Musings Archives - Page 7 of 11 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Oct142010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Forever 21 Manila Philippines – my initial loot

Arts, Beauty, Blogging, Business, Consumer, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Reviews, Shopping, Style

Well, it basically took "forever" but the wait is finally over! (Hey, how's that for a rhyme? :D) Forever 21, a popular retail chain, opened its first Philippine branch over at SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City last July. Sadly, I wasn't in Manila when the Forever 21 Manila branch opened and I also didn't have the chance to visit it even if I was there last August. Ugh. But well, I was back in Manila for Wordcamp Philippines 2010 and yes, I allocated an entire afternoon just to visit the store (finally!). That was how determined I was to snag at least a few pretty finds! LOL. Besides, it was the afternoon before the big John Mayer Live In Manila gig and I wanted to wear something special! Good thing my fellow bloggers Venus, Jacq and Cherry decided to join me in my quest to scour all of the...

Oct122010 by Mindanaoan Irene8 Comments

Fan mode: Mr. WordPress Matt Mullenweg’s video messages

Blogging, Features, Internet, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Personalities, Technology, Videos

And so Wordcamp Philippines 2010 came and went. It was my very first time to attend a Wordcamp and I must say, the event was worth my time, money and energy! The organizers, Avatar Media, did a fabulous job putting the event together. Congratulations to the organizers, volunteers and speakers of Wordcamp Philippines 2010! And of course, congratulations to all of my fellow campers as well ;) I'm sure everyone had fun and learned a lot :) Let's not forget Wordpress founder and lead developer Matthew Charles Mullenweg's challenge to us, yes? Let's advocate the use of Wordpress here in the Philippines! Are you up for the challenge? Because I am! :) For non-bloggers, just in case you're curious as to why Wordcamp Philippines 2010 was such a big deal especially for bloggers who use Wordpres...

Oct102010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Starbucks Cagayan de Oro and Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Coffee

Announcements, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Features, Food, Gifts, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Northern Mindanao, Personal, Reviews, Shopping, Society

If you're living in Northern Mindanao, chances are you've already heard of the upcoming opening of Starbucks Cagayan de Oro. In fact, I wrote about the much-awaited opening last May, along with a job opening announcement for baristas and store managers. Fast forward a few months later, word's out that Starbucks CDO is set to open in just a few weeks' time. Starbucks CDO is located at Limketkai Mall corner Rosario Drive, right across the Missy Bon Bon gelato and bread store and very near Mc Donald's. As expected, they got an ultra prime location. That area will soon see the rise of an 18-floor hotel and is just a few blocks away from the Regional Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs, a state university and a mixed-use building. So yeah, the Starbucks CDO branch will enjoy heavy fo...

Oct92010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Of skydiving, bungee and my Bacolod City to Cebu City aerial shots

Bacolod City, Cebu City, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Photos

I'll let you in on a secret. One of the things included in my bucket list is to take photos while I glide through the air after I jump out of an airplane! Is that weird or too much of a dream? I've always wanted to try skydiving (but I have yet to find a reliable company that provides this type of extreme adventure in the Philippines --- if you know of one, please let me know!) and hopefully someday soon I'll try the bungee jump at AJ Hackett Macau Tower (I did manage to visit the tower all right but only to try their 360 degrees revolving restaurant LOL). In the meantime, I have to be contented with just taking aerial shots while well within the confines of an airplane. Anyhoo, here are some aerial shots I took during my recent Bacolod to Cebu City flight. All photos taken with a Pa...

Oct72010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Bacolod: Balay ni Tana Dicang | Bacolod tourist spot you must visit!

Bacolod City, Blogging, Flights, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Reviews, Tourism, Travel, Visayas

So a few weeks ago, I shared with all of you all about the New Bacolod Silay Airport and the two places where my friends and I dined in Bacolod City (Pepe's Grill for the delicious ribs and Calea for the best desserts). Now I'll share a nice tourist spot we visited at Talisay City (about half an hour away from Bacolod City) --- Balay Ni Tana Dicang. Located along Rizal Street, Balay Ni Tana Dicang (Balay means home while tana is shortcut for "kapitana") stands as one of Negros' most preserved ancestral homes. It's so well-preserved, in fact! These days, it's now a museum and occasionally plays host to art exhibits and other mini shows. It was build in 1883 for Don Efigenio Lizares and Dona Enrica Alunan at the later stage of the Spanish era in the Philippines. This bahay na ba...

Oct62010 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

John Mayer Live In Manila – that oh-so-wonderful experience!

Blogging, Entertainment, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Musings, Personalities, Photos, Reviews

This is a follow-up to my earlier post! John Mayer Live In Manila. October 1, 2010. SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds. It was one memorable date I will never forget. Firstly, because it was THE John Mayer...the love of my life! Secondly, because the entire country has waited for this moment for years (and a few months more...especially after this gig was postponed from May to October!). And thirdly, because I've never attended a concert in the middle of a typhoon! (But what the heck - it was John Mayer for chrissakes!) So my gal pal Crissa and I arrived at the concert venue just in time (and I mean REALLY JUST IN TIME!) for John's very first song. I was clad in my newly bought Forever 21 top, walking shorts, Rudy Project biker jacket and ever dependable Fitflops (I know, it wasn't the wor...

Sep272010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

RJ Ledesma’s special video message for me and a friend

Blogging, Entertainment, Features, Journalism, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Videos

If you were born in the 80's (or even late 70's), chances are you know who RJ Ledesma is. He's the lovable "Joey" in that popular Royal Tru Orange series of TV commercials. Here's one below (this one's entitled "Teacher's Pet") Here's another classic RJ Ledesma as "Joey" commercial (this one's entitled "Kuya"): Well, fast forward several years later and no longer the "Joey" we used to know, RJ Ledesma is now a grown man --- UNO Magazine's Editor In Chief, newspaper columnist, book author, uber talented host and proud dad! So you could just imagine how happy I was to finally see him in the flesh (after years of just seeing him as "Joey" on TV!) during the recently concluded 17th National Public Relations Congress. RJ was the host of the 2-day confab and he did an amazing jo...

Sep262010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Inverted Philippine flag snafu at ASEAN-US meeting

BIMP-EAGA, Broadcasting, Business, Commentary, Controversial, Government, Musings, News, Opinion, Personal, Politics, Weird

It was an honest mistake, according to Rebecca Thompson of the US Embassy. Still, the damage has been done. Now what I'm just hoping for is that the person/s responsible for this fiasco be dealt with accordingly. You see, during the recently concluded 2nd ASEAN-US Leaders' Meeting held at the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan, New York, USA, the Philippine flag was surprisingly inverted (!). Instead of the blue band atop the red band, the red band can be seen as the one atop the blue one --- and we all know what this means --- it suggests that we're "AT WAR." "This was an honest mistake. The U.S. treasures its close relationship and close partnership with the Philippines which were demonstrated tis past week during President Aquino's trip to the U.S., with the signing of the ...

Sep112010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Help me attend PR 2.0: 17th National Public Relations Congress

Bisaya, Blogging, Business, Corporate, Features, Headline, Internet, Journalism, Media, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal, Society

The 17th National Public Relations Congress will be held on September 23 and 24, 2010 at the Grand Ballroom, InterContinental Manila, Makati City, Philippines with the theme “PR2.0 Build. Engage. Deliver.” and I absolutely want to attend! I may have been in the public relations/media/marketing/advertising/events industry for several years now and I may own a small public relations agency in the Philippines but I have yet to attend a national conference led by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines. Methinks attending this PR congress will help me as a Filipino publicist and I have a couple of reasons why: 1. I am one who actively incorporates blogging and other forms of social and new media in my work. While I still practise public relations the "traditional" way, I have starte...

Sep102010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

DL8 Pure Herbal Tea – Caffeine free herbal tea that I recommend

Advocacy, Agriculture, Announcements, Blogging, Bukidnon, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Features, Food, Freebies, Gifts, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Reviews, Shopping

Anybody who knows me would say that I'm not exactly the biggest fan of tea except probably when it's iced. And anybody who knows me would also say that I'm also not exactly the biggest fan of so-called herbal teas. Apart from the fact that I'm more of a coffee person and that it's very rare that I don't start my day without coffee, I usually stay away from herbal teas that offer a million and one health benefits. Yes, you could say that I was a skeptic and a cynic. And yes, I used the word "WAS." You see, things changed when a friend of mine introduced me to DL8 Pure Herbal Tea - a caffeine free tea that aims to cleanse, alkalize, revitalize and enrich the body. For the first time in a very long time, I saw myself drinking herbal tea and actually loving it! I enjoyed drinking DL8 Pure H...

Sep82010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Usher, my beloved Macbook, finally meets his match!

Blogging, Consumer, Corporate, Features, Internet, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Shopping, Technology

After receiving jibes (playful ones, I assure you) from my brother who said I was such a weird cheapskate for having a cheap-0 mouse (i.e. a small silver one I once used during my HP netbook days and one that I got from CD-R King LOL) accompany my new Macbook (which I have decided to name "Usher," by the way), I decided, on a bit of a whim, to purchase the most suitable partner for my new laptop. Introducing my newest (and expensive *gulp*) gadget - the Apple Magic Mouse! I bought this one during my most recent trip to Cebu City: Doesn't it look like it came from outer space? (more…)

Aug152010 by Mindanaoan Irene8 Comments

Make Your Own Havaianas 2010 MYOH 2010

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

Because my first Make Your Own Havaianas experience last year was absolutely fun, I eagerly awaited the Make Your Own Havaianas 2010 event this year. Plus methinks the pair I meticulously "designed" last year badly needs a "hiatus" especially since I've been lugging it all around the country. Yep, it's a "well-traveled" pair - having been brought to various places in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. You see, my first MYOH pair was a staple in my traveling bag during the campaign period (May 2010 national elections) and I guess it's about time that I give it its much-deserved "rest." So just imagine my excitement when I once again received an ultra special VIP invite from our very special friends over at Spruce, the exclusive distributor of Havaianas in northern and western Mindanao. Who cou...

Jul302010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Inspiration for today

Musings

Because, really, at the end of the day, it's what we all just have to do. *credit to ofdaisies

Jul302010 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

4 very simple changes I want to see in government under PNoy’s leadership

Commentary, Government, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion

1. That government employees and officials punch their own bundy cards and that appropriate punishment be given to those who ask someone else to punch their bundy cards in their behalf. Let this be most applicable to regular government employees who have the gall to bully job order/contractual employees to doing what their apparently lazy asses don't want or can't do. I have personally seen government employees who think that just because they have tenure, they have the option to come to work after 8 in the morning. However, they don't want their salaries deducted so they bully job order employees and demand that these poor contractual workers punch their cards in. 2. That government employees and officials do not leave their offices/desks for reasons other than work-related. Exactly...

Jul162010 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

The big Spruce 5th anniversary sale and my oh-so-precious loot!

Beauty, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Events, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Style

So the first day of the much-awaited and much talked about 5th Anniversary Sale of SPRUCE was an absolute success! Hundreds of Spruce loyalists came and bought...nay, HOARDED...a lot of stuff! I personally overheard a lady who, after she already bought a lot of items, told her husband that she wanted to stay overnight in Cagayan de Oro City (the family was, apparently, from Marawi City) just because the Spruce personnel told her that more stocks were coming. I also saw a guy who already had 4 pairs of PUMA shoes in his shopping basket but was still checking out yet another pair! (Who says guys can't be shopaholics?) As soon as the mall opened, a long line of eager shoppers was already outside the Spruce store. That type of scene was inevitable, truth be told. Spruce, in celeb...

Jul142010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

From Mindanao media to PNoy’s communications group – an appeal

Advocacy, Blogging, Broadcasting, Commentary, Government, Headline, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Opinion, Politics

So it's somehow final now. The Office of the Press Secretary is no longer. New Philippine President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III or PNoy will reorganize it and will rename it to the Presidential Communications Office. The latest buzz is that ANC broadcaster Ricky Carandang and "The Explainer" Manolo Quezon III will join the communications team and will play vital roles. I am, quite frankly, happy to know that Carandang and Quezon will be part of the team. For sure, these brilliant minds will bring with them their years of experience and they will definitely be fab assets to the Aquino administration. No doubt about that. My concern, therefore, is more about the treatment towards Mindanao journalists now that Aquino has made it clear that the public is his "BOSS" and now that he has tw...

Jul112010 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Spruce CDO to offer a whopping 50 percent discount during 5th anniversary sale!

Announcements, Beauty, Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Events, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Northern Mindanao, Personal, Society, Style

SPRUCE Boutique, one of my favorite shops in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao, is celebrating its 5th anniversary with a sale like no other! Spruce CDO is set to offer a whopping 50 percent discount for at least 5 items purchased during their much talked about 5-day sale! The Spruce 5-day anniversary sale, which is their way of saying thank you to all their loyal customers, will run from July 14 to July 18, 2010. Check out this photo of their window display (this blogger from Mindanao took this today): More ABSOLUTELY EXCITING details after the jump! (more…)

Jun282010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

A Mindanaoan blog worth checking out – Ganda Ever So Much!

Advocacy, Blogging, General Santos City, Humor, Internet, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, SoSCksargen

One of the things that this blogger in Mindanao loves about blogging is the fact that I get to meet other people who are as passionate about writing and sharing stuff as I am. Through blogs and activities related to blogging such as blog camps, bloggers day, bloggers summits, and online media briefings, I get to meet not only virtual friends but interesting people and friends in real life. Take the case of a fellow Mindanaoan named Orman who's behind a Mindanaoan blog that's worth checking out - GandaEverSoMuch.com! I first learned about Ganda Ever So Much through Avel, the man behind the award-winning Bariles Republic. Avel and Orman are brothers. I've been visiting Bariles Republic/GenSantos.com a few times before and I've been noticing Orman's name. He didn't have a blog then but ...

Jun162010 by Mindanaoan Irene8 Comments

Eyelash extensions now a big hit in the Philippines | My eyelash extensions

Beauty, Blogging, Business, Consumer, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Reviews, Style

Ever heard of eyelash extensions? These are different from fake eyelashes, mind you. Eyelash extensions add thickness, length and fullness to natural eyelashes. Compared to fake eyelashes, eyelash extensions appear more "natural." The synthetic single fiber polyester thread-like materials are applied lash by lash (compared to fake eyelashes where an entire strip of lashes are glued to one's eyelid) and eyelash extensions are usually semi-permanent. These days, eyelash extension salons are sprouting like mushrooms all over Manila. Although no eyelash extension shop has opened in Mindanao (yet), I bet one will open very soon. So here's the deal...one of the things that I treated myself with during my most recent trip to Manila was...well, you guessed that right...getting eyelash extens...

Jun32010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Usher in Manila concert – Mindanaoan desperately needs to watch this!

Entertainment, Events, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Musings, Personal

OH. MY. GOD. THIS IS MAJAH!!! So it's now finally confirmed - Usher Raymond - multi-awarded, super talented, R&B sensation and one of Mindanaoan's crushes since time immemorial - yes, THE Usher will hold a concert in Manila, Philippines! BE STILL, MY HEART!!! The Usher Live in Manila concert will be held at the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds on July 9, 2010, Friday. Who has the heart of gold out there who can sponsor my airplane fare, hotel and concert tickets? I know it's wishful thinking but who knows? Someone generous (and considerate of this blogger from Mindanao who has held a candle for Usher since time immemorial LOL) might get to read this desperate plea and let me watch Usher live in Manila! OMG just the thought sends excited chills down my spine! *bounces up and do...

May262010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Mindanaoan at the first ever Cebu Blog Camp 2010

Advocacy, Bisaya, Blogging, Events, Internet, Leisure, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Technology

So I'm finally back from a 4-day escapade in Cebu City, the Queen City of the South. The primary reason as to why Mindanaoan was in Cebu was to attend the first ever Cebu Blog Camp 2010. The event, which held the theme "Blogging, Expressions and Opportunities," gathered more than a hundred bloggers from all over the Philippines. The Cebu Blog Camp provided a platform whereby bloggers, IT experts and experienced new media practitioners discussed various issues concerning the blogosphere including online journalism, blogging ethics, marketing yourself as a blogger, blog marketing and earning money online. I learned a lot from the speakers (thanks Hans Koch for the very helpful WP plugins and big thanks to Tonyo Cruz for reminding me why I shifted to online media after 8 long years as a...

May242010 by Mindanaoan Irene8 Comments

Finally finding No Reservations Anthony Bourdain Cebu lechon – the Zubuchon!

Bisaya, Blogging, Business, Consumer, Culture, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal, Recipes, Reviews, Society

Apart from attending the Cebu Blog Camp 2010, another reason why I was looking forward to going back to Cebu City, the Queen City of the South, was the fact that I will finally have the chance to try the world-famous Zubuchon - yes, the very same Cebu lechon featured and praised by popular chef and travel show host Anthony Bourdain of "No Reservations." Ever since Anthony Bourdain featured it in "No Reservations" (one of the very few travel shows that my entire family loves to watch), we agreed to definitely try it once we have the chance to go back to Cebu. As we all know, Cebu lechon is already famous as it is but for a specific Cebu lechon to be featured as the Anthony Bourdain preferred Cebu lechon is another thing. A brief background first for the unitiated - Lechon or fire roas...