Tourism Archives - Page 6 of 17 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Oct62014 by Mindanaoan Irene10 Comments

How to apply for a Korean visa – requirements for Filipino tourists

Features, Flights, Government, Headline, Korea, Leisure, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Society, Tourism, Travel

When my friends and relatives first learned that I was set to visit Korea, all of them got really excited. Can't blame them as Korea is one of the favorite travel destinations of many Filipinos these days, thanks to the ever growing popularity of K-Pop, Koreanovelas and continuous visits to the Philippines by popular Korean celebrities. As of this writing, Filipinos still need a visa to enter Korea. Filipino tourists who intend to stay for 59 days or less can apply for a Korean tourist visa FOR FREE. The thing is, though, you must apply at the Korean embassy in Manila for you to avail of the FREE South Korea tourist visa. For people outside Metro Manila (like me and my brother!), the cheaper option is to have an accredited travel agency fix our applications. In our case, since our fligh...

Oct62014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mindanaoan in Korea travel series: itinerary, tips and more

Blogging, Culture, Entertainment, Features, Flights, Korea, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Society, Style, Tourism, Travel

I have been traveling a lot the past few weeks! One of my recent foreign travel destinations was KOREA :) It was my very first time (and most definitely not the last!) to visit the world's only divided country and my brother (who was my travel companion) and I had the most amazing time! We stayed for a little over a week - just the perfect number of days to explore Seoul, Nami Island and a bit of North Korea (yessir!) I can't wait to share with you more details about our Korea trip! Please follow my humble Mindanaoan in Korea travel series by CLICKING ON THIS FEED and bookmarking/saving the pages :) You may also want to take a look at some of my photos on Instagram. I will share budget travel tips, very helpful travel apps, recommended hostel in Seoul, delicious Korea food finds, videos...

Sep22014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

PHOTOS: Kaamulan Festival 2014 Ethnic Street Dancing And Float Competition

Advocacy, Bukidnon, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Kaamulan Festival, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, News, Northern Mindanao, Photos, Tourism

KAAMULAN FESTIVAL 2014 - The Kaamulan Festival 2014 street dancing and float competition is one of the major highlights of Bukidnon's yearly gathering of its 7 hill tribes. This year, the much-awaited event was held for two days - August 30 and 31, 2014 - at Malaybalay City. All Bukidnon cities and municipalities were asked to join the competition this Kaamulan Festival 2014 in line with the province's 100th founding anniversary (Bukidnon Centennial). In previous years, only between 7 and 10 contingents join the competition due to budget constraints. Sharing with you some of the photos taken by Mindanaoan's Kaamulan 2014 team during the Kaamulan Festival 2014 ethnic street dancing and float competition:

Jul242014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Davao’s Kadayawan 2014 schedule of activities

Announcements, Davao City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Tourism, Travel

Kadayawan 2014, the annual festival in Davao City that showcases the city's rich and diverse culture and tradition, is happening from August 11 to 17, 2014. Themed "Kalamboan sa Kinaiyahan: Kadayawan sa Katawhan" (Nature's Flourishing: People's Well Being), the 29th Kadayawan sa Dabaw will also serve as a thanksgiving celebration and will provide the platform for the various indigenous tribes Ata Manobo, Ubo Manobo, K'lata, Matigsalug, Maranao, Tagabawa, Maguindanao, Sama, Tausug and Kalagan to converge. The word "Kadayawan" comes from the Mandaya word "Madayaw" which means anything valuable, good, pleasant, beautiful and bountiful. Kadayawan Festival 2014 Schedule of Activities: July 26 to August 26, 2014 Kadayawan Fair, Agro-Trade Exhibit including Lumadnong Gama (SM Par...

Jul172014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Higalaay Kagay-an Festival 2014 schedule of activities #CDO

Announcements, Cagayan de Oro City, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Government, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Tourism, Travel

The 2014 Kagay-an Festival schedule of events has finally been revealed! The CDO fiesta is now also known as Higalaay Kagay-an Festival 2014 (Higalaay means friendship - pretty apt since Cagayan de Oro is known as the City of Golden Friendship) and is celebrated in honor of the city's patron saint, St. Augustine (August 28). Check out the following Kagay-an Festival 2014 core events which are the rallying points for the campaign to promote Cagayan de Oro City and the surrounding areas as an investment and tourism destination: Mindanao Fashion Summit on August 8 to 10 at Limketkai Rotonda - 1pm to 8pm Kumbira (the country's longest-running culinary show) on August 13 to 15, 2014 at the Limketkai Mall Atrium, 10am Garden Show & Agri Fair on August 8 to 31, 2014 at Gaston ...

Jul82014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Sinuglaw Festival 2014 Cagayan de Oro Participating Establishments

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Society, Tourism

Sinuglaw or sinugba + kinilaw (grilled pork belly and fish ceviche), to me, is one curious, interesting, weird but delicious dish. I mean, look, you have raw fish salad mixed with charred meat and then embraced together by vinegar, tabon-tabon and a colorful, merry mix of ginger, onion, chili and other spices. Party in your mouth! Now if you've tried sinuglaw in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, then you'd agree with me when I say that it's definitely one of the tastiest in the country! So tasty that there's an annual Sinuglaw Festival in CDO! Yes, folks, for 2 glorious months, we can all taste sinuglaw prepared various ways. The Sinuglaw Festival 2014 CDO is a signature event of the Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association (COHARA) and a prelude its yearly-flagship event, KUM...

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 ...

May222014 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Travel guide: CDO to GenSan by land

Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Cotabato, General Santos City, Koronadal, Malaybalay City, Mindanaoan Update, North Cotabato, SoSCksargen, South Cotabato, Tacurong, Tourism, Travel

When I got that invitation to experience the Sarangani Bay Festival 2014 a few days ago, I was supposed to fly from CDO to Davao (a half hour flight) then take the bus from Davao to General Santos City (a 3-hour ride). Unfortunately, the airline had other plans - they postponed the flight to FOUR days AFTER my supposed arrival (which also meant that the festival already wrapped up by then!) due to "aircraft situation." Ergo, I had no other choice but to take the bus all the way from Cagayan de Oro to GenSan. It was a long and arduous trip but still worth it - I was, after all, heading to Sarangani for the biggest beach festival in Mindanao! I will no longer name the airline but here's a clue - they love playing games. And they played one on me! Anyways, I will share more about my SarBay...

May82014 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Where Mindanaoan is heading to next – Sarangani Bay Festival 2014

Advocacy, Announcements, Beauty, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, General Santos City, Mindanaoan Update, Sarangani, SoSCksargen, Tourism

I'm really, really excited to share this with all of you! I'm heading to Sarangani Province in a few days for the much-awaited Sarangani Bay Festival 2014 or SarBayFest 2014!!! :D I can't wait to visit the beautiful white sand beaches at Glan, Sarangani again and witness just how fun the biggest beach festival in Mindanao is! I would like to extend my most heartfelt gratitude to the Provincial Government of Sarangani led by Governor Steve Solon for this very special invitation and most especially to the First Lady of the province - Ma'am Michelle Solon :) Thank you, thank you very much! Interested to attend the Sarangani Bay Festival 2014 as well? Come! Here's the Sarangani Bay Festival 2014 schedule of activities: May 16, 2014 5 AM - Swim Across the Bay 8 AM - SarBay T...

May62014 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Kaamulan Festival 2014 Bukidnon schedule of activities

Advocacy, Announcements, Bukidnon, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Fiesta, Kaamulan Festival, Malaybalay City, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Tourism, Travel

Kaamulan Festival 2014 - The Philippines' only ethnic cultural festival is happening real soon! The Kaamulan Festival 2014 will take place the entire month of August and will culminate on September 1, 2014. The Kaamulan Festival 2014 Bukidnon is a yearly gathering of Bukidnon's 7 hill tribes. You can read more about the Kaamulan Festival here. Below is the Kaamulan Festival 2014 Schedule of Activities - please SHARE this :) Thank you! For more Kaamulan 2014 festival updates, "like" the Kaamulan Festival Facebook Page If you have Twitter, you can also follow the Bukidnon Online Twitter account and for Facebook users, please follow the Bukidnon Online Facebook Page. * photo owned by Mindanaoan.com If you own a business and you want to make your presence felt during the Kaa...

May32014 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Relax at Mapaso Wellness Spring Resort, Mainit, Surigao del Norte

Agusan del Norte, Features, Leisure, Surigao, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tourism, Travel

I realize the title of this blog entry is a bit ironic, considering that "mapaso" means "to get burnt" in Bisaya and "hot" in Surigaonon dialect :) But yes, you can definitely relax at Mapaso Wellness Spring Resort, located some 2 kilometers from the town proper of the Municipality of Mainit, Surigao del Norte. The Mapaso Spring Resort in Mainit (see how the name of the resort is related to the name of town?) is reminiscent of Ardent Hibok Hibok Spring Resort in Camiguin Island. A natural hot springs resort, Mapaso Wellness Resort boasts of fresh sulfuric flowing water from the mountains. You see, sulfuric water reportedly has therapeutic effects - it can help treat asthma, rheumatism and skin diseases. It was early afternoon when we traveled from Mainit Lakeside Hotel and Resort to ...

Apr222014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Mahin Festival 2014 Sarangani schedule of activities @gosarangani

Beauty, Festivals, Fiesta, General Santos City, Mindanaoan Update, Sarangani, Tourism, Travel

While we're all waiting for the Sarangani Bay Festival 2014, also known as the biggest beach festival in Mindanao, here's another good reason for you to visit the lovely province of Sarangani in Mindanao this summer. The 4th Mahin Festival 2014 will be held on April 25 and 26, 2014 at Gumasa in Glan, Sarangani. Gumasa is a lovely beach stretch that boasts of pristine waters and white sand. It's also where the Sarangani Bay Fest is held annually. Various activities have been lined up for Mahin Festival 2014. Some of the highlights include skimboarding, "Oplan Karagatan" - a clean up drive and mangrove planting activity, sugbahan sa baybayon, bancarera (this one's fun to watch), lumba kabayo sa baybayon, sand sculpture competition, lumba bugsay and lumba langoy. All fun water and sport...

Apr212014 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Mainit Kasili Resort at Lake Mainit, Surigao del Norte

Advocacy, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Hotels, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Surigao, Surigao del Norte, Tourism, Travel

Did you know that the deepest lake in the Philippines can be found in Mindanao, Philippines? Lake Mainit, located in Surigao del Norte, is also the fourth largest lake in the Philippines. Lake Mainit has a surface area of 173 square kilometers and a maximum depth of 223 meters. Eight towns can be found around the lake, which is actually "shared" by Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Norte. If you're fond of eco-tours and photography, Lake Mainit is a splendid place in Mindanao to go to. And if you need to stay overnight or even for a few days, you might want to stay at the government-owned and run Mainit Kasili Legacy Resort. Mainit Kasili Lakeside Resort and Hotel offers several types of rooms, facilities and amenities. It has a convention center, a restaurant, function hall, s...

Apr182014 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Eating sea urchins at White Island Camiguin

Camiguin, Food, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

Living sea urchins don't look appetizing at all - what with their scary looking spines. But mind you, sea urchins or "tuyom" as they are locally known are actually considered culinary delicacies in many parts of the world. In fact, a kilo of sea urchin roe fetches hundreds of dollars. So when I spotted some fishermen selling fresh sea urchins for sale at White Island, Camiguin, I just had to get some! They were selling them for Php 50.00 (about US$1.50) for 3 pieces. Ate them raw with coco vinegar. Yum! Have you tried eating sea urchins? Let me know in the comments section :) Meanwhile, here are some shots taken at White Island, Camiguin. Planning to visit this beautiful island in Mindanao? Here's a Camiguin Island Travel Guide and here's how to get to White Island Camiguin...

Mar292014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Jalan Alor Food Trip – must-do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Food, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mindanaoan Update, Tourism, Travel

One of the things I love doing whenever I'm in a foreign country is try good, affordable local food. Preferably right at the sidewalks, at hawker stalls, at karinderyas, at local food markets. I'm not saying, though, that swanky restaurants don't offer good food. I just think that a lot of unique, flavorful, delectable dishes can be found at simple, often unexpected places. This is exactly what happened when Ryan and Scott, my two very well-traveled, now Kuala Lumpur-based friends, took me and co-Malaysia Social Media Week 2014 speaker from the Philippines Anton Diaz to a special food trip night at Jalan Alor. Actually, they did more than just take us. They generously treated us and I must say, I felt really touched and grateful :) Jalan Alor at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is a certified ...

Mar262014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Re-visiting Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia @TourismMalaysia

BIMP-EAGA, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mindanaoan Update, Tourism, Travel

Whenever I'm in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I always seem to find myself at Batu Caves. The first time was with my mother and she and I were toured there (aboard a fancy Hummer, no less!) by a dear Malaysian friend, Zaiful Ibrahim. The second time was with my brother, cousins and a friend and again Zaiful was with us. We took a van at the time. Now during my most recent trip to Kuala Lumpur (to speak at the 2014 Malaysia Social Media Week), I again found myself at Batu Caves - this time with a co-speaker from the Philippines, Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet. He has never visited the place and upon my insisting, we took a taxi from his hotel in Bukit Bintang (cost was roughly RM 25) and reached Batu Caves in about 15 minutes on a humid afternoon. Located about 13 kilometers north of Kual...

Feb182014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Big Davao Fun Sale – up to 80 percent off!

Consumer, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Fiesta, Leisure, Shopping, Society, Tourism, Travel

There are two great reasons for you to visit Davao City soon! March 16, 2014 is Araw ng Davao 2014. You can witness cultural presentations, socio-civic activities, trade fairs and the like. And from March 14 to April 16, 2014, the Big Davao Fun Sale 2014 a.k.a. the Philippines' first CITYWIDE SALE will be held. You can avail of up to 80 percent savings! The biggest city in the world, with the biggest sale in the country. Visit on these dates to avail of the biggest sale: - March 14 and 15: General Sale - March 16 to 23: Healthy and Beauty - March 24 to 30: Electronics and Gadgets - March 31- April 6: Home and Travel - April 7 to 16: Fashion Active Lifestlye For more updates about the 2014 Big Davao Fun Sale, check them out on Facebook For places to stay, restaurants to ...

Jan142014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Kaamulan Festival 2014 in Bukidnon moved

Announcements, Bukidnon, Culture, Events, Tourism

The Kaamulan Festival 2014 in Bukidnon will now be celebrated the entire month of August. In the past few years, Bukidnon celebrates Kaamulan Festival every end of February to March 10, supposedly the day the province celebrates its founding anniversary. However, the Provincial Government of Bukidnon has recently passed a resolution stating that the founding anniversary should be celebrated every September. To clarify, however, Kaamulan Festival has been celebrated every August before. So I guess this development is more like a "homecoming" (to the original date!) of sorts :) The culmination of the 2014 Kaamulan Festival will be held on September 1. Highlight during that day will be the streetdancing competition, where all 20 municipalities and 2 cities of Bukidnon will send continge...

Dec152013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Travel: New way to explore Davao and Samal Island beaches

Advocacy, Blogging, Business, Consumer, Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Features, Island Garden City of Samal, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Resorts, Reviews, Society, Tourism, Travel

One of the many joys of living in Davao City is that it is just several minutes away (a 15-minute ferry ride away, in fact) from Samal Island (Island Garden City of Samal or IGACOS), home of white sand beaches, great resorts, clear water, healthy marine life and dive spots. A lot of tourists usually go to just one resort in Samal Island but did you know that there's now a new, fun way to explore Davao and the beaches around Samal? Why not go island hopping aboard Explore Davao? Explore Davao is an outrigger boat (bangka) complete with an expanded sun deck, bean bags, iPod dock and a cooler. Explore Davao island hopping banca even has its own comfort room and a nifty trapdoor! To show you just how comfortable Davao island hopping aboard Explore Davao is, here are my cool friends an...

Oct312013 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Mindanaoan is 2013 Mindanao Blogger Of The Year

Advocacy, Agriculture, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, America, 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, Sindangan, 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, United States of America, Videos, Visayas, Weddings, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga Sibugay

It still feels a bit surreal, truth be told. Winning the 2013 Mindanao Blogger Of The Year award and the Best Lifestyle Blog award during the Mindanao Blog Awards 2013 held last October 26, 2013 in Davao City was the farthest thing from my mind. I was there to meet my blogger friends, have a good time, maybe drink a cocktail or two and cheer for other finalists. My mindset that night was (and I actually wrote this days before the finals): Win or lose, you are a champ. What's important is that you did your best in letting more people understand and appreciate the power of social media and blogging in sparking more conversations, making better communities and harnessing better understanding. Social good, folks. Only the good. So when my name was called, you could just imagine my shock. Yup...

Oct112013 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Davao fruit shopping with Rivermaya @rivermayaband

Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Entertainment, Events, Features, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Musings, Personalities, Shopping, Society, Tourism

Was scanning my files earlier today and I found these! Very timely - since my Rivermaya band boys are currently in Dubai as of this writing and I miss them :) I will be in Manila in a few days, actually, but I'm not sure if I could watch any of their gigs. Oh well, c'est la vie. Anyway, here's the kuwento behind these photos. Hours before that Rivermaya Live In Davao show I co-produced with Apo View Hotel and The Blue Room not too long ago, Explore Davao treated Rivermaya band members Mark Escueta, Mike Elgar, Norby David and Ryan Peralta, the Rivermaya band management (led by Raymond) and I to a fun Samal Island trip! The boys looked pretty excited that morning :) Of course, what good is a beach/island outing without baon? Davao Congressman Karlo Nograles and his lovely wife ...

Oct112013 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Travel: Camiguin Sto. Nino Cold Spring Resort

Camiguin, Leisure, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Tourism, Travel

Have you been following my Camiguin Island posts? You may have come across my Ardent Hibok Hibok Spring Resort post where I shared that it's where you can find pools with hot sulfuric flowing water. Now if in Ardent Resort Camiguin you'll find natural hot springs, there's another Camiguin Island tourist spot where you'll find cold springs! Just how cold? Read on. Located in Catarman town, Camiguin, Sto. Nino Cold Spring Resort is home to a huge (almost Olympic-sized) pool. That's about 40 meters by 25 meters. What makes this Camiguin resort unique is the cold, clear fresh water. It's so cold that more often than not, first timers who dive into the pool right away usually alight shivering. That's why it's a good idea to check the water temperature first. Best if you can sit on the edge o...