mindanao blogger Archives - Page 6 of 22 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Dec82014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Samsung offers huge discounts with Galaxy of Christmas Wishes promo

Consumer, Corporate, Features, Freebies, Technology

Perfect money saving news from Samsung! Samsung gives Pinoys more reasons to love the holidays with their Galaxy of Christmas Wishes promo! Starting today until December 31, 2014, customers can get a chance to take home their favorite Samsung device at a lower cost by visiting participating Samsung Experience Shops and authorized dealers nationwide. At Samsung’s Galaxy of Christmas Wishes, customers can avail of their very own Samsung devices for as low as Php 7,000 less than the original selling price or get a special item from Samsung upon purchase. Rhinn Piczon, Product Marketing Head for Mobile of Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation, said that they "listened to what our customers want and we’re thrilled to be able to give it to them this Christmas.” Included in the pro...

Nov242014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Join this CDO Bloggers-led blogging and social media workshop

Announcements, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Technology

Blogging has truly evolved. From just sharing your personal thoughts on your online diary or journal, blogging has now turned into a very viable communication medium and even an opportunity to earn money. More and more people (and businesses) now want to learn how to start a blog and how to maximize the power of social media. Now if you're interested to join the blogging world, the Cagayan de Oro Bloggers, Inc. will hold a workshop on November 29, 2014, 2 to 5 PM at Jia Cha Cafe, Ground Floor, Divisoria Arcade, Pabayo - T. Neri Streets. This is the perfect time for you to learn how to start your very own blog and maximize the power of social media! Register now at the official CDO Bloggers website. Please note that a very minimal fee of Php 200.00 will be collected to cover snacks an...

Nov142014 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

EXCLUSIVE: BonChon Cagayan de Oro branch opening date CONFIRMED

Announcements, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Events, Features, Food, Freebies, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao

Mindanaoan.com is the very first to break the news --- BonChon Chicken, the company behind the global Korean-style fried chicken craze, is set to open their Cagayan de Oro City branch on November 28, 2014 at the First Level, Garden Area, Centrio Mall! I received this exciting update from the franchisees themselves :) BonChon, which means "my hometown" in Korean, will open their very first branch in Northern Mindanao this month. They first entered the Mindanao market when they set up shop in Davao about two years ago then later in General Santos City. BonChon Philippines Managing Director Scott Tan himself will be in CDO for the launch. And here's more good news - be among the very first customers and be qualified to receive FREEBIES! There will be a private function in the morning...

Nov42014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

FineLab offers baking workshops in Davao and Cagayan de Oro

Announcements, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Davao City, Food

Are you ready for a baking revolution? FineLab, a division under Thermtech Group, Inc., is set to launch the FineBake Bake-olution Caravan, which will visit both Cagayan de Oro City and Davao City. There will be baking workshops in both Mindanao cities, ideal for business owners and individuals. The FineBake Bake-olution’s Cagayan De Oro Swing will be held at the Polymedic Medical Plaza along Kauswagan Highway on November 11 (Tuesday), 9:00am while the Davao City Swing will happen on November 14 (Friday), 9:00am at the Beauchem Building, No. 846 Atis Street, Juna Subdivision, Matina. During the workshops, attendees will learn how to make Vegetarian Pandesal and Specialty Breads, Sweet Dough, Marble Bavarian Cake, Rainbow Mallows Cake, Caramel Duet Cake, Mocha Crunch Cake, Cherry ...

Oct292014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

That honest, taray Davao taxi driver story and things I learned when a post gets viral

Announcements, Davao City, Davao del Sur, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Musings

Hello, world. Yes, that was me. The person who posted that "taray Davao taxi driver" story on Facebook that got viral --- no, really, really viral --- was me. Google "Davao taxi driver," "taray Davao taxi driver" or "honest Davao taxi driver," chances are, most of the hits on the first page and Google images are about my post. (this is what SEO folks would die for!) And, like anybody whose post unknowingly attracted thousands of "likes," shares, retweets, reposts and comments from people around the world, I now have my own story to tell. I also learned a couple of lessons, both good and bad. Well, I want to focus on the good so trust me, there were more good than bad. Did I mention, though, that as a result, I received several TV and radio interview requests and hundreds of friend reque...

Oct212014 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Mindanaoan In Korea travel series: Cheonggyecheon Stream

Blogging, Features, Korea, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Travel

After visiting Deoksugung Palace and witnessing the changing of the royal guards ceremony, my brother and I then proceeded to Cheonggyecheong Stream, an 8.4 kilometer long stream that flows west to east through downtown Seoul. What used to be a neglected overpass in the 70's was restored as a massive urban renewal project worth $900 Million in 2005 and is now one of the popular tourist destinations in Seoul, South Korea. Actually, even locals love hanging out here as well. From Deoksugung Palace, we walked for about 250 meters to Cheonggyecheong Stream. If you're at Deoksugung Palace facing the Seoul City Hall, Cheonggyecheong Stream is on your left. Just go straight and look for Chongye Plaza or this cone/shell sculpture. This signifies that you're at the mouth of the stream :) ...

Oct202014 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Covering the BIMP-EAGA International Business Leaders Confab and Trade Fair

Announcements, BIMP-EAGA, Blogging, Business, Consumer, Events, Malaysia, Media, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, News, Northern Mindanao

Very excited to share with you all that I have just been invited to cover the 2nd BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT International Trade Fair and Conference in Davao City this October 22 to 25, 2014! This is a very important international event especially in terms of trade, investments and even tourism among ASEAN countries. I feel really very honored especially since I found out that I'm the only media practitioner (from both the traditional and new media/blogging sectors) from Northern Mindanao invited to cover this. BIMP-EAGA stands for Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area while IMT-GT stands for Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Growth Triangle. This highly anticipated event, which will be held at SM Lanang Premier’s SMX Convention Center, is expected to draw at least 800 busine...

Aug252014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Very first Make Your Own Havaianas event in Butuan

Beauty, Butuan, Caraga, Corporate, Events, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Style

The biggest flipflops customization event in the Philippines is finally heading to Butuan! The very first Make Your Own Havaianas - Butuan or #MYOHButuan2014 event is happening on September 26 to 28, 2014 at the Main Atrium of Robinsons Place, Butuan City. A Make Your Own Havaianas event is where you can build/create/design your very own pair (or pairs!) of Havaianas. You can choose the type and color of sole, pins and straps! Moreover, there are special pins and sole designs that can only be found and bought during Make Your Own Havaianas events. I'm a regular MYOH supporter - my very first Make Your Own Havaianas experience was way back in 2009! Since then, I've been sharing my MYOH experiences regularly through this blog :) Make Your Own Havaianas - Butuan will be led by li...

Aug162014 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Photos: Sponge Cola and Up Dharma Down for Globe #WonderfulMindaNOW

Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Photos

Aside from Sarah Geronimo, popular Filipino bands Sponge Cola and Up Dharma Down also rocked the stage during the recently concluded Globe Wonderful MindaNOW awards night. The Globe #WonderfulMindaNOW campaign aimed to find the coolest spots around Mindanao and to encourage Globe users to share cool things via social media and live in the NOW. Thank you very much to Globe for the front row seats and for the several VIP tickets that I got to share with Mindanaoan.com readers and followers (woot!) Sharing with you some of the photos I took of Up Dharma Down and Sponge Cola. Only used a Canon EOS mirrorless point and shoot camera so apologies if I don't have close-up pictures :) For photos I took of Sarah Geronimo, please visit THIS. Th...

Aug132014 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Globe donates first mobile laboratory package to CDO public school

Advocacy, Cagayan de Oro City, Campus, Education, Events, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, News, Northern Mindanao

Globe Telecom recently donated a Globe Mobile Laboratory to the City Central School in Cagayan de Oro City, a mobile package that consists of a set of netbooks, printers, mobile projectors as well as sound systems for the use of the said school's homeroom teachers at each grade level. The Globe mobile lab is part of the telecom company's Global Filipino Schools (GFS) program, a long-term education initiative that seeks to transform selected public schools into centers of ICT excellence and innovative teaching methods, in order to set the stage for 21st Century learning. * Photo courtesy of InCDO.com VP for Globe Prepaid Business Issa Cabreira said “As a part of its commitment to nation-building, Globe Prepaid emphasizes the importance of education among Filipino youth by intro...

Aug52014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

FREE #WonderfulMindaNOW VIP tickets to see Sarah Geronimo, Up Dharma Down and Spongecola

Contests, Freebies, Gifts, Mindanaoan Update, Society

Hi everyone :) Let me make this quick and easy. I'm giving away FREE VIP tickets to the Globe #WonderfulMindaNOW awards night on August 8, 2014, 1 PM at the Limketkai Mall Atrium, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. The awards night will feature Pop Princess Sarah Geronimo and popular bands Spongecola and Up Dharma Down. For you to win, all you have to do is: 1. Follow Mindanaoan on Twitter 2. Follow Mindanaoan on Instagram 3. On THIS INSTAGRAM POST, leave a comment and tell me anything that you love about Mindanao. Be it a specific city, establishment, type of food, artist, tourist spot etc. Please don't forget to include the #WonderfulMindaNOW hashtag :) THAT'S JUST ABOUT IT! :) I will randomly choose the winners. Winners must agree to meet me on August 8, 2014 early a...

Jul242014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Something fun at Bon Appetea CDO milk tea and waffles store

Cagayan de Oro City, Food, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao

Bon Appetea, a milk tea and waffles store, has opened its first Cagayan de Oro branch! Located at the 1st Floor, South Concourse, Limketkai Mall (at the Rotunda area), Bon Appetea CDO offers milk teas, fruit teas, Yakult teas, frappes, fries and waffles. Apparently, Bon Appetea has established quite a following because when I started promoting about their upcoming opening via the Mindanaoan Facebook page and my Twitter account, A LOT of excited fans sent messages. Bon Appetea Limketkai CDO now occupies the area where that stall that sold popcorn and cotton candy used to be. Check out the wide array of drinks and food offered by Bon Appetea: (prices are affordable!) I was invited to the opening (thank you Jon!) a few days ago and I think I was the very first one to ever ...

Jul102014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Tigerair Philippines opens Manila to CDO route

Mindanaoan Update

Another budget airline is set to offer Manila to CDO (and vice versa) flights. Tigerair Philippines will launch their Manila to Cagayan de Oro and CDO to Manila routes in a few days and Mindanaoan will be there to cover the ceremony. Tigerair Philippines has formed an alliance with Cebu Pacific Airlines. This is why you can actually book your Tigerair flights via the Cebu Pacific official website. Also, don't be surprised if you see blue airplane indicators whenever you book flights via the Cebu Pacific website. The blue airplane indicators only mean that those specific flights will be handled by Tigerair. *photo courtesy of PhilippineFlightNetwork Just in case you're wondering, Tigerair uses the NAIA Terminal 4 (this is the old Manila Domestic Airport). Take note of this espe...

Jun92014 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Must-do in Sarangani: White Water Tubing

BIMP-EAGA, Features, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Sarangani, SoSCksargen, Tourism, Travel

One of the things you MUST do when you're in Sarangani, Mindanao, Philippines - white water tubing. No Sarangani adventure will ever be complete if you don't try white water tubing. It's a fun extreme adventure experience like no other! Now let me make something clear first. If you've tried white water rafting and you think that white water tubing is almost like it, you're wrong. Personally, they offer different kinds of thrill. First off, you ride in rubber boats for river rafting. In water tubing, however, you sit on recycled rubber tubes ("salbabida") with fashioned "handles." You need to grip the handles really well so you don't fall into the water, get swallowed by the rapids or hit the boulders. Okay, I hope that didn't scare you :D Truth be told, tubing might look scary at first ...

Apr262014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanaoan.com is media partner of Star Magic charity basketball game

Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Personalities, Society, Sports

Very excited to share that Mindanaoan.com is an official media partner of the upcoming Star Magic Charity Basketball Game in Cagayan de Oro! The much-awaited charity event will be held on Sunday, May 4, 2014, 12 noon (gates open at 8 am), Corpus Christi Gym and will feature the following celebrities: • PBB Teen Edition 3rd Big Placer and “On the Job” actor Gerald Anderson • Actor, dancer, singer, and ASAP mainstay Rayver Cruz • Taekwondo champion, actor, and commercial model Japoy Lizardo • Versatile actor (“Anna Liza”, “Ang TV”, “G-mik”, “Berks”, “Ang Tanging Ina”) Carlo Aquino • “Be Careful With My Heart’s” Jerome Ponce • PBB Teen Edition Plus Big Winner and actor Ejay Falcon • Comedian Gerard Acao • PBB, “Pedro Penduko”, and “The Legal Wife’s” Matt Evans • Star Magic C...

Apr182014 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Eating sea urchins at White Island Camiguin

Camiguin, Food, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

Living sea urchins don't look appetizing at all - what with their scary looking spines. But mind you, sea urchins or "tuyom" as they are locally known are actually considered culinary delicacies in many parts of the world. In fact, a kilo of sea urchin roe fetches hundreds of dollars. So when I spotted some fishermen selling fresh sea urchins for sale at White Island, Camiguin, I just had to get some! They were selling them for Php 50.00 (about US$1.50) for 3 pieces. Ate them raw with coco vinegar. Yum! Have you tried eating sea urchins? Let me know in the comments section :) Meanwhile, here are some shots taken at White Island, Camiguin. Planning to visit this beautiful island in Mindanao? Here's a Camiguin Island Travel Guide and here's how to get to White Island Camiguin

Dec302013 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Mindanaoan.com wins at CDO Bloggers Awards 2013

Advocacy, Announcements, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Education, Events, Features, Internet, Make Money Online, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Technology

The year 2013 has truly been a good year for me, especially in terms of my passion for blogging and social media. Aside from being tapped as a resource speaker during social media day, national social media summits, Google events like GDayX and the like, I also garnered some awards. Last October 2013, this Mindanao blogger bagged not only the Best Lifestyle Blog award but the most coveted Mindanao Blogger of the Year 2013 recognition! And just last night, December 29, 2013, luck was again on my side. During the CDO Bloggers Awards 2013, I received two awards including the Most Active CDO Bloggers Member of the Year plaque! Thank you very much to my CDO Bloggers family! Truly honored and grateful! Daghang salamat :)

Dec262013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Foodspotting: Famous Belgian Waffles

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Reviews, Society

Famous Belgian Waffles. Just how "famous" and delicious are these waffles? Well, Famous Belgian Waffles Limketkai CDO is just one of the more than 100 outlets all over the Philippines and there's always a bevy of hungry and eager customers at each of their waffle stores so I guess they're doing something right! :) I got to try these delicious treats a few days ago when the CDO franchisee invited this Mindanaoan blogger for a visit. I also brought along several blogger friends and my brother, the Tennis Guru, who was also in town for a vacation. To say that we all enjoyed our freshly baked, delicious, crispy golden brown waffles is actually an understatement. All of us absolutely LOVED our treats! Most of us tried the blueberry creamcheese while one tried the banana hazelnut variety. ...

Dec262013 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Merry Christmas from Bamboo and Mindanaoan.com

Announcements, Features, Mindanaoan Update

Merry Christmas to all of my dear Mindanaoan.com readers, subscribers, followers! I sincerely hope that you had a meaningful and blessed Christmas. For me, Christmas is when you realize that you have so many things to be thankful for and that there are many things money simply cannot buy. Christmas is a great reminder that the basic things in life are truly the most important. What about you? What does Christmas mean to you? :) I also have an extra thing to be thankful for this Christmas. Someone I admire sent me a very sweet video message congratulating me for my recent win as Mindanao Blogger of the Year 2013 and Best Lifestyle Blog awardee ! Hi Bamboo :) [yes, my face is a little beet red right now *blush*] Bamboo made this cute fan sign, too! Super special thanks to ...

Dec152013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Travel: New way to explore Davao and Samal Island beaches

Advocacy, Blogging, Business, Consumer, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Features, Island Garden City of Samal, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Resorts, Reviews, Society, Tourism, Travel

One of the many joys of living in Davao City is that it is just several minutes away (a 15-minute ferry ride away, in fact) from Samal Island (Island Garden City of Samal or IGACOS), home of white sand beaches, great resorts, clear water, healthy marine life and dive spots. A lot of tourists usually go to just one resort in Samal Island but did you know that there's now a new, fun way to explore Davao and the beaches around Samal? Why not go island hopping aboard Explore Davao? Explore Davao is an outrigger boat (bangka) complete with an expanded sun deck, bean bags, iPod dock and a cooler. Explore Davao island hopping banca even has its own comfort room and a nifty trapdoor! To show you just how comfortable Davao island hopping aboard Explore Davao is, here are my cool friends an...

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...

Dec42013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Speaking at GDayX CDO – a Google event

Mindanaoan Update

Thanks to the invitation from Google Business Group - CDO, I was one of the speakers during the highly successful gDayX CDO event held last November 16, 2013 in Cagayan de Oro City. gDayX is a big Google event and the Northern Mindanao, Philippines leg was held in CDO. gDayX is an event format patterned after Google Days or gDays, and is a collaboration of various Google communities. There were 10 speakers and topics ranged from how to use Google products to maximize your business, how to start a tourism business and market it online (that was my topic! :) ), crisis mapping, technopreneurship, how to start a business blog, planning and launching your own startup company and measuring success with Google Analytics. These are just some of those who attended that fun-filled d...