Travel Archives - Page 15 of 16 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Oct12009 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Camiguin Lanzones Festival 2009 Schedule

Announcements, Camiguin, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Fiesta, Mindanaoan Update, News, Northern Mindanao, Society, Tourism, Travel

Interested to visit Camiguin Island for this month's Lanzones Festival 2009? Check out the Camiguin Lanzones Festival 2009 schedule below. The 30th Lanzones Festival of the Island of Camiguin aims to give tribute to...well, what else...but the delicious lanzones fruit. If you haven't tried lanzones from Camiguin, Mindanao yet, you're missing a lot! Camiguin lanzones are best known for their sweet taste. If you're heading on down to Camiguin Island, don't forget to bring your camera, lots of suntan lotion (Mindanaoan highly recommends that you visit both Mantigue Island and White Island), swimwear and other travel essentials...just don't bring sand, please! There are funny (but cute!) things to see in the place dubbed as "Island Born of Fire." By the way, if you're looking for a hotel...

Sep262009 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Photography enthusiast? Check out the DENR Park in Initao, Misamis Oriental

Arts, Beauty, Blogging, Iligan City, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Photos, Tourism, Travel, Weddings

So this Mindanao blog is finally back on track! :) If you're a regular visitor of my humble blog, you may have noticed a couple of changes in the past few days. Because my blog has turned one year old, I wanted a new, fresher look. Hence, after hours of searching for a good, clean and functional Wordpress theme, I finally settled for this Typogriph theme. Do you guys like it? I do! :D I think my posts are easier to read now and my blog looks wide! :) My old theme, Revolution Church by Brian Gardner served me so well and I would like to thank Brian for letting me have a free copy (the Church theme can now be purchased at a reasonable price) and for letting me use it for an entire year. Thank you very much, Brian! I've also installed additional useful Wordpress plugins - one of which is ...

Sep142009 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3 on! Pre-register today for this October 24, 2009 special event in Mindanao!

Advocacy, Announcements, Bisaya, Blogging, Broadcasting, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Entertainment, Events, Features, Headline, Internet, Journalism, Mindanaoan Update, News, Northern Mindanao, Personal, Society, Technology, Tourism, Travel

Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3 is on! Finally, the much-awaited Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3 is now open for pre-registration. This blogging event, Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, will be held on October 24, 2009, 8am to 5pm at Pearlmont Inn, Lim Ket Kai Drive, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao. Led by the Cagayan de Oro Bloggers (CDO Bloggers), Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3 aims to draw bloggers from all over Mindanao and provide a platform where ideas, opinions and analyses about Mindanao can be exchanged. Moreover, Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3 or MBS 3 also aims to provide a venue where bloggers and stakeholders can discuss how Mindanaoans (that's you and me! :) ) can use blogs, the Internet as well as other new methods and technologies to project a better, safer and cleaner Mindanao. With the th...

Sep62009 by Mindanaoan Irene7 Comments

Zipzone – Asia’s longest dual cable zipline in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, Mindanao

Announcements, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Corporate, Features, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Society, Sports, Tourism, Travel

Mindanao is definitely on a roll these days! It's fast becoming the host of so many tourist attractions and exhilarating, unique and uber fun extreme sports and adventures! First there was the Xcelerator, dubbed Asia's longest speed zipline, then there was the Davao City Deca Wakeboard Park, which opened last August 28, 2009, and now, Mindanao will be the location of what's to be the longest dual cable zipline in Asia! ZIPZONE Extreme Zip Line Adventure Philippines will soon be open for business. Located at the verdant Dahilayan Adventure Park in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon (an hour's drive away from nearby Cagayan de Oro City, Northern Mindanao), Asia's longest Dual Cable Zipline is currently on a test run. Fast facts about this zipline adventure in Northern Mindanao: - Dual Carryin...

Sep42009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Iligan City Mindanao fiesta to feature Higantes

Announcements, Events, Festivals, Fiesta, Iligan City, Lanao del Sur, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Tourism, Travel

Here's another reason why you should all go and visit Iligan City, Mindanao during their fiesta month this year (September 2009 up to first week of October 2009). "Higantes" will be among the attractions in this year's celebration of the Iligan City fiesta. These "higantes" (giants), made of paper mache, cloth and other indigenous materials, will be part of the "Kasadya Street Dancing and Merrymaking" event. Similar to Angono, Rizal's "Higantes," (see inset picture) the entries will vie for a cash prize of P20,000.00. Each "higante" entry must not exceed 12 feet in height. Organizers also say that the entries must depict two characters linked to the Iligan City fiesta namely St. Michael and Luzbel (Lucifer). I guess this will be one fun event to take photos of! Wow, Mindanaoan w...

Aug192009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Cagayan de Oro City Mindanao aerial shots

Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Features, Flights, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Personal, Photos, Tourism, Travel

During my PAL Express flight from the Cebu International Airport, Mactan to Cagayan de Oro Domestic Airport, I took some aerial shots. I got a window seat at that time (I was also supposed to have a window seat during my PAL Express CDO to Cebu flight but my seatmate, an elderly woman who confessed that it's been so long since she last traveled by plane, looked pale and scared so I no longer insisted) so it was easy for me to take aerial shots of Cagayan de Oro City as our plane descended and prepared for landing. Mindanaoan wishes to share these Cagayan de Oro City aerial shots:

Aug32009 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Aboard PAL Express flight Cagayan de Oro to Cebu City

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Flights, Internet, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Northern Mindanao, Personal, Society, Tourism, Travel

A few hours after the Rock the Vote 2009 Cagayan de Oro leg and after sharing a hearty meal with the members of Team Oro Photo and Video (who generously extended their time and support to the Register and Vote Campaign...thank you, thank you!) as well as the event's hosts, Maxine Monasterio (Miss Teen Philippines 2007 and a CDO native) and Titus "TJ" Monterde (he's the son of Tito Monterde, the station manager of Wild FM CDO) --- (Max and TJ also host the ABS CBN Northern Mindanao Sunday show, Mag TV Na, Ato Ni!), I caught a CDO - Cebu PAL Express flight. PAL Express is owned by Philippine Airlines and is geared towards shorter flights. It was my first time to catch a PAL Express flight. After years of traveling from CDO to Cebu via boats (I've tried Trans Asia Shipping Lines, Superferry...

Jul292009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Book your PAL Express flights using your ATM card

Announcements, Corporate, Headline, Mindanaoan Update, Society, Technology, Tourism, Travel

MINDANAO TRAVEL - This is very good news especially for Mindanaoans who regularly fly via Philippine Airlines (PAL). Apart from the fact that your PAL Express flights can now earn you miles (sayang ang miles!), you can now also use ATM cards to buy PAL tickets! Good news for those who don't own or use credit cards :) Effective last July 1, 2009, all PAL Express flights automatically earn miles that can be converted to free flights both on Philippine Airlines (PAL) and PAL Express. So if you're a Mabuhay Miles member like myself, this is definitely an advantage! Meanwhile, BancNet ATM cards will soon be accepted as mode of payment for PAL tickets purchased online. This feature will be available next month. As soon as this is online, PAL passengers without credit cards can book and bu...

Jul242009 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Rock the Vote 2009 Cagayan de Oro City leg on July 30, 2009 – poster inside

Advocacy, Announcements, Bisaya, Blogging, Cagayan de Oro City, Campus, Entertainment, Events, Features, Government, Headline, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Music, News, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Politics, Society, Technology, Travel, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga Sibugay

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY NEWS | MINDANAO EVENTS - How does a FREE concert featuring Hale, Spongecola, Luke Mejares and other surprise guests sound to you? Because one will happen in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao very soon! "Rock The Vote 2009" will be held on July 30, 2009, 6 PM at the Xavier University Gymnasium, Cagayan de Oro City. "Rock the Vote" Cagayan de Oro City is a free concert which aims to engage young voters, especially the first time voters, to register and exercise their right to suffrage. Rock the Vote 2009 is in line with the ongoing Register and Vote (RV) Campaign, led by Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, which aims to draw out around 5 to 9 million Filipino voters for the May 2010 elections. Check out the poster for the CDO leg of the nationwide RV Campaign: Meanwh...

Jul212009 by Mindanaoan Irene6 Comments

Digital Filipino and Syntactics treat CDO Bloggers, pave way for new and strengthened connections!

Advocacy, Bisaya, Blogging, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Corporate, Events, Features, Internet, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Northern Mindanao, Opinion, Personal, Personalities, Photos, Society, Technology, Tourism, Travel

Can you still remember that mixed feeling of anticipation, eagerness and curiosity --- much like the feeling you had on your very first day in school? That was exactly how I felt when I attended a recent bloggers networking event in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao. Although it wasn't my first time to attend one, I still felt like a bright-eyed girl who was so excited to learn new things, to know more updates on the goings-on in the blogosphere and to meet new people in a new town - all of whom I felt shared my love and belief on the power and beauty of the Internet and blogging. Plus I was able to invite 6 friends from Bukidnon and all of my 3 brothers! HOW COOL WAS THAT? :) Mindanaoan attended the 1st Digital Filipino Club and Cagayan de Oro Bloggers Meet-up last July 17, 2009. Generousl...

Jul202009 by Mindanaoan Irene6 Comments

The Register and Vote (RV) bus is set to visit Cagayan de Oro City Mindanao

Advocacy, Announcements, Arts, Blogging, Bukidnon, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Entertainment, Features, Headline, Internet, Mindanaoan Update, Music, News, Northern Mindanao, Personalities, Society, Technology, Travel, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga Sibugay

Next stop: Mindanao! After doing the rounds in Quezon City, Tacloban and Cebu City, the colorful Register and Vote (RV) bus is now set to visit Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao! On July 30, 2009, the RV bus, which symbolizes the Register and Vote (RV) Campaign, will tour around CDO in the hope to draw out around 5 to 9 million Filipino voters for the May 2010 elections. And not only that --- the presence of the RV bus and its "RV drivers" led by Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan will also signal the start of the much-awaited Cagayan de Oro leg of "Rock The Vote" --- a FREE concert featuring various artists. Check out how the RV bus looks like: The RV Campaign aims to empower especially the first-time voters, encourage political participation among disenfranchised Filipinos and stren...

Jul92009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Full list of 58 erring contractors suspended by the DPWH – Mangima Road, Manolo Fortich contractor among those suspended

Announcements, Bukidnon, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Consumer, Controversial, Davao City, Malaybalay City, Mindanaoan Update, News, Tourism, Travel

MINDANAO - If you've recently tried a Bukidnon-Cagayan de Oro City road trip or a Davao City-Bukidnon-Cagayan de Oro City road trip, then you've most likely noticed the bottleneck of traffic at the Mangima Road section of Sayre Highway, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, Mindanao. There's currently a road and rehabilitation project there and I absolutely dread that section. I was once stuck there for 5 hours (!) during a Malaybalay City to Cagayan de Oro City trip. It usually just takes me 2 hours. You could just imagine the amount of time I've wasted! That Mangima Canyon Road repair project has been a cause of delays and loads of inconvenience for the riding public for months now. In fact, in an effort to ease the traffic somehow, the Provincial Government of Bukidnon has requested that no 1...

Jun142009 by Mindanaoan Irene3 Comments

Conquering the Xcelerator – the longest speed zip line in Asia

Commentary, Davao City, Entertainment, Features, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Photos, Reviews, Society, Tourism, Travel

MINDANAO - A few weeks ago, my family and I celebrated our brother's birthday by trying the most talked about Xcelerator over at Outland Adventure, Davao City, Mindanao. The Outland Adventure Xcelerator is said to be the longest speed zip line in all of Asia! Cool, right? We arrived at Outland Adventure Davao City half an hour before noon. As it turned out, we missed the "cut-off" time so we had to wait until they re-opened at roughly 1:30 pm. The more than an hour wait was all right --- we just kept ourselves busy taking photos. By 1:30 pm, all of the "zip liners" for the afternoon were asked to sign waivers. Then we proceeded to the area where we put on the harnesses, helmets and other safety gear. My brothers and I were made to choose if we wanted the "Superman" option or the ordi...

Jun52009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Review: Goodnews Traveller’s Inn, Capt. V. Roa Street, Cagayan de Oro City

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Features, Hotels, Mindanaoan Update, Photos, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

Here's another Mindanao Hotels review. Goodnews Traveller's Inn is located along Capt. Vicente Roa Street, Cagayan de Oro City, Northern Mindanao, Philippines. It's near the busy Cogon Market and is accessible by public utility vehicles (taxi, jeepney, trisikad and motorela) This lodging house in Cagayan de Oro City is also just a few steps away from the Cagayan de Oro City fire station. Truth be told, Goodnews Travellers Inn was my last...okay, ONLY choice at the time I was in CDO because all of the other hotels in Cagayan de Oro were fully booked. So with my hopes up, I checked in and got a double room. I paid P950.00 for the double airconditioned room. My room was at the third floor, which was a major bummer. Apart from the fact that I'm not a fan of using the stairs (Goodnews Travele...

May282009 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Thermal scanner to be installed at Lumbia Airport Cagayan de Oro

Announcements, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Corporate, Flights, Mindanaoan Update, News, Northern Mindanao, Tourism, Travel

I got word that Philippine Airlines (PAL) has donated a thermal scanner that can detect if a person has flu or fever. This thermal scanner is set to be installed at the Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City, Northern Mindanao very soon. This is really very good news especially since there are now 10 confirmed H1N1 virus cases in the country (and if I'm not mistaken, three people in the Caraga region, Mindanao are currently being suspected of carrying the deadly virus as well) Interestingly, it had to take a corporate giant like PAL to donate a working thermal scanner just so passengers using the Cagayan de Oro airport can be assessed for fever or flu or be more protected against the H1N1 virus. So exactly where's the health department in all of these? What about the local government?...

May282009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Looking forward to trying the Xcelerator!

Business, Consumer, Davao City, Entertainment, Features, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, Personal, Society, Tourism, Travel

Experience some atmosFEAR! Now who wouldn't be curious with that? I am really, really looking forward to trying the Xcelerator zip line over at Davao City's Outland Adventure this weekend! The Outland Adventure Xcelerator is supposedly the longest speed zipline in all of Asia! Cool, eh? The Xcelerator is open everyday from 8am to 5 pm. Groups reservations available for weekdays. Fee is P300.00 per adult. They grant a 50 percent discount for small children if they're riding in tandem with an adult. Outland Adventure is right across the GAP Farm along the Diversion Road in Ma-a, Davao City, Mindanao. Check out this video:

Apr302009 by Mindanaoan Irene9 Comments

Davao to Cagayan de Oro direct flights launched

Announcements, Bukidnon, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Corporate, Davao City, Flights, Mindanaoan Update, Tourism, Travel

Well, after years of waiting for another airline to launch Davao to Cagayan de Oro, Cagayan de Oro to Davao direct flights (the last airline that offered this was Mindanao Air - if memory serves me right - I was able to fly twice), the wait is finally over. Cebu Pacific Airlines has launched a direct thrice-weekly service from Davao to Cagayan de Oro starting May 14, 2009. And here's pretty tempting news for those who want to try this new route --- Cebu Pacific is introducing this Davao City to Cagayan de Oro City, Cagayan de Oro City to Davao City route with a one-way ‘Go Lite’ promo fare of P499 all-in. The seat sale will run from today to April 30, 2009 and is valid for travel from June 1 to August 31, 2009. Promo fare is non-refundable. The flight departs from Davao every Tuesday...

Apr202009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Review: EMR Suites in Koronadal City, Mindanao

Cotabato, Hotels, Koronadal, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion, Reviews, SoSCksargen, South Cotabato, Tourism, Travel

My companions and I were billeted at EMR Suites in Koronadal City, Mindanao last week. We were in the land formerly called Marbel for a two-day gig at EMR Center, which was actually just a few steps away from EMR Suites. Two words to describe my 3-night stay? UBER COMFORTABLE. My room had a large queen sized bed (you may also opt for the room with two single beds), an airconditioning unit, a table large enough for you to place your laptop and a few work-related stuff on, a few stools (my room had three), a large flat screen TV, cable connection and space for your clothes. The bathroom, meanwhile, was clean (this is very important, of course). It had hot and cold shower. Water current was strong, which I liked. I was also provided with a towel, a roll of toilet paper and a small...

Apr92009 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

Warning: don’t bring sand from White Island, Camiguin

Advocacy, Announcements, Camiguin, Mindanaoan Update, News, Tourism, Travel

CAMIGUIN ISLAND, MINDANAO - The world-renowned White Island in the Province of Camiguin is undoubtedly one of the more famous tourist spots in this side of Mindanao. Thousands of local and foreign tourists flock to this beautiful island year after year. And because it's one of the more preferred tourist destinations in the Island of Camiguin, the local government is doing everything in its power to maintain the beauty and cleanliness of the renowned White Island. The Camiguin government has also enforced a couple of rules and regulations that aim to protect and preserve White Island. One of these rules is that visitors are not allowed to bring sand from White Island. Check out the picture I took (the picture that appears in this post). There's a sign that says "Guinadili pagkuha s...

Mar42009 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Review: Tia’s Beach Resort Camiguin Island Mindanao budget hotel

Camiguin, Hotels, Leisure, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Reviews, Tourism, Travel

Summer is drawing near and I'm pretty sure that most, if not all, of you are thinking of places to go to during those hot summer days. And with airlines now offering more flights to and fro Camiguin Island, Mindanao, I'm sure many of you are considering the place dubbed as the "Island Born of Fire" as one of your summer destinations in the Philippines. Tia's Beach Resort in the Island of Camiguin, Northern Mindanao, Philippines can be considered a good place to stay especially if you're on a budget. The last time my mother, brothers and I stayed there was last year during the Holy Week. We planned to go to Camiguin at the last minute so practically most of the hotels and inns were already fully booked. Good thing my brother remembered Tia's Beach Resort and how he and his friends like...

Mar22009 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Bukidnon Kaamulan Festival 2009 Ethnic Street Dancing competition to have 7 contingents

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 o...

Jan312009 by Mindanaoan Irene9 Comments

Bukidnon’s Kaamulan Festival 2009 official schedule of activities

Announcements, Bukidnon, Events, Festivals, Fiesta, Kaamulan Festival, Mindanaoan Update, Tourism, Travel

The official schedule of the Province of Bukidnon's Kaamulan Festival 2009 celebration is finally out! This Kaamulan 2009 celebration sked was furnished by the Bukidnon Tourism Office of the Provincial Government of Bukidnon. The Kaamulan Festival is the largest festival in Bukidnon and is largely recognized as the only remaining authentic ethnic festival in the Philipines. Kaamulan is an indigenous Bukidnon term for “'gathering for any purpose.'" It can also mean a datuship ritual, a wedding ceremony, a thanksgiving festival during harvest time, a peace pact, or all of these together. Bukidnon's Kaamulan Festival, which began in the year 1977, is an ethnic festival featuring the province of Bukidnon’s seven (7) hill tribes namely Tala-andig, Higaonon, Umayamnon, Manobo, Tigwahanon, ...