Mindanaoan Update Archives - Page 18 of 67 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Sep22015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Seeing Daniel Matsunaga and Aliya Parcs

Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Photos

A few weeks ago, I took a quick step back from all the traveling and instead, started attending a couple of local events. Event invitations have been piling up! (Thank you!) The events I attended paved the way for me to see a good friend, meet a new one and see another hunk who apparently still recognizes me ;) Singer, composer, FHM model and my friend Aliya Parcs was in town recently. Dionne Monsanto, an alumnae of Pinoy Big Brother, joined her on this trip. Aliya brought with her wonderful news - she bagged two golds at the recently concluded World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA), the same contest Jed Madela won a grand slam in. WCOPA is largely cited as the “Olympics of the Performing Arts” and artists from all around the globe converge in Long Beach, California. Happy for m...

Aug212015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Vacation Ownership Is The Hottest New Travel Trend

Mindanaoan Update

Although the concept of vacation ownership has been known and practiced in the United States since the 1950's, there are a host of new companies that are taking this tried and true concept to a whole new level of accessibility and efficiency. Blue Green Resorts Vacations is only one of many new and innovative companies that offer this exciting new arrangement, and the list of providers is growing by an exponential factor as the 21st century continues to unfold. While other vacation arrangements are slowly falling by the wayside, vacation ownership is becoming more and more the accepted custom for travelers. The Source And Secret Of Vacation Ownership's Long Term Appeal If you have been searching for the source or the secret of the long term appeal of vacation ownership, look no furth...

Aug212015 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Cool, affordable Higalaay Festival shirts from Islands Souvenirs

Advocacy, Bisaya, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Corporate, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Freebies, Gifts, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Society, Style

Looking for Higalaay Festival Kagay-an Festival shirts? Islands Souvenirs CDO has them! Plus they're offering irresistible discounts for all of you! Islands Souvenirs joins in on the Cagayan de Oro fiesta / Higalaay Festival 2015 festivities with a lot of exciting in-store promos and activities. Shoppers can look forward to a whole line of limited edition Higalaay Festival 2015 shirts with all-new designs and colors for that ultimate festival #selfie and #ootd. Grab these exclusive tees today and feel the festival vibe with your friends and family. Prices of these shirts start at only Php 199.75! As a special treat, GET A WHOPPING 50% discount on all regular coloured shirts and 20% off on all special effects and regular black & white shirts! Islands Souvenirs is als...

Aug112015 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Somalia, Africa and Cabanglasan, Bukidnon sign sister LGU agreement

Announcements, Bukidnon, Government, Headline, Mindanaoan Update

Cabanglasan, Bukidnon and Bal'ad, Somalia are now sisters! Sister LGUs, that is :) On July 27, 2015, about two weeks before Cabanglasan's founding anniversary, a historic local government unit (LGU) sisterhood agreement was forged between Cabanglasan and Bal'ad in the Shabelle region of Somalia. This town sisterhood pact is truly historic as this is not only the first to be established in the Philippines but within entire Asia as well. Cabanglasan, a third class municipality located at the second district of Bukidnon, is the third foreign LGU to partner with Somalia since 1991, the year the civil war started. Recently, the country formalized sister-city agreements with Istanbul, Turkey and Minneapolis, United States of America. The Cabanglasan - Somalia sisterhood agreement aims to d...

Jul312015 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Japan Home Center CDO mini-haul – do you love wastelands, too?

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

I have a confession to make. I love, love, LOVE wastelands. Wasteland as in a place that has a lot of stuff that more often than not you don't need but really want! You can leave me at a wasteland and I'll be fine for several hours. Believe it or not, I get inspired whenever I'm inside one :D In Manila, I have a couple of favorite wastelands but it's difficult to find one here in Mindanao. I guess the closest one I could think of are the 88-peso stores. Like the Japan Home Center at the Ground Floor of Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro or the Daiso store at Ayala Centrio Mall. These stores are akin to the dollar stores in the U.S. (which reminds me - I also frequently visited those dollar stores when I visited America. I'm a certified wasteland nut!) Anyway, if you've been to one of the...

Jul182015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

#Come2CDO social media campaign launched

Advocacy, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Internet, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Society, Technology, Tourism

The Cagayan de Oro Bloggers launched the #Come2CDO social media campaign today, July 18, 2015, in an effort to help promote the city online. The #Come2CDO online campaign, a yearly social media initiative of the CDO Bloggers, Inc. that began in 2013, aims to promote the city's best in terms of adventure destinations, food selections, hotels and other accommodations, tourist spots and ultimately, the warmth of a Kagayanon's friendship. By sharing photos, stories and other posts on social media and by adding the hashtags #Come2CDO and #CDO, the public can help populate the Internet with helpful entries about Cagayan de Oro. These entries can aid would-be and existing visitors as well as investors of this dynamic city. You can monitor the results of this social media campaign on ...

Jul142015 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Review: High Ridge overlooking CDO Philippines

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Features, Leisure, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Society, Tourism

High Ridge CDO offers a panoramic view of the city. High Ridge is where you go when you want that "overlooking CDO" experience. High Ridge CDO actually re-opened last year and the changes are substantial - the place now has a spacious al fresco restaurant, small landscaped areas and airconditioned function rooms. High Ridge CDO reminds me of Jack's Ridge and Shrine Hills in Davao City. Anyway, I was with my family last weekend and we decided to have dinner at High Ridge. This is the kind of view you see from what could be the highest point in urban CDO: Entrance fee, by the way, is Php 100.00 per person. This is consumable at the restaurant. During dinner with family, we ordered the PCM soup (potatoes, carrots, mushrooms). This was Php 99.00. We ordered one for each and we had a...

Jul132015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Meet Craig Revel Horwood

Announcements, Mindanaoan Update, Society

Born in Ballarat, Australia, Craig Revel Horwood, who started out as a dancer in Melbourne, moved to the UK in 1989. That move proved to be a fateful one as he received lots of success in his professional life. However, Craig Revel Horwood also had his fair share of controversies and ups and downs in life. At the tender age of 17, he earned money by appearing as a drag queen in bars and clubs. Later, in a magazine interview, he was quoted as saying that he was “bisexual for a long time.” “I flitted between men and women quite a lot between the ages of 17 and 26. My wife Jane left me for another man. Then I fell in love with a bloke. I have been gay ever since." He also underwent two plastic surgeries. The first was for a nose job at 18 years old. He also underwent a breast re...

Jul122015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Daniel Matsunaga at Planet Sports Limketkai

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

Brazilian-Japanese and naturalized Filipino heartthrob Daniel Matsunaga will again be in Cagayan de Oro City! The handsome Daniel Matsunaga will be at the Rotunda of Limketkai Mall on July 24, 2015. His CDO visit is made possible by Planet Sports in partnership with the said mall. Want to meet this cutie? The first 100 customers with valid receipts issued by Planet Sports - Limketkai dated July 1 to 24 get to meet and greet him. Planet Sports is located at the mall's Ground Floor, North Concourse. I'm pretty sure this hunk will create quite a stir again. I remember when I got to be with him up close and personal about two years ago (during the opening of another Planet Sports store, come to think of it!), there were so many people outside the store that the staff even had to prot...

Jul92015 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Why SkinStation CDO rocks

Beauty, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Events, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping, Society, Style

SkinStation CDO is finally open! The popular skin care, slimming and firming treatments clinic chain, opened its 23rd branch in the Philippines at the 2nd Floor of SM CDO last June 27, 2015. SkinStation CDO is a sister company of Dermax Laser Center CDO, located at Ayala Centrio. I was invited to the opening and blessing of SkinStation Cagayan de Oro. A mini press conference was held prior and there, I again met SkinStation founder, CEO and award-winning chemist Fred Reyes, his wife Carleen, son Gedric, and SkinStation's amiable PR Nardene Garcia. I met them just a few months ago during Dermax CDO's opening. I also met the clinic chain's latest celebrity endorser, Julian Flores (model and Binibining Pilipinas 2014 semi-finalist). According to Mr. Reyes, various procedures includi...

Jun242015 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Thoughts on that peace process forum invitation

Advocacy, ARMM, Basilan, BIMP-EAGA, Bisaya, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Controversial, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Muslim Mindanao, Northern Mindanao, Opinion, Society

Sometimes it fascinates me how certain people especially those who advocate sensitive causes seem to downplay bloggers. These people tend to think that "just because" you write about food, fashion and lifestyle, you don't "contribute" to relevant, important conversations. I think they have this misconception that "just because" bloggers like us hardly write about politics and news and current affairs, we don't at least try to do our part in nation building. Take the case of an invitation sent to me and my fellow bloggers here in Northern Mindanao. This was for a supposed "peace forum" from 8:30 am to 12 noon. "Looking for young lifestyle bloggers, bloggers in general, opinion shapers and writers who want to deploy your skills and influence for the peace process in Mindanao. This is an ...

Jun232015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanaoan shines at ADB project management training in Malaysia

Advocacy, BIMP-EAGA, Business, Mindanaoan Update

A Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) development management officer was recently cited for excellent performance in the “Regional Training on Project Management” for BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT held recently at the Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang, Malaysia. Gemma Dagaas received special recognition for ‘Best Project Proposal’ along with her five team members who presented during the training conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under its Advancing Regional Cooperation and Integration through the BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT. BIMP-EAGA stands for Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Malaysia the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, while IMT-GT stands for Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Growth Area. The two sub-regional groupings were formed with the goals of promoting trade, investment, and ...

Jun192015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

That Amazing Wine-Paired Degustation At Movenpick Resort Cebu

Blogging, Business, Cebu City, Events, Features, Flights, Food, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Society, Style, Tourism, Travel

Degustation is a culinary term that means meticulous food tasting of special signature dishes. Usually consisting of several courses, each paired with matching wines that complement each dish, a degustation aims to heighten one’s senses and allows one to appreciate food at its finest. That’s exactly what happened during my recent stay at Moevenpick Hotel Mactan Cebu. I flew via Philippine Airlines and underwent a wine-paired degustation at the Conservatory of the Ibiza Beach Club, led by no other than popular Cebu businessman and passionate sommelier Manuel “Manny” Osmeña. This was how the Ibiza Beach Club looked like that night: Before that, though, Manny O gave me and my fellow media guests a tour of his private wine cellar. Only a handful of people have ever set foot here s...

Jun192015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Soul Refresh At Movenpick Hotel Mactan Cebu

Blogging, Cebu City, Features, Hotels, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Resorts, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

How do you say no to a weekend of flight via Philippine Airlines and 5-star accommodation, gastronomical pleasure and pampering via Movenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu? It was an invitation I just could not resist. Cool gift from Philippine Airlines @flypal #flypal #aviation #travel A photo posted by Mindanaoan.com Irene (@mindanaoan) on May 16, 2015 at 2:28am PDT Philippine Airlines, which is re-introducing its daily Cagayan de Oro-Cebu flights, recently flew Mindanaoan.com to the Queen City of the South to experience a specific kind of luxury - one that I could only describe as refreshing for one’s soul, mind and heart. It was a short but smooth and comfortable flight, the kind that you can only expect with the country’s flag carrier. I even checked-in online via PAL’s website...

Jun182015 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Province of Bukidnon receives bus donation from RTMI

Bukidnon, Corporate, Government, Headline, Mindanaoan Update

The Province of Bukidnon now has a brand new bus, courtesy of Rural Transit Mindanao, Inc. or RTMI. The bus, the cost of which is estimated to be Php 3.9 Million, can accommodate 67 passengers. Bukidnon Governor Jose Ma. R. Zubiri, Jr. met with RTMI representatives and inspected the donated bus together. * Photos courtesy of the Office of Governor Jose Ma. Zubiri, Jr. You may all remember that RTMI is the same company that owned that bus that exploded last year. A bomb was placed inside one of the red RTMI buses and killed 10, injured 42. The bus exploded near Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon. The school has since disclosed an action plan to address the matter.

Jun162015 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

SkinStation SM CDO to open June 2015

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update

SkinStation, a popular clinic chain that offers Painless Diode Laser Hair Removal treatments, will open its 23rd branch in the Philippines at SM City CDO on June 27, 2015. SkinStation CDO will be located at the 2nd Floor of SM CDO. SkinStation is a skin care company that utilizes cutting-edge technology and science to give you the best value in skin and body solutions. Various procedures including anti-acne, anti-aging, whitening, slimming and firming treatments will be made available. SkinStation CDO will also offer the hugely popular painless Diode laser hair removal treatment. The clinic chain has serviced over 25,000 Diode patients so far. SkinStation is a sister company of DERMAX, which also opened a branch in Cagayan de Oro. Follow Mindanaoan for exclusive updates: ...

Jun162015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Eating right, losing weight with NutriFit CGY

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Recipes, Society

Here's something I haven't really extensively shared with you yet - I've been going to the gym, following exercise routines and been trying to eat right. In fact, it'll soon be my second month of following this "lead a healthier lifestyle" challenge. It'll just be my second month but boy do I already consider that as quite a feat! Losing weight, eating right, exercising properly - these are pretty difficult to do especially for someone like me who needs to travel a lot, attend several events in a week and have quite a number of PR and social media clients to take care of. Thankfully, there's NutriFit CGY, a homebased food business that offers Paleo diet meals for people who need healthy, calorie-regulated, delicious food. Paleo, short for "paleolithic," involves eating whole, organic, c...

Jun122015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Google Philippines doodle for Independence Day 2015

Mindanaoan Update, Technology

Google joins the Philippines today in celebrating Independence Day, a national holiday commemorating the country's declaration of independence from Spanish colonial rule, by releasing an Independence Day Google doodle depicting the Philippine flag. When people access the search engine today (Google.com.ph), they can see the Philippine flag's colors. The sun and 3 stars also replace one of the "O"s. Clicking on the Google doodle will lead visitors to more information about the Philippine Independence. Today, June 12, 2015, marks the 117th Independence Day. Thank you, Google! Note: Mindanaoan is the lead coordinator of the Google Business Group - Women CDO chapter.

Jun72015 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Personalized Lockets by CharmiFy CDO

Advocacy, Beauty, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping, Style

How does this sound? Create your own special, personalized locket with charms that depict your lifestyle, interests and passions, your preferred design and your preferred chain. And all of that at a very affordable price. Sounds good? This is exactly what you get over at Lockets By CharmiFy, a homebased business in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. Lockets By CharmiFy sells cute, very affordable, customizable lockets. Wearing one is like being able to keep memories and things that you truly love close to your heart...everywhere you go! You can choose which charms to place inside. Aren't these precious? Price for each charm starts at Php 35.00! Some of the lockets. You can wear them as bracelets or necklaces. Your choice! I actually have my ow...

Jun62015 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Join Freedom Run 2015 CDO

Cagayan de Oro City, Events, Mindanaoan Update, Sports

Get ready for Freedom Run 2015 CDO! Our friends over at Circle Productions, Inc. are bringing back Freedom Run CDO and apart from the cash prizes, they're also raffling off 3 cool mountain bikes. Celebrate Independence Day this year by joining this CDO running event! I will be joining the 5K run so I hope to see you all there :) When: June 14, 2015 – Sunday Where: South Concourse, Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City Race categories and corresponding fees (all affordable, as you can see!): 21 Km – Php 900 with jersey, race bib with timing chip, finisher’s jersey and medal 5 Km – Php 350 with jersey, race bib 3 Km – Php 350 with jersey, race bib 21Km – Assembly Time: 3:30 AM, Start Time: 4 AM 5Km – Assembly Time: 5 AM, Start Time: 5:30 AM 3Km – Assembly Time: 5 AM, St...

Jun32015 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

ABS CBN Barangay Gwapo 2015 search on

Bukidnon, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro City, Caraga, Contests, Entertainment, Events, Iligan City, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Television

The yearly (and most awaited, mind you) pageant for men in Northern Mindanao is now on! Barangay Gwapo, an ABS CBN Northern Mindanao-produced and organized men's pageant, has even expanded the search - from what started out as just for Cagayan de Oro residents is now open for residents of Gingoog, Butuan, Iligan, Bukidnon and other parts of Misamis Oriental. Barangay Gwapo 2015 is open to all single males, aged 16 to 26 years old. Audition will be on June 13, 2015, 10 AM to 5 PM at Loreto's Grill and Restaurant (Tomas Saco Street/Nazareth, CDO). Prepare a 2-minute presentation that would truly showcase your talent/skill! And, yes, I also served as one of the judges of a previous Barangay Gwapo search :) So do you know someone who fits the bill? Share this post with him now!

Jun22015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

A Guide On Casinos In Davao

Davao City, Entertainment, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update

While passenger traffic in Davao may not be as busy as other holiday destinations such as Boracay and Puerto Princesa, the Mindanao city is a wonderful place that offers culture and entertainment, and one of the most fascinating things you'll discover in Davao is the cultural diversity of people. The ethnic structure of Davao is quite interesting with Visayans and mix of smaller cultural groups like the Aeta. Foreigners residing in Davao include Koreans, Chinese and Americans, but the Japanese make up a huge chunk of this demographic, which is not at all surprising given our history with Japan. Though Tokyo may consist of luxuries that one simply cannot have living in Davao, one of the draws of Mindanao's most populous city is legalized gambling. The Japanese government is currently rev...