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

Jun142009 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Conquering the Xcelerator – the longest speed zip line in Asia

Commentary, Davao City, Entertainment, Features, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Photos, Reviews, Society, Tourism, Travel

MINDANAO - A few weeks ago, my family and I celebrated our brother's birthday by trying the most talked about Xcelerator over at Outland Adventure, Davao City, Mindanao. The Outland Adventure Xcelerator is said to be the longest speed zip line in all of Asia! Cool, right? We arrived at Outland Adventure Davao City half an hour before noon. As it turned out, we missed the "cut-off" time so we had to wait until they re-opened at roughly 1:30 pm. The more than an hour wait was all right --- we just kept ourselves busy taking photos. By 1:30 pm, all of the "zip liners" for the afternoon were asked to sign waivers. Then we proceeded to the area where we put on the harnesses, helmets and other safety gear. My brothers and I were made to choose if we wanted the "Superman" option or the ordi...

Jun52009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Sen. Ping Lacson’s speech at the ANC Leadership Forum

Announcements, Commentary, Controversial, Government, Headline, Media, Mindanaoan Update, News, Opinion, Personalities

Full text of Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson's speech - statement at the ANC Leadership Forum held earlier this evening, June 5, 2009. Sen. Ping Lacson reportedly withdrew from the 2010 Presidential elections. Sen. Ping has been identified as one of the presidentiables in next year's national elections. The following is Senator Ping's full statement delivered last June 5, 2009 at the ANC Leadership Forum. Thank you to Gerry of the Office of Sen. Ping for this full statement: Thank you for this invitation to the second ANC Leadership Forum. Up until I made a decision last Sunday to retire myself from a race that would matter most in the lives of our beloved countrymen, I had every intention to share with our people my vision of what the Philippines ought to be in a Ping Lacson pres...

May252009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Let’s not forget the kidnapped teachers in Basilan, Mindanao please

Advocacy, ARMM, Basilan, Commentary, Controversial, Crime, Mindanaoan Update, Muslim Mindanao, News, Opinion

Amid all the "controversies" these days --- from Dr. Vicki Belo's former flame Dr. Hayden Kho's sex video scandal to the two confirmed cases of A H1N1 in the country to Brillante Mendoza's amazing win as Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival, it seems that we don't hear of any updates with regard to the six teachers that are still being held hostage in Basilan, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). I find this very, very unfortunate. While it's true that to not talk much about the hostage taking may be good for the government's strategy to retrieve the hostages, one cannot also help but think if all the "current controversies" merely "cover" the more important and more pressing issues. Last I heard, there's a Basilan crisis management committee that's handling the matte...

May192009 by Mindanaoan Irene8 Comments

Is Xavier University to blame for the recent suicides?

Cagayan de Oro City, Campus, Commentary, Controversial, Mindanaoan Update, News, Opinion

So two students of Ateneo de Cagayan University (Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao) have committed suicide in the past few weeks. Roldan Bacadon, who graduated magna cum laude no less, committed suicide last Black Saturday. He allegedly drank poison and was allegedly depressed. A few weeks later, 20-year old Iphraim dela Cruz, a Xavier University Nursing student hanged himself to death. Again, it was allegedly because of depression. Dela Cruz allegedly got a failing grade. Observers are now asking: is it high time for Xavier University to re-examine their standards? Is it high time for the school to re-evaluate their teachers? Or are these student-suicides just two unfortunate random incidents? Is Xavier University to blame for these suicides? What are your th...

May42009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanao growth threatened by power shortage

Advocacy, Announcements, Business, Commentary, Controversial, Davao City, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Sarangani

Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero said over the weekend that the growth of Mindanao may be stunted unless investments in the power sector start pouring in. “Mindanao is where a fourth of the country’s population lives. Unless we take steps to ensure sufficient power on the island by creating a conducive environment for investments, we as a nation will be headed for a crisis,” Escudero said. He called for the immediate privatization of the government’s power generation and distribution assets in the region and to allow free market forces to determine costs rather than keeping power rates artificially low supposedly to attract industries. He said investments in Mindanao’s power sector are unlikely if power pricing problems remain unsettled Despite a recent increase to P2.8177 per kil...

Apr152009 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

The power of luya, salabat and Pei Pa Koa

Advocacy, Commentary, Consumer, Features, Food, Humor, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal, Recipes, Reviews, Weird

So I'm up at 3 o'clock in the morning. I'm set to travel to Koronadal City, Mindanao in a few hours. Terribly excited to see another part of my beloved Island of Mindanao but a bit worried, too. Not about traveling to the place formerly called Marbel but because I lost my voice...literally! I caught nasty cough and colds a few days ago and now I'm paying for the consequence --- I currently have terribly hoarse voice. Two days ago was the worst. I could barely hear myself. I couldn't hear anything when I tried to utter a word! Enter my immediate remedies for this type of emergency --- luya (ginger), salabat (ginger ale) and the ever trusty Pei Pa Koa. Ever since I was a child, my mother always reminded us of the wonders of luya and salabat. And of course, mothers know best. Ginger ...

Apr102009 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

The presidentiables, senatoriables are now reaching out to Mindanao

Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Controversial, Government, Headline, Journalism, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Opinion, Personal, Personalities, Society

The next Philippine national elections may still be a little over a year away from today but the various personalities believed to be among the "2010 senatoriables" and "2010 presidentiables" have started to make their presence felt here in Mindanao. Just a few days ago, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay paid Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao a visit. He was the guest of honor in an SK-related event, I think. However, sources told me that he also proceeded to the Province of Bukidnon to meet some political allies. Care to guess what they discussed? Senator Mar Roxas, on the other hand, has also been visible around Mindanao as of late. Touted as the Liberal Party's presidential bet, Senator Mar has been doing the rounds here as commencement exercises speaker. Same thing with the solon fro...

Mar32009 by Mindanaoan Irene16 Comments

How long before you get your SSS ID – three months!

Business, Commentary, Consumer, Government, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal, Society, Technology

Well, in my case, at least. After a little over three months, I finally received it. I received my Social Security System (SSS) ID in the mail today. My SS card was sent via registered mail and interestingly, the "generic" letter that came with it (which was signed by current SSS Chairman Romulo Neri) was dated February 3, 2009 but the envelope was postmarked February 19, 2009. So I'm thinking the SSS has one really very slow mailing process. Anyways, this post on how long before you get your SSS ID comes three months after my entry on how to get your SSS ID card. In that post, I mentioned that the data capture operator told me that it might take more than two months before my SSS digital ID is sent via registered mail. Well, what do you know? She was right! Not only did it take more th...

Mar12009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Exactly who in Lanao del Norte, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Caraga received the P2.7M worth of checks?

Cagayan de Oro City, Caraga, Commentary, Controversial, Davao City, Government, Headline, Lanao del Norte, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Opinion

This is exactly why I sometimes dislike writing news articles based on press releases or announcements (especially those from government entities.) You really don't get the minute details, you know that most of the time these PRs are just to "beautify" the government's image and if you really need to get to the bottom of things, you have to exert effort and really research. Unfortunately for journalists like me, however, there really are days when you don't have any other choice but to stick to the PR or media statement and hope that your article comes out fair, balanced and factual. I read a rather interesting article today."Displaced OFWs from Mindanao get P2.7M gift from Arroyo" - GMANews The article claimed that President Gloria Arroyo handed out a total of 33 checks worth P2.7 m...

Feb262009 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Full statement of former Bukidnon congressman Neric Acosta on graft charges filed against him

Bukidnon, Commentary, Controversial, Government, Headline, Media, Mindanaoan Update, News, Northern Mindanao, Opinion, Personal, Personalities

Yesterday, February 25, 2009, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez ordered the filing of graft charges against former Bukidnon First District Congressman Neric Acosta, his mother former Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon mayor Socorro Acosta and his aunt Nemia Bornidor (member of the Board of Trustees of the Bukidnon Integrated Network of Home Industries, Inc. and JR Nereus Acosta's aunt). The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Fr. Venancio Balansag Jr., Fr. Wilredo Torayno, Vicente N. Abrogueña (now deceased), and Felix Vergara, Jr. representing the Bukidnon Crusade Against Graft and Corruption. The BCAGC alleged that on January 9, 2001, the former Bukidnon congressman and Yale World Fellow and then Mayor Amado Noble of Talakag, Bukidnon executed a Memorandum of Agreement providing for the appropr...

Feb222009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Quick updates: Kaamulan Festival 2009 in Bukidnon

Bukidnon, Commentary, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Fiesta, Kaamulan Festival, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal

So today, Sunday, February 22, 2009, is the fifth day since the "soft opening" of the Kaamulan Festival 2009 celebration here in the Province of Bukidnon, Mindanao. I'm here because my team and I (meaning my very helpful brothers and I) are in-charge of some Kaamulan 2009 events. We regularly have a lot of responsibilities every Kaamulan time and it's something that we just love to do. There's a different kind of rush whenever you're part of something grand and looked forward to by many. Plus of course it's an honor to be a part of such a huge festival (not to mention the widely recognized only remaining authentic ethnic festival in the Philippines!) There are now hundreds of booths at the Capitol Grounds here in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. All of these booths, by the way, are only made ...

Jan202009 by Mindanaoan Irene16 Comments

The curious case of the CagayanCon 2009 website and a controversy?

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion, Personal

The 1st Cagayan de Oro Construction Show 2009 (CagayanCon '09) was held last January 16, 17 and 18, 2009 at the Rotunda, Lim Ket Kai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao, Philippines. The event aims to pool together stakeholders (from construction businessmen to manufacturers to suppliers to end consumers) in the construction industry. I must admit, I didn't hear about the event up until I was actually inside Limketkai Mall last Sunday, January 18, the last day of the exhibit. I was in town (CDO) for the day and I noticed the many booths at the Rotunda area of the said famous Cagayan de Oro mall. I was only able to check out 2-3 booths that day, unfortunately, so I vowed to check the event website and hopefully write about it here in Mindanaoan. Lo and behold, I found a couple of highly ...

Jan192009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Is Mindanao really RP’s “Wild West”?

Advocacy, Commentary, Government, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion

This got me thinking when I received a press release from the Office of Sen. Richard Gordon recently. The PR read: "Turn around Mindanao’s image as RP’s ‘Wild West’ – Gordon" The senator said that Mindanao has "gained a negative reputation in the international media as the country’s “Wild, Wild West” due to the continued spate of kidnappings, sporadic bombings, and the poor peace and order situation." Is our beloved island Mindanao really the Philippines' version of the so-called "Wild West"? In a meeting with the Regional Development Council of Region 12 and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Gordon challenged Mindanao executives to turn around Mindanao's negative image from being the “Wild West of the Philippines ” into a premier tourist destination with its unique history and ...