mindanao artists Archives - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Aug112014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Review: Bradley Bascon violin concert CDO Philippines

Advocacy, Arts, Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Media, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Music, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Reviews, Society, United States of America

When I was invited to watch a concert featuring a 15 year old violin protege, I knew somehow I was in for a treat. After all, for someone so young, Bradley Bascon has already achieved so much - far more than most lads his age - including winning the Violin Master Class panel finals organized by the Music Teachers Association of California, performing with an orchestra as a featured soloist in Spain and Portugal, performing in the London Olympics in 2012 and participating in festivals in Germany, Austria and Italy. Still, I felt that I had to hold back my cheers and praises until the litmus test - that one-night only concert held last July 31, 2014 at the Rodelsa Hall, Liceo de Cagayan University. Along with collaborating artist Rudolf Golez, who himself is an internationally acclaimed F...

Dec92013 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

South Border, Side A, Freestyle in 1 concert – Yolanda fundraiser

Advocacy, Announcements, Davao City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Music, Society

It's been a month since deadly typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) struck the Philippines. The death toll so far - 5,260. Unfortunately, that number is still increasing. Haiyan, a category 5 super typhoon, left thousands of people homeless and hungry. While it's true that billions of dollars in aid have started to pour in, the fight is still not over. Far from it. Hence, every fundraising event, volunteer movement and donation drive really counts. One upcoming fundraising event for typhoon Yolanda survivors, dubbed "Pag-Asa Sa Pag Gising," is close to my heart. I love all of the performers, yes, but one of the bands is my most favorite ever - South Border. I wrote a post earlier about just how much I love them and why they will always have my love and support. Additionally, thi...

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...

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...

Feb22010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Davao City MTS Kanto Bar regular Chad Borja wows Cebu anew

Arts, Bisaya, Blogging, Davao City, Entertainment, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Photos

So during Mindanaoan's Sinulog Festival 2010 escapade, I had the chance to catch one of the performances featured in the "Cebu, Cebu" event held at a large mall in Cebu City. "Cebu, Cebu" is an event that aims to focus the best of Cebu --- from food to designers to jewelry to crafts to artists. And two of the artists that came to perform during that weeklong celebration included singer-actress Pinky Marquez and crooner Chad Borja. Chad Borja may be from Cebu but he has been based in Davao City for several years now. He regularly performs at Kanto Bar over at Matina Town Square (MTS), Matina, Davao City, Mindanao. Kanto Bar, by the way, is a favorite "must-drop-by" place by Manila-based Dabawenyo artists. Artists like Jay Durias and Jinky Vidal and the rest of Freestyle band. Whenever...

Aug262009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Public doodling event today at Spruce, Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City Mindanao

Announcements, Arts, Cagayan de Oro City, Events, Features, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Society

Hi everyone! Hi to all readers of Mindanaoan! :) Just a quick blog entry. My brother Bon, along with other Mindanaoan artists, will hold a public doodling event today, August 26, 2009, in front of Spruce, Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao. This is one "vandalism but with consent" event you might not want to miss! :) The artists will doodle (a form of sketching) for two days and the finished product will be showcased at Spruce. Mindanaoan will be among those who will take photos and who will cheer the artists on, of course! :) So if you want to witness talented artists from Mindanao in action, please don't hesitate to visit Spruce today and tomorrow. Spruce will also display limited edition Havaianas and will also hold a promo for Happy Feet products. Spruce is a popular stor...

Aug52009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Nicole Scherzinger of Pussycat Dolls and wrestler Batista are a no go for Mindanaoan Manny Pacquiao’s “Wapakman”

Announcements, Entertainment, Mindanaoan Update, Movies

Too bad for people who want to watch Mindanaoan superstar boxer Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao share the silver screen with Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger (a Filipino-American-German). Solar Films’ Wilson Tieng has confirmed that Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger has dropped out of Manny Pacquiao’s Metro Manila Film Fest entry, “Wapakman.” Sayang! That could've been a great movie to watch...just imagine our fellow Mindanaoan Manny Pacquiao squaring it off with Nicole! Also, Tieng has confirmed that Fil-Am wrestler Dave "Batista" Bautista will also not be in the movie. I'm not too sure if this Topel Lee-helmed movie has started shooting already. In any case, I still hope that Filipinos will still watch "Wapakman" even though Batista and Nicole aren't part of it anymore. Here's the tra...

Mar152009 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Songs of Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City bands in ‘The “Thank You” Girls’ film

Advocacy, Arts, Bisaya, Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City, Entertainment, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Movies, Music, News

I'm really pleased to know that the songs at least three Mindanawon bands were included in the soundtrack of the independent Visayan film "The 'Thank You' Girls." The bands I'm referring to are Gasulina (a band I had the chance to hire for a gig roughly two years ago...I already fell madly in love with their songs "The Pill" and "Fueled" then --- the very same songs that are included in the indie film), The Superflirts and fellow Atenistas, Lizardchips. I still haven't had the chance to view "The 'Thank You' Girls" movie (if I'm not mistaken, their last screening was at Robinson's Indiesine in Manila last January 2009) but I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on a DVD (original copy, don't worry! ;) ) Hopefully, though, there will be more screenings of this movie because I"...