Commentary Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Nov42009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Davao region soon to be a lobster production area?

BIMP-EAGA, Business, Commentary, Controversial, Davao City, Food, Mindanaoan Update, News

A PNA article caught my attention today. It said that an American feeds supplier is eyeing lobster production in the Davao region here in Mindanao! A certain Denzil Nicholson of Verdant Ocean, an aquaculture feeds company, said that they're keen on the possibility of producing lobsters in Davao. "The region is a good area for development. It is one of the most viable industries as lobster stocks are on the decline," Nicholson was quoted as saying. Did you notice the tricky part? He said "lobster stocks are on the decline." I wonder if the proposed lobster production process would involve "synthetic" procedures or would the entire thing adopt natural means? Nicholson was part of the US-Philippines Agribusiness Trade and Investment Mission. The group visited the 60-hectare maricu...

Oct222009 by Mindanaoan Irene9 Comments

Meet Mindanao’s richest governors and mayors

Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Announcements, ARMM, Basilan, BIMP-EAGA, Bisaya, Blogging, Broadcasting, Bukidnon, Business, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Caraga, Commentary, Compostela Valley, Controversial, Cotabato, Davao City, Dipolog, Features, General Santos City, Government, Headline, Iligan City, Island Garden City of Samal, Journalism, Koronadal, Lanao del Norte, Malaybalay City, Media, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Musings, Muslim Mindanao, News, Northern Mindanao, Ozamis, Pagadian, Politics, Sarangani, Society, SoSCksargen, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga Sibugay

Who says we here in Mindanao don't have multimillionaires? The Island of Mindanao may still look rural to many but we have a lot of silent (and otherwise) multimillionaires here, mind you...and some of them are in office! Seriously. Meet Mindanao's richest governors and mayors. According to a Mindanews report, Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario is STILL (meaning he was the richest last year) the richest governor in Mindanao with networth P408.94 million while Oroquieta City Mayor Jorge Almonte is the richest city mayor with networth P54.71 million as of yearend 2007, according to their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). Here are the top 15 richest Mindanao provincial governors: 1. Davao del Norte’s Rodolfo del Rosario …………P408.94 million 2. Bukidnon...

Oct152009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Blog Action Day 2009 Philippines: Climate Change

Advocacy, Beauty, Blogging, Commentary, Consumer, Controversial, Events, Features, Internet, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Opinion, Personal, Society

Today, October 15, 2009, is Blog Action Day 2009. Blog Action Day is an annual event held every October 15 that aims to unite all the bloggers of the world and encourage them to post about the same issue on the very same day. This, in the hope to ignite discussions about that particular issue and to inspire people to take action. This year, the topic for Blog Action Day 2009 is Climate Change. I, Mindanaoan, am joining thousands of other Pinoy bloggers for the Blog Action Day 2009 - Philippines Edition. And we Filipinos of all people know very well just how devastating the effects of climate change are. After our harrowing experience with tropical storms Ondoy (international name: Ketsana) and Pepeng (international name: Parma), we should no longer put this issue of climate change a...

Oct152009 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Mindanaoans who aim to have a seat in the Senate

Advocacy, Agusan del Sur, ARMM, Bukidnon, Commentary, Controversial, Features, Government, Headline, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Muslim Mindanao, News, Northern Mindanao, Opinion, Personalities, Politics

First off, let me make this clear. This list of Mindanaoans who want to run for Senator in the 2010 elections is just initial - there may still be more interested senatorial candidates in the days to come so Mindanaoan will try to update the list as often as possible. Hopefully, this list can help you, fellow Filipino voters and fellow Mindanao residents, in choosing the right candidate to send to the Senate. I'm also hoping that this post can help provide a platform for all of us Mindanawans to discuss who can really be the true voice of Mindanao in the Senate. Please feel free to share your thoughts! Aquilino Martin "Koko" Pimentel III - ran for the Senate during the last elections but lost to former Bukidnon congressman and now Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. Koko Pimentel has since l...

Oct132009 by Mindanaoan Irene6 Comments

Rico Blanco releases new song “Bangon” – all royalties waived in exchange for donations!

Advocacy, Announcements, Arts, Blogging, Broadcasting, Commentary, Culture, Features, Headline, Internet, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Musings, News, Personalities, Radio, Society

In true Rico Blanco form! Rico, a former Rivermaya vocalist, is known for his advocacies and selfless deeds. He's an active campaigner of a lot of causes - especially those that aim to champion the Filipino spirit. This time around, this very talented Filipino musician is helping raise additional funds for fellow Pinoys affected by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng by coming up with the new song entitled "Bangon" - completely FREE. In exchange for a free download of Bangon, Rico's hoping that people will donate. Trust me, the song is amazing, beautiful work that only a Rico Blanco can produce! The very first time I heard it, I got goosebumps all over! It's a truly inspiring song and you cannot help but feel the spirit of volunteerism, faith and hope! While future announcements will be ...

Oct22009 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Roadhouse Cafe Baby Back Ribs and Pumpkin Soup

Bukidnon, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Consumer, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Photos, Reviews, Tourism

I, Mindanaoan, was finally able to "introduce" my mom to the renowned Roadhouse Cafe baby back ribs. I say renowned because a lot of foodies and food experts have already given their thumbs up on the baby back ribs served at Roadhouse Cafe. Roadhouse Cafe serves Asian and Western cuisine. Its first and original branch can be found along Sayre Highway (national highway), Valencia City, Bukidnon, Mindanao. It now has a second branch at SM City Cagayan de Oro. Cagayan de Oro is roughly 2 and a half hours away from Valencia City. Reasonably priced, Roadhouse Cafe's baby back ribs tastes a bit sweet and tangy. The meat is very tender and definitely what you can call "fall off the bone"! As you can see from these photos, you're given extra sauce and a few slices of cucumber. The rice is se...

Sep252009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Sen. Dick Gordon proposes a 9th ray to the sun in Philippine Flag – should Mindanao care?

Advocacy, ARMM, BIMP-EAGA, Blogging, Commentary, Controversial, Government, Headline

Independent Senator Richard Gordon probably has too much time on his hands. This was the very first thing that came to my mind when this Mindanaoan blogger learned that Senator Dick Gordon filed a proposal before the Senate to add a ninth ray to the sun in the Philippine Flag. Yes, you read that right. A ninth ray to the sun in the Philippine Flag. According to him, the additional ray will symbolize his "advocacy to champion reforms in Mindanao." Now don't ask me exactly how a 9th ray can make a whole lotta difference but if you ask the senator (who, I think, also has plans to run for president come May 2010), he says this move is part of his many advocacies for "peace and continuous growth and development not only for the Muslim people but also for the whole of Mindanao." The me...

Sep12009 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

How ForMe Boutique CDO almost robbed me of nearly 400 pesos and how ForMe has lost a customer forever

Business, Commentary, Consumer, Controversial, Crime, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal, Style

What supposed to be was a fun Sunday shopping spree went sour when Mindanaoan was almost "robbed" of nearly 400 pesos by a boutique in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao. It's really disappointing and I'm writing about this to reiterate the need and importance of consumer protection and rights of paying customers. The CDO Limketkai Mall branch of ForMe, a company owned by Golden ABC (which also runs Oxygen, Red Logo, Memo, Regatta and Penshoppe), failed to bill me correctly and if I wasn't able to double check my purchases and receipt, I would have been "robbed" of P379.20 Here's what happened... I bought two tops at the Cagayan de Oro branch of ForMe at the Ground Floor of Limketkai Mall. The store was offering a sale. One top was originally priced at P998.00 (it had a barcode of 30...

Aug272009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanao peace and development hostaged to politics

Commentary, Controversial, Government, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personalities, Politics

Senator (and rumored presidentiable) Francis "Chiz" Escudero has said it and I agree --- the peace and development here in Mindanao is hostaged to politics. The kind of politics that run in "Imperial Manila." One of the things that the next president should do is bring together all stakeholders in Mindanao to craft a development agenda --- one that's doable, cost efficient and worth all of our time and efforts --- that will not be hostaged to any change in administration. “Only an all-stakeholders approach will lead to the long-sought peace and meaningful development in this region, not Imperial Manila’s “urong-sulong, atras abante” approach since we gained independence,” Escudero said. The 39-year old lawmaker said the country’s development will greatly be accelerated if authorit...

Aug242009 by Mindanaoan Irene6 Comments

“Sa Manila, hindi ganito ang service…”

Advocacy, Bisaya, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Consumer, Controversial, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion, Personal, Weird

Mindanaoan can't help but blog about this. What happened late last Saturday night at a 24 hour fastfood store located at Divisoria, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao reminded me of so many things --- two of which are the need for Mindanaoans to be more assertive and why I love Mindanao (and why it will always be home for me). Before I go any further, however, I would just like to emphasize that the following are just my personal opinions and are not meant to hit anyone. My post is more like a reminder...an eye-opener, if you will...of the fact that discrimination even among Filipinos (still) exist. Last Saturday night, right after the Tatak Environmentalist event, I went to a fastfood store at Divisoria. I decided to grab some grub as I waited for my brother to fetch me. As I fell in line a...

Aug62009 by Mindanaoan Irene12 Comments

President Arroyo dead | How Manila Bulletin killed President Gloria Arroyo

Blogging, Commentary, Controversial, Government, Headline, Humor, Internet, Journalism, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion, Personalities, Photos, Politics, Technology

This controversial picture has been doing the rounds online today (this has been shared and re-shared through Facebook and blogs) but just in case you didn't get to see this, here's one major faux pas courtesy of broadsheet Manila Bulletin. Manila Bulletin "killed" President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo! What do you think of this and what do you think will happen to the section editor of Manila Bulletin? Check out the photo found in this entry. Notice the caption: “With utmost care. Military honor guard carefully moves the coffin of President Arroyo out of the Manila Cathedral.” The controversial Manila Bulletin photo was published in the early edition, page 20. However, I was told that the section containing the picture was promptly removed from the newspaper sets distributed in Visayas ...

Jul272009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

What will Pres. Arroyo report about Mindanao in her last State of the Nation Address – SONA?

Advocacy, Commentary, Government, Headline, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News

Today, July 27, 2009, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will address the nation in her last (or so we believe or made to believe) State of the Nation Address (SONA). So far, Arroyo has made 8 SONAs and today, during her last SONA, I want to know what she will report about Mindanao. Will she say the truth? Will she tell the whole country and the whole world the real score about the ongoing peace talks, movements against terrorism, Mindanao tourism, political controversies etc? Will she say that during her term, more jobs were created for Mindanaoans? Will she say that the level of education became better during her presidency? Will she say that her administration has now struck a balance between population management, human development and social responsibility? What about ...

Jul142009 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Figaro coffee shop at Cagayan de Oro City Mindanao

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Consumer, Corporate, Culture, Davao City, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Personal, Photos, Reviews

Davao City is no longer the only Mindanao area where the famous Figaro Coffee has a store. Figaro Coffee has already set up shop at Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao! Established in 1993, Figaro is a 100 percent Filipino-owned coffee company. Figaro Cagayan de Oro is located right across the SMART Wireless Center and Globe Telecoms office area of the said CDO mall. The Figaro coffee shop is also right below Skypark Grill and near the Rosario Arcade. Check out the photos I took using my brother's cellular phone camera: And since my brother and I are huge coffee lovers, we decided to stop by and have our snacks at Figaro CDO. I had the ham and cheese sandwich and cafe latte while my brother had baked mini pizzas and cafe latte as well: The ambience at Figa...

Jul142009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Let’s not forget the 3 kidnapped teachers…part deux

Advocacy, ARMM, Basilan, Commentary, Controversial, Crime, Government, Mindanaoan Update, Muslim Mindanao, News, Sulu, Zamboanga Sibugay

MINDANAO - Opposition senator and reported 2010 presidentiable Francis "Chiz" Escudero and I share the same sentiments. Chiz Escudero, in his recent press statement, has asked the public that while it's true that we all should be happy for International Red Cross volunteer Eugenio Vagni's safe release from captivity in Basilan, we should still not forget the three teachers who remain hostages of the Abu Sayyaf. If you remember, these are my very thoughts last May 2009. The three teachers namely Jocelyn Enriquez, Jocelyn Inion and Noemi Mandi were abducted by last March 13 off the island barangay of Bangkaw-Bangkaw, Naga town, Zamboanga Sibugay while they were on the way home. “The end of Mr. Vagni’s ordeal should convince those working behind the scenes to exert more effort in...

Jul122009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanao food aid from United Nations to continue – definitely good news!

Advocacy, Announcements, ARMM, Basilan, BIMP-EAGA, Commentary, Food, Government, Headline, Mindanaoan Update, News, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga Sibugay

MINDANAO - Thankfully, the Mindanao food aid from the United Nations World Food Program will continue! We Mindanaoans should really be thankful for this because the UN WFP food assistance can really help so many people especially those displaced by the recent conflicts here in Mindanao. UN Resident Coordinator ad interim Dr. Soe Nyunt-U has reportedly announced that the delivery of food aid for Mindanao will resume once the travel restrictions imposed on their personnel are lifted. I'm hoping that the travel restrictions will be lifted very soon! So many families will really benefit from the UN WFP food assistance. Accordingly, the travel restriction to Mindanao for UN World Food Program personnel was only for the week of July 6 and was a precautionary measure following the spate of ...

Jul92009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Full list of 58 erring contractors suspended by the DPWH – Mangima Road, Manolo Fortich contractor among those suspended

Announcements, Bukidnon, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Consumer, Controversial, Davao City, Malaybalay City, Mindanaoan Update, News, Tourism, Travel

MINDANAO - If you've recently tried a Bukidnon-Cagayan de Oro City road trip or a Davao City-Bukidnon-Cagayan de Oro City road trip, then you've most likely noticed the bottleneck of traffic at the Mangima Road section of Sayre Highway, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, Mindanao. There's currently a road and rehabilitation project there and I absolutely dread that section. I was once stuck there for 5 hours (!) during a Malaybalay City to Cagayan de Oro City trip. It usually just takes me 2 hours. You could just imagine the amount of time I've wasted! That Mangima Canyon Road repair project has been a cause of delays and loads of inconvenience for the riding public for months now. In fact, in an effort to ease the traffic somehow, the Provincial Government of Bukidnon has requested that no 1...

Jul92009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Sen. Chiz Escudero urges Malacanang to diverte imported rice to Mindanao refugees

Commentary, Cotabato, Food, Government, Headline, Iligan City, Mindanaoan Update, News, Personalities

At least someone's thinking about Mindanao and Mindanao refugees! Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday said that the government should act immediately to divert shipments of imported rice to central Mindanao so that the 380,000 refugees in evacuation centers won’t go hungry after a UN agency halted its food relief operations in the region. “We are faced with a humanitarian crisis that could become a disaster if this administration fails to act quickly to fill in the gap left by the UN World Food Program,” Escudero said. “Part of the rice we have been shipping in from abroad can be diverted to the ports of General Santos and Cotabato City. This will not make a dent in the NFA’s 82-day buffer stock,” he said. He also called on the government to ensure the safety of the staff of t...

Jul62009 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Why blame the Mindanao media all the time?

Advocacy, ARMM, BIMP-EAGA, Blogging, Broadcasting, Commentary, Controversial, Crime, Government, Headline, Journalism, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal, Personalities, Sarangani, SoSCksargen, Tourism

My classmate in Ateneo and Sarangani provincial governor Miguel Rene Dominguez is asking for trouble. Not a few eyebrows will surely be raised after he reportedly blamed the Mindanao media for "always highlighting all the bad things that are happening in Mindanao." Same goes with Lt. Colonel Edgardo de Leon, commander of the 73rd Infantry Battalion, who also blamed the media. Dominguez said that the "insurgency and other conflicts in Mindanao is actually just a game of perception. And I blame the media for that!" He reportedly then said that the culture of the media today, except for a few who are practicing peace journalism, is not very commendable. De Leon, on the other hand, said that the rest of the country's and the world's perception of Mindanao at present is also the work of t...

Jul52009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

NBA Superstar Kobe Bryant in Mindanao

Advocacy, Commentary, Events, General Santos City, Humor, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Sarangani, SoSCksargen, South Cotabato, Sports

NBA MVP and Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant is coming back to Manila! Nike has made an official announcement that NBA superstar Kobe Bryant will be in Manila, Philippines on July 21, 2009 (this actually falls on a Tuesday so I'm guessing there will be many students who will cut classes so that they can keep up with the Kobe Bryant in Manila schedule). Kobe's much-awaited Asia Tour 2009 will kick off in Manila then the LA Lakers player will be off to Singapore, Taipei, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Cheng Du. During this Asia Tour, Kobe Bryant will also promote the new Nike Dream Season sneakers exclusively released for Asia. I'm sure Kobe will be a busy bee while he's here in the Philippines. Actually, by the time he comes over, he has most probably finished filming a Nike comm...

Jul22009 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Mindanao vice mayor incurs 99 absences out of 100 council sessions

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Controversial, Government, Media, Mindanaoan Update, News, Northern Mindanao, Opinion, Personal, Personalities, Society, Weird

The banner story of a Mindanao regional newspaper yesterday, July 1, 2009, may have been surprising for many (shocking even) but for a Mindanao journalist like me who has been working around politicians for quite a while, it was really nothing new. The same thing, although probably not as "worse," has been happening not only in the local city councils but also even down to barangay councils and even in the Senate and Congress. According to Mindanao Gold Star Daily, Cagayan de Oro City Vice Mayor Vicente Emano has reportedly incurred 99 absences out of 100 council sessions. That means Emano has presided only ONCE since assuming office. Emano reportedly only attended the inauguration of the present Cagayan de Oro City council and that was it. And as if to really add "more color" to...

Jun252009 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Michael Jackson dead at 50…is this for real?

Blogging, Commentary, Controversial, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal, Society, Technology

Like millions of fans around the world, I woke up today shocked and with tears in my eyes. I woke up to the sound of a CNN report saying that the King of Pop - THE Michael Jackson - has been hospitalized and then went into a deep coma. A few minutes later, L.A. Times, AP and Fox News confirmed that Michael Jackson has died at the age of 50. Interestingly, and even right at this moment as I am blogging this, CNN STILL has not yet confirmed the news that Michael Jackson has died. Which is a good thing because basic journalism ethics state that news should always be verified before you broadcast it, lest you want to create senseless or unreasonable commotion. Right now, at this very moment, tears are rolling down my eyes. In my heart, I am hoping that Michael Jackson is still alive....

Jun172009 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Poker and gambling center OK’d in Iligan City, Mindanao

Business, Commentary, Consumer, Controversial, Entertainment, Government, Iligan City, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, News, Society, Sports

MINDANAO -So is it just me or is poker really becoming more and more popular here in the Philippines particularly here in Mindanao? Some of my friends are getting hooked on the game and I don't mean online poker or that popular Texas Hold 'Em poker application in Facebook. I mean poker games in private homes, special facilities, gambling centers and the like. The latest poker and gaming facility to be given the green light is one that's owned by the Kagayanon Sports Club, Inc. It will be located inside the Iliganon Convenience Store, Coffee Shop and Restobar located along Quezon Avenue, Barangay Palao, Iligan City, Mindanao. This poker center in Iligan City will reportedly be enclosed and of course, no minors will be allowed inside the area. How the owners or operators could assure t...