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

Nov102008 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Bigby’s Pork Steak, Bigby’s Cheese Caramel Cake

Food, Reviews

One of the restaurants I tend to go to whenever I'm in the City of Golden Friendship here in Mindanao (Cagayan de Oro City, of course) is Bigby's Cafe and Restaurant. Ever since they opened in Cagayan de Oro nearly ten years ago on December 8, 1998, people have raved about their appetizing food choices and of course, the size of their servings. True to its name, Bigby's offers meals in BIG sizes and they make sure that you leave their cafe and restaurant full and contented. Actually, you may even end up bringing some of your food home because that's how large their servings are. So anyways I was in CDO last weekend with my mom and we decided to eat dinner at Bigby's SM Cagayan de Oro. My mom ordered the Boomerang Shrimps meal (P219.00) and soda while I ordered the Bigby's Pork Steak (P219...

Nov92008 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Funny Camiguin Island restaurant washroom photo

Camiguin, Humor, Mindanaoan Update, Tourism, Travel, Weird

Before I finally hit the sack this chilly Sunday evening, let me share with y'all a funny photo I took the last time I was in Camiguin Island, Mindanao, Philippines. My mother, brothers and I went to Camiguin (also known as the Island Born of Fire) early this year and stayed there for 5 days. Anyways, on our second day in the island, we decided to make a quick stop at a restaurant at the Parola area (some of the locals also call it "break water") since we needed "baon" for our day tour. I also had to go to the washroom. So imagine my amusement when I found this: Plastered on the men's washroom door, meanwhile, is a framed brief. I remember laughing so hard that I absolutely needed to enter the women's CR right away, lest that I end up pissing right there and then! Some peopl...

Nov92008 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Immunizers company launches travel shots contest

Contests, News, Photos, Travel

Are you a budding photographer like Mindanaoan? Or do you have lots of fun photos? Why don't you consider joining The Immunizers Travel Shots Digital Photo Competition? Submit your best images in three categories and your photos may just pull in P10,000.00! The categories you can submit your photos to are: 1. Extreme Adventure (best action shot) 2. Food Trip (best eating shot) 3. Little Jetsetters (best shot of a traveling child/children) For details on each category, check this page. You can send your entries via email (send to [email protected]) or by joining the Immunizers Flickr group (http://www.flickr.com/groups/immunizers) Deadline for submission is on November 24, 2008, 11:59 PM. The competition is open to all residents of the Philippines. By the way...

Nov92008 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Scary and weird display at Marcella SM Cagayan de Oro branch

Humor, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion, Photos, Weird

I'm not a visual display expert but I think this display of wigs over at Marcella SM Cagayan de Oro branch looks weird. Scary even. I was paying for the items I bought at the said store when I saw this area near the cashier. Don't these look as if they came right out of a scene in the cult flick "The Ring"? Or don't these look like as if these are real ladies waiting for their hair to be shampooed? I mean this is just my personal opinion but come on! I appreciate that the Marcella store needs to showcase the wigs and sell them but I seriously think there's a much better way to arrange the display. Apologies for the low quality of the photos. Just took this one with my Motorola Krzr.

Nov92008 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

How a single letter can make a difference

Humor, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion, Personal

I couldn't help but take a photo of this during my trip to Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao over the weekend. I was crossing the street when I spotted this sign at the back of a van. The word "Legislators" first caught my attention - the letters were huge, red and attractive. Unfortunately, when I studied the sign further, I saw something wrong. Can you find what I saw? A single misspelled word can really make or break a lot of things - even an organization's sign/placard. Just when I was supposed to be impressed, I was immediately disappointed with what I saw. I had a lot of questions, too --- who made that sign/placard? Why did the National Movement of Young Legislators allow such blunder? How much did the group spend for a misspelled sign? Didn't they check beforehand or at least reque...

Nov72008 by Mindanaoan Irene6 Comments

Earning money online? Here’s how to get the highest paying CPA rates

Business, Make Money Online, Mindanaoan Update

Being an SEO consultant, professional blogger and outsourcing agency owner, I am often asked by a lot of people especially newbie bloggers/webmasters for sites or online companies where they can earn money online. I usually recommend a few and that short list includes MaxBounty. Max Bounty offers the highest paying CPA rates. MaxBounty affiliates can earn revenue from advertisers on a pay-for-performance basis. Here are just some of the things that I like about Max Bounty: - they have both in-house managed campaigns and tons of merchants (unlike most affiliate networks that solely rely on merchants or advertisers, Max Bounty has their own campaigns so there are more chances for affiliates to earn money online) - they offer international affiliate payments in local currency (I ...

Nov72008 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Bukidnon to host Mindanao confab of provincial board members

Bukidnon, News

The Province of Bukidnon is set to host the 8th Mindanao Island Conference of the The Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines. The event, themed "One Island, One Mindanao, Give Peace a Chance," will be held at the Kaamulan Open Theater, Malaybalay City from November 12 to 14, 2008. Bukidnon 2nd District Board Member Atty. Nemesio Beltran, Jr. said that the conference will see the attendance of hundreds of provincial legislators from all over Mindanao. Beltran also said that Bukidnon's very own, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, is expected to attend the event. Zubiri, who previously served as Bukidnon 3rd District Congressman, is set to deliver the keynote speech. Bukidnon Board Member Ben Pancrudo will act as lead convener.

Nov72008 by Mindanaoan Irene7 Comments

Review: Songs I Grew Up With (Jay Durias solo album)

Arts, Davao City, Entertainment, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Musings, Opinion, Personalities, Reviews

Album review written last August 31, 2007 and published by many media outlets. Thank you! The author of this piece (who is also the one behind Mindanaoan.com) is a long-time supporter of award winning Filipino band South Border. She was also cited in the album acknowledgments. Jay Durias, a certified Dabawenyo, is South Border's musical director and keyboardist. Jay's solo album, "Songs I Grew Up With," is a project album. Admit it - you’ve always wondered how South Border keyboardist and musical director Jay Oliver Durias would fare as a solo artist. After all, he’s largely considered as “the main man” behind the highly successful band, having composed and arranged most of South Border’s hits including “Rainbow,” “Love Of My Life” and the favorite of many, “Kahit Kailan,” and h...

Nov62008 by Mindanaoan Irene8 Comments

Tales from the Piolo Pascual – Angel Locsin Bukidnon movie shoot

Bukidnon, Entertainment, Features

Three weeks after the entire cast of the tentatively titled "Land Down Under" movie arrived here in the Province of Bukidnon, the Piolo Pascual and Angel Locsin Bukidnon cowboy movie fever is still on. Several exciting tales, funny anecdotes and clearly soon-to-be urban legends/tales have begun to sprout. From university students who still seem to be tickled pink because Piolo smiled at them to teachers who pretended not to care when they saw Piolo at a restaurant (but excitedly shared their experience with fellow teachers and to their eager students) to a local family that got a substantial amount of money in exchange for his humble bahay kubo, the tales have spread and the locals merrily discuss the stories every single day. Naturally, the Municipality of Impasug-ong, noted as t...

Nov62008 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Surigao City to host 14th CARAGA BizCon

Business, Events, Headline, News

Surigao City is set to host the 14th CARAGA Business Conference on November 28, 2008 at a local hotel. Themed "Uniting Caraga in These Testing Times," the event aims to bring together Caraganon business executives, political leaders, regional movers and shakes as well as officers of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI). The City Government of Surigao, Provincial Government of Surigao, the Surigao Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) as well as PCCI are this year's convenors and sponsors. Among the topics to be discussed during the confab are the measures to be undertaken in order to further partnerships in the region during a perceived economic crisis in 2009, tax-related issues with the Bureau of Internal Revenue and measures to further strengthen the business c...

Nov52008 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Senator Richard Gordon on Obama’s victory

Headline, News

From the Office of Senator Richard Juico Gordon: “I join the rest of the world in extending our warmest congratulations to US president-elect Barrack Obama for his historic electoral victory. His ascendancy to the most powerful post in the world as the first African-American President signals a political and cultural paradigm shift as it sends a clear and loud message to all peace and freedom-loving nations – CHANGE IS IN OUR HANDS. The impossible has happened. Change has indeed come to America, and it was made possible by the power of the ordinary people." - Sen. Dick Gordon

Nov52008 by Mindanaoan Irene11 Comments

Monks Blend Arabica Robusta Premium Coffee from Bukidnon

Bukidnon, Food

The Transfiguration Monastery in Barangay San Jose, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon is a Catholic Benedictine monastery. Highly known for its pyramid chapel where millions have already sought refuge, peace of mind and calmness of soul and spirit, the Monastery of Transfiguration is also the perfect serene place to talk to the Lord. The monastery is also known for their trademark Monks' Blend Premium Coffee. Made with quality arabica robusta coffee beans, Monks' Blend Arabica Robusta coffee has that very special rich taste that coffee lovers like myself will surely enjoy. I believe the rich taste is brought about by the fact that the choice coffee beans are from the monastery farm (yes, you can actually see parts of the farm from behind the chapel) and from the coffee growers of Bukidnon (wher...

Nov42008 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Be the next Mindanaoan in Project Runway Philippines!

Arts, Contests, Fashion, Society, Style, Television

Dreaming of becoming the next Project Runway Philippines (PRP) star fashion designer? Although the first season has yet to formally declare the winner, the auditions for season 2 are up! Here are the first few audition venues: (more…)

Nov32008 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Totally in love with the new Revolution themes!

Internet, Personal, Technology

If you still haven't heard, uber talented designer Brian Gardner's beautiful, popular Revolution Themes for Wordpress have already gone open source. Yay for all of us bloggers! Well, these are not the same Revolution Themes, mind you. These are totally new themes that Brian and his fellow designer Jason decided to launch under the open source/GP license. Check out the Revolution Two open source theme site here! For those of you who've already visited this website, you may have noticed that yes, I have YET AGAIN changed the blog theme. The theme I'm using right now is sure to stay for a long, long time, though! Yep, you guessed it right - I'm using one of Brian's new themes. Specifically, I'm using the Revolution Church theme. Now if you're interested to use any or all o...

Nov22008 by Mindanaoan Irene18 Comments

Simple tempura sauce recipe

Food, Recipes

I've been on a cooking frenzy as of late. Yesterday, for instance, I cooked fish escabeche for lunch and then chicken afritada for dinner. Both meals had complete rekados (condiments) and loads of vegetables. Delish! Today, though, I prepared tempura and tempura sauce almost akin to what those street vendors in and out of Mindanao use. I say almost because we ran out of catsup and that's supposed to be the ingredient that makes the sauce "reddish brown." Anyways, let me share with you my simple tempura sauce recipe. Feel free to try it and don't forget to let me know how it goes! Mix 1 cup of water, 1 cup vinegar (I use Datu Puti vinegar..yoohoo Datu Puti, I should get freebies because of this :D), one fourth tablespoon rock/table salt and about half a cup brown sugar (white sugar wi...

Nov12008 by Mindanaoan Irene21 Comments

Rice coffee in Mindanao

Agriculture, BIMP-EAGA, Food, Sarangani

I can declare that, yes, I, Mindanaoan, am a certified regular coffee drinker. I find it difficult to start the day without at least a cup of coffee (I'm a happier camper if I have two). I also frequent coffee shops and I have also tried drinking coffee from sidewalk vendors and from vendors at the bus terminal (you know who I mean - when you absolutely need to take a trip in the wee hours in the morning and all you can find are the ever reliable manangs and manongs who put up their "painit" stations - and by stations I mean a single table, a few glasses, coffee, sugar, some milk if you're lucky and thermos). I do know that drinking coffee has some health benefits. Still, I want to cut down on my intake or at least drink decaffeinated kape. Fortunately, there seems to be another choi...

Oct302008 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Good thing Cebu Pacific is bringing Davao-Hongkong, Davao-Singapore back!

Business, Corporate, Davao City, Internet, Tourism, Travel

So I checked out Cebu Pacific Air's website today just to check on my seat reservations (I'm heading to Manila for the Rihanna - Chris Brown concert and to do a lot of other stuff including Christmas shopping, of course!) and to see what's up when I noticed that they're offering Go International Fares for both Davao - Hongkong and Davao - Singapore routes. The "cheaper" Davao - Hongkong airfares will be offered starting December 5, 2008 while for the Davao - Singapore route, the budget airfares will be offered starting December 4, 2008. So does this mean that Cebu Pacific stopped offering the budget airfares for a while? (*Note - I did a mock booking and I found out that the Davao - Hongkong route right now isn't a direct flight - it passes through Manila) I actually availed of the Dava...

Oct302008 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Halloween special: Knowing the different types of dreams

Features

Have you ever wondered about your dreams? Have you ever thought of the types of dreams you have? If you have, then this entry is for you. Personally, I've been having a lot of dreams lately and although that's not necessarily a bad thing according to experts, it may still be helpful to know if there are underlying meanings to them. Read on: Repetitive Dreams Recurring or repetitive dreams are the common types of dreams. However, it can be important to say that these dreams are important to those who are dreaming them because they carry a message which is worth recovering. If your dream has been repeated since you were young, it must be something related to your personality. Predictive Dreams Predictive dreams are always treated with caution. There are some examples which h...

Oct292008 by Mindanaoan Irene22 Comments

Shie Corporation CDO launches logo and icon contest

Arts, Cagayan de Oro City, Contests, Fashion, Style

A new Filipino fashion company called Shie Corporation, which is soon to open in the City of Golden Friendship, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao, Philippines has launched a company logo and brand icon contest. The competition, which is open to all creative artists from all over the Philippines, will close on Saturday, November 1, 2008. There will be 2 categories for the contest namely the company logo design category and the brand icon design category. The winner in each category is set to receive P40,000.00 For the company logo category, the idea is to create a logo that is Filipino in expression and design, which can ably embody Shie Corporation's identity as fashion provider. Artists must creatively use the letters S-H-I-E. A maximum of 3 entries will be accepted per artist. (mor...

Oct282008 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Jeanette Lomanta drops libel case vs. radio man

Broadcasting, Controversial, Crime, Davao City, Headline, Journalism, Media, News, Opinion, Personalities, Radio

TV personality Jeanette Lomanta has reportedly submitted an affidavit of desistance in relation to the libel case she filed against former radio broadcaster Alexander Adonis. As a result, Regional Trial Court Branch 14 in Davao City is set to dismiss the case soon - BUT only if Adonis' other pending cases get settled as well. The libel case against the former journalist is in line with Adonis' series of commentaries over the air in 2001 alleging that Lomanta had a so-called tryst in a Manila hotel with then Davao 1st District Congressman now House Speaker Prospero Nograles. Lomanta reportedly withdrew her complaint after "adhering to the Christian values of forgiveness." Adonis, in a letter dated October 21, 2008, extended his apologies to her. He still has to face a pending libel ca...

Oct282008 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Facebook Tagalog…well what about Pisbuk?

Advocacy, Bisaya, Humor, Internet, Opinion, Technology

All right, call me crazy but wouldn’t it be fun if we had a Visayan version of the popular social networking website Facebook? After all, there’s now a Facebook Tagalog version (I’m not kidding! I was completely stunned, too, when I found the question “Ano ginagawa mo ngayon?” in there!). Even Friendster (arguably still the most popular social networking website among Pinoys) has its own Tagalog version. So why not Facebook Bisaya or Facebook Visayan? (Or as my friend Budoy of Junior Kilat and Celebrity Pinoy Big Brother fame would term it --- “Pisbuk”) Wouldn’t it be awesome and totally fun if we found something like “Unsay imong gabuhaton karon, dong/dai?” or if the Pokes were called “dutdut?” Knowing how fond of the LOLs we Bisdaks are, we'll have a field day! The mere thought makes...

Oct242008 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Getting primped up at Jesi Mendez Salon Cagayan de Oro City

Cagayan de Oro City, Fashion, Opinion, Personal, Style

Ever since my House of Representatives days, I’ve always wanted to visit a Jesi Mendez Salon branch and see what the fuss was all about. You see, a lot of my Manila-based friends rave about how they like the salon, the hairdressers and the services. Many wives of congressmen-friends also visit the salon for their regular hair treatments. However, being the “kuripot” (cheapskate) Mindanaoan that I am, my plan just remained a plan for years until finally, I had the chance (and the money!) to go last weekend. I was in Cagayan de Oro City and I found out that there was a Jesi Mendez Salon in the area. So I went. The Jesi Mendez Salon branch there, which opened early this year (with GMA 7 actor Dingdong Dantes as guest celebrity), is located at the famed Lim Ket Kai Mall along Lapasan Highwa...