Personalities Archives - Page 3 of 12 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Oct112013 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Excited to meet Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth and Gin Blossoms! #SugarSmashGin

Announcements, Blogging, Entertainment, Events, Features, Music, Musings, Personal, Personalities, Society

Just a few days more and I'll finally meet and be with popular and iconic 90's bands Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth and Gin Blossoms in Manila! Yes, I am officially stoked for the #SugarSmashGin concert! Woohoo! :D I previously shared with you all that I will play a little role in the staging of the much-awaited SugarSmashGin Live In Manila concert on October 21, 2013 at the Araneta Coliseum. Yup, that's just a few days away! WHO AMONG YOU ARE COMING TO WATCH? :) Did you see Sugar Ray lead singer Mark McGrath's tweet to me in this article? :) Very sweet, right? That tweet alone was enough to send me on my little merry way for days! :D By the way, since that blog entry, the official Gin Blossoms Twitter account has followed me on Twitter, Scott Hessel of Gin Blossoms has also followed me and ...

Oct112013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Davao fruit shopping with Rivermaya @rivermayaband

Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Entertainment, Events, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Musings, Personalities, Shopping, Society, Tourism

Was scanning my files earlier today and I found these! Very timely - since my Rivermaya band boys are currently in Dubai as of this writing and I miss them :) I will be in Manila in a few days, actually, but I'm not sure if I could watch any of their gigs. Oh well, c'est la vie. Anyway, here's the kuwento behind these photos. Hours before that Rivermaya Live In Davao show I co-produced with Apo View Hotel and The Blue Room not too long ago, Explore Davao treated Rivermaya band members Mark Escueta, Mike Elgar, Norby David and Ryan Peralta, the Rivermaya band management (led by Raymond) and I to a fun Samal Island trip! The boys looked pretty excited that morning :) Of course, what good is a beach/island outing without baon? Davao Congressman Karlo Nograles and his lovely wife ...

Aug92013 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Will be part of Sugar Ray Smash Mouth Gin Blossoms Live In Manila #SugarSmashGin

Advocacy, America, Announcements, Blogging, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Features, Headline, Internet, Leisure, Manila, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Musings, News, Personal, Personalities, Society, United States of America

Hold your breath, folks. Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth AND Gin Blossoms are heading to Manila this October 21, 2013! Yes, Mindanaoan.com can exclusively confirm that popular 90's bands Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth and Gin Blossoms will headline a very special 3-in-1 concert #SugarSmashGin on October 21, 2013, Araneta Coliseum, Manila! Actually, I first shared the good news in an earlier blog post but only Sugar Ray and Smash Mouth were the confirmed acts then :) And I am also very excited to let you guys know that, thanks to my amazing friends over at Random Minds Production, I will be with Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth and Gin Blossoms when they arrive in Manila! That means I will frequently be dishing out updates, exclusive photos and videos! Stoked :D So are you ready for #SugarSmashGin? I...

Jun272013 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Rustan’s Fresh CDO VIP night (official photos inside)

Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Events, Features, Food, Headline, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Muslim Mindanao, News, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Photos, Shopping, Society

I previously mentioned here on Mindanaoan that I was involved in a recent 3-day series of events for the Rustan's Fresh CDO opening. Aside from the grand opening, Rustan's Fresh Supermarket Cagayan de Oro City also sponsored a walkathon (in partnership with Xavier EcoVille, wherein all proceeds collected from the registration fees went to the said resettlement project for Typhoon Sendong survivors) and a Rustan's Fresh Cagayan de Oro preview night attended by VIPs, trade partners, concessionaires, traditional media practitioners, bloggers, guests and other local key personalities. Hundreds of people came to get a sneak peek of the 4,186 square meter store and 17th branch in the Philippines. All of those events were huge successes and I would like to wholeheartedly thank each and ...

Jun12013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Independence Music Fest at Tiendesitas

Entertainment, Events, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities

I'm heading to Manila tomorrow and will stay there for about a week. Whenever I'm in Manila, apart from business meetings, attending events and catching up with dear friends, I always see to it that I also allot some of my time watching my favorite musician-friends play. One of the events I'm eager to catch is the week-long Independence Music Fest 2013 at Tiendesitas Activity Center, Ortigas, Pasig. Together with my friends, I plan to catch the Oktaves (featuring Ely Buendia), K.A. Antonio and Rivermaya (woohoo!) on June 4, 2013 and Freestyle, Paolo Santos (whom I've had the chance to work with not too long ago) and my super favorite Jay Durias of South Border on June 5, 2013. Speaking of Jay Durias, this music fest is the only reason why I had to MOVE my Manila trip haha! I was suppose...

May302013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Julia Barretto at Style Origin 2013 Ayala Centrio CDO

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Corporate, Events, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Shopping, Society, Style

ABS-CBN Star Magic talent Julia Barretto truly wowed the crowd during the Style Origin 2013 fashion and style show held last May 25, 2013 at the Ayala Centrio Mall. Not that it was unexpected. She was, after all, a Barretto beauty. The charming Julia Barretto, who wore clothes from Bench, received very loud cheers from ardent fans and even from members of the audience who immediately got smitten with the fresh-faced Barretto beauty. The Style Origin 2013 fashion show aimed to re-affirm that style begins at Ayala Malls. And based on what I saw that day (I had a great view, thanks to the front row seats given to me and my blogger-friends by Centrio Mall - thank you very much!), they succeeded in achieving that goal. The fashion show, which was hosted by model and TV personality Phoemela B...

May12013 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Kagay-anon TJ Monterde releases “Ikaw At Ako” album, debuts music video

Bisaya, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Mindanaoan Artists, Misamis Oriental, Music, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Society

I met Titus John Monterde (or TJ Monterde) in Cagayan de Oro several years ago. He was friends with my brother Bon and we had a lot of mutual friends as well. He was already a celebrity in his own right then. A popular local TV host of ABS-CBN regional lifestyle show "Mag TV Northern Mindanao," TJ Monterde already had a following. Which wasn't entirely surprising since I knew TJ's friendly, smart and approachable. What I didn't know then was that the boy could sing as well. Fast forward years later, Teej now has his very own record album entitled "Ikaw At Ako." Released by Galaxy Records and distributed by Polyeast Records, TJ Monterde's album boasts of 6 well-loved OPM hits and 5 originally penned songs, including his own composition "Ikaw At Ako," to which the album was named after...

Mar312013 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Fun after-party with Rivermaya band

Bukidnon, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Malaybalay City, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Photos, Society

So after Rivermaya band's performance at the SMB Night Kaamulan Festival 2013 in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, my friends Jojo, Jacquee, Emil and I, including the San Miguel Beer bosses and folks behind St. Jude Distributors, accompanied them for dinner. Artists usually request for food after concerts and frankly, my friends and I became pretty hungry, too haha! Who wouldn't be when Rivermaya gave quite an electrifying performance and we all danced and sang our hearts out that night? In fact, all of us were still on a natural high after the show :) We all trooped to a local restaurant, thinking that all we'd do is eat, accompany the boys, take photos and say our goodbyes. What actually happened was far more than just that. There was laughter - LOTS of it. There was an impromptu jam. There ...

Mar252013 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Photos: Save Me Hollywood at Bukidnon San Miguel Beer event

Bukidnon, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Malaybalay City, Music, Personalities, Photos, Reviews

Hi everybody! This Mindanao blogger was in the Province of Bukidnon for the Kaamulan Festival, a yearly gathering of Bukidnon's 7 hill tribes. One of the festival highlights was the much-awaited San Miguel Beer Night or SMB Night, which was held last March 10, 2013 at the Capitol Grounds, Malaybalay City. My dearest friends Jojo and Jacquee invited me and a bunch of other friends to watch the SMB Night concert, which was headlined by no less than iconic Filipino band Rivermaya and up-and-coming pop funk band Save Me Hollywood :) VIP treatment - backstage access - seats nearest the stage (although my friends and I chose to be a part of the moshpit instead!) and here's the coolest part - unlimited San Miguel Beer! :D Thanks so much SMB, Jojo and Jacquee! Allow me to share some of the p...

Dec162012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Meet the WAGW CDO Young Ambassadors of Style 2012

Beauty, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Fashion, Features, Gifts, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Society, Style

Mindanaoan was invited to meet the What A Girl Wants (WAGW) CDO Young Ambassadors of Style 2012 last November 24, 2012 during the official launch of the WAGW Centrio Mall branch. It was an invitation I could never decline! Not only did I like the WAGW brand and the people behind it (did you know that popular Filipina fashion blogger Kryz Uy is their creative director?) and the organizers of the event (thank you Jaja and Vanessa!) but one of the style ambassadors was a dear friend and my brother (Bon of One Happy Story Photography) was the event's official photographer :) I was also asked to bring blogger-friends to the event and any event that makes it possible for bloggers to help promote great brands and products always has a plus on my book :) The What A Girl Wants and What A Girl Wa...

Nov302012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

CONFIRMED: Adam Lambert Live In Manila 2013

Announcements, Blogging, Entertainment, Events, Features, Manila, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Society, Style

It's CONFIRMED, folks! Flamboyant American Idol alumnus and hitmaker Adam Lambert is coming to Manila! The Adam Lambert Live In Manila 2013 concert is happening on March 1, 2013 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The Adam Lambert Manila 2013, which is part of the Trespassing Tour, is definitely good news for the Glamberts! Book your tickets this early because this Adam Lambert 2013 Manila show will definitely be one for the books! Please scroll down as well for some exciting news - EXCLUSIVE only to Mindanaoan.com! Ticket prices (Adam Lambert Live In Manila 2013): General Admission - Php 500 Upper Box - Php 1,500 Lowerbox B - Php 2,500 Lowerbox A - Php 3,500 Patron - Php 4,500 Patron VIP - Php 6,000 * rates are exclusive of service charge You can purchase...

Nov292012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Mindanaoan.com is an official media partner of 2012 Mindanao Fashion Summit

Announcements, Arts, Beauty, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Culture, Davao City, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Internet, Mindanaoan Artists, News, Personalities, Shopping, Society, Style, Tourism, Weddings

The Mindanao Fashion Summit 2012 is happening on December 5 to 7, 2012 at the Rotunda, Limketkai Mall, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao, Philippines. The 2012 Mindanao Fashion Summit is a yearly collaboration of both veteran and up-and-coming fashion designers in Mindanao. And this Mindanao lifestyle blogger is so excited to share with you some pretty exciting news - Mindanaoan.com is an official media partner of the Mindanao Fashion Summit 2012! :) The works of Frederick Peralta, Dong Omaga-Diaz, Ronaldo Arnaldo, Roel Rosal, Kiko Domo, Jeffrey Garde, Emi Englis, Oscar Flores, Edgar Buyan, Aztec Barba, Jinky Petalcorin, Dodjie Batu and many more will be featured during the 3-day summit. Directors of the show include my dear friend Dennis Almazan :) The 2012 Mindanao Fashion ...

Nov112012 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Photos: Rovilson Fernandez and Daniel Matsunaga at Planet Sports Centrio Mall

Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Photos, Shopping

Guess who made quite a stir during the opening of Centrio Mall? No other than Brazilian model Daniel Matsunaga and host/model Rovilson Fernandez! The two gorgeous hunks caused so much stir that the boys later told this Mindanao lifestyle blogger that they had to do an "Amazing Race" kind of dodge and run just to make it through the sea of screaming fans. Daniel Matsunaga and Rovilson Fernandez were in town to do an autograph signing session at Planet Sports, located at the 2nd floor of Centrio Mall. I actually wrote about that event in an earlier blog entry :) Thanks to Planet Sports, I was given the chance to meet and be with these two handsome, charming guys - who apparently happen to be very funny, too! Good thing my blogger-friends were also there to share the fun! Rovilson was v...

Sep72012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Norwegian boy band a1 to hold a concert in Cebu City

Announcements, Arts, Cebu City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Leisure, Manila, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Musings, News, Personalities, Society

a1 is coming back to the Philippines! The boys who brought us hits such as "Like A Rose," "Caught In The Middle," "Same Old Brand New You" and their most recent hit in Asia, "Waiting For Daylight," is coming back to the Philippines! Who's excited for the a1 Live in Cebu show? The British-Norwegian group a1, composed of cutie pies Mark Read, Ben Adams and Christian Ingebrigsten, is set to hold an a1 Live In Cebu concert on November 23, 2012 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino Lahug. The boys were in the Philippines last February 2012 for the Greatest Hits Tour with Jeff Timmons and Blue. Are you as excited as I am? If you have been following this blog, I mentioned before that I tagged along with the guys in Manila. And with this latest development, I can't wait to see these gorgeous me...

Aug282012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Miss Kagay-an 2012 winners

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Campus, Contests, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Malaybalay City, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Society, Tourism

The winners of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 beauty pageant have already been declared. The announcement of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 winners was held during the coronation night last August 26, 2012 at the Atrium of the Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City. Mindanaoan.com was there to cover the event since Mindanaoan.com is an official media partner of Miss Kagay-an 2012. The Miss Kagayan 2012 winners are: Miss Kagay-an 2012 - Greanne Trisha Mendoza, a Malaybalay City, Bukidnon-born event organizer Miss Tourism - Lovely Jane Estampa, a legal analyst at the Development Bank of the Philippines First runner-up - Emie Lou Yamba, sales representative of Amore Travel and Tours Second runner-up - Maria Leslie Angelina Ghan, Civil Engineering student at Xavier University Third runner-up - Maria El...

Aug182012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 CDO – #MYOHCDO2012

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Corporate, Events, Fashion, Features, Gifts, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Reviews, Shopping, Society, Style

As I'm writing this, it's the 2nd day of Make Your Own Havaianas CDO 2012. So that means you have today and tomorrow to join MYOH CDO 2012! :) The Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 Cagayan de Oro leg covers Northern Mindanao and it kicked off yesterday, August 17, 2012. MYOH CDO 2012 will run until August 19, 2012 at the Limketkai Rotunda, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. A Make Your Own Havaianas event is where you can customize your own pair of Havaianas flip flops. It's that time of the year when Havaianaticos are given the chance to choose their desired sole, strap and pins. In other words, it's a chance for Havaianas lovers to design their very own - truly unique - pair. Moreover, it's only during MYOH events when specially designed soles and unique pins can be bought :) This year i...

Aug12012 by Mindanaoan Irene8 Comments

Dinner with Duncan James and the boys of BLUE

Entertainment, Features, Manila, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Photos

These boys from the United Kingdom may have last been in the Philippines February 2012 but the fans want more! A lot of Duncan James, Simon Webbe, Antony Costa and Lee Ryan fans are still asking me for updates so I checked my files and hey, whaddaya know - I found more "Blue" treasures! :) Here are some photos I took during dinner with the boys of Blue. Can I just say that they were all gentlemen and were all very easy to talk to? Apparently the boys love Japanese food. Lee and Duncan like sake (Japanese beverage made from fermented rice), Antony likes yakitori while Simon likes tonkatsu and tempura :) By the way, I really don't know how one can eat properly if gorgeous creatures such as this one is sitting right across you ;) Enjoy the photos and please don't forget to share t...

Jul122012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Rep. JV Ejercito visits Bukidnon @jvejercito

Blogging, Bukidnon, Controversial, Features, Government, Malaybalay City, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Photos, Politics

I was in Bukidnon when San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito (or Joseph Victor Ejercito Estrada) told me that he was coming for a visit. I readily told Rep. JV Ejercito that I would be glad to assist him especially since I still had tons of media and government contacts in Bukidnon. I was also very curious to see how the people of Bukidnon would react when they see him. After all, JV Ejercito just recently "patched things up" with former Bukidnon congressman (and resigned Senator) Juan Miguel Zubiri (who is obviously very well-loved in Bukidnon) after the latter apologized to JV's dad, former President Erap Estrada. Migs Zubiri used to be a part of the "Spice Boys," a group of young congressmen who pushed for the articles of impeachment against Estrada in 2000. These days, Migs and JV are now both ...

Jul32012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Photos: US Ambassador Harry Thomas leads turnover of donations to Bulua

America, Announcements, BIMP-EAGA, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Campus, Education, Features, Headline, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, News, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Photos, Society, United States of America

Like I previously mentioned in this blog, I had the chance of a lifetime to accompany US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas, Jr. for two days. It truly was an honor to be that up close and personal with the American ambassador, who I found to be very smart, direct and friendly. As a part of his party when he visited Cagayan de Oro City for the very first time last week, I got the chance to accompany him in various events. We attended the distribution of HACCP and ISO certificates to 10 Mindanao companies, the roundtable discussion with CIPMYL graduates in Xavier University and the launch of the Cities Development Initiative in CDO. Another event that I got to witness was the turnover of donations to Bulua National High School. The United States Agency for International Develo...

Jul22012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

USAID, Cagayan de Oro sign MOU; launch Cities Development Initiative

America, BIMP-EAGA, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Government, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, News, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Politics, Society, United States of America

During his recent visit to Cagayan de Oro, US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr. led the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Cagayan de Oro City LGU. The MOU was for the launch of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)'s Cities Development Initiative. Ambassador Thomas, USAID Mission Director Gloria D. Steele and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano all signed the MOU last Friday, June 29, 2012 at a local hotel in Cagayan de Oro. The launch of the Cities Development Initiative in CDO is seen to be very beneficial to the LGU. The Cities Development Initiative is an integral part of the U.S.-Philippines Partnership for Growth (PFG). Launched in November 2011, PFG is helping the Philippines achieve its high growth potential by creating a more tra...

Jul22012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Accompanying US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr.

America, BIMP-EAGA, Bisaya, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Singapore, United States of America

Just last week, this humble blogger in Mindanao was granted a chance of a lifetime - to be able to accompany U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas, Jr. for two days! I was part of US Ambassador Harry Thomas, Jr.'s party when he visited Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao. It was the American ambassador's very first visit to CDO. The two-day adventure with the friendly ambassador started right from the airport - where I experienced first hand how it was to be a part of an official U.S. Ambassador's group. I can't share details but suffice it to say that I felt like I was in a CIA agent film :D Although it was not my first time to accompany an ambassador, it was still a huge thrill! Victoria of the U.S. Embassy Manila introduced me to Ambassador Thomas. He was friendly and had a...

Jun12012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad to visit the Philippines this June 2012

Announcements, BIMP-EAGA, Features, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Personalities, Politics

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad will visit the Philippines this June 2012. Admired by many around the world, it was under the leadership of H.E. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad leadership that Malaysia developed into one of the most prosperous economies in Southeast Asia. Dr. Mahathir Mohamad will be in Manila, Philippines come June 10 to 11, 2012. He will be accompanied by his spouse H.E. Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali. According to incumbent Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Dato Seri Dr. Ibrahim Saad, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad will have a fairly packed schedule while in the Philippines. Apart from giving a keynote lecture at the University of Santo Tomas (which will be themed loosely on modernization, good governance as well as national development), he will a...