Mindanaoan Update Archives - Page 46 of 67 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

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, ...

Aug312010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Photos: New Bacolod Silay Airport

Blogging, Mindanaoan Update, Photos, Tourism, Travel

One of the reasons why this blogger from Mindanao had to spend roughly two weeks in Visayas was a fab, much-awaited weekend in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental with my gal pals Joyce, Iza and Crissa! Although it wasn't my first time to visit Bacolod City (the renowned City of Smiles and home of the Masskara Festival), it was my first time to spend three days with dear friends whom I all met in Manila. I'll tell you more about these amazing ladies in the next few posts :) For now, I'll share with you some travel tips should you take the Cebu-Bacolod route soon (the Masskara Festival is just around the corner, after all!) and some of the photos I took at the fairly New Bacolod Silay Airport. I usually book my flights online using a credit card. For my Cebu City to Bacolod City flight, I...

Aug272010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Cebu: Big breakfast at Ilaputi, Asiatown IT Park

Food, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Visayas

My brother, who runs the uber famous Philippine-based tennis blog, Tennis Guru, has been raving about this 24-hour place at Asiatown IT Park, Cebu City called ilaputi. He regularly eats breakfast at this Cebu restaurant and eventually, he has managed to convince a lot of his friends to try ilaputi Cebu as well. Well, since I'm in the Queen City of the South for a few days, I decided to ask him to take me there as well. So on a bright and sunny Thursday morning, we visited ilaputi's Asiatown IT Park branch and ordered ilaputi's "Big Breakfast." I was not disappointed. Not at all. Ilaputi Cebu Asian and fusion restaurant's big breakfast was a real treat - yummy chorizo, bacon with garlic fried rice, two (!) eggs and marinated pork with rich sauce. The delicious meal was served on a ...

Aug272010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Off to Visayas!

Bisaya, Mindanaoan Update, Visayas

And I am off to the Visayas! I will spend roughly two weeks in Visayas, Philippines. So be ready to read a lot of posts related to food, interesting finds, reviews, hotel pictures, beaches (!) and other "bloggable" stuff that I come across with during my stay in the Visayas :) In the meantime, I leave you with this photo of my Air Phil Express plane:

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...

Aug142010 by Mindanaoan Irene8 Comments

Paradise Island Resort Samal Island

Beauty, Davao City, Hotels, Island Garden City of Samal, Mindanaoan Update, Resorts, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

I did a "wala lang" weekend trip to Davao City, Mindanao a few days ago. I just wanted to go to the beach and not think about my business, clients, contracts and everything else. I just needed to feel the warmth of the sun on my skin, I wanted to feel the sand in between my toes, I wanted to breathe fresh air, I wanted to swim...I just needed to be at the beach again. I felt that, after months of working so hard, I badly needed an escape...at least for the weekend. I wanted a quick, no-nonsense trip and for this I thought of revisiting one of my family's long-time favorite tourist destinations at the Island Garden City of Samal - Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort. Paradise Island Samal is perhaps the largest beach resort in the IGACOS (Island Garden City of Samal) area. With a sh...

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…)

Aug52010 by Mindanaoan Irene9 Comments

Mindanaoan is attending Wordcamp Philippines 2010!

Advocacy, Announcements, Blogging, Events, Internet, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Technology

I am absolutely thrilled to share this with y'all --- this blogger in Mindanao is attending the much-awaited Wordcamp Philippines 2010! I'm going, ARE YOU? Curious as to why Wordcamp Philippines 2010 is such a big deal especially for bloggers who use Wordpress? (Mindanaoan.com as well as all my other numerous blogs proudly use Wordpress, by the way!) Check out the deets after the jump! (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…)

Jul302010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

4 very simple changes I want to see in government under PNoy’s leadership

Commentary, Government, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion

1. That government employees and officials punch their own bundy cards and that appropriate punishment be given to those who ask someone else to punch their bundy cards in their behalf. Let this be most applicable to regular government employees who have the gall to bully job order/contractual employees to doing what their apparently lazy asses don't want or can't do. I have personally seen government employees who think that just because they have tenure, they have the option to come to work after 8 in the morning. However, they don't want their salaries deducted so they bully job order employees and demand that these poor contractual workers punch their cards in. 2. That government employees and officials do not leave their offices/desks for reasons other than work-related. Exactly...

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...

Jul252010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

How to renew your DTI permit | Tips for an entrepreneur in Mindanao

Advocacy, Business, Corporate, Government, Mindanaoan Update, Personal

Apart from renewing my Philippine passport and applying for a new e-passport, another thing that I did this week was renew my Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) permit. I've had mine for 5 years (how fast time flies, eh?) and it's now time for me to renew it and ensure that the name of my business as well as my services are duly registered and legally recognized by the DTI. Actually, a lot of newbie or aspiring entrepreneurs I know are hesitant to get a DTI permit for fear that it'll be too time consuming or that there will be a lot of requirements. Based on what I know about getting a DTI permit and based on my own experience, it's absolutely easy to apply for one. In fact, there's now a DTI resolution that makes DTI permit applications and renewals easier for Pinoy businessmen....

Jul242010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Review: Citi Park Hotel Cebu City | Hotels in Cebu City

Business, Consumer, Hotels, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

Nestled along Cabahug Street, Panagdait, Mabolo Cebu City is a relatively new but not too expensive hotel in the Queen City of the South. Citi Park Hotel is conveniently located between Cebu City proper and Mandaue City, making travel time to and fro Cebu International Airport easy. I had the chance to stay at Citi Park Hotel Cebu during the recent electoral campaigns/sorties. I was with one of the senatorial candidates that I did PR/media relations for and we stayed for two nights at Citi Park Cebu. Here's a look at their lobby cum lounge. I arranged for a mini press conference here with some of my Cebu media friends: Here's the restaurant at this hotel in Cebu City. We took our breakfast here. They serve it buffet style: A photo of one of the hotel rooms in Citi Park Hotel after the j...

Jul212010 by Mindanaoan Irene10 Comments

Mindanao’s first ever wavepool to open in Davao City very soon!

Announcements, Business, Davao City, Events, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, News, Tourism, Travel

Mindanao now has its first ever wavepool! Not only does Mindanao have fabulous beaches, it now boasts of its first ever and so far the only wave pool in this side of the Philippines. A beach resort in Davao City, Mindanao is set to open its wavepool to the public via a grand event on July 25, 2010 (Sunday), 6 PM. Check out the poster below: The event will also showcase some of Davao City's models, dance groups, fire dancers and local celebrities. (more…)

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...

Jul182010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Yummy Sunday birthday lunch at Kagay-anon Restaurant

Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Personal

My family and I recently celebrated my brother Ben's birthday by sharing one delicious, special birthday lunch on a Sunday at Kagay-anon Restaurant. One of our brothers, Nathaniel, wasn't around, though, since he's already based in Cebu City but we called him several times all throughout the day so we still strongly felt his presence. For that special Sunday birthday lunch, we had camaron rebosado and calamares: We also had another family favorite which is lato seafood. Check out the lato serving at this restaurant in Cagayan de Oro City after the jump! (more…)

Jul162010 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

The big Spruce 5th anniversary sale and my oh-so-precious loot!

Beauty, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Events, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Style

So the first day of the much-awaited and much talked about 5th Anniversary Sale of SPRUCE was an absolute success! Hundreds of Spruce loyalists came and bought...nay, HOARDED...a lot of stuff! I personally overheard a lady who, after she already bought a lot of items, told her husband that she wanted to stay overnight in Cagayan de Oro City (the family was, apparently, from Marawi City) just because the Spruce personnel told her that more stocks were coming. I also saw a guy who already had 4 pairs of PUMA shoes in his shopping basket but was still checking out yet another pair! (Who says guys can't be shopaholics?) As soon as the mall opened, a long line of eager shoppers was already outside the Spruce store. That type of scene was inevitable, truth be told. Spruce, in celeb...

Jul142010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

From Mindanao media to PNoy’s communications group – an appeal

Advocacy, Blogging, Broadcasting, Commentary, Government, Headline, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Opinion, Politics

So it's somehow final now. The Office of the Press Secretary is no longer. New Philippine President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III or PNoy will reorganize it and will rename it to the Presidential Communications Office. The latest buzz is that ANC broadcaster Ricky Carandang and "The Explainer" Manolo Quezon III will join the communications team and will play vital roles. I am, quite frankly, happy to know that Carandang and Quezon will be part of the team. For sure, these brilliant minds will bring with them their years of experience and they will definitely be fab assets to the Aquino administration. No doubt about that. My concern, therefore, is more about the treatment towards Mindanao journalists now that Aquino has made it clear that the public is his "BOSS" and now that he has tw...

Jul132010 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Iligan City’s Maria Cristina Falls is now reopened to the public

Announcements, Government, Iligan City, Mindanaoan Update, Muslim Mindanao, News, Northern Mindanao, Tourism, Travel

Good news! The majestic Maria Cristina Falls, one of the major tourist attractions in Iligan City, Mindanao, is now reopened to the public...and it now even has a Nature's Park! Known as the Philippines' second highest waterfalls, the Maria Cristina Falls plays a very vital role in generating power for Mindanao. Maria Cristina Falls powers the National Power Corporation's Agus VI Hydroelectric Plant which is capable of generating as much as 200 MW. A lot of areas around Mindanao depend on the Agus VI. *photo credit: Iligan City What's also exciting about the reopening of the Maria Cristina Falls is that it now also has a nature's park. (more…)