Blog - Page 62 of 92 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Apr112011 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Mindanaoan beauty bags Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2011 title

Beauty, Davao City, Entertainment, Fashion, Features, General Santos City, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Style

A Mindanaoan beauty from General Santos City bagged the Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2011 title during the pageant Sunday. Shamcey Supsup, beauty and brains combined, was crowned Bb. Pilipinas Universe. Another Mindanaoan was declared Bb. Pilipinas 2011 2nd runner-up, Mary Jean Lastimosa of my hometown Davao City. Supsup was the topnotcher of the June 2010 architect licensure exam. This General Santos beauty queen was also a magna cum laude graduate from University of the Philippines - Diliman. General Supsup (General Santos City citizens are called "generals" ;) ), 24 years old and a 5 feet 71/4 inch stunner, will represent the Philippines in the Miss Universe Pageant to be held in September in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The other winners of the Binibining Pilipinas 2011 pageant were:...

Apr22011 by Mindanaoan Irene201 Comments

Ayala Mall Cagayan de Oro CENTRIO announces job openings

Announcements, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Features, Headline, Jobs, Leisure, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Resorts, Shopping, Society, Style, Tourism, Travel

Everyone in Mindanao has been talking about it for months now --- the much-awaited opening of what's believed to be the biggest mall in Mindanao --- Ayala Malls' CENTRIO (UPDATE: Another Ayala-owned mall in Mindanao, ABREEZA, is the largest mall so far. Abreeza Mall is located in Davao). This Mindanaoan blogger first wrote about the upcoming Ayala Mall CDO last year and these days, it's fast becoming a reality especially with the recent announcement of job opportunities at Ayala Mall Cagayan de Oro. Cagayan De Oro Gateway, Corp., a subsidiary of Ayala Land, Inc. and the owner and developer of Centrio, has posted these job openings for Ayala Mall CDO: HR / Purchasing Assistant Financial Analyst General Cashier Finance and Control Officer Operations Manager Operations Assistan...

Mar302011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanao to host 55K ultra marathon

Announcements, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Events, Mindanaoan Artists, Society, Sports

I'm perfectly aware that a lot of Filipinos are into running these days but I still can't help but wonder exactly how many can take on this challenge --- a total of 55 kilometers! Well, we're about to find out who's the "matira ang matibay" during the 55K Ultra Marathon which will be held on July 9, 2011. Runners will follow the CDO - Dahilayan trail or the Cagayan de Oro City to Bukidnon trail. This running event in the Philippines has a total of a whopping 55 kilometers! Think you can finish the race? Check out the official poster of the 55K Ultra Marathon below: As you guys may notice, my humble blog is one of the official media partners of this event in Mindanao! This Northern Mindanao 55K Ultra Marathon is, if I'm not mistaken, the very first in this Mindanao region. ...

Mar292011 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Miley Cyrus Live in Manila on June 17, 2011

Announcements, Entertainment, Events, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities

Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus will hold a concert in Manila, Philippines on June 17, 2011. The Miley Cyrus Live In Manila concert will be held at the concert grounds of SM Mall of Asia or MOA at Pasay. Music Management International, the same outfit that will also bring Justin Bieber Live in Manila, will bring the artist responsible for the hit songs "The Climb," "Party In the USA" and "Can't Be Tamed." Check out more infos about the upcoming Miley Cyrus Philippine concert below: (more…)

Mar202011 by Mindanaoan Irene18 Comments

Keeping up with the fun, funky familia!

Announcements, BIMP-EAGA, Blogging, Bukidnon, Government, Headline, Hongkong, Kaamulan Festival, Leisure, Macau, Malaysia, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Personalities, Politics, Society, Technology, Tourism, Travel

Let's take a breather from my Singapore Chronicles series of blog entries, shall we? Right now, at this very minute, I'm actually taking a break myself. Taking a break from packing my clothes, preparing my documents and checking (and re-checking) my to-do list. And for some reason, amid all the chaos, I am now rather becoming a little bit sentimental. I can't help it. I become mushy whenever I think of my beloved fun and funky family :) Come to think of it - in the past year alone, so many things have happened to me and my family. First off, we finally moved to our new home! It's smaller than the previous one we lived in for years but at least this one's ours! Woohoo! :D I was so excited that I shouldered the special landscaping for our front yard. Never mind if it shaved a lot off m...

Mar182011 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Singapore Chronicles: Day 1 – Cebu to Singapore

Blogging, Cebu City, Flights, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Singapore, Travel

Singapore Chronicles Day 1 - From Cebu to Singapore. I'm typing this message thousands of feet above sea level. Specifically, 35,000 feet. Right now, at this very moment, my mom is fast asleep on my right, two men seated infront of me are still immersed in a serious conversation and my beloved Victorinox travelers bag is on the seat on my left. I'm typing this message while aboard our flight from Cebu City, Philippines to Singapore. While it's not my first time to go abroad, it is my first time to visit a first world country (well, this is still a pretty sensitive topic but for the purpose of this blog post, let's call it that, ok? ;) ). It's also my first time to travel for more than 3 hours by plane. Yes, you can say it's quite a whole new experience for me. It's pretty exciting yet a...

Mar162011 by Mindanaoan Irene10 Comments

How to prepare a do-it-yourself Singapore and Malaysia trip

BIMP-EAGA, Blogging, Davao City, Features, Flights, Hongkong, Hotels, Internet, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Malaysia, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Shenzhen, Singapore, Society, Tourism, Travel

A few weeks ago, my mom and I finally had the chance to visit Singapore and Malaysia. Although it wasn't our first trip outside of the country, it was our very first time to visit Singapore and Malaysia and it was also the first time that we followed a DIY or do-it-yourself itinerary. We opted not to avail of the services of a travel agency for a number of reasons including the fact that we didn't want to be led to tourist traps just like what happened during our Hongkong, Shenzhen and Macau trip two years ago. Plus I'm also the type who loves to take on a challenge and preparing for a trip abroad - starting from scratch - can be quite a challenge! Don't be alarmed, though! Preparing a do-it-yourself itinerary can actually be fun, too! Plus it brings a whole lotta meaning to accomplishm...

Mar112011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Four Mindanao areas on alert level 2 following tsunami in Japan

Advocacy, Announcements, Controversial, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur

Following the strong 8.9 earthquake in Japan today, several provinces in the Philippines have now been declared under tsunami alert. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) have declared these provinces in the Philippines (which include 4 areas in Mindanao) under alert level 2: • Batanes Group of Islands • Cagayan • Ilocos Norte • Isabela • Quezon • Aurora • Camarines Norte • Camarines Sur • Albay • Catanduanes • Sorsogon • Northern Samar • Eastern Samar • Leyte • Southern Leyte • Surigao del Norte • Surigao del Sur • Davao Oriental • Davao del Sur To my fellow Mindanaoans, please be safe! Let's all pray, too, for our safety. Meanwhile, here's a video of the terrible impact of the Japan earthquake: (more…)...

Mar82011 by Mindanaoan Irene15 Comments

America in 3D – your chance to work in, taste and feel America

Mindanaoan Update

Here's a fabulous chance for all of you who want to travel to the United States of America, to work for American companies and for those who simply like to learn more about American music, films, food and possible study programs. Ambassador Harry Thomas and the U.S. Embassy - Manila warmly invite you to celebrate American culture, values, and programs in the Philippines during a three-day program dubbed “America in 3-D.” From March 18 to 20, 2011 at SM City North EDSA in Quezon City, Philippines, the U.S. Embassy will provide FREE musical performances, food tastings, sports clinics, film screenings, cooking demonstrations, Q&A opportunity with Fil-Am White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford, a job fair, sports clinics and information sessions about applying for visas and...

Feb222011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Join the first ever webchat on U.S. non-immigrant visas by the US Embassy Manila

Advocacy, Announcements, Features, Headline, Internet, Media, Society, Technology

Has it always been a dream of yours to visit the United States of America but whenever you try to apply for a tourist visa, you often get denied? Do you have questions pertaining to U.S. non-immigrant visas? Have you always wanted to ask a real US Embassy consul what you need to do and what you need to have in order to secure that most wanted U.S. non-immigrant visa? Then here's your perfect chance! On Wednesday, February 23, 2011, from 4 PM to 5 PM, you can join the first ever web chat ever on U.S. non-immigrant visas. This webchat, dubbed "Ask the Consul," is organized by the US Embassy in Manila. Read more details after the jump! (more…)

Feb222011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

King of Acoustic Paolo Santos says hello to Mindanaoan

Arts, Blogging, Bukidnon, Business, Consumer, Entertainment, Events, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Society, Videos

The Philippines' King of Acoustic Paolo Santos has a very special video message for this humble blogger from Mindanao :) You see, I was a co-producer and co-event organizer of the "Moonlight Acoustic Serenade by the King of Acoustic Paolo Santos" Valentine's Day show last February 14, 2011. Interestingly, though, I wasn't around during the show itself since I was abroad :D (My assistant and I have done all the work before my trip, though...the only task left was the on-site, on-the-day coordination) So I had to contend with this video message from Paolo Santos himself. Good thing I have a very reliable assistant in the person of Erik Dave :D By the way, if you or someone you know needs events management services anywhere in Mindanao, please do not hesitate to CONTACT ME :) That Valentin...

Feb222011 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Review: Cebu R Hotel | Cebu City hotel

Blogging, Business, Cebu City, Consumer, Features, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

If you're a regular reader of my humble Mindanaoan blog, chances are you'd know that I frequently visit the Queen City of the South - Cebu City. Not only because I like to visit but I also because I need to. You see, I recently expanded my lil public relations, events management and media and marketing business in Cebu :) This means that I can now cater to businesses and individuals based in Cebu and neighboring islands that need PR, media relations, events management and marketing services. Anyhoo, I was recently in Cebu...yet again. Since my mom traveled with me, I thought of booking a room in one of Cebu's many affordable hotels. I also wanted to stay in a Cebu hotel that I haven't stayed in yet (so that I can review it and share my thoughts with y'all, of course! :D). I landed on Ce...

Feb202011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Cute Manny Pacquiao and Mommy Dionisia Pacquiao commercial!

Arts, Bisaya, Blogging, Bukidnon, Davao City, Features, General Santos City, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Sarangani, Society

Fellow Mindanaoans Manny Pacquiao and his very own Mum, Mommy Dionisia Pacquiao, have a new, super cute Datu Puti TV commercial! I like the play on the "bumili ka lang ng suka, champion ka na" statement :D Of course, the quotable quote in this TVC is also Manny Pacquiao's "boxing is not for killing." :P In this Datu Puti Manny Pacquiao TVC, a guy who's supposedly playing the role of Coach Freddie (Roach, the Pacman's real-life boxing coach) tells the "true story" behind the Pacman's road to success. Well, of course it's not the real story but this commercial is really funny and clever :) Props to the agency behind this cool Manny Pacquiao TV commercial! By the way, just in case you don't know how Manny Pacquiao and I are fellow Mindanaoans, check this out: (more…)

Feb192011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Photos: Kean Cipriano of Callalily Band

Entertainment, Features, Media, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Photos

Anybody who knows me well knows that I am a huge fan of Kean Cipriano. For the uninitiated, Kean Cipriano is the lead vocalist of the popular Filipino band Callalily. His band is best known for the hit songs "Hintay," "Magbalik," "Stars," "Sanctuary" and "Susundan." I first met Kean in person when I was hired as an event organizer of a Callalily concert a few years ago. Needless to say, as soon as I watched him and his band perform, I was hooked! I became a self-proclaimed "Callalista" :D Then, fast forward 2010, I accidentally found out that one of the lawyers in the same firm where a former senatorial-candidate-friend of mine was a partner was actually Kean's uncle! Yikes :D So, okay, enough of the blab. Here's one of the photos I took of Kean Cipriano during a recent visit to the ...

Feb192011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

CARAGA Region’s Payanig sa Bislig 2011 schedule of activities

Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Bislig, Butuan, Caraga, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Fiesta, Surigao, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tourism, Travel

Thinking of visiting the CARAGA Region here in Mindanao soon? The Caraga Region is where Butuan City is. Caraga, an administrative region, is also the newest region in the Philippines. Composed of 4 provinces namely Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur, CARAGA is also home to 3 cities - Surigao, Bislig and Butuan. Now if you want to join a festival here in Mindanao, why not attend the Payanig sa Bislig 2011? From February 22 to 26, 2011, Bislig will be the place to be! Check out the schedule of activities for this year's 2011 Payanig sa Bislig below: (more…)

Feb62011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

My second studio visit at TV5 Manila’s PO5 Sunday show

Arts, Broadcasting, Davao City, Entertainment, Features, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Society, Style

The first time my friends and I watched PO5 (Party on Five) live, we all trooped to a studio in Marikina. During our second visit just a few days ago, my friends and I went to Broadway Centrum along Aurora Boulevard, the same studio complex where the longest noontime show in the Philippines is also aired from Monday to Friday - "Eat Bulaga." PO5 does not use the same studio, though. It uses the one adjacent to the "Eat Bulaga" studio. For the uninitiated, by the way, PO5 is Channel 5's Sunday noontime variety show, their answer to ABS CBN Channel 2's "ASAP" and to GMA 7's "Party Pilipinas." Among its hosts are Richard Gomez, Lucy Torres, John Estrada, Wilma Doesnt, Alex Gonzaga, Danita Paner and...be still my heart...Kean Cipriano :D (more…)

Feb62011 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

At the wedding reception of the Malaysian ambassador’s daughter

BIMP-EAGA, Blogging, Features, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Politics, Society

Ever since I had the utmost privilege to meet the Ambassador of Malaysia to the Philippines Dato Seri Dr. Ibrahim Saad and his beautiful wife Datin Seri Dato Zainab Kader, I've become so fascinated with Malaysia, its people, its culture and traditions and even their food! I've also become quite fascinated with certain similarities between the Philippines and Malaysia and the glaring fact that at the end of the day, we really all are connected. So when I received this special invitation to attend the wedding reception of the Malaysian ambassador's daughter Zaireen Ayu Ibrahim and her groom Shazlan Sufian, I knew I just had to go. Not only was it a fabulous chance for me to witness an akad nikah (traditional Malay wedding) but it was also a chance for me to meet and mingle with new Malays...

Feb42011 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Meeting the Malaysian ambassador and his wife

BIMP-EAGA, Blogging, Features, Internet, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Personalities, Society

I've said it and I'll say it again and again. Blogging, even micro blogging through Twitter or Plurk, does wonders for you and for your life. Not only can you share your thoughts, tips and photos with others (which may help them in the process, without you necessarily knowing about it), earn a bit but more importantly, get to meet new, interesting people and experience new and exciting things. Just take the case of a pretty cool thing that happened to me a few weeks ago. Because of the power of the Internet and micro blogging, I had the ultimate honor to meet the Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Dato Seri Dr. Ibrahim Saad and his beautiful wife Datin Seri Zainab Kader. * credits for photo above goes to Malaysia Tatler Before I continue, let me just say, though, that the...

Feb22011 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

How I spent my winnings from the Resorts World Manila casino

Flights, Hongkong, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Malaysia, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Singapore, Tourism, Travel

Not too long ago, I had one amazing, ultra lucky night at Resorts World Manila. Actually, if you care to read what happened to me that day, you can see that Lady Luck was on my side from the very beginning. Needless to say, I was and still am very grateful for all the things that happened that one fateful day. Ever since I blogged about my Resorts World Manila casino winnings, a lot of people have asked me what I did with the money. It wasn't much, truth be told. However, it was enough to make me and my entire family happy! I spent my winnings booking flights to Singapore and Hongkong :) My mom and I are set to fly to Singapore (with a day-long sidetrip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) in a few days (we're spending Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day abroad! Cool, huh? :D) while I trea...

Feb22011 by Mindanaoan Irene6 Comments

Review: BonChon chicken – fried twice, twice as good

Food, Mindanaoan Update, Recipes, Reviews

During my most recent trip to Manila, three very good friends and I finally had the chance to visit the Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati branch of Bonchon Chicken. Now if you haven't heard of BonChon, this below might give you an idea of what you're supposed to expect: (yes, that's from the New York Times!) BonChon chicken is supposedly one of, if not the best, tasting chicken you can ever taste in your lifetime. And I must say, after that early dinner with friends, I can only agree 110%! Here's why... (more…)

Jan312011 by Mindanaoan Irene10 Comments

Review: GoHotels.ph value hotel in Mandaluyong | budget hotel Manila

Business, Consumer, Corporate, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion, Reviews

For budget conscious Mindanaoans like me who often travel to Manila, it is but imperative to stay in a value hotel that offers not only comfort and safety but an ideal location as well. Although I do put a lot of weight on the price of a hotel room, I don't mind paying extra if I see that I get my money's worth. I also prefer hotels that are near public transportation options. Enter GoHotels.ph - a relatively new hotel located along EDSA Mandaluyong. For the uninitiated, EDSA, formerly known as Highway 54, is the main highway of Metro Manila here in the Philippines. It's also the same circumferential road where the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) passes through. GoHotels is the sister company of budget airline Cebu Pacific. Hence, it's no wonder that the said Manila budget hotel operates the s...

Jan272011 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Mass videoconference aims to link Manila and Iligan students

Advocacy, Announcements, Campus, Events, Iligan City, Lanao del Sur, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao

Before anything else, I'd like to say that I'm a proud RockEd volunteer. Rock Ed Philippines, which began in 2005, aims to get Filipinos interested in nation building. Rock Ed links Filipinos from all walks of life with causes that they are interested in. Once you sign up for Rock Ed, you're assigned projects that fit your expertise, interests or skill sets. In my case, I usually volunteer for projects related to blogging, publicity, event management, photography, media and business-related stuff. Now this is where the point of this blog post starts :D You see, I found this project in the Rock Ed Philippines website. It's about a mass videoconference that aims to link at least 2,000 students in Manila to at least 2,000 students in Iligan - yup, that's all the way down here in Mindanao. How...