LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

The Island Garden City of Samal is the kind of place you don’t want to miss in your lifetime. White sand beaches, pristine waters, majestic waterfalls, fascinating caves and panoramic views are plenty in the city. Its amenities and several exciting activities have added more vibrancy to the Island Garden City of Samal, making it a major tourist destination in Southern Philippines. In fact, the city is hyping up its

If you set foot in the lands of Zamboanga City, one of the first things that get into your mind is the feeling that you’re in some other part of the world, perhaps in Spain or in Latin America. But don’t be deceived, you’re not in any city in the west; you are actually in a more beautiful and alluring city called Zamboanga. Often called as “Philippines’ little Spain” and

The city of Ozamiz is a second class city that stretches out along Panguil Bay in the northwestern part of Mindanao, Philippines. Although it is only a chartered city and not the capital of the Misamis Occidental province, Ozamiz is a prospering city that is the provincial center for health, transportation, education and commerce. With the city’s convenient setting, it has become a historical, cultural and pilgrimage destination in this

Butuan City is known for its booming logging industry and for its abundance of timbers; no wonder why migrants from other sides of the Philippines and from abroad settled in this highly urbanized city to seek for good fortune and agricultural profits. But more than just being the Timber City of the South, Butuan is a place where rich history, preserved culture, kind-hearted people and active economy thrive. Butuan City

This is a continuation of my “Mindanaoan In America” blog series You can read more about my escapades in the USA when I was a 2012 International Visitor Leadership Program delegate HERE. The first state that we stayed in was Washington DC. Like many states in America, Washington has its own subway or railway system. They call it the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit or simply – Metro. I found the

I like promos that do not only advocate services or products but also encourage participation in a worthy cause. Just take the case of NESTLE Fruit Selection Yogurt‘s newest campaign called “Be Good To Yourself” (I first learned of this through Nuffnang) This campaign is truly a good way to start being good to yourself. NESTLE Fruit Selection Yogurt (my ultimate favorite is the strawberry version, by the way) is

Yesterday, February 25, 2009, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez ordered the filing of graft charges against former Bukidnon First District Congressman Neric Acosta, his mother former Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon mayor Socorro Acosta and his aunt Nemia Bornidor (member of the Board of Trustees of the Bukidnon Integrated Network of Home Industries, Inc. and JR Nereus Acosta’s aunt). The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Fr. Venancio Balansag Jr., Fr. Wilredo Torayno,

Are you a lover of nature? Ever wanted to be an environmental activist? If you’re like me who has always wanted to do something that could help preserve and nurture nature, then you might want to also go on a “nature tour” aboard Galapagos Cruises. Located in the Pacific Ocean, 1000 kilometers or roughly 600 miles off the west coast of South America, the Galapagos Islands are comprised of more

YEY! I am so, so, sooo happy with this development! Congratulations Davao City! What an awesome move! I’m so proud of my hometown Davao City for finally, FINALLY deciding to put a ban against non-biodegradable plastic bags and styrofoam! Points for Mother Nature, environment and the start of the use of eco-friendly products I wonder, though, how the fastfood chains and other business establishments that use plastic bags and styrofoam

I have itchy feet. That means I love to travel. I find traveling exhilarating. There’s something about traveling that excites me. And one of the very beautiful and mysterious places that I hope I can visit someday is Fiji. Fiji is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about 1,100 nautical miles (2,000 km; 1,300 mi) northeast of New Zealand’s North Island. Fiji’s closest neighbors include Vanuatu (a

Thanks to our super generous and lovely friends over at Airphil Express, I had the chance to watch the Annebisyosa in Cagayan de Oro concert a.k.a. Anne Curtis Live in CDO show last May 5, 2012. Fresh from witnessing first hand the signing of MOU between these congressmen and GK as well as the actual building of the homes for Typhoon Sendong victims (the congressmen used their own money for

Okay, I know that a lot of you have been waiting for this — the latest job openings in Ayala Mall Centrio Cagayan de Oro! Since my last post about Ayala Mall Centrio job openings, many of you have sent requests for updates. Our friends over at MisOrJobs and a contact from the Ayala Mall Centrio operations unit have confirmed these job openings. Centrio, by the way, is set to

Are you a budding designer? Do you dabble in graphic arts? Have you always wanted to design your own sandals? Fond of Happy Feet sandals? Here’s your chance to create your very own Happy Feet and earn bragging rights! Our friends over at Spruce shared with us the good news – submit your design and that might just be used for Limited Edition Happy Feet sandals! This is your chance

Back when the deadly Typhoon Sendong (International name: Washi) hit Northern Mindanao in December 2011, I started a small Typhoon Sendong volunteer campaign and donation drive. What I initially envisioned to be a small and private donation drive grew bigger and bigger by the minute, thanks to the power of Twitter, Facebook, blogging and other online media tools. Suddenly, my photos became viral, my tweets about Sendong were retweeted, shared

Here are the much awaited photos of BLUE a.k.a. the fine looking boys from the U.K. Okay, ladies, breathe in, breathe out Blue, composed of Duncan James, Simon Webbe, Antony Costa and Lee Ryan, was recently in Manila, Philippines for the Greatest Hits Tour featuring a1, Blue and Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees. I was fortunate to have met and worked around the guys Yes, yes, I’m a very lucky

Okay, after sharing with you the photos I took of former 98 Degrees founder Jeff Timmons during the hugely successful a1, Jeff Timmons and Blue concert held last February 2012 in Manila, Philippines, it’s now time for me to share the much-awaited photos I took of the boys of a1. Are those excited screams I hear?! For the uninitiated, a1 is a very popular British-Norwegian pop group. Originally composed of

Manny Pacquiao cried. He may be the world’s best boxer to date. He may have toppled the likes of Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and Juan Manuel Marquez. He may have mansions in the Philippines and abroad but Filipino boxing champion and Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao recently cried. Yup. Manny Pacquiao cried because he can’t join the Sarangani Bay Festival 2012. My fellow Mindanaoan Manny Pacquiao will have to sit out

If you’re one of my regular readers here on Mindanaoan.com, chances are you’d know that I helped out during the highly successful a1, Jeff Timmons and Blue Live In Manila concert last February 2012 in Manila, Philippines. I helped promote it not only through this site but in other sites as well including via social networking websites. (which reminds me, if you’re not following me yet, please do so! Here

Good news for Mindanao tourism! Don’t look now but guess where the latest zipline will be? At none other than the Island Born Out Of Fire – Camiguin! Camiguin Island is the latest Mindanao area that now has a zipline. The Camiguin Zipline is located at Taguines Lagoon, Benoni, Mahinog, Camiguin. According to the Camiguin Tourism Office, the Camiguin Island zipline fee is only Php 400.00 (roughly US $10.00) for

In America, they have this day called Super Tuesday which refers to “the Tuesday in February or March of a presidential election year when the greatest number of states hold primary elections to select delegates to national conventions at which each party’s presidential candidates are officially nominated.” Super Tuesday is a very important day especially since more delegates can be won on that day more than any other single day

If I was asked to name at least 5 cities in the U.S. that I may want to live in, Washington D.C. would be one of them. I found Washington DC charming and interesting – despite the fact that politics plays a huge role there. I guess for those who abhor politics and all the scandals, flipfloppin’, highs and lows that come with it, they won’t feel comfortable in Washington

If you’re one of the regular readers of Mindanaoan.com, you’d probably know that I was one of those who heavily helped promote the recently concluded a1, Blue and Jeff Timmons concert in Manila. I campaigned for the show not only through this lifestyle and entertainment blog but through various accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Plurk, PicLyf etc. I also launched a contest whereby the winner received two tickets to the show!

My fellow IVLP 2012 delegates and I were billeted at The River Inn during the Washington D.C. leg of our 3-week stay in America. The River Inn is a downtown Washington DC hotel that’s located just 2 blocks from the Foggy Bottom Metro station. This affordable Washington DC inn is also within walking distance from Georgetown a.k.a. the historic commercial and entertainment district in northwest Washington. Georgetown is also where

So I am finally back from the U.S. I’m home, I’m home! *waves* I stayed in America for more than a month. I was there because I was chosen to participate in the International Visitor Leadership Program, a U.S. Department of State-sponsored program. Technically, my IVLP 2012 experience only lasted for 3 weeks. However, I chose to fly to New York City, savor the sights and sounds of the Big

Make my beloved Mindanao, Philippines your ultimate summer destination this year! And to kick off your summer tour in the southern part of the Philippines, why not pay Davao province a visit? The Department of Tourism Xl, along with other local tourism units around the Davao province, has launched the “1 Summerfun Davao” project. The “1 Summer Fun Davao – One Region. One For Fun” project aims to feature all

Want to know where to buy original Sperry Top-sider shoes in Mindanao, Philippines? Look no further! The World’s First Boat Shoe can now be bought in one of Mindanao’s best lifestyle stores (and one of my personal favorites, I might add!) – Spruce. The Sperry Top-Sider story is an example of the American knack for ingenuity and innovation. It also represents a love of sun, surf and soul of the

How fast time flies! Back in 2010, I was still pitching possible names for a photography workshop to my super talented brother (who happens to be an awarded and very in-demand professional wedding photographer). He liked what I offered – “Razzle Dazzle.” According to the dictionary, razzle dazzle means dazzling excitement or extravagant display of technique. Not long after that, he named his very first photography workshop “Razzle Dazzle Photography