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

Nov102011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

I’m joining Blogfest SOCCSKSARGEN 2011

Announcements, Blogging, Events, General Santos City, Internet, Koronadal, Make Money Online, Media, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Sarangani, SoSCksargen, Technology

I'm joining the largest gathering of bloggers, online media and social networking enthusiasts in Southern Philippines! I'm pretty excited to join Blogfest Soccsksargen 2.0 or Sox Blogfest on November 26, 2011 in General Santos City. Who wouldn't look forward to this event when you have this stellar line-up of speakers? By the way, I'm dying to finally meet Manolo Quezon III! Blogfest Soccsksargen 2.0 will also feature the awards night of the Philippine Blog Awards - Mindanao category. If you remember, Mindanaoan.com won as Best Lifestyle Blog last year :) I also look forward to visiting Sarangani the next day in time for the 2011 Munato Festival. I hope to capture great photos there! Anyone else coming to Blogfest Soccsksargen 2.0 / Sox Blogfest?

Oct312011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

3 Mindanaoan youth groups shine in 9th TAYO Awards | TAYO 9

Advocacy, Announcements, Contests, Features, Headline, Maguindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Muslim Mindanao, News, Northern Mindanao, Society, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga Sibugay

I was to happy to hear the good news from the Office of Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan recently. Three Mindanaoan youth groups were among the winners in the 9th Search for Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) this year! The TAYO Awards recognizes and supports the outstanding contributions of youth in nation-building. Young Mindanawans Peace Builders, Youth Solidarity for Peace - Peace Advocates Zamboanga and the Association of Locally - Empowered Youth in Northern Mindanao all shone in the recently concluded TAYO 9 Awards. The awarding ceremony of TAYO 9 was held recently at the Heroes' Hall in Malacanang. Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, a former youth activist and who conceived the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Search together with the National Youth Commi...

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...

Jul252011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Look where Airphil Express is taking Mindanaoan!

Blogging, Cebu City, Consumer, Corporate, Features, Flights, Hongkong, Leisure, Macau, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Reviews, Shopping, Society, Tourism, Travel

A few days ago, this blogger in Mindanao received an invitation from Airphil Express. The invitation came a few weeks after my brother, cousins and I flew to Singapore and Malaysia (yes, yes, I flew there again :) If you guys remember, I treated my mom to a special mother-daughter trip abroad last February 2011) aboard --- quite coincidentally --- Airphil Express :) It was an invitation that was very hard to turn down --- it was a chance for me to be on board the special maiden flight of Airphil Express' Cebu to Hong Kong route! Yes, folks, Airphil Express now has Cebu to Hong Kong flights! Now, Hong Kong is more accessible not only for people in the Visayas but for fellow Mindanaoans as well. I'm pretty excited with this Hong Kong trip. This will be my third time in beauti...

Jul112011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

CBCP statement on alleged PCSO funds used for Bishops SUV luxury vehicles

Butuan, Commentary, Controversial, Headline, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Opinion

I'm printing below the full text of the statement released by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines with regard to the recent controversies alleging that some PCSO funds were given to Bishops (one of them Butuan, Mindanao Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos). Bishop Pueblos reportedly wrote to former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, asking for an SUV (a Montero Sport worth Php 1.7 Million) that can "comfortably seat" 6-10 people as a...get this..."birthday gift." Makes you wonder why Bishop Pueblos has been criticizing incumbent President Noynoy Aquino. I will share my thoughts about this issue in a separate blog post. Suffice it to say that I am sad, very disappointed and angry. For now, please feel free to read the statement below and kindly share this with eve...

Jul102011 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Photos: Bukidnon landslide aftermath

Advocacy, Bukidnon, Commentary, Features, Headline, Internet, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Opinion, Personal, Society

A few days ago, something terrible happened. A deadly landslide occurred in Bukidnon. The Bukidnon landslide happened in Sitio Hangaron, Barangay Lumbayao, Valencia City, Bukidnon. Not only were there victims in Lumbayao, some people including kids were also affected in nearby Barangay Tongan-Tongan. The Bukidnon landslide was, needless to say, very devastating. As of press time, 6 bodies have been recovered in both Barangay Lumbayao and Barangay Tongan-Tongan. The victims from Lumbayao included Maritess Lagunay, Segundina Lagunay and Sheryl Sadsad. The victims from Tongan-Tongan were 7 year old Joy Collamar and 6 year old Roque Santilla. Sheryl Sadsad is the wife of a friend of my brother's. Actually, I also know Sheryl's husband but he was closer to my brother. The landslide hit Sh...

Apr22011 by Mindanaoan Irene201 Comments

Ayala Mall Cagayan de Oro CENTRIO announces job openings

Announcements, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Features, Headline, Jobs, Leisure, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Resorts, Shopping, Society, Style, Tourism, Travel

Everyone in Mindanao has been talking about it for months now --- the much-awaited opening of what's believed to be the biggest mall in Mindanao --- Ayala Malls' CENTRIO (UPDATE: Another Ayala-owned mall in Mindanao, ABREEZA, is the largest mall so far. Abreeza Mall is located in Davao). This Mindanaoan blogger first wrote about the upcoming Ayala Mall CDO last year and these days, it's fast becoming a reality especially with the recent announcement of job opportunities at Ayala Mall Cagayan de Oro. Cagayan De Oro Gateway, Corp., a subsidiary of Ayala Land, Inc. and the owner and developer of Centrio, has posted these job openings for Ayala Mall CDO: HR / Purchasing Assistant Financial Analyst General Cashier Finance and Control Officer Operations Manager Operations Assistan...

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...

Dec72010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

An appeal to all of my valued Mindanaoan.com readers

Bisaya, Blogging, Contests, Features, Internet, Media, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Society, Technology

After bagging the Best Lifestyle Blog for Mindanao 2010 in the Philippine Blog Awards, this humble Mindanao blog is once again nominated - this time to two national blogging awards - the 2010 Philippine Blog Awards Bloggers' Choice Award and the 2010 Philippine Blog Awards Readers' Choice Award. As I previously wrote, however, I myself will not even vote for my own blog for the Bloggers' Choice Award since my vote will go to Bukidnon Online but for the Reader’s Choice Category, I would really appreciate a little help from my valued Mindanaoan.com readers, subscribers, supporters! :) Mindanaoan.com and other Readers' Choice Awards nominees will be judged according to the number of Facebook "LIKES" starting today until before 11:59 pm on December 11, 2010 (Saturday). Most number of lik...

Nov202010 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Mindanaoan senator Guingona et al take first step to budget reform

Advocacy, Announcements, Broadcasting, Bukidnon, Government, Mindanaoan Update, News

Senator Teofisto ‘TG" Guingona III, a fellow Mindanaoan, has taken his crusade for a transparent, accountable and participatory budget process a step further. The solon led the signing of the Open Budget Partnership Agreement during a forum on the 2011 National Expenditure Program attended by members and leaders of civil society organizations in Ortigas, Pasig City today. “Today, we are witness to a historic event, when the government and the civil society join hands in safeguarding one of the most important processes in good governance – that is, making sure that the budget process will be truly crafted in the true essence of democracy, one that will benefit the people whose taxes make this country run,” stated Guingona. The Open Budget Partnership is a collaborative initiative amon...

Nov122010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Off to Cebu City! Thank you Air Philippines for saving the day

Bisaya, Business, Cebu City, Features, Flights, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Personal, Travel

This is already almost too embarrassing to say considering what happened just a few weeks ago but really, my deep gratitude to the staff and crew of Air Philippines - Lumbia Airport, Cagayan de Oro City, Northern Mindanao. I was super late for my Cagayan de Oro to Cebu City flight but they still let me board. Now don't be alarmed, though. I wasn't late late. Let's just say that I didn't make the 45 minutes before the flight cut-off. My flight was at 12:50 PM and I arrived at the airport at 12:30 PM. I have a valid reason, though! I was in Bukidnon for the blogging workshop I organized and left a good 4 hours before my scheduled ETD. Unfortunately, the usual 2-hour trip from Malaybalay City, Bukidnon to Cagayan de Oro City became a 3 and a half hour ordeal, no thanks to an 18-wheeler tru...

Oct202010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Kraft Eden Cheese Keso de Gallo – I’m campaigning for Balingasag, Misamis Oriental!

Announcements, Blogging, Business, Contests, Features, Food, Headline, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Musings, News, Personal, Photos, Recipes, Society, Tourism

I've written about this year's Keso de Gallo in an earlier post. This time, though, I'm campaigning for a specific town --- the Municipality of Balingasag in Misamis Oriental, Mindanao :) But before anything else, a little info about the Municipality of Balingasag. The said municipality takes pride in its 195.07 hectare Balingasag Mariculture Park which is a sprawling area for its aquaculture, mangrove area, sea ranching, fish sanctuary and navigational lane. Balingasag, which has a total of 30 barangays, is on its way to becoming the “Bangus Capital” of Northern Mindanao and probably the whole of Mindanao with the rapid increase in bangus harvest. It is home to a number of significant and historical edifices like the Vega Ancestral house located in the poblacion, a well preserved Ph...

Oct72010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Bacolod: Balay ni Tana Dicang | Bacolod tourist spot you must visit!

Bacolod City, Blogging, Flights, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Reviews, Tourism, Travel, Visayas

So a few weeks ago, I shared with all of you all about the New Bacolod Silay Airport and the two places where my friends and I dined in Bacolod City (Pepe's Grill for the delicious ribs and Calea for the best desserts). Now I'll share a nice tourist spot we visited at Talisay City (about half an hour away from Bacolod City) --- Balay Ni Tana Dicang. Located along Rizal Street, Balay Ni Tana Dicang (Balay means home while tana is shortcut for "kapitana") stands as one of Negros' most preserved ancestral homes. It's so well-preserved, in fact! These days, it's now a museum and occasionally plays host to art exhibits and other mini shows. It was build in 1883 for Don Efigenio Lizares and Dona Enrica Alunan at the later stage of the Spanish era in the Philippines. This bahay na ba...

Sep112010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Help me attend PR 2.0: 17th National Public Relations Congress

Bisaya, Blogging, Business, Corporate, Features, Headline, Internet, Journalism, Media, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal, Society

The 17th National Public Relations Congress will be held on September 23 and 24, 2010 at the Grand Ballroom, InterContinental Manila, Makati City, Philippines with the theme “PR2.0 Build. Engage. Deliver.” and I absolutely want to attend! I may have been in the public relations/media/marketing/advertising/events industry for several years now and I may own a small public relations agency in the Philippines but I have yet to attend a national conference led by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines. Methinks attending this PR congress will help me as a Filipino publicist and I have a couple of reasons why: 1. I am one who actively incorporates blogging and other forms of social and new media in my work. While I still practise public relations the "traditional" way, I have starte...

Aug272010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Cebu: Big breakfast at Ilaputi, Asiatown IT Park

Food, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Visayas

My brother, who runs the uber famous Philippine-based tennis blog, Tennis Guru, has been raving about this 24-hour place at Asiatown IT Park, Cebu City called ilaputi. He regularly eats breakfast at this Cebu restaurant and eventually, he has managed to convince a lot of his friends to try ilaputi Cebu as well. Well, since I'm in the Queen City of the South for a few days, I decided to ask him to take me there as well. So on a bright and sunny Thursday morning, we visited ilaputi's Asiatown IT Park branch and ordered ilaputi's "Big Breakfast." I was not disappointed. Not at all. Ilaputi Cebu Asian and fusion restaurant's big breakfast was a real treat - yummy chorizo, bacon with garlic fried rice, two (!) eggs and marinated pork with rich sauce. The delicious meal was served on a ...

Aug72010 by Mindanaoan Irene7 Comments

If New York has yellow cabs, Davao City has violet taxis

Davao City, Features, Festivals, Society

Before anything else, let me emphasize that this isn't exactly breaking news. I've seen these types of taxis roam around Davao City but it's only over the weekend that I was able to take a photo. So here it is. One of the conspicuous violet taxis plying all around Davao City, Mindanao: If the Big Apple - New York - has yellow cabs, Dabaw has violet ones. Can't help but wonder if this will set a trend of some sort. Violet isn't a really bad choice, really. It represents vibrancy and violet is the color of some varieties of orchids (Davao is where a lot of flowers and orchids are in bloom especially this time of year!) (more…)

Aug62010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Kadayawan Fiesta at the Apo View Hotel Davao City

Business, Davao City, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Update, Tourism, Travel

My most favorite Philippine festival is right around the corner - Kadayawan Festival 2010 in my beautiful hometown Davao City, Mindanao! And what better way to kick things off than checking out the Kadayawan 2010 Fiesta at the Apo View Hotel? The Apo View Hotel, one of Davao's finest hotels, again pays tribute to Davao’s artistic, cultural and historical heritage via the Kadayawan Fiesta Week: The merriment, bounties of Mother Nature, richness of culture and gifts of bountiful harvest can be felt at The Apo View. (more…)

May102010 by Mindanaoan Irene6 Comments

Two Mindanaoan senatorial candidates get my vote

Advocacy, Bisaya, Blogging, Bukidnon, Commentary, Controversial, Features, Government, Headline, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Marawi City, Media, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Muslim Mindanao, Opinion, Personal, Personalities, Politics

With just a few hours before May 10, 2010 - the very day the Philippines is set to hold its first ever automated elections - I, Mindanaoan, would like to share to you two choices I've already made. I'm set to vote for these two senatorial candidates and I'm proud to let you know that both of them are from Mindanao. Both Mindanaoans and both I've had the utmost honor to work with. I'm voting for Adel Tamano (#54 on the ballot) and Neric Acosta (#1 on the ballot). Before I delve into the finer details as to why I'm voting for these senatoriables from Mindanao, let me quote something from respected columnist Manolo Quezon III (my idol!): "The job of a senator is not just about legislation, it’s about oversight, with the latter being more relevant and required than the former. The House...

Dec112009 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Yes, Virginia, I sang a duet with Atty. Adel Tamano!

Entertainment, Features, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Musings, Personal, Personalities, Photos, Society

So one of my blogs celebrated its anniversary recently and guess who my very special guest was? Atty. Adel Tamano, of course! Just in case you've been living under a rock, Atty. Adel A. Tamano is one of the senatorial bets of the Nacionalista Party, which is led by presidential candidate Manny Villar. Atty. Adel is the first ever Filipino-Muslim graduate of Harvard Law School, the first ever Filipino-Muslim commencement speaker of Harvard University and he's the president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM). And yes, he was the spokesperson of the Genuine Opposition in the 2007 elections. Bongga ang guest ko di ba? Actually, I spent the entire day with him and his entourage as they toured Bukidnon last December 4, 2009. He was with his brother, Atty. Aquil Tamano, as wel...

Oct212009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

New US Embassy chief of mission, Mindanaoan leaders, new media experts to grace Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3

Advocacy, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Announcements, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Events, Internet, Mindanaoan Update, News, Northern Mindanao, Technology

Considered unprecedented in the Philippine blogosphere, a top ranking United States Embassy dignitary is set to grace the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3 on October 24, 2009 in Cagayan de Oro City. Deputy Chief of Mission Leslie Bassett, along with Mindanaoan leaders and leading new media experts, will grace the summit this year, which holds the theme, “Mindanao: Bag-Uhon Ang Panan-aw” (Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao, Philippines – October 21, 2009) – Considered unprecedented in the Philippine blogosphere, a top ranking United States Embassy dignitary is set to grace the much-awaited Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, which will be held on October 24, 2009, 8am to 5pm, Pearlmont Inn, Limketkai Drive, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao. Deputy Chief of Mission Leslie Bassett will deliver the keynote ad...

Aug202009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Philippine Blog Awards now has special awards for Mindanao blogs

Advocacy, Announcements, Bisaya, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Headline, Internet, Journalism, Media, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Technology

Great news for Mindanao bloggers! The Philippine Blog Awards (PBA) now has special awards for blogs made in Mindanao and by Mindanaoan bloggers! So if you're a blogger and if you're from the beautiful island of Mindanao, then go ahead and nominate your own blog for the PBA Mindanao Special Awards. The awarding ceremony will be held on October 24, 2009 in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao - in time for the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3. You can nominate your Mindanao blogs in these categories: Mindanao Advocacy Blog In line with the objectives of the Mindanao Bloggers Community, the Best Advocacy Blog is a blog that exemplifies how an online publication can bring a worthy cause to the consciousness of a broad audience. It is a blog that inspires its readers to take action and participate ...

Aug122009 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Rep. Teddy Casino, Atty. Alex Lacson, Neric Acosta, Rep. Risa Hontiveros lead Register and Vote Campaign CDO schools visit – pictures inside

Advocacy, Cagayan de Oro City, Campus, Events, Government, Mindanaoan Update, News, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Photos, Politics

Here are the photos Mindanaoan (me!) took during the recent Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao leg of the Register and Vote (RV) Campaign - specifically during the two students fora held at the Mindanao University of Science and Technology and Cagayan de Oro College - both Cagayan de Oro City schools. Mindanaoan was privileged enough to have accompanied the Team Kiko group last July 30, 2009. This RV campaign, which is spearheaded by Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, aims to draw out 5 to 9 million first time voters, encourage them to register at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and then come May 2010, exercise their right to suffrage. Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, AKBAYAN Partylist Rep. Risa Hontiveros, former Bukidnon Rep. Neric Acosta, BAYAN Partylist Rep. Teddy Casino and author Atty. ...