mindanao blogger Archives - Page 11 of 22 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

May152012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Nurturing nature in Galapagos Islands

Internet

Are you a lover of nature? Ever wanted to be an environmental activist? If you’re like me who has always wanted to do something that could help preserve and nurture nature, then you might want to also go on a “nature tour” aboard Galapagos Cruises. Located in the Pacific Ocean, 1000 kilometers or roughly 600 miles off the west coast of South America, the Galapagos Islands are comprised of more than sixty islands as well as islets. Galapagos is also one of the largest protected areas in the world. The entire island area measures about 138,000 km2. I’ve read that the Galapagos Islands have fascinated a lot of explorers as well as environmentalists for a very long time now. And because joining Galapagos Cruises is now a part of my bucket list, I did a little research and found a website...

May92012 by Mindanaoan Irene6 Comments

Davao City bans plastic bags, styrofoam starting June 28, 2012

Advocacy, Announcements, Bisaya, Blogging, Business, Consumer, Controversial, Corporate, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Features, Food, Government, Headline, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, News, Personal, Society, Technology

YEY! I am so, so, sooo happy with this development! Congratulations Davao City! What an awesome move! I'm so proud of my hometown Davao City for finally, FINALLY deciding to put a ban against non-biodegradable plastic bags and styrofoam! Points for Mother Nature, environment and the start of the use of eco-friendly products :) I wonder, though, how the fastfood chains and other business establishments that use plastic bags and styrofoam will cope when the ban takes effect on June 28, 2012. Hmm. What do you think? Anyways, here's the news report from SunStar Davao: Non-biodegradable plastic bags and polystyrene foam as food and beverage containers will no longer be allowed in this city starting June 28, this year. Polystyrene foam is more commonly referred to as Styrof...

May92012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Review: Annebisyosa in Cagayan de Oro concert

Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Reviews

Thanks to our super generous and lovely friends over at Airphil Express, I had the chance to watch the Annebisyosa in Cagayan de Oro concert a.k.a. Anne Curtis Live in CDO show last May 5, 2012. Fresh from witnessing first hand the signing of MOU between these congressmen and GK as well as the actual building of the homes for Typhoon Sendong victims (the congressmen used their own money for the homes, by the way! :) ), I, along with a few other blogger-friends, was treated to the Annebisyosa concert in CDO by Airphil Express, the fastest growing airline in the Philippines. The Annebisyosa in Cagayan de Oro City concert featured Anne Curtis (of course) and her guests Luis Manzano, Rachelle Ann Go and one of my favorite comedians Jon Santos! Now I must be honest - I was a bit ap...

May22012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Photos: Blue Live In Manila

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

Here are the much awaited photos of BLUE a.k.a. the fine looking boys from the U.K. Okay, ladies, breathe in, breathe out :) Blue, composed of Duncan James, Simon Webbe, Antony Costa and Lee Ryan, was recently in Manila, Philippines for the Greatest Hits Tour featuring a1, Blue and Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees. I was fortunate to have met and worked around the guys :) Yes, yes, I'm a very lucky girl ;) I found Jeff Timmons, a1 and of course, Blue, to be very warm, down to earth, talented and very approachable. Anyways, the photos here of Duncan James, Antony Costa, Simon Webbe and Lee Ryan were taken during the radio tour, some backstage and during the show. Which of these photos are your favorites? :) Let me know below at the comment section :) By the way, here are the photos...

Apr282012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Photos: Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees Live In Manila

Blogging, Entertainment, Events, Features, Manila, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Photos

If you're one of my regular readers here on Mindanaoan.com, chances are you'd know that I helped out during the highly successful a1, Jeff Timmons and Blue Live In Manila concert last February 2012 in Manila, Philippines. I helped promote it not only through this site but in other sites as well including via social networking websites. (which reminds me, if you're not following me yet, please do so! Here are my Twitter, Pinterest, PicLyf, Instagram and YouTube accounts :) ) I also launched my very own online contest whereby the prizes were tickets to the show. I know I should have shared the photos I took of the boys before, during and after the event but you all know it's been a very hectic time as of late :) So to all of the fans of a1, Jeff Timmons and Blue, please don't worry. No...

Apr262012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanaoan In America: How folks in Virginia USA cast their votes (photos)

Advocacy, America, Blogging, Features, Government, Mindanaoan Update, Photos, Technology, United States of America

In America, they have this day called Super Tuesday which refers to "the Tuesday in February or March of a presidential election year when the greatest number of states hold primary elections to select delegates to national conventions at which each party's presidential candidates are officially nominated." Super Tuesday is a very important day especially since more delegates can be won on that day more than any other single day included in the primary calendar. Hence, political parties and the candidates themselves scramble to make a mark and win during Super Tuesday. I was in Virginia, USA for Super Tuesday 2012 (March 6, 2012). All eyes were on Virginia that day especially because only 2 out of 4 names of Republican candidates were on the ballots. Only the names of former Massachu...

Apr262012 by Mindanaoan Irene8 Comments

Mindanaoan In America: Around Washington DC

America, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Photos, United States of America

If I was asked to name at least 5 cities in the U.S. that I may want to live in, Washington D.C. would be one of them. I found Washington DC charming and interesting - despite the fact that politics plays a huge role there. I guess for those who abhor politics and all the scandals, flipfloppin', highs and lows that come with it, they won't feel comfortable in Washington DC. For people like me who get a natural high with fast-changing political strategies, however, Washington is the place to be. The day after I arrived in Washington D.C. USA for the start of my 3-week International Visitor Leadership Program, my fellow participants and I were toured around the city. I remember that day oh-so-well --- it was freezing cold but because we were supposed to have nice pictures taken for our...

Apr212012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

I’m home!

Blogging, Features, Journalism, Media, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Personal, Travel, United States of America

So I am finally back from the U.S. I'm home, I'm home! :) *waves* I stayed in America for more than a month. I was there because I was chosen to participate in the International Visitor Leadership Program, a U.S. Department of State-sponsored program. Technically, my IVLP 2012 experience only lasted for 3 weeks. However, I chose to fly to New York City, savor the sights and sounds of the Big Apple and spend my birthday there! (more on this later) I stayed in NYC for 2 weeks. I also had the chance to visit Connecticut specifically Yale University for a day. Anyway, the IVLP program that I participated in led me to Washington D.C. (and in some parts of nearby Virginia and Maryland), Orlando, Florida, Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon. I was the only female in the group an...

Apr192012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

1 summer fun, 1 Davao lineup of activities

Compostela Valley, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Events, Fiesta, Island Garden City of Samal, News, Resorts, Sports, Tourism

Make my beloved Mindanao, Philippines your ultimate summer destination this year! And to kick off your summer tour in the southern part of the Philippines, why not pay Davao province a visit? The Department of Tourism Xl, along with other local tourism units around the Davao province, has launched the "1 Summerfun Davao" project. The "1 Summer Fun Davao - One Region. One For Fun" project aims to feature all the summer activities around Davao and package these as one. Among the 1 Summerfun Davao activities are the Davao Wakeboard Championship, Davao Summer Kitefest, Pista Sa Kinaiyahan at the Municipal Hall of Mt. Apo, Davao del Sur, Cross Channel Fun Swim in the Island Garden City of Samal, 4th Earth Festival in Tagum City and the Beach Fest in Compostela Valley. Check out ...

Apr132012 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Where to buy original Sperry Top-sider in Mindanao

Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Corporate, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Shopping, Style

Want to know where to buy original Sperry Top-sider shoes in Mindanao, Philippines? Look no further! The World’s First Boat Shoe can now be bought in one of Mindanao's best lifestyle stores (and one of my personal favorites, I might add!) - Spruce. The Sperry Top-Sider story is an example of the American knack for ingenuity and innovation. It also represents a love of sun, surf and soul of the ocean...something that the brand coins a "Passion for the Sea". In 1935, Paul Sperry, an avid sailor and outdoorsman, discovered a long- sought solution to a problem that had long troubled the sailing community: the fact that traditional shoes performed “like roller skates” on a wet deck. As Paul Sperry described it, his new shoes "stuck like a barnacle". Sperry Top-siders are known to ...

Apr132012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Razzle Dazzle 3 photography workshop registration ongoing

Announcements, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Fashion, Features, Headline, Internet, Media, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Photos, Society, Style, Tourism

How fast time flies! Back in 2010, I was still pitching possible names for a photography workshop to my super talented brother (who happens to be an awarded and very in-demand professional wedding photographer). He liked what I offered - "Razzle Dazzle." According to the dictionary, razzle dazzle means dazzling excitement or extravagant display of technique. Not long after that, he named his very first photography workshop "Razzle Dazzle Photography Workshop." Fast forward two years later, Razzle Dazzle Photography Workshop is now on its 3rd cycle! This photography workshop in Mindanao is set to take place on May 5 to 6, 2012 in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao, Philippines. Don't you want to spend two days of summer learning new photography techniques? This CDO photography worksh...

Feb282012 by Mindanaoan Irene12 Comments

Mindanaoan chosen for the US State Department IVLP program | I am off to the US!

Advocacy, Agriculture, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Announcements, ARMM, Arts, Bacolod City, Banks, Basilan, Beauty, BIMP-EAGA, Bisaya, Bislig, Blogging, Broadcasting, Bukidnon, Business, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Campus, Caraga, Cebu City, Commentary, Compostela Valley, Consumer, Contests, Controversial, Corporate, Cotabato, Culture, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Dipolog, Education, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Flights, Food, Freebies, General Santos City, Gifts, Government, Headline, Hongkong, Hotels, Humor, Iligan City, Internet, Island Garden City of Samal, Jobs, Journalism, Kaamulan Festival, Koronadal, Kuala Lumpur, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Leisure, Macau, Maguindanao, Make Money Online, Malaybalay City, Malaysia, Manila, Marawi City, Media, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Movies, Music, Musings, Muslim Mindanao, Negros Occidental, News, North Cotabato, Northern Mindanao, Opinion, Ozamis, Pagadian, Personal, Personalities, Photos, Politics, Radio, Recipes, Religion, Resorts, Reviews, Sarangani, Shenzhen, Shopping, Sindangan, Singapore, Society, SoSCksargen, South Cotabato, Sports, Style, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacurong, Tangub City, Tawi Tawi, Technology, Television, Tourism, Travel, Videos, Visayas, Weddings, Weird, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga Sibugay

It's official, folks! :) I have been chosen by the U.S. Department of State to visit the United States of America as a participant in the International Visitor Leadership Program or IVLP. I will leave for the U.S. on March 3, 2012 and will stay there until the first week of April 2012 :) Actually, the program that I will be a part of will only run for 3 weeks but I plan to stay a bit more to savor the sights and sounds of the USA. During the 3-week program, I will visit Washington, Orlando Florida, Salt Lake City Utah and Portland Oregon. I plan to visit New York and Virginia as well :) Do any of you guys out there live in these areas? I would love to meet you! :) Let me know through the comments section below. And oh, did I mention that I'm the ONLY Filipino and the only femal...

Feb142012 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Missy Bon Bon pastel – new Cagayan de Oro pasalubong

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Tourism

Missy Bon Bon in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao, Philippines is no longer just known for their delicious pastries and gelato. These days, the charming Missy Bon Bon breadshop and gelato store is also known as the home of CDO's latest pasalubong delicacy - pastel! Pastel is a soft, sweet filled bun. For many years, pastel became the preferred pasalubong in Northern Mindanao. The entire fascination over this delicious bun started when a family produced yema-filled pastels in Camiguin Island. Word about these delicious buns spread and eventually, tourists began lugging around boxes and boxes of these sweet treats as pasalubong. Fortunately for those in CDO, you need not go to Camiguin Island just to buy these delicious pasalubong delicacies. Missy Bon Bon has finally released their ow...

Feb132012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Airphil Express launches piso fare sale for Valentine’s Day!

Announcements, Bacolod City, Cagayan de Oro City, Cebu City, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Dipolog, General Santos City, Mindanaoan Update, Ozamis, Pagadian, Surigao, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tawi Tawi, Travel, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga Sibugay

Great news for all travel bugs! The Philippines' fastest growing carrier, Airphil Express, will launch a very special PISO FARE sale! Yes, folks, Airphil Express has a peso fare sale just in time for Valentine's Day! This is an express piso promo fare so you better book your tickets as soon as possible! The selling period for Airphil Express promo fare for Valentine's Day will be held from February 14, 2012 to February 16, 2012 Travel period: September 1 to December 15, 2012 The express Airphil piso fare will cover these routes: Cebu to Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Legazpi, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, Surigao, Tacloban, Zamboanga Davao to Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Zamboanga Zambo...

Feb82012 by Mindanaoan Irene73 Comments

Win tickets to the Greatest Hits Tour Manila featuring a1, Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees and Blue!

Announcements, Blogging, Consumer, Contests, Entertainment, Events, Features, Internet, Manila, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Society

Win tickets to the Greatest Hits Tour Manila featuring a1, Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees and Blue! Hi everybody! I'll make this short and simple. I'm giving away four (4) general admission tickets to the upcoming Greatest Hits concert featuring a1, Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees and Blue! The Manila leg will be held on February 25, 2012 (Saturday), 8 PM, Smart Araneta Coliseum. So are you ready to win some tickets for yourself and three of your friends? Read on and share! Contest mechanics: - You must be a subscriber of Mindanaoan.com CLICK HERE to subscribe (don't forget to verify your email address, okay? :) ) - Follow the Official Mindanaoan.com Facebook Page - Follow the Drake World Entertainment Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/asiantouring) - Follow the Wilbros L...

Feb32012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Meet Maria Ressa at SIBYA – social media for social change

Announcements, Cagayan de Oro City, Events, Features, Internet, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Technology

If there's one journalist I absolutely admire, it's Maria Ressa. She's a multi-awarded journalist and former CNN Jakarta Bureau Chief. I've always wanted to meet her and I might just have the chance in a few days! Maria Ressa will be one of the guest speakers at SIBYA - the First Northern Mindanao Student Communicators Congress. With the theme "Social media for social change," SIBYA is organized by the Crusader Publication of Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan in cooperation with the Development Communication Department of the same school SIBYA will also feature other speakers from Rappler: - awarded debater, Inquirer columnist and ANC Storyline producer Patricia Evangelista - former Ateneo de Manila Journalism Graduate Program chief, ABS CBN ethics head and investigative...

Jan312012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Back on Blackberry and trying out Globe BBMax

Blogging, Business, Butuan, Consumer, Features, Internet, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal, Reviews, Style, Technology

So I'm finally using a Blackberry phone again. I actually used to have one in 2010 - back when only a few owned Blackberry units and when I only had two BBM buddies! (Yup, that was pretty sad and lonely) That Blackberry unit served me really well. I used it mainly for business but something unfortunate happened and I lost that phone. The short story - a thief attacked our then Cebu City apartment. I was all alone, sleeping soundly in one room. My brother arrived home, panicked, thought I was dead. Authorities believed the thief was a youngster. After bouts of anger and sadness, I went to a Globe Business Center to check if I could still retain my phone number (I used a prepaid sim). Lo and behold, the very friendly Globe customer service agent at the SM Cebu branch managed to help me ou...

Jan242012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Kicking swing at Saddle Ridge Camp Dahilayan

Advocacy, Announcements, Blogging, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Entertainment, Features, Leisure, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Musings, Northern Mindanao, Resorts, Reviews, Society, Tourism, Travel, Videos

Typhoon Sendong (international name: Washi) claimed thousands of lives, left tens of thousands of homes damaged (some damaged beyond repair, some totally wiped out) and basically left so much destruction in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan - two cities in Northern Mindanao, Philippines. Both cities are still trying to cope - so much still needs to be done. Still, I'm happy to share with you all that amid ongoing relief and rehabilitation operations, there also are movements from various sectors of society to REBUILD both cities. In Cagayan de Oro City in particular, there's a movement called "Barog, Kagay-anon" (Move, Kagay-anon), a series of activities that aims to revive CDO tourism. Tourism, after all, can do wonders for a city. We all know that the more tourists, the better the economy and...

Jan232012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Olivia Newton John Live in Manila March 2012

Announcements, Entertainment, Events, Features, Manila, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Society

The singer behind the iconic songs "I Honestly Love You," "Hopelessly Devoted To You" and "Xanadu" is coming to Manila, Philippines! Four time Grammy Award winning singer Olivia Newton-John is set to hold a much-anticipated concert on March 31, 2012, 8 PM at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the same venue of the Greatest Hits Tour featuring a1, Blue and Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees! Listen to the beautiful Olivia Newton John as she sings her hit songs I Honestly Love You, Hopelessly Devoted To You, Xanadu, Physical, You're The One That I Want, Summer Nights, Magic, Don't Stop Believin', Guilty, Don't Cry For Me Argentina, Take A Chance, Stronger Than Before, Have You Ever Been Mellow and Deeper Than The Night Olivia Newton-John Live In Manila tickets are available over at Ticketnet

Jan122012 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

How and where to buy HELP CDO and ONE FOR ILIGAN shirts

Advocacy, Announcements, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Events, Features, Headline, Iligan City, Internet, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Musings, Muslim Mindanao, News, Northern Mindanao, Personal, Personalities, Shopping, Society

You can still help the thousands of victims of the deadly Typhoon Sendong (international name: Washi) by purchasing these HELP CDO and ONE FOR ILIGAN shirts! The proceeds will help feed 10 people. Some of the proceeds will also go to a charity organization. My family, friends and I already bought several shirts last weekend and they're of really good quality. The HELP CDO and ONE FOR ILIGAN shirts are priced at Php 180.00 (white) and Php 220.00 (black). In Cagayan de Oro City, you may buy the shirts in Missy Bon Bon and Bigby's Cafe (both located at Rosario Arcade, Limketkai Center). The HELP CDO and ONE FOR ILIGAN shirts will also be available in Cebu City soon. They will be sold in Bigby's Cebu. In Manila, the shirts will be sold on January 19, 2012 during a charity concert at t...

Dec192011 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Was PNoy at a party while Typhoon Sendong victims tried to pick up the pieces?

Blogging, Commentary, Controversial, Features, Government, Headline, Humor, Internet, Leisure, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Personalities, Society, Style

It all just started with a tweet...and I really did not think that it would all lead to this. As you guys may or may not know, I'm an avid Twitter user. (You can see and follow my Twitter account HERE) Just a few hours ago, Sunday night, December 18, 2011, I was monitoring tweets about Typhoon Sendong when I noticed GMA 7 Network reporter/journalist Joseph Morong ask a certain @iammarlonramos (who turned out to be Philippine Daily Inquirer reporter Marlon Ramos) if he was serious. Curious, I checked what the tweet was about. Apparently it was a reaction to Filipina celebrity Valerie Concepcion's tweet that she was at a party in Malacanang (the PSG Christmas Party, to be exact) and that the Philippine President Benigno Aquino III was there. Now for those of you who don't know, two cit...

Dec52011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

The successful Citihardware 10th anniversary celebration

Announcements, BIMP-EAGA, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Events, Features, Headline, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Musings, Northern Mindanao, Personal, Society

Here's a quick update to my previous post about the 10th anniversary celebration of Citihardware CDO. I was tapped as the event manager for Citi Hardware Cagayan de Oro 10th Anniversary celebration. That was my second project for Citihardware CDO. The first one was during the opening of its Citihardware Bulua branch. The Citihardware CDO 10th anniversary event was held at its newest and by far the second largest Citihardware outlet in the entire country - Citihardware Tablon (the largest one remains to be its Davao head office). Hundreds of people attended the event including suppliers, partners, local barangay officials and tanods and yep, members of the CDO Bloggers! (Yay, thanks guys for the unwavering support!) The professional lights and sounds system that I commissioned (my ...