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Mindanao is my native land. This is where I belong, feel secure and am at peace. To be in Mindanao is to feel the embrace of a warm, soft blanket.

Mindanaoan - Blogging the REAL Mindanao!


HOTEL REVIEWS – Paragon Suites Cebu City is located along Juana Osmena Street, Cebu. Roughly a 10-minute walk away from bustling Mango Avenue (where there’s a lot of videoke places, bars, restaurants, coffee shops and Internet cafe stations), Paragon Suites is ideal for people who want cheap accommodations in Cebu City. One can classify Paragon Suites Cebu as a budget hotel, a budget pension house or a cheap inn with the basic amenities.

I stayed at Paragon Suites Cebu City just a few days ago. I stayed for a total of 3 days and truth be told, I didn’t quite enjoy my stay and therefore will never find myself staying at Paragon Suites Cebu ever again.

But more on that after the jump. Here’s a look at my superior room (rate was P1,380.00 per night):

paragon suites cebu city

My room was fully carpeted and fully airconditioned. It had a small refrigerator, a work desk and a chair, two single beds, a television set (not an LCD one, unfortunately) and a bathroom with hot and cold shower. I was provided with two bath towels, two soaps and two sachets of shampoo. There were also two pairs of slippers near the television set but I didn’t bother using them, lest that I catch a foot disease or something. There wasn’t any indication that the slippers were sanitized.

Here’s a look at another part of the room:

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Hello everyone! How is everyone doing? It’s been quite a while and I really hope all of you are in good health. Mindanaoan has been very busy as of late and this is due to the start of the nationwide campaign sorties. As you all know, the campaign period for the national positions began last February 9, 2010 and political parties have been so busy visiting various areas around the country.

Mindanaoan is a part of these nationwide tours.

This has actually got me thinking — perhaps it’s best if I also share my own experience straight from the campaign trail. What do you guys think? I was thinking of sharing exclusive photos, videos, kuwentos and other things that may prove to be interesting somehow for all of my readers.

I was thinking of sharing behind-the-scenes stuff. What do political candidates do to prepare themselves before a grand rally? What do they eat, talk about, think of?

What do candidates bring during travels? What are they like after a full day of campaigning — do they hang out with other candidates, with the staff, with the media? Do they swear?

Yep, I was thinking of sharing just about anything that may interest my Mindanaoan.com readers.

Apart from hoping that this effort could lead to more blog subscribers (if you haven’t SUBSCRIBED yet, please SUBSCRIBE TO MINDANAOAN.COM NOW by clicking this. Thanks!), I’m also hoping that this could help people understand and see what it is like to be a part of a nationwide campaign. I’m hoping that through my posts here in Mindanaoan.com, people will see another side of politics (hopefully the human side) and see if indeed what comes out in media reports/news reports jibe with what’s going on behind the scenes.

What do you guys think of this plan? Do let me know :)

In the meantime, I really hope that you guys can SUBSCRIBE TO MINDANAOAN right now. Please don’t forget to verify your email address by clicking on the link that’ll be sent to you. I’m counting on your support :) Thanks everyone!

And as a “patikim” for what’s to come here in Mindanaoan.com, here’s a shot of Willie Revillame along with the Nacionalista Party slate during the NP grand rally in Mandaue over the weekend (roughly 100,000 people came):

wowowillie nacionalista party cebu rally

*photo taken and owned by Mindanaoan.com

Mindanaoan can’t help but comment on the recent resolution of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to urge celebrities endorsing political candidates to either resign or go on leave from their shows. I find it absolutely funny that the COMELEC, amid all their problems, still has the time and energy to think about this.

I reiterate Mindanaoan senatorial candidate Atty. Adel Tamano’s statement: “this latest COMELEC resolution is a mere ploy to distract the public. The COMELEC has bigger problems to solve – from all these delays in ballot printing and deliveries of PCOS machines to assuring the public that signals won’t be jammed during transmission of election results. Why don’t they concentrate on those first?”

Hear, hear!

Besides, isn’t this unconstitutional? Celebrities have rights, too. They have the right of expression and the freedom of association. They’re voters and therefore have voters’ rights. Why should they be “punished” for expressing their support for candidates that they believe in?

Sabagay, and this is from a tweet from a friend: “Perhaps the COMELEC thinks that the political candidates can provide the entertainment in the meantime.”

LOL

Just imagine this – presidential candidate Manny Villar has Dolphy, Willie Revillame, Michael V. and Sarah Geronimo as endorsers. Presidential hopeful Noynoy Aquino has his sister Kris Aquino and a hundred more celebrities.

Just imagine if the COMELEC does effectively implement their order — will there even be anyone left in tinseltown?

Oh well. To the “brilliant” minds over at COMELEC — good luck with this.

Meanwhile, Adel Tamano, a senatorial candidate under the Nacionalista Party, has garnered the endorsements of popular action star Robin Padilla and of popular singer-actor Ogie Alcasid (who, incidentally, is one of Noynoy’s endorsers as well)

Check out Ogie’s video with Adel below:

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This piece of news pretty much made my day today. Mindanaoan thought that what happened between an anchorman of a local radio station in Iligan City and an Iligan City councilor (who’s seeking re-election, no less!) was controversial, wacky, weird, funny, interesting and well…basically a sign of what’s to come in the next few months. Yup, the campaign season really DOES bring out the LOLs!

According to news reports, Iligan City Councilor Chonilo Ruiz, a Liberal Party (LP) candidate, attacked DXRJ anchorman Albert Loyola while the latter was inside the announcer’s booth and was live on air. Ruiz allegedly barged into the station Wednesday morning and punched Loyola.

Ruiz is seeking re-election come May 2010. Ruiz is seeking for a third term.

Amid the commotion, Loyola was allegedly heard shouting repeatedly over the microphone that he was being punched by Ruiz. Meanwhile, Ruiz was also allegedly heard on air saying “salbahe ka, salbahe ka.”

Reports didn’t say if Loyola was rushed to the hospital for medical tests.

Ruiz, however, engaged in an interview with another Iligan City radio station. He claimed that Loyola repeatedly called him “botboton” or liar in Visayan. Ruiz said that he tried to call the station in order to air his side but he was ignored.

Loyola, for his part, explained that he was just “asking” Ruiz how the city council is spending the budget on committee hearings. He claimed that he “wasn’t served snacks” during public hearings even though Ruiz said that part of the expenses included snacks for attendees.

Loyola reportedly said he will file appropriate charges against Ruiz. Ruiz said he will face the charges but also appealed to media practitioners to practice professionalism.

So here are my thoughts about this.

First off, both parties must acknowledge that neither of them come out “victorious” because of this controversy. IMHO, media man Loyola may have his 15 minutes of fame but at the end of the day, he will be remembered as the man who complained because he didn’t get SNACKS and who got punched in his very own lair. I’m not sure if Loyola was even able to retaliate but that does not matter. What people will think of and talk about is the fact that he got whacked inside his very own announcer’s booth.

Secondly, re-electionist Ruiz will now be forced to face a major PR disaster. For someone who’s seeking re-election, this type of publicity is the last thing that he needs. He may have been “hurt” by Loyola’s accusations and he may only be human…but for someone who’s been in politics for at least two terms, shouldn’t he be used to all these by now? Also, people’s minds will now be tickled — why was Ruiz so angry at such a seemingly small accusation? If the council did spend the money wisely during committee hearings and if there really is legal basis for the committees involved to spend a part of the expenses for “snacks,” then what’s there to worry about? Loyola is probably just another media practitioner who wants to magnify things plainly because…well…maybe because that’s what he does and that’s what he needs to do. Plain and simple.

As for Ruiz — sir, my unsolicited advise — extend your patience further. Keep your heart in check. And perhaps you can employ a staff member who will always remind you of PR and media strategies. Remember, media practitioners may be your enemies for now…but at the end of the day, there will come a time when they can be your allies as well.

1 person likes this post.

Did you know that several Mindanaoans will gun for national political positions come May 2010? If you’re the type of person who wants to support fellow children of Mindanao in the next presidential elections, then you may want to check out the list below.

Among the vice presidentiables, two are Mindanaoans. Bangon Pilipinas’ vice presidential candidate Perfecto Yasay, Jr. is from Davao City. Jay Sonza, the vice presidential candidate of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan party, is also from Davao. All of Sonza’s children are fellow Ateneo de Davao University alumni.

As for the senatorial candidates, on the other hand, Mindanaoan has identified 10.

First is Nacionalista Party’s bet lawyer Adel A. Tamano of Lanao del Sur. He’s the first Filipino Muslim scholar graduate of Harvard Law School, the first Filipino Muslim commencement speaker of Harvard University and the President of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Atty. Adel Tamano is the son of the late Senator Mamintal Tamano. He was one of our valued speakers during the recently concluded Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3.

Second is Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana, the daughter of Senator Aquilino Pimentel and sister of former senatorial candidate Atty. Koko Pimentel. She’s running under the PDP-Laban party and serves as her father’s chief of staff. Miss Gana will apparently use her Pimentel maiden name during the campaign.

Third is incumbent Agusan del Sur congressman Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza. Rep. Plaza was also one of our valued speakers during the MBS 3. Recognized as the author of the landmark LPG Act, congressman Plaza comes from a large political clan in the Agusan area.

Fourth Mindanaoan senatoriable is Silvestre Bello III of Davao City. My fellow Dabawenyo will run under the LAKAS CMD KAMPI party. He was a former Justice secretary.

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