Features Archives - Page 14 of 36 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Jul72014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

HOT-STAR Philippines: Taiwan’s Large Fried Chicken in Manila @HotStarPH

So if you read somewhere that one of Taiwan's most famous chicken chop places has finally opened a branch in Manila and that for only Php110, you get a fried chicken so large that it's even bigger than your face (!!!), you just have to go try and see for yourself, right? :D That's exactly what my brother and I did when we were in Manila - we satisfied our curiosity and paid Hot-Star Philippines a visit! Hot-Star Large Fried Chicken, located at Blue Bay Walk, Macapagal Avenue corner EDSA, Pasay City, is a fastfood, sit-down restaurant that offers affordable meals. Of course, the "star" of their menu is the large fried chicken - and they weren't kidding when they said "large." Hot-Star's fried chicken is 30 cm long - big enough for 2 to 3 people to share! Placing an order is pr...

Jun262014 by Mindanaoan Irene7 Comments

Islands Souvenirs launches Limketkai store, names I Heart CDO ambassadors

Advocacy, Announcements, Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Fashion, Features, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Shopping, Society, Style

Islands Souvenirs officially launched their Limketkai Mall CDO branch last June 21, 2014 and named their "I Heart CDO" brand ambassadors at the same time. The Cebu-based souvenirs store, known for revolutionizing souvenir shopping in the Philippines by transforming cottage-industry type products and giving them a fresher look, held the launch at their store located at the East Concourse, Limketkai Mall. Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno joined Islands Souvenirs EVP Camille Aldeguer, Limketkai and Sons EVP Albino Limketkai and Miss CDO 2013 Amadea Piatti during the ribbon cutting ceremony. Together with the launch of its Limketkai Branch, Islands Souvenirs also unveiled their I Heart Cagayan de Oro or I Heart CDO campaign, as well as their I Heart Cagayan de Oro Brand Ambassadors:...

Jun252014 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Mindanaoan is an Islands Souvenirs I heart CDO brand ambassador

Advocacy, Beauty, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Fashion, Features, Media, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update

As someone who has been very contented working behind the scenes for more than a decade, to ever be offered the opportunity to model and help endorse something is the farthest on my mind. Never have I thought that a brand - a very well-known one at that - would even consider me to be one of their brand ambassadors. So you could just imagine how honored I felt when Islands Souvenirs, through their head honcho Jay Aldeguer (one of the very few people I truly admire!), chose me as one of their "I heart CDO" Islands Souvenirs brand ambassadors. It was something I could never say no to. I mean, really --- apart from the fact that it was THE Jay Aldeguer who asked me, I also truly believe in the Islands Souvenirs brand. I am a fan of their advocacies - which are to revolutionize souvenir ...

Jun92014 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Must-do in Sarangani: White Water Tubing

BIMP-EAGA, Features, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Sarangani, SoSCksargen, Tourism, Travel

One of the things you MUST do when you're in Sarangani, Mindanao, Philippines - white water tubing. No Sarangani adventure will ever be complete if you don't try white water tubing. It's a fun extreme adventure experience like no other! Now let me make something clear first. If you've tried white water rafting and you think that white water tubing is almost like it, you're wrong. Personally, they offer different kinds of thrill. First off, you ride in rubber boats for river rafting. In water tubing, however, you sit on recycled rubber tubes ("salbabida") with fashioned "handles." You need to grip the handles really well so you don't fall into the water, get swallowed by the rapids or hit the boulders. Okay, I hope that didn't scare you :D Truth be told, tubing might look scary at first ...

May82014 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Where Mindanaoan is heading to next – Sarangani Bay Festival 2014

Advocacy, Announcements, Beauty, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, General Santos City, Mindanaoan Update, Sarangani, SoSCksargen, Tourism

I'm really, really excited to share this with all of you! I'm heading to Sarangani Province in a few days for the much-awaited Sarangani Bay Festival 2014 or SarBayFest 2014!!! :D I can't wait to visit the beautiful white sand beaches at Glan, Sarangani again and witness just how fun the biggest beach festival in Mindanao is! I would like to extend my most heartfelt gratitude to the Provincial Government of Sarangani led by Governor Steve Solon for this very special invitation and most especially to the First Lady of the province - Ma'am Michelle Solon :) Thank you, thank you very much! Interested to attend the Sarangani Bay Festival 2014 as well? Come! Here's the Sarangani Bay Festival 2014 schedule of activities: May 16, 2014 5 AM - Swim Across the Bay 8 AM - SarBay T...

May52014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Photos: Gerald Anderson and Star Magic Basketball team in CDO @hashtagprod11

Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Photos, Society, Sports

The stars descended on Cagayan de Oro last May 4, 2014 for the much-awaited Star Magic Basketball Game! Captain Gerald Anderson and the rest of the Star Magic Basketball Team did not only make the ladies swoon but they also impressed the guys with their good basketball skills. So good were their basketball skills that the Star Magic team won 82 - 78 against local team Corpus Christi Knights. Aside from Gerald Anderson, the other Star Magic basketball players included Rayver Cruz, Japoy Lizardo, Carlo Aquino, Matt Evans, Ejay Falcon, Jerome Ponce, Gerard Acao, Young JV and Jon Lucas. You can read my previous post about this HERE. Congratulations to Hashtag Productions, to the staff and crew, to the sponsors (special mention to Shopwise CDO, Liempo King, Great White Water Rafting and B...

May32014 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Relax at Mapaso Wellness Spring Resort, Mainit, Surigao del Norte

Agusan del Norte, Features, Leisure, Surigao, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tourism, Travel

I realize the title of this blog entry is a bit ironic, considering that "mapaso" means "to get burnt" in Bisaya and "hot" in Surigaonon dialect :) But yes, you can definitely relax at Mapaso Wellness Spring Resort, located some 2 kilometers from the town proper of the Municipality of Mainit, Surigao del Norte. The Mapaso Spring Resort in Mainit (see how the name of the resort is related to the name of town?) is reminiscent of Ardent Hibok Hibok Spring Resort in Camiguin Island. A natural hot springs resort, Mapaso Wellness Resort boasts of fresh sulfuric flowing water from the mountains. You see, sulfuric water reportedly has therapeutic effects - it can help treat asthma, rheumatism and skin diseases. It was early afternoon when we traveled from Mainit Lakeside Hotel and Resort to ...

May12014 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Islands Souvenirs CDO – 3 things you will love

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping, Society, Style

Souvenirs from CDO? Look no further - Islands Souvenirs is finally back in Cagayan de Oro! In a post here on Mindanaoan.com about two weeks ago, I shared that Islands Souvenirs is set to open two stores in Cagayan de Oro. Well, the first one is finally open! Located at the 1st level, East Wing (East Concourse Annex, below the escalator, in front of the ATM row), Limketkai Mall, Islands Souvenirs CDO has truly made quite a comeback :) They first opened a branch in the 90's and now the Philippines' top brand for souvenir items is back with a bang! I was able to visit the new Islands Souvenirs Limketkai branch (much thanks to Islands Group CEO Jay Aldeguer, one of the very few people I truly admire!) and let me tell you - it's a must-visit! Here are 3 reasons why you will love sh...

Apr262014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanaoan.com is media partner of Star Magic charity basketball game

Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Personalities, Society, Sports

Very excited to share that Mindanaoan.com is an official media partner of the upcoming Star Magic Charity Basketball Game in Cagayan de Oro! The much-awaited charity event will be held on Sunday, May 4, 2014, 12 noon (gates open at 8 am), Corpus Christi Gym and will feature the following celebrities: • PBB Teen Edition 3rd Big Placer and “On the Job” actor Gerald Anderson • Actor, dancer, singer, and ASAP mainstay Rayver Cruz • Taekwondo champion, actor, and commercial model Japoy Lizardo • Versatile actor (“Anna Liza”, “Ang TV”, “G-mik”, “Berks”, “Ang Tanging Ina”) Carlo Aquino • “Be Careful With My Heart’s” Jerome Ponce • PBB Teen Edition Plus Big Winner and actor Ejay Falcon • Comedian Gerard Acao • PBB, “Pedro Penduko”, and “The Legal Wife’s” Matt Evans • Star Magic C...

Apr82014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Seafood buffet at Misto Restaurant, Seda Hotel @AyalaCentrio

Cagayan de Oro City, Events, Features, Food, Hotels, Misamis Oriental, Society

Love seafood? Seda Hotel Centrio's Misto Restaurant has something special in store for you! Misto is offering a seafood buffet every Wednesdays to Fridays, 6pm to 10pm. For a very affordable price of only Php 450.00 per person, you can enjoy a variety of delicious seafood delights at one of Cagayan de Oro's premiere restaurants. After a sumptuous meal at Misto Restaurant Seda Hotel Centrio, how about staying for a night or two? Book a room at Seda Hotel CDO here and experience a lovely urban escape :)

Feb182014 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Why you should visit Tsinoy’s Pares and Mami House CDO

ARMM, Banks, Beauty, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Consumer, Dipolog, Fashion, Features, Food, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, News, Northern Mindanao, Resorts, Reviews

I love Filipino food. I love Chinese food. Sometimes I crave for a little bit of both and then want something interesting that I don't get to try everyday. Did that confuse you? Let me put it this way - don't we have days when we just want both Chinese and Filipino food - and then maybe something that could remind us of our memorable Asian trips - all in one table? Good thing Michelle of Tsinoy's Pares and Mami House CDO recently invited me, my mom and Emma to try out their fare. It was the perfect way to satisfy cravings! Nestled at Tiano - Mabini Streets, Cagayan de Oro, Tsinoy's CDO is a 7-month old restaurant that's fast gaining fans and loyal customers. Of course, judging by their establishment's name alone, we know that they serve Chinese and Filipino food. However, Tsinoy'...

Jan152014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

How to enjoy coffee and help reforest Mindanao

Bukidnon, Consumer, Culture, Features, Food, Gifts, Mindanao

I just love receiving (and later on, buying for myself) gifts that I know support a local community, especially an indigenous tribe. I love supporting groups that have products made especially by indigenous people in Mindanao. One of the products that I now fervently support and promote is Hineleban Coffee. I first received it as a corporate gift last Christmas 2013 from Centrio Ayala Mall. Look at the Instagram photo I posted. You can also see the card that featured Jaime Zobel de Ayala's photos. Anyway, the gift I got came in a 500 gram (half kilo) bag of 100% highland premium arabica coffee produced by Hineleban Foundation. Now what makes Hineleban Coffee truly special, you ask? It's coffee that doesn't only taste good, it also helps reforest Mindanao! You see, Hinel...

Dec302013 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Mindanaoan.com wins at CDO Bloggers Awards 2013

Advocacy, Announcements, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Education, Events, Features, Internet, Make Money Online, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Technology

The year 2013 has truly been a good year for me, especially in terms of my passion for blogging and social media. Aside from being tapped as a resource speaker during social media day, national social media summits, Google events like GDayX and the like, I also garnered some awards. Last October 2013, this Mindanao blogger bagged not only the Best Lifestyle Blog award but the most coveted Mindanao Blogger of the Year 2013 recognition! And just last night, December 29, 2013, luck was again on my side. During the CDO Bloggers Awards 2013, I received two awards including the Most Active CDO Bloggers Member of the Year plaque! Thank you very much to my CDO Bloggers family! Truly honored and grateful! Daghang salamat :)

Dec292013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Havaianas Holiday 2013 Collection

Cagayan de Oro City, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Artists, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Society, Style

As a certified Havaianatico, I always get really excited whenever Havaianas releases new designs. And this Christmas season is no different! Havaianas is bringing more joy and happy memories as they release the new and stylish Havaianas 2013 Holiday Collection! What's also great about this is that Spruce, my favorite go-to place for everything Havaianas, is carrying these styles. Their sister store, All Flip Flops, also has these pretty Havaianas Christmas designs! Brought by inspiration from conventional trends and infused with a modern twist comes the military-inspired Havaianas Camuflada, geometric-styled Havaianas Trend, ever-savvy Havaianas Slim Fresh and the quintessential Havaianas Striped styles. Lovely colors, right? Ready to treat yourself t...

Dec262013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Foodspotting: Famous Belgian Waffles

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Reviews, Society

Famous Belgian Waffles. Just how "famous" and delicious are these waffles? Well, Famous Belgian Waffles Limketkai CDO is just one of the more than 100 outlets all over the Philippines and there's always a bevy of hungry and eager customers at each of their waffle stores so I guess they're doing something right! :) I got to try these delicious treats a few days ago when the CDO franchisee invited this Mindanaoan blogger for a visit. I also brought along several blogger friends and my brother, the Tennis Guru, who was also in town for a vacation. To say that we all enjoyed our freshly baked, delicious, crispy golden brown waffles is actually an understatement. All of us absolutely LOVED our treats! Most of us tried the blueberry creamcheese while one tried the banana hazelnut variety. ...

Dec262013 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Merry Christmas from Bamboo and Mindanaoan.com

Announcements, Features, Mindanaoan Update

Merry Christmas to all of my dear Mindanaoan.com readers, subscribers, followers! I sincerely hope that you had a meaningful and blessed Christmas. For me, Christmas is when you realize that you have so many things to be thankful for and that there are many things money simply cannot buy. Christmas is a great reminder that the basic things in life are truly the most important. What about you? What does Christmas mean to you? :) I also have an extra thing to be thankful for this Christmas. Someone I admire sent me a very sweet video message congratulating me for my recent win as Mindanao Blogger of the Year 2013 and Best Lifestyle Blog awardee ! Hi Bamboo :) [yes, my face is a little beet red right now *blush*] Bamboo made this cute fan sign, too! Super special thanks to ...

Dec222013 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

EXCLUSIVE: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Live In Manila, Philippines 2014 #MacklemoreRyanLewisPH

Announcements, Entertainment, Events, Features, Manila, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Society, United States of America

UPDATED: Very affordable ticket prices below! YES! MACKLEMORE IS HEADING TO MANILA!!! Superstar duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Live in Manila on March 16, 2014 at the Mall of Asia Arena! Who's ready to go to the "Thrift Shop" and "throw our hands up like the ceiling can't hold us"? If you've been following Mindanaoan on Twitter, well, folks, this is the exciting news I've been dying to share with you all! Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are bringing their multi-platinum hits "Can't Hold Us," "Same Love," "White Walls" and of course, "Thrift Shop," called by Forbes as "one of the biggest sleeper hits of the decade, earning certification for 7 million downloads sold in the United States" alone. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' "The Heist" album also sold more than 1 million copies, perform before SOLD...

Dec152013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Travel: New way to explore Davao and Samal Island beaches

Advocacy, Blogging, Business, Consumer, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Features, Island Garden City of Samal, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Resorts, Reviews, Society, Tourism, Travel

One of the many joys of living in Davao City is that it is just several minutes away (a 15-minute ferry ride away, in fact) from Samal Island (Island Garden City of Samal or IGACOS), home of white sand beaches, great resorts, clear water, healthy marine life and dive spots. A lot of tourists usually go to just one resort in Samal Island but did you know that there's now a new, fun way to explore Davao and the beaches around Samal? Why not go island hopping aboard Explore Davao? Explore Davao is an outrigger boat (bangka) complete with an expanded sun deck, bean bags, iPod dock and a cooler. Explore Davao island hopping banca even has its own comfort room and a nifty trapdoor! To show you just how comfortable Davao island hopping aboard Explore Davao is, here are my cool friends an...

Dec92013 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

South Border, Side A, Freestyle in 1 concert – Yolanda fundraiser

Advocacy, Announcements, Davao City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Music, Society

It's been a month since deadly typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) struck the Philippines. The death toll so far - 5,260. Unfortunately, that number is still increasing. Haiyan, a category 5 super typhoon, left thousands of people homeless and hungry. While it's true that billions of dollars in aid have started to pour in, the fight is still not over. Far from it. Hence, every fundraising event, volunteer movement and donation drive really counts. One upcoming fundraising event for typhoon Yolanda survivors, dubbed "Pag-Asa Sa Pag Gising," is close to my heart. I love all of the performers, yes, but one of the bands is my most favorite ever - South Border. I wrote a post earlier about just how much I love them and why they will always have my love and support. Additionally, thi...

Nov282013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Buy a #BangonPilipinas shirt and help typhoon Haiyan victims

Advocacy, Blogging, Cebu City, Corporate, Fashion, Features, Headline, Society, Style, Visayas

If you've been following me on Twitter or Facebook (I hope you are :) I would love to connect with you there!), you'd know that I just came back from a 6-day trip to the Visayas. I flew to Cebu City first. My trip was mainly because I wanted to volunteer in various Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) relief/donation efforts and to turnover some cash donations that I received. I will share more about that trip in succeeding blog posts. In the meantime, please allow me to share a great fundraising drive that I hope you will also support :) The Islands Group, the company that runs Islands Souvenirs and Islands Pasalubong outlets, has released special #BangonPilipinas shirts. What's so special about these t-shirts? ALL OF THE PROCEEDS of these Bangon Pilipinas t-shirts will be dona...

Oct312013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanaoan.com wins Best Lifestyle Blog in 2013 Mindanao Blog Awards

Announcements, Blogging, Features, Headline, Internet, Leisure, Media, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Personal, Society, Technology, United States of America

My lucky stars truly shone on me during the recently concluded Mindanao Blog Awards 2013. Apart from bagging the Mindanao Blogger of the Year award, Mindanaoan.com also won the Best Lifestyle Blog award :) Thank you so much, daghang salamat to all of my fellow Mindanao bloggers who nominated and voted for me and to all of the judges as well. I am really grateful for this recognition! Such an honor, such an honor. I remember when I won the Best Lifestyle Blog award in the 2010 Philippine Blog Awards and became a national finalist in the 2011 PBA. Those citations truly inspired me to help more people understand the power of blogging and social media. In just a span of 2 years, I have organized a bloggers group, organized some blogging and mapping workshops, traveled to several a...

Oct312013 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Mindanaoan is 2013 Mindanao Blogger Of The Year

Advocacy, Agriculture, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, America, Announcements, ARMM, Arts, Bacolod City, Banks, Basilan, Beauty, BIMP-EAGA, Bisaya, Bislig, Blogging, Broadcasting, Bukidnon, Business, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Campus, Caraga, Cebu City, Commentary, Compostela Valley, Consumer, Contests, Controversial, Corporate, Cotabato, Culture, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Dipolog, Education, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Flights, Food, Freebies, General Santos City, Gifts, Government, Headline, Hongkong, Hotels, Humor, Iligan City, Internet, Island Garden City of Samal, Jobs, Journalism, Kaamulan Festival, Koronadal, Kuala Lumpur, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Leisure, Macau, Maguindanao, Make Money Online, Malaybalay City, Malaysia, Manila, Marawi City, Media, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Movies, Music, Musings, Muslim Mindanao, Negros Occidental, News, North Cotabato, Northern Mindanao, Opinion, Ozamis, Pagadian, Personal, Personalities, Photos, Politics, Radio, Recipes, Religion, Resorts, Reviews, Sarangani, Shenzhen, Shopping, Sindangan, Singapore, Society, SoSCksargen, South Cotabato, Sports, Style, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacurong, Tangub City, Tawi Tawi, Technology, Television, Tourism, Travel, United States of America, Videos, Visayas, Weddings, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga Sibugay

It still feels a bit surreal, truth be told. Winning the 2013 Mindanao Blogger Of The Year award and the Best Lifestyle Blog award during the Mindanao Blog Awards 2013 held last October 26, 2013 in Davao City was the farthest thing from my mind. I was there to meet my blogger friends, have a good time, maybe drink a cocktail or two and cheer for other finalists. My mindset that night was (and I actually wrote this days before the finals): Win or lose, you are a champ. What's important is that you did your best in letting more people understand and appreciate the power of social media and blogging in sparking more conversations, making better communities and harnessing better understanding. Social good, folks. Only the good. So when my name was called, you could just imagine my shock. Yup...