mindanao blogger Archives - Page 16 of 22 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Mar82011 by Mindanaoan Irene15 Comments

America in 3D – your chance to work in, taste and feel America

Here's a fabulous chance for all of you who want to travel to the United States of America, to work for American companies and for those who simply like to learn more about American music, films, food and possible study programs. Ambassador Harry Thomas and the U.S. Embassy - Manila warmly invite you to celebrate American culture, values, and programs in the Philippines during a three-day program dubbed “America in 3-D.” From March 18 to 20, 2011 at SM City North EDSA in Quezon City, Philippines, the U.S. Embassy will provide FREE musical performances, food tastings, sports clinics, film screenings, cooking demonstrations, Q&A opportunity with Fil-Am White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford, a job fair, sports clinics and information sessions about applying for visas and...

Feb222011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

King of Acoustic Paolo Santos says hello to Mindanaoan

Arts, Blogging, Bukidnon, Business, Consumer, Entertainment, Events, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Society, Videos

The Philippines' King of Acoustic Paolo Santos has a very special video message for this humble blogger from Mindanao :) You see, I was a co-producer and co-event organizer of the "Moonlight Acoustic Serenade by the King of Acoustic Paolo Santos" Valentine's Day show last February 14, 2011. Interestingly, though, I wasn't around during the show itself since I was abroad :D (My assistant and I have done all the work before my trip, though...the only task left was the on-site, on-the-day coordination) So I had to contend with this video message from Paolo Santos himself. Good thing I have a very reliable assistant in the person of Erik Dave :D By the way, if you or someone you know needs events management services anywhere in Mindanao, please do not hesitate to CONTACT ME :) That Valentin...

Feb202011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Cute Manny Pacquiao and Mommy Dionisia Pacquiao commercial!

Arts, Bisaya, Blogging, Bukidnon, Davao City, Features, General Santos City, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Sarangani, Society

Fellow Mindanaoans Manny Pacquiao and his very own Mum, Mommy Dionisia Pacquiao, have a new, super cute Datu Puti TV commercial! I like the play on the "bumili ka lang ng suka, champion ka na" statement :D Of course, the quotable quote in this TVC is also Manny Pacquiao's "boxing is not for killing." :P In this Datu Puti Manny Pacquiao TVC, a guy who's supposedly playing the role of Coach Freddie (Roach, the Pacman's real-life boxing coach) tells the "true story" behind the Pacman's road to success. Well, of course it's not the real story but this commercial is really funny and clever :) Props to the agency behind this cool Manny Pacquiao TV commercial! By the way, just in case you don't know how Manny Pacquiao and I are fellow Mindanaoans, check this out: (more…)

Feb62011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

My second studio visit at TV5 Manila’s PO5 Sunday show

Arts, Broadcasting, Davao City, Entertainment, Features, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Society, Style

The first time my friends and I watched PO5 (Party on Five) live, we all trooped to a studio in Marikina. During our second visit just a few days ago, my friends and I went to Broadway Centrum along Aurora Boulevard, the same studio complex where the longest noontime show in the Philippines is also aired from Monday to Friday - "Eat Bulaga." PO5 does not use the same studio, though. It uses the one adjacent to the "Eat Bulaga" studio. For the uninitiated, by the way, PO5 is Channel 5's Sunday noontime variety show, their answer to ABS CBN Channel 2's "ASAP" and to GMA 7's "Party Pilipinas." Among its hosts are Richard Gomez, Lucy Torres, John Estrada, Wilma Doesnt, Alex Gonzaga, Danita Paner and...be still my heart...Kean Cipriano :D (more…)

Feb62011 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

At the wedding reception of the Malaysian ambassador’s daughter

BIMP-EAGA, Blogging, Features, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Politics, Society

Ever since I had the utmost privilege to meet the Ambassador of Malaysia to the Philippines Dato Seri Dr. Ibrahim Saad and his beautiful wife Datin Seri Dato Zainab Kader, I've become so fascinated with Malaysia, its people, its culture and traditions and even their food! I've also become quite fascinated with certain similarities between the Philippines and Malaysia and the glaring fact that at the end of the day, we really all are connected. So when I received this special invitation to attend the wedding reception of the Malaysian ambassador's daughter Zaireen Ayu Ibrahim and her groom Shazlan Sufian, I knew I just had to go. Not only was it a fabulous chance for me to witness an akad nikah (traditional Malay wedding) but it was also a chance for me to meet and mingle with new Malays...

Feb22011 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

How I spent my winnings from the Resorts World Manila casino

Flights, Hongkong, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Malaysia, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Singapore, Tourism, Travel

Not too long ago, I had one amazing, ultra lucky night at Resorts World Manila. Actually, if you care to read what happened to me that day, you can see that Lady Luck was on my side from the very beginning. Needless to say, I was and still am very grateful for all the things that happened that one fateful day. Ever since I blogged about my Resorts World Manila casino winnings, a lot of people have asked me what I did with the money. It wasn't much, truth be told. However, it was enough to make me and my entire family happy! I spent my winnings booking flights to Singapore and Hongkong :) My mom and I are set to fly to Singapore (with a day-long sidetrip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) in a few days (we're spending Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day abroad! Cool, huh? :D) while I trea...

Feb22011 by Mindanaoan Irene6 Comments

Review: BonChon chicken – fried twice, twice as good

Food, Mindanaoan Update, Recipes, Reviews

During my most recent trip to Manila, three very good friends and I finally had the chance to visit the Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati branch of Bonchon Chicken. Now if you haven't heard of BonChon, this below might give you an idea of what you're supposed to expect: (yes, that's from the New York Times!) BonChon chicken is supposedly one of, if not the best, tasting chicken you can ever taste in your lifetime. And I must say, after that early dinner with friends, I can only agree 110%! Here's why... (more…)

Jan312011 by Mindanaoan Irene10 Comments

Review: GoHotels.ph value hotel in Mandaluyong | budget hotel Manila

Business, Consumer, Corporate, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion, Reviews

For budget conscious Mindanaoans like me who often travel to Manila, it is but imperative to stay in a value hotel that offers not only comfort and safety but an ideal location as well. Although I do put a lot of weight on the price of a hotel room, I don't mind paying extra if I see that I get my money's worth. I also prefer hotels that are near public transportation options. Enter GoHotels.ph - a relatively new hotel located along EDSA Mandaluyong. For the uninitiated, EDSA, formerly known as Highway 54, is the main highway of Metro Manila here in the Philippines. It's also the same circumferential road where the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) passes through. GoHotels is the sister company of budget airline Cebu Pacific. Hence, it's no wonder that the said Manila budget hotel operates the s...

Jan272011 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Mass videoconference aims to link Manila and Iligan students

Advocacy, Announcements, Campus, Events, Iligan City, Lanao del Sur, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao

Before anything else, I'd like to say that I'm a proud RockEd volunteer. Rock Ed Philippines, which began in 2005, aims to get Filipinos interested in nation building. Rock Ed links Filipinos from all walks of life with causes that they are interested in. Once you sign up for Rock Ed, you're assigned projects that fit your expertise, interests or skill sets. In my case, I usually volunteer for projects related to blogging, publicity, event management, photography, media and business-related stuff. Now this is where the point of this blog post starts :D You see, I found this project in the Rock Ed Philippines website. It's about a mass videoconference that aims to link at least 2,000 students in Manila to at least 2,000 students in Iligan - yup, that's all the way down here in Mindanao. How...

Jan272011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Havaianas 2011 collection and the list of authorized Havaianas retailers all over Philippines

Beauty, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Features, Gifts, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping, Style

A lot of my blog readers have been asking me about this and you all know I aim to please...so here you go! :) Here's a peek at the most awaited Havaianas 2011 collection as well as a complete list of the authorized retailers all over the Philippines. And yes, my favorite boutique in Northern Mindanao, Spruce, is one of the friendly authorized retailers of our favorite flipflops Havaianas. Just in case you're wondering why it's important for you to know where to get original pairs of Havaianas, well, you DO deserve something more than mere imitation, yes? :) And for those who want to check out what Havaianas Philippines has in store for all their loyal Havaianaticos, check out the Havaianas 2011 collection below: (more…)

Jan152011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanao job alert: Spruce needs marketing staff

Cagayan de Oro City, Jobs, Mindanaoan Update

Here's a job opening in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao that you or someone you know may be interested in. One of the top lifestyle stores in Mindanao, SPRUCE, is in need of new marketing staff members. Check this job opening below: Spruce Designer Network is located at the 2nd Floor, West Concourse, Limketkai Center, Cagayan de Oro City, Northern Mindanao. Their boutique and lifestyle store sells Havaianas (they're the accredited store in this neck of the woods), Puma, Get Happy, Happy Feet, Charcoal, Lacoste, Birkenstock, Aranaz, Cole Vintage and a whole lot more. Here's how you can apply at Spruce: (more…)

Jan112011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Sen. Chiz Escudero seeks relief of Cotabato police, army leadership

Cotabato, Government, Muslim Mindanao, News, Personalities, Politics

The rising number of abductions in Cotabato City over the past months has prompted Senator Chiz Escudero to call for the relief of the local police and armed forces chiefs in the area, saying they failed in their duties to secure and protect the people from criminals like the kidnap-for-ransom gangs. Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, condemned the latest abduction in the city involving Chinese businessman Eulogio Lim Yu last Saturday. This came a month after a nine-year-old girl was kidnapped but rescued in Pigcawayan, a town adjacent to the city. The girl’s father, trader Allan Tamayo, was killed when he tried to stop the abductors. Before this, Chinese businesswoman Conchita Tan was also snatched in Cotabato City, and her driver and bod...

Jan32011 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

DTI has new business name registration fees

Announcements, Business, Consumer, Government, Mindanaoan Update

Are you thinking of going into business this year? Do you already have a great business name in mind? Here's good news! The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has now made it easier for all of us Mindanaoans to engage in business. Now you can register your business name online (more on this after the jump!). However, DTI now has revised rates for business name applications. Under Department Administrative Order No. 10-10 series of 2010, the Department of Trade and Industry will implement the revised rates for all Business Name (BN) applications effective today, January 3 (Monday). DTI will implement what they call a "territorial scheme" based on geographical divisions. Check out the corresponding payments below: (more…)

Dec292010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Richard Poon, Pokwang and Markki Stroem CDO concert

Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Photos, Society, Videos

Hi everyone, how's the holidays (or should I say holiDAZE) so far? I'm still on "vacation mode" hence the lack of updates here. Interestingly, though, this humble Mindanao blog still continues to attract very good traffic every single day and for that I am really thankful. Daghang salamat to all of my regular readers and followers! Thank you so much! Please continue to support Mindanaoan by urging all of your friends to "Like" us on Facebook and to subscribe via email :) This time around, I'd like to share with you some of the photos I took during the recently concluded "The Crooner and The Comedienne" concert featuring Richard Poon and Pokwang with special guest Markki Stroem. I know that a lot of you have been waiting for these...judging by the so many hits on my previous entries: exc...

Dec212010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanaoan.com ‘s exclusive interview with big band crooner Richard Poon

Arts, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Videos

Before his big concert with Pokwang and Markki Stroem last December 19, 2010 at the Atrium of the Limketkai Center, Cagayan de Oro City, this blogger in Mindanao got the chance to interview the Big Band Crooner himself, Richard Poon. Just in case you don't know, Mindanaoan.com was one of the proud media sponsors of the successful run of "The Crooner and The Comedienne," which was made possible by Joey Pelaez Events. Mindanaoan.com had the chance to ask Richard Poon about his choice of music genre, how he can be an advocate of music especially among the youth, how he applies the skills he learned as an entrepreneur to his being a musician (he liked the question, by the way! :D) and what keeps him inspired these days *wink, wink* [READ THIS, just in case you think you're kindda out of the...

Dec142010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Full text: Supreme Court decision on Hubert Webb case – Vizconde Massacre

Announcements, Blogging, Commentary, Controversial, Crime, Education, Government, Headline, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal, Personalities, Politics

If you've been following me on Twitter today, you must have noticed some of my tweets about the acquittal of Hubert Webb et al. You may have also noticed that I tweeted about the dismissal of the case filed by actress Katrina Halili against Hayden Kho. I also mentioned that today, December 14, 2010, marks the 6th death anniversary of the King of Philippine movies - Fernando Poe, Jr. And, last but definitely not the least, ousted Philippine Football Federation President Jose Mari Martinez says he wants a revamp in the Philippine team #Azkals. Yes, today was a very heavy, full and controversial day in Philippine history. Tough week for the Philippine police and army, too. If you recall, the President himself ordered that the cases against the members of Morong 43 be dropped. Is it Acquitta...

Dec112010 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Subscribe and “Like” the Mindanaoan FB page to start winning prizes

Announcements, Blogging, Contests

I've been meaning to post this ever since I managed to create a Facebook Page for my humble blog but only got to finally doing this today. Yikes. Better late than never, though :) I'll be launching several contests and will be giving away some freebies in the next few days but only subscribers of Mindanaoan.com and those who "liked" the Facebook Page will be allowed to join. So here's your chance for a headstart of sorts. You may join the Official Mindanaoan.com Facebook Page through the widget below: Meanwhile, you can also subscribe to Mindanaoan.com via email below: DO NOT - I repeat - DO NOT forget to check your email address and open the email that will be sent to you by Feedburner. Click on the link that will be sent to you via email so that your email address will be...

Dec112010 by Mindanaoan Irene30 Comments

Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa Day Tour | What to do in Cebu

Blogging, Business, Cebu City, Consumer, Corporate, Features, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal, Photos, Resorts, Reviews, Style, Tourism, Travel

Yes, the rumors are true. Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa is a beautiful paradise that you just have to visit at least once in your lifetime! :) I finally availed of the much-talked about Shangri-La Mactan day tour recently. I treated my brother so it was the two of us who had a grand time at Shangri-La Mactan Cebu. The Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa Day Tour rate, as of October 2010, is P2,500.00 per person (roughly US $65.00) - a bit expensive for many but I must say, our experience was worth every penny. From Cebu City proper (along Salinas Road, to be exact), we took a metered cab towards Mactan. Travel time was about half an hour, notwithstanding traffic. Fare was around P160 but I paid P200 - just to start the day right :) Here's what greeted us when we arrived at Shangri-La...

Dec112010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Dinner with the US Embassy Manila Counselor for Public Affairs

Advocacy, Bisaya, Blogging, Cebu City, Features, Headline, Internet, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal, Personalities, Society, Technology, Weird

I was in Cebu City recently to open a small branch of my PR, media, marketing and outsourcing agency and to visit my younger brother at the same time. About a week and a half after I arrived, I received an invitation from fellow blogger and Plurker Jay de Jesus, the Emerging Media Specialist for Public Affairs of the US Embassy, Manila. He asked if I could attend a small, intimate dinner with someone from the US Embassy in Manila and that the dinner was to be held the evening of that very day. I asked him who I was supposed to meet. He said that it was his boss - the Counselor for Public Affairs of the US Embassy in Manila - Richard W. Nelson. I must admit, I immediately had reservations. I checked my watch --- I only had about 3 hours to prepare for what could be a life-changing dinner...

Dec102010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

A Kagay-anon’s dream come true – this Richard Poon, Pokwang and Markki Stroem CDO concert

Announcements, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Society

In its initial offering as a concert producer in Cagayan de Oro (CDO), Joey Pelaez Events is set to conquer the music scene on December 19, 2010 at the Atrium Limketkai Center with The Crooner and The Comedienne featuring the country’s top standard music singer Richard Poon and the fashionable and witty Pokwang, and introducing Markki Stroem of Pilipinas Got Talent fame. (more…)

Dec92010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Two Mindanaoan groups win in the 8th TAYO Awards

Announcements, Compostela Valley, Features, Headline, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, News, Northern Mindanao, Society, Surigao del Sur

Here's a great follow-up to my previous blog post about the Mindanao youth org-finalists to the 8th Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards --- two (yes, TWO!) youth groups from Mindanao won! Let's all congratulate the Pro-Drop Out Reduction Program (PRO-DORP) Team from Surigao del Sur, Mindanao and the 4-H Mandaya Tribal Youth Organization (MTYO) from Compostela Valley, Mindanao! Both Mindanao youth groups received P50,000.00 cash grant from the Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines as well as a specially handcrafted trophy by artist Toym de Leon Imao. Woohoo! Congratulations guys! I'm super proud of all of you! * photo credit: Momblogger The awarding ceremonies of this year's 8th TAYO Awards was held today, December 9, 2010 at the Malacanang Palace. No less than President...

Dec82010 by Mindanaoan Irene60 Comments

UPDATED: Justin Bieber Live in Manila on May 10, 2011 | Kenny Loggins and Maroon 5 are coming too!

Announcements, Entertainment, Events, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities

Yes, it's confirmed! Justin Bieber will come to Manila for a much-awaited concert on May 10, 2011 (coincidentally, the very day of the most recently held national elections!). The Justin Bieber Live In Manila concert will be held at SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds, Pasay City, Philippines. Just to be clear - this blogger from Mindanao got hold of this Justin Bieber Manila concert straight from the top honcho of Music Management International - the same firm that brings international acts over. Justin Bieber in Manila is a concert all of you Bieber fans should not miss! Fronting for Justin Bieber is the group called Poreotics. And here's more good news - the Manila concert scene will not only see the arrival of Justin Bieber on May 10 at MOA but it will also see the arrival of well-lo...