Mindanaoan Update Archives - Page 11 of 66 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Dec192018 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

How to actually enjoy your vacation to the max!

A while back, I planned a trip with a group of friends and we were all so excited to travel, de-stress, and have fun together. Once we arrived at our destination, even though we were greeted by blue skies and perfect weather, everything seemed off. Somehow, in those seven days away, I couldn’t help but realize that we didn’t have nearly as much fun as we’d had sitting at our house doing nothing. On our way home, I remember saying: "Well, I guess you just can't plan for fun. Too bad!” My sense of being let down by my vacation is not unique: There’s research to show that people are happiest when they’re looking forward to a trip away—not when they’re actually vacationing, but I 100% think that this needs to change. I mean, we pay so much money to travel and we spend so much time planning ...

Dec62018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanao will be home to the largest inflatable playground in the Philippines

Bukidnon, Business, Consumer, Mindanaoan Update

First, it was the longest dual cable zipline, next was the thrilling Dropzone, then the absolutely exhilarating Skyjump (I have tried all 3 and they're all major fun!), now Mindanao's most favorite extreme adventure park is back at it again! Dahilayan Adventure Park will soon unveil the largest inflatable playground in the entire Philippines! By the looks of it, the upcoming inflatable playground at Dahilayan Adventure Park in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon will have bounce houses, jump and slides, stages (26 of them!) and obstacle courses. The entire playground will have a total length of 250 meters or a quarter of a kilometer. Sounds really exciting especially for kids, toddlers, the young ones and, okay, the young once! ;) Who's excited for this? As of this writing, th...

Dec32018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

3 best reasons why you need to treat yourself with Native Shoes

Consumer, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping, Style

I like recommending products that I personally buy and wear. One of the brands that I have grown to trust and love is Native Shoes. I have written about them first here and then here plus I post several photos of me wearing my Native Shoes just about anywhere. In fact, I wore them the first time I went to Taiwan then during my trips back to Malaysia and Singapore with the rest of my family. I also brought my favorite Native Shoes pair to New York! Just recently, I ordered two new pairs and I can't wait to receive them in the mail. Back in Cagayan de Oro, Native Shoes (located at the 2nd Floor of Centrio Mall) launched its newest collection a few days ago. And trust me --- you need to check it out! Here are 3 amazing reasons why you must treat yourself with a new pair (or two or three...

Nov222018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

The fun Cirque de Globe CDO Globe Telecom party and my very special prize

Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Contests, Entertainment, Events, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping, Society, Technology

I haven't written about it yet (although if you do follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, you'd have an idea) but, yes, I went home to the Philippines for about 3 weeks. It was a long-awaited, much-needed trip not only because I had to have my new US work visa stamped on my passport (let me know in the comments section if you want me to write about this, by the way!) but also because I have deeply missed my family, relatives, friends, clients (YASSS) and fellow bloggers! My trip was apparently very timely. Globe Telecom wanted to hold their media and bloggers appreciation party pretty early this year (they usually send out invitations either end of November or December) and the date fell on one of my "relax/chill" days. The theme of the party was "circus" and there was supposed to...

Nov142018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

How I keep 90 cans of soda, beer (and wine bottles) deliciously COLD

Freebies, Gifts, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Shopping

This is something I've been SUPER excited to share with all of you before my big mini vacation trip back to the Philippines. Alas, that trip kept me so busy that I knew I could only break the good news once I'm back in New York. Anyhoo...here it is: I finally have the sleek, black NewAir AB-850 beverage fridge! AAHHH!!! :D This means I can now keep up to 90 cans of my favorite sodas and beers as well as lots of water and wine bottles all deliciously cold, conveniently all at the same time inside a very compact cooler/refrigerator. The NewAir AB-850B Black 90-Can Beverage/Beer Fridge is so compact it can actually fit almost anywhere. At home, I keep mine, not at the kitchen, but actually at a place accessible from both the living room and the dining area. This way, there's no need...

Sep172018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

The Big S&R Members’ Treat Is Here! September 26 to 30, 2018 (list of sale items here!)

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping, Society

It's our favorite time of the year! The S&R Members' Treat is always the perfect time to hoard, look for gifts and even prepare for Christmas! The S&R Membership Shopping Members’ Treat means amazing buy 1, take 1 offers as well as up to 50 percent discounts. Lots of great deals guaranteed! ALL S&R branches nationwide will participate. That means that aside from S&R Cagayan de Oro, all these other branches will join the amazing S&R Members' Treat 2018: Alabang • Aseana • BGC • Commonwealth • Congressional • Parañaque • Shaw • Cabanatuan • Imus • Nuvali • Pampanga • Dau • Cebu • Iloilo • CDO • Davao This is truly the perfect time for you to stock up on all your favorite health and beauty products, imported snacks, imported grocery items, imported ice cream, froz...

Aug222018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Higalaay Festival CDO fiesta 2018 schedule of activities

Cagayan de Oro City, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Tourism, Travel

I may miss it this year since I'm still in New York, USA but I know that a lot of you will have a good time celebrating Higalaay Festival 2018 in Cagayan de Oro. Higalaay Festival a.k.a. the yearly CDO fiesta a.k.a. celebrating the Feast Day of St. Augustine a.k.a. the celebration that used to be known as Kagay-an Festival. Here, you'll find the official schedule of activities. Do you need help booking your airplane tickets or hotel rooms? I highly recommend Aera Global Travel Services CDO for warm, personalized customer service. They will help you fix any trip anywhere in the world and make it easy and hassle-free. Aera Global Travel CDO offers value-for-money travel packages and they also specialize in quick and efficient airline ticketing and hotel booking. CALL: 0917 525 5564 or 094...

Aug42018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanao’s largest drug addiction rehab and mental health center opens in Bukidnon

Advocacy, Bukidnon, Malaybalay City, Mindanaoan Update, Society

It's finally open. The Php 500 Million (roughly US$10 Million) drug rehab, addiction treatment and mental health center which I first wrote about early last year is finally open and no less than Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte led the formal rites held last August 3, 2018. The Northern Mindanao Wellness and Reintegration Center is located at Barangay Casisang, Malaybalay City. Malaybalay is the capital of Bukidnon and is about an hour and a half away from Cagayan de Oro and 5 hours away from Davao City. This Bukidnon drug rehab is a product of a public and private partnership. The 5-hectare land along Diversion Road where the addiction treatment and mental health center sits on was donated by the City Government of Malaybalay and the amount was donated by the Friends of the Phil...

Jul112018 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

How to shop at S&R CDO without a membership card and get a FREE coupon

Announcements, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Corporate, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping

Not a member of S&R CDO yet? If you aren't an S&R Membership Shopping Cagayan de Oro club member yet, you now have the chance to shop to your heart's content for 3 amazing days PLUS get a FREE gift certificate, too! From July 12 to 15, 2018, S&R CDO will hold its most awaited Open House! This means that even non-members or non-cardholders can shop at S&R on those days from 8 AM to 10 PM. This is the perfect opportunity for you to check out what S&R has to offer and why everyone just loves to shop there. I should know...I frequent S&R to buy my favorite imported goods, small appliances, fresh meat (fast fact: did you know that their meat preparation area is refrigerated 40 degrees Fahrenheit to maintain rigid temperatures?) and even local products. The S...

Jul102018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

What to Do In and Around Birmingham

Mindanaoan Update

Birmingham is the most populated city in the state of Alabama, and it has a history dating back to the post-Civil War Reconstruction Era. It’s one of the larger cities in the south, and it surprisingly has some pretty interesting attractions and things to do, whether you’re planning to visit the city or you live there, and you’d like to come up with new activities. The following are some things to do in an around Birmingham. Rock the South According to RV rental site Outdoorsy, Birmingham is home to the Rock the South Music Festival. They describe the event as one of the “biggest annual draws to the area.” It is located in Cullman, which is only about 50 miles from central Birmingham. The event started out as a way to raise money for victims of a tornado, but now it’s a huge countr...

Jun242018 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Mindanaoan.com lands on Top 30 New York Blogs list

America, Announcements, Blogging, Features, Mindanaoan Update, New York, Style, Travel, United States of America

I'm very excited to share with all of you that this humble blog, Mindanaoan.com, has landed on the number 6 spot in a coveted “Top New York Blogs To Follow” list. Mindanaoan.com was declared among The Big Apple’s best when my travel and lifestyle blog nabbed the number 6 spot in Feedspot's Top 30 Best New York Lifestyle Blogs list. Accordingly, the list was derived from thousands of carefully selected and tested New York Lifestyle blogs using search and social metrics. I'm pretty stoked about this especially because I have the honor to be in the same list as Tracy Kaler (one of my longtime favorite New York bloggers!) and other NYC Blogging biggies :) The blogs in the said list were ranked based on Google reputation, Google search ranking, influence and popularity on Facebook,...

Jun72018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

5 reasons why you should visit the Philippines

Bukidnon, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Food, Malaybalay City, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental

If you’re a fellow avid traveler, chances are you have a whole bucket list of places you want to visit around the world. Well, I’m about to tell you why you need to add one more incredible place to that list — preferably at the top. Here are five of the many reasons why you should visit the Philippines. 1. The culture The Philippines is very proud of its extremely unique culture and diversity. Did you know, for example, that there are over 170 languages spoken in the Philippines? Due to colonization over the centuries, there are also plenty of different influences in this country — mainly hailing from Spain, the United States, and Asia. These cultures all come together in one mixing pot of diversity, that makes it a real pleasure to visit the Philippines. Some people say it’s a bit...

May22018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Thoughts about royalty free music

Mindanaoan Update

I think that it is worth to write about the fact that the royalty free music epic genre has a great prehistory, which dates back over 200 years ago. Who exactly was the first composer who has written such musical works…probably no one will say. Personally, I think there were several composers who started writing in this genre those early days. This often happens in science - when two scientists being in different countries discover the same law simultaneously, but independently even not knowing each other. So in music, various composers come to their new works independent of each other. We can say with certainty that Wagner is the composer who invested a lot of his skills and soul in the development of epic music and it is thanks to his music that the interest in this genre soared to...

May22018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Explore Islands Philippines tourism expo to be held at Grand Central Terminal New York

America, Events, Mindanaoan Update, New York, Tourism, Travel, United States of America

New York’s iconic Grand Central Terminal will provide the backdrop to showcase the 7,641 islands that make up the Philippines, which is promoting its vacation destinations. With a launch by the Philippine Tourism Secretary, the Explore Islands Philippines expo will run from May 9, through May 12, 2018. On May 9, Explore Islands Philippines kicks off at 10 a.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony graced by Her Royal Highness Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia and Serbia. Philippine Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo will be joined by Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations Teodoro Locsin Jr., President of the Philippine Tourism Promotions Board Cesar Montano, as well as other high-ranking officials from New York State and the Philippines. Speakers from the Philippine Tourism will talk on May...

Apr282018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Why Texas Is Still America’s Best Real Estate Market

Mindanaoan Update

The U.S. housing market regained its momentum earlier this year, with half of all the homes in the nation worth as much or more than they were a little over a decade ago. It remains a seller’s market out there, but there still exists places where homes prices have never been lower. Where does such a strange place exist: only in Texas. El Paso Of the homes for sale in El Paso, the average price is just $186,611. In a news release, city officials credited strong job growth, low vacancy rates, affordability, a higher population of young households and the vibrant culture as the factors in its strong ranking. There’s also many outdoor activities available, including a thriving artist community, farmers market and delicious Tex-Mex cuisine. San Antonio San Antonio has continued to showc...

Apr162018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Eat and drink all you can for Php 199 (FREE for kids) at this Cagayan de Oro restaurant

Cagayan de Oro City, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Restaurant, Reviews

Being a fast-growing city, Cagayan de Oro is now home to more and more restaurants. In fact, buffets or restaurants that offer eat-all-you-can in Cagayan de Oro are now a dime in a dozen. This is great for consumers like us, of course. The more options, the better! There are a lot of CDO buffet places now! However, let's face it. Not all CDO buffets are the same. Some are expensive, some may have affordable rates but the selection isn't that good or worse, some may seem to have fair prices but when the final bill arrives, you realize that there are hidden charges, service charges etc. That basically ruins what should have been a pleasant gastronomic experience, right? Good thing POPS All Filipino Eatery, which just announced that their eat-and-drink-all-you-can offer is now available eve...

Mar122018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

OFFICIAL LIST: Sale, buy 1 take 1 items during S&R CDO Members Treat

Announcements, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping, Style

Let me cut to the chase - I'm very excited to let you all know that S&R CDO and all other S&R Membership Shopping branches nationwide will again offer its most awaited, super amazing S&R Members' Treat! From March 14 to 18, 2018, our favorite membership shopping warehouse will offer Buy 1, Take 1 offers as well as up to 50 percent discounts. That means big, big, BIG savings for all! Related: What to expect during the big S&R Members' Treat event 2016 (this post received 610 shares!) The S&R Members' Treat is the perfect time for you to stock up on all your favorite health and beauty products, imported snacks, imported grocery items, kids' toys, gadgets, beverages, liquor, small appliances, home furnishings, frozen and fresh produce, apparel, laundry products, hardwa...

Mar92018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Tips for increasing comfort on extended motorcycle rides

Advocacy, Mindanaoan Update

You may love your new motorcycle, but do you know if it is comfortable enough for extended drives? That seat may feel perfect for the first ten minutes, but will it keep you free from aches and pains over several hours? Check out these tips if you need help planning your next cross-country motorcycle drive or simply want to amp up your biking gear. Dress for the Elements If you are too hot, cold or wet, you simply will not be comfortable on your long biking trip. Choose garments that let you move and stretch with ease so that you can stay limber during your drive. During hot weather, try ventilated biking gear. During colder months, use heated motorcycle gear, such as heated grips and heated jackets and gloves. Try Compression Garments If you think that compression socks and garments a...

Feb202018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Abacá Boutique Resort + Spa Cebu garners Travelers’ Choice 2018 awards

Cebu City, Hotels, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Resorts, Reviews, Society, Visayas

The results of the Travelers’ Choice Awards 2018 are in and it's definitely no surprise that Abacá Boutique Resort + Spa made it to the list. A regular on the roster, Abacá Boutique Resort + Spa is recognized once again in this year’s Travelers’ Choice Awards, winning in three categories: #21 on the Top 25 Small Hotels- Asia, #2 on the Top 25 Small Hotels- Philippines, and #1 on the Top 25 Hotels for Romance- Philippines. Who best to trust with Cebu resorts but TripAdvisor's globetrotting users? :) Located in Mactan Island, Abacá Boutique Resort + Spa is the ideal retreat for travellers who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Guests will find themselves tucked away in a tranquil paradise as they relax in the six suites,three villas, and spa that make up the resort. ...

Feb202018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Made in CDO: ACCESS Lifestyle, a gamechanging lifestyle discount and rewards card

Announcements, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Corporate, Features, Mindanaoan Update

If there’s something that I absolutely have so much respect for, it’s a risk taker. I think it takes a whole lot of intestinal fortitude to enter the great unknown, with just your passion, vision and optimism. That’s why when I first heard that a small group of folks in Cagayan de Oro wanted to offer a local lifestyle discount and rewards card that aimed to gather brands that we’re all very familiar with, I wanted to know more. See, ordinarily, whenever we encounter a loyalty or discount card, it’s only for one brand. With ACCESS Lifestyle Card, however, you receive awesome benefits from over 60 establishments (and that number’s growing!). ACCESS Lifestyle Card is the first card of its kind in CDO. Not only do you get to avail of amazing discounts from partner-establishments, you also r...

Feb162018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Quest Cebu Hotel joins Cagayan Travel Exchange, trip to Bali up for grabs

Cebu City, Corporate, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews

How fast time flies! It's been more than 5 years since I got invited to attend the grand launch of one of Cebu's finest hotels - Quest Cebu Hotel and Conference Center. Not only did the lovely folks over at Quest fly me to the Queen City of the South, they also accommodated the rest of my family. It was a grand vacation and we all loved our stay at Quest Hotel Cebu! You can read all about my Quest Hotel Cebu hotel review here. Meanwhile, I have good news! If you represent government agencies or private corporations in Cagayan de Oro or in neighboring areas, you can learn more about Quest Hotel during the Travel Exchange B2B Event on February 22, 2018. Organized by the Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association, the Cagayan Travel Exchange event will be held at Limketkai Luxe Hotel....

Feb142018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

SnippetMEdia introduces blockchain technology in Philippine digital media landscape

Consumer, Internet, Mindanaoan Update, News, Society, Technology

SnippetMEdia has come a long way. I first learned about this mobile app (available in both iOS and Android) last year. Now, after a year providing curated content to over 800,000 users, SnippetMEdia has stepped up to take on the challenges plaguing both content creators and advertisers by launching the SnippetMedia Blockchain – the first blockchain media platform in the Philippines. Blockchain is a technology developed to structure data. Blockchain is set to change and improve the way various fields operate -- from network security, to identity authentication, e-commerce, intellectual property protection, and so much more. In partnership with Superiex, a China-based digital asset trading platform, SnippetMEdia will establish a first-of- its-kind ad platform built upon a blockchain. Wha...