Zamboanga City Hall lights up for Christmas!

Zamboanga City has just lighted its city hall just in time for Christmas !



This is just one example of how Christian tradition hits mindanao this Holiday Season.

It is a delight not only for tourists but also for locals alike.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Davao City's Pasko Fiesta 2011 activities bared!

Pasko Fiesta celebration this year that will kick off with a ceremonial lighting of the Christmas tree on Monday, December 5, at Davao City's People's Park.



The rest of the Pasko Fiesta schedule:

• Pasko Fiesta Bazaar at Palma Gil Street (December 1-31);


• Pasko sa Chinatown at Chavez Street (December 16-23);


• Pasko sa Roxas at Roxas Avenue (December 1- 31);


• Pasko Fiesta sa People's Park, December 6-25;


• Kahayag sa Pasko in different venues for the whole month of December; and


• Lamdag Parada at Roxas Avenue, CM Recto Street, and San Pedro Street (December 21).

Other activities:

• Various workshops will also be held at Pasko Fiesta Bazaar Activity Area along Palma Gil Street;


• city-wide grand toy sale in different venues (December 10);


• city-wide grand Christmas shopping sale (December 15-18);


• Paskong Handog Day at People's Park (December 22); and


• Christmas Unity Celebration at the People's Park (December 23).

Merry Christmas to all!!

Pinoy Teens for PBA Bloggers’ Choice!

I’m very happy with how far Kevin has come this year, and I'm voting for Pinoy Teens as my 2011 Philippine Blog Awards Bloggers’ Choice 

Why I chose Pinoy Teens!

Well, it’s because Pinoy Teens is the one of the best blogs for teens. Kevin has been very optimistic how Pinoy Teens desires, wan year.

I have great belief in Pinoy Teens and I think that it’s going to be sooner or later when the blog receives the recognition that I believe it deserves.

Good luck Pinoy Teens and good luck Kevin!

Bansalan's Lao Integrated Farms a role model on countryside development!

The coconut sugar firm in Bansalan, Davao del Sur is  a role model of the Department of Science and Technology’s flagship program on countryside development.


DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo commended the Lao Integrated Farms, Inc. based in Barangay Eman, Bansalan for bringing improvements into the rural area of the province, using appropriate technology innovations.

Farm owner and chief executive officer Benjamin Lao started ten years ago from a barren land in Brgy. Eman. The  inventor and producer of the Donnabelle coconut sugar and syrup products made from coconut sap.

Lao recalled that he started developing the one-hectare coconut farm and introduced organic farming. Today, Donnabelle coco sugar and syrup products are exported to Australia, Germany and Japan.

The business has also expanded to other coco sugar-based products such as ginger tea, moringa, lemon grass and seasonings.
Lao said he had only seven workers prior to the DOST assistance. The company now has a workforce of 86 toddy suppliers and 35 regular employees.

He plans employing 50 additional workers when he expands the business to Japan by the last quarter of 2012.

Lao is a national awardee as Outstanding Farmer and Magsasakang Syentista. The provincial government also recognized Lao for his exceptional contribution not only in improving the agriculture sector, but also in uplifting agri-entrepreneurship through his invention and production of the coconut sugar/syrup.

Nominations for Datu Bago Awards 2012 now open!

DATU Bago Award, the most prestigious awards conferred by the City Government and partner organizations to outstanding Dabawenyos, has opened its doors again for its 2012 nomination.

The award is open to any person with significant contribution through their respective fields of expertise or specialization like education, business, and community service, among others.

Apart from that general qualification, nominees must comply with the following criteria set by the board:

For a living nominee, he or she must accept the nomination. Previous nominees can still be re-nominated provided updates on his/her accomplishments must be submitted.

However, those who have won an award are no longer qualified to be nominated.

Specifically, all who possess the following attributes are qualified for the award:

1. substantial contribution(s) to the growth and development of the City of Davao;

2. exemplary service(s) rendered to the community in any field or endeavor;

3. work-related accomplishment must merit national and/or international recognition, placing the city in the map;

4. must be law-abiding, of good moral character and integrity and has a good reputation in the community.

Submission of nomination will be accepted until December 15 and the awardees will be conferred during every celebration of Araw ng Dabaw in March.

Free Breast Cancer Screening on Oct. 9 at NCCC Mall!

THE Davao Cancer Society will provide the public free breast examination and consultation, breast ultrasound, and fine needle aspiration biopsy at the NCCC Mall of Davao on October 9, 2011!



The event is in cooperation with the Davao Cancer Society in the celebration of the 2nd Atty. Eugenia Marfori Celi Breast Cancer Awareness and World Menopause Day in commemoration of the Breast Cancer Month.

Aside from the free breast examination, flu vaccines will also be given for free to the first 200 participants.

A fun run dubbed "Pink Run" will also be held on the same day. Cancer survivors can join the one-kilometer run for free. Registrations for the 4K category is at P300 while the 8K and 12K at P600.

3rd Dayaw Festival held in Tagum City this Oct. 7-9!

The 3rd Dayaw - Indigenous Peoples Festival for 2011 will be held in Tagum City this October 7 to 9, 2011!



Dayaw is an annual celebration of the Indigenous Peoples Festival, this festival is a venue for indigenous peoples to celebrate the richness of their culture. Allow cultural exchanges that will foster deeper cultural understanding to sustain a culture of peace. Provide opportunity to discuss the rights of Indigenous People. Give students and other people a chance to deepen their awareness and appreciation of indeginous cultures.

Dayaw will showcase their rituals, performing arts, cuisines, games, crafts and others. Additionally, they will be joined by delegates from Southeast Asian countries in simultaneous exchange and interactive activities such as performances, exhibitions, forums, lecture-demonstration, workshops on traditional crafts and cuisines and indigenous games.

The Energy Park in Barangay Apokon will be the main venue for the said festival. Outreach programs will also be held in Davao City and some towns in the provinces of Davao del Norte and Compostella Valley. Taking the lead on the preparation of Dayaw is the Tagum City Tourism Council, headed by its President, Mrs. Alma L. Uy.

The Dayaw celebration is in consonance with the Presidencial Proclamation 1906, declaring October as National Indigeous Peoples Month in the Philippines.

Watch Piolo Pascual the National Commision for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) culture ambassador:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYpFCvHmxuw[/youtube]

25 Years Of Side A with album “SIDE A 25” with special performance at Abreeza Mall on Sept. 20!

       The past decades have sent the rise and fall of the seemingly invincible artists and groups, Side A has braved the storms and persevered through whatever trends The name is synonymous with an unmatched classic-after-classic repertoire of songs (spanning a whopping collection of more than a dozen official albums, a Christmas album, singles and various greatest hits collections…) and unequaled live performances nationwide and abroad.

            The band – composed of founding member Naldy Gonzales, veteran guitarist/vocalist Joey Generoso and veteran drummer Ernie Severino, former Take One guitarist Leevon Cailao and former Freeverse bassist Ned Esguerra –aren’t resting on their collective laurels. Their music lives on and just like wine, it gets finer with every new musical outing. Timed to their celebration of the band’s Silver Anniversary,  Warner Music releases a special collection entitled “SIDE A 25”, a double-disc offering that includes twenty-five years of the greatest and bestmusic that the band has created.

            Featuring vintage material from the band’s beginnings – “Eva Marie,” the Tagalog ditty “’Di Pa Huli,” the band’s breakthrough heartbreak anthem “Hold On” and the infectious remake of Labuyo’s “Tuloy Pa Rin,” this collection also puts together fan favorites through the years, including sentimental tracks like “Until Then,” “So Many Questions,” “Forevermore,” “Will I Ever,” “Set You Free,” “By Your Side,” “If Only” and “Let The Pain Remain,” among numerous others, and goes the extra mile with live renditions from their legendary 10^th Anniversary Concert disc “I Believe In Dreams,” “Foolish Heart” and their revivals “Ang Aking Awitin” and “Tell Me.”           And no new release is complete without a new track, in which the band happily obliges with “Before I Let You Go,” a previously unreleased original that, judging by the title alone, will have fans swooning to its bittersweet lyricism and melody.

            This outing is special for Side A for two reasons. “First, it marks our 25^th year in the business. And second, it is a gesture of thanks to our fans who have been supporting us through the years. We won’t be who we are and achieved what we had in the business if not for the fans.” says Joey Generoso.

             Being the group’s silver anniversary, Side A treats its  loyal fans to special live performances of their timeless hits in the country’s biggest shopping malls: September 18 at the Ayala Center in Cebu  and September 30 at  Abreeza Mall in Davao.

59th Araw ng Bansalan schedule of activities!

The municipality of Bansalan will celebrate on September 18, its 59th town anniversary!  Bansalan used to be a barangay of Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur. When Digos became a town, Bansalan was one of those areas included. Then in 1952, Bansalan was separated from Digos.



Data and schedule of activities:

September 12, 2011 

Opening ceremony      -     Municipal lobby

September13, 2011

Jobs Fair

Opening of Grow Micro Dusplay Boots     -   Municipal Hall

September 14, 2011

Cooking Contest     -    Municipal Hall

September 15, 2011

Agriculture Day of Bansalan   - ABC GYM 6:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Parade of the Most Beautiful Carabao & Most Talented Varetaker

Mass Graduation (School on Air and Low Income Family Pax)

Mass Induction Ceremonies (BAFC & MAFC Officers)

Gawad Saka Awarding Ceremony-Municipal Level Winner (2010-2011)

Free Consultation/Dialogue-Agri Pinoy Program

September 16, 2011

Band and Lyre Presentation  -  BCES Athletic Grounds7:00 a.m.

Cheer Dance Presentation   -  ABC Gym 1:00 p.m.

September 17, 2011

Municipal Hall - Bansalan Central Elementary School grounds

Bansaulog ( Street Dancing)

September 18, 2011

Anniversary Program  -  ABC Gym 9:30 a.m.

Awarding of Plaques to Outstanding Bansaleños

 

2011 Mr. and Miss GenSan revealed!

The just concluded Mr. and Miss GenSan 2011 which is one of the highlights of the Tuna Festival in GenSan City was very memorable. It was hosted by Victor Aliwalas and Anna Maris Igpit with Claudine Barretto as one of the celebrity judge.

The grand coronation night was held at the KCC Mall's activity center, the contestants was serenaded by Mike Tan and it was like a Kapuso night at the pageant.

Mr. and Ms. Gensan Winners are:

• Mr. and Miss GenSan – Caroline Lim and Jerick Chan


• 1st Runner Up – Ayana Grico and Jeffthie Cardino


• 2nd Runner Up – Windy Lou Pontino and Serafin Lim

Congratulations to Miss Gensan Caroline Lim and Mister Gensan Marc Jerick Chan for winning the The Mr. and Ms. Gensan pageant 2011!

2011 Mindanao Film Festival accepting entries until Sept.16!

The Mindanao Film Festival is an initiative to showcase films made by Mindanawon filmmakers. The festival aims to popularize the art of independent filmmaking as an essential medium of cultural and artistic expression.

The Mindanao Film Festival is Mindanao’s most recognized and most anticipated annual filmmaking event.

The 7th Mindanao Film Festival is calling for feature-length films, short films, and documentaries made by Mindanawon filmmakers or films about, related to or shot in Mindanao.

Exhibition film and Student films are welcome to submit their entries, all films that were shot from October 2010 to September 2011 and have not been shown in the past Mindanao Film Festival are accepted.

For Guerrilla Film Making competitionthe requirements are on the poster above.

All entries must be submitted on or before September 16, 2011!

Kadayawan Floral Float Parade 2011 images!

Kadayawan 2011 ended today with the Floral Float Parade! It started at around past eight in the morning. It was well attended and participated by various companies, groups, corporations and tribes in Davao City!

 

The weather in Davao cooperated that made the event a success. The whole night it rained, but as the morning comes the sun shined brightly, although at times it was cloudy.

Just in case you missed the Floral Float Parade here are some of my photos taken at the event. Even the local stars like Marian Rivera, Sid Lucero, Enchong Dee and Coco Martin rode a float at the Kadayawan 2011!

More photos below:
[gallery columns="4"]

Rahima Usman is Hiyas ng Kadayawan 2011!

Hiyas ng Kadayawan 2011 coronation night was held at the Davao Recreational Center last night August 17, 2011 as part of the 2011 Kadayawan Festival!



Here are the official winners and their titles:

 

• Rahima Usman of the Maranao tribe is the Hiyas sa Kadayawan 2011 (Kadayawan Festival Gem).


• Bernalin Mamboo of the Ata tribe is Hiyas sa Kauswagan (Gem of Progress, 1st runner up)


• Almeline Cheenee Hamid of the Sama tribe is Hiyas sa Tingusbawan (Gem of Fulfilled Promise, 2nd runner up).


• The Hiyas sa Kaliwatan (Tribal Gem) are Judelyn Ogos (Bagobo Tagabawa), Mia Rose Sarip Apadan (Kagan), Jhel Ann Oboc (Obu Manuvu), Fauzia Jamsuri (Tausog), Norie Fe Licomes (Bagobo Klata), Zarina Mangadta (Maguindanao), and Leah Jean Benito (Matigsalog).

The winners of this years Kadayawan will receive the following prizes:

• Hiyas sa Kadayawan – PhP 50,000,


• Hiyas sa Kauswagan – PhP 40,000,


• Hiyas sa Tingusbawan – PhP 30,000, and


•  Hiyas sa Kaliwatan – PhP 10,000.

Special prizes were given to Maranao Tribe, Princess Bai Rahima Usman, as Ms. Photogenic  and Ata-Manobo Tribe Ms. Beralin Mamboo, as the Most Friendly.

Congratulations to all winners!!

ASAP Rocks Kadayawan at Abreeza Mall this Saturday!

Abreeza Mall reveals its Kadayawan Week Events at the mall tagged as "Color Me Kadayawan!

And ASAP Rocks Kadayawan at Abreeza Mall on August 19, 2011. Kapamilya stars will descend upon the land of promise to join the festival of festivals as we celebrate the 26th Kadayawan Festival.

ASAP Rocks will bring the hottest young stars to Davao led by Billy Crawford, Shaina Magdayao, and Sam Concepcion. Other Kapamilya stars joining the festivities are hunk Rafael Rosell, Gab Valenciano, singing sensation Angeline Quinto, Megan Young, child phenom Bugoy Carino, and the hot dance crew of G-Force.

Excited much?

Tween Academy Class of 2011 at SM Davao on Aug. 19!

GMA 7 teen stars will grace the Kadayawan Festival at SM City Davao for the Kapuso Mall Show featuring the stars of Tween Academy Class of 2012!



Tween Academy Class of 2012 will be at SM City Davao on August 19, Friday at the 2nd Floor Activity Center for the Kapuso Mall Show!

Expect your favorite Tween stars to be there like Bea Binene, Jake Vargas , Elmo Magalona just to name a few. . .. .

Excited much?

The essence of harvest festival captured in Apo View Kadayawan Fiesta 2011!

In line with the Kadayawan 2011 celebration of Davao City, the Apo View Hotel is giving its guests, may it be local or foreign the real essence of Kadayawan which showcased the culture, art, products and foods of the region.

This is the time to visit the Apo View Hotel , on the lobby itself is their featured local artist Ronald Tamfalan of the T’boli tribe, where his opaintings are on display and also on sale. If you are adventurous with your body, Henna Tattoo artist is in the house to serve you for as low as P 50.00 for a small sized tattoo.

You can also buy some fresh fruits, local jewelries made by local artist are also on sale on the Bazaar. If you are hungry you can indulge yourself with the mouth watering food at the Entree Restaurant of the hotel. They also showcase some cultural dance on the lobby and a featured fire dancers for an exotic night to remember.

For the complete date and schedule of events see Apo View Hotel celebrates Kadayawan Fiesta 2011!
The Apo View Hotel
150 J. Camus Street, Davao City
Tel: +63 (82) 221-6430 to 40
Fax: +63 (82) 221-0748

3rd Silver Lining in Davao City on Sept. 12 , registration is now on!

Silver Linings, is every breast cancer survivor’s favorite event.  It is a national breast cancer forum and homecoming for breast cancer survivors.

The 3rd Silver Linings on September 17, Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Grand Regal Hotel in Davao City.

Held every three years, Silver Linings is the only national forum of its kind that empowers cancer survivors, their family and friends, the medical community, the general public with information and a circle of support.

It’s a mix of talks, interactive activities, song and dance. It features core issues on  breast cancer (e.g., breast cancer 101, when cancer comes back, etc.) and soft issues as well (e.g., how spouses cope, juicing, music for healing, etc.).

It’s open to everybody. It’s an event like no other. You will meet so many survivors, their friends and family, and embrace them as though they’ve been your friends all your life.

Silver Linings is home to hope.

Registration fee is P100 that will include all meals and access to a free breast clinic. It’s a first come first serve basis.

For pre-registration, visit www.icanservefoundation.org or get registration forms from Davao City at the Grand Regal Hotel front desk, Ristorante Spirale at the Damosa Business Center in Lanang, Bunoatera Deli and Creperie at F. Torres, Blugre Coffee at Landco, SM City, and MTS. Forms are also available in General Santos City through Blugre Coffee at Robinsons and Pacquiao Building Osmeña.

For further inquiries, call 632-6365578 (Manila), 6382-2214667 (Davao) or write silverlinings@icanservefoundation.org.

Maria Aragon, Marie Digby, JM de Guzman and Marcelito Pomoy graces Kadayawan 2011!

NCCC Mall of Davao will bring you this Kadayawan 2011 Festival some Kapamilya stars on the 19th and 21st of August!

 Marie Digby together with YouTube sensation Maria Aragon who became famous by singing a Lady Gaga song and posted it on the internet and Lady Gaga herself greeted her and invited her to grace her concert in Toronto, Canada will be at the Activity Center of NCCC Mall of Davao City on the 19th at 5:00 pm.

On the 21st at 5:00pm JM de Guzman and Pilipinas Got Talent Season 2 winner Margarito Pomoy together with Happy Feet will entertain maal goers and fans at the Activity Center.

If you don't have anything to do and want to see them live, you know where to find them on those dates!

Kadayawan 2011 schedule of events, dates and venue!

Davao City celebrates Kadayawan 2011, the King of Festivals once again. Kadayawan is a celebration of nature’s bounties and the local culture of Davao City!

Kadayawan Week

• Aug 15 : Hulagway sa Kaliwatan Visual Arts Competition @ Museo Dabawenyo (9am)


• Aug 15 : Kadayawan Hall Grand Opening @ NCCC Mall (10am - 12nn)


• Aug 15 : Kadayawan Opening @ Peoples Park (4pm)


• Aug 15 : Agro-Industrial Trade Fair & Exhibit Opnening @ SM Davao (4pm)


• Aug 15 : Meet Iggy The Eagle and Dory The Durian @ NCCC Mall (5pm)


• Aug 15-16 : Kalumon Ethnic Band Performance @ NCCC Mall


• Aug 15-18: Mannequin Appearance @ NCCC Mall


• Aug 15-21 : Hudyakaan sa Kadayawan @ Roxas Aveue (5pm)


• Aug 15-21 : Flora Mindanaw Dish Garden Competition, Indigenous Village Photo Booth, Trajes de Boda Los Hijos de Davao @ SM Davao


• Aug 15-21 : Fruit and Floral Fair, Kadayawan Fiesta Sale @ NCCC Mall


• Aug 16 : Hiyas sa Kadayawan Talent Night @ Abreeza Mall (6pm)


• Aug 16 : Open Bowling Tournament 2011 @ Fair Lanes Bowling Center (7pm)


• Aug 16-21 : Lumadnong Gama @ People's Park (9am)


• Aug 16-17: Sayaw Mindanaw Preliminary @ SM Davao (10am)


• Aug 17 : Magallanes Dance Troupe Peformances @ NCCC Mall (1pm)


• Aug 17 : Taligsik Band Performances @ NCCC Mall (5pm)


• Aug 17 : Hiyas sa Kadayawan Grand Coronation Night @ Davao City Recreation Center (6pm)


• Aug 18 : History Quiz @ Davao City Library, 3rd Flr. Sangguniang Panlungsod Bldg. (8am - 12nn)


• Aug 18-19: 7th Mindanao Statistics Congress @ UM Auditorium, UM Matina Campus (8am - 5pm)


• Aug 18 : Panagtagbo, Lumadnong Bantawan @ Peoples Park and Rizal Park  (3pm)


• Aug 18 : Open Cheering Competition Screening @ NCCC Mall (4pm)


• Aug 18:  Sayaw Mindanaw Finals @ SM Davao (5pm)


• Aug 19-20 : 2nd Mayor Inday Sara Cup Level 3 Pistol Shooting Competition @ Team Davao Shooting Range Diversion Road, Maa (9am)


• Aug 19 : IP dances and IP songs presentations @ Tribu K’Mindanawan Cultural Village, Crocodile Park (4pm)


• Aug 19 : Kapuso Mall Show @ SM City Davao Event Center (4pm)


• Aug 19 : Kadayawan Sensations @ NCCC Mall (5pm)


• Aug 19 : Pahalipay ni Mayor ug Vice Mayor @ Rizal St (6pm)


• Aug 19 : Broadway Theatrical Show "Follies de Mwah" @ CAP Auditorium (8:30pm)


• Aug 20 : 1st Kadayawan T’ai Chi for a Cause @ Rizal Park, San Pedro Street (6-8am)


• Aug 20 : Bancarera 2011 @ Sta. Ana Wharf/Beach, Sta. Ana 27-C, Davao City (7am - 3pm)


• Aug 20 : Indak Indak sa Kadalanan @ Magsaysay Ave. (cor. Guerrero) to Rizal Park (12nn)


• Aug 20 : NCCC Supermarket Bingo @ NCCC Mall  (1pm)


• Aug 20 : Kapamilya Caravan @ SM Davao (4pm)


• Aug 20 : Davao’s Finest feat. Davao’s Best Talents @ Peoples Park (5-8pm)


• Aug 20 : Tunog Mindanaw @ Abreeza Mall (6pm)


• Aug 20 : Open Cheering Competition @ NCCC Mall (6pm)


• Aug 21 : Phoenix Run Series: Kadayawan Festival Leg @ SM Open Parking B (4am)


• Aug 21 : Classic and Sports Car Joyride 2011 @ Around Davao (6-7am)


• Aug 21 : Pamulak Kadayawan @ Magsaysay Ave. to Rizal Park (8am)


• Aug 21 : Ginoong Kadayawan @ NCCC Mall (1pm)


• Aug 21 : Kadayawan Sensations with Marcelito and Happy Feet @ NCCC Mall (5pm)


• Aug 21 : Universal Reality Combat Championship @ Garden Oases Convention Center (6pm)


• Aug 21 : Moda Mindanaw Finals Night @ SM Davao


• Aug 21 : Pahalipay ni Mayor ug Vice Mayor @ Rizal Park (6pm)


• Aug 21 : Kapuso Mall Show @ Gaisano Mall


• Aug 21 : Mr. Handsome Davao 2011 @ Davao City Recreation Center (7-10pm)

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Pre-Kadayawan Week

• Aug 11-13 : 1st SAMADhI Music & Arts Festival @ Matina Town Square Open Parking Area


• Aug 12-14 : Ikebana Exhibit @ SM Davao


• Aug 12-21 : Dayaw Dabaw Street Market @ Palma Gil Street near People’s Park (6pm)


• Aug 13-14: Davao City 1st International Tattoo Arts Festival @ Davao Convention and Trade Center (3pm-12mn)


• Aug 14 : Run United International Series Davao Leg @ Roxas Avenue (4pm)


• Aug 14 : 40 km Cycle For Life Ride – Flight of the Eagles @ People’s Park (7am)


• Aug 14 : Motocross Event @ Moto-X Davao Racetrack, Davao Crocodile Park Complex (5:30pm)

1st Great Kadayawan Trade Fair and Bazaar on August 18-21, 2011!

Want to enjoy shopping at a bargain price and buy things, foods and other items which can only be seen in trade fairs? Now is the time to go and see the 1st Kadayawan Trade Fair and Bazaar happening only in celebration of the 2011 Kadayawan Festival in Davao City!



1st Great Kadayawan Trade Fair and Bazaar August 2011 at Davao Convention Center, F. Torres, 8000 Davao City!

Tread fair opening Hours:
Thurs: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Fri - Sat: 3:00 pm - 12:00 am
Sun: 11:00 am - 10:0)