February 2, 2010
Arts, Bisaya, Davao City, Entertainment, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, Music, Personalities, Photos, blogging
So during Mindanaoan’s Sinulog Festival 2010 escapade, I had the chance to catch one of the performances featured in the “Cebu, Cebu” event held at a large mall in Cebu City. “Cebu, Cebu” is an event that aims to focus the best of Cebu — from food to designers to jewelry to crafts to artists. And two of the artists that came to perform during that weeklong celebration included singer-actress Pinky Marquez and crooner Chad Borja.
Chad Borja may be from Cebu but he has been based in Davao City for several years now. He regularly performs at Kanto Bar over at Matina Town Square (MTS), Matina, Davao City, Mindanao.
Kanto Bar, by the way, is a favorite “must-drop-by” place by Manila-based Dabawenyo artists. Artists like Jay Durias and Jinky Vidal and the rest of Freestyle band. Whenever they have gigs in Davao City, they usually see to it that they drop by Kanto Bar after their show.
I should know, I usually tag along with them 
For instance, during South Border’s recent trips to Davao, we’d proceed to Kanto after their shows and the guys will jam. Sometimes Chad sings with them. Believe me, it’s quite an experience to listen to real, passionate and very talented musicians jam.
Anyways, before I totally digress…Chad Borja really wowed the Cebuano crowd. His voice was soothing yet powerful and he still had that charm. Proof of this is the number of ladies who got so enchanted with the “Ikaw Lang” singer that they kept on shrieking like college girls There were also a lot of ladies who kept on having their pictures taken with him even as he sang. Oh well 
Here are some of the shots I took of Chad and Pinky during that “Cebu, Cebu” event:
LikeNovember 30, 2009
Arts, Consumer, Davao City, Entertainment, Features, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Movies, Musings, Society, Style, Technology, Tourism
Gaisano Mall of Davao, one of the large malls in the world’s most livable city, now has a large, spacious cinema equipped with lazyboy (or rather La-Z-Boy) seats! For only P150.00, you can enjoy sitting on a very comfortable, cushiony seat with foot rest at the Red Carpet cinema!
The theater is very spacious and you get a lot of extra leg room. What I did notice, however, was that the seats come in two. Meaning if you’re going to watch a movie solo, there may be a possibility that someone else will also occupy the adjoining lazyboy seat. So I guess the Gaisano Mall of Davao Red Carpet cinema encourages catching flicks with a friend You also have your very own cup holder and extra space for small things (like perhaps your cellphone or car keys).
It’s not my first time to watch in a cinema with recliner seats or seats with foot rests, though. I like watching movies at Greenbelt Cinema in Makati and at Gateway Mall Cubao (the former has a cinema with recliner seats and foot rests) and my favorite so far – the Director’s Club at SM Mall of Asia. At the latter, you get your very own La-Z-Boy seat (solo!), the next seat is about a meter away (so you get the feeling that you’re in your very own recreation room) and you get unlimited popcorn and a drink. However, there’s a catch — tickets cost at least P300.00 So you see, the Gaisano Mall of Davao Red Carpet cinema ticket price of P150.00 is already A-OK
The Gaisano Mall of Davao Red Carpet cinema with lazyboy seats is located at the very entrance towards the cinema area at the topmost floor of the said Davao City mall. You can’t miss it – it’s the only one with a mini reception area (complete with a cute egg chair!) and well…fully carpeted floors
November 23, 2009
Announcements, Davao City, Entertainment, Events, Features, Mindanaoan Update, News, Sports, Tourism
Thankfully, my fellow Dabawenyos and I can now finally say that our beloved Davao City REALLY is a world-class city to live in. I just learned that the world’s most livable city will soon have its very own sports dome — fully airconditioned, ready to accommodate roughly 8,000 people and worth roughly P100 million.
And here’s something that may surprise a lot of people — the City Government of Davao need not shell out a single cent since the funds for this project have been sourced elsewhere — i.e. the national government funds.
Interestingly, the funding for this Davao City sports dome will be taken from the congressional development fund of the Speaker of the House Prospero Nograles, a certified Dabawenyo.
Nograles said that the initial P100 million was taken from the national budget while an additional P40 million will be taken from his congressional funds.
With P140 million allocated for this project, expect a world class sports facility, according to Nograles.
Are Dabawenyos really happy about this project, though?
To be erected at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) in Obrero, construction for the Davao City sports dome will begin in the next 6 months.
Yup, before the May 2010 elections…and yup, during the campaign season.
Nograles’ son, Atty. Karlo Nograles, is reportedly eyeing a national position — observers say that he may run for congress. His father is reportedly eyeing the mayoralty seat in Davao City.
I could only wish that this Davao City sports dome issue not be used during the campaign season…but then again we know this is wishful thinking.
The sports dome will reportedly have commercial spaces. These will be rented out to generate income. The income, according to Nograles, will be used to fund scholarship programs.
Anyways, politics aside, the Davao City sports dome is a welcome development. Finally, big shows can now be organized in Davao City. We may even be able to host a Philippine Basketball Association game! Right now, I think Panabo is the only nearest venue for PBA games in Mindanao.
Event organizers will be happy to know of this sports dome in Davao City. Question is…will locals be pleased?
November 10, 2009
BIMP-EAGA, Business, Consumer, Corporate, Davao City, Entertainment, Features, Island Garden City of Samal, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion, Personal, Society, Technology, Tourism
This is part 2 of my Casino Filipino Davao City – What to expect and what to do blog post series. Like I previously mentioned, Mindanaoan thought of writing this series because I know that there are still a lot of Pinoys out there who shun from casinos and betting stations. I DO NOT, however, advocate gambling. I just want to share with you all how life is inside a 24/7 casino, what you can see in PAGCOR Davao, what you can do in a Casino Filipino branch and how you can avail of freebies be they be food, bets, chips, tokens, concert tickets etc.
So are you now curious about what’s going on inside this 24-hour casino in Davao City, Mindanao?
Now that you already have your Casino Filipino Privilege Card, the next step would be to check out the various areas inside this casino. You can find rows and rows of slot machines near the entrance. Most of the slot machines there are “linked” – meaning that they have special “bonuses” and you also have the chance of winning large jackpot prizes. One “linked” area is the “King of Sport.” At any time while you’re playing, the games may be suspended and you may be assigned a horse. All of the machines that have been assigned with horses will then engage in a “virtual horse race” – you will have the chance of winning as little as P3,000 and as large as P1,000,000.00 Another linked area is a train type of game.
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Why Mindanaoans especially Dabawenyos still love TAPS
December 3, 2009
Commentary, Davao City, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Musings
4 comments
New fastfood outlets and restaurants may pop up like mushrooms in Davao City Mindanao but methinks Dabawenyos still love TAPS. Taps, short for “tapsilog” (tapa – sinangag – itlog), has long been in the food industry in Davao City and it’s known for its wide array of “pares” or “tapsi” meals. Name it – they most probably have it. From tapsilog to bangsilog (bangus-sinangag-itlog) to tocilog to lekasilog (lechon kawali-sinangag-itlog) to adosilog (adobo-sinangag-itlog), TAPS Davao has it!
If I’m not mistaken, they’ve been in existence for more than 15 years. Taps was one of the places my friends and I frequently hung out in during our high school days (only goes to show my age, eh?) These days, Taps now has branches in Bolton Street (the one I still frequently go to), Sta. Ana Street, Legaspi Street and at Matina Town Square.
So why do Mindanaoans especially Dabawenyos still love TAPS?
Firstly, because the prices are oh-so-affordable!
Just take this primasilog meal, for instance. Primasilog means pritong manok-sinangag-itlog!
For only P55.00, you get two pieces of medium-sized fried chicken, egg and fried rice. Not bad, right?
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