mindanao blogger Archives - Page 13 of 22 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Sep52011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Call for ARMM OIC nominations draws in 341 applicants

ARMM, Basilan, BIMP-EAGA, Government, Headline, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Muslim Mindanao, News, Politics, Sulu, Tawi Tawi, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga Sibugay

So since the ARMM Elections 2011 did not push through, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Screening Committee instead called for nominations to various ARMM OIC posts. Mindanaoan.com even posted the call for nominations days ago. Now, we just got the latest update. Apparently, the call for nominations for ARMM positions has lured in a total of 341 applicants! According to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), a total of 341 nominations were forwarded to their office. Here's the breakdown: Nominations for ARMM OIC Governor - 51 Nominations for ARMM OIC Vice Governor - 17 Nominations for ARMM OIC Legislative Assembly Members - 272 There were applicants from Basilan, Sulu 1st District, Sulu 2nd District, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and ev...

Sep22011 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

All 4 One and Color Me Badd Live in Cagayan de Oro – and Mindanaoan.com is an official media partner!

Announcements, Arts, BIMP-EAGA, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Headline, Marawi City, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Musings, News, Personal, Personalities, Society

Remember my earlier totally fan girl mode blog entry about me wanting oh-so-badly to watch the upcoming All 4 One and Color Me Badd concert (and basically wanting to stalk Color Me Badd)? (A lot of my faithful Mindanaoan.com readers left comments on that blog entry and some also sent me nice, sweet messages through my official Facebook page! Aww :) ) Well, it seemed my lucky stars shone brightly that day and thanks to the positive vibes you guys sent, I have fabulous news to share with all of you! Mindanaoan.com is an official media partner of the All 4 One and Color Me Badd Live in Cagayan de Oro Philippines concert!!! :D (Just imagine that sentence as if it's blinking and there are fireworks behind the words HAHAHA!!! Yup, that's HOW excited I am!!! I already did a lot of cartwheels, ...

Sep22011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Call for entries: Mindanao Film Festival 2011

Announcements, Arts, Broadcasting, Culture, Davao City, Entertainment, Features, Media, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Movies, News, Society, Television, Videos

Calling all filmmakers! The 2011 Mindanao Film Festival is now calling for entries! The 7th Mindanao Film Festival is opening its doors for Mindanaoan / Mindanawan / Mindanawon filmmakers as well as non-Mindanaoan movie makers but whose feature length film, short film, movies or documentary is about, shot in or related to Mindanao. The Mindanao Film Festival 2011 is an initiative to showcase films made in, made about and made by Mindanaoan filmmakers. The festival aims to popularize the art of independent filmmaking as an essential medium of cultural and artistic expression. This year, there will be two categories. One is the Exhibition Films and Student Films --- these are films shot between October 2010 and September 2011. These films should not have also been shown in past Mindana...

Sep12011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Malacanang confirms appointment of Ramon Jimenez as new Tourism Secretary

Beauty, Business, Consumer, Corporate, Culture, Government, Headline, Journalism, Leisure, Media, Mindanaoan Update, News, Personalities, Politics, Society, Tourism, Travel

Twitter was abuzz today with reports that Philippine President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III has found a replacement for Alberto Lim, erstwhile Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary. Lim resigned, citing personal reasons. Aquino reportedly accepted Lim's resignation effective August 31, 2011. Now, Malacanang has confirmed reports that a new person has been found to lead the Department of Tourism. In a press release, Malacanang said that Ramon Reyes Jimenez Jr. has been appointed by Aquino as Acting Secretary of the Department of Tourism. Jimenez is now the new Tourism Secretary. Mon Jimenez, as he is known to his peers, has been in the field of marketing communications for a total of 35 years, and is considered one of the pillars of Philippine advertising. He has been a writer, creativ...

Aug262011 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Boxing coach Freddie Roach: Manny Pacquiao is broke

Commentary, General Santos City, Headline, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, News, Opinion, Personalities, Politics, Sarangani, Society, SoSCksargen, Sports, Weird

Freddie Roach, the longtime coach of Filipino boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, shocked a lot of people when he allegedly said downright that the world boxing champion is broke. Yup, as in broke, wala nay kuwarta, no more money, wala nang pera. Freddie Roach's statement baffled a lot of people and not a few expressed their doubts. After all, didn't Manny Pacquiao just buy a multi-million mansion at Forbes Park? Doesn't he give millions away in his GMA 7 show "Manny Many Prizes"? Doesn't he and wife Jinkee Pacquiao have a lot of businesses not only in General Santos City, Sarangani, Davao City but even in Manila as well? Is it really possible that Manny Pacquiao, whose latest guaranteed purse from the bout with Shane Mosley last May 2011 was a staggering US 20 Million, i...

Aug242011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

I’m now an official Mozilla rep!

Advocacy, Announcements, Blogging, Bukidnon, Consumer, Corporate, Features, Headline, Internet, Make Money Online, Media, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Personal, Society, Technology

A few months ago, I organized a fun-filled and very successful Mozilla Firefox 4 launch party in the Province of Bukidnon, Mindanao. It was the very first one of its kind in the province and I'm mighty proud to say that I helped make it possible. With the generous help of Mozilla, other sponsors and of course, with the very good attendance of nearly 30 participants (Yay! :D), the event was a huge success. Mozilla Philippines even featured the event on their own website. That Mozilla Firefox launch party proved to be something more than just a tech event. A few months later, I found out that Mozilla was in need of official reps. Mozilla launched the Mozilla Reps program, a program designed to make it easy for passionate Mozillians, all over the world, to organize/attend Mozilla events an...

Aug242011 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Malaysian budget hotel Tune Hotels invests in Cagayan de Oro Mindanao

Announcements, BIMP-EAGA, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Hotels, Iligan City, Kuala Lumpur, Leisure, Malaysia, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Musings, News, Northern Mindanao, Resorts, Reviews, Society, Tourism, Travel

I'm a certified Dabawenya (from Davao City) and although I can say that there are a lot of projects going on at my hometown (two of which are the Abreeza Mall, which managed to gather millions of people during the Kadayawan Festival 2011 celebration, and the Abreeza Residences, which according to reports will be adjacent to Kukun Hotel Davao City and a few meters away from Abreeza Mall), Cagayan de Oro City is where the action is these days, in my humble opinion. It's the most booming city in Mindanao and the most logical reason I could think of is the fact that the long-awaited Laguindingan International Airport is about to be finished. You know how it is --- once an international airport starts its operations, you'd know for sure that there will be more tourists, more business opportu...

Aug242011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Cueshe band Live in Bukidnon and CDO this August

Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Music, Northern Mindanao

Cueshe, the band responsible for the hit songs "Ulan," "Sorry," "Stay," "Borrowed Time," "Can't Let You Go" and "Pasensya Na," is heading to Mindanao in a few days! Cueshe will be in Valencia City, Bukidnon on August 25, 2011 and in Cagayan de Oro City on August 26, 2011. Cueshe will headline San Miguel Beer events in both cities. Cueshe band is composed of Jay Justiniani, Ruben Caballero, Jhunjie Dosdos, Mike Manaloto, Jovan Mabini and Fritz Labrado. Cueshe will be in Valencia City for the city's 60th patronal fiesta in honor of Saint Augustine. For the Valencia City Fiesta 2011 Schedule of Activities, please read this page. The band will then go to CDO for a Kagay-an Festival 2011 related event. Here's the 2011 Kagay-an Festival schedule of activities. I might go and cover these ev...

Aug232011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Kapuso Night during 2011 Kagay-an Festival

Mindanaoan Update

Here's one more event during the Kagay-an Festival 2011 that you might want to check out. GMA 7 CDO is set to lead the Kapuso Night on August 28, 2011, 4 PM at the SM City Cagayan de Oro canopy area. The Kapuso Night during the 2011 Kagay-an Festival is set to be one of the biggest events on the very day Cagayan de Oro City celebrates its fiesta in honor of patron Saint Augustine. The Cagayan de Oro Festival 2011 this year is led by Promote CDO Foundation, Inc., the City Government of Cagayan de Oro in cooperation with the regional office of the Department of Tourism. Read more about the Kagayan Festival 2011 here. The featured celebrities during the Kagay-an Festival 2011 Kapuso Night are: Daniel Matsunaga Will Devaughn Sisters Ehra and Michelle Madrigal a...

Aug212011 by Mindanaoan Irene14 Comments

I want, want, want to watch this concert please!

Arts, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Humor, Internet, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Music, Musings, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Radio, Society, Videos, Weird

OMG OMG OMG! These were the only words I could muster as soon as I heard that these guys were coming to the Philippines! Suddenly, there was a surge of high school memories. The shoulder pads, the teased up hair, the MC Hammer dance moves and yes folks these crooners and their songs! Haha! Unless you were born 5 years ago, you know who All 4 One and Color Me Badd are. Heck, I bet my pants you know some of their songs by heart and you can most probably sing one or two without the need of a kodigo! Aminin! I swear, by the moon and the stars and the sky...ring a bell? What about I'm afraid that your lovin' might be just a little too much for me...OMG CAN I SHRIEK NOW?!?!?! Sorry, fan girl mode!!! Seriously, who doesn't know the songs "I Swear," "So Much In Love," "Sexual Capacity," "I A...

Aug192011 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Kagay-an Festival 2011 events – Mindanaoan.com is an official media partner!

Announcements, Arts, Beauty, BIMP-EAGA, Bisaya, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Corporate, Culture, Education, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Government, Headline, Journalism, Leisure, Media, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Music, Musings, Muslim Mindanao, News, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Society, Style, Tourism, Travel

About a month ago, Mindanaoan.com shared with you the Kagay-an Festival 2011 core events. Today, this Mindanao blogger is so proud to share with you fabulous news --- Mindanaoan.com is an official media partner of the 2011 Kagay-an Festival! Woohoo! :D The Kagay-an Festival is an annual event which also coincides with the Cagayan de Oro City fiesta in honor of patron Saint Augustine. This year, the 2011 Kagayan Festival is being organized by Promote CDO Foundation, Inc., the City Government of Cagayan de Oro in cooperation with the Department of Tourism Region X. Promote CDO Foundation President Reuben Vegafria said that their group, along with partner organizations, are rallying to promote Cagayan de Oro City and the surrounding areas as investment and tourism destinations. The city...

Aug162011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Sexy Neil Etheridge photos for Folded and Hung

Consumer, Fashion, Features, Gifts, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Society, Sports, Style

Great. Thanks to Folded and Hung, the images in my mind of Philippine National Football Team Azkals goalkeeper Neil Etheridge will no longer be the same. LOL. Twenty year old Neil Etheridge, that 6'3" handsome goalkeeper of the Azkals, is the newest endorser of Folded and Hung. Neil Etheridge, who has a Briton for a father (Martin) and a Filipina from Tarlac for a mother (Merlinda), is also a goalkeeper in Fulham, England. Just a little over a month ago, I had the chance to witness firsthand the super exciting and super charged Azkals versus Sri Lanka game at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila. You can read my blog posts and view the photos I took HERE and HERE. This is the Neil Etheridge I watched that day: He cried after the game: (he dedicated the game to his ...

Aug152011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Special non-working holiday in Davao City on August 19

Announcements, Culture, Davao City, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Government, Tourism

Before anything else, Happy Kadayawan Festival to all! Today, August 15, 2011, is the official start of the 2011 Kadayawan Festival. Kadayawan is the biggest annual celebration in Davao City, Mindanao. Here is the schedule of activities of this year's Kadayawan Festival. By the way, if you're not a member of the media, you may need an access pass before you can take photos at designated areas. Take a look at the Kadayawan Festival Access Pass Guidelines here. Malacanang Palace has declared August 19, 2011 as an official special non-working holiday in Davao City! Here's the full text of the proclamation straight from Malacanang Palace: MALACAÑAN PALACE MANILA BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES PROCLAMATION NO. 215 DECLARING FRIDAY, 19 AUGUST 2011, AS A SPECIAL (NON-WORKING) D...

Aug132011 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Kadayawan Festival 2011 Access Pass guidelines

Mindanaoan Update

It's Kadayawan Festival 2011 season in Davao City, Mindanao these days. Unfortunately, if you think you can just take your award-winning photos especially during the Indak Indak sa Kadalanan Parade (street dancing) or the Pamulak (floral float parade) just like that, then you're in for a big surprise. This year, the Kadayawan Festival 2011 organizers (Duaw Davao Festival Foundation) have drawn new guidelines for...hold your breath...an access pass. Something pretty similar to what the Sinulog organizers in Cebu have done/are doing. I'm not sure if Davao is ready for this, though. Anyways, please read and kindly share your comments/thoughts about this below: MEDIA If you are affiliated with a media network: 1. Send your full name, company (TV, print, radio) to duawdavao@gmail...

Aug102011 by Mindanaoan Irene6 Comments

Review: Movenpick Resort and Spa Mactan Cebu

Business, Cebu City, Commentary, Consumer, Features, Hotels, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Resorts, Reviews, Tourism, Travel, Visayas

A few days ago, Airphil Express invited me to join their Cebu to Hong Kong maiden flight. Since I had to be in Cebu City a day prior, the friendly folks from Airphil Express flew me from Mindanao to Cebu and sponsored my stay at the spanking Movenpick Resort and Spa in Mactan, Cebu. Muchos gracias Airphil Express! :) Formerly the Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa, Movenpick Resort Cebu is now managed by Swiss-based Movenpick Hotels and Resorts. Mövenpick is said to be an upscale, Swiss hotel chain that has been in the business for 35 years. Moevenpick Resort and Spa Cebu is the very first Movenpick hotel in the Philippines. From the Mactan Cebu airport, it will take you about 20 minutes to reach Movenpick Resort and Spa Cebu. You can take a taxi from the airport (here's a tip on how to get ...

Aug82011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

The 3rd Silver Linings forum on breast cancer in Davao City

Advocacy, Davao City, Events, Society

As far as I know, no one in my clan has ever been diagnosed with breast cancer. I am, of course, extremely grateful for that. My mom did tell me, though, that there were instances when some of our female relatives reported to have felt lumps but these turned out to be benign tumors. However, just because I don't know (or I'm not related to) someone who has breast cancer should not stop me (and all of us, really) to advocate breast cancer prevention. After all, breast cancer is said to be the leading cause of cancer deaths among Filipino women. Thankfully, an educational forum cum homecoming for breast cancer survivors will be held in my hometown Davao City. Silver Linings, dubbed as "every breast cancer survivor's favorite event," will be held on September 17, 2011 at the Grand Regal...

Aug42011 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Airphil Express Cebu to Hong Kong inaugural flight

Beauty, Bisaya, Blogging, Business, Cebu City, Consumer, Corporate, Events, Features, Flights, Freebies, Hongkong, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Reviews, Shopping, Society, Style, Tourism, Travel, Visayas

My third trip to Hong Kong happened just a few days ago, thanks to Airphil Express. I love coming back to Hong Kong! Apart from the fact that we Filipinos don't need a visa to enter Hong Kong, this top Asian food and shopping destination always offers new and exciting things to do and discover for tourists. Hong Kong has a super efficient transport system, offers fascinating food, has a number of picture-perfect tourist spots and irresistible shopping sales! Yep, Hong Kong is love :) Now my most recent trip to Hong Kong was a pretty extra special overseas trip because: 1) it was the inaugural flight of the much-awaited Airphil Express Cebu to Hong Kong route (woohoo!) 2) it was a trip that was also made extra special by the Hong Kong Tourism Board 3) it was a trip where ...

Aug32011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Full text: Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri resignation speech

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, Crime, 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

Amid other big news today, the reported resignation of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri was the most talked about. A lot of people shared their reactions to the news that the senator from Bukidnon and fellow Mindanaoan Senator Migs Zubiri will resign amid allegations of poll fraud claims. Mindanaoan wrote a blog post about this earlier. As I previously mentioned, I called up some key people from the Zubiri camp. I also even contacted Senator Migs Zubiri himself. However, although I was privy to some important details, I refused to confirm anything pending the privilege speech of Senator Miguel Zubiri before the Senate plenary, which happened today, August 3, 2011. I was also told that his father, former Bukidnon governor now vice governor Jose Ma. Zubiri, Jr., mother Maria Victoria "Vicky," w...

Aug32011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Reports: Mindanaoan Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri to resign today

Announcements, Bisaya, Blogging, Bukidnon, Commentary, Controversial, Government, Headline, Journalism, Media, Mindanaoan Update, News, Opinion, Personalities, Politics, Society

Reports surfaced earlier today stating that the senator from Bukidnon, fellow Mindanaoan Juan Miguel "Migs" Zubiri will resign from his senatorial post at 3 PM today, August 3, 2011. I would like to stress, however, that at this point, everything remains unconfirmed. No one can really say for sure yet if indeed Senator Miguel Zubiri will resign. I first read the reports on Twitter. I then called up some people from the Office of Senator Migs Zubiri and verified. I also even asked Senator Migs himself. As of this posting at 1:18 PM, however, reports remain unconfirmed. The key people from the Zubiri camp shared some details but I refuse to confirm anything at this point. I also do not want to divulge anything specific just yet since I do not want to pre-empt Senator Miguel (although I ca...

Aug22011 by Mindanaoan Irene10 Comments

Leave Dato Zainab alone

Mindanaoan Update

I was still at the airport yesterday when I received a phone call. Apparently, a Philippine Star columnist, Jarius Bondoc, claimed that the wife of the Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dato Zainab, "sullied the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal." Jarius Bondoc claimed that Dato Zainab tweeted and called Rizal an "infidel Malay." My very first thought was...naw, it couldn't be. It must be just some random, silly joke. Dato Zainab would never say such a thing. Plus, I thought, Jarius Bondoc and the Philippine Star know how to abide by basic and proper etiquette. It is only proper for a columnist to verify facts, lest he appears stupid and naive. It is only proper for a columnist to have proof. Also, doesn't Philippine Star's masthead say "Truth Shall Prevail"? Unfortunat...

Jul312011 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Airphil Express piso fare sale!

Announcements, Bacolod City, Cebu City

Here's great news for all of you who want to enjoy the sun, sea and sand in various areas around the Philippines...and for a measly PISO FARE! Yes, folks, the country's fastest growing airline, Airphil Express, is set to offer its ultra special and much-awaited piso fare sale starting midnight tonight, August 1, 2011. Airphil Express PISO FARE sale tonight! You need to book your tickets right away since this sale will only run for 24 hours and I bet a lot of travelers want to avail of this Airphil Express promo fare sale :) All you have to do is visit the official Airphil Express website and book flights online. Check out the official announcement from Airphil Express below: Airphil Express PISO FARE Selling period: August 1, 2011 Travel periods: February 1 to March 15, ...

Jul262011 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Mindanao Fashion Summit 2011

Arts, Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features

The Mindanao Fashion Summit 2011 is set to take place on August 1 to 6, 2011 at the Limketkai Center, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao. Led by the Oro Fashion Designers Guild and in cooperation with the Department of Tourism Region X, the Mindanao Fashion Summit 2011 aims to showcase the works of notable and talented fashion designers from Mindanao. According to the organizers of the 2011 Mindanao Fashion Summit, the objective of this event is to broaden fashion and brand awareness of all affiliated companies and organizations amongst the chic urban professional consumer community. It is designed and appealed to the tastemakers that take active roles in setting the mold for style in Mindanao and the hottest trends and over all ingenuity of Mindanaoan designers. During the summit, please...