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

Sep272011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Marco Polo Davao City Fright Run 2011

Here's one interesting event in Davao City Mindanao that you might want to join! Marco Polo Davao, one of Davao City's premiere hotels, is organizing the Marco Polo Davao City Fright Run 2011! This Halloween running event will be held on October 30, 2011. It's a truly unique and exciting fun run you wouldn't want to miss! The following are the prizes at stake: Those who will come and participate in the Marco Polo fun run Halloween in their most creative Halloween costumes or masks can stand the chance to win Overnight Stay at Marco Polo Davao as well as dining certificates. Individual Category (4K Male and Female): 1st place – Php2,000.00 2nd place – Php1,500.00 3rd place – Php1,000.00 Individual Category (8k Male and Female) : 1st place – Php3,000.00 2nd place – Php2,000....

Jul92011 by Mindanaoan Irene13 Comments

Meeting Malaysian astronaut Dato Sheikh Muszaphar

Mindanaoan Update

How do you talk to an astronaut? More specifically, how do you talk to the very first Angkasawan (Malaysian astronaut) sent to space who’s tall, super smart, very passionate in his beliefs and very, very handsome without sounding like an awestruck schoolgirl? This was my very thought as soon as I found out that I was set to fetch, meet and spend time with the supposedly dashing 38 year old Dato Sheikh Muszaphar, who’s not only an Angkasawan but an orthopedic surgeon and part-time model as well. (Yes, he’s that amazing.) The last thing I wanted was to talk to someone who knew a lot about Physics, Medicine and Aerospace Engineering. Heck, I could barely remember the technicalities surrounding g-forces, gravity, micro-neurons and surface tension! How in the world could I even carry a logic...

Jun232011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

DOME 2nd Mindanao Mid-Year Forum and Climb in Camiguin

Camiguin, Events, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Tourism

A couple of my friends are part of the De Oro Mountain Explorers, Inc (DOME) group so this Mindanao blogger thought of helping promote their upcoming event. DOME, in partnership with a few government agencies, is spearheading the 2nd Mindanao Mid-Year Forum and Climb on July 15 to 18, 2011 at Mt. Hibok-Hibok, Camiguin Island, Mindanao, Philippines. The event will be themed "Tapok, Tabok, Hibok." Interested participants are requested to pay a registration fee of Php 500 each. The fee is already inclusive of an event ID, a certificate, a souvenir jersey, DENR fee plus access to a social dinner. If you're interested to join this eco-adventure event, please check the event poster below: Please feel free to share this page as well :) Meanwhile, if you're heading to Camiguin Isla...

Jun132011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Zamboanga del Norte native declared by Guinness as world’s shortest man

Features, Mindanaoan Update, News, Personalities, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga Sibugay

So it's OFFICIAL. A fellow Mindanaoan is now the world's shortest man. Declared by the officials of the Guinness Book of World Records as the new "world's shortest living man," Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte resident Junrey Balawing celebrated his 18th birthday last June 12, 2011 (a day before the Philippine Independence Day). The Guinness people officially measured the Zamboangueno, however, on the eve of his birthday at Sindangan Health Center, Sindangan township, Zamboanga Del Norte, Mindanao. That makes Junrey Balawing not only the world's shortest living man today but the world's shortest living man in history as well! Guess what Balawing's measurements were? The Zamboanga native was measured at 24 and 1/4 inches (about 61 centimeters) lying down and about two inches shorter than t...

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...

Sep192010 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Kraft Eden Cheese launches Keso de Gallo – vote for Mindanao cities!

Announcements, Blogging, Business, Contests, Events, Food, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, News, Tourism

100 towns. 100 days. 100 unique dishes. 1 Grand Yuletide celebration. Yes, Kraft Eden, the very same company that ignited the joy and faith of Filipinos nationwide in last year's Keso de Gallo, is back once again to bring the warmest and tastiest Christmas. If last year they toured around 9 different cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, in 9 different churches with 9 carefully selected Pinoy recipes for a total of 9 mornings (whew!), this year Kraft Eden will make things grander - 100 participating towns, 100 unique dishes to be showcased for a total of 100 days! Now that's what you call pushing food tourism to a whole new level! The Keso de Gallo this year has started last September 4 and will end until the first Sunday of January 2011. Through this "100 Days of Christma...

Sep182010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Bacolod: Calea for the best desserts!

Bacolod City, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Recipes, Reviews, Visayas

I was told that one's Bacolod City escapade will never be complete without visiting Calea, a famous homegrown cake shop...and it was easy to understand why. Calea Bacolod produces the best cakes, pastries and desserts this side of the world. Calea is Bacolod's answer to Manila's cake shops and bakeries but with better choices and lesser prices. This Mindanao blogger's recent trip to the Visayas was made sweeter when my friends and I stopped by Calea (the branch along Lacson Street, just a few blocks away from Sorrento Piazza, where my friends and I had a sumptuous dinner at Pepe's Grill!). This Calea branch is supposedly the first ever. These days, this cake shop has two other branches - one at Robinson's Place and another one at East Block. And just in case you're wondering about the h...

May282010 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Gelatissimo in Greenbelt 5

Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Davao City, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Tourism

Thanks to Manila-based Twitter friend Ryan, this blogger from Mindanao got invited to check out the much-talked about Gelatissimo store in Greenbelt 5, Makati City, Philippines. It was an invitation that I immediately accepted especially because I've heard a lot of good feedback about this gelato shop. By the way, Gelatissimo isn't a homegrown brand. Gelatissimo is an Australian brand and they offer yummy gelato that's made fresh every single day, sundaes, chocolates, traditional Italian biscotti and roasted coffee. For the unitiated, gelato is a low fat, creamy alternative to traditional ice cream. It tastes a bit "warmer" than ice cream but nonetheless equally delish! As expected, I found a packed Gelatissimo Greenbelt 5 branch. Believe me, the photo I took below didn't do justi...

Oct282009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Video message of Mindanaoan Neric Acosta for Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3

Announcements, Blogging, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Events, Features, Internet, Media, Mindanaoan Update, News, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Politics, Videos

Apart from Senator Kiko Pangilinan, another special person who extended his greetings and message to the participants of the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3 was former Bukidnon Congressman Neric Acosta. Acosta, the author of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, is the first Filipino World Fellow of Yale University. Neric Acosta is also an academician, an environmentalist and a passionate member of various NGOs. Thank you very much to Sir Neric for his time and for his great thoughts :) Yes, I agree, let's re-ignite that Mindanaoan spirit! Mindanao should be for Mindanaoans and let Mindanao not be a place of contestation. It must be a haven of peace and harmony especially for all of the diverse tribes here in our island. For more information about Neric Acosta, log on to Neric Acosta 2010. ...

Oct262009 by Mindanaoan Irene6 Comments

Make Your Own Havaianas 2009 CDO leg a huge success – my first MYOH experience!

Beauty, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Corporate, Events, Fashion, Features, Leisure, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Personalities, Society, Style

Thanks to SPRUCE Designer Network, Inc., to its owners Trisha and Vanessa and to its very amiable marketing officer Cristina (Hello, Miss Tiny!), I had a blast at the recently concluded Make Your Own Havaianas 2009 Cagayan de Oro leg event. The MYOH 2009 Northern Mindanao event was held last October 23 to 25, 2009 at the Atrium, Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City and it was my very first Make Your Own Havaianas experience! Armed with my VIP invitation, I went to the Atrium and left with a huge smile on my face! It was fun "creating" my own special pair. No wonder Havaianaticos look forward to this special event! The whole process was not only fun but pretty fast, too. I was given a brochure where I was to write my contact information and for me to choose my preferred sole color,...

Aug192009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Cagayan de Oro City Mindanao aerial shots

Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Features, Flights, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Personal, Photos, Tourism, Travel

During my PAL Express flight from the Cebu International Airport, Mactan to Cagayan de Oro Domestic Airport, I took some aerial shots. I got a window seat at that time (I was also supposed to have a window seat during my PAL Express CDO to Cebu flight but my seatmate, an elderly woman who confessed that it's been so long since she last traveled by plane, looked pale and scared so I no longer insisted) so it was easy for me to take aerial shots of Cagayan de Oro City as our plane descended and prepared for landing. Mindanaoan wishes to share these Cagayan de Oro City aerial shots:

Aug192009 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Buy a shirt, plant a tree! Join Tatak Environmentalist

Advocacy, Announcements, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Events, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Society

There's just something fun, socially aware and responsible about planting trees. To plant trees is to be aware of one's continuing responsibility to help protect Mother Earth and to help in the preservation of ecological balance. These are the very reasons why I didn't hesitate to extend my support to the "Tatak Environmentalist - One Shirt, One Tree Project" launch that will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2009 at OIC, Corrales Street, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao. For only P250.00, not only do you get a very nice shirt but that's also equivalent to one tree to be planted. And yes, during the launch, you will be treated to great, soothing music courtesy of talented CDO-based bands and performances from poi spinners and fire dancers. A video presentation on various environmental issues...

Jun142009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Fetching Shamrock and tips on a road trip with artists or celebrities

Mindanaoan Update

Anyhoo...it has been a crazy time the past few days but it's all worth it! Mindanaoan had fun fetching Shamrock, the almost 3-hour road trip was fun as well and the show itself was very successful! Kuwentos about the show will be posted on another entry, though. For now, I'd like to share some of my personal thoughts and tips for budding event organizers out there or budding personal assistants for celebrities or artists. These tips will come in handy when you need to fetch performers, celebrities or artists from the airport, pier, bus terminal etc. and then if you need to go on a road trip (if the venue of the concert, let's say, is about 3 hours away) Please feel free to share your thoughts, too! 1. Always check and re-check the booking contract. See if the artists or celebritie...