filipino Archives - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Aug242009 by Mindanaoan Irene6 Comments

“Sa Manila, hindi ganito ang service…”

Advocacy, Bisaya, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Consumer, Controversial, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion, Personal, Weird

Mindanaoan can't help but blog about this. What happened late last Saturday night at a 24 hour fastfood store located at Divisoria, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao reminded me of so many things --- two of which are the need for Mindanaoans to be more assertive and why I love Mindanao (and why it will always be home for me). Before I go any further, however, I would just like to emphasize that the following are just my personal opinions and are not meant to hit anyone. My post is more like a reminder...an eye-opener, if you will...of the fact that discrimination even among Filipinos (still) exist. Last Saturday night, right after the Tatak Environmentalist event, I went to a fastfood store at Divisoria. I decided to grab some grub as I waited for my brother to fetch me. As I fell in line a...

Jul52009 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Mindanao pride Manny Pacquiao, Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant in Nike commercial

Announcements, Corporate, General Santos City, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Sarangani, Society, SoSCksargen, South Cotabato, Sports, Videos

Mindanaoan Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao will again star in a major Nike commercial --- but this time, he will be joined by two other sports giants - NBA star Kobe Bryant and golf sensation Tiger Woods. I may be wrong...but I think that while this isn't Pacquiao's first time to do a Nike commercial, this is the first time that he will film a commercial with Woods and Bryant. As expected, this will be one very explosive commercial...one that Pinoys, most especially Mindanaoans, will look forward to. This much-awaited Nike commercial featuring Manny Pacquiao, Kobe Bryant and Tiger Woods will reportedly be shot in Los Angeles on July 8, 2009. Meanwhile, check out this cool Nike superstars commercial featuring Pacman, Kobe, Cristiano Ronaldo, Maria Sharapova and others: (this one's for Nike...

Jul22009 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Mindanao vice mayor incurs 99 absences out of 100 council sessions

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Controversial, Government, Media, Mindanaoan Update, News, Northern Mindanao, Opinion, Personal, Personalities, Society, Weird

The banner story of a Mindanao regional newspaper yesterday, July 1, 2009, may have been surprising for many (shocking even) but for a Mindanao journalist like me who has been working around politicians for quite a while, it was really nothing new. The same thing, although probably not as "worse," has been happening not only in the local city councils but also even down to barangay councils and even in the Senate and Congress. According to Mindanao Gold Star Daily, Cagayan de Oro City Vice Mayor Vicente Emano has reportedly incurred 99 absences out of 100 council sessions. That means Emano has presided only ONCE since assuming office. Emano reportedly only attended the inauguration of the present Cagayan de Oro City council and that was it. And as if to really add "more color" to...

Mar12009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Exactly who in Lanao del Norte, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Caraga received the P2.7M worth of checks?

Cagayan de Oro City, Caraga, Commentary, Controversial, Davao City, Government, Headline, Lanao del Norte, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Opinion

This is exactly why I sometimes dislike writing news articles based on press releases or announcements (especially those from government entities.) You really don't get the minute details, you know that most of the time these PRs are just to "beautify" the government's image and if you really need to get to the bottom of things, you have to exert effort and really research. Unfortunately for journalists like me, however, there really are days when you don't have any other choice but to stick to the PR or media statement and hope that your article comes out fair, balanced and factual. I read a rather interesting article today."Displaced OFWs from Mindanao get P2.7M gift from Arroyo" - GMANews The article claimed that President Gloria Arroyo handed out a total of 33 checks worth P2.7 m...

Jan192009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Is Mindanao really RP’s “Wild West”?

Advocacy, Commentary, Government, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion

This got me thinking when I received a press release from the Office of Sen. Richard Gordon recently. The PR read: "Turn around Mindanao’s image as RP’s ‘Wild West’ – Gordon" The senator said that Mindanao has "gained a negative reputation in the international media as the country’s “Wild, Wild West” due to the continued spate of kidnappings, sporadic bombings, and the poor peace and order situation." Is our beloved island Mindanao really the Philippines' version of the so-called "Wild West"? In a meeting with the Regional Development Council of Region 12 and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Gordon challenged Mindanao executives to turn around Mindanao's negative image from being the “Wild West of the Philippines ” into a premier tourist destination with its unique history and ...

Jan152009 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Sylvester “Sly” Stallone together in a movie?

Bukidnon, Entertainment, Features, General Santos City, Mindanaoan Update, Movies

Well, this information's straight from Erik Pineda, Manny Pacquiao's business manager, so I guess this one's true! Pacquiao is reportedly set to do a movie with Rambo himself, Sylvester "Sly" Stallone. In fact, the duo reportedly met at Stallone's office in Los Angeles, California last January 6, 2009. During the meeting, Sly even gave the Pacman's two sons, Jimwell and Michael, a pair of boxing gloves which bore the signature of former world light-heavyweight champion Tony Tarver. Still, this piece of development shouldn't be treated as a 100-percent-fully-done-and-waxed type of deal. Everything's still in the planning stage. Erik Pineda was quoted as saying that it's "not a boxing movie but something like ‘Rush Hour’ (a Jacky Chan-Chris Tucker hit." Looks like Manny, who's a certif...

Jan122009 by Mindanaoan Irene93 Comments

Should we now close the Philippine Post Office?

Business, Consumer, Government, Mindanaoan Update

I don't know about you but I'm getting more and more disappointed with the Philippine Post Office. A few months ago, I received a very important package from the United Nations and its sides were torn and were deliberately "put back together" by mere use of a transparent packing tape. You could just imagine how insulting that was --- I wonder if an employee or two from the national or local post office thought that there was money inside the large envelope or probably some lucrative contracts? And now, after traveling for two days, I come home and see my mails...and I find out that they were all supposed to be delivered last November and December! One package, for instance, was full of important coupons I could've used to avail of discounts during the Christmas holiday shopping sprees. ...

Dec242008 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Filipino version of Twilight: Takipsilim is this for real?

Bukidnon, Entertainment, Mindanaoan Update, Movies, News

Good Lord, did ABS-CBN Channel 2 really pay US $1 Million (that's roughly 47 million pesos!) to be able to do a so-called "remake" of the hit movie "Twilight"? The Lopez family-owned broadcasting network will reportedly co-produce with Ignite Media a Filipino version of the movie Twilight. Can you seriously, SERIOUSLY imagine Rayver Cruz as Edward Cullen and Shaina Magdayao as Isabella "Bella" Swan? OMG - the Philippines will seriously be the laughing stock of the entire world if this will push through! And get this - the Twilight Pinoy version will be entitled "Takipsilim" (DUH!) The taping will reportedly start by February 2009. The Province of Bukidnon, which recently played host to the cast and crew of the Star Cinema production "Love Me Again (Land Down Under)", will reportedly...

Nov252008 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Pictures taken during the Senate Nov. 17, 2008 revamp

Broadcasting, Controversial, Government, Headline, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Opinion, Personal, Personalities, Photos

What supposed to be was a simple, routinary visit to the Senate of the Philippines last November 17, 2008 turned out to be one very controversial occasion. It was the day when the Senate coup happened. It was the day when the Senate revamp occured. It was the day when Senate President Manny Villar got ousted by his fellow senators and was replaced by Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. And yes, it was also the day when Mindanaoan Senator Juan Miguel "Migs" Zubiri got appointed as Acting Majority Floor Leader. Although I've been receiving some tips via text messages that something "big" and "major" would occur in the next few days, I never thought that IT would happen that day, a seemingly innocent Monday. Anyways, here are the photos I took that day: (CLICK ON THE THUMBNAILS) ...

Nov122008 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

A Mindanaoan clinches “Project Runway Philippines” title

Beauty, Fashion, Mindanaoan Update, News, Personal

It's official. 26-year old Aries Lagat has won the Project Runway Philippines competition. Aries is from Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Mindanao so obviously that makes him a certified Mindanaoan. While I'm not exactly a fan especially when he said that Mindanao people didn't know fashion (besides I liked Phillip Tampus' collection better; I also loved Veejay Floresca's clothes - I thought they were sellable and were easy to wear) I am pretty glad that someone from Mindanao won the competition. Let's just hope that Aries learns to speak more highly of Mindanao and its people next time. Aries Lagat, by the way, also won the 2006 Mega Young Designers Competition (Mega YDC), an annual competition for Filipino novice fashion designers sponsored by Mega magazine. He was also a former scholar ...

Nov72008 by Mindanaoan Irene7 Comments

Review: Songs I Grew Up With (Jay Durias solo album)

Arts, Davao City, Entertainment, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Musings, Opinion, Personalities, Reviews

Album review written last August 31, 2007 and published by many media outlets. Thank you! The author of this piece (who is also the one behind Mindanaoan.com) is a long-time supporter of award winning Filipino band South Border. She was also cited in the album acknowledgments. Jay Durias, a certified Dabawenyo, is South Border's musical director and keyboardist. Jay's solo album, "Songs I Grew Up With," is a project album. Admit it - you’ve always wondered how South Border keyboardist and musical director Jay Oliver Durias would fare as a solo artist. After all, he’s largely considered as “the main man” behind the highly successful band, having composed and arranged most of South Border’s hits including “Rainbow,” “Love Of My Life” and the favorite of many, “Kahit Kailan,” and h...