Bridal show takes a stop in Oro for 8th leg

TO PROMOTE the local wedding and tourism industry in the country, the 8th leg of Kasalang Filipino, a three-day bridal road show, held its soft opening on Thursday at the Limketkai Rotunda in Cagayan de Oro.

Couples who dreamed of having a unique and memorable wedding will surely get excited to visit the different booths set up at the venue while enjoying a lot of lined up activities for the three-day fair.

It’s fun in Anthropology

AFTER a series of intensive didactics in General Anthropology course in Graduate Studies at Xavier University, we were given the opportunity to witness how anthropologists do field works.

For social literatures, anthropology is a discipline of infinite curiosity about human beings. Furthermore, anthropologists are interested in discovering where, when and why humans appeared on earth, the reasons for their changes and variations in certain physical and cultural features.

Motoomull: Celebrations

THE birthday celebration of my mother, Mrs. Saling Co Untian Motoomull, was a lunch affair well-attended by family members and relatives. How fortunate of her and Mrs. Nene Co Untian Guanzon, her elder sister, who will also be celebrating her birthday soonest. They are obviously enjoying abundant blessings.

Oktoberfest ‘Beer Festival’ 2012 kicks off Sept. 28

ON SEPTEMBER 28 at the Aseana City in Macapagal Boulevard, Parañaque City, beer market leader San Miguel Brewery Inc. kicks off the country’s much-awaited, grandest and biggest beer festival, the San Miguel Oktoberfest 2012, with Fil-Am apl.de.ap of the supergroup Black Eyed Peas together with popular San Miguel Oktoberfest “Beer Festival” endorsers to give the ultimate beer party of the year.

Roa: Before Jesse Robredo, there was Justiniano R. Borja (Conclusion)

OF THE many tributes for the late and much lamented DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, one of the best and for me, a very unique one was by Patricia Evangelista, columnist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. She quoted at length a 2009 interview of Sec. Robredo that was aired by ANC and later by ABS-CBN in "Storyline." His words were very uplifting and inspiring:

New life for ‘Sendong’ survivors

ALMOST nine months after Tropical Storm Sendong wrought havoc in Cagayan de Oro last year, some survivors in the flashflood who are now residing at temporary houses within the Xavier Ecoville in Barangay Lumbia has considered the tragedy a “blessing in disguise.”

The power of the Internet

IT WAS the Internet which helped me in my investigative journalism class way back 2001. It was the Internet which provided me job advertisements and vacancies and eventually led me to land in some of my previous jobs.

It was through the Internet that communication was made easier when my ex-boyfriend (who is now my husband) was assigned in far provinces. Thanks to Friendster. You were my best friend for three years.

Law schools vie for top spot in humanitarian law tilt

THE battle for the best resumes this year as students from 12 law schools participated in the annual National Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law from September 3 to 7.

For the first time, the Justice Ines Luciano Best Mooter Award was given, paying tribute to a passionate supporter of humanitarian law and of the competition.

Tipsy rum cakes

WE ARE now on the “ber” months. The weather should start to cool down (well, that does not include the rainy season!), Christmas decors are now being sold with yuletide carols being played on the radio. It is also the time to prepare our seasonal goodies for the Holiday season!

Oro hosts 5th leg of ‘Juan for Fun’ Backpacker Challenge

FIVE teams composed of college students from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao have been chosen to explore six destinations in the country from August 29 to September 2 for the country’s ultimate backpacking adventure of Cebu Pacific’s ‘Juan for Fun’ Backpacker Challenge.

Roa: Before Jesse M. Robredo, there was Justiniano R. Borja

DEJA VU in French means "already seen." This term describes a unique human experience where one has already seen or heard or been in a similar situation before.

I had this feeling of deja vu when I watched, for days, the wake and funeral of our Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary, Jesse M. Robredo.

RMN: Standing still at 60

IN THIS unstable industry of radio stations where set-ups and formats are the basic tool to draw listeners and high ratings, the oldest radio station in Mindanao, DXCC ‘Tatak” RMN (Radio Mo Nationwide), has stood the test of time in both fields, taking pride of their 60 years of existence.

The first radio station in Mindanao, formerly known as Radio Mindanao Network located along Velez St. visualized by Don Henry Canoy, started with a dream to provide public service to every Kagay-anon. It first started airing on August 28, 1952.

Cagayan de Oro wins Pyrofestival 2012

ANOTHER spectacular Pyrofestival was witnessed by thousands of kagay-anons and visitors last Monday at the Las Ramblas parking area of SM City.

Now on its fourth year, SM City, the host of this annual event, never failed to provide unique entertainment by gathering in at least eight participants from different areas in the country to compete in the Pyrofestival, held as one of the anticipated core events of this year’s Kagay-an Festival.

Kalo Parade shows off ingenuity of Kagay-anons

NINE contestants of the Kagay-an Kalo Parade Competition showcased their creativity and ingenuity on Monday at the Parking Lot of SM City Cagayan de Oro.

Dychauco: Coconut Macaroons

LAST week we had French Macarons. Today, we will have another favored dessert, which is also has the same name, except for the added “o” in it.

Who can forget Coconut Macaroons? A country where coconut is in abundance, it is but natural for almost everyone to have their share of this little confection in one way or the other.

Concentrix wins best float

ONE float outshone others and won the coveted P150,000 cash prize during this year’s Golden Float Competition held on Tuesday along with the Civic Military Parade in Cagayan de Oro in celebration of the feast of St. Augustine.

Event organizer wins Ms. Kagay-an 2012 title

“A STRONG Kagay-anon may rise and smile amidst adversity.”

This was proven by the prowess shown by Greanne Trisha T. Mendoza when she bested 10 other lovely candidates after being crowned Ms. Kagay-an 2012 on Sunday at the Atrium of Limketkai Center.

In honor of St. Augustine

THE Kagay-an Festival is undoubtedly one of the grandest festivals in Northern Mindanao. It is an awaited event not only amongst Catholics who honor our city’s patron saint but also amongst businessmen and tourists.

In fact, what started as a religious activity has now become a secular event.

Hundreds to join today’s civic military parade

A DAY before the feast of St. Augustine, a grand parade will be held today, Monday, as part of the month-long Kagay-an Festival.

The City Government, headed by Mayor Vicente Y. Emano, Vice Mayor Caesar Ian E. Acenas and the city councilors, together with the different department heads, will be leading the contingent from the City Government during the Civic-Military Parade.

Puntod NHS, West City Central win top prizes

STUDENTS of Puntod National High School and West City Central School unanimously got the nod of the judges as they were declared winners in the PE Rhythmic Dance Competition for the high school and elementary categories, respectively, on Saturday at the Pelaez Sports Center.

Both schools pocketed P50,000 cash and computer sets for their unique dance presentations showcasing the Department of Tourism’s slogan “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”

Miss Kagay-an 2012: Bracing up for the big night

THE search for this year’s Ms. Kagay-an will wrap up tonight as the most fairest of them all would be known during the coronation slated at 7 p.m. at the Atrium of Limketkai Center.

Before the grand coronation, the 11 lovely ladies showed off their best during the evening gown competition and designers runway show held last Wednesday at the Rodelsa Hall of Liceo de Cagayan University.

Monster Kitchen over-all champ of Kumbira 2012

THE annual culinary show dubbed “Kumbira” recently wrapped up with Monster Kitchen Inc. grabbing the title as over-all-champion in the professional division and the grand winner in the Mindanao Chef War.

Monster Kitchen Inc., which just recently joined ‘Kumbira,” garnered the most awards from different live competitions in the three-day event, surpassing last year’s winner, Bigby’s Café.

The great reunion

IT WAS beautiful. It was so nice. It was terrific. Yes, I was referring to the family reunion; I mean my own family, which was held in the homes of my children living in Houston and Austin. It was really pleasant and all members of my family to the last son-in-law came.

Bugo bet wins Barangay Gwapo title

A STAR has been born in the person of Alvin Marc “Macky” Magpulong, also known as the “Maginoong Gwapo” of Barangay Bugo.

Magpulong won this year’s search for ABS-CBN’s Barangay Gwapo, the finals of which was held last Saturday at the Capitol University gym.

Vignettes from Oro’s Street Dancing Festival

I DISTINCTLY remember that it was during the 1979 fiesta that the first street dancing festival was held in Cagayan de Oro.

In mid-afternoon, the streets that marked the route of the street dancing were filled with people, mostly parents and family members of the participants who belonged to the different schools of the city.

Multiple roles

THERE are a lot of good movies in the theatres lately, and then I started asking myself, who do I portray?

Roles… I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister and a career woman. A loving wife for four years and counting. My marriage is not perfect but I have been blessed with a very patient husband.

Candidates show off curves in swimsuit tilt

THE 11 candidates for this year’s Miss Kagay-an showed off their curves and flawless skin during the swimsuit competition held at Hotel Koresco over the weekend.

As part of the search’s criteria, candidates were screened based on their healthy skin and that X-factor and poise in confidently carrying their swimwear.

Roa: Remembering Gov. Juan Zanon – The Bridge Builder (Conclusion)

THE military governor, Major Juan Zanon, distinguished himself as having built many bridges over rivers and even creeks around Misamis Province during his administration.

His biggest and most ambitious project was constructing the first bridge in Cagayan de Misamis (now Cagayan de Oro) that was to connect the poblacion to the barrio of Carmen and beyond. It was touted as the longest suspension bridge in the country and was named the Puente del General Blanco in honor of then incumbent Governor General Ramon Blanco.

Pre-Mixes Anyone?

HOW many bakers started with the real thing, meaning starting everything from scratch and slowly worked their way into making and baking cakes, brownies, cookies, breads and the like?

And how many lucky ones has started using commercially prepared mixes in their new found love and skills in this culinary adventure?

Kumbira 2012 opens today

EXPERIENCE one of the highlights of the Kagay-an Festival as the Cagayan de Oro Hotels and Restaurants Association (Cohara) formally opens today the Kumbira 2012 at Limketkai Atrium, this city.

Now on its 16th year, the anticipated three-day event which will run until August 17 has taken a fresh concept by promoting fun and strengthening its educational aspect at the same time adopting the theme “Eats more Fun in Kumbira”.