travel blogger Archives - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Mar282020 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

4 Reasons Why Recent College Graduates Should Travel

Campus, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Style

So, you’ve completed your degree and you have an idea of what kind of work you want to go into. But you feel worn out after all those years of hard work and study. You dream about closing the books for a couple of months and exploring new countries. If so, know that you’re not alone! Taking time out to travel after graduation is becoming more and more common and it’s certainly something you don’t need to feel worried about in terms of damaging your career. In fact, in some ways, traveling post-graduation can actually help your long-term career prospects. Here are five reasons why you should consider packing your backpack (or suitcase) and hitting the road whilst the ink is still fresh on your graduation certificate. Things Can Wait This is probably the most important one. So many gr...

May302017 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Stay within your travel budget with this one-stop booking app

Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Reviews, Technology, Travel

Travel makes my soul very happy. Traveling brings a different kind of joy and excitement. Discovering (and even getting lost - but that’s where the thrill is!) new places, meeting fascinating people, immersing in a different culture, celebrating over delicious food - sigh! Do you feel the same way? Because if you do then I’m sure that you would also grab each and every opportunity to travel faster than the speed of lightning. Alas, such is easier said than done. With travel comes expenses and more often than not, it’s a challenge to stick to our travel budget. * Took this photo at a place overlooking Lake Taal in Tagaytay, Philippines. It's breathtaking * Me at Central Park, New York, USA Fortunately, there’s a one-stop booking app that allows us to stick within our ...

Jan72017 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, Japan

Entertainment, Features, Japan, Leisure, Shopping, Style, Tokyo, Tourism, Travel

It’s the most frantic pedestrian crossing in the entire world. Movies like “The Fast and the Furious” and “Lost in Translation” have featured this very busy, famous intersection. The Shibuya Crossing, also referred to as “The Scramble,” is located in Shibuya, one of Tokyo, Japan’s special wards. The Shibuya Crossing is where pedestrians cross from virtually every direction all at the same time. It’s a crazy scene at this busy junction, I tell you! As soon as the traffic lights turn red, hundreds upon hundreds of people cross. Mind you, however, while everything looks busy and disorderly, you won’t see chaos. In fact, what you’ll see is “well organized, well choreographed chaos,” if you know what I mean. If you’re wondering why so many people cross this junction, it’s because it’s in ...

Jun192015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

That Amazing Wine-Paired Degustation At Movenpick Resort Cebu

Blogging, Business, Cebu City, Events, Features, Flights, Food, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Society, Style, Tourism, Travel

Degustation is a culinary term that means meticulous food tasting of special signature dishes. Usually consisting of several courses, each paired with matching wines that complement each dish, a degustation aims to heighten one’s senses and allows one to appreciate food at its finest. That’s exactly what happened during my recent stay at Moevenpick Hotel Mactan Cebu. I flew via Philippine Airlines and underwent a wine-paired degustation at the Conservatory of the Ibiza Beach Club, led by no other than popular Cebu businessman and passionate sommelier Manuel “Manny” Osmeña. This was how the Ibiza Beach Club looked like that night: Before that, though, Manny O gave me and my fellow media guests a tour of his private wine cellar. Only a handful of people have ever set foot here s...

Jun192015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Soul Refresh At Movenpick Hotel Mactan Cebu

Blogging, Cebu City, Features, Hotels, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Resorts, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

How do you say no to a weekend of flight via Philippine Airlines and 5-star accommodation, gastronomical pleasure and pampering via Movenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu? It was an invitation I just could not resist. Cool gift from Philippine Airlines @flypal #flypal #aviation #travel A photo posted by Mindanaoan.com Irene (@mindanaoan) on May 16, 2015 at 2:28am PDT Philippine Airlines, which is re-introducing its daily Cagayan de Oro-Cebu flights, recently flew Mindanaoan.com to the Queen City of the South to experience a specific kind of luxury - one that I could only describe as refreshing for one’s soul, mind and heart. It was a short but smooth and comfortable flight, the kind that you can only expect with the country’s flag carrier. I even checked-in online via PAL’s website...

May162015 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

AirAsia Hot Meals – Gastronomic Delights At 35,000 Feet

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Cebu City, Features, Flights, Food, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, News, Reviews, Travel

I consider myself a budget conscious traveler who doesn’t mind spending extra if it means getting something better. Take airplane food, for instance. Unless I’m truly famished or I want to try something for the first time, I stay away from food sold and served aboard an aircraft. Not only are these airline meals (more often than not) expensive, they’re hardly filling and tasty. The choices are very limited as well (so limited that I think a cup of instant noodles has become the “default” order by weary, hungry passengers). However, let me say this: I always make an exception when I take flights via AirAsia. Even before I got invited to Cebu a few days ago for the exclusive AirAsia Hot Meals media launch, I have already been an avid fan of their in-flight meals. Real, flavorful food sold...

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 ...

Dec282012 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Family Holidays 2013: What to Expect from your Florida Getaway

America, Travel, United States of America

For those of you who have been following this Mindanao lifestyle and travel blog, you may know that I was sent to the U.S. earlier this year to participate in a U.S. State Department fellowship. One of the U.S. cities that I visited was Orlando, Florida. Now if you're thinking of bringing your family there soon, this article will be useful for you. Read on... Low cost family holidays are the ticket to oversee adventures and quality time with your nearest and dearest. When it comes to your first time travelling abroad, short haul destinations such as holidays in Turkey, Majorca or the Greek Islands are an excellent choice. Spreading your wings a little further afield, holidays Florida style are bound to be the trip of a lifetime for you and your youngsters. Known as the ultimate holid...

Jun262012 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Airphil Express launches Manila – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia flights

Announcements, Business, Consumer, Flights, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Manila, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

Good news for travel bugs! Airphil Express, the country's fastest growing airline, now has flights from Manila, Philippines to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (and vice versa)! This Airphil Express Manila - Kuala Lumpur flight route is the third international destination of Airphil Express. If you guys remember, this blogger from Mindanao was one of the lucky bloggers who got to join the maiden Airphil Express Cebu to Hong Kong flight last year :) The Airphil Express Kuala Lumpur to Manila flights are scheduled every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays with flights departing from Kuala Lumpur at 11:55 pm. The ETA or expected time of arrival is 4:05 am in Manila. Meanwhile, the Airphil Express Manila to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia flights leave at 7:40 pm. The expected time of arrival in KL is 11:25 pm...

Aug42011 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Airphil Express Cebu to Hong Kong inaugural flight

Beauty, Bisaya, Blogging, Business, Cebu City, Consumer, Corporate, Events, Features, Flights, Freebies, Hongkong, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Reviews, Shopping, Society, Style, Tourism, Travel, Visayas

My third trip to Hong Kong happened just a few days ago, thanks to Airphil Express. I love coming back to Hong Kong! Apart from the fact that we Filipinos don't need a visa to enter Hong Kong, this top Asian food and shopping destination always offers new and exciting things to do and discover for tourists. Hong Kong has a super efficient transport system, offers fascinating food, has a number of picture-perfect tourist spots and irresistible shopping sales! Yep, Hong Kong is love :) Now my most recent trip to Hong Kong was a pretty extra special overseas trip because: 1) it was the inaugural flight of the much-awaited Airphil Express Cebu to Hong Kong route (woohoo!) 2) it was a trip that was also made extra special by the Hong Kong Tourism Board 3) it was a trip where ...

Sep72010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Waddy’s Place | Where to stay in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental

Features, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

About an hour and a half away from Bacolod City is San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. It's a small, quaint little city that was the very first out-of-town host of a Presidential cabinet meeting during former President Fidel V. Ramos' administration. San Carlos City is also home to Congressman Jules Ledesma, boxer Gerry Penalosa and singer Jaya's mom, Elizabeth Ramsey. And yes, it was in San Carlos City where Jules proposed to actress Assunta de Rossi. My friends Joyce, Iza, Crissa and I, together with Crissa's parents, went straight to San Carlos City the very same day we all arrived in Bacolod City. It was drizzling that time but the rain eventually stopped once we arrived at our destination - Waddy's Place. Located at Sitio Punod, Waddy's Place is a mountain resort overlooking San...