bukidnon news Archives - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Jun132023 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Ready to take the MUSPO Bukidnon ULTRA challenge?

Bukidnon, Events, Fitness, Mindanaoan Update, Sports

Registration is now open for MUSPO Bukidnon (a.k.a. Musuan - Lake Apo Bukidnon) ULTRA, an endurance race generously supported by The North Face Philippines. For runners / trail runners, endurance aficionados and fitness junkies, this will definitely bring out the best in you. Are you ready to accept the challenge? You even have the chance to avail of discounts on The North Face items and additional discounts when you trade-in your old trail or running shoes! Race days: July 22 to 23, 2023 Official registration link: https://racetechph.com/raceinfoview/10197 (please only register via RaceTech) Avail of these unbeatable offers: 20% OFF on ALL regular priced items by showing you’re a registered participant of MUSPO - Baby Trail and MUSPO ULTRA 100 - THE NORTH FACE PH ...

Jan202020 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Kaamulan Festival 2020 Schedule of Activities

Advocacy, Announcements, Arts, Bukidnon, Culture, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Kaamulan Festival, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Society, Tourism, Travel

Kaamulan Festival 2020 na! After missing this annual Bukidnon festival for a few years, I am finally going to witness it again. The Kaamulan Festival is the annual gathering of the 7 Bukidnon hill tribes namely Tigwahanun, Talaandig, Matigsalug, Higaonon, Bukidnon, Manobo and Umayamnun. The Kaamulan Festival is also considered as the only authentic ethnic festival left in the Philippines. By virtue of a provincial resolution authored by Bukidnon District 2 Board Member Atty. Jun Beltran, the Kaamulan Festival in Bukidnon is held from March 23 to April 23 every year. The dates are fixed. However, the sitting Bukidnon governor will have the option to change them provided there's a viable reason to do so. Ergo, this year's Kaamulan Festival 2020 will be on March 23 to April 23...

Nov282019 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

LOOK: Bukidnon Sports and Cultural Complex, Museum

Announcements, Bukidnon, Features, Malaybalay City, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Sports, Tourism

During the recent Bukidnon Poverty Summit, Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri delivered updates with regard to the soon-to-rise Bukidnon Sports and Cultural Complex. The 13-hectare property, which will be located in Barangay Laguitas, Malaybalay City, will feature a grandstand, a track and field oval, a gymnasium, an aquatic center, a fencing court, a museum, and a dormitory. "Once completed, Bukidnon will be capable of hosting national and regional sports competitions, theater and cultural performances. This will promote sports and cultural activities among our youth and people and bring them away from vices and other unproductive activities," the senator said. The Bukidnon Sports and Cultural Complex is a joint project of the Provincial Government of Bukidnon and Senator Migz Z...

Oct212019 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

UPDATED with more photos: Bukidnon airport to feature pineapple design

Announcements, Bukidnon, Business, Government, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Tourism

The most-awaited Bukidnon airport, located at Maray-Maray, Municipality of Don Carlos, will reportedly feature a lovely pineapple-inspired design. This, according to Senator Juan Miguel "Migs" Zubiri. In fact, Senator Migs Zubiri, a longtime friend, personally sent to me the design plan! He said that I have the first crack at this Bukidnon airport design plan so for that I'm truly grateful! LOOK: (please subscribe for more exclusive updates --- it will only take 2 seconds, I promise!) https://youtu.be/6FdC_bbzJAY Sir Migs also disclosed that the groundwork is now 80 percent complete and a Php 630 Million bidding for the concretion will be held early November 2019. He also personally told me that he is working on amending the national budget for next y...

Feb92019 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

New nesting area for Philippine Eagle identified

Bukidnon, Features, Mindanaoan Update, News, Northern Mindanao, Society

Here's good news! A new nesting territory for the mighty monkey-eating Philippine Eagle has been identified...and yes, it's in Mindanao, particularly in the highlands of Bukidnon. According to the Philippine Eagle Foundation, they have duly verified local reports that indicated the presence of a Philippine Eagle and its offspring in Bukidnon. The said foundation said that they conducted a 2-week expedition and confirmed that there's an eaglet about 10 months old and its parent in the Bukidnon highlands. This is a really positive development especially since there are only about 400 Philippine Eagles left. My friend, Atty. John Flores, who is gunning for the District 2 congressional seat, cautioned that people should be more mindful of the Philippine Eagles' nesting areas. T...

Jan22019 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Cafe Sa Bukid – thriving in the middle of nowhere

Bukidnon, Business, Cafe, Consumer, Features, Food, Malaybalay City, Mindanao, Tourism

I think it was just a matter of time. After all, it sits on a verdant plateau between mountain ranges (so you know fo' sho' you see amazing views everywhere!), the weather is nice, life is chill and the people are cool and friendly. I'm talking about Lantapan, Bukidnon, situated between the Kitanglad and Kalatungan mountain ranges, having its first crowd-drawing cafe, Cafe Sa Bukid. This 2-storey hut largely made out of bamboo has become quite a sensation - attracting not only local customers but visitors from just about everywhere. I went home to the Philippines a few weeks ago and Cafe Sa Bukid was one of the places my relatives and I visited. It’s located in Kibangay, Lantapan, about 45 minutes away from the Barangay Aglayan, Malaybalay City junction. You won’t miss it - it’s alon...

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...

Jul62018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Fifty indigenous families to be affected by Bukidnon airport project

Bukidnon, Culture, Society

Some 50 Indigenous People (IP) families will apparently be affected by the Bukidnon airport project. And in exchange for pulling them out of the area in Don Carlos, Bukidnon, where the airport will be, they will be given Php 5 Million. This would mean that each indigenous family will receive Php 100,000. Which makes me think --- is Php 100,000 enough? Granted that the families themselves, led by Datu Teodoro Andil of the Unified Ancestral Domain of Manobo Kirenteken, reportedly asked for the Php 5 Million, is this just? Is this fair? Have other government agencies and NGOs perhaps helped them figure out if this amount can help them long-term? The Php 5 Million will reportedly be used to purchase a 50-hectare relocation site in Pangantucan. Fifty homes will be built there, one for ...

Jun42018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Double-decker buses soon to ply Cagayan de Oro to Bukidnon route

Bukidnon, Business, Corporate

Bukidnon, considered the food basket of Mindanao, will soon see double-decker buses, akin to the iconic red ones you see plying the streets of London. Pabama Transport, a Kibawe-based bus liner, will soon introduce their brand new fleet of double-decker buses which will ply the Bukidnon to Cagayan de Oro and CDO to Bukidnon route. If you recall, Pabama is the same bus company that introduced units equipped with tablets, trays and cup holders. It looks like they're really ramping up their game. The new Pabama Bukidnon double-decker buses are manufactured by ZhongTong, one of China's largest bus manufacturing companies, and have 420 HP Engines Euro 4's. As you can see in the photos, the buses are airconditioned and have water dispensers, comfortable cushioned seats, comf...

Jun42018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Bukidnon to host Mindanao parliamentary debate championship

Bukidnon, Campus, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Society

Confirmed: the Province of Bukidnon will be the venue for the much-anticipated Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship, a bi-annual debate tournament that gathers the most prestigious and most competitive debate organizations from universities all over Mindanao, Philippines. Organized by the Bukidnon State University Debate Varsity (BukSU DV) and the Bukidnon Debate Union (BDU), in partnership with the Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Union (MPDU), the debate will be held on September 21 to 23, 2018 at the Bukidnon State University in Malaybalay City, the capital of the Province of Bukidnon. "As we live in the post-truth era where truth is negotiable, it is imperative to continually cultivate a critical mass. Debating, as we stand, is a positive energy geared in putting the post-trut...

Mar262018 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Bukidnon’s Kaamulan Festival 2018 Ethnic Sports Competition

Bukidnon, Culture, Events, Festivals, Kaamulan Festival, Malaybalay City, Mindanao, Society

The Kaamulan Festival has truly evolved. From being a simple celebration whereby representatives from Bukidnon's 7 hill tribes would all gather in Malaybalay City, the capital of Bukidnon, the annual festival has now turned into quite a spectacle. Despite the many changes, however, I'm glad that there are still events that allowed our indigenous brothers and sisters to showcase their rich, unique and truly colorful culture and tradition. One of these events was the Kaamulan Festival Ethnic Tribal Olympics or Kaamulan Ethnic Sports Competition. In Binukid language, ethnic sports is called "Alu-Alu." Representatives from the Bukidnon, Higaonon, Manobo, Matigsalug, Talaandig, Tigwahanon, and Umayamnon tribes challenged each other in at least 18 ethnic sports at the Capitol Grounds i...

Mar202018 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Beautiful Bukidnon tribal dance at the Kaamulan Festival 2018

Bukidnon, Culture, Events, Festivals, Kaamulan Festival, Malaybalay City

As I am writing this, the yearly Kaamulan Festival is currently ongoing in the Province of Bukidnon, Philippines. The Kaamulan Festival 2018 celebration will last until March 24, 2018, on which day the main highlight, the Ethnic Street Dancing Competition, will be held in Malaybalay City, the capital of Bukidnon. If you're heading there, you may want to check one of my other blogs, the longest-standing one about the province, Bukidnon Online. You can also find the Kaamulan 2018 schedule of activities there. Anyway, full disclosure --- I am still here in New York, USA (legally, if I may add) and obviously, I'm thousands of miles away from Bukidnon. Fortunately, I have an awesome brother, Ben, and an awesome cousin, Daniel, and they're both covering the events for my blogs! Yes, I'm very ...

Jan92018 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Bukidnon Mindanao airport construction starts this 2018

Bukidnon, Business, Consumer, Flights, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Tourism, Travel

After decades of waiting, the Province of Bukidnon, my mother's hometown and where I lived for a few years, will finally soon see a fully functioning airport! Not only will the proposed Bukidnon airport be beneficial for the people in the province but for folks from neighboring areas like North Cotabato, Agusan del Norte and Lanao del Sur. The last functioning airport in the Province of Bukidnon was in Malaybalay City (more like a small airport strip) and with all the changes and developments, the once outside-city-proper airport is actually now full of residential houses and pretty much considered well within city limits. Unfortunately, the new Bukidnon airport will not be in the capital of the province, which is Malaybalay. It will be about 60 miles or 98 kilometers away - in Maray Ma...

Apr112017 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

This Bukidnon bus company is getting tons of attention

Announcements, Bukidnon, Business, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Travel

Let's face it. Pabama Bus Tours and Transport Bukidnon used to be regarded as the "smallest player" among the 3 bus companies serving the Bukidnon - Cagayan de Oro route. Pabama, owned by a family based in the Municipality of Kibawe in Bukidnon, had the smallest fleet compared to Rural Transit Mindanao (formerly Bachelor Express) and Super 5. These days, however, the small fry is now very ready to face the giants. Pabama invaded social media by storm when they introduced their brand new, high-end units made by Chinese firm Zhong Tong. Check out this photo taken by my policeman-cousin Erwin: The new Pabama Bukidnon buses are equipped with mini trays (just like what you see in airplanes), cup holders, comfortable captain chairs and yup, check out the individual tablets! You will...

Feb192017 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Teaching blogging and social media 101 in Manolo Fortich

Blogging, Bukidnon, Campus, Features, Internet, Mindanaoan Artists, Society

Last February 9, 2017, I was invited as a speaker on social media and blogging at the Northern Bukidnon Community College in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. I spoke before roughly 160 3rd year Elementary Education students. It was an extra special day, too, because I got to spend it with my Mama, who is an awarded blogger herself and whose introduction of me was so touching I think it pulled a lot of the students’ heartstrings! Anyway, I have to say - I have spoken in several events here and abroad but that NBCC seminar-workshop was something else. It had the most enthusiastic crowd. As soon as I started sharing my digital life journey, all pairs of eyes were on me and everyone looked very eager to learn. So eager that right there and then, a lot of them immediately registered their own blog ...

Feb172017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

P700M drug rehab center to rise in Bukidnon

Bukidnon, Mindanao, News, Northern Mindanao

A drug rehabilitation center is set to rise in Malaybalay City, the capital of the Province of Bukidnon. My dear friend Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri told me today that the Php 700 Million drug rehab center will be put up on a 5 hectare land along Diversion Road, Barangay Casisang, Malaybalay City. A non government organization, Friends of the Philippines Foundation, donated the amount. Senator Migs also said that the groundbreaking of the proposed center will be on March 25, 2017, the day of the Kaamulan Festival 2017 Ethnic Street Dancing Competition. The yearly Kaamulan Festival started last February 1 and will end on March 25, 2017. The festival is the gathering of Bukidnon's 7 hill tribes. READ: Kaamulan Festival 2017 Schedule of Events

Jan142017 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Bukidnon Kaamulan Festival 2017 schedule of events

Bukidnon, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Malaybalay City, Society, Tourism, Travel

The largest festival in the Province of Bukidnon will be held from February 1 to March 25, 2017. Here's the Kaamulan Festival 2017 schedule of activities. This annual Bukidnon festival, recognized by a former Tourism Secretary as the only authentic ethnic festival in the Philippines, is an event that gathers the 7 hill tribes of the Province of Bukidnon. The Bukidnon ethnic hill tribes are Talaandig, Manobo, Matigsalug, Tigwahanun, Higaonon, Umayamnun and Bukidnon. Meanwhile, Kaamulan is an indigenous Bukidnon term for “gathering” for any purpose. It can mean a datuship ritual, a wedding ceremony, a thanksgiving festival during harvest time, a peace pact, or all of these together. Need a place to stay in Bukidnon? CLICK HERE > BOOK A DISCOUNTED BUKIDNON HOTEL ROOM Activities ...

Dec132016 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Globe Telecom, Hineleban Foundation lead “Rainforestation” and livelihood program for IPs in Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur

Advocacy, ARMM, BIMP-EAGA, Bukidnon, Business, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Muslim Mindanao, News, Northern Mindanao, Opinion, Videos

A "rainforestation" program for the 6 mountain ranges in Mindanao as well as livelihood opportunities for indigenous people in Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur are underway. Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom is set to donate roughly Php 1.4 Million to Hineleban Foundation. Globe, represented by its SVP for Corporate Communications Yoly Crisanto, inked an agreement with the foundation together with its thousands of Globe MyLifestyle iPhone 7 customers for a 5-year "rainforestation program," composed of 3 key components, namely: reforestation, sustainable livelihood development and food security. Through Globe’s MyLifestyle Plan which starts at P2,599, clients have the option to contribute in the reforestation of denuded forests, particularly in Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur provinc...

Jun132016 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Good news – More Lumad schools established in Mindanao!

Advocacy, Announcements, Bukidnon, Culture, Kaamulan Festival, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, News, Northern Mindanao

A total of thirty nine (39) schools for our indigenous peoples (IP) or Lumad brothers and sisters have been established in key parts in Northern Mindanao, Philippines and I have never been so happy! I think it's high time that we give importance to our Lumad brothers and sisters. Enough of taking advantage of them and abusing the sanctity of their culture. Enough of using them as "props" during certain festivals that are, in fact, just purely commercial in nature. Enough, please! Twenty three of the schools will be established in Malaybalay City (at Nasuli, Bangcud, to be exact), Valencia City and 10 other Bukidnon municipalities. The remaining sixteen will be found in Iligan, Gingoog, Balingasag and Claveria, Misamis Oriental. Thank you to the Department of Education. This is one...

Feb162016 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Paloma-look alike Janice Adams tries CDO rafting

Bukidnon, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Features, Society, Tourism, Travel

Fifteen year old Janice Adams, a.k.a. the twin of Coco Martin's character in "Ang Probinsyano," Paloma Picache, recently tried white water rafting in Cagayan de Oro. And she experienced the thrilling CDO rafting adventure with the most reliable outfitter in the city - Great White Water Tours. Best known as the only CDO water rafting outfitter that guarantees TWO river guides per raft (safety is their utmost priority) and the only one that offers the cheapest raft + ziplines (at Dahilayan Adventure Park) packages, Great White Water Tours is the top choice of personalities, celebrities and foreign tourists from all over the world. Visit the Great White Water Tours Facebook page for more photos and information Here's a little trivia: the river where the rafting trips are done is actu...

Oct162015 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Photos: Kaamulan Festival 2015 at Grandstand Malaybalay Bukidnon

Bukidnon, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Musings, Northern Mindanao, Photos, Society, Tourism, Travel

I went to Malaybalay City, Bukidnon a few days ago to see the preparations being done in time for the Kaamulan Festival 2015. The Kaamulan is a yearly gathering of Bukidnon's 7 hill tribes and the said festival is the biggest and most-awaited in the province. Now, I've been an observer of the Kaamulan Festival for several years now. In fact, there were many instances when I was tasked to handle and cover big, important events. So you could just imagine my disappointment when I saw for myself this year's preparations. The biggest change? The transfer of the bulk of the activities from the Capitol Grounds to the Grandstand area in Malaybalay. For those unfamiliar with the area - the Grandstand is located in an inner location. The soil at that area gets really soft and muddy when it rains....

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...