Features Archives - Page 30 of 36 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Sep272010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

RJ Ledesma’s special video message for me and a friend

Blogging, Entertainment, Features, Journalism, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Videos

If you were born in the 80's (or even late 70's), chances are you know who RJ Ledesma is. He's the lovable "Joey" in that popular Royal Tru Orange series of TV commercials. Here's one below (this one's entitled "Teacher's Pet") Here's another classic RJ Ledesma as "Joey" commercial (this one's entitled "Kuya"): Well, fast forward several years later and no longer the "Joey" we used to know, RJ Ledesma is now a grown man --- UNO Magazine's Editor In Chief, newspaper columnist, book author, uber talented host and proud dad! So you could just imagine how happy I was to finally see him in the flesh (after years of just seeing him as "Joey" on TV!) during the recently concluded 17th National Public Relations Congress. RJ was the host of the 2-day confab and he did an amazing jo...

Sep272010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Photos taken at the Senate: the day of Sen. Miriam Santiago’s jueteng expose

Controversial, Events, Features, Government, Mindanaoan Update, News, Personalities, Photos

Apart from attending the 17th National Public Relations Congress, another thing I did during my recent trip to Manila was visit the Senate of the Philippines. It was supposed to be a quick visit but it turned into an almost 3-hour stay. The reason: Senator Miriam Santiago's jueteng expose. The feisty Ilonggo senator, in her privilege speech, accused several persons including Chavit Singson, Bong Pineda (a known friend of former President Gloria Arroyo), Atong Ang (a known ally of former President Erap Estrada), Tony Santos and Danny Soriano as alleged jueteng lords and even went on to say that the Philippine National Police and the Department of Interior and Local Government are in cahoots. Leave it to Sen. Miriam Santiago to shock and awe everyone. Well, this blogger from Mindanao t...

Sep242010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Resorts World Manila celebrates Mooncake Festival

Announcements, Features, Festivals, Food, Hotels, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Resorts, Tourism

If you're here in Manila (like me! - I'm currently attending the 17th National Public Relations Congress) then you still have time to catch the Mooncake Festival at Resorts World Manila! Celebrate the Mid-Autumn together with Resorts World Manila (RWM) with its Mooncake Festival! This September, Resorts World Manila has prepared the indispensable delicacy, known as the mooncake, for family and friends to share. The mooncake is a delicious tradition rich in history. The festival is strongly associated with the Moon Goddess of Immortality. It also represents the time of the year when the moon is at its fullest and marks the end of the harvest. It is traditionally celebrated with dances, moon viewing parties, and of course, partaking of mooncakes. If you're a slot player like me (I on...

Sep192010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Lychee mojitos at Mu Shu

Bacolod City, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Visayas

I like mojitos. It's one of my favorite cocktails. In my opinion, it's a pretty friendly drink - delicious, sweet and with just the right amount of "kick." For the uninitiated, a mojito is a traditional Cuban drink. The "regular" mojito is usually made up of 5 ingredients - white rum, sparkling water, mint (mint leaves as garnish), lime and sugar. To product a mojito, lime juice is added to sugar and to mint leaves. The mixture is then mashed. The mint leaves, by the way, should not be too minced or shredded. Instead, they should just be sliced or bruised enough to release the leaves' essential oils. Rum is then added and the entire mixture is stirred in order to dissolve the sugar. Sparkling water is then added. Lime and mint leaves can be used as garnish. Now if you're wondering wh...

Sep182010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Photos: Make Your Own Havaianas Davao City leg

Davao City, Events, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Style

The Make Your Own Havaianas 2010 Davao City, Mindanao leg is being held at the Gaisano Mall (GMall) along Bajada Avenue, Davao City. It started last September 16, 2010 and will end tomorrow, September 19, 2010. I was able to visit the MYOH 2010 Davao event on the very first day and by the looks of it, the certified Havaianaticos in this side of the country came in full force! The Davao City leg of Make Your Own Havaianas comes after the highly successful Make Your Own Havaianas 2010 Cagayan de Oro leg, which was held last August 2010 (Mindanaoan was there, too, of course, much thanks to our special friends over at Spruce). Check out more photos after the jump: (more…)

Sep182010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Bacolod: Calea for the best desserts!

Bacolod City, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Recipes, Reviews, Visayas

I was told that one's Bacolod City escapade will never be complete without visiting Calea, a famous homegrown cake shop...and it was easy to understand why. Calea Bacolod produces the best cakes, pastries and desserts this side of the world. Calea is Bacolod's answer to Manila's cake shops and bakeries but with better choices and lesser prices. This Mindanao blogger's recent trip to the Visayas was made sweeter when my friends and I stopped by Calea (the branch along Lacson Street, just a few blocks away from Sorrento Piazza, where my friends and I had a sumptuous dinner at Pepe's Grill!). This Calea branch is supposedly the first ever. These days, this cake shop has two other branches - one at Robinson's Place and another one at East Block. And just in case you're wondering about the h...

Sep142010 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Bacolod: Pepe’s Grill | Where to eat in Bacolod

Bacolod City, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Negros Occidental, Reviews, Tourism, Travel, Visayas

So to continue my kuwento about my great big Negros Occidental adventure with three amazing friends, we had dinner at Pepe's Grill, known to be one of Bacolod City's finest restaurants. Located at Sorrento Piazza along Lacson Street (the main thoroughfare in Bacolod City), Pepe's Grill is almost always packed. Lucky for us, there was a spare table good for the four of us when we arrived! A lot of yuppies go to Pepe's Grill for dinner before heading off to a bar for a night of booze and dancing with friends. Families and barkadas also go to Pepe's Grill for weekend lunches and dinners. In fact, when we arrived, there were several parents enjoying meals with their kids. So judging by the many satisfied customers, one can surmise that this Bacolod restaurant is doing something right! Oh...

Sep112010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Help me attend PR 2.0: 17th National Public Relations Congress

Bisaya, Blogging, Business, Corporate, Features, Headline, Internet, Journalism, Media, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal, Society

The 17th National Public Relations Congress will be held on September 23 and 24, 2010 at the Grand Ballroom, InterContinental Manila, Makati City, Philippines with the theme “PR2.0 Build. Engage. Deliver.” and I absolutely want to attend! I may have been in the public relations/media/marketing/advertising/events industry for several years now and I may own a small public relations agency in the Philippines but I have yet to attend a national conference led by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines. Methinks attending this PR congress will help me as a Filipino publicist and I have a couple of reasons why: 1. I am one who actively incorporates blogging and other forms of social and new media in my work. While I still practise public relations the "traditional" way, I have starte...

Sep102010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

DL8 Pure Herbal Tea – Caffeine free herbal tea that I recommend

Advocacy, Agriculture, Announcements, Blogging, Bukidnon, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Features, Food, Freebies, Gifts, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Reviews, Shopping

Anybody who knows me would say that I'm not exactly the biggest fan of tea except probably when it's iced. And anybody who knows me would also say that I'm also not exactly the biggest fan of so-called herbal teas. Apart from the fact that I'm more of a coffee person and that it's very rare that I don't start my day without coffee, I usually stay away from herbal teas that offer a million and one health benefits. Yes, you could say that I was a skeptic and a cynic. And yes, I used the word "WAS." You see, things changed when a friend of mine introduced me to DL8 Pure Herbal Tea - a caffeine free tea that aims to cleanse, alkalize, revitalize and enrich the body. For the first time in a very long time, I saw myself drinking herbal tea and actually loving it! I enjoyed drinking DL8 Pure H...

Sep92010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Urbandub playing their song “First of Summer” on purely iPods!

Bisaya, Entertainment, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Technology

Be still my heart! I often don't post videos unless they're purely mine or they're absolutely interesting but really, this video of Cebuano band Urbandub playing their song "First of Summer" on nothing but iPods is MAJOR, MAJOR fascinating! Urbandub is really setting a lot of standards in the local music scene. I remember they're the first band to hold a "virtual concert" - one that can only be "attended" online. Now, they're playing songs on purely Apple iPods. YEAAAHHHH!!! Watch the video of Urbandub playing on nothing but iPods and be blown away as well!

Sep82010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Usher, my beloved Macbook, finally meets his match!

Blogging, Consumer, Corporate, Features, Internet, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Shopping, Technology

After receiving jibes (playful ones, I assure you) from my brother who said I was such a weird cheapskate for having a cheap-0 mouse (i.e. a small silver one I once used during my HP netbook days and one that I got from CD-R King LOL) accompany my new Macbook (which I have decided to name "Usher," by the way), I decided, on a bit of a whim, to purchase the most suitable partner for my new laptop. Introducing my newest (and expensive *gulp*) gadget - the Apple Magic Mouse! I bought this one during my most recent trip to Cebu City: Doesn't it look like it came from outer space? (more…)

Sep72010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Waddy’s Place | Where to stay in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental

Features, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

About an hour and a half away from Bacolod City is San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. It's a small, quaint little city that was the very first out-of-town host of a Presidential cabinet meeting during former President Fidel V. Ramos' administration. San Carlos City is also home to Congressman Jules Ledesma, boxer Gerry Penalosa and singer Jaya's mom, Elizabeth Ramsey. And yes, it was in San Carlos City where Jules proposed to actress Assunta de Rossi. My friends Joyce, Iza, Crissa and I, together with Crissa's parents, went straight to San Carlos City the very same day we all arrived in Bacolod City. It was drizzling that time but the rain eventually stopped once we arrived at our destination - Waddy's Place. Located at Sitio Punod, Waddy's Place is a mountain resort overlooking San...

Sep22010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Cebu: IMAX Theater at SM City Cebu – plus a contest you can join!

Arts, Business, Corporate, Entertainment, Features, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Movies, Reviews, Society

One of the things I did during my most recent trip to Cebu City was watch a movie at the brand new IMAX Theater in SM City Cebu. It just opened last July 2010 - much to the excitement of Cebuanos and tourists alike. The IMAX Theater at SM Cebu is, after all, a major project - one that's been much-awaited for years now. Although the SM Cebu IMAX theater failed to open just in time for the first round of showing of the movie Avatar (this James Cameron masterpiece will be re-released, with additional 8 minutes of footage, according to reports) or Toy Story 3, this didn't dampen Cebuano moviegoers' spirits. My brother, who works in Cebu City (and who's also a blogger! He owns Tennis Guru), managed to get a couple of freebies during the first few days since the opening of the SM Cebu IMAX Th...

Sep12010 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

General Santos Tuna Festival 2010 on September 18 – 26, 2010

Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, General Santos City, Mindanaoan Update, Sarangani, SoSCksargen, Tourism, Travel

General Santos City, Mindanao is set to celebrate the much-awaited Tuna Festival 2010 on September 18 to 26, 2010. This, after the Tuna Festival Council of GenSan decided to change this year's schedule. Normally, the Tuna Fest is celebrated during the first week of September. This year, however, it's set to happen on September 18 - 26, 2010. The 42nd Charter Day celebration of General Santos City will also be held on September 5, 2010. The following is this year's GenSan Tuna Fest 2010 official schedule of activities: Tunafest Schedule as of August 16, 2010 (more…)

Aug312010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Please visit our booth at Kasalan sa Kagay-an 2010 bridal fair!

Announcements, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Events, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Weddings

Are you a soon-to-be-bride? Do you know someone who's interested to look for Filipino wedding photographers? Or do you just want to visit bridal fairs and check out the current rates and some of the best wedding suppliers (especially CDO wedding photographers, of course) in this side of the country today? Then head on down to the Rotunda area of Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City, Northern Mindanao from September 3 to 5, 2010 and check out the much-awaited Kasalan sa Kagay-an 2010 bridal fair :) One Happy Story, a duly registered business owned by my absolutely talented brother (who's a professional wedding photographer, portrait photographer, graphic artist and layout artist) Bon, will be one of the exhibitors :) And I, as the ever-loving and ever-supportive (ahem, ahem) sister, ...

Aug152010 by Mindanaoan Irene8 Comments

Make Your Own Havaianas 2010 MYOH 2010

Beauty, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Corporate, Events, Fashion, Features, Leisure, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Personalities, Photos, Society, Style

Because my first Make Your Own Havaianas experience last year was absolutely fun, I eagerly awaited the Make Your Own Havaianas 2010 event this year. Plus methinks the pair I meticulously "designed" last year badly needs a "hiatus" especially since I've been lugging it all around the country. Yep, it's a "well-traveled" pair - having been brought to various places in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. You see, my first MYOH pair was a staple in my traveling bag during the campaign period (May 2010 national elections) and I guess it's about time that I give it its much-deserved "rest." So just imagine my excitement when I once again received an ultra special VIP invite from our very special friends over at Spruce, the exclusive distributor of Havaianas in northern and western Mindanao. Who cou...

Aug72010 by Mindanaoan Irene7 Comments

If New York has yellow cabs, Davao City has violet taxis

Davao City, Features, Festivals, Society

Before anything else, let me emphasize that this isn't exactly breaking news. I've seen these types of taxis roam around Davao City but it's only over the weekend that I was able to take a photo. So here it is. One of the conspicuous violet taxis plying all around Davao City, Mindanao: If the Big Apple - New York - has yellow cabs, Dabaw has violet ones. Can't help but wonder if this will set a trend of some sort. Violet isn't a really bad choice, really. It represents vibrancy and violet is the color of some varieties of orchids (Davao is where a lot of flowers and orchids are in bloom especially this time of year!) (more…)

Aug72010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

6th Mindanao Film Festival – a call for entries

Advocacy, Announcements, Arts, Broadcasting, Davao City, Features, Media, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Movies

The Mindanao Film Festival 2010 is calling for submissions for feature-length films, short films, and documentaries made by Mindanawon filmmakers or films about, related to, or shot in Mindanao. Students may also participate by submitting their films in the Student Short Film Category (High School & College) or the Student Documentary Category. All genres are welcome including comedy, drama, experimental, and animation, as long as the film has been completed anytime within October 2009 to September 2010, and has not been screened in the previous Mindanao Film Festival. Those interested must submit the following: (more…)

Aug62010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Kadayawan Fiesta at the Apo View Hotel Davao City

Business, Davao City, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Update, Tourism, Travel

My most favorite Philippine festival is right around the corner - Kadayawan Festival 2010 in my beautiful hometown Davao City, Mindanao! And what better way to kick things off than checking out the Kadayawan 2010 Fiesta at the Apo View Hotel? The Apo View Hotel, one of Davao's finest hotels, again pays tribute to Davao’s artistic, cultural and historical heritage via the Kadayawan Fiesta Week: The merriment, bounties of Mother Nature, richness of culture and gifts of bountiful harvest can be felt at The Apo View. (more…)

Jul302010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Cute vector depiction of the Island of Mindanao

Arts, Blogging, Features, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Photos

Now this is absolutely too cute to pass up! Thanks to my Twitter friend Thysz, this blogger in Mindanao got wind of this cute vectorized map of the Island of Mindanao made by one very talented artist named Renan Barco. Check this out: Methinks it's a nice depiction of Mindanao :) Congratulations, Renan! Fab job! For those of you who want to follow more of Renan's work, check his Tumblr site. (more…)

Jul262010 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Full text of President Noynoy Aquino SONA 2010 | State of the Nation Address 2010 Benigno Aquino full text

Announcements, Features, Government, Media, Mindanaoan Update, News

Here's the full text of the SONA 2010 speech of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, which he delivered today, July 26, 2010 at the Batasang Pambansa (House of Representatives). President Noynoy Aquino cited several alleged anomalies involving the previous administration and the Aquino administration's plans and projects. President Aquino SONA 2010 full text also cited the Mindanao peace process and sent out a challenge to the CPP NPA NDF. Read the Noynoy Aquino SONA 2010 full text below: (thank you to Manolo Quezon III) State of the Nation Address of His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III President of the Philippines to the Congress of the Philippines Session Hall of the House of Representatives July 26, 2010 [Batasan Pambansa Complex, Quezon City] Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Senate...

Jul182010 by Mindanaoan Irene20 Comments

How to renew your Philippine passport | How to get a Philippine e-passport

Advocacy, Announcements, Consumer, Features, Government, Mindanaoan Update, News, Northern Mindanao, Personal

I just applied for the renewal of my Philippine passport. I used to have the regular green passport but since the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has now required that all new Philippine passports and renewed ones must be e-passports, I applied for a Philippine e-passport. Before the e-passport, the DFA issued machine readable passports. That's now kaput. The e-passport accordingly is a lot more secure since it contains this special chip of sorts. The Philippine e-passport is also known as the biometric passport since you no longer need a passport photo along with your passport renewal application form. Your photo, thumbprints and digital signatures will be taken during your passport renewal appointment. See more below the steps on how to renew your Philippine passport and how to...