March 14, 2009
Bukidnon, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Mindanaoan Update, Movies, Personal, Personalities, Videos, kaamulan festival
I must admit, I’m kilig to the bones. Although I know by heart every single word Piolo Pascual said in this video greeting that he did (I should because I wrote the words LOL), I still cannot help but feel giddy. Piolo is Piolo! And he has always been very nice to me…so I have nothing but respect and admiration for the man. The last time I spoke to him was when I watched the ASAP show live at ABS-CBN Manila late last year. And I tell you, he really is one charmer! 
Check out the video greeting he did for his “fellow Bukidnons” (he, along with “Love Me Again – Land Down Under” co-star Angel Locsin, is an adopted child of the Province of Bukidnon) in time for the Kaamulan 2009. Piolo’s looking dapper in that video, don’t you think?
Thank you very much to Miss Mariole and Miss Lulu for granting our request and for making this Piolo Pascual video greeting for Bukidnon possible! Madakel ha salamat! (Thank you very much) My heartfelt thanks also to Miss Joy and Miss Wheng for the assistance.
And of course, my biggest thanks to Piolo Pascual. You made a lot of people very happy with this gesture. Salamat tungkay! Madakel ha salamat! 
LikeMarch 5, 2009
Announcements, Bukidnon, Entertainment, Events, Features, Festivals, Mindanaoan Update, Photos, blogging, kaamulan festival
The photos are out! I’d like to share with you some of the photos I took during the grand finals of the Kaamulan Jam 2009 Lock and Load Battle of the Bands which was held last February 28, 2009 at the Capitol Stage, Capitol Grounds, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
The finals night was a successful one – hundreds of people came despite the rain and very chilly weather. A total of five bands performed that night (elimination nights were held from Monday to Friday that week and the winning band had the chance to compete in the finals) and the band called “The Jam” nabbed the top prize of P25,000 cash.
By the way, apart from being one of the official photographers of the event, I (well, technically, the agency I own and manage) was also a sponsor and part of the coordinating committee
Check out these photos (most of them are still raw/unedited so please bear with me) and please feel free to leave a comment! Thanks
March 2, 2009
Announcements, Bukidnon, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Opinion, Personal, Society, Tourism, Travel
I learned from the Kaamulan Festival 2009 Chief Coordinator today that a total of seven (7) contingents will compete during the Kaamulan Ethnic Street Dancing competition this Saturday, March 7, 2009. The contingents will represent the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia and the municipalities of Cabanglasan, Kalilangan, San Fernando, Malitbog and Quezon.
I must admit, I was a little bit disappointed with the news. Out of 20 municipalities in Bukidnon and 2 full pledged cities and only 7 will vie for this year’s much-awaited event! However, the Kaamulan overall coordinator said that in recent years, the provincial government of Bukidnon has imposed a couple of changes in the way they handle the yearly festival — and the cutting down of budgets for official streetdancing competitors is one. Hopefully, this won’t deter tourists from coming as the Kaamulan Festival 2009 events have been pretty exciting so far.
Which reminds me — the Kaamulan Jam 2009 Lock and Load Battle of the Bands is finally done and over with! Thank goodness. That event left me sleepless for 10 days! I already posted some of the photos I took during the event over at Bukidnon Online so if you wish to check out some of my work, please don’t hesitate to visit
Anyways, going back to the Kaamulan Festival Streetdancing Competition – each contingent will have a float and the groups will also vie in two categories — the street dancing category (all contingents will pass through a large section of Malaybalay City’s main thoroughfare, Fortich Street) and the ground presentation category (the ground presentation will be held at the Capitol Grounds, Malaybalay City). The top prize, I think, is P150,000 — which I think is a bit too small considering that most, if not all, of the official contingents spend way more than that. Ah well…
If any of you are interested to watch the Kaamulan streetdancing competition this March 7, 2009, the event will start at 7 am at the Barangay Sumpong area of Malaybalay City (along Fortich Street). Contingents will, like I previously mentioned, pass through Fortich Street (hence, the traffic will be rerouted…buses, cars and other vehicles would need to take inner streets such as Magsaysay Street). Based on my previous coverages of Kaamulan street dancing events, I reckon all of the contingents should’ve already passed through Fortich Street at around 9 AM. Add the time needed for the ground presentations and I think the entire affair will end at around noon.
Things to remember:
- unless you’re an accredited member of the media, you can’t take pictures from the middle of the street. You can apply for accreditation from the PAIA (the Provincial Government of Bukidnon’s information arm)
- drink lots of water, bring a water bottle and some munchies. Stores along Fortich Street are usually closed until after the street dancing competition
- wear comfortable shoes. Chances are you would need to walk a lot because public utility vehicles (PUVs) such as multicabs and motorelas won’t be visible until after the competition. Besides, PUVs are not permitted to enter the Capitol Grounds at certain times so you may really need to put those legs to work
Have fun during the Kaamulan!
February 22, 2009
Bukidnon, Commentary, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Opinion, Personal, kaamulan festival
So today, Sunday, February 22, 2009, is the fifth day since the “soft opening” of the Kaamulan Festival 2009 celebration here in the Province of Bukidnon, Mindanao. I’m here because my team and I (meaning my very helpful brothers and I) are in-charge of some Kaamulan 2009 events. We regularly have a lot of responsibilities every Kaamulan time and it’s something that we just love to do. There’s a different kind of rush whenever you’re part of something grand and looked forward to by many. Plus of course it’s an honor to be a part of such a huge festival (not to mention the widely recognized only remaining authentic ethnic festival in the Philippines!)
There are now hundreds of booths at the Capitol Grounds here in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. All of these booths, by the way, are only made especially during Kaamulan time (second week of February until March 10 of every year) and are made out of indigenous materials. No booths made of aluminum here!
Ever since the “soft opening” last Wednesday, things have been getting busier by the minute – you can tell by the amount of text messages that I receive everyday. Updates from the Bukidnon tourism office, from the local police, from the TransCo coordinator (we need to know if there’ll be scheduled brownouts or if there’s enough power supply), from media practitioners, from fellow event coordinators and from members of bands participating in the much talked about Kaamulan Jam 2009 Lock and Load Battle of the Bands (top plum is P25,000.00 so it’s no surprise that a total of forty six bands -46 (!) – joined) Yup, that’s a LOT of text messages and calls every single day. Some may get peeved but for an event organizer like me, it’s just another day in the office, kumbaga.
The nightly performances at the Capitol have already begun, by the way. So far, the Malaybalay City band, Peacemaker band, Malaybalay Water District band and my favorite so far, the Azura Band, have already performed. Tonight, it’ll be the 29IB band’s turn to regale the crowd.
The Office of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri has also confirmed that popular band “Bamboo,” which is best known for the hit singles “Noypi,” “Hallelujah” and “Mr. Clay,” will perform on March 7, 2009. Sen. Migs is the main sponsor of the Bamboo gig. I’m pretty sure thousands of people will again flock at the Capitol Grounds for this event. Last year, I assisted during another one of Senator Miguel’s sponsored shows which featured Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson, Callalily, John Prats and the Tuko and Eric tandem from Wowowee. I think there were roughly 15,000 people at the Capitol Grounds that night. I will share photos and kuwentos about that experience in future blog entries here in Mindanaoan and in Bukidnon Online.
San Miguel Beer, on the other hand, one of this year’s major Kaamulan sponsors, will sponsor a show to be topbilled by Cebu City’s very own “Urbandub.” The band best known for songs like “Soul Searching” and “A New Tattoo” will perform at the Capitol Stage on March 9, 2009. Last year, San Miguel brought Kamikazee and I also assisted before and during the show. That was really fun! I will also share photos and kuwentos about that in future blog entries. As expected, the Capitol Grounds area was so packed with people and I’m sure the same thing will happen again this year during Urbandub’s performance.
So there…just a few updates about the ongoing Kaamulan Festival 2009 celebration. I will post more updates in the next few days. Also, please don’t hesitate to check Bukidnon Online for news, photos and updates since I’ll be writing there often, too.
Ciao for now
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The presidentiables, senatoriables are now reaching out to Mindanao
April 10, 2009
Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Controversial, Government, Headline, Journalism, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Opinion, Personal, Personalities, Society
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Just a few days ago, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay paid Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao a visit. He was the guest of honor in an SK-related event, I think. However, sources told me that he also proceeded to the Province of Bukidnon to meet some political allies.
Care to guess what they discussed?
Senator Mar Roxas, on the other hand, has also been visible around Mindanao as of late. Touted as the Liberal Party’s presidential bet, Senator Mar has been doing the rounds here as commencement exercises speaker.
Same thing with the solon from Sorsogon, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. He was in Iligan City, Davao City, Ozamis City, Cagayan de Oro City and Maguindanao recently. Chiz’s office also released some video greetings wherein he spoke in various dialects including Bisaya.
Check out his Kaamulan 2009 greeting for the people of Bukidnon (this video also appears in Bukidnon Online):
The Office of Senator Richard Gordon, meanwhile, has also been on a roll as of late. I’ve been receiving a ton of press releases/media statements from his office.
Another Mindanaoan believed to have very good chances of winning a Senatorial seat has also slowly but surely started to become more and more visible — Atty. Adel Tamano.
With these types of direct and “subtle” PR efforts, you can’t help but wonder if the campaign season has already begun. When does being a public servant end and being a “presidentiable” or “senatoriable” begin?
And more importantly — given all their visits and PR campaigns here in Mindanao — do you think they’ve tickled the Mindanaoan’s fancy?