read :) Since Iligan City and Lanao del Norte were integrated back into Northern Mindanao (Region 10) in 2002, the resulting region has remained Mindanao’s biggest economy. Recent years indicate it is now pulling away to attain a position of dominance among the island’s regional economies. A quick look at the economic accounts of the island’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) shows that before the realignment of regions in 2002, Region 10 trailed the Davao Region (Region 11) in GRDP. However, since Iligan and Lanao del Norte rejoined Region 10 and some parts of the Davao region were re-align...

Jan252010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Bukidnon, Mindanao’s Kaamulan Festival 2010 schedule of activities

Announcements, Arts, Bukidnon, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Society, Tourism, Travel

KAAMULAN FESTIVAL 2010 | 2010 KAAMULAN | KAAMULAN 2010 | FESTIVAL IN BUKIDNON | KAAMULAN FESTIVAL BUKIDNON 2010 SCHEDULE - So it's that time of year once again! The much-awaited Kaamulan Festival in the Province of Bukidnon is set to happen in a few weeks. For those of you who want to experience what Department of Tourism Secretary Ace Durano dubbed as the country's only authentic ethnic festival, here's the tentative schedule of Kaamulan Festival 2010 activities. Please note that there may be changes to the schedule so please check this Bukidnon blog as often as possible. Should you want to use this Kaamulan 2010 schedule of activities, please feel free to share this page and please don't forget to credit www.Mindanaoan.com as your source of information. Thank you very much for your ...