mindanaoan Archives - Page 16 of 50 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Nov22012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

I had my photo taken inside a coffin

I never thought I could do it. I never thought I'd have enough intestinal fortitude to push through with it. But I did it and it made me realize my capacity to conquer fear. Yes, I went inside a coffin...and even had my photo taken while I was inside it! It all happened last November 1, 2012 at a local cemetery. My relatives and I decided to visit the cemetery in the afternoon. At the entrance of the cemetery, my cousin and I saw this life insurance company's booth. We were curious why there was a pink coffin there. Apparently, it was part of the company's gimmick. They then told us that we can have our photos taken while inside the coffin. My cousin readily said yes (what a brave soul!) and then it was my turn. Let's just say that it took the company agent and my cousin a few minutes t...

Oct302012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Coffee Dream Name That Mystery Drink Contest @CoffeeDreamCo

Cebu City, Contests, Features, Freebies, Internet, Recipes, Society

Who knew that an afternoon of coffee and conversation would result to this? During my trip to Cebu City a few weeks back, I, along with my brother Nathaniel of Tennis Guru and my friend Johnn of Focal Glass, visited the I.T. Park branch of Coffee Dream. Coffee Dream is one of my favorite coffee chains in the country. And with over 35 stores nationwide, it's easy to locate one nearest you. I also wanted to meet and chit chat with Coffee Dream owner (and Cebu provincial vice gubernatorial candidate, too!) Glenn Soco. It wasn't my first time to meet him, though. I've already met up with him and Anna a few times. If you want to know more about Sir Glenn, check out his official Facebook profile or his The Dream Online blog. Anyways, what was initially planned to be a brief meeting turn...

Oct282012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Missy BonBon Centrio Ayala Mall Offers Free Gelato @AyalaCentrio

Announcements, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Corporate, Events, Food

Here's a fun reason for you to be the very first in line when Centrio Ayala Mall opens on November 9, 2012. Missy BonBon Breadshop Centrio Ayala Mall is bringing back the exciting Golden Ticket contest! The Missy BonBon Golden Ticket contest entitles the winners free supplies of yummy gelato :) Missy BonBon Centrio is offering the very first customer of the day a 1 year supply of free delicious Gelato at the Missy Bonbon breadshop. The second customer on the day of the opening will get a 6 months supply of free Gelato while the 3rd to 100th customer of the day will get month-long supplies of free Missy BonBon Gelato. For you to join the Missy BonBon Grab the Golden Ticket promo, however, a minimum purchase of Php200 is required. So are you ready to be at the opening of Ayala Centr...

Oct252012 by Mindanaoan Irene10 Comments

Centrio Ayala Mall CDO Set To Open On November 9, 2012

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, News, Northern Mindanao, Shopping, Society, Style

The long wait is finally over! Centrio Ayala Mall CDO is set to open on November 9, 2012 (Friday), 10 AM. Who's excited for the opening of Ayala Mall Centrio? This Php 4.5 Billion project is said to be the biggest mall in the region. Located at Corrales Avenue corner CM Recto Avenue (yep, right across Gaisano City and near Capitol University along Corrales Extension), Centrio Ayala Mall Cagayan de Oro will host roughly 200 brands including Coffee Dream, Spruce, Sperry, Rockport, Top-Sider, Etude House, Bigby's, Army Navy, Flawless, Lay Bare and Sbarro. Mindanaoan will post the complete list of shops in Centrio Ayala Mall as soon as I get the go-signal to do so :) Mindanaoan will also feature the interiors of the mall during a special tour this weekend. Stay tuned for that :) ...

Oct232012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Serving as a judge of the TAYO Awards 2012 Mindanao Area Finals

Announcements, Cagayan de Oro City, Campus, Events, Features, Journalism, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Society, Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga City

It's not everyday that you meet young, socially aware Filipinos who want to help others and spur change in their own communities. That's why when I was invited to be one of the judges of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards 2012 Mindanao Area Finals, it didn't even take me a second to say yes. Besides, I've been writing about and following the TAYO Awards for years - I thought it was about time that I hear all the fascinating and inspiring stories of successful youth groups around Mindanao myself. The 2012 TAYO Awards theme is: Tayo Revolution: Isang Dekada ng Pagbabago The Search for the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) is now on its 10th year. It is by far the only award-giving program that recognizes the youth organizations that have started poc...

Oct162012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

2012 Camiguin Lanzones Festival schedule of activities

Camiguin, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Fiesta, Tourism, Travel

If you love fruits and if you're feeling a little festive these days, then head on down to Camiguin Island and join the Camiguinons as they celebrate the 33rd Lanzones Festival. The 2012 Lanzones Festival in Camiguin Island, Mindanao will be held from October 21 to 28, 2012. It's the yearly festival in Camiguin, which is also known as the Island Born Out Of Fire, to celebrate the abundant harvest of the sweetest lanzones in the world. Among the activities this year are the 2012 Lanzones Festival street dancing (October 27, 2012 for inter-agency competition and October 28, 2012 for the Kalanrakas - elementary level), the 22nd Gov. JJ Lanzones Festival Run 2012 and even an eat-all-you-can lanzones event. I will also post updates as they come along. You may want to follow me on Twitter ...

Sep292012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Glamourbox Philippines – get beauty samples monthly @GlamourboxPH

Beauty, Blogging, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Fashion, Gifts, Shopping, Style

Want to receive 5 deluxe beauty samples monthly? Try carefully selected beauty products before you buy the full sizes. This is essentially the service provided by Glamourbox Philippines. Glamourbox is a premium online beauty subscription service in the Philippines. Here’s how Glamourbox Philippines works: Once you subscribe, you will receive an elegant box with five deluxe beauty samples from premium, boutique and niche brands delivered to your doorstep EVERY MONTH. Each box will contain carefully curated items. Glamourbox Philippines will make sure that each box will contain worthwhile items. Then, if subscribers end up liking any of the products, they can visit Glamourbox's online boutique to purchase the full-size of the beauty finds - be they makeup, skincare, bath and body, h...

Sep182012 by Mindanaoan Irene7 Comments

Practical shooting at NMPSA Firing Range CDO

Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Entertainment, Features, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Northern Mindanao, Personal, Reviews, Society, Sports, Tourism

This year 2012 has been a year of many firsts for this Mindanao blogger. For the very first time, I was sent to the USA by the US Embassy in Manila for a really special leadership program. I was also given the chance to accompany US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas when he visited Mindanao last July. And on a less formal (but still very exciting) opportunity, I met a1, Blue and Jeff Timmons. I also have a new sport this year - boxing! Yup! Who knew I'd fall in love with boxing? :) And now I have fallen in love with another sport - practical shooting. Practical shooting is a sport which "challenges an individual's ability to shoot rapidly and accurately with a full-power handgun, rifle, or shotgun." Yes, folks, practical shooting is shooting with real guns and real bullets! ...

Sep92012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Meeting Aurora Congressman Sonny Angara @sonnyangara

Advocacy, Blogging, Events, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Politics, Society

Sonny Angara. Meeting Sonny Angara. I know he's a 3-term congressman representing Aurora, a lawyer (he was even the spokesperson of the prosecution team during the impeachment trial of former Philippine Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona), the chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education and of course, the son of Senator Edgardo Angara. However, I wanted to see Congressman Juan Edgardo "Sonny" M. Angara in a different light. I wanted to hear him speak spontaneously. I wanted to see how he was without the flurry of Congress beat reporters, without the political supporters, without the TV network studio lights. I also wanted to see how this possible 2013 senatorial candidate would treat "non-traditional" media practitioners - in other words, would he treat us blogger...

Sep32012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Cagayan de Oro to Davao flight

Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City, Davao del Sur, Features, Flights, Mindanaoan Update, Travel

I have been meaning to write a mini travel guide for folks who plan to take a Cagayan de Oro to Davao City flight. A lot of readers have been asking me what to expect, what to do etc if and when they do take a CDO to Davao City flight so here it is - a quick and simple guide for travelers. Hope this helps those who will travel from Cagayan de Oro City to Davao City :) Please don't forget to leave a comment below :) The Cagayan de Oro City airport is located in Lumbia (for now - since the Laguindingan International Airport will soon be operational). The CDO airport terminal fee is only Php 30.00 (less than US $1.00). The Davao City domestic airport terminal fee, on the other hand, is Php 200.00 (roughly US $5.00). This is how the CDO airport pre-departure area looks like: The C...

Sep32012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Classic Savory SM Cagayan de Oro

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Food, Reviews

I will make this Classic Savory SM CDO review short. This Mindanao lifestyle blogger ate at Classic Savory SM Cagayan de Oro last weekend. I brought along some blogger-friends and told them that Classic Savory is pretty popular in Manila. Disclosure: paid for the food and this is NOT a sponsored post. Introduced in 1950 by the Ting brothers, Classic Savory opened its 50th branch in SM City Cagayan de Oro. I have eaten at other Classic Savory restaurants but that weekend was the first time that I visited Classic Savory CDO branch. We ordered 1 whole chicken (requested the kitchen folks to chop it into bite pieces but they failed to do so), a platter of Yang Chow rice, kangkong with crispy pork belly and Classic Savory Long Life pancit guisado. The food was all right (a little bit expe...

Sep22012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Visit our One Happy Story booth at Kasalang Filipino 2012

Announcements, Arts, Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Events, Fashion, Features, Northern Mindanao, Photos, Style, Weddings

May I humbly invite you all to please visit the One Happy Story Photography booth at the Kasalang Filipino 2012 bridal fair in Cagayan de Oro City - the One Happy Story Wedding Photography team will have a corner booth at this CDO wedding and bridal fair. The said bridal fair will be held on September 13 to 15, 2012 at the Limketkai Rotunda, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City. So if you're getting hitched soon, you might want to take this opportunity to meet various CDO wedding suppliers, CDO wedding photographers and wedding videographers in Cagayan de Oro (speaking of which, let me know if you want referrals :) ) One Happy Story Photography is led by my brother Bon and his team of skillful CDO wedding photographers. I sometimes serve as a back-up wedding photographer :) Please feel free to ...

Sep22012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Winners of the Mindanaoan – Spruce giveaway

Announcements, Beauty, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Contests, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Shopping, Style

I'm happy to announce the winners of my online giveaway! Much thanks to our very generous friends over at Spruce Designer Network (Mindanaoan's highly recommended fashion and lifestyle store in Cagayan de Oro City) who sponsored two pairs of gorgeous BSIDED hand sewn espadrilles that are 100 percent made in France! :) And without any further ado...this Mindanao lifestyle blogger is happy to announce the two winners of the Mindanaoan - Spruce giveaway: a Rafflecopter giveaway Congratulations Sheila and Vic! Enjoy your new pairs of kicks! :) Thank you Spruce! Please visit Spruce at the 2nd Floor of Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City. Please support the other Spruce-owned stores as well: All Flip-Flops: SM City, Cagayan de Oro PUMA: Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro and Aya...

Aug282012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Miss Kagay-an 2012 winners

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Campus, Contests, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Malaybalay City, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Society, Tourism

The winners of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 beauty pageant have already been declared. The announcement of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 winners was held during the coronation night last August 26, 2012 at the Atrium of the Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City. Mindanaoan.com was there to cover the event since Mindanaoan.com is an official media partner of Miss Kagay-an 2012. The Miss Kagayan 2012 winners are: Miss Kagay-an 2012 - Greanne Trisha Mendoza, a Malaybalay City, Bukidnon-born event organizer Miss Tourism - Lovely Jane Estampa, a legal analyst at the Development Bank of the Philippines First runner-up - Emie Lou Yamba, sales representative of Amore Travel and Tours Second runner-up - Maria Leslie Angelina Ghan, Civil Engineering student at Xavier University Third runner-up - Maria El...

Aug182012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 CDO – #MYOHCDO2012

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Corporate, Events, Fashion, Features, Gifts, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Reviews, Shopping, Society, Style

As I'm writing this, it's the 2nd day of Make Your Own Havaianas CDO 2012. So that means you have today and tomorrow to join MYOH CDO 2012! :) The Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 Cagayan de Oro leg covers Northern Mindanao and it kicked off yesterday, August 17, 2012. MYOH CDO 2012 will run until August 19, 2012 at the Limketkai Rotunda, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. A Make Your Own Havaianas event is where you can customize your own pair of Havaianas flip flops. It's that time of the year when Havaianaticos are given the chance to choose their desired sole, strap and pins. In other words, it's a chance for Havaianas lovers to design their very own - truly unique - pair. Moreover, it's only during MYOH events when specially designed soles and unique pins can be bought :) This year i...

Aug102012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

The Mindanao Helps Manila campaign #MindanaoHelpsManila

Advocacy, Cagayan de Oro City, Features, Musings, Personal, Society

Much like our Typhoon Sendong relief operations, the Mindanao Helps Manila campaign really started with a tweet, a Facebook message and an idea - an idea to help, to be men and women for others, to be socially responsible citizens. You see, when Typhoon Sendong struck Northern Mindanao, our humble home in Cagayan de Oro was hit. Our family also had to endure business losses. But my mother, my brothers and I still had so much to be thankful for. We were safe. We were alive. Compared to others who lost not only their homes and livelihood but their loved ones as well, we were lucky. Very lucky. And we knew that there was no reason for us not to help. So I tweeted. I tweeted updates, I took photos, I called for donations. My family did the same. What happened next was nothing short of a mir...

Aug102012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Mindanaoan is a Miss Kagay-an 2012 media partner

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Contests, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Style

It's now official! Mindanaoan.com is an official media partner for this year's Miss Kagay-an 2012 beauty pageant! The search for Miss Kagay-an 2012 is one of the core events for the Kagay-an Festival 2012, the annual fiesta in Cagayan de Oro City in honor of patron Saint Augustine. And I'm happy to share with you all that Mindanaoan.com is one of the proud media partners of Miss Kagayan 2012 :) Check out the newly released Miss Kagay-an 2012 billboard: (www.Mindanaoan.com is there somewhere...I'll follow you on Twitter if you successfully spot it :P) By the way, check out my previous blog entry if you want to meet the official candidates of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 pageant. The individual photos of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 candidates can be found there. The 11 lovely official c...

Aug72012 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

How Mindanao can help Manila flood victims #MindanaoHelpsManila

Advocacy, Announcements, Bisaya, Blogging, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Davao City, Musings, Personal, Society

UPDATED: This photo designed by @likke says it all. Right now, a lot of areas around Manila are flooded out. Some 200,000 families in 11 regions are affected. News reports say that neck deep floods have forced many residents to flee to rooftops and evacuate. And to make matters worse, PAGASA says that Manila folks should expect more rain. NOW...it is Mindanao's turn to help. Remember how Manila helped us in our campaigns for Typhoon Sendong victims through Help CDO and One For Iligan? Now it is time for Mindanao to give back. #MindanaoHelpsManila So how can you help? Here are a few ways for Mindanaoans to send help to Manila flood victims: 1. You can help spread useful information via social networking websites (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn etc). I collated some...

Aug12012 by Mindanaoan Irene8 Comments

Dinner with Duncan James and the boys of BLUE

Entertainment, Features, Manila, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Photos

These boys from the United Kingdom may have last been in the Philippines February 2012 but the fans want more! A lot of Duncan James, Simon Webbe, Antony Costa and Lee Ryan fans are still asking me for updates so I checked my files and hey, whaddaya know - I found more "Blue" treasures! :) Here are some photos I took during dinner with the boys of Blue. Can I just say that they were all gentlemen and were all very easy to talk to? Apparently the boys love Japanese food. Lee and Duncan like sake (Japanese beverage made from fermented rice), Antony likes yakitori while Simon likes tonkatsu and tempura :) By the way, I really don't know how one can eat properly if gorgeous creatures such as this one is sitting right across you ;) Enjoy the photos and please don't forget to share t...

Jul252012 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Miss Kagay-an 2012 candidates photos

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Contests, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Photos, Society, Style

Miss Kagay-an 2012 update! Here are the photos of the official candidates of the Miss Kagay-an 2012 pageant. I know a lot of you have been asking me for the Miss Kagay-an 2012 photos so here they are. This Filipino blogger was able to attend the press presentation of these lovely Miss Kagayan Festival 2012 candidates last Monday, July 23, 2012 and the organizing committee released these photos. I will also upload these photos on my Pinterest account. You might want to follow the Mindanaoan Pinterest account here. If you may notice, there are now only 11 official candidates instead of 12. The 11 lovely official candidates are: Lovely Jane Estampa, a legal analyst at Development Bank of the Philippines Sydney Taboclaon, born in Germany and taking up BS HRM at Tagoloan Community Col...

Jul222012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Kagay-an Kalo Festival 2012

Announcements, Arts, Cagayan de Oro City, Contests, Culture, Entertainment, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Tourism

One of the core events in the Kagay-an Festival 2012 is the 3rd Annual Kagay-an Kalo Parade Competition. Kalo is the local word for "hat." So the Kalo Parade Competition this year will feature festive hats made out of native / indigenous materials. If you're interested to join the Kalo Parade 2012 or if you want to join the contest, please check the poster below. Cash prizes and plaques await the winners. Please feel free to share this information with all your friends :) Meanwhile, the Kagay-an Festival 2012 schedule of activities can be found here

Jul222012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Win exclusive invites to Make Your Own Havaianas 2012

Announcements, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Contests, Entertainment, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Shopping, Society, Style

Do you love Havaianas? Or do you want to own a pair of Havaianas? Do you and your friends like taking jump shot photos? Here's a chance for you to not only take fun jump shot photos but to win exclusive VIP invites to the Make Your Own Havaianas 2012 Northern Mindanao leg! And you know what an invite means - you get to design your very own pair of Havaianas! Join the Jump For Joy With Havaianas promo and you stand the chance to receive exclusive invites to the 2012 Make Your Own Havaianas Cagayan de Oro leg. Here's how to join: (fun fact: the models used in this poster are the fun, funky bunch behind Mindanao's best professional photography team - One Happy Story Photography!) I just love, love, love Make Your Havaianas events! It's actually one of the events I look forward...