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Jul242011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments
Review: Mexitalian Cuisine Cagayan de Oro City Mindanao

Review: Mexitalian Cuisine Cagayan de Oro City Mindanao

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Recipes, Reviews
If there are two things that I absolutely like, these are Mexican and Italian food. I'm a huge sucker for fajitas, quesadillas, tacos...and oh yes, yes, yes nachos! Yum! I am absolutely convinced that I can survive on nachos alone :D I love nachos so much that I made a special trip to a specific restaurant just to order nachos de salsa. I also love nachos with oozing melted cheese! Yeah, that's how crazeballs I can get when it comes to nachos :P I like pasta, too. There are days when I just crave for spaghetti, penne al arrabiatta, fettuccini with red sauce, basil and mushrooms and carbonara complete with bacon and mushrooms. Yum! So, yes, anytime I have my share of Mexican and Italian food, I know for sure it's gonna be a great day. So you could just imagine how excited I was when I he...
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Jun302011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Suesh Makeup Workshop with Suzzane Tan Go

Beauty, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Fashion, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Society, Style
It was a makeup workshop that I super wanted to attend but since I was still too tired from the big Singapore - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia trip (yes, went back just a few days ago!), I just opted to ask for a recap and some photos from our friends over at Spruce. Apparently, I missed a great deal --- the Suesh makeup workshop held recently in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao was a big success and all ladies who joined had first dibs of really cool Suesh products before these hit the Spruce store! The guest speaker during the makeup workshop was Ms. Suzzane Tan Go, makeup artist and one of the owners of Suesh. During the workshop proper, two sets of makeup techniques were introduced - the day look and the night look. The day look highlights light makeup, the kind that people can use during work...
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Jun282011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments
Battlestar Galactica roller coaster ride in Universal Studios Singapore

Battlestar Galactica roller coaster ride in Universal Studios Singapore

Features, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Singapore, Tourism, Travel
The Battlestar Galactica rides in Universal Studios Singapore are two of the most popular in the said theme park - and for very good reason. Just imagine this - lifts, drops, cobra rolls, inversions (360 degrees!), a Zero-G roll, corkscrews and spins plus the fact that you go up as high as 14 storeys above the ground - all in just 90 seconds! Yes, folks, you hang on for dear life for 90 glorious seconds, scream your heart out...and when it's all done, believe me, you may even have the urge to go for seconds! The Battlestar Galactica rides comprise the world's tallest pair of dual roller coasters. It has two rides --- the "Human" version has you seated (red line) while the "Cylon" has you suspended, with your legs and feet dangling. I have not personally tried the Battlestar Galactica "H...
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Jun142011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Zest Air promo Manila to Cagayan de Oro, Manila to Zamboanga

Announcements, BIMP-EAGA, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Davao City, Flights, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Tourism, Travel, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga Sibugay
Budget airline Zest Air Philippines has a promo for two Mindanao to Manila (and vice versa) routes. Zest Air says that they have an ongoing seat sale from Manila to Cagayan de Oro (and vice versa) and Manila to Zamboanga (and vice versa). This promo from Zest Air can be availed for as low as Php 688.00. Just in case it'll be your first time to travel to these two Mindanao areas, you may want to read my posts about CDO and Zamboanga. Manila to Cagayan de Oro - 688 pesos Booking Period: June 8 to July 7, 2011 Travel Period: July 8 to October 15, 2011 Manila to Zamboanga - 688 pesos Booking Period: June 8 to July 14, 2011 Travel Period: July 15 to October 15, 2011 You can call the Zest Air hotline number in Manila at (+63) 2 - 8553333 Or you can book your ticket online via their ...
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Jun132011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments
Singapore Chronicles: Universal Studios Singapore

Singapore Chronicles: Universal Studios Singapore

Beauty, Blogging, Entertainment, Features, Flights, Food, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Photos, Resorts, Reviews, Singapore, Tourism, Travel
Universal Studios Singapore is the first movie theme park in the Southeast Asian region. Located within Singapore's first integrated resort, Resorts World Sentosa, Universal Studios Singapore is one of the Lion City's major tourist attractions. All of the rides and shows featured at Singapore Universal Studios showcase themes based on blockbuster hits such as Shrek 4-D Adventure, Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure, Revenge of the Mummy and Battlestar Galactica (my favorite!) Last February 2011, during my special Valentine's Day trip abroad with my dear Mama, we spent almost an entire day at USS. Actually, Universal Studios Singapore was still on "soft opening" then. It was only "formally" opened last May 28, 2011. My crush, actor Jet Li, as well as singer-dancer and former American Idol jud...
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Jun82011 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Mindanaoan Exclusive: KC Concepcion greets Mindanao, shares what she loves about Mindanao, invites fans to “Forever And A Day”

Advocacy, Agriculture, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Announcements, ARMM, Arts, Bacolod City, Banks, Basilan, Beauty, BIMP-EAGA, Bisaya, Bislig, Blogging, Broadcasting, Bukidnon, Business, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Campus, Caraga, Cebu City, Commentary, Compostela Valley, Consumer, Contests, Controversial, Corporate, Cotabato, Culture, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Dipolog, Education, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Flights, Food, Freebies, General Santos City, Gifts, Government, Headline, Hongkong, Hotels, Humor, Iligan City, Internet, Island Garden City of Samal, Jobs, Journalism, Kaamulan Festival, Koronadal, Kuala Lumpur, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Leisure, Macau, Maguindanao, Make Money Online, Malaybalay City, Malaysia, Manila, Marawi City, Media, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Movies, Music, Musings, Muslim Mindanao, Negros Occidental, News, North Cotabato, Northern Mindanao, Opinion, Ozamis, Pagadian, Personal, Personalities, Photos, Politics, Radio, Recipes, Religion, Resorts, Reviews, Sarangani, Shenzhen, Shopping, Singapore, Society, SoSCksargen, South Cotabato, Sports, Style, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacurong, Tangub City, Tawi Tawi, Technology, Television, Tourism, Travel, Videos, Visayas, Weddings, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga Sibugay
You heard the theme song. You got intrigued when you heard this - "kaya mo bang mahalin ang isang taong mawawala din sayo?" And, by now, it's likely that you've memorized this line - "Thank you for yesterday. Thank you for today. And if I forget, thank you for tomorrow." Yes, it seems you're ready to fall in love on June 15, 2011. KC Concepcion and Sam Milby will topbill one of the most awaited movies of this year, the Star Cinema offering "Forever And A Day." Truth be told, I think this KC Concepcion and Sam Milby starrer is THE most awaited movie here in Mindanao - primarily because they shot this flick in 3 key areas in Mindanao - Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City (who wouldn't be excited to see familiar places? Plus think about what this film will do for Mindanao tou...
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Jun72011 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Proudly Mindanao made: Boyongs Special Bagoong

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews
You know when people say don't even try to glance at food blogs or pictures of food before you sleep? Okay, I made that up (HAHA) but really, that should be made into law! I made this mistake of checking out photos of food tonight (I was supposed to sleep about 10 minutes ago) and then I stumbled upon product shots of one of my favorite foodie finds since late last year --- Boyong's Special Bagoong! Obviously, I can't sleep now. I'm hoping that by blogging about this Mindanao product, dalawin uli ako ng antok! O.o Now for the uninitiated, bagoong is a Philippine condiment made of partially or completely fermented shrimps (or fish). Here in Mindanao (and in the Visayas), bagoong can either be ginamos (or fish bagoong --- the fish used is usually bolinao or anchovies) or bagoong alaman...
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Jun42011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments
Singapore Chronicles: Singapore hawker food at Maxwell Center

Singapore Chronicles: Singapore hawker food at Maxwell Center

Blogging, Features, Food, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Singapore, Tourism, Travel
One of the things that I absolutely MUST do whenever I travel domestic or abroad is try the local cuisine. By local cuisine I mean street food, food sold in hawker centers or food courts or food that look "unique" --- basically food usually eaten by locals during regular days. As much as possible, this Mindanao blogger doesn't eat at fastfood chains. I do this because it makes me appreciate that country's culture, people, tradition and food better. Besides, hawker centers in Singapore are still the undisputed sources of delicious authentic Singapore food! Before I proceed with this post about the Singapore hawker center my mom and I went to during our February 2011 mother-daughter Valentine's Day trip abroad, you might want to read these blog posts to learn more about our Singapore - Ma...
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Jun22011 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments
Young Filipino wedding photographers from Mindanao included among world’s best

Young Filipino wedding photographers from Mindanao included among world’s best

Advocacy, Agriculture, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Announcements, ARMM, Arts, Bacolod City, Banks, Basilan, Beauty, BIMP-EAGA, Bisaya, Bislig, Blogging, Broadcasting, Bukidnon, Business, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Campus, Caraga, Cebu City, Commentary, Compostela Valley, Consumer, Contests, Controversial, Corporate, Cotabato, Culture, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Dipolog, Education, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Flights, Food, Freebies, General Santos City, Gifts, Government, Headline, Hongkong, Hotels, Humor, Iligan City, Internet, Island Garden City of Samal, Jobs, Journalism, Kaamulan Festival, Koronadal, Kuala Lumpur, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Leisure, Macau, Maguindanao, Make Money Online, Malaybalay City, Malaysia, Manila, Marawi City, Media, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Movies, Music, Musings, Muslim Mindanao, Negros Occidental, News, North Cotabato, Northern Mindanao, Opinion, Ozamis, Pagadian, Personal, Personalities, Photos, Politics, Radio, Recipes, Religion, Resorts, Reviews, Sarangani, Shenzhen, Shopping, Singapore, Society, SoSCksargen, South Cotabato, Sports, Style, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacurong, Tangub City, Tawi Tawi, Technology, Television, Tourism, Travel, Videos, Visayas, Weddings, Weird, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga Sibugay
A group composed of Mindanaoan Filipino visual artists turned destination wedding photographers, One Happy Story, was recently included in a list composed of the best engagement and most creative wedding photographers in the world. One Happy Story, a group of young Filipino wedding photographers, was recently included in Love Olio, a hand-selected listing that features only what they call “the most groundbreaking wedding photographers in the world.” Love Olio showcased some of One Happy Story’s best engagement and wedding images. “We are extremely proud and delighted. Our inclusion in Love Olio is an affirmation of our commitment to capture real and happy moments as they happen for two people in love,” said Bon, Creative Director of One Happy Story. “Each couple has a unique story...
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May302011 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

A visit to Starbucks CDO – the first Starbucks in Mindanao

Blogging, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Corporate, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Personal, Reviews
My mom, brother and I were in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao last weekend and since I still had 3 beverage coupons (yes, similar to those I gave away last December) from Starbucks (thank you Starbucks Philippines! :D) with me, we decided to use them at Starbucks Cagayan de Oro. Starbucks CDO is the first Starbucks in Mindanao. Dubbed as the 166th store in the Philippines, Starbucks CDO is located at Limketkai Mall corner Rosario Crescent. You can't miss it --- it's just a few steps away from the main entrance of Lim Ket Kai Mall in Cagayan de Oro. It was drizzling by the time we reached Starbucks CDO. Notice the water specks on my camera's lens: There are several chairs and tables outside. The right side facing the main entrance door is the "smoking area." I presented my...
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May282011 by Mindanaoan Irene6 Comments
Best clean, cheap Singapore hostel – Pillows And Toast

Best clean, cheap Singapore hostel – Pillows And Toast

Blogging, Business, Consumer, Features, Hotels, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion, Reviews, Singapore
Pillows & Toast Singapore is the best hostel in Singapore! It's a relatively new, clean, budget Singapore hostel that my mom and I liked. You see, Pillows And Toast was our home in Singapore back in February when we had our first ever mother-daughter trip overseas to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. You might want to read these blog posts to learn more about our Singapore - Malaysia trip: How to prepare a do-it-yourself Singapore and Malaysia trip Singapore Chronicles: Day 1 Cebu to Singapore List of all Singapore hostels Pillows And Toast Singapore Reservation / Booking Although it wasn't our first time to travel abroad, it was our first time to visit Malaysia and Singapore. It was also our first time to follow a DIY (do it yourself) trip! Like I mentioned in this p...
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May192011 by Mindanaoan Irene6 Comments
KLutched designer bags, totes and satchels now in the Philippines

KLutched designer bags, totes and satchels now in the Philippines

Beauty, Blogging, Business, Consumer, Fashion, Features, Manila, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Society, Style
I very well know that Filipinas are silent bag hags. Bags are oftentimes that guilty pleasure we simply cannot let go. So you could just imagine how excited I was when I recently got wind of a piece of exciting news! So here you go ---Good news to all Filipino fans of bags, totes and satchels! KLutched, one of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's most talked about brand, is finally here in the Philippines! Yes, yes, yes! KLutched is finally available in the Philippines! Created by the young and very talented Ung Yiu Lin, who also owns the brands ShoesShoesShoes and Idylinn, KLutched promises gorgeous bags - from slouches to totes to miniaudieres to satchels and yes, to clutches! (KLutched...clutched...get it? Plus the "KL" can also mean Kuala Lumpur! Cool branding, huh?) - made of exotic skins and ...
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Feb22011 by Mindanaoan Irene6 Comments

Review: BonChon chicken – fried twice, twice as good

Food, Mindanaoan Update, Recipes, Reviews
During my most recent trip to Manila, three very good friends and I finally had the chance to visit the Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati branch of Bonchon Chicken. Now if you haven't heard of BonChon, this below might give you an idea of what you're supposed to expect: (yes, that's from the New York Times!) BonChon chicken is supposedly one of, if not the best, tasting chicken you can ever taste in your lifetime. And I must say, after that early dinner with friends, I can only agree 110%! Here's why... (more…)
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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...
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Dec122010 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Your next Starbucks drink is on us! Join Mindanaoan’s contest now!

Announcements, Blogging, Consumer, Contests, Features, Food, Freebies, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Shopping
If you're a big coffee lover like I am, then I'm sure you'll agree with me when I say that the Christmas season isn't really the same if you don't drop by a Starbucks store and have your share of the Starbucks Christmas drinks. After all, Starbucks Christmas is absolutely much-awaited not only by kids, teens and yuppies. Christmas at Starbucks is a most-awaited season by virtually everyone! This year, Starbucks Philippines is featuring three delicious varieties - Praline Mocha, Toffee Nut Latte and Peppermint Mocha. Out of the three, my favorite is the Toffee Nut Latte. A tall Toffee Nut Latte beverage never fails to cheer me up, whatever time of the day. In fact, during my most recent visit to Cebu City, I took my brother and mom (who also flew in a few days later) to Starbuck...
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Dec112010 by Mindanaoan Irene30 Comments

Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa Day Tour | What to do in Cebu

Blogging, Business, Cebu City, Consumer, Corporate, Features, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal, Photos, Resorts, Reviews, Style, Tourism, Travel
Yes, the rumors are true. Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa is a beautiful paradise that you just have to visit at least once in your lifetime! :) I finally availed of the much-talked about Shangri-La Mactan day tour recently. I treated my brother so it was the two of us who had a grand time at Shangri-La Mactan Cebu. The Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa Day Tour rate, as of October 2010, is P2,500.00 per person (roughly US $65.00) - a bit expensive for many but I must say, our experience was worth every penny. From Cebu City proper (along Salinas Road, to be exact), we took a metered cab towards Mactan. Travel time was about half an hour, notwithstanding traffic. Fare was around P160 but I paid P200 - just to start the day right :) Here's what greeted us when we arrived at Shangri-La...
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Dec72010 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

An appeal to all of my valued Mindanaoan.com readers

Bisaya, Blogging, Contests, Features, Internet, Media, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Society, Technology
After bagging the Best Lifestyle Blog for Mindanao 2010 in the Philippine Blog Awards, this humble Mindanao blog is once again nominated - this time to two national blogging awards - the 2010 Philippine Blog Awards Bloggers' Choice Award and the 2010 Philippine Blog Awards Readers' Choice Award. As I previously wrote, however, I myself will not even vote for my own blog for the Bloggers' Choice Award since my vote will go to Bukidnon Online but for the Reader’s Choice Category, I would really appreciate a little help from my valued Mindanaoan.com readers, subscribers, supporters! :) Mindanaoan.com and other Readers' Choice Awards nominees will be judged according to the number of Facebook "LIKES" starting today until before 11:59 pm on December 11, 2010 (Saturday). Most number of lik...
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Dec62010 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Review: Red Box Karaoke Ayala Cebu

Beauty, Business, Cebu City, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Reviews, Tourism
I finally had the chance to visit the much-talked about Red Box Karaoke located at G101, Garden Level of The Terraces (below Active Zone, just beside the fountain) at the Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu Business Park. I've been hearing a lot of praises about this new Cebu hangout - karaoke place in Cebu so when my Cebu City-based brother finally had one free weekend, we decided to go to Red Box Karaoke Cebu and try their primetime package. The Red Box Ayala Cebu primetime package is available from 7 PM up to 12 midnight. For only P299.00+ per head (P399.00+ on Fridays and Saturdays), you can enjoy TWO FREE drinks (drink choices: iced tea, soda, local beers, mineral water, hot tea and brewed coffee), access to the extensive song library composed of more than 100,000 songs and fully airconditione...
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Nov262010 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

PacMan: Behind the Scenes with Manny Pacquiao

Bisaya, Blogging, Features, General Santos City, Humor, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Politics, Reviews, Sarangani, SoSCksargen, Sports
Many say that one will either extremely love or extremely hate this new biography about my fellow Mindanaoan, Manny Pacquiao. For fellow fans of the world's best pound for pound boxer and now Sarangani Mindanao congressman who haven't had the chance to read this new PacMan: Behind The Scenes With Manny Pacquiao book, I'm hoping that I will at least like it and not curse the book's author, Gary Andrew Poole. Because you see, while most of the "expert reviewers" say that this is a good read, many also say that it's poorly edited, contains unverified and even stupid material and reveals things about Pacquiao and the rest of Team Pacquiao that can, accordingly, "stain his good name." Before we talk about the nega stuff, though, let's consider some of the "good reviews." Scoop Malinows...
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Nov132010 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Tsim Sha Tsui Ayala Terraces

Cebu City, Commentary, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion, Photos, Reviews
No, this time it's not the Tsim Sha Tsui district found in Hongkong (which I miss but will soon be in again come March 2011! Well, that's another post :D) We're talking about the Tsim Sha Tsui restaurant found at The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu. Tsim Sha Tsui serves, quite obviously, Chinese cuisine. This Cebu restaurant is also known for their Dimsum Conveyor Buffet (an eat-all-you-can thingie for about P350.00 per head). Tsim Sha Tsui (pronounced as sim-shya-tswoy, according to Hongkies or Hongkong locals) is found at the second level of the Ayala Mall Cebu The Terraces. Anyways, on my first day in Cebu City, my brother and I had lunch at TST. And you know what this means. Food shots! The Hakao / Ha Kao / Hakaw or shrimp dumplings were juicy and delicious! (more…)
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