Mindanao Archives - Page 10 of 14 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Jun42009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

After Altis taxis, Cagayan de Oro City now has videoke taxis

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Entertainment, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Photos, Society, Style

I could still remember those days when the taxis (cabs) of Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao were the talk of the town...and of other areas in the country, truth be told. Kagay-anons were so elated when Toyota Altis taxis started to roam around the city (and basically snubbed the "old" taxis) and people from other areas started to hope that they, too, can see "sosyal" public utility cabs in their own places. I also remember the many times when the drivers of "old" taxis would just heave a heavy sigh and wish that they, too, can drive a spanking new Toyota Altis taxi soon. After all, just how many passengers have these "old" taxis lost to these shiny new Altis cabs? Well, taxi operators that still own "old" taxi models in Cagayan de Oro City should really keep up with the pace especially now...

Jun22009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Cagayan de Oro City bloggers networking event

Advocacy, Blogging, Events, Internet, Mindanaoan Update

Just helping spread the word :) Interested parties should check out more information over HERE. From Janette Toral --- The DigitalFilipino.com Club is organizing a fellowship / networking event where e-commerce industry players and bloggers can catch up and exchange updates. This will be on June 20, Saturday, 11 am to 2 pm. Venues TBA. This event is co-sponsored by our club member AyosDito.ph. Parties interested to be part of this roadshow as a sponsor can get in touch with Janette Toral. 10:30 - 12:00 Registration and Lunch 11:00 - 12:00 Guest introduction / plugs 12:00 - 12:20 Updates by Janette * Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2009 Writing Project * DigitalFilipino.com Club Updates * Presentation on: Lessons Learned on Sustainable Blogging, Blog Marketing & Ad...

Jun22009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Is a zip line adventure in the offing in Cagayan de Oro City?

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Davao City, Mindanaoan Update, Sports

So I'm back from a very brief visit to my hometown, Davao City, Mindanao. While it felt refreshing to be back home, my stay was a painfully short one so it was still really BITIN. My mother, brothers and I were in Wadab town to celebrate one my younger brothers' birthday. Anyways, the highlight of my Davao City trip was the much-awaited Xcelerator adventure. I have so much to share about my Outland Adventure Xcelerator adventure (I'll also share some photos!) - I'll write more about that tomorrow. In the meantime, I'd just like to share with you all a little bit of info that I got while we were at Outland Adventure. One of the staff members talked to me and told me that a zip line ala Xcelerator might be put up in Cagayan de Oro City (which is roughly 6 hours away from Davao City by bus...

Jun22009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Reload via SMART Money and get additional 10 percent bonus airtime

Announcements, Business, Consumer, Corporate, Mindanaoan Update, News, Society

Good news for the many Mindanao-based SMART Money users! Beginning May 15, 2009, SMART subscribers will enjoy bonus airtime, whenever they reload their own or another Smart Buddy prepaid account using Smart Money. Now for entrepreneurs like me, this is definitely good news especially since I regularly send out payments and other types of transactions through SMART Money. Load denominations ranging from P15 to P1,000 purchased via Smart Money will entitle account holders to an additional 10 percent of the reloaded amount. For example, a Smart Money account holder will get P110 worth of load for a personal airtime purchase of P100. Also, if the account holder opts to purchase airtime for a friend or loved one, the load recipient will get the corresponding 10% bonus load. That’s 10% wor...

May282009 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Thermal scanner to be installed at Lumbia Airport Cagayan de Oro

Announcements, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Corporate, Flights, Mindanaoan Update, News, Northern Mindanao, Tourism, Travel

I got word that Philippine Airlines (PAL) has donated a thermal scanner that can detect if a person has flu or fever. This thermal scanner is set to be installed at the Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City, Northern Mindanao very soon. This is really very good news especially since there are now 10 confirmed H1N1 virus cases in the country (and if I'm not mistaken, three people in the Caraga region, Mindanao are currently being suspected of carrying the deadly virus as well) Interestingly, it had to take a corporate giant like PAL to donate a working thermal scanner just so passengers using the Cagayan de Oro airport can be assessed for fever or flu or be more protected against the H1N1 virus. So exactly where's the health department in all of these? What about the local government?...

May282009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Looking forward to trying the Xcelerator!

Business, Consumer, Davao City, Entertainment, Features, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Society, Tourism, Travel

Experience some atmosFEAR! Now who wouldn't be curious with that? I am really, really looking forward to trying the Xcelerator zip line over at Davao City's Outland Adventure this weekend! The Outland Adventure Xcelerator is supposedly the longest speed zipline in all of Asia! Cool, eh? The Xcelerator is open everyday from 8am to 5 pm. Groups reservations available for weekdays. Fee is P300.00 per adult. They grant a 50 percent discount for small children if they're riding in tandem with an adult. Outland Adventure is right across the GAP Farm along the Diversion Road in Ma-a, Davao City, Mindanao. Check out this video:

May252009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Teriyaki Boy now open in SM Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao

Announcements, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Society

Seems like the City of Golden Friendship is fast becoming the new city of major developments! Cagayan de Oro City is the newest home of a Teriyaki Boy branch. Teriyaki Boy is a fast-casual Japanese dining restaurant here in the Philippines and yes, I often make it a point to drop by one of their branches in Manila (I also like Tokyo Tokyo, another fast-casual Japanese-style dining restaurant chain which has a couple of branches in Manila). Thankfully, Teriyaki Boy now have an outlet in CDO --- in SM City CDO along Masterson Avenue, to be exact. *picture taken using only my Motorola Krzr Is it just me or has Teriyaki Boy changed their corporate look? Their logo used to have red and black, yes?...now I noticed that they prominently used yellow. Or does this look only apply in th...

May252009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Let’s not forget the kidnapped teachers in Basilan, Mindanao please

Advocacy, ARMM, Basilan, Commentary, Controversial, Crime, Mindanaoan Update, Muslim Mindanao, News, Opinion

Amid all the "controversies" these days --- from Dr. Vicki Belo's former flame Dr. Hayden Kho's sex video scandal to the two confirmed cases of A H1N1 in the country to Brillante Mendoza's amazing win as Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival, it seems that we don't hear of any updates with regard to the six teachers that are still being held hostage in Basilan, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). I find this very, very unfortunate. While it's true that to not talk much about the hostage taking may be good for the government's strategy to retrieve the hostages, one cannot also help but think if all the "current controversies" merely "cover" the more important and more pressing issues. Last I heard, there's a Basilan crisis management committee that's handling the matte...

Apr302009 by Mindanaoan Irene9 Comments

Davao to Cagayan de Oro direct flights launched

Announcements, Bukidnon, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Corporate, Davao City, Flights, Mindanaoan Update, Tourism, Travel

Well, after years of waiting for another airline to launch Davao to Cagayan de Oro, Cagayan de Oro to Davao direct flights (the last airline that offered this was Mindanao Air - if memory serves me right - I was able to fly twice), the wait is finally over. Cebu Pacific Airlines has launched a direct thrice-weekly service from Davao to Cagayan de Oro starting May 14, 2009. And here's pretty tempting news for those who want to try this new route --- Cebu Pacific is introducing this Davao City to Cagayan de Oro City, Cagayan de Oro City to Davao City route with a one-way ‘Go Lite’ promo fare of P499 all-in. The seat sale will run from today to April 30, 2009 and is valid for travel from June 1 to August 31, 2009. Promo fare is non-refundable. The flight departs from Davao every Tuesday...

Apr212009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

RTMI bus bombed in Kabacan, North Cotabato…and I was just there 2 days ago!

Bukidnon, Controversial, Crime, Iligan City, Koronadal, Lanao del Norte, Mindanaoan Update, Muslim Mindanao, News, South Cotabato

My, my...this really scared the wits out of me. Less than 24 hours after I posted this entry about my first ever trip to Koronadal City (where the Rural Transit Bus I took had a brief stop at Kabacan, North Cotabato), I found out that a Rural Transit bus with body number 2772 got bombed Monday afternoon. And I was just there...in the very same place...two days ago! An improvised bomb reportedly exploded inside the bus. A passenger, who allegedly boarded the vehicle in Bukidnon, left a bag at the back part of the vehicle. The bomb explosion left four people injured. Coincidentally, a bomb also exploded at a bridge in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Mindanao. The bridge has been declared "unsafe for passage." When will all these ever end?

Apr152009 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

The power of luya, salabat and Pei Pa Koa

Advocacy, Commentary, Consumer, Features, Food, Humor, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal, Recipes, Reviews, Weird

So I'm up at 3 o'clock in the morning. I'm set to travel to Koronadal City, Mindanao in a few hours. Terribly excited to see another part of my beloved Island of Mindanao but a bit worried, too. Not about traveling to the place formerly called Marbel but because I lost my voice...literally! I caught nasty cough and colds a few days ago and now I'm paying for the consequence --- I currently have terribly hoarse voice. Two days ago was the worst. I could barely hear myself. I couldn't hear anything when I tried to utter a word! Enter my immediate remedies for this type of emergency --- luya (ginger), salabat (ginger ale) and the ever trusty Pei Pa Koa. Ever since I was a child, my mother always reminded us of the wonders of luya and salabat. And of course, mothers know best. Ginger ...

Apr102009 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

The presidentiables, senatoriables are now reaching out to Mindanao

Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Controversial, Government, Headline, Journalism, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Opinion, Personal, Personalities, Society

The next Philippine national elections may still be a little over a year away from today but the various personalities believed to be among the "2010 senatoriables" and "2010 presidentiables" have started to make their presence felt here in Mindanao. Just a few days ago, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay paid Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao a visit. He was the guest of honor in an SK-related event, I think. However, sources told me that he also proceeded to the Province of Bukidnon to meet some political allies. Care to guess what they discussed? Senator Mar Roxas, on the other hand, has also been visible around Mindanao as of late. Touted as the Liberal Party's presidential bet, Senator Mar has been doing the rounds here as commencement exercises speaker. Same thing with the solon fro...

Apr92009 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Warning: don’t bring sand from White Island, Camiguin

Advocacy, Announcements, Camiguin, Mindanaoan Update, News, Tourism, Travel

CAMIGUIN ISLAND, MINDANAO - The world-renowned White Island in the Province of Camiguin is undoubtedly one of the more famous tourist spots in this side of Mindanao. Thousands of local and foreign tourists flock to this beautiful island year after year. And because it's one of the more preferred tourist destinations in the Island of Camiguin, the local government is doing everything in its power to maintain the beauty and cleanliness of the renowned White Island. The Camiguin government has also enforced a couple of rules and regulations that aim to protect and preserve White Island. One of these rules is that visitors are not allowed to bring sand from White Island. Check out the picture I took (the picture that appears in this post). There's a sign that says "Guinadili pagkuha s...

Apr82009 by Mindanaoan Irene21 Comments

Smart, Talk ‘N Text Mindanao exclusives

Advocacy, Announcements, Business, Consumer, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update

I'm sure that most, if not all, of you have noticed the various billboards, posters, tarps and radio ads about SMART and Talk 'N Text's Mindanao exclusives --- exclusive "unlimited texting" and "unlimited calls" promos meant only for Mindanao subscribers. I have yet to try this type of promo but I'm wondering if it's worth the trouble? You see, many of the people I know who've registered under these so-called Mindanao exclusives promos of SMART and Talk 'N Text have encountered several problems. For one, they claim that they no longer receive messages especially during night time even though the people who sent them those messages swore to the high heavens that they "successfully sent" those SMS notes. Still, these types of promos are very interesting and I would really like to try t...

Mar262009 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Marco Polo Davao offers Holy Week Special for Dabawenyos

Announcements, Consumer, Corporate, Davao City, Features, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Society

Marco Polo Davao has just announced their Holy Week special - and here's the good news for fellow Dabawenyos - this very special offer is exclusive only for us Davao City residents! Marco Polo Davao will only charge P2,888.00 for an overnight stay in a superior room. You will also get to enjoy the following benefits: Complimentary Breakfast Buffet for Two 50% off on Foot Reflexology Treatment and 20% discount on other services at Lazuli Spa 30% discount in all Food and Beverage outlets Two (2) extra pool passes with one month validity If you wish to upgrade your room to deluxe category, just add P500.00. Extra bed is also available at P500.00 net per night. This Marco Polo Davao City promo will be available from April 1 to 15, 2009. Again, please take note --- this offer is exc...

Mar172009 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Is Senator Francis Chiz Escudero a datu?

Announcements, Arts, Culture, Davao City, Government, Mindanaoan Update, News, Personalities, Photos, Society

Apparently he now is! The once spokesperson of former President Erap Estrada (the late Fernando Poe, Jr.) and now opposition senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero was recently "adopted" as a Datu. Chiz Escudero is now also known as "Datu Matansub" (meaning approachable and wise). The adoption of Chiz as a datu was held last March 14, 2009 in Davao City, Mindanao during a meeting with tribal leaders. The meeting was held in line with the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for People and Development. Check out the photo provided to Mindanaoan by the Office of Senator Francis Escudero below. Photo by Bambam Luneta. BY THE WAY --- please --- if you have plans of reposting this entry or reusing this photo, please have the courtesy to cite the source. Thank you.

Mar152009 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Songs of Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City bands in ‘The “Thank You” Girls’ film

Advocacy, Arts, Bisaya, Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City, Entertainment, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Movies, Music, News

I'm really pleased to know that the songs at least three Mindanawon bands were included in the soundtrack of the independent Visayan film "The 'Thank You' Girls." The bands I'm referring to are Gasulina (a band I had the chance to hire for a gig roughly two years ago...I already fell madly in love with their songs "The Pill" and "Fueled" then --- the very same songs that are included in the indie film), The Superflirts and fellow Atenistas, Lizardchips. I still haven't had the chance to view "The 'Thank You' Girls" movie (if I'm not mistaken, their last screening was at Robinson's Indiesine in Manila last January 2009) but I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on a DVD (original copy, don't worry! ;) ) Hopefully, though, there will be more screenings of this movie because I"...

Mar122009 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

After Villar and Teodoro, Bukidnon’s Zubiri is now endorsing Loren Legarda

Bukidnon, Controversial, Government, Headline, Kaamulan Festival, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Opinion, Personalities

I cannot help but wonder what's going on Bukidnon Governor Jose Zubiri, Jr.'s mind right now. Isn't he supposed to be a LAKAS-CMD member? What's he doing endorsing NPC member Senator Loren Legarda as "the next President" of the country? Zubiri publicly called Legarda "the next Philippine President" and "President Legarda" during the female senator's recent visit to the Province of Bukidnon, Mindanao. Legarda served as the guest of honor during the 92nd Foundation Day (Aldaw Ta Bukidnon) of the Province of Bukidnon last March 10, 2009. Before thousands of people, the Bukidnon governor and father of current Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri called on his constituents to support Legarda. Zubiri's statement has raised a lot of questions. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? Photo courtesy of ...

Mar82009 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Rachelle Ann Go Live in SM Cagayan de Oro

Announcements, Entertainment, Mindanaoan Update, Music

To boost promotions for her new CD, singer Rachelle Ann Go will hold a mall show at SM Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao on March 14, 2009. Rachelle Ann Go's show will start at 5 PM at the Atrium of SM Cagayan de Oro City (first floor, near the main entrance of the said mall). SM Cagayan de Oro is located along Masterson Avenue, Cagayan de Oro City. Rachelle Ann Go's new album is dubbed "Falling In Love." Everyone is invited to watch the show. You can also buy copies of Rachelle's new CD at the venue.

Mar52009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Kaamulan Jam 2009 in Bukidnon, Mindanao Grand Finals photos

Announcements, Blogging, Bukidnon, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Kaamulan Festival, Mindanaoan Update, Photos

The photos are out! I'd like to share with you some of the photos I took during the grand finals of the Kaamulan Jam 2009 Lock and Load Battle of the Bands which was held last February 28, 2009 at the Capitol Stage, Capitol Grounds, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. The finals night was a successful one - hundreds of people came despite the rain and very chilly weather. A total of five bands performed that night (elimination nights were held from Monday to Friday that week and the winning band had the chance to compete in the finals) and the band called "The Jam" nabbed the top prize of P25,000 cash. By the way, apart from being one of the official photographers of the event, I (well, technically, the agency I own and manage) was also a sponsor and part of the coordinating committee :) C...

Mar42009 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Review: Tia’s Beach Resort Camiguin Island Mindanao budget hotel

Camiguin, Hotels, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

Summer is drawing near and I'm pretty sure that most, if not all, of you are thinking of places to go to during those hot summer days. And with airlines now offering more flights to and fro Camiguin Island, Mindanao, I'm sure many of you are considering the place dubbed as the "Island Born of Fire" as one of your summer destinations in the Philippines. Tia's Beach Resort in the Island of Camiguin, Northern Mindanao, Philippines can be considered a good place to stay especially if you're on a budget. The last time my mother, brothers and I stayed there was last year during the Holy Week. We planned to go to Camiguin at the last minute so practically most of the hotels and inns were already fully booked. Good thing my brother remembered Tia's Beach Resort and how he and his friends like...

Mar32009 by Mindanaoan Irene16 Comments

How long before you get your SSS ID – three months!

Business, Commentary, Consumer, Government, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal, Society, Technology

Well, in my case, at least. After a little over three months, I finally received it. I received my Social Security System (SSS) ID in the mail today. My SS card was sent via registered mail and interestingly, the "generic" letter that came with it (which was signed by current SSS Chairman Romulo Neri) was dated February 3, 2009 but the envelope was postmarked February 19, 2009. So I'm thinking the SSS has one really very slow mailing process. Anyways, this post on how long before you get your SSS ID comes three months after my entry on how to get your SSS ID card. In that post, I mentioned that the data capture operator told me that it might take more than two months before my SSS digital ID is sent via registered mail. Well, what do you know? She was right! Not only did it take more th...