Blog - Page 49 of 92 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Sep22012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Winners of the Mindanaoan – Spruce giveaway

Announcements, Beauty, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Contests, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping, Style

I'm happy to announce the winners of my online giveaway! Much thanks to our very generous friends over at Spruce Designer Network (Mindanaoan's highly recommended fashion and lifestyle store in Cagayan de Oro City) who sponsored two pairs of gorgeous BSIDED hand sewn espadrilles that are 100 percent made in France! :) And without any further ado...this Mindanao lifestyle blogger is happy to announce the two winners of the Mindanaoan - Spruce giveaway: a Rafflecopter giveaway Congratulations Sheila and Vic! Enjoy your new pairs of kicks! :) Thank you Spruce! Please visit Spruce at the 2nd Floor of Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City. Please support the other Spruce-owned stores as well: All Flip-Flops: SM City, Cagayan de Oro PUMA: Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro and Aya...

Aug282012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Miss Kagay-an 2012 winners

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Campus, Contests, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Malaybalay City, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Society, Tourism

The winners of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 beauty pageant have already been declared. The announcement of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 winners was held during the coronation night last August 26, 2012 at the Atrium of the Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City. Mindanaoan.com was there to cover the event since Mindanaoan.com is an official media partner of Miss Kagay-an 2012. The Miss Kagayan 2012 winners are: Miss Kagay-an 2012 - Greanne Trisha Mendoza, a Malaybalay City, Bukidnon-born event organizer Miss Tourism - Lovely Jane Estampa, a legal analyst at the Development Bank of the Philippines First runner-up - Emie Lou Yamba, sales representative of Amore Travel and Tours Second runner-up - Maria Leslie Angelina Ghan, Civil Engineering student at Xavier University Third runner-up - Maria El...

Aug252012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Chowking opens Malaybalay City branch

Bukidnon, Business, Food

Chowking Malaybalay is finally open, making this Chowking branch the second one in Bukidnon. The Malaybalay City, Bukidnon branch of this popular Chinese fastfood chain opened for business just a few days ago. Chowking Malaybalay is located along Fortich Street, the main thoroughfare in Malaybalay City. It's easy to spot it - it's almost right across Plaza Rizal and the Malaybalay Cathedral. Now if you're wondering why Mindanaoan wrote about Chowking Malaybalay, it's because I find things like these a little bit fascinating. You see, Malaybalay may be a city but it's still a small, burgeoning city, with less than 160,000 population (according to a 2010 census). Can a business like this survive in a city like Malaybalay? How many years would it take for Chowking to see returns on inve...

Aug242012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Sereno is the new Supreme Court Chief Justice

Announcements, Controversial, Government, Mindanaoan Update, News, Society

And so the new Chief Justice in the Philippines has finally been named. The new Supreme Court Chief Justice is Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, the first Supreme Court Associate Justice appointed by President Benigno Aquino III. The new Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is also the 3rd most junior justice in the Supreme Court. Her post as the new Chief Justice was announced today, August 24, 2012. Sereno, 52, takes the vacated seat of ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was dismissed May 29, 2012 after allegedly failing to disclose millions in assets. New Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is the youngest appointed justice in the Supreme Court. Below is the official statement of the Presidential Spokesperson on the new Chief Justice in t...

Aug232012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Miss Kagay-an 2012 swimsuit competition

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Contests, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Photos, Society, Style

Along with 2 blogger-friends, I witnessed the Miss Kagay-an 2012 swimsuit competition held last August 18, 2012 at the poolside of a hotel in Cagayan de Oro City. As I previously mentioned to you all, Mindanaoan.com is an official media partner for the Miss Kagay-an 2012 beauty pageant, which is one of the core events for the Kagay-an Festival 2012, the annual fiesta in Cagayan de Oro City in honor of patron Saint Augustine. Check out one of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 billboards (the URL of Mindanaoan.com is there somewhere :P) Anyways, here are some of the photos I took during the Miss Kagay-an 2012 swimsuit competition. Apologies for the poor photo composition - there were a lot of shutterbugs that day and I also failed to bring my DSLR. By the way, you ca...

Aug182012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 CDO – #MYOHCDO2012

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Corporate, Events, Fashion, Features, Gifts, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Reviews, Shopping, Society, Style

As I'm writing this, it's the 2nd day of Make Your Own Havaianas CDO 2012. So that means you have today and tomorrow to join MYOH CDO 2012! :) The Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 Cagayan de Oro leg covers Northern Mindanao and it kicked off yesterday, August 17, 2012. MYOH CDO 2012 will run until August 19, 2012 at the Limketkai Rotunda, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. A Make Your Own Havaianas event is where you can customize your own pair of Havaianas flip flops. It's that time of the year when Havaianaticos are given the chance to choose their desired sole, strap and pins. In other words, it's a chance for Havaianas lovers to design their very own - truly unique - pair. Moreover, it's only during MYOH events when specially designed soles and unique pins can be bought :) This year i...

Aug102012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

The Mindanao Helps Manila campaign #MindanaoHelpsManila

Advocacy, Cagayan de Oro City, Features, Musings, Personal, Society

Much like our Typhoon Sendong relief operations, the Mindanao Helps Manila campaign really started with a tweet, a Facebook message and an idea - an idea to help, to be men and women for others, to be socially responsible citizens. You see, when Typhoon Sendong struck Northern Mindanao, our humble home in Cagayan de Oro was hit. Our family also had to endure business losses. But my mother, my brothers and I still had so much to be thankful for. We were safe. We were alive. Compared to others who lost not only their homes and livelihood but their loved ones as well, we were lucky. Very lucky. And we knew that there was no reason for us not to help. So I tweeted. I tweeted updates, I took photos, I called for donations. My family did the same. What happened next was nothing short of a mir...

Aug102012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Mindanaoan is a Miss Kagay-an 2012 media partner

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Contests, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Style

It's now official! Mindanaoan.com is an official media partner for this year's Miss Kagay-an 2012 beauty pageant! The search for Miss Kagay-an 2012 is one of the core events for the Kagay-an Festival 2012, the annual fiesta in Cagayan de Oro City in honor of patron Saint Augustine. And I'm happy to share with you all that Mindanaoan.com is one of the proud media partners of Miss Kagayan 2012 :) Check out the newly released Miss Kagay-an 2012 billboard: (www.Mindanaoan.com is there somewhere...I'll follow you on Twitter if you successfully spot it :P) By the way, check out my previous blog entry if you want to meet the official candidates of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 pageant. The individual photos of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 candidates can be found there. The 11 lovely official c...

Aug72012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

How Mindanao can help Manila flood victims #MindanaoHelpsManila

Advocacy, Announcements, Bisaya, Blogging, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Davao City, Musings, Personal, Society

UPDATED: This photo designed by @likke says it all. Right now, a lot of areas around Manila are flooded out. Some 200,000 families in 11 regions are affected. News reports say that neck deep floods have forced many residents to flee to rooftops and evacuate. And to make matters worse, PAGASA says that Manila folks should expect more rain. NOW...it is Mindanao's turn to help. Remember how Manila helped us in our campaigns for Typhoon Sendong victims through Help CDO and One For Iligan? Now it is time for Mindanao to give back. #MindanaoHelpsManila So how can you help? Here are a few ways for Mindanaoans to send help to Manila flood victims: 1. You can help spread useful information via social networking websites (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn etc). I collated some...

Aug72012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Manila flood – emergency numbers to call | How to help

Announcements, Mindanaoan Update, Society

Lots of areas around Manila, Philippines are now flooded out. As of this posting, work in both government and private offices in 9 provinces has been suspended due to inclement weather. This morning, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. announced that work in private offices (this includes call centers, BPOs) has been suspended in NCR (National Capital Region), Zambales, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Bataan, Laguna, Cavite, Tarlac, Bulacan and Rizal. Here's a copy of the memorandum circular issued by Malacanan Palace. According to this ABS CBN report, the Philippine government is helping some 199,485 families in 11 regions affected by monsoon rains. Meanwhile, GMA News reports that neck-deep floods have forced many residents to flee to rooftops and evacuate. Interaksyon reports that PAG-ASA h...

Aug22012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

SM Lanang Premier Davao City

Announcements, Business, Consumer, Davao City, Davao del Sur, Shopping

So who else is excited for the much-awaited opening of SM Lanang Premier? It seems everyone in Davao City is looking forward to the opening of SM Lanang Premier, a mall that's supposed to have a total land area of 100,000 square meters. Reports say that SM Lanang Premier Davao City will have 4 storeys and, true to its name, will feature "premier" brands, stores, facilities and amenities. How "premier," you ask? SM Lanang Davao will boast of: 1. The Skygarden - this will be at the front part of the mall and will have restaurants amid a garden 2. The Park - a strip of restaurants at the back of the mall 3. 5 digital theaters, 1 SM Center Stage and 1 IMAX cinema 4. SM Bowling Center and Science Discovery Center (I was able to check out the Science Discovery Center in SM Mall...

Aug22012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanaoan In America: More Washington DC photos

America, Blogging, Mindanaoan Update, Photos, Travel, United States of America

I first shared some of my Washington DC USA photos awhile back. A lot of you have been asking me for more photos taken around the capital of the United States of America. Well, I'm here to please :) The photos below were taken during our Washington DC day tour, which took place a day after my fellow International Visitor Leadership Program 2012 delegates and I arrived in the USA. Like I previously mentioned, never mind if it was freezing cold that day. We were all stoked that we finally set foot in the land of milk and honey! By the way, here's the reason why I was in the States for about a month :) Yep, I was the only Filipino in the group and the only female :) I will share all about my USA and IVLP adventure using the America category. I have previously written about my trip from ...

Aug12012 by Mindanaoan Irene8 Comments

Dinner with Duncan James and the boys of BLUE

Entertainment, Features, Manila, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Photos

These boys from the United Kingdom may have last been in the Philippines February 2012 but the fans want more! A lot of Duncan James, Simon Webbe, Antony Costa and Lee Ryan fans are still asking me for updates so I checked my files and hey, whaddaya know - I found more "Blue" treasures! :) Here are some photos I took during dinner with the boys of Blue. Can I just say that they were all gentlemen and were all very easy to talk to? Apparently the boys love Japanese food. Lee and Duncan like sake (Japanese beverage made from fermented rice), Antony likes yakitori while Simon likes tonkatsu and tempura :) By the way, I really don't know how one can eat properly if gorgeous creatures such as this one is sitting right across you ;) Enjoy the photos and please don't forget to share t...

Jul302012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Schedule of Team Philippines in London Olympics 2012

Announcements, Corporate, Features, News, Sports

Do you want to cheer for the members of Team Philippines who are currently competing in the 2012 London Olympics? The Philippines' London Olympics 2012 contingent may be the leanest the country has ever fielded since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics but these fine Filipino Olympians are talented and they have the heart and they deserve our full support and prayers, don't they? :) The London Olympics 2012 Philippines athletic contingent a.k.a. Team Philippines will surely make all of us proud as they compete for God, country and glory in 9 out of the 26 sporting events in this year’s Games. Here's the list of our 11 Olympians: Mark Anthony Barriga (boxing-49kg) Marestella Torres (track-long jump) Rene Herrera (track-5000M) Jasmine Alkhaldi (swimming-100m freestyle) Jessie Khing Lacuna...

Jul302012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Why you should join Kumbira 2012 in Cagayan de Oro

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Contests, Corporate, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Food, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, News, Northern Mindanao, Recipes

It's Kumbira 2012 time again! Every year, the Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association (COHARA) organizes a professional and student culinary competition and trade show dubbed "Kumbira." Derived from the same Visayan word that means "feast," Kumbira is the largest culinary event in Mindanao - so large that it actually lasts for 3 days! (this is the first reason why you should join Kumbira 2012, by the way! Don't you think it's exciting to be a part of an event so grand?) This year is no different. "Kumbira 2012" will be held on August 15, 16 and 17, 2012 at the Atrium of Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City and - this brings me to the second reason why you should join Kumbira 2012 in Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao, Philippines - Kumbira 2012, which is now on its 16th year, has, accordin...

Jul292012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

My live radio interview at DZIQ Radyo Inquirer

Blogging, Broadcasting, Cagayan de Oro City, Features, Journalism, Manila, Media, Northern Mindanao, Society, Technology

A few weeks ago, I was in Manila to meet up with social media as well as political publicity clients. It was a rather brief stay in Manila but one of the highlights of my trip was a live radio interview at DZIQ 990 AM Radyo Inquirer. DZIQ Radyo Inquirer is a flagship AM radio station owned by Trans-Radio Broadcasting Corp., Inc. and operated by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. My live radio guesting was made possible by a good friend, Miss Noemi of BlogWatch, who was one of the anchors of the program I was set to be a guest in. You may know Miss Noemi as @momblogger on Twitter. She's also the writer behind one of the blogs I regularly read, About My Recovery, which started out as a "grief blog" about her deceased son Luijoe. Now, Miss Noemi is a passionate advocate of the Reproductive Hea...

Jul292012 by Mindanaoan Irene23 Comments

Join this giveaway sponsored by Spruce

Announcements, Blogging, Contests, Fashion, Features, Freebies, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping, Society, Style

Giveaway alert! Mindanaoan is proud to share with you this simple online giveaway courtesy of our generous friends over at Spruce. Spruce Designer Network, Inc. is a company that brings global fashion lifestyle brands to Northern and Western Mindanao. Spruce owns and manages various stores such as PUMA (Limketkai CDO and PUMA Ayala Center, Cebu) and the Spruce boutique lifestyle stores in Limketkai Mall Cagayan de Oro and Tamay Lang Arcade, Valencia City, Bukidnon. Spruce is also the authorized Havaianas sub-distributor for Northern and Western Mindanao --- which means that yes, they're the ones who will make the much-awaited Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 possible! Yep, they're that awesome :) So...on to the big question --- how does a pair of brand new robe soled sandals that are 100 pe...

Jul252012 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Miss Kagay-an 2012 candidates photos

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Contests, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Photos, Society, Style

Miss Kagay-an 2012 update! Here are the photos of the official candidates of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 pageant. I know a lot of you have been asking me for the Miss Kagay-an 2012 photos so here they are. This Filipino blogger was able to attend the press presentation of these lovely Miss Kagayan Festival 2012 candidates last Monday, July 23, 2012 and the organizing committee released these photos. I will also upload these photos on my Pinterest account. You might want to follow the Mindanaoan Pinterest account here. If you may notice, there are now only 11 official candidates instead of 12. The 11 lovely official candidates are: Lovely Jane Estampa, a legal analyst at Development Bank of the Philippines Sydney Taboclaon, born in Germany and taking up BS HRM at Tagoloan Community Col...

Jul222012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Kagay-an Kalo Festival 2012

Announcements, Arts, Cagayan de Oro City, Contests, Culture, Entertainment, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Tourism

One of the core events in the Kagay-an Festival 2012 is the 3rd Annual Kagay-an Kalo Parade Competition. Kalo is the local word for "hat." So the Kalo Parade Competition this year will feature festive hats made out of native / indigenous materials. If you're interested to join the Kalo Parade 2012 or if you want to join the contest, please check the poster below. Cash prizes and plaques await the winners. Please feel free to share this information with all your friends :) Meanwhile, the Kagay-an Festival 2012 schedule of activities can be found here

Jul222012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Win exclusive invites to Make Your Own Havaianas 2012

Announcements, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Contests, Entertainment, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Shopping, Society, Style

Do you love Havaianas? Or do you want to own a pair of Havaianas? Do you and your friends like taking jump shot photos? Here's a chance for you to not only take fun jump shot photos but to win exclusive VIP invites to the Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 Northern Mindanao leg! And you know what an invite means - you get to design your very own pair of Havaianas! Join the Jump For Joy With Havaianas promo and you stand the chance to receive exclusive invites to the 2012 Make Your Own Havaianas Cagayan de Oro leg. Here's how to join: (fun fact: the models used in this poster are the fun, funky bunch behind Mindanao's best professional photography team - One Happy Story Photography!) I just love, love, love Make Your Havaianas events! It's actually one of the events I look forward...

Jul212012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

1st Kadayawan Wild River Tubing schedule set

Beauty, Business, Davao City, Entertainment, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Leisure, Tourism

Want to embark on a wild and wet adventure this August 2012? Then Davao City is where you should be! The 1st Kadayawan Wild River Tubing event will be held on August 18, 2012. This, in celebration of the 2012 Kadayawan Festival, the grandest, funnest, most-awaited festival in Davao City. For a really good price of only Php 1,000 (roughly US $25), you can experience the fun that is the 1st Kadayawan Wild River Tubing. The fee already includes transportation, river guide, life vest, tubes, helmet, snacks and pictures :) Wild river tubing is where you ride a tube (fancy term for salbabida :D) and you navigate a river. Perfect way to make your Kadayawan Festival 2012 a memorable one! See the official schedule of activities for Kadayawan Festival 2012 here Reserve a spot now!...

Jul212012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

I’m learning how to speak French

Blogging, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal

Yes, I just signed up for French lessons! And believe me, I have not been this excited in a long while. I have always wanted to learn how to speak French but have not had the opportunity to do so until now. Of course, this is not to say that I'm already fluent in English and Filipino hence the interest to learn a new language. I'm still nowhere near being 100% articulate in both languages. I'm not even fluent in Bisaya (Visayan) - the dialect spoken largely in Mindanao, Philippines. There's still so much to learn! Back in college, I learned very basic Chinese (Mandarin) and to this day, I can still manage a few sentences. Anyways, my French 1 lesson would run for about 15 weeks. I'm terribly excited. I have even started listening to French lessons on YouTube. Here's one great basic F...