Christmas musical play set at SM City

EXPERIENCE the wonder of the season in an all-original musical that will bring you to a magical world of imagination as SM Supermalls and Theater Down South bring you “It’s Christmas: the Musical!” a musical play for the kids and the entire family.

The musical play follows the story a Christmas Fairy, a Chef and a Toymaker.

The first mass in Cagayan

IN THE search for the actual site where the first mass in Cagayan was celebrated in 1622, it is important for us to know the size of the ancient territory of Cagaiang during the pre-Hispanic and early Spanish periods.

Dear Manok: Home of the juiciest grilled chicken

DEAR Manok restaurant, home of the juiciest grilled chicken in this part of the city, has now been considered as a trademark when you are in Cagayan de Oro.

Lupus: When your enemy is yourself

AFTER a two-week holiday in Bali, Indonesia, Daniel and Elena returned home to Davao City. Almost immediately, the 37-year-old Elena fell ill – she felt tired all the time, lost her appetite and suffered recurring fever.

Teaching: A journey worth travelling

ACCORDING to Nikos Kazantzakis, "Ideal teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross, then having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create bridges of their own."

Teaching is a profession that demands a lot from the teachers. It is not only the noblest of all professions but also a vocation that one must enter with eyes wide open, or else, they may well find themselves questioning their effectiveness in answering the call.

Renewing our vows

THE Divine Mercy Church at the Divine Mercy Hills in PSB-Ulaliman, El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental, will be completed by May next year.

Thanksgiving tradition, the Pinoy way

AN AMERICAN custom and practice since the colonial times in the 1600, Thanksgiving is celebrated for a good autumn harvest and is almost synonymous with Turkey. And when I say turkey, it is always and will always be Roast Turkey with Bread stuffing and Cranberry Sauce.

Motoomull: Active listening

ACTIVE listening is most noticeable by its absence when team members carry on more than one conversation at a time, interrupt one another, and jump from one subject to another. Thus, the vital information gets lost and ideas are not properly explored leading to hasty and poor selection of alternatives.

More health less hypertension during pregnancy

PREGNANCY-INDUCED hypertension (PIH) remains the second leading cause of maternal mortality in the Philippines from 1991 to 2006, according to the data culled from the Department of Health (DOH).

City Tourism Board presents ‘Halad sa Pasko’

THE City Government of Cagayan de Oro headed by Mayor Vicente Emano and the City Tourism Board, in partnership with Limketkai Center and SM City, will once again spearhead Halad sa Pasko’s “Bangga sa Daygon” and “Indigay sa Parol”.

Through the regular meeting of the Board held recently at Jatico Adventures, its chairperson, Rhia Rita Abalos, is proud to bring the perennial activities once again for Kagay-anons.

The first Mass in Cagayan (Part Two)

MANY are unaware of the historical fact that in 1622, two Recollect priests who were the first Spaniards to enter the Cagaiang (now Cagayan) territory also did another historical first -- when they celebrated the first mass here. This was recorded in a Recollect journal by Fray Luis de Jesus, ORSA, and was printed in 1681 in Madrid. It is written in 16th century Spanish and I already gave the long title of this journal in my previous column.

XU student wins statistics quiz

ZAMINA Cagayan Sabenecio, a 16-year-old BS computer Science student of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, bested 13 other college students from different provinces in Northern Mindanao in the 20th Philippine Statistics Quiz regional elimination held on November 17 at Chali Beach Resort in Cagayan de Oro.

Sabenecio will represent the region to the National PSQ competition slated on December 6 in Manila.

XU, PCGG to hold exhibit, public forum

XAVIER University, in partnership with the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), will hold an exhibit commemorating the commission’s 25th year and a public forum on good governance.

The theme for these activities is in the light of recent issues and PCGG’s vision for the future, “Closing Chapters. Finding a Way Forward.”

Dreaming of a white Christmas?

“IF WE had no winter,” English poet Anne Bradstreet once said, “the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”

The alarming rise of teenage pregnancy

JOAN was only 10 when she came to Davao City. That was the time when her parents got separated. Her father left the family for another woman.

Putting God in marriage

TIME flies so fast and does not wait for no one. I could not believe that by January next year, I will already be 70 years old.

Food Cravings

WAS there a time in your life that you wanted to eat something really sweet, salty, sour, bitter, spicy, or crunchy, crispy, and maybe all of these altogether at one time? I mean, really, really wanted to eat although you know you are already full to your throat?

Tacio: Crocodile meal, anyone?

A COUPLE of months ago, I accompanied the crew and hosts of Sports Unlimited as they filmed some of the tourist destinations in Davao region as well as those areas that offer extreme adventures.

Vesagas: The importance of research to our daily lives

TO THE many, reading or hearing the word “research” carries the connotations of a rigorous and labor intensive academic activity in fulfillment of a school course requirement. Others may think of it as a cerebral activity heavily bombarded with complicated mathematical and scientific formulas by the radical thinkers wearing thick eyeglasses and robed under white oversized laboratory gowns.

Roa: The first Mass in Cagayan

DON Jose Maria Caravallo, military governor of the 2nd District of Mindanao, also known as the Misamis Province, was a man with a twisted sense of history.

During his term as governor, he ordered the complete demolition of the fort known as the Fuerza Real de San Jose (the Royal Fort of St. Joseph).

SM unveils Christmas chrism

BARELY 40 days to go before Christmas and yet, we can already feel the Christmas spirit as SM City Cagayan de Oro officially launched its early grandest Christmas campaign for 2011 on Saturday.

Children, young and old alike, witnessed the launching as they look forward to a merry Christmas celebration at SM City Cagayan de Oro, which is happening in all SM malls nationwide.

Making friends with the enemies

COGON market was once highly regarded as the worst area in Cagayan de Oro City.

For decades, market goers feared for their lives while entering Cogon area as it had the highest petty crime rates such as snatchings, pickpockets, stabbing incidents, frail killings and many more that police in-charge had a hard time cleaning.

COPC honors partners in 60th anniversary celebration

THE Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) recognized some government officials and private agencies who have been its partners in its different programs and projects during the Club’s 60th founding anniversary celebration Friday night.

Among those who were cited were Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar S. Moreno, Representative Maximo Rodriguez of Abante Mindanao Party-list and Brigadier General Victor Felix of the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division of the Philippine Army.

12 students vie for Mr. & Ms. PCC Ambassadors

TWELVE beautiful and handsome candidates for the Mr. and Ms. Pilgrim Christian College (PCC) Ambassadors 2011 search recently met the members of the Cagayan de Oro tri-media in a press conference held on Friday.

Vying for the title are James Dao-ayan, Nicole Labuntog, Albert Cañas and Keiza Sumicad representing the high school department; Don Sabuero and Mary Grace Bascones (Education), Jesse Jirah Jamero and April Tapalla (Business Administration), Lucino Caneter and Ivan Mae Acob (Liberal Arts), Arnel Natindim and Roxyl Mar Rola (Accountancy) representing the college level.

Living in the United States

"THE land of milk and honey..." That is how most Filipinos look at the United States of America (USA).

Oro Tourism Board now accepts 'Halad sa Pasko' entries

THE City Tourism Board is once again holding its yearly "Halad sa Pasko" competitions and is now beginning to accept qualified applicants.

These competitions consist of the "Bangga sa Daygon (Christmas Carol Contest)" and the "Indigay sa Parol (Christmas Lantern Contest)."

Misamis Oriental honors senior citizens

ABOUT a thousand senior citizens from different areas in Misamis Oriental gathered together for the annual Provincial Senior Citizens Celebration at Capitol grounds on Thursday.

The event, organized by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PCWDO), aims to give appreciation and honor to all senior citizens in the province.

Pinoy breakfasts

THE most important meal of the day should always be “breakfast.” Break and fast, meaning, we are breaking our fasting through the night after our dinner from the night before. And what a better way to start our day with a hearty meal?

Veteran’s Bank gets ready for WW II true stories writing tilt for students

THERE are still thousands of stories out there waiting to be recorded. Thousands of narratives of little known or never heard events during the World War II in the Philippines that merit being written down as part of history.

And to compile and record these stories is the mission of the Philippine Veterans Bank’s World War II True Stories Writing Contest, which will be on its fourth year come 2012.

Del Monte golf tourney raises funds to support more scholars

PIONEER pineapple grower and leading food exporter Del Monte Philippines, with social outreach arm Del Monte Foundation Inc. (DMFI) and San Miguel Corporation, hosted the 3rd Del Monte Pineapple Tee Golf Tournament in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon last October 27 to 30, to raise funds to send more gifted children to school.