Blog - Page 17 of 90 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Sep242017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

One thing you might like to try out in New Jersey

Society

I already told you guys about the first time I won big in a casino. It was roughly 7 years ago and I toured some friends who were newbies in the big city. I accompanied them to the newest resort and casino in town. They signed up for FREE memberships and they had fun trying their luck out. While I was waiting for them to use up all the stored credits, I also tried my hand at slot games. Let’s just say that what happened that night was really one for the books. I won several thousands and I was able to use up all those winnings to treat my entire family and myself to a Hong Kong trip! Since then, I told myself that I would try my luck in casinos. Who knows, I might be able to win enough money to buy a brand new house for my family, right? Let’s get one thing straight, though. I do vis...

Sep222017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Why the S&R Members Treat event is the BEST time to go Christmas shopping

Announcements, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping

If you love discounts, sales and promos over at S&R Membership Shopping as much as I do, then I have absolutely fab news! S&R CDO and all other S&R Membership Shopping branches in Davao, Cebu and other major areas in the Philippines, are again holding its much-awaited S&R Members' Treat! S&R Members' Treat is our favorite membership shopping chain's way of thanking its loyal, valued patrons by offering amazing discounts and promos. As much as 50% discounts on most products as well as the ultra exciting Buy 1 Take 1 promo. Check out some of the items that will be on sale: READ RELATED POST: Sneak peek inside S&R CDO READ RELATED POST: Helping launch S&R CDO The SnR CDO Members Treat is definitely the best time to go Christmas shopping. Avo...

Sep212017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

GOOD NEWS: Up to P25,000 monthly income to be tax exempt

Announcements, Politics

Higher take-home pay awaits Filipino workers as the income tax system will finally be amended two decades after it was enacted. Under the Senate ways and means committee report, the first P150,000 annual taxable income will be exempted, while retaining the P82,000 tax exemption for 13th month pay and other bonuses and the maximum P100,000 additional exemption for up to four dependents. This translates to an approximate tax-exempt monthly income of P25,000 for workers with four dependents. With this proposal, almost all or 99% of the 7.5 million individual income taxpayers will enjoy lower income tax rates, while 81% or 6.1 million income taxpayers will be exempt from paying income taxes, based on data from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). Currently, only the 2 million ...

Sep12017 by Mindanaoan Irene24 Comments

Seven Seas Waterpark CDO rates

Cagayan de Oro City, Features, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Tourism

The long wait is finally over. The most-anticipated opening of the Seven Seas Waterpark in Barra, Opol, Misamis Oriental (just moments away from the Bulua, Cagayan de Oro and Opol boundary, in fact) is set to take place this September 2017. Of course, everyone wants to know the Seven Seas CDO ticket prices :) BUY YOUR TICKETS BELOW: Klook.com(function(d, sc, u) { var s = d.createElement(sc), p = d.getElementsByTagName(sc)[0]; s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = u; p.parentNode.insertBefore(s,p); })(document, 'script', '//cdn.klook.com/affiliate_web/s/dist/desktop/affiliate_base_v3.2.js') Owned by Elpidio "Elpie" Paras, the same visionary behind Dahilayan Adventure Park and Parasat Cable TV, Seven Seas Waterpark is also a sister company of Great White Water Rafting C...

Aug222017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Meeting a Hollywood celebrity crush: Jesse Metcalfe @jessemetcalfe

America, Blogging, Entertainment, Events, Features, Mindanaoan Update, New York, United States of America

I got pretty lucky a few days ago. I MET JESSE METCALFE!!! That's right - I met one of my Hollywood celebrity crushes, Jesse Metcalfe, on a beautiful, sunshiny day {insert googly eyes with, like, a million hearts haha} here in New York! I'm sure you know how this feels - to finally see in person that Hollywood guy you've only watched on TV or in the movies and you don't know what to do first - scream, tell your family and friends all about it, blog, take a video, post a Facebook status, tweet, take a selfie etc. Haha! :) So please forgive me if I sound like a high school girl today. Quick side note: I wrote a little teaser about me meeting him on my newspaper column on Gold Star Daily, Mindanao's largest newspaper Anyways, it happened last August 2, 2017 (yes, every minute det...

Aug172017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

You need to stock up on these S&R Membership Shopping items

Cagayan de Oro City, Features, Food, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Shopping, Society

Do you do the groceries for your home? Picture this: you forgot that you have guests coming in for dinner and your fridge is practically empty or you want your children or husband to have delicious baon for school or office but you want to serve something else than just fried chicken or you want to stock up on perfectly marinated chicken cut-ups but you just don't have the time (or patience) to prepare! If you've ever found yourself in those situations, then I bring good news. S&R Membership Shopping now has ready to cook, marinated chicken cuts in various flavors! Come to think of it - these marinated chicken cuts are the best choice especially when you have special occasions like fiesta, birthday celebrations or just a simple barkada gathering. Remember - these are ready to coo...

Aug52017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

List of universities and colleges that will offer FREE tuition starting year 2018

Announcements, Campus, Education, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, News

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has finally signed the free tuition law last Thursday, August 3, 2017. This means that a total of 114 state-run universities, colleges as well as technical-vocational schools will soon provide free tuition subsidy starting 2018. The Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which Congress ratified in May and transmitted to the Office of the President on July 5, will provide full tuition subsidies. Here's the list of colleges and universities that will also free tuition in 2018: National Capital Region Eulogio 'Amang' Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology Marikina Polytechnic College Philippine Normal University Philippine State College of Aeronautics Polytechnic University of the Philippines Rizal Technological University ...

Aug52017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

What to do, where to go during Higalaay CDO Fiesta 2017

Cafe, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Food, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Tourism

The Higalaay Festival a.k.a. Cagayan de Oro fiesta has kicked off in CDO. The extended Martial Law in Mindanao obviously didn't deter the Cagayan de Oro local government from planning and organizing the Higalaay Festival 2017. In fact, this year's Higalaay CDO Festival 2017 is part of the ongoing #BusinessAsUsual campaign of the CDO government. Anyways, if you have plans of joining the revelries, a list of the core events of the 2017 Kagay-an Festival / CDO Fiesta / Higalaay Festival can be found below. August 3 to 5 - Mindanao Fashion Summit, Rotunda of Limketkai Center August 8 - ASEAN Landmark Lighting, Kiosko Kaawasan, Divisoria August 18 to 20 - Cowboy Festival / Horse Show, CDO Uptown August 18 to 29 - Kahimunan Regional Trade Fair, SM Downtown August 20 - Kagay-an Festival...

Jul252017 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

At the Carrie Bradshaw of Sex And The City apartment New York

America, Entertainment, Features, Movies, New York, Society, Style, Television, Tourism, Travel, United States of America

"And there, in the same city where they met as girls, four New York women entered the next phase of their lives, dressed head to toe in love. And that's the one label that never goes out of style." Does this sound familiar? Even more so - do you know those lines by heart? Then, why, hello there, fellow Sex and the City fan! Are you Team Big or Team Aidan? Regardless of who you're rooting for - one thing's for certain. We all know an apartment building in New York with an all too familiar looking stoop, where a girl cried, laughed, sat, fell in love, kissed and talked about her love for shoes! Are you Team Big or Team Aidan? Regardless of who you're rooting for - one thing's for certain. We all know an apartment building in New York with an all too familiar looking stoop, where a girl...

Jul222017 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Visiting that “Friends” apartment building in New York City

America, Entertainment, Features, Mindanaoan Update, New York, Tourism, Travel, United States of America

If you're not a fan of the TV series "Friends," then you'd think this is just an ordinary building. However, for certified "Friends" fans like me, my Mama and my three younger brothers (we have virtually watched all seasons including the bloopers millions of times - okay, that's an exaggeration but you get the drift!), HOLY CRAP this almost feels like home. I guess this is what they mean when they say "only fans can understand." Visiting the New York apartment building where Monica (Courtney Cox), Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) (and Ross (David Schwimmer), at one point) lived is like a pilgrimage. READ: I saw David Schwimmer in person!!! In fact, at the risk of sounding like a wuss, I got emotional when I saw the Friends apartment building ...

Jul112017 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Raising $35 Million In An Hour | Red Nose Day New York 2017

America, Entertainment, Events, Features, New York, Society, United States of America

I had the honor of witnessing the Red Nose Day 2017 live show here in New York City, USA. If you’re as uninitiated like I was, Red Nose Day is a fundraising campaign run by the nonprofit organization Comic Relief Inc. Launched in 2015, the campaign has raised $60 Million so far and guess what? That night when I was at Rockefeller Plaza, where the hour-long show was aired live, a whopping $35 Million was raised! What makes Red Nose Day pretty special is that the money it raises supports programs that ensure children in need are safe, healthy and educated, both in the United States and in some of the poorest communities around the world. The grants go to groups including Save the Children, The Global Fund, Children’s Health Fund and more. I know that Save the Children has multiple program...

Jul112017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Cheap eats New York: Where I found the BEST, super affordable roast pork, BBQ

America, Food, New York, Reviews

Hello again from New York! All right - here's the lowdown. Living here in New York can be expensive (especially for folks like us who want to discover a lot of things here in the Big Apple all at once!) but that doesn't mean there aren't cheap, great places to get absolutely delicious food from. Cheap eats in New York is real, people! Hallelujah! Just recently, I found the best char siu (Cantonese-style sweet barbecued meat) shop in Chinatown Manhattan New York that sells the BEST roast pork, roast chicken, roast duck, barbecue pork etc. Wah Fung NYC is a tourist favorite but is definitely not a tourist trap. Wah Fung New York sells el cheapo food without compromising quality. Located in Chinatown Manhattan (just so you know - there are Chinatowns in New York: one in Flushing, one...

Jul82017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Tips For A Trip To Lisbon

Tourism, Travel

When I talk to people about travel ambitions or experiences in Europe, I always feel that Portugal gets left out. There are countless incredible destinations in Europe, to be sure, and even geographically speaking Portugal can seem like a sort of an add-on. It’s hanging onto Spain, which tends to be very high on people’s travel lists, and can wind up being an afterthought. The truth is that Portugal is a stunning place to visit in its own right, and the capital city of Lisbon in particular has a lot to offer. Here are some tips for things to fit in if you happen to make it there one day. Visit Torre de Belém Portugal is home to some incredible, ancient architecture, and Torre de Belém may be the best example of both. It’s a tower that more or less functioned as a small fortress gu...

Jul12017 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Times Square New York tour and the crazy things you see

America, Entertainment, Features, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, New York, Tourism, Travel, United States of America

This blog post about Times Square New York is actually several days in the making. I thought I could come up with content for this Times Square NY tour post after just one visit but the truth of the matter is, there's just too many things to do, see, hear, discover, eat (!!!), smell (???) and film at one of New York City's super popular tourist attractions. So let's start with the basics and I'll update this blog post often with more links, videos, photos and (hopefully) more fun tips for you to help make your New York City trip one for the books. Times Square, per se, is actually technically not a square in the geometric sense of the word. Instead, what's called as "The Crossroads of the World" is more of a bowtie shape if you take it from 45th Street (where 7 Av intersects Broadway). Th...

Jun182017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Rivermaya releases new single “Manila” (LSS alert)

Announcements, Entertainment, Features, Music, Reviews, Society

Anybody who knows me know that I constantly sing praises for premier band Rivermaya, considered to this day as one of the most successful and critically acclaimed bands in the Philippines. This is because not only am I a huge fan but also because I consider them as really great friends. I have had the many opportunities to travel with them, hang out with them and even go island hopping with them! Trust me, they’re the funniest, most genuine and coolest. WATCH: Davao island hopping with Rivermaya And guess what? My cool friends have just released their new single, “Manila.” The song will be included in their upcoming album with Star Music Philippines, “Sa Kabila Nang Lahat.” The new album will feature all-original songs and will signal the band’s 23rd anniversary. What’s also v...

Jun152017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Globe Telecom expands public WiFi service, Davao hospital included

Davao City, Technology

GoWiFi, Globe Telecom’s premium public WiFi service has expanded to 1,000 more new locations and 10,000 access points in the Philippines including a prominent Davao City hospital. This, in an effort to give more Globe Telecom customers access to fast and reliable hotspots in high-traffic locations around the country. Globe GoWiFi is available in Davao Doctors Hospital, located along Quirino Avenue. The service is also available in Manila hospitals like St. Luke’s Medical Center, The Medical City, Cardinal Santos Hospital, and Philippine General Hospital. This developed as Globe partnered with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for the EDSA WIFI project which aims to provide high-speed internet connectivity throughout the 24-kilometer stretch of EDSA. D...

Jun132017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Seven Seas Waterpark CDO throws shade at Cartoon Network and Six Flags theme parks

Cagayan de Oro City, Features, Leisure, Marawi City, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Tourism, Travel

It's inarguably the most anticipated and most talked about tourist spot in all of Mindanao - Seven Seas Waterpark. Located technically at Barra, Opol, Misamis Oriental, people tend to still associate it with Cagayan de Oro especially since it's just literally a few moments away from the Opol/Bulua boundary. Seven Seas Waterpark is owned by Elpidio "Elpie" Paras, the same visionary who runs Dahilayan Adventure Park a.k.a. the home of Asia's longest dual cable zipline. According to a Facebook post on the Seven Seas Waterpark page, the theme park is now on the final stages of construction. The post says painting of the pools now underway, pathways and landscaping now taking shape, perimeter fence is almost done, detailing of the galleon arcade is almost finished, and the rotunda is done. T...

Jun112017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Meeting the cast of “The Mummy” in New York City

America, Entertainment, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Society, United States of America

So, okay, let’s face the elephant in the room head on. The reviews of the latest Tom Cruise-starrer, “The Mummy,” aren’t exactly ideal (fine, a lot of them are brutally bad...like seriously) but those obviously didn’t stop me from attending an event which allowed me to see some of the cast members. Besides, just like many other Hollywood films, a movie like this is for the fans! In fact, the fans made their voices heard. Despite the absolutely devastating reviews on "The Mummy," it was still able to recoup its US $125 Million and so far, has earned US $151 Million. Not exactly a runaway hit, yes, but I have a feeling it will still earn a huge chunka money especially when you factor in all the merchandise sales and all that jazz. Anyways, a few days ago, I had the lovely opportunity to m...

Jun62017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

US Embassy now asks for your social media accounts

America, Mindanaoan Update, New York, News, Society, Technology, Tourism, Travel, United States of America

The US government has now approved plans to ask US visa applicants for their social media accounts. Just recently, the Trump administration has started conducting background checks on the social media usage of visa applicants going back 5 years ago via a new questionnaire. The development now also allows consular officers to request email addresses, phone numbers as well as 15 years of biographical information from visa applicants, should a "more rigorous national security setting vetting" is needed. This may definitely make visa applications more difficult for lots of people. READ: How to pass your US Embassy visa interview The new questionnaire has a section where you need to write your usernames for any websites or applications you may have used to create or share content (p...

May302017 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Stay within your travel budget with this one-stop booking app

Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Reviews, Technology, Travel

Travel makes my soul very happy. Traveling brings a different kind of joy and excitement. Discovering (and even getting lost - but that’s where the thrill is!) new places, meeting fascinating people, immersing in a different culture, celebrating over delicious food - sigh! Do you feel the same way? Because if you do then I’m sure that you would also grab each and every opportunity to travel faster than the speed of lightning. Alas, such is easier said than done. With travel comes expenses and more often than not, it’s a challenge to stick to our travel budget. * Took this photo at a place overlooking Lake Taal in Tagaytay, Philippines. It's breathtaking * Me at Central Park, New York, USA Fortunately, there’s a one-stop booking app that allows us to stick within our ...

May292017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

No truth to Iligan City lockdown…for now

Announcements, Government, Iligan City

A lot of people got stir crazy yesterday because of an announcement na kesyo Iligan City is on lockdown. Apparently that announcement was prematurely released and it was retracted right away. Now, in an effort to help clear things, let me share with you all the announcement from the City Government of Iligan. This is culled verbatim from the Iligan Facebook page. Regarding on the FB Post circulating about "lockdown". Be informed that only CONTAINMENT ACTION is being implemented thru STRONG CHECKPOINTS and SEVERAL MOBILE CHECKPOINTS at the Heart of the City including Police Visibility to negate the occurrence of same incident at Marawi City. Anybody can get in and out of the City provided that they have not violated any law or caught carrying contraband, firearms, explosives, etc as eve...

May252017 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Davao in “hold and secure” state during Martial Law in Mindanao, WHAT THIS MEANS

Announcements, Controversial, Davao City, Government, News, Tourism, Travel

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has announced that the city is currently in a "hold and secure situation" amid the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao. Mayor Inday Sara is the daughter of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who issued the Martial Law in Mindanao declaration last May 23, 2017 in Moscow. READ: Duterte declares Martial Law in Mindanao READ: Infographics: What you MUST know about Martial Law in Mindanao The Presidential Daughter and Davao Mayor said that the "hold and secure situation" (she initially said the city was in lockdown but has since changed it to hold and secure) is to "prevent violence from entering the city and prevent it from erupting inside the city." In relation to this, the City Government of Davao has released the following guidelines fo...